I heard he was released after 6 games. That really surprised me. I thought he would excel in the ECHL and make his way to the AHL. Matt Smith seems to be doing alright in the ECHL though.
Wow, hadn't heard anything on it, but he played the last reg season game and not the playoffs. They The Kings may have brought back some players from the A. will find out from the Echl threads....
if he doesn't make the NHL squad, does anyone know if any CHL team has his rights?
Was drafted by Kelowna in 2004 (grew up in Winnepeg but is an American citizen and played in the NDTP). Not sure how long WHL rights are retained. But it would seem that if he doesn't sign with the Predators, it would not make sense for him to play there instead of at BU. Also, his father was a college player at Dartmouth so I'd imagine there is some value placed on the academic part of things.
Tyler Bozak is a 22-year-old centre with the University of Denver Pioneers who has seven goals and 18 points in 15 games this season. Many believe he has the potential to step right into the National Hockey League next season without any minor league seasoning.
Bozak's advisor, Wade Arnott, says 26 reams – including all six Canadian teams - have expressed interest in Bozak.
On one recent weekend, eight teams lined up to speak with Bozak at University of Denver. That's in keeping with a protocol established by the Regina native – Bozak will only meet with teams after Saturday home games and will only do so until the New Year when he'll shut down the interview process to concentrate on Pioneers' hockey.
I hope he doesn't leave midseason, but when "advisers" start putting a number on the number of teams interested in a player, it makes me nervous. I can sort of understand Bozak wanting to put feelers out, but this sounds very advanced.
I hope he doesn't leave midseason, but when "advisers" start putting a number on the number of teams interested in a player, it makes me nervous. I can sort of understand Bozak wanting to put feelers out, but this sounds very advanced.
For the record, many thought that Justin Abdelkader could have "stepped right into the Detroit lineup without any minor league seasoning" too, but guess what? he's not up playing with the Wings. I'm not saying that Bozak can't or won't ever play in the NHL, but to say that Bozak needs ZERO time in the minors? I disagree. In the last few years, there've been only a handful of players that have successfully made the jump to the NHL WITHOUT any time down in the AHL. As good and wonderful as Bozak is, let's be realistic here. He's not the calibre of player that say Phil Kessel or Zach Parise is. I do think that Bozak will need a bit of time down in the AHL to be successful at the NHL level. That's just my personal opinion, based on what I've seen of Tyler and what sort of competition for NHL jobs there is out there.
For the record, many thought that Justin Abdelkader could have "stepped right into the Detroit lineup without any minor league seasoning" too, but guess what? he's not up playing with the Wings. I'm not saying that Bozak can't or won't ever play in the NHL, but to say that Bozak needs ZERO time in the minors? I disagree. In the last few years, there've been only a handful of players that have successfully made the jump to the NHL WITHOUT any time down in the AHL. As good and wonderful as Bozak is, let's be realistic here. He's not the calibre of player that say Phil Kessel or Zach Parise is. I do think that Bozak will need a bit of time down in the AHL to be successful at the NHL level. That's just my personal opinion, based on what I've seen of Tyler and what sort of competition for NHL jobs there is out there.
I was surprised by that part too, I kind of wonder who the "many" is.
It's understandable why the Boone nation would be nervous with all the attention Bozak is getting...Brock Trotter still looms large in their memories. Maybe Bozak isn't ready to make the jump right away but he's good enough to garner interest for a pro contract.
It's generally a bad idea to make the jump to the NHL right away. O-Chick brought up Parise and Kessel; Parise spent a year in Albany and it served him well, Kessel made the jump right away and I think it has hurt his development. New Jersey and Ottawa have the right idea about not hurrying guys to the parent club.
Ricci was clearly Merrimack's best player and had a year of eligibility left. Tough break for the Warriors as they returned just about everyone from this past season's 13 one-goal losses team. Not a big player but did pretty much everything for Merrimack. Probably would have been a first liner on most of the other Hockey East teams except possibly BU.
__________________ Colorado Avalanche Prospects-- News and updates on the future of the Colorado Avalanche! Colorado's Future -- Team * Manning * Landeskog * Tulowitzki
AHL
Cory Quirk, Umass-Amherst to Albany
Eric Walsky, Colorado to Manitoba
Brian Connelly, Colorado to Rockford
Tim Filangieri, Boston College to Syracuse
ECHL
Brendan Milnamow and Matt Cook, Union College to Idaho Steelheads
Eric Giosa, Sacred Heart to Reading Royals
Chris Margott, Bemidji State to Wheeling
Bear Trapp, Sacred Heart to Elmira
Joe Federoff, Huntsville to Johnstown
Scott McCulloch, Colorado to Las Vegas
Jerad Kaufmann, Nebraska to Bakersfield
Last edited by Chevy Cheveldae: 03-24-2009 at 01:16 PM.
Sources tell Sharkspage that the San Jose Sharks have signed defenseman Nick Petrecki and that he will be joining the Worcester Sharks for the remainder of the season if he can do it while finishing his classes. Petrecki, one of two of the Sharks first-round picks in 2007 (28th overall), is leaving school after playing two seasons at Boston College where he accumulated 5 goals, 14 assists, and 263 penalty minutes in 77 games. A physical force noted for his hulk like strength and tenacious mean streak, Petrecki is also a phenomenal skater with remarkable buoyancy on his feet for a player of his size. Many NHL scouts have noted that he has "out grown" the NCAA and all believe is a wise move for his development.
* Landeskog * Tulowitzki
