It's officially summer in the NHL and that means I'll be looking to you guys to drive the direction of this blog for the next few weeks before I head to Lake Placid for the 2012 National Junior Team Evaluation Camp with Team USA, Team Finland and Team Sweden. So, if you have questions about anything in the NHL, NCAA or international competitions let me hear them because I might have answers for you….
Via Twitter:
@gsk1994 how legit is this guy? Future in the NHL?
This was in reference to Kyle Jean, the Lake Superior State Laker who signed with the New York Rangers earlier this week as an undrafted free agent after an obviously successful showing at their prospect camp last week.
He's a great prospect at 6'4, 200 lb who knows how to use his body, is surprisingly light footed and recently re-discovered his scoring touch, especially around the net, but I don't think he's penciled into the Rangers lineup this fall. That said, he was poised to be a hot commodity in the college free agent market this year and was invited to several development camps this summer, including Buffalo's this weekend.
At 22 years-old, he's kind of in that awkward development stage where he's better than where he is, but not quite good enough for the next level which is why I think this is a great move for him. He'll get prime-time minutes in Hartford against guys who are bigger, stronger, older, etc. and be challenged to improve. Just like the transition to college, I think it will take him some time to find his game and his real worth will reveal itself in two to three years.
Long term, I think he could develop into a great depth guy with an offensive upside.
Via twitter:
@nyrs_rangers Who wins the NCAA hockey tourny in 2013? Minnesota if Bjugstad stays? Michigan? Another team?
That's a loaded question. I don't know who's going to win because I'm not psychic, but here are a few teams that I expect to give it a good run.
North Dakota: They return Danny Kristo and Derek Forbort, who could have easily signed professional contracts this season, and have two red-shirt freshman in Colten St Clair and Rocco Grimaldi not to mention the incoming freshmen class headlined by Blues first round selection Jordan Schmaltz. Scoring goals should not be a problem for this team and in goal, we could be treated to an interesting competition between transfer Clarke Saunders, freshman Zane Gothberg and senior Aaron Dell. Looking like fun times ahead in Grand Forks this year.
Michigan: College Hockey 101 says you never underestimate the Wolverines. They were a successful team last year due to a lot of depth and great team defense and that looks to be their M.O. for this year as well. They'll be looking at their sophomores to drive the bus offensively lead by Alex Guptill and Phil Di Guiseppe and to their defensemen, highlighted by junior Jon Merrill and freshman Jacob Trouba, to create some offense from the blueline. The real question mark will be in goal, but they're hoping NTDP product, Jared Rutledge, will be able to step right in and get the job done.
Minnesota: Although many fans are ready to give them the national championship right now, there are some pretty big question marks surrounding this team, mainly if junior Nick Bjugstad will return and if either of their untested goalies will step up and continue the Gopher tradition, but one thing is for sure, this team will not lack in offensive firepower and that fact alone should keep them in the hunt.
Western Michigan: The transformation within this program over the past two seasons has been simply remarkable and this year looks to be even better. They return their top scorers, nearly their entire blueline and sophomore goaltender Frank Slubowski, who made quite the name for himself last year as he posted a 2.03 GAA and .911 save percentage. You'd be silly to think they didn't have a good chance at repeating as CCHA Champs and be a force in the NCAAs.
Other teams I'm keeping an eye on are Boston College, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Union.
Via Twitter:
@ajs3677 how do the preds move on from here? And what if Weber doesn't sign.. kings ransom I guess?!
The Nashville Predators have been able to do more with less better than any other team in the league for the past 12 years. Losing Suter makes that more difficult in the short-term, but it won't change their management philosophy or techniques and they will continue to get it done. Nashville is a great place to play hockey and plenty of players know it including Suter, who said this decision was about family and not about money.
As far as Weber goes, I fully expect Poile to offer him a fat multi-year contract and I think he'll take it. Players want to know that their team is committed to winning a Stanley Cup and I'm sure Weber knows what lengths the Preds went to in hopes of keeping Suter in town and will likely continue to do throughout the summer to improve their team. That said, if a deal doesn't get done before the next trade deadline, I'd expect him to be traded. I think the only thing that kept Suter in Nashville this spring was the belief that the Predators could make a legitimate run at the Cup. Poile rolled the dice with Suter and I highly doubt he'd run the risk of losing both players for nothing.
Via Facebook:
Jon Freeman Nelson: How much of the season will be missed because of protracted negotiations and petty bickering…???
I'd like to think that both sides learned a lesson the last time the CBA was negotiated and I'm willing to say that I don't think we'll lose an entire season like we did in 2004-05. I'm also enough of an optimist to hold out hope of a full season until September at the earliest. I am encouraged by the internal meetings held by the NHLPA and that preliminary discussions with the owners has already begun. It will be an interesting summer in that regard, but the only reason people are worried about losing all or part of a season is because of what happened in the past and I prefer to focus on the present with my eyes towards the future, not looking behind me. I'm hoping the players and owners share in my philosophy and sort through their issues swiftly and we won't miss a single game…even in the pre-season.
Via Twitter:
@danfen14 u think the blue jackets will trade nash?
In my opinion, the Blue Jackets are in dire need of some offensive depth and for a team with tight purse strings, trading their star player for a mixed bag of offensively capable players plus prospects is the best route. They've got guys like Ryan Johansen, Cam Atkinson and Ryan Murray and prospects like TJ Tynan, Boone Jenner and Will Weber, but the cupboards are looking a pretty bare in Columbus. They need depth and elite prospects pronto. Trading Nash has the potential to solve that issue with immediate impact. That said, they have the option to wait for the best offer and I have no doubt that they will.
Julie
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