Confirmed with Link: Wheeling Nailers Sign Alex Velischek
- Thread starter Crafton
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Crafton
Liver-Eating Johnson
if not for the Crosby-DMV thread, this could have been the most off-seasony story of the off-season.
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BreakfastatMarios
Registered User
Tasty Biscuits
with fancy sauce
Burgs
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- Sep 10, 2005
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The Penguins' draft rights to Velischek expire this week and it didn't look like anyone else was going to offer him something better. At least he can consider himself still on the fringes of the organization.
And Wheeling is becoming the place to watch sons of former NHL players: Samuelsson, Hotham and now Velischek. The first two dads were even Pens. Maybe the Nailers get to add Archibald in a couple of years.
And Wheeling is becoming the place to watch sons of former NHL players: Samuelsson, Hotham and now Velischek. The first two dads were even Pens. Maybe the Nailers get to add Archibald in a couple of years.
Honour Over Glory
Fire Sully
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Not sure what to think about this prospect, besides his NHL bloodlines, didn't he leave his NCAA team because of an issue with a coach who then was fired or left and then he returned?
What's the story behind that, only other thing I know about him is that he is a pretty swift skater.
What's the story behind that, only other thing I know about him is that he is a pretty swift skater.
Honour Over Glory
Fire Sully
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Why on earth would Philip be in Wheeling? He made big enough strides last year to earn a spot as a regular in WBS all year last year and should, going forward. He should be considered a veteran at this point.
The others you mentioned, sure, they belong there, Philip...no.
Zero Pucks
Size matters
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I think Burgs was just mentioning Samuelsson did play in Wheeling for a brief period of time. Not that he's going to be playing there next season.
Burgs
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Velischek left Providence during his sophomore year because of ice time disputes with the head coach. He played out the season in the USHL, and the following summer Providence changed coaches so he returned to college. Funny thing is he was drafted as a puck-moving defensemen with a productive high school career but in college his offense dried up nearly completely.
Yes, that's what I meant. Once he gets leapfrogged on the depth chart (it's a question of when, not if IMO) I believe the Pens are more likely to trade him than send him to the ECHL.
UnrealMachine
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Could the Pens have a trading partner in the Rangers now that Ulf is there? Prospect swap? It would probably be the best case for everyone in this situation.
Darth Vitale
Dark Matter
Based on those college and minor league numbers, he'll never get a whif of the big team. There are too many better options talent and upside-wise. That said he could make a living for himself in the AHL potentially if he has a couple big years in the ECHL.
Burgs
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Maybe Phoenix as well since they have his brother as one of their top prospects. The bloodlines should increase his trade chances but then again not every franchise is hellbent on collecting names like Carolina is with the Staals.
Honour Over Glory
Fire Sully
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I must be missing something...Samuelsson went from a calming force in WBS and a guy that has improved a lot to a guy that the team should trade because of depth chart issues...why don't we just wait until camp starts.
Yeah I don't think anyone is suggesting we trade him right now but he makes the most sense of the D prospects to move as he's older than most of the other D prospects and doesn't have a particular standout skill. We've already got Bortuzzo at the NHL level who has a similar skill set but further along. Unfortunately I don't think Samuelsson is worth much but he could be a nice addition to a package at the deadline or maybe we can swap him for a bottom 6 prospect.
Burgs
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Samuelsson improving last season doesn't mean much to me because he was so bad previously. He did nothing at Boston College (unless we're counting that collision with a streetcar), turned pro too early for whatever reason, then did nothing again as a rookie in WBS. He admitted that he is a slow starter every time he steps up to the next level but for a late 2nd round pick he's been very meh so far. And with Harrington, D'Agostino and Ruopp coming in this fall, and Määttä and Pouliot due next year Samuelsson will soon find himself in a tight spot on the WBS depth chart.
Of course he's still young and could take a big step this coming season. Defensive defensemen are sometimes slow to develop (extreme example: Scuderi who also wasn't great at anything in particular and only broke out in his late 20s). But my guess is the Pens will rather trade him than wait for that to happen. There's just too much of a logjam on D.
