Devils AHL prospects 2007-08 review

It was another trying season for the Devils AHL affiliate in Lowell, but the progress of forward Petr Vrana was a positive in an otherwise down year.

Read full article... (http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=10341)

Nice evaluation Jared!

Very dissapointing obviously, but at the same time some players made some nice strides in their development. Vrana's breakout, Fraser's continued development and Bergfors gaining form after his injuries.

I look to next season as major stepping stone in prospect development for this franchise, hopefully there will be a significant influx of young talent for Lowell, New Jersey and its fans. We know for sure that Corrente, Halishuck, Swift, Eckford, Frazee and others will be there (Palmieri most likely spends another year in the juniors). Also there is the possibility of Vasyunov, Zharkov and Tulupov being signed. No superstars, but lots of solid talent.

Presuming Vrana makes the big club and Bergfors is given one more healthy year of development in the AHL (he is only 21 after all!), Lowell could be looking at some really good depth of talent, providing NJ can get its young talent signed.

The way we have drafted recently, I would trade draft picks for players who can make the Devils roster. After seeing Sergei Zubov last night, I would trade a second-rounder and/or Andy Greene or Vish for him. I know he is old, but for a year or two, he could really help us on the blueline. Still great on the PP and can play both right and left defense. Adds offense, mobility, and experience. Dallas is going to lose to Detroit and may be willing to trade Zubie in order to dump his salary and sign a younger defenseman.

I forgot what happened to Philippe Boucher, but he should be back next season and he is no kid. Same with Mattias Norstrom. Dallas has to get younger and they also have to pay Brad Richards who is making something like 200 zillion a season. LOL

We didn't have a first-rounder last season and from the early returns, it was a good draft. LL and DC need a few more solid drafts to stock the system.

NO MORE ADRIAN FOSTERS!!!!! :p: Take a risk in a later round, not the first round. We could have had Derek Roy or Mike Cammalleri and we ended up with Adrian Foster. Also, no more Lance Wards, Corey Fosters, Ari Ahonens, J-F Damphousses, David Hales, Teemu Laines, Aleksander Suglobovs, Anton Kadeykins, etc., etc. We need more Zach Parises and Travis Zajacs. We can't afford to draft busts in the first round. Or the second round. Too soon to tell how Bergfors and Corrente will turn out. I don't know about Mike Hoeffel, but Nick Palmieri is going to be a stud IMO. I don't get the selection of Corbin McPherson, but if he doesn't pan out, at least Lou rolled the dice in a later round and not the first!

Let's hope Patrick Davis or Ivan Khomutov or someone along those lines, can develop into an NHL player, even if only a third or fourth-liner or a third-pairing defender. Also, it is time to find a goalie of the future. Marty is not getting any younger. Maybe Jeff Frazee will turn his career around. And maybe I'll hit the lottery. LOL

I think I made my point. I would love to see Petr Vrana and Nicklas Bergfors piling up the points on a line with Patrick Elias by the end of next season. However, I am not THAT optimistic.

BTW, good work Jared!!! Thanks a lot!!!!! :D

Couldnt that go in the draft thread Neids?

LOL ;)

Lowell needs to get its **** together and become a winning organization. Our prospects are not gonna develop well on a loser team with 0 chemistry.

Thanks for the article, Jared! I'm excited about hopefully seeing Vrana up with New Jersey next year, and also intrigued by Khomutob's potential.

Lowell needs to get its **** together and become a winning organization. Our prospects are not gonna develop well on a loser team with 0 chemistry.
I think next year, IF they get some of the good prospects in, they could be a pretty decent team. Hopefully make the playoffs. This potential roster looks pretty good, if Lou can get the Russians signed and over here (disclaimer: I know almost nothing about Lowell's defensemen, so these pairings don't mean much).

Snetsinger - Swift - Halischuk
Vasyunov - Khomutov - Zharkov
Davis - Burton (if the Devils sign him) - Tallackson
Ryznar - Mondou - Gionta

Fraser - Eckford
Tulupov - Magnan
Zimmerman - Ruggeri

Frazee
Caruso
Parise

And that's without Corrente, Bergfors, or Vrana, obviously if any of those guys are in Lowell that will only make them better.

Thanks for the article, Jared! I'm excited about hopefully seeing Vrana up with New Jersey next year, and also intrigued by Khomutov's potential.


I think next year, IF they get some of the good prospects in, they could be a pretty decent team. Hopefully make the playoffs. This potential roster looks pretty good, if Lou can get the Russians signed and over here (disclaimer: I know almost nothing about Lowell's defensemen, so these pairings don't mean much).

Snetsinger - Swift - Halischuk
Vasyunov - Khomutov - Zharkov
Davis - Burton (if the Devils sign him) - Tallackson
Ryznar - Mondou - Gionta

Fraser - Eckford
Tulupov - Magnan
Zimmerman - Ruggeri

Frazee
Caruso
Parise

And that's without Corrente, Bergfors, or Vrana, obviously if any of those guys are in Lowell that will only make them better.

Just wanted to let you know that you forgot Ollie Malmivaara and we do need a goon on the team, possibly Kyle Henegan and/or Pierre-Luc Leblond. Trevor Kell or Brad Mills could make the team also. I wouldn't mind seeing a veteran on defense like Denis Gauthier if a trade can be worked out.

I remember when we used to win in Albany and in the NHL. Gotta find more gems in the later rounds like Stevie Sullivan. Lou may even sign Tony Romano, just for depth. And I do hope that he can bring Vasyunov and Zharkov over, in addition to Sopanen. The more the merrier. ;)

P.S. I wasn't being critical, just wanted to be accurate. I don't know if Ryan Murphy will be back or a Pandolfo will make the roster. I would like to see Trenton do well, but I rather have a winning team in Lowell and if there are any injuries on the Devils, we should be able to reach down and bring up a player to fill the void. We really don't have that luxury right now.

Just wanted to let you know that you forgot Ollie Malmivaara and we do need a goon on the team, possibly Kyle Henegan and/or Pierre-Luc Leblond. Trevor Kell or Brad Mills could make the team also. I wouldn't mind seeing a veteran on defense like Denis Gauthier if a trade can be worked out.

I remember when we used to win in Albany and in the NHL. Gotta find more gems in the later rounds like Stevie Sullivan. Lou may even sign Tony Romano, just for depth. And I do hope that he can bring Vasyunov and Zharkov over, in addition to Sopanen. The more the merrier. ;)

P.S. I wasn't being critical, just wanted to be accurate. I don't know if Ryan Murphy will be back or a Pandolfo will make the roster. I would like to see Trenton do well, but I rather have a winning team in Lowell and if there are any injuries on the Devils, we should be able to reach down and bring up a player to fill the void. We really don't have that luxury right now.

Malmivaara is gone. Signed with some Finnish club.

They should sign Burton. The kid was a stud at Colgate. May never make the big show but he'd be good depth for Lowell for a couple of years.

My biggest concern is getting Vasyunov and Zharkov signed. Tulupov is pretty much a no-brainer since he's already been over here.

They should sign Burton. The kid was a stud at Colgate. May never make the big show but he'd be good depth for Lowell for a couple of years.

My biggest concern is getting Vasyunov and Zharkov signed. Tulupov is pretty much a no-brainer since he's already been over here.

Agreed. Considering we spent a 2nd on Vasyunov and a 3rd on Zharkov, you'd think signing them would be a no-brainer as well. Those two would bring some much needed skill to the Lowell line-up next fall!

Malmivaara is gone. Signed with some Finnish club.

When did this happen? Did anyone post it anywhere? If not the next Chara, I would have settled for the next Hal Gill.

He did play a game for the Devs last season. Sorry that he went home.

Big dummy! :rant:

Agreed. Considering we spent a 2nd on Vasyunov and a 3rd on Zharkov, you'd think signing them would be a no-brainer as well. Those two would bring some much needed skill to the Lowell line-up next fall!

I'm already excited for Lowell's incoming talent pool but those two will add to it extensively. It's a shame it's such a chore to pry these kids out of Russia these days.

Jared is right though... no real good picks in the bunch, most of these guys are 2nd, 3rd, 4th liners. Or bottom d-pairs. I'm not impressed, but that's how I roll. That way when one of these kids does well and is the real deal, I'll be pleasantly surprised.