a thread is worthless with captial letters too...Golferdow01 said:
i sent bk a little pm about it, anyone who cares to know a little more in depth can ask, but basically a lot of the stuff around phil is about his parents, his mom has been known to get in spats with parents, players, coaches etc, it has cooled since phil went off to school. that being said the prima donna stuff, i wouldnt be able to deny it, but how many 17-18 olds can have their name thrown out as an american great one, or the best player to ever come out of the states, the hype of being #1 essentially since he started playing hockey at a high level.jimotis4heisman said:
[FONT=verdana,helvetica,arial]Blue Jackets 2001 draft evaluation[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,helvetica,arial]Written by Chris Leary on 06/10/2006[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]In just their second crack at the parsing the wheat from the chaff, the Columbus Blue Jackets managed to acquire two of their current top five prospects in the system, including their first potential franchise goaltender in Pascal Leclaire. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Columbus’ 11 draft picks in 2001 have logged a total of 118 games in the NHL (average of 11 games per pick), a statistic which should be tempered by the fact that Leclaire and defenseman Aaron Johnson are only just now beginning their NHL careers. Ultimately, however, the Jackets 2001 draft will turn on the fortunes of Leclaire, and after five years in the system, the lanky backstop now has the opportunity to seize the reins in net and guide the fortunes of this franchise for years to come. What he makes of the opportunity will most likely dictate the direction of this team as they enter the second half of their inaugural decade in the NHL. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Pascal Leclaire, G
First Round, Eighth Overall, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Current Status: NHL Player
NHL games played: 35 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Any assessment of the Blue Jackets’ 2001 draft will begin and end with the success of goaltender Pascal Leclaire. The first netminder selected in the 2001 draft (a year after Rick DiPietro went first overall to the Islanders and the year before Kari Lehtonen went second overall to Atlanta), Leclaire is only now realizing the potential that attracted Columbus to the Quebec native. The Jackets passed on Kootenay goaltender Dan Blackburn (who ended up going to the Rangers at No. 10) to tab Leclaire as the future of the franchise in net. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Five years later, and there is still no conclusive answer to the enigma that is Lecalire. After several seasons of league-average hockey in the AHL, he was finally given an extended audition in Nationwide Arena in the 2005-06 season. Appearing in 33 games on the season for the Jackets, Leclaire mirrored his AHL career, looking like a franchise netminder at times and seemingly lost at others. Ultimately, his final stat line on the season is misleading; a pedestrian goals against (3.23) and sub-par record (11-15-3) hides an eye-opening .911 save percentage, which would place him among the top half of the league. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]So which path lies ahead of Leclaire? There’s certainly enough talent and upside here to suggest that the Jackets were entirely correct in their choice of the Leclaire over Blackburn, as the overall trend in his game has been a marked improvement with more ice time and experience at every level. His substandard goals against in his first real lap around the league may be far more indicative of the current state of the Blue Jacket defense than an indictment of Leclaire’s ability to succeed at the highest level. His save percentage (which, relative to the league is consistent with his improved performance in the AHL over the past two seasons) is certainly a leading indicator that Leclaire may eventually make Marc Denis expendable. But the Jackets were not intending to take a place-holder in net with their second first-round pick in franchise history, they were hoping to land the starting goalie for their eventual first playoff game. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]If his performance continues along the same upward track displayed in the AHL, Leclaire may join Rick Nash, Nikolai Zherdev, and Rostislav Klesla across the marquee as a face of the franchise. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Tim Jackman, W
Second Round, 38th Overall, Minnesota State University (NCAA)
Current Status: NHL prospect
NHL games played: 27 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]A big, strong physical wing, the Jackets made Tim Jackman their second selection in the 2001 draft in the hopes of developing his offensive skills to compliment what appeared to be a healthy package. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Coming off an impressive 2003-04 campaign, which saw him score 23 goals in his sophomore tour of the AHL and appear in 19 games with the Jackets as a power forward on the second and third line, Jackman appeared to be pointed directly towards a longer look with the big club. Thanks to the lockout, however, Jackman returned to Syracuse in 2004-05 and appeared to regress significantly from the gains made the previous season, dropping to 14 goals in nine more games. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Those 19 appearances with the Jackets in 2003-04 would be his only appearance in Columbus, as Jackman would spend the last 12 months passing through the Phoenix and Los Angeles systems. In an eight-game stint with the Coyotes this past season, Jackman continued to look like a player in need of a serious increase in NHL acumen to earn so much as a journeyman career in the senior circuit. That he managed to involve himself in three fights over those nine appearances may suggest where his career is ultimately headed, but at this point, though even that projection could be optimistic. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Kiel McLeod, C
Second Round, 53rd Overall, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Current Status: NHL prospect
NHL Experience: 0 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Beyond the story of Pascal Leclaire in the 2001 draft are the missed opportunities of the second round. Fort Saskatchewan native Kiel McLeod, after failing to sign a contract with the Jackets, was inked by the Phoenix Coyotes to a free agent contract in June of 2003. After a pair of relatively successful seasons with Phoenix’s AHL affiliate in Utah (which saw him record 20 goals and 23 assists in 150 games), the imposing the 6'6 giant was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers last December for former top prospect Eric Chouinard. While his 2005-06 campaign saw his offensive game fall off the table with just a pair of goals and three assists in 62 games between Utah and the Philadelphia Phantoms, McLeod is still only 23 years old, and the physical package he brings to the table is extremely intriguing. While he may no longer project as the imposing offensive presence his rather successful amateur career hinted at, McLeod remains a legitimate prospect if his skills can catch up to his size in the Philadelphia system. Ultimately, however, McLeod represents a missed opportunity for the Blue Jackets. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Aaron Johnson, D
Third Round, 85th Overall, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Current Status: NHL player
NHL games played: 55 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Their first pick in the third round may end up being a strong dose of redemption. A solid offensive defensemen with the requisite speed to succeed in the new NHL, Johnson earned his second tour of duty with the Jackets in 2005-06. Following a heady AHL career which saw him work his way onto the All-Star squad in 2004, Johnson was tabbed as a potential NHL regular, a role which he assumed by the end of the 2005-06 season. While he may have only contributed a pair of goals and six assists in 29 games with the Jackets this season, Johnson worked his way into a regular shift, averaging 14 minutes of ice time over the last 10 games of the season. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Coming out of the 2005-06 season, Johnson ranks as a clear top 10 prospect in the system. At this stage of his career, Johnson seems destined for an expanded role with the Jackets, and an opportunity to continue his development into an NHL regular. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Per Mars, F
Third Round, 87th Overall, Brynas IF Gavle (Swedish Elite League)
Current Status: NHL bust
NHL Experience: 0 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Another physically-imposing forward selected by the Blue Jackets in the 2001 draft, Swedish teen Per Mars never made a tangible impact on this side of the pond after an unimpressive three-year stint in the Swedish Elite League. In fact, his only hockey experience in North America was a 44-game tour of the USHL with the Lincoln Stars in the 2002-03 season, when he recorded nine goals and nine assists in 42 games. Following the Stars nine-game playoff run in the spring of 2003, Mars slipped off the hockey radar and has not suited up in professional hockey on either side of the Atlantic since. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Cole Jarrett, D
Fifth Round, 141st Overall, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Current Status: NHL prospect
NHL games played: 1 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Selected in the fifth round of the 2001 draft by the Jackets on the strength of several impressive offensive seasons with Plymouth of the OHL, Cole Jarrett ended up signing a free agent contract with the New York Islanders in 2003 and has remained with the Isles since. In three seasons with Bridgeport of the AHL, Jarrett has been a league-average defenseman, but has not displayed any evidence of an NHL-caliber game and does not rank as one of the top prospects in the Islanders system. Despite a brief one-game look with the Islanders in their season finale against Philadelphia on April 18, Jarrett appears destined for a career as an AHL regular, with very little potential to ever earn a regular shift in the NHL. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Justin Aikins, W
Sixth Round, 173rd Overall, Langley Hornets (BCHL)
Current Status: NHL bust
NHL Experience: None [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]After his selection by the Blue Jackets in the sixth round of the 2001 entry draft, Aikins opted to pursue his academic career with the University of New Hampshire. In four full seasons with the Wildcats, Aikins was a solid presence on the wing, recording 27 goals and 76 assists in 153 NCAA games. Following his graduation from college, Aikins began his professional career this past season in the ECHL, appearing first in 10 games with the Columbia Inferno before moving to the Long Beach Ice Dogs. His rookie campaign can be seen as a success, as he posted 20 goals and 39 assists in 67 games between coasts, and appeared as a rookie in the ECHL All-Star game. Aikins has a long road ahead if he can even be projected as an NHL prospect, and it seems likely that he is, at best, a league-average AHL forward. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Artem Vostrikov, C
Sixth Round, 187th Overall, Tolyatti Lada (Russian Super League)
Current Status: NHL bust
NHL Experience: 0 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Something of a reach when the Jackets selected him in the sixth round, Artem Vostrikov has yet to consider making a jump from Russia to North America. After six seasons bouncing between the different levels of the Russian hockey system, Vostrikov has yet to display any NHL-caliber skills, which is evidenced on the ice by relatively low point totals between the Super League and High League. He may have finally washed out after an 11-game 2005-06 season in the High League, where he failed to post a single point. It seems highly unlikely that Vostrikov will pursue a career in North America. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Raffaele Sannitz, C
Seventh Round, 204th Overall, Lugano (Swiss Nationalliga A)
Current Status: NHL bust
NHL Experience: 0 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]An intriguing European prospect following a successful junior career in the Swiss National League and with Team Switzerland at the World Juniors, Sannitz’s game failed to transfer to North America. In a 55-game appearance between Syracuse and Dayton in 2004-05, Sannitz did not make much of an impact, recording six goals and three assists in 53 games with the Crunch. Sannitz returned to Switzerland for the 2005-06 season, a move which would seem to suggest that there is little chance at a sophomore campaign in the Blue Jackets system. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Ryan Bowness, RW
Eighth Round, 236th Overall, Brampton (OHL)
Current Status: NHL bust
NHL Experience: 0 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Ryan Bowness, the son of NHL head coach Rick Bowness, enjoyed an admirable OHL career with Brampton and Oshawa between 2000 and 2004. Given a tryout with the San Jose Sharks following his amateur career, Bowness failed to impress and spent the 2004-05 season with St. Mary’s University. As he did not make an appearance in a professional or amateur uniform in 2005-06, it would appear that the clock has run down on Ryan Bowness’ chances at a career on the ice. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Andrew Murray, C
Eighth Round, 242nd Overall, Bemidji State University (NCAA)
Current Status: NHL prospect
NHL Experience: 0 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]It is a rare trick to mine any value out of the lower rounds of the draft, so when Andrew Murray turned in a solid rookie campaign with the Syracuse Crunch this past season, the physical forward brought a smile to many faces. A gritty player who uses his size to his advantage, Murray parlayed a successful NCAA career into an extended look with the Crunch, and is now in position to develop his game one step below the NHL. While it may be a reach to project a significant role at the NHL level at this stage of his career, his size and physical package may eventually force Columbus to give Murray an extended look with the big club. [/FONT]
<table><tbody><tr><td></td><td> 6th Overall: Columbus Blue Jackets
Peter Mueller: Everett, C, 6-2,200 </td></tr></tbody></table> Explanation:
It may be tough to pass up the flash and dash of Phil Kessel, but Peter Mueller's offensive upside in the NHL may not be that far off. Mueller brings size, leadership and the ability to make the players around him better. One scout I spoke with felt Mueller would fit in very nicely on the Jackets power-play in a few years setting up Nash, Zherdev and Brule from the half boards. Mueller put up over a point per game this season and that is very impressive in a Kevin Constantine defense first system. With Gilbert Brule pencilled in as the top line guy it makes sense to select Mueller, he's a kid who would excel in a 2nd line role with some time on the penalty kill. When I talked with Mueller he wanted to make it clear that he enjoys the challenge of going out on the PK and shutting down the oppositions top guns. The only criticism I've heard about Mueller is that he doesn't play physical enough, but I just credit that to this being his first year in the WHL, next season I'm expecting him to dominate the dub and lead the young Silvertips both on and off the ice. The Numbers: 52 GP - 26 G - 32 A - 58 PTS - 44 PIM
Jackets might allow free agents to leave
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Michael Arace
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>MIKE MUNDEN </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Contract negotiations between the Blue Jackets and forward Manny Malhotra, right, have reportedly become contentious. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The Blue Jackets have some extra time to negotiate with their key unrestricted free agents, third-line forwards Manny Malhotra and Trevor Letowski and defenseman Radoslav Suchy, after a notable development last week. Whether the team gets these players signed is another matter.
The NHL and the players association agreed to lift a moratorium that, under the terms of the collective-bargaining agreement, would have prevented teams from speaking to their own free agents from mid-June until July 1. More specifically, the window would have closed June 15 or 48 hours after the last game of the Stanley Cup Finals, whichever came later. Game 7 is scheduled for June 19.
Teams such as the Ottawa Senators, who have big-ticket defensemen Wade Redden and Zdeno Chara as potential unrestricted free agents, would have been under intense pressure to get deals done before the clock ran out in mid-June. The moratorium, and a provision that allows other teams to contact agents beginning July 27, compelled Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Jay Feaster to act swiftly to sew up Brad Richards last month. Richards turned his back on restricted free agency, and arbitration, when he signed a five-year, $39 million contract. His $7.8 million annual salary has set a high bar on the summer market.
Now, with the moratorium lifted, teams have an extra week-plus to try to work out deals with their own free agents before the signing season begins July 1.
Blue Jackets president and general manager Doug MacLean said he was close to an agreement with Malhotra last month. But Malhotra turned down the offer and negotiations stalled. One source said that some animosity has been introduced. If that is the case, Malhotra appears bent on testing the market.
Paul Krepelka, the agent for Malhotra and Letowski, does not provide expansive commentary during negotiations.
Letowski said he hasn’t detected much action regarding his own negotiations.
Similarly, things have been quiet on the Suchy front. Allan Walsh, who represents Suchy, could not be reached late last week.
"There’s nothing new," MacLean said Thursday. "We continue to have conversations with their agents over the last week or so, but there’s nothing new. I don’t have a feel one way or the other (whether negotiations will yield signings). All we’re doing is preparing (for any eventuality). I hope it all works out, but I also have to prepare in case it doesn’t."
Contract talks can be unpredictable. But considering MacLean’s seeming indifference toward Malhotra, Letowski and Suchy, it’s possible they will be playing elsewhere next season.
"It seems to me that there have been very few signings outside of exceptional deals," MacLean said. "When I say exceptional, I mean the player has played real well and got rewarded, or they see that the player has an intangible to the team and pay him for that. So, we’re going through the process and we’ll see where it winds up."
MacLean is on record as saying that he’s "not concerned with third- and fourth-line guys" because he has replacements on his roster and in the pipeline. Presumably, one replacement is center Alexander Svitov, who was the third overall pick in the 2001 draft and has yet to pan out. It’d be nice if Svitov suddenly discovered himself because he’s the return on the big Darryl Sydor salary dump of 2004. Last we checked, Sydor is a pretty good defenseman with a Stanley Cup ring.
One other thing: If the Blue Jackets weren’t going to sign their future unrestricted free agents, why didn’t they salvage something for them at the trade deadline in March? At the time, MacLean said he’d rather try to negotiate and risk losing them rather than pawn them off for late-round draft picks. He got his druthers.
Nash heals
In April, Rick Nash skipped the world championships to rehabilitate. He suffered through two major injuries — a high-ankle sprain and sprained knee — the first half of the season and nursed a wrist injury down the stretch.
How’s he doing in June?
"(Jackets trainer Chris) Mizer left me a whole bunch of exercise therapy things to do, and I’m getting stronger," Nash said. "Everything’s coming around pretty nicely. That time off was huge. I would have loved to represent my country, but the doctors and Doug made the right decision when they advised me not to go."
Nash is in the Toronto area and keeping close tabs on the Stanley Cup playoffs.
"I don’t think anybody would have picked (the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes) to be in the final, but the hockey has been great," Nash said. "I know up here in Canada, everyone’s going crazy over the Oilers. What happened to them in Game 1 (when they lost starting goaltender Dwayne Roloson to a knee injury) is just about the worst thing that could happen to them."
Wright all right
Tyler Wright has been back in town since the end of February, when he cleared waivers and did not report to Anaheim’s minor-league affiliate in Portland, Maine.
Here’s why Ducks general manager Brian Burke is one of the best in the business: He took on Wright and Todd Marchant’s salaries to make Sergei Fedorov’s $6-million-ayear contract palatable to the Blue Jackets. He got a terrific young defenseman, Francois Beauchemin, in the bargain, and when he waived Wright he showed the proper respect for the veteran and agreed to pay his salary even though Wright didn’t report to the American Hockey League.
Wright said that the Blue Jackets have felt him out about their television analyst position, left vacant when Brian Engblom left for OLN.
"It’d be natural fit for me," Wright said. "This is where I’m going to make my home and I’d love to be part of the organization. But as far as TV goes right now, I’m 33 years old and I still have some years left to play. I don’t think it’s quite time to think about life after hockey. I’m coming off a tough year, and I definitely don’t want to go out on that note."
Are the Blue Jackets interested in taking Wright back as a third- or fourth-liner? There is no indication that’s the case.
"Technically, I’m still under contract with Anaheim," Wright said, "so I can’t talk with other teams. I’d love to come back and play here, but I have to wait and see what offers come my way."
Former Jackets goaltender Ron Tugnutt, who was offered the analyst job two years ago, is rumored to be in the mix.
College data
Goaltender Joe Palmer and defenseman Kevin Montgomery, stalwarts on the U.S. national team that won the Under-18 World Championship and are part of coach John Markell’s incoming class at Ohio State, are projected to be selected in the first four rounds of the draft June 24. Players from the national development program, such as Palmer and Montgomery, have already played numerous games against college teams and they’ve been exposed to the fire of international competition. Successfully recruiting them is a coup for a college coach. NHL Central Scouting rates Palmer the fourth-best North American goaltender available in the draft. The International Scouting Service rates Palmer ninthbest in the world. Montgomery is rated No. 45 among North American skaters by Central Scouting. … Miami University goaltender Jeff Zatkoff, coming off a sterling freshman season, is rated third among North American goaltenders by Central Scouting and eighth in the world by ISS.
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