Prospect Info: Prospects & Minor League Teams Thread

[Werewolf]

Anyone who follows better then me wanna take a stab at what they think the Crunch lines will look like?

I still haven't heard anything about McGinn, who we qualified but haven't signed yet. McGinn would be penciled in as the top left winger on the Peca line if signed...but here is my best guess w/o McGinn:

Erne - Peca - Condra
Stephens - Cirelli - Bournival
Volkov - Verghaghe - Joseph
Yan - Lynch - Tammela
Darcy / Gallant / Hart

Bodie - Cernak
Masin - McBain
McNeill - Thomas
Walcott/Spencer

Leighton / Ingram

*Hart / Darcy may be ECHL bound. And it also depends who make the Lightning ... I have Dumont, Conacher, Gourde making the Lightning out of camp.

 

[Werewolf]

ECHL would be surprising I think from looking at his profile.

Kevin Lynch, Nic Riopel, and maybe Alex Gallant seem like the best candidates for the ECHL. Gallant really only because the league is currently rewarding roughness and you get him some games.

Lynch will play a decent 4th line role and won't be sent down to ECHL - he played the entire playoffs last year. Riopel will certainly be sent to ECHL again. Gallant will see 4th line and popcorn duty ... same as some of the less skilled enforcers we've had in the past that couldn't get in the lineup: Broll & Leblond

 

[Crunchrulz]

Looks good Wolf. McGinn is something of a wild card as he for sure has a spot if he is healthy but has not crossed the Ts and dotted the Is. Spencer and Gallant as the extras as well as Walcott due to his ability to contribute at forward or defense. That starts the season with 21 plus the goaltenders. If/when McGinn signs, he makes 22 skaters.

 

[Felonious Python]

Lynch will play a decent 4th line role and won't be sent down to ECHL - he played the entire playoffs last year. Riopel will certainly be sent to ECHL again. Gallant will see 4th line and popcorn duty ... same as some of the less skilled enforcers we've had in the past that couldn't get in the lineup: Broll & Leblond

I agree with your assessment that Hart & Darcy are very good ECHL candidates.

 

[Steazy Doo]

I'd like to see Spencer in the ECHL too, no reason to not have him playing.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Practice lines from the first day of Canada's summer national junior team camp

 

[Werewolf]

That's exactly what Yzerman was looking for ... two big guys that can play on the top line. Glad they are playing on the first lines of team Canada. Its amazing to see two second round Lightning picks as the PFs on team Canada's juniors team first lines.

 

[Felonious Python]

Live airing of Canada-Finland in the Summer Showcase about to start on NHLN. It'll replay on the channel later tonight. Set your DVRs.

USA at 4pm.

 

[TootooTrain]

Didn't want to muddy up your regular board by asking something. How do you guys perceive Mitchell Stephens progressing through the system? There's a fair bit of depth on the lightning so chances are he stays in the AHL for atleast 1 season. I watched him when he was traded to the London Knights and became a fan.

 

[Werewolf]

Didn't want to muddy up your regular board by asking something. How do you guys perceive Mitchell Stephens progressing through the system? There's a fair bit of depth on the lightning so chances are he stays in the AHL for atleast 1 season. I watched him when he was traded to the London Knights and became a fan.

There is crazy depth at the Center position ... but Stephens is not projected to be a Center in the NHL. He will be a left winger. Stephens doesn't struggle with consistency, effort, two-way game, skill, nor size - these type of players get pretty fast tracked. He has a pro ready game to go along with his pro ready size. The line-up this year is a bit clogged up ... however, not so next year. With Brown, Kunitz, Conacher, and Condra probably not picked up next Summer ... there is an excellent shot for Stephens to make the squad on the 3rd or 4th line as a winger.

It is my take that we will see a youth movement on the bottom lines starting next Summer. Stephens has some competition on the left side ... notably: Volkov and Erne. Best case scenario:

Namestnikov staples himself on top line next to Stamkos and Kucherov. Palat and Johnson on 1A line is a given. Killorn has like 6 more years on his contract so that is now the top three left wingers the only one of which that doesn't have a long term contract is Vladdy. That means there is a fourth line position open next year ... which is probably Erne's to lose. That means Stephens gets his 1 year in the AHL. Second year cup of cofee on injuries if he does well and then he really needs to beat Killorn/Vladdy/Erne for a spot on the regular lineup.

Behind Stephens/Volkov we have a second rounder in Katchouk who has failed to impress at the International level but is a penalty killer / defensive specialist. Yan is a scoring specialist...that will probably have a good AHL career but will not out-skill our current top 6 skill position scoring players. I see him as a Gourde/Conacher/Marchessault type of player that will take the long, long route to the NHL.

Probably the fastest way to the Lightning's regular NHL lineup is a 2-way left winger as Center/Right Wing/RHD/LHD is pretty clogged up with organizational depth.

 

[Werewolf]

McGinn now officially back next year in a Crunch uniform. Story here: http://syracusecrunch.com/news/2017/8/17/syracuse-crunch-tampa-bay-lightning-re-sign-forward-tye-mcginn.aspx

Syracuse stacked once again. The top line that led the Crunch to Calder Cup finals looks to be back next year in its entirety: McGinn / Peca / Condra. With Vladdy, Palat, Killorn, and Kunitz expected to be the top left wingers in a Lightning uniform out of camp that gives us plenty of depth at the position in Syracuse. I expect McGinn, Erne, Stephens, and Volkov as the top 4 left wingers come the start of the season for the Lightning's AHL affiliate. That is pretty stacked LW depth right there on the left side.

Looking forward to next year ... as Erne graduates to full time NHL duty. You would see Katchouk coming into the organization. Yzerplan working flawlessly.

 

[HoseEmDown]

McGinn now officially back next year in a Crunch uniform. Story here: http://syracusecrunch.com/news/2017/8/17/syracuse-crunch-tampa-bay-lightning-re-sign-forward-tye-mcginn.aspx

Syracuse stacked once again. The top line that led the Crunch to Calder Cup finals looks to be back next year in its entirety: McGinn / Peca / Condra. With Vladdy, Palat, Killorn, and Kunitz expected to be the top left wingers in a Lightning uniform out of camp that gives us plenty of depth at the position in Syracuse. I expect McGinn, Erne, Stephens, and Volkov as the top 4 left wingers come the start of the season for the Lightning's AHL affiliate. That is pretty stacked LW depth right there on the left side.

Looking forward to next year ... as Erne graduates to full time NHL duty. You would see Katchouk coming into the organization. Yzerplan working flawlessly.

Stephens is a right shot, so i expect him to play RW.

McGinn - Peca - Condra
Erne - Dumont - Joseph
Bournival - Cirelli - Stephens
Volkov - Verhaeghe - Yan
Lynch - Darcy - Hart
Gallant

McNeill - McBain
Masin - Thomas
Bodie - Cernak
Walcott - Spencer

Leighton
Ingram

 

[Petes]

Stephens is a right shot, so i expect him to play RW.

McGinn - Peca - Condra
Erne - Dumont - Joseph
Bournival - Cirelli - Stephens
Volkov - Verhaeghe - Yan
Lynch - Darcy - Hart
Gallant

McNeill - McBain
Masin - Thomas
Bodie - Cernak
Walcott - Spencer

Leighton
Ingram

Is it possible Tampa could loan Tammela back to Kalpa in Finland for one season??

 

[HoseEmDown]

Is it possible Tampa could loan Tammela back to Kalpa in Finland for one season??

Forgot about him. I think they'd like to have him play in the CHL since he missed all but like 2 games last year. Going back to Europe doesn't seem ideal from the organization's perspective but Tammela might not want to play in the CHL as an overager and I can't see him starting in the AHL, he'll be in the ECHL.

 

[Petes]

Forgot about him. I think they'd like to have him play in the CHL since he missed all but like 2 games last year. Going back to Europe doesn't seem ideal from the organization's perspective but Tammela might not want to play in the CHL as an overager and I can't see him starting in the AHL, he'll be in the ECHL.

ECHL along with Spencer is definetly possible. Although, we would love either back in Peterborough!

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

First day at the Warriors main training camp after making a stop in Florida



https://discovermoosejaw.com/local-sports/55365-sosunov-late-arrival-to-warriors-camp

Due to some visa issues, Russian import defenceman Oleg Sosunov won’t be arriving in Moose Jaw in time for the start of the team’s camp.

“It’s really just a symptom of import players, specifically dealing with Russia,” said General Manager Alan Millar.

“Oleg was in a unique situation where as a signed player of Tampa Bay, he needed both a U.S. and Canadian travel visa and the timing was difficult to get both, so once he got the American one as we worked with the Lightning, we got him to Tampa and they could deal with his Canadian travel visa better with him there than remaining in Moscow.”

The IIHF transfer has went through and Millar expects Sosunov to be in Moose Jaw sometime in the next week to start getting accustom to the Friendly City before heading back to Tampa Bay for training camp in Sept.

“We’re working together with Tampa Bay to get him here to experience Moose Jaw, his teammates, the community, get into a billet home and acclimatized as best as possible,” said Millar. “It was just a little hiccup on the visa front, but everything will be cleared up shortly.”

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/tyler-seguin-defeats-mcdavid-co-claim-biosteel-cup/

Team Seguin defeated Team Nurse 5-2 in the final of a four-team, four-on-four mini tournament that serves as the culmination of BioSteel’s weeklong pro training camp.

“It’s all for fun. There is a little bit of pride on the line. This is our gym. We all train together, so we’re kinda like a second team here in the summer. We leave our equipment here together every day,†said Seguin, who attributed the victory to his shrewd draft strategy.

Still recovering from shoulder surgery, Seguin himself registered a highlight goal when he batted the puck out of midair — “I don’t know if he gave me the same pass a shift later I’d be able to do it again,†he explained — but it was 20-year-old Lightning prospect Mitchell Stephens who stole the show with a natural hat trick in the final.

“MVP in my books, especially in the finals. Heck of a shot, the guy competes, and he’s got a great opportunity down in Tampa,†said Seguin, who opened up his home to Stephens for camp.

“He’s my rookie for the week, so he’s been driving me around and buying me movies and stuff. The chemistry’s there. Maybe he’ll come down to Dallas. Who knows?â€

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

https://discovermoosejaw.com/local-sports/55415-sosunov-arrives-in-moose-jaw

Six-foot-eight Russian defenceman Oleg Sosunov hit the ice for the first time at Mosaic Place after arriving in Moose Jaw on Friday night.

“I'm excited to be here, this is a good experience for me,†said Sosunov, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

His English is limited, but Sosunov is here to play hockey and he showed that he's very capable in that area on the ice during the second scrimmage of main camp.

Sosunov showed his strong skating ability for a big player and also his knack for using his long stick to knock the puck away from forwards entering the zone.

“My size is an advantage because I'm tall so I have a longer stick and I'm more powerful than the short guys, so that's my advantage,†he said.

“I'm here to play hockey and that's my focus.â€

Sosunov will continue to work with his teammates over the rest of training camp and into the preseason before heading back down to Tampa Bay, along with captain Brett Howden, for camp with the Lightning.

 

[These Are The Days]

Good Gawd King it's gonna be incredible.

PS- I look at Svechnikov and all I can see is the winged wheel on his chest

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

https://www.discovermoosejaw.com/component/content/article?id=55556

The opening week of the WHL Preseason went into the books on Saturday for the Moose Jaw Warriors, who went 2-1 in their first three games of the exhibition schedule.

Moose Jaw finished things off with a 4-1 win over the Regina Pats on Saturday night at the Brandt Centre, winning their second straight.

...Head Coach Tim Hunter came away impressed with the performances of the younger players that were in the lineup for the Warriors.

“We were looking for certain things from the younger guys and that’s the most important part, the two young goalies, Drae Gardiner, Brayden Tracey, those guys are the guys that we really have our eye one,” said Hunter. “It was really exciting (Oleg) Sosunov and what kind of player he’s going to be in this league.”

Sosunov drew a lot of attention throughout the game, which was his first actual game action with the Warriors. The six-foot-eight defenceman had a few Pats attempt to hit him, only to end up on the ice, and he delivered a crushing blow along the boards to Regina star forward Sam Steel during the second period.

Sosunov's (#15) hit @ 0:40. Howden's goal @ 1:30

 

[Stormbreaker]

Brian Hart and Cam Darcy are no longer with the Lightning. Team is at 46/50 contracts now.

 

[Werewolf]

Brian Hart and Cam Darcy are no longer with the Lightning. Team is at 46/50 contracts now.

Good move. Hart has to be one of the biggest disappointments as a former 2nd round pick. Blujus now Hart ... 2nd rounders are biting the dust. Darcy was a fringe AHL'r ... nothing lost there. Hart and Salminen are the two worst drafted hockey players I've seen suit up at rookie camp ... but Salminen wins the award by far.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Good move. Hart has to be one of the biggest disappointments as a former 2nd round pick. Blujus now Hart ... 2nd rounders are biting the dust. Darcy was a fringe AHL'r ... nothing lost there. Hart and Salminen are the two worst drafted hockey players I've seen suit up at rookie camp ... but Salminen wins the award by far.

Still not sure why Blujus hasn't been signed to at least an AHL deal by some team? He's good enough for that league so maybe his wrist is still messed up.

This is clearly a contract move as they are at 53 with only 5 guys eligible to slide so would be at 48 already and they must think Sergachev will male the team so 49. Gives them some contract flexibility, Darcy was at least good in the ECHL so they must not care about that team this year.

 

[Felonious Python]

Still not sure why Blujus hasn't been signed to at least an AHL deal by some team? He's good enough for that league so maybe his wrist is still messed up.

This is clearly a contract move as they are at 53 with only 5 guys eligible to slide so would be at 48 already and they must think Sergachev will male the team so 49. Gives them some contract flexibility, Darcy was at least good in the ECHL so they must not care about that team this year.

The ECHL primarily gets send-downs from their AHL affiliate, making the AHL partnership more important than their NHL one. A goalie from the NHL team can be the exception.

If the contract limit was raised to say, 75, I think we'd see a lot more guys with top level NHL contracts in the ECHL.

Adirondack also already has an affiliation with Bingo/NJ, so they be fighting for ice time with Bingo guys and their guys on ECHL contract.

 

[HoseEmDown]

The ECHL primarily gets send-downs from their AHL affiliate, making the AHL partnership more important than their NHL one. A goalie from the NHL team can be the exception.

If the contract limit was raised to say, 75, I think we'd see a lot more guys with top level NHL contracts in the ECHL.

Adirondack also already has an affiliation with Bingo/NJ, so they be fighting for ice time with Bingo guys and their guys on ECHL contract.

Who's on an AHL deal? McNeil, Lynch and Riopel? We have 22 guys on NHL contracts who will most likely be in the AHL mostly but that includes Condra, Conacher, Dumont and Bournival who could be claimed on waivers at some point this season. So there's room to keep an extra body around especially one who's a pretty good ECHL player in Darcy but maybe he asked for the move as he didn't want to be in the ECHL and is done with hockey.