"Highly-touted defensive prospect Denis Bodrov, who was expected to report to training camp without a contract, has decided to play in Russia this season."
"Highly-touted defensive prospect Denis Bodrov, who was expected to report to training camp without a contract, has decided to play in Russia this season."
Jakub Kovar played his first game in the Czech O2 Extraliga. He was brought on after 25 minutes as Budejovice was down 1-4 against Vitkovice and stopped all but one shot. Budejovice still lost 3-5 at home, but it seems like Kovar had a decent game (35 minutes, 13 saves, 1.71 GAA, 0.929 SV%).
Jakub Kovar played his first game in the Czech O2 Extraliga. He was brought on after 25 minutes as Budejovice was down 1-4 against Vitkovice and stopped all but one shot. Budejovice still lost 3-5 at home, but it seems like Kovar had a decent game (35 minutes, 13 saves, 1.71 GAA, 0.929 SV%).
It would be great if he could steal the starting job, and start developing into something over there, then actually come back over here as a viable option down the road for the Flyers. God/Downie knows we could use a top notch goalie prospect.
Unfortunately, they don't have a great track record for these kinds of things. Two years ago, Brule was ranked 2nd on the same list.
It's hard to argue with you there. Their 5 point system makes you wonder and looking back they have missed the mark on a number of prospects. After saying that Mckeens is still my fav Yearbook on the sole reason of their prospect review section. It is way more in depth than any other yearbook with a paragraph written on the top few prospects in the system. Even when they're wrong half the time.
- No Giroux and no Bartulis. No clue why. Kalinksi either was not there or had his number changed. There was a player wearing an unlisted number, so that could have been him.
- Clackson doesn't even attempt to play hockey... even in the drills. He was trying to start **** with everyone all practice long, and it took until until the scrimmage for someone to get sick of it, and (not surprisingly) that person was Downie. Pretty even fight but they both seemed pretty pissed off afterwards. I looked up to the balcony and noticed Holmgren and McIlhargey were laughing with each other a lot after the fight
- Andreas Nodl and Jonathan Matsumoto were clearly the best forwards on the ice. Nodl made tons of excellent passes, and Matsumoto was making plays happen all over the ice. It looks like these two might be featured on the Phantoms top scoring line together next season. Nodl scored on his shootout attempt at the end with a Gagne type backhand move, and he also setup a goal earlier in the game. I think both of these guys have some significant upside in the NHL
- Luca Sbisa is small, but he's a hell of a defender. He's smart and takes position on the play great. He also has a nice, crisp, Desjardins-esque point shot. A lot of the players were sloppy with poor passes during the drills, but i noticed Sbisa's passes were perfect everytime
- Mike Ratchuck was incredible with the puck. He made at least 3 great moves to deke a defender badly. The last one in the scrimmage setup a goal for the orange team after he toe dragged and poked it past a player at the offensive blueline. He also seems to be the class clown out there, he gets along with everyone and was always the last one off the ice. He seems like he has a great attitude
- This is my 3rd year at rookie camp, and i noticed that this group seems like they are all friends more so then any other year. Little things like Downie hooking Ratchuk during laps, Sbisa making fun of Klotz after practice, and Ratchuk play fighting with Nodl after stretching showed to me that many of these guys get along real well
- Marc-Andre Bourdon was really quiet, i didn't notice much from him.
- Chris Zarb, Zac Rinaldo, and Rob Bellamy were pretty unimpressive. They seemed a step behind most people
- Garrett Klotz is not a bad skater
- Both goalies during the scrimmage (Teslak and DeSerres) played pretty good. Each one made one spectacular save during the game
- Timonen and Kukkonen were doing the breathing tests on the other ice surface when i got there.
There was an article about Mario Kempe in todays edition of Helsingborgs Dagblad, a Swedish newspaper.
I will translate the most exciting quotes for those of you who doesn't understand Swedish...
- I will do everything to make the dream about playing in the NHL a reality. I’m prepared to pay the price to succeed.
- We’ll see when I’m ready. I may stay ten years in Rogle, but some day I will pull on the Flyers jersey, I have already decided that.
Kempe now plays in Rogle in the Swedish Elite League and they start their season tomorrow against Skelleftea, Mikael Renbergs former team and where Niko Dimitrakos currently plays.
Unfortunately Kempe got hit in the face by a puck a few days ago and wont play tomorrow. Before that he had a minor knee injury.
