Quote:
Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy
Anyways, all I'm saying is that our expectations for this team should have been tempered right from the beginning.
It's made up of almost all prospects/1st & 2nd year pros and has zero AHL ringers on it.
Next year could be very similar too, as we hope to have Jankowski, Mangiapane, Anderssen, Pollock, Kanzig, McDonald and who knows how many others graduate to the pro ranks.
|
Too many people assume an influx of young talent will reap immediate dividends. The AHL, much like the NHL is a league where too young of a team will make it very difficult to win.
And you are right about next year too, it is going to be a struggle for sure as they will have many or more rookies than they did this year. Next season we are looking at:
1st season
- Goaltenders: Jon Gillies (let's face it he'll still be a rookie) & Mason McDonald
- Defensemen: Rasmus Andersson, Keegan Kanzig, John Gilmour, Adam Ollas-Mattsson (unlikely), Rushan Rafikov (unlikely)
- Forwards: Mark Jankowski, Andrew Mangiapane, Brett Pollock
2nd Season
- Defensemen: Oliver Kylington, Kenney Morrison
- Forwards: Austin Carroll, Morgan Klimchuk, Hunter Smith
3rd Season
- Defensemen: Ryan Culkin, Brett Kulak, Patrick Sieloff, Dustin Stevenson
- Forwards: Kenny Agostino, Bill Arnold, Garnet Hathaway, Emile Poirier, Hunter Shinkaruk, Bryce Van Brabant
The most veteran players we hold rights to for next season are Freddie Hamilton (5th year), Turner Elson (4th year) & Tyler Wotherspoon (4th year) and that is a line-up of 14 forwards, 10 defensemen (not counting the 2 who are unlikely to come over from abroad) and 2 goalies; there is not much room for veterans.