AHL Season in Review

Hey guys,

Just finished up the AHL Season Wrap-Up Article, the last the Devils will have with the Albany River Rats. It was a struggle for the team yet again, but there were a lot of positive developments, especially at forward.

http://hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=8754&mode=threaded&order=0

Please post thoughts and comments on this thread :)

Jared

Great read! :handclap:

I don't follow the Devils prospects too closely, so it's nice to get a recap of the season.

With the Devils potential salary woes next season I would imagine they'll have to have one or two rookies in the lineup just to keep costs down - who do you think is most likely to make the team? Bergfors? Tallackson?

Great read! :handclap:

I don't follow the Devils prospects too closely, so it's nice to get a recap of the season.

With the Devils potential salary woes next season I would imagine they'll have to have one or two rookies in the lineup just to keep costs down - who do you think is most likely to make the team? Bergfors? Tallackson?

I'd say Tallackson has the best shot out of anybody. I think the Devils will be looking for some supporting cast guys, so guys like Pihlman, Ryznar and Clarkson could see some limited 4th line duty next year as well.

Great analysis as always, thanks!

I like your assessment of Bergfors, especially how he will probably need at least another year of development. I don't see how he can go into the NHL at 19 and develop and produce enough. Another year or two in the AHL will definitely do him well.

I haven't seen Vrana play but based on descriptions and stats, he seems to be a Brylin type foward, is that a fair analysis? Seems like he can become a very good 3rd or 4th line Center, who can play offensive and defensive roles.

Clarkson reminds me of a Rasmussen or Wiemer type 4th liner. Can hit, fight, and occasionally add a goal here and there. I wonder how much 4th line time he gets with the Devils.

I like Tallackson and Ryznar a lot. I feel they are both ready to take the next step. Let them start the season on the Devils and earn promotions to upper lines and get more ice time. I really hope Tallackson can become a good 2nd line player, or at least a 3rd liner someday. I hope Ryznar can become a Jay Pandolfo and be a sound defensive foward, who can kill penalties.

I think next year it will be interesting to see how Khomutov, Voros, Nittel, and DeMarchi progress. It seems like Pihlman and Pikkarainen are not going to do much ever. I am excited to see how Zajac, Fraser, Zimmerman, Gionta, and Greene progress in their first full year in the AHL.

I do think another year in the AHL for Bergfors is probably the best route to go, but as I said, should he preform well enough in training camp and pre-season the Devils shouldn't be afraid to give him a shot despite his age. With the way the game has opened up now, it may allow a young talent like Bergfors to flourish.

The Vrana-Brylin comparisons I think are pretty valid and accurate. Kinda of a jack of all trades forward, but I think Vrana is a touch more fiesty and has a bit of "agitator" in him.

I really think Clarkson has a decent shot at somepoint next season to play an agitating role on the 4th line. Imagine him and Janssen smashing and crashing everything on the ice that moves!

Tallackson with time could end up as a second line winger, but the Devils won't rush him. But I do think he's got the best shot of the bunch of prospects at the AHL level to stick next season. Ryznar as a Pandolfo type down the road is a fair analysis as well.

Nittel and Voros really need to step up and make themselves noticed, over the course of the full season. Khomutov, I think the Devils can be patient with due to the depth of centers in the system. He's still very raw.

I do think another year in the AHL for Bergfors is probably the best route to go, but as I said, should he preform well enough in training camp and pre-season the Devils shouldn't be afraid to give him a shot despite his age. With the way the game has opened up now, it may allow a young talent like Bergfors to flourish.

The Vrana-Brylin comparisons I think are pretty valid and accurate. Kinda of a jack of all trades forward, but I think Vrana is a touch more fiesty and has a bit of "agitator" in him.

I really think Clarkson has a decent shot at somepoint next season to play an agitating role on the 4th line. Imagine him and Janssen smashing and crashing everything on the ice that moves!

Tallackson with time could end up as a second line winger, but the Devils won't rush him. But I do think he's got the best shot of the bunch of prospects at the AHL level to stick next season. Ryznar as a Pandolfo type down the road is a fair analysis as well.

Nittel and Voros really need to step up and make themselves noticed, over the course of the full season. Khomutov, I think the Devils can be patient with due to the depth of centers in the system. He's still very raw.
What do you think of Zajac's chances of making the Devils out of training camp next year? Is there any chance?

What do you think of Zajac's chances of making the Devils out of training camp next year? Is there any chance?

I wouldn't rule it out, but I'd say chances are that he'll spend at least one full season in the AHL before he gets a real serious look at a regular roster spot. It wouldn't surprise me to see him get a game or two look at somepoint next season, but considering that he only spent 2 year at UND, you'd have to think that it would be best served for him to spend the year with Lowell. Watching the Oilers dominate in the face circle during the playoffs though makes me want to have a guy like Zajac sooner rather than later. His face-off prowess is something that shouldn't be overlooked.

Thanks, Jared.
Having seen the Rats play about a dozen times this year, including visits to Manchester, Providence, Lowell and Portland (my son - Jason's cousin - lives outside of Boston) your assessment is very spot on.

Miller looked like he was ready for a breakout until his injury. Considering Doyle was in the ECHL a year ago, his "trial by fire" kept the Rats in many games.

I think it's great that Robbie Ftorek will be able to commute home (just like any other normal working stiff!) each day..

Have a great summer!

Nice article.
I hope that the fans in Lowell will have something to cheer about next season.
}:-)>

Thanks for all the positive feedback guys :) ....and yes, hopefully the move to Lowell will be a positive one for the organization and the fans of the Lock Monsters.

Good article, although I think you were a bit too critical of Vrana. I thought his defensive game was pretty good. He was on the PK quite often.

I appreciate the article, it was well written.

Alas, I think this is it for Adrian Foster. I really don't think he's going to recover enough to play a full season, much less break out. It is good that in spite of the poor performance of the River Rats, that the Devils prospects are generally moving on in development and good to hear that some could challenge for roster spots. Better to have too many players fight for a spot than too few.

It appears Pikkarainen and Ahonen are heading back to Finland.
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=249484&page=1&pp=25 post # 15 & 17
http://www.hifk.fi/news/files/157.html

Good article, although I think you were a bit too critical of Vrana. I thought his defensive game was pretty good. He was on the PK quite often.

Sometime the +/- figures are a little misleading, and hence maybe I shouldn't have been as critical of him as I was. He did have a poor minus rating, but it was a learning year for him. He played in many different situations, including the PK, and should only get better....

Sometime the +/- figures are a little misleading, and hence maybe I shouldn't have been as critical of him as I was. He did have a poor minus rating, but it was a learning year for him. He played in many different situations, including the PK, and should only get better....
...plus he played on a team that had trouble keeping the puck out of the net anyway.
Truth is, not too many Rats who played a whole lot this year had +/- numbers on the sunny side of 0.
}:-(>

I don't think Vrana plays like Brylin, he is much slicker, agile and better with the puck. I think his offensive game is underated quite a bit and with the right players (Olesz at WJC) Vrana can be an offensive player. Vrana does need to get stronger though and when he does get stronger, with a a big offensive threat like Zajac, he will put up some points.

When Vrana was drafted is was well known he was a agile playmaker with amazing stickhandling skills that could cash in when needed. I think it would be pointless to develop him into a soldier like Brylin. He was a projected late 1st/early 2nd offensive player in one of the strongest, deepest drafts in some time.

I really feel sorry for fans in Albany because Lowell may actually have a keeper next year. The players this year for Albany competed hard and were very raw, next year with an additional year under their belt and getting stronger, players like Vrana, Bergfors, Miller, Greene, Gionta and Clarkson are going to shoot this team up the standings.

Can Vrana play all the foward positions? I saw him listed as a center, but I think Zajac will take the 2nd line center role in some years. Its nice to have a lot of foward talent and it is evenly distributed between offensive and defensive players.

Can Vrana play all the foward positions? I saw him listed as a center, but I think Zajac will take the 2nd line center role in some years. Its nice to have a lot of foward talent and it is evenly distributed between offensive and defensive players.
When his shoulder was bothering him in Halifax he played LW, mainly so he wouldn't be taking faceoffs or have a great responsibility.