Can't find confirmation, but it looks like Scott Stajcer is hurt. The Road Warriors payed back-to-backs yesterday and today and he did not dress. Greenville played Connor Knapp, who was recently loaned from Rochester, both nights and dressed Jeff Beaver as the EBUG (Emergency Back-Up Goaltender). Knapp is the 6th goalie to play for Greenville this season.
I love it how ECHL teams just pull out EBUGs from nowhere on a constant basis... I'd love to know where all these EBUGs come from, what do they do, just wait at home for a call or whats the deal...
Jeff Beaver must work for the team. I looked him up yesterday, and apparently that was at least the fifth time he served as the emergency backup, dating back almost a decade.
EBUGs are often team employees. If the team is in a college town, they will usually use the college club team's goalie. The Checkers used to use a guy named Jorge Alves, who played club hockey for NC State. He was an EBUG-at-large for ECHL and SPHL teams based in the Carolinas and actually had to come in in a handful of games over the years.
Thomas is figuring out the AHL, great to hear. Mashinter deserves the next call up. With his size, skating ability and offense he should see some NHL time.
Good to see the progress from Thomas. I think missing out on a shot with the Rangers last season really hurt his confidence. A lot of people thought he had a real shot of cracking the lineup and to go back to the OHL was probably a shock to him. You could tell that upon returning to Oshawa, he was trying to be some kind of dominant force with the puck. He wanted every play to run through him instead of being the guy who finds seams in the ice and picks corners. He's a tenacious player, but he's going to do most of his damage in open ice. Seems like he's getting back to what made him most effective.
Good to see the progress from Thomas. I think missing out on a shot with the Rangers last season really hurt his confidence. A lot of people thought he had a real shot of cracking the lineup and to go back to the OHL was probably a shock to him. You could tell that upon returning to Oshawa, he was trying to be some kind of dominant force with the puck. He wanted every play to run through him instead of being the guy who finds seams in the ice and picks corners. He's a tenacious player, but he's going to do most of his damage in open ice. Seems like he's getting back to what made him most effective.
Exactly this. I also think the Rangers may have told him to try and work on other parts of his game when he went back. By all accounts his physical play picked up after that. He isn't soft. Love that he is shooting from everywhere.
Great news on Thomas. His size really put him at a disadvantage in the pro game. It would be awesome if he could make his talents work in the NHL despite his size.
Eventually they're going to strike goal-d () with one of these diminutive players, right?
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"I used to pray for good things . I used to ask the Hockey Gods for puck luck for the NYR .
Now all I want is Torts the smug stupid goatee clown to be fired , . I hate Torts . Please hockey gods make him get fired. Please Sean punch him in face" -- Dorado
Thomas didnt necessarily improve, he just went back to what made him successful 2 years ago. Whoever told him to grind in the corners more made a big mistake. He needs to be a perimeter player who finds open spots and can fire away his shots.
Also, he needs to make his release a tiny bit faster, before a defensemen can get in the way.
Great news on Thomas. His size really put him at a disadvantage in the pro game. It would be awesome if he could make his talents work in the NHL despite his size.
Eventually they're going to strike goal-d () with one of these diminutive players, right?
Thats why I would love it if we used this year's second rounder on another Thomas-like player along with one or two more players like St. Croix and Fasth (as they were in their draft seasons) in later rounds. If you succeed, you really strike gold and wind up with a difference maker who gets 60-80 points.
Thats why I would love it if we used this year's second rounder on another Thomas-like player along with one or two more players like St. Croix and Fasth (as they were in their draft seasons) in later rounds. If you succeed, you really strike gold and wind up with a difference maker who gets 60-80 points.
People confuse a ceiling with its odds. If somebody is a lesser prospect, he must not have high ceiling, and if someone is a top prospect, he must have a high ceiling. This is false.
While a guy like Miller has far better odds to make the NHL, Thomas has a higher ceiling due to his speed and shot. There is no doubt that he has the potential to be a 60-80 point player, he just doesnt have great odds of achieving this potential. CT has a shot as good as any 45 goal scorer. But instead of trying to become Theo Fleury, he should model himself after Ziggy Palffy.
People confuse a ceiling with its odds. If somebody is a lesser prospect, he must not have high ceiling, and if someone is a top prospect, he must have a high ceiling. This is false.
While a guy like Miller has far better odds to make the NHL, Thomas has a higher ceiling due to his speed and shot. There is no doubt that he has the potential to be a 60-80 point player, he just doesnt have great odds of achieving this potential. CT has a shot as good as any 45 goal scorer. But instead of trying to become Theo Fleury, he should model himself after Ziggy Palffy.
How does CT's shot compare to Kreider's? Also anyone you can compare it to in the NHL?
Almost forgot this is Thomas' first full pro season. Seems like he's been a prospect for forever. I still have high hopes for him but realize there's a low chance he reaches his full potential. Always wanted for bff's Thomas and McIlrath to become permanent fixtures in the Rangers lineup. Wanna see how long it would take for McIlrath to jump the guy that throws a big hit on CT.
So what will the team be called? The Connecticut Whale brand was created by Howard Baldwin's Whalers Sports & Entertainment in 2010 and that company no longer runs the business side of the franchise, although it allowed current XL Center operator AEG to use the name and logo this season. The franchise is owned by MSG, but Global will run the team's day-to-day operation in Hartford and handle the marketing.
Unless MSG and Global decide to work out an agreement with WSE, the team's name will likely change. The team could return to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the name of the franchise from 1997 until it was re-branded in 2010. MSG has kept the brand alive by retaining uniforms and has even renewed the hartfordwolfpack.com domain name, updating data base information on the domain name Saturday.
Another possibility is to simply call the team the Rangers -- Hartford or Connecticut preceding the name -- although that could be a public relations risk. Returning to the Wolf Pack would be simple, especially with the still visible around the team and the XL Center.
People confuse a ceiling with its odds. If somebody is a lesser prospect, he must not have high ceiling, and if someone is a top prospect, he must have a high ceiling. This is false.
While a guy like Miller has far better odds to make the NHL, Thomas has a higher ceiling due to his speed and shot. There is no doubt that he has the potential to be a 60-80 point player, he just doesnt have great odds of achieving this potential. CT has a shot as good as any 45 goal scorer. But instead of trying to become Theo Fleury, he should model himself after Ziggy Palffy.
I don't know if Thomas really has a higher ceiling than Miller. If Miller reaches his absolute ceiling, he's a 60 point Mike Richards/Ryan Kesler type. Thomas might put up a few more points if he hits his ceiling, but I don't know if the overall value he would bring would be greater than Miller's.
Global Spectrum, which will take control of the XL Center later this year, is on the verge of keeping the New York Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford beyond this season.
A deal is close and an announcement from Madison Square Garden could come any time. An agreenment was expected last week, but top executives at MSG and Global's parent company, Comcast-Spectacor, are said to be ironing out details.
So what will the team be called? The Connecticut Whale brand was created by Howard Baldwin's Whalers Sports & Entertainment in 2010 and that company no longer runs the business side of the franchise, although it allowed current XL Center operator AEG to use the name and logo this season. The franchise is owned by MSG, but Global will run the team's day-to-day operation in Hartford and handle the marketing.
Unless MSG and Global decide to work out an agreement with WSE, the team's name will likely change. The team could return to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the name of the franchise from 1997 until it was re-branded in 2010. MSG has kept the brand alive by retaining uniforms and has even renewed the hartfordwolfpack.com domain name, updating data base information on the domain name Saturday.
Hope so...they went from the best name in the AHL to the worst. Bring back the Pack.
also if this new ownership takes on the NY Islanders(Prokorov) there is talk the Sound Tigers are coming to the Nassau Coliseum. That means Wolfpack games only 20 minutes away..."Yeah Buddy!"
) with one of these diminutive players, right?
