Quote:
Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!
I like this team.
I'll be honest, I don't expect any of them, other than Sven and maybe Brodie, to be impact players in the NHL. I don't think them winning somehow proves that the cupboards aren't bare (because I think they basically are).
But I like how they play hockey. And I like how they win.
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Impact players, perhaps you are right. But if they play like this all season and continue to lead the standings, I think it is reasonable to expect that several will become NHL players of varying degrees.
When the Saint John Flames won the Calder Cup in 2001 the cupboards were no less bare than they are now. Almost all of that championship team (see below) went on to have at least a cup of coffee in the NHL and a handful went on to be regular players.
If the Heat can continue to demonstrate success in the AHL this season their roster could have a similar trajectory for the future.
2000-01 - Saint John Flames - Steve Begin, Blair Betts, Jason Botterill, Chris Clark, Jeff Dewar, Doug Doull, Micki DuPont, Miika Elomo, Rico Fata, Mike Martin, Steve Montador, Jason Morgan, Rick Mrozik, Marty Murray, Dave Roche, Gaetan Royer, Bobby Russell, Darrel Scoville, Chris St. Croix, Daniel Tkaczuk, Sergei Varlamov, Derrick Walser, Martin Brochu (G), Levente Szuper (G)