O'Sullivan named AHL Rookie of the Month
 

ahl.com

:handclap: :jump: :handclap: :jump:

Just the month?

;)

Yeah, no kidding! What a slacker!

Jeez, I knew this kid was gonna be a bust...

Why can't we have O'Sullivan up and Veilleux down?

I'd rather have O'Sullivan playing a top-six role than a checking forward.

soon enough my friend

This's just the first award of many for this kid.

I had the distinct pleasure of watching him play here in Mississauga, and even in his first year, he had moves like you wouldn't believe. After all the crap he's been through you want nothing but good for him.

And I still can't believe you guys got him where you did in '03.

John? Is that you?

Are the Wild afraid to call him up because of Westrum and the message it would send? :help:

They call him up and he plays 20 games that puts him 1 year closer to being able to leave

more and more you will see teams make decision on players based upon whether or not they think the player will able to stay in the line up the entire season and produce.

I remember Sullivan's draft---I couldn't believe he fell out of the first round--teams were talking about his family's antics--but it wasn't him--it was family member X and that cuased Sullivan to drop--but he is making lemon aide out of lemons so far

:clap: Here, here. I also watched him and he was worth the price of admission. He didn't have much to play with in Mississauga. All he has to do is be responsible, defensively, and add a little physical play to his game and it will be bye bye American Hockey League... :yo:

I would've been worried about him if he hadn't shown willingness to improve and actual improvement in his last year here. He was already becoming more defensively aware (though the improvement was really from a liability to a non-factor) and although he'll never lay a kid out, he was starting to develop an attitude of fearlessness as well.

And in Mississauga, Patty O'Sullivan will always >>> Robbie Schremp.

I've seen Schremp play many times, and he never seems to impress me. A comparison between Patty O. and Robbie, to me is no contest. I don't know how he's piling up all these points in the O. this year. I know one thing...I wouldn't pay to see Mr. Schremp play but I definately would for O'Sullivan. :handclap:

I have seen O'Sullivan play in almost all of his home games for the Aeros. Several things stand out:
1. He is a very gived puck handler.
2. He sees passing lanes before they open up.
3. He has a knack for being in the right place.
4. He can finish a play.
Now for the not-so-positive.
5. He plays soft. He avoids contact and gives up on plays along the boards.
6. Yes, he can finish a play but is easily knocked around and moved from in front of the net.
7. He tends not to put out much effort in the defensive zone and often doesn't even make an appearance in the defensive zone but lays back hoping for the rare cherry-picking opportunity.

If only he had Westrum's gritty determination, he would have never even made a pit stop in the AHL.

Sounds like Bouchard with finishing skills.

Yes, I've made this comparison before. O'Sullivan is much bigger than Bouchard and probably is not as gifted at moving the puck up the ice. And Bouchard, believe it or not, has shown way more grit this year in the NHL than I witnessed down in the "A".

I sort of chalk this up to having to do what it takes to get ice time. In Houston, Bouchard got as much ice time as he could stand. I wonder if O'Sullivan is also doing this. Meaning: Coasting and turning it on when the offensive opportunities present themselves.

I will say this about O'Sullivan: I think he is doing better than expected. Bouchard, on the other hand, should have torn up the AHL last year but basically he sort of got his points and went home without becoming a huge star in the league.

Was the AHL of last year using the old rules or the new ones?

You guys want a good laugh....he isn't even in THN's top-75 prospects, and he is 5th on the Wild in their list.

Well, the AHL had the tag up offsides. And they offensive zone widened. But other than that, the rules were the old rules.

But I see where you might be going with this point. But, Bouchard's point totals should not be directly compared to O'sullivan's totals. But I point to how Bouchard should have dominated the league. He basically was not the force he should have been considering his talent. Some people in the know here in Houston have made the case that Bouchard was on a team that had very little Chemistry and that the typical mode was to hog the puck and try to get yours and the hell with everyone else. This could have impacted Bouchard since he is basically a setup kinda guy.

Looking bak on last year's team, I think there is some merit to that arguement. There is something to this Chemistry thing. Look at Westrum and Law. Both are having outstanding years. Their line seems to feed off each other. Westrum has never put up the numbers he is putting up. Law is much more effective than last year. Law looks like a completely different player.

Not surprisingly, O'Sullivan tops the latest prospect report:
http://www.wild.com/team/Press.asp?story_id=4555

so who else thinks he should wear #89 when he makes the big club? :)

Here is an article on Patty O from NHL.com. Probably doesn't need it's own thread.

http://www.nhl.com/features/ahl/ahl021606.html