Prospect Info: "All Things AHL" Part II...

[ChicagoBlues]

Whatever you want to call it, Beach likes to scrap.

This is true. In 34 games played last season he got into maybe eight or nine fights. He likes to scrap.

In fact, Cody Beach led the Wolves in fights with eight. I think that maybe qualifies as "enforcer". Corrected I stand.

 

[Robb_K]

To my knowlege, the only two players that I'm aware of that are signed by the Wolves (and not by the Blues) are Matt Climie and Jake Chelios. That's bound to change though and IMO, as the Wolves sign guys to AHL contracts, that's going to bump some of our lesser prospects to ECHL Kalamazoo.

Veilleux, Beach, Wannstrom, etc. spent some time in the ECHL last season so I wouldn't be surprised if that happens again. Here's the minor leagues of the Blues/Wolves that I'm aware of.

Rattie
Porter/Jaskin (1)
Andronov (2)
McRae
McCarthy
Ferriero
Cannone
Wannstrom
Beach
Veilleux
Tesink
Pochiro
Doty

Edmundson
Hakanpaa
Shields
Regner
Butler (3)
Chelios *

Climie *
Binnington
Lundstrom

(1) I figure one of Porter or Jaskin will end up in the AHL...most likely Porter
(2) Andronov is still an unsigned RFA but I'm assuming the Blues eventually get him signed
(3) While the Blues have 8 NHL caliber d-men at the moment, I wouldn't be surprised if Butler beats out one of Cole/Leopold for the 7th spot and then Cole/Leopold is traded to save money/conserve cap space.
* Players signed by the Wolves to AHL contracts

Lundstrom is destined for the ECHL but so are some of those other guys too IMO (guys like Doty, Tesink, Pochiro, etc.) as I don't think there's any way the Wolves go with that inexperienced of a roster. More guys will eventually be signed directly by the Wolves which will push some of our guys to the ECHL. Long story short, I don't see the Wolves roster as all that full yet as the Wolves are destined to sign their typical number of AHL vets which will push some of lesser prospects to the ECHL.

Cole has been improving slowly but steadily. I think he is playing at a better overall level than Butler. I'd be VERY surprised if Butler beats out Cole and Cole is traded because of that.

 

[sdaltons]

To my knowlege, the only two players that I'm aware of that are signed by the Wolves (and not by the Blues) are Matt Climie and Jake Chelios. That's bound to change though and IMO, as the Wolves sign guys to AHL contracts, that's going to bump some of our lesser prospects to ECHL Kalamazoo.

Veilleux, Beach, Wannstrom, etc. spent some time in the ECHL last season so I wouldn't be surprised if that happens again. Here's the minor leagues of the Blues/Wolves that I'm aware of.

Rattie
Porter/Jaskin (1)
Andronov (2)
McRae
McCarthy
Ferriero
Cannone
Wannstrom
Beach
Veilleux
Tesink
Pochiro
Doty

Edmundson
Hakanpaa
Shields
Regner
Butler (3)
Chelios *

Climie *
Binnington
Lundstrom

(1) I figure one of Porter or Jaskin will end up in the AHL...most likely Porter
(2) Andronov is still an unsigned RFA but I'm assuming the Blues eventually get him signed
(3) While the Blues have 8 NHL caliber d-men at the moment, I wouldn't be surprised if Butler beats out one of Cole/Leopold for the 7th spot and then Cole/Leopold is traded to save money/conserve cap space.
* Players signed by the Wolves to AHL contracts

Lundstrom is destined for the ECHL but so are some of those other guys too IMO (guys like Doty, Tesink, Pochiro, etc.) as I don't think there's any way the Wolves go with that inexperienced of a roster. More guys will eventually be signed directly by the Wolves which will push some of our guys to the ECHL. Long story short, I don't see the Wolves roster as all that full yet as the Wolves are destined to sign their typical number of AHL vets which will push some of lesser prospects to the ECHL.

now we have to add Jeremy Welsh and Nate Prosser to this list.

 

[izzy]

Mueller, wonder what the lines are going to look like with someone else pushed down.

 

[SirPaste]

According to the Wolves twitter feed they just signed 2 more forwards and 2 more dmen, there is going to be quite the logjam in the AHL, I wish we still had control over it

 

[ChicagoBlues]

According to the Wolves twitter feed they just signed 2 more forwards and 2 more dmen, there is going to be quite the logjam in the AHL, I wish we still had control over it

Yep, they re-signed RW Shane Harper and signed F Terry Broadhurst, D Mathieu Brodeur, and D Colten Hayes for the 2014-2015 season.

Why do wish the Blues had control over the roster situation? It's not like the Wolves coaches and managers did anything to prevent a Blues' prospect from playing.

 

[SirPaste]

Yep, they re-signed RW Shane Harper and signed F Terry Broadhurst, D Mathieu Brodeur, and D Colten Hayes for the 2014-2015 season.

Why do wish the Blues had control over the roster situation? It's not like the Wolves coaches and managers did anything to prevent a Blues' prospect from playing.

I just want our guys getting big ice time and playing in key situations, not sure if that's the case or not just seems like they do their own thing without caring about developing our prospects

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I just want our guys getting big ice time and playing in key situations, not sure if that's the case or not just seems like they do their own thing without caring about developing our prospects

Well, I watched the Wolves a lot last season and follow them pretty closely (and have for a long time now) and the Wolves are about one thing and one thing only; winning.

From what I have seen Wolves coaches and management did nothing to hinder a Blues prospect, but I understand your concerns.

 

[nicholas89alex]

Well, I watched the Wolves a lot last season and follow them pretty closely (and have for a long time now) and the Wolves are about one thing and one thing only; winning.

From what I have seen Wolves coaches and management did nothing to hinder a Blues prospect, but I understand your concerns.

and if our guys are not good enough to be part of a winning team in the AHL then they probably are not good enough to be part of a winning team in the NHL

 

[ChicagoBlues]

and if our guys are not good enough to be part of a winning team in the AHL then they probably are not good enough to be part of a winning team in the NHL

I just got a message from Fonzie and he told me to tell you, "Exactamundo!"

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I'm glad guys like Corey Locke and Mark Mancari are off the team, but I am a little miffed that Bolduc was not re-signed by the Blues. He was a real joy to watch and has a mean streak in him. He can be a little nasty.

 

[bluesfan94]

and if our guys are not good enough to be part of a winning team in the AHL then they probably are not good enough to be part of a winning team in the NHL

That's not true, though. There are numerous players who are good and on losing teams. Look at JT with the Islanders for awhile. Or even Stamkos/St. Louis with Tampa one year. Sedins last year. Kessel. Luongo. RNH/Hall/Eberle. Giordano. The list goes on.

 

[542365]

That's not true, though. There are numerous players who are good and on losing teams. Look at JT with the Islanders for awhile. Or even Stamkos/St. Louis with Tampa one year. Sedins last year. Kessel. Luongo. RNH/Hall/Eberle. Giordano. The list goes on.

I think he's saying that if the prospects can't make the cut, can't force their way into the AHL lineup, they aren't going to be able to do it in the NHL either. If Chicago is focused on winning, they're going to play the best players. If they aren't one of the best players, they need to work harder, improve, and force their way in. If they can't do that, then why worry about if they get playing time?

 

[bluesfan94]

I think he's saying that if the prospects can't make the cut, can't force their way into the AHL lineup, they aren't going to be able to do it in the NHL either. If Chicago is focused on winning, they're going to play the best players. If they aren't one of the best players, they need to work harder, improve, and force their way in. If they can't do that, then why worry about if they get playing time?

Because you need playing time to develop.

 

[542365]

Because you need playing time to develop.

ECHL will get you playing time. I don't have a problem with being focused on winning. Competition forces players to get better.

 

[bluesfan94]

ECHL will get you playing time. I don't have a problem with being focused on winning. Competition forces players to get better.

But the speed of the game is so different, both between NHL and AHL, and also AHL and ECHL.

I don't disagree however. I do think competition is best. I just think that we have so many prospects at the AHL level that I would like it to be competition amongst the prospects. And I'd like to see chemistry develop amongst our prospects rather than our prospect and some AHL filler.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Coach Anderson and GM Wendell Young have done nothing whatsoever to hinder the development of the Blues' prospects.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

D Evan Oberg has been signed by the Portland Pirates of the AHL, which opens up a spot on the Wolves and F Eric Kattelus has been signed by Kalamazoo of the ECHL where he spent most of his time last season.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

That's not true, though. There are numerous players who are good and on losing teams. Look at JT with the Islanders for awhile. Or even Stamkos/St. Louis with Tampa one year. Sedins last year. Kessel. Luongo. RNH/Hall/Eberle. Giordano. The list goes on.

Yes, but the guys you mentioned are good enough to play and excel at the level they are playing at. They have the talent and drive to succeed, even if it is on a bad team. If you can't even make the AHL squad, you probably don't have much of a chance of developing into something at the NHL level anyway.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Just so you all know, the AHL does not track time on ice (TOI).

 

[WolfKeeper]

Just so you all know, the AHL does not track time on ice (TOI).

Yes they do, but it's not released to the public/press (not sure why.)

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Yes they do, but it's not released to the public/press (not sure why.)

Thank you for the information.

 

[execwrite]

Wolves sign four players

Boy, that roster is getting jam-packed.

 

[WolfKeeper]

Some will be sent down to the CHL or ECHL. The Wolves sign more depth than most if not all AHL teams.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Some will be sent down to the CHL or ECHL. The Wolves sign more depth than most if not all AHL teams.

That is correct. The Wolves carried 30 players on the roster at many times during the season. There would 6-8 healthy scratches each game.