Spotlight on the Fringe

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HFNHL Commish

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Feb 28, 2002
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Over the past two or three years, any analysis of the Ducks' farm system has typically highlighted the same names - Kronwall, Cammalleri, Seidenberg, Plekanec...

By virtue of actually hanging on to their last two first-round picks, the Ducks have managed to add a pair of high-profile prospects to the aforementioned list of staples: namely, Petteri Nokelainen and Jack Johnson. However, in the early going this season, many of the Ducks' less-heralded prospects are making a lot of noise in their own right.

Starting things off, 2005 draftee Perttu Lindgren appears to have made the transition to Finland's SM-Liiga successfully. Playing a regular shift for Ilves, Lindgren is third on the team in scoring with 3 goals and 3 assists in 13 games. Lindgren figures to play a prominent role for the Finnish Lions at this year's WJCs in Vancouver.

Another prospect that figures to play a major role for his team at the WJCs is Kevin Porter. Currently playing for Red Berenson at the University of Michigan (along with Johnson), Porter's name has been mentioned as a potential captain for Team USA in Vancouver. So far, Porter has played a major role for the Wolverines, as he currently leads the NCAA in goals with 5.

After leading the Kelowna Rockets in scoring during the 2005 WHL Playoffs, 2004 draftee Justin Keller has kept the hot hand going into the 2005-06 season. Currently, Keller stands in second in the WHL in both goals (10) and points (18).

Last, but not least, two slightly older draftees deserve mentioning. After struggling a bit last season in the AHL, Tomas Kurka has come on strong in the SM-Liiga. Playing for KalPa Kuopio (owned in part by another Duck, Sami Kapanen), Kurka leads his team in scoring with 6 goals and 3 assists in 13 games.

Meanwhile, coming off of two very solid seasons in the Russian Super League, Evgeny Gladskikh is off to a hot start for Magnitogorsk Metallurg. While he may be the "other Evgeny" on this team (you may have heard of some kid named Malkin...), Gladskikh is more than holding his own with 7 goals and 4 assists in 17 games.

Truth be told, if only two or three of these "fringe" prospects ever end up making the big club, the Ducks will have done a fantastic job. That said, these are just some of the names that fans should get to know now, if only to stock up on "I remember when..." stories. ;)
 

HFNHL Commish

Registered User
Feb 28, 2002
1,355
8
A minor follow-up...

While he's not exactly a fringe prospect, winger Jason Pominville had a big night on Friday, scoring five goals in the Rochester Americans' 8-4 win over Cleveland.

Now, potting five goals in any game is certainly an achievement unto itself. However, scoing five goals on five shots?!?!? Almost unheard of! What's even more impressive is that Pominville was a -1 on the night! Clearly, there's a Selke Trophy somewhere in Jason's future. :sarcasm:
 
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