Prospect Info: Syracuse Crunch, Orlando Solar Bears, & Prospects Thread

[Felonious Python]

OSB and SC are in a battle for the last playoff spot in their division.

I've been waiting a few weeks to see the Bears show that they're at all prepared for playoff hockey, but there's just no way. I literally can not understand how everyone seems to forget how intense the game is during the most important time of the year.

Last night Orlando and South Carolina played in fact, and OSB completely blew it. Completely. They were totally blindsided by their opponent bringing a legitimate playoff style game to them, and were either unable, or unwilling to adapt.

 

[BoltsFanSinceDay1]

Got some family members going to tomorrow's game...who are they playing, and what do you forecast---a win or a loss?

 

[Felonious Python]

Got some family members going to tomorrow's game...who are they playing, and what do you forecast---a win or a loss?

Everblades are always a top team. Cup contenders most years (especially this one with so few teams).

Playoff fate makes for a wildcard, but in a regular matchup, Florida is the better team.

 

[Felonious Python]

Bears down 2-0 against Jacksonville, who are an even less serious team than Orlando. No additional urgency. Regular season game. They've assumed the position.

edit: 5-1 loss.

Please. Please. Major changes in Orlando now. Only 4 months until next season. End this era.

 

[Felonious Python]

Hate to say it, but maybe the best thing for the Bears would be another noticeable loss today. You can't allow any wiggle room to justify keeping course. They can't have a 'winning record' when they fail to make the playoffs. In analogy terms, not being convicted of a crime is not the same as being innocent.

Sure, the fans will cheer the team at the end of the game, but that doesn't mean it was permission to take their money and another year of our lives with this.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Shawn Element and Victoriaville beat Cajkovic to win the President Cup as QMJHL champions. Both move on to pro for 2021-22

 

[Felonious Python]

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

SKA acquires Zakhar Bardakov. Bardakov played on a line with Groshev for both the World Juniors and in February for the Euro Hockey Tour in Malmo. This move reunites them again.

Bardakov (20 years old) is eligible for the 2021 draft after being passed over last year. He was a finalist for the KHL's rookie of the year award this season.

 

[Felonious Python]

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

The 2021 Crunch Team Awards:

MVP: Katchouk & Raddysh
Heart & Sole: Raddysh
Defender of the Year: Thomas
Offensive Player of the Year: Katchouk
Most Improved Player of the Year: Green
Rookie of the Year: Fortier

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Interesting article on Maxim Cajkovic. Talks about getting kicked off the U-20 team and earning a contract from Tampa

google translated:

Maxim Čajkovič (@ max_cajkovic88) received a rookie contract from @TBLightning. For the first time since his elimination in his twenties, he spoke about an incident that nearly closed the door to his #nhl contract. More in an open conversation with a talented attacker.

... the Bratislava player was expelled from the camp before the World Juniors. He himself says that the situation was very difficult for the psyche when he felt the hatred of the fans, but he does not want to return to it. He will go to the Florida team's camp in the fall, saying he wants to play in the NHL.

"It was a long-awaited thing for which I did everything. In the end, with the help of my parents and the people around me, I succeeded. Tampa communicated with me all season on a two-week basis. Already when I was at the beginning of the year in Bratislava Capitals, they discussed videos with me and pointed out what I should improve in. They showed interest, which pleased me. It was a good sign. I was also communicated with people who make sure that I improve on things off the ice."

You started in the mentioned Capitals, but then you returned to the Canadian QMJHL. Did you not regret returning to the junior competition?

"Tampa always wanted me to go back to Canada and they had me under scrutiny. There are scouts at every match or watch it online. They also have better contacts in teams. According to my information, they called someone from the organization every week and asked about me. I wanted to satisfy them to get closer to the contract, which succeeded."

"The goal is clear - the NHL. I've had it since I started playing hockey. I want to show at the camp that I am ready for a profilig in my head. I'm working hard to convince Tampa's management. We'll see what it takes for me."
...
"I will do whatever they want from me. I see shortcomings in myself and I work on eliminating them on a daily basis. I want to eliminate them so they can't blame me. I would like to have trump cards in my own hands. As an offensive player, I have to deal with the defense in order for the coach to trust me."

A little of the aftermath after leaving the World Junior team -

"The match was played at two in the afternoon. At seven in the evening, the coaches called me and decided to leave the staff. Then they told the boys and most of them stood up for me. They wanted me on the team. Unfortunately, there was already an article out at that time that I was fired and there was no going back. However, I am very grateful to the guys that they showed me their trust and saw it differently. It gave me a positive force for further work, that my friends supported me."

...an assistant general manager from Tampa called me and asked me my look. I explained it to him and said we would see what happened next. It wasn't easy at all mentally to get out of it and pursue a hockey career."

Val-d'Or GM Pacsal Daoust:

"We always knew that Maxim could score goals and score, but it was whether he was a good teammate and could become a professional. I said, if he comes to us and manages the criticism, we will help him to do so. He did everything. He scored, was a member of the winning team and signed a contract to the NHL. His teammates liked him for that. He deserves a chance in the best league in the world. He must remain focused, work on shortcomings and have patience. I wish him only the best, he definitely has it to get among the best."

 

[Legionnaire11]

Looking for info on players who made their NHL debut this season. What kind of future outlook do these guys have?

Alex Barre-Boulet
Ross Colton
Ben Thomas
Daniel Walcott

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Eamon Powell and Declan McDonnell both earn invites to USA Hockey's World Junior Summer Showcase.

Unlike Powell who has ties to the NTDP and U-18 team, McDonnell has never played internationally for the US. He only played 16 games this past season (0g, 2a), but they were all in the AHL. That must have put him on their radar.

Forty-four players have been invited to the 2021 World Junior Summer Showcase set for July 24-31 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, it was announced today by USA Hockey.

The Showcase, which will also include teams from Finland and Sweden, will serve as an evaluation for athletes seeking to make their respective national teams for the 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2021, through Jan. 5, 2022 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.

Bolts haven't had 2 American prospects attend their summer evaluation camp since 2015 with Johnathan MacLeod and Kris Oldham.

 

[BowDownToVasilevskiy]

Looking for info on players who made their NHL debut this season. What kind of future outlook do these guys have?

Alex Barre-Boulet
Ross Colton
Ben Thomas
Daniel Walcott

I expect Barre-Boulet to make the team next year and the Lightning seem to be very confident in his abilities. When Stamkos was injured, Barre-Boulet was on the top line, he was also getting time on the power play as well. He showed that he had some ability but definitely things to work on, he will be in the top 6 next year.

Ross Colton will also be on the team next year, he has been an absolute gem ever since being called up. He started out very hot as well, I could see him also making the top 6 but I believe he is better suited for the bottom 6 as that is where he is doing good right now. In my opinion, he has a lot of upside.

Ben Thomas and Daniel Walcott I am not so sure about. Both got looks this year, I think Thomas got the longer look while he was up with the Lightning. They might be able to make the team depending on our defensive departures in the offseason. I might have missed something so somebody else might be able to hop in and add more.

 

[Felonious Python]

The WJSS (July 24-31) will immediately follow the NHL draft (July 23-24), so it'll be a chance to see some Lightning prospects.

Eamon Powell and Declan McDonnell, as well as draft eligible Bradenton native Sasha Pastujov have been invited by USA Hockey. The US team will be split into white and blue teams (which is how 44 players will work), and participate along with Sweden and Finland.

HockeyTV has been announced as showing the games, although I believe it's been on NHLN in past years.

 

[Bolt32]

Eamon Powell and Declan McDonnell both earn invites to USA Hockey's World Junior Summer Showcase.

Unlike Powell who has ties to the NTDP and U-18 team, McDonnell has never played internationally for the US. He only played 16 games this past season (0g, 2a), but they were all in the AHL. That must have put him on their radar.




Bolts haven't had 2 American prospects attend their summer evaluation camp since 2015 with Johnathan MacLeod and Kris Oldham.

Eamon Powell I'm interested in seeing. Doing my own scouting on him I project him to be a boom or bust prospect. His ceiling is a Dan Boyle type of Dman, but just as easily can be just #7 Powerplay specialist. What he wants to be is up to him and how much work puts in, but he has the tools to be a an offensive number 1 if hes willing to work for it. Kid can be special.

 

[Felonious Python]

Eamon Powell I'm interested in seeing. Doing my own scouting on him I project him to be a boom or bust prospect. His ceiling is a Dan Boyle type of Dman, but just as easily can be just #7 Powerplay specialist. What he wants to be is up to him and how much work puts in, but he has the tools to be a an offensive number 1 if hes willing to work for it. Kid can be special.

If you're saying he's basically guaranteed to be an NHLer, then as a 4th round pick, he can't really bust.

 

[Bolt32]

If you're saying he's basically guaranteed to be an NHLer, then as a 4th round pick, he can't really bust.

Nah, he can also be a Career AHLer. Just saying what I saw his potential of being. There are things I cannot scout that Traditional NHL scouts can. Such as desire from the player, their home life. How coachable they are. All of these will be instrumental for his development. For all I know he doesn't even like hockey and was just doing it for a free ride through college. However, his raw ability can be a Dan Boyle type of Dman. Something I think we would all love.

 

[YayHockeysBack]

Eamon Powell I'm interested in seeing. Doing my own scouting on him I project him to be a boom or bust prospect. His ceiling is a Dan Boyle type of Dman, but just as easily can be just #7 Powerplay specialist. What he wants to be is up to him and how much work puts in, but he has the tools to be a an offensive number 1 if hes willing to work for it. Kid can be special.

I was thinking about him too, because these playoffs have once again illustrated the importance of having large, heavy defensemen--and he's not that. Especially for the Lightning who definitely have a type. Do you think he has a chance to play with the Lightning, or will he be trade bait if he develops into an NHL player?

 

[Bolt32]

I was thinking about him too, because these playoffs have once again illustrated the importance of having large, heavy defensemen--and he's not that. Especially for the Lightning who definitely have a type. Do you think he has a chance to play with the Lightning, or will he be trade bait if he develops into an NHL player?

Assuming he does hit that Dan Boylish area, then yeah we will keep him and just pair him with a defensively solid big man D man. Much Like Boyle had in Kubina. I think he has a pretty good shot at cracking our line up in a 3 to 4 years. The numbers he puts up are impressive and has such a high hockey IQ with smooth skating ability. The sky is the limit for him, truly. Luckily we learned in the past not to knock on someone because of their size. (*Cough* St.Louis *Cough*).

 

[Felonious Python]

I was thinking about him too, because these playoffs have once again illustrated the importance of having large, heavy defensemen--and he's not that. Especially for the Lightning who definitely have a type. Do you think he has a chance to play with the Lightning, or will he be trade bait if he develops into an NHL player?

Dan Boyle finished his career with the NYR, and he's the same height as Powell. Stralman is a similar height as well.

and if NYR does it...

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Translated:

Andre Tourigny spends the week in Arizona to meet the leaders of #Coyotes

Talks are well underway for the post of head coach

Don't be surprised if Benoit Groulx accompanies Tourigny as Assistant Ent in the desert the two are good friends #LHJMQ

 

[Major4Boarding]

Thoughts on who replaces Groulx then? Veilleux? Outside the org?

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Thoughts on who replaces Groulx then? Veilleux? Outside the org?

Could be either assistant coach, Eric Veilleux or Gilles Bouchard. Veilleux was the CHL coach of the year in 2014. Bouchard won it in 2016.

Just to show some past winners to speak to the quality of coaches:

Gerard Gallant (2011) - Rangers head coach
Jim Hiller (2012) - Islanders assistant coach
Dominique Ducharme (2013) - Habs head coach
Sheldon Keefe (2015) - Leafs head coach
Ryan McGill (2017) - Vegas assistant coach
Drew Bannister (2018) - AHL head coach
Mario Pouliot (2019) - still GM/head coach of Rouyn-Noranda
Tourigny (2020) - Arizona head coach?

The 2 other finalists from 2014 Veilleux beat out - DJ Smith, head coach of Ottawa, and Dave Lowry, assistant coach with Winnipeg. And then in 2016 Bouchard beat out Kris Knoblauch, head coach of the Ranger's AHL team who was also a potential replacement for Quinn.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Start at 20:00 in

Jeff Marek:

"I'm happy for a few people who probably won't get as much credit as they deserve. One is super scout Al Murray, who we've talked about before. You look at that forward group for the Tampa Bay Lightning and outside of Steven Stamkos, not one of them is a 1st round draft pick. Him and his staff have been able to find players, identify and find and bring them into the organization. And the other people I want to mention Benoit Groulx, Eric Veilleux, and Gilles Bouchard in Syracuse with the Syracuse Crunch organization. You know, the scouts identity and bring them in and then it's up to these guys to develop them. Ross Colton is someone who played in Syracuse for Groulx and Veilleux and Bouchard. Like he's a product of the Syracuse Crunch and their affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before I move on to Montreal, we really do need to say a couple of things about, not just the Tampa Bay Lightning, but a key piece of that organization which is the Syracuse Crunch."

Elliotte Friedman:

"I think it goes to what we talked about before which is the Lightning are as an organization, they are demanding, not only of their players, but they are demanding of everybody in the organization. Their American Hockey League team is expected to develop players to go seamlessly into the organization. As you pointed out, they do. Their scouts, they demand to go out and find players who are drafted a little later on that can make their roster, and they do. Steve Yzerman was a very demanding boss when he was there and I think Julien BriseBois is also a very demanding boss. I think those standards are everywhere in the organization. I don't think that people chafe under those standards. Instead I think they compete hard to reach those standards. To me that's important. When you're in a high level position anywhere in the organization, I think just in general of yourself, you should demand a lot of yourself. A lot is expected of you, and that means people believe you can deliver a lot and can you do it, and the people in that organization certainly do."

Dolgon and several extended members of the Crunch family, including CFO Vance Lederman and COO Jim Sarosy, watched live as the Lightning clinched its second-straight Cup. Last year, because of Covid restrictions, Dolgon and his staff had to settle for trying to enjoy the accomplishment on television.

Dolgon and Lederman sat among an eclectic gathering in the box of Lightning GEO Steve Griggs. They mingled with Poison singer Bret Michaels, ex-Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa mayor Jane Castor and some rappers that Dolgon didn’t know, among others. Next to them was a box that included Sarosy, Crunch coach Ben Groulx, coaches and scouts.
After Colton scored, Dolgon leaned into the next box and gestured at Groulx.

“I pointed and said, ‘Come here,’” Dolgon said. “I said, ‘That’s you, buddy. You made him the player. You got him ready to play at this level.’ That’s what this is about.”