A lot of it will depend on who ends up getting the coaching job, but I'd just like a little veteran leadership down there. It looks like our top prospects will be playing for the Aeros and no one wants to see a repeat of the Voloshenko experience.
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Blog: First Round Bust: A Cast of Thousands celebrating a rather dodgy track record of Minnesota Wild Drafting.
"Will beats skill when skill doesn't have enough will."
-Doug Woog
There are likely to be more real "prospects" on the Aeros next season, i.e. young guys either drafted or originally signed by the Wild, than is the case for most seasons.
I'm pretty interested to see who they hire as the head coach down there. The names Russo threw out were intriquing but I'm not sure how willing those guys would be to accept that job.
Hey guys, I need some insight on a prospect named Mathew Hackett. What's his style of play? Does he have a shot at the NHL? Is he a good prospect? Etc.
Seems to me the Aeros are really loading up now with all these quality signings Fletch has blessed us with. I'm looking for a some good seasons for Houston in the next 2-3 years.
#1 - Is PMB ready? If he isn't, there is 13 forwards, including Wellman and Sheppard and the Wild have historically had 13 forwards. If PMB is ready, the pushes either Wellman or Sheppard down to help Houston
#2 - Is Cuma ready? He didn't dominate in juniors so will the Wild decide to keep him up with the Aeros or give him another year with the 67's?
#3 - Who is going to be that #7 man? Historically, the Wild have had 7 d-men on the roster. So if so, that will take one guy away from the pairings I have up.
And remember, the Aeros like putting in their own guys as well. Thats how we discovered Daoust, Rau, and Buck.
Im expecting the Wild to sign a free agent D man. I've seen several news articles now about the Wild talking to Willie Mitchell. And he's been seen hanging out down in the Twin Cities lately I also read.
I got the feeling somebody is going to get the axe to make room for a deal with Mitchell. And as soon as the Wild can swing something you'll see the Wild sign him probably the next day if not the same day. I feel it in me bones I do.
#1 - Is PMB ready? If he isn't, there is 13 forwards, including Wellman and Sheppard and the Wild have historically had 13 forwards. If PMB is ready, the pushes either Wellman or Sheppard down to help Houston
#2 - Is Cuma ready? He didn't dominate in juniors so will the Wild decide to keep him up with the Aeros or give him another year with the 67's?
#3 - Who is going to be that #7 man? Historically, the Wild have had 7 d-men on the roster. So if so, that will take one guy away from the pairings I have up.
And remember, the Aeros like putting in their own guys as well. Thats how we discovered Daoust, Rau, and Buck.
#1 - Is PMB ready? If he isn't, there is 13 forwards, including Wellman and Sheppard and the Wild have historically had 13 forwards. If PMB is ready, the pushes either Wellman or Sheppard down to help Houston
#2 - Is Cuma ready? He didn't dominate in juniors so will the Wild decide to keep him up with the Aeros or give him another year with the 67's?
#3 - Who is going to be that #7 man? Historically, the Wild have had 7 d-men on the roster. So if so, that will take one guy away from the pairings I have up.
And remember, the Aeros like putting in their own guys as well. Thats how we discovered Daoust, Rau, and Buck.
Daoust played under Richards in WB-S, and GMCF knew who he was, so that wasn't really an Aeros guy. Peters is a depth player even in the AHL, as evident by his $$s last season.
I'd see it more like this, with Wellman there:
Gilles - Almond - Earl
Daoust - Wellman - Palmer
Disalvatore - Rau - Broda
Kassian - Peters - McMillan
Kalus(I've given up on him)
Scandella - Prosser
Cuma - Bagnall
Noreau - Falk
Frasor(we didn't qualify him and he was let go by another organization in his early 20s. A nobody)
will be on the 1st pair defensively no matter what. I understand the AHL is about development but no matter what he will be the best defenseman on that team and he's the one with the most experience so he is not going to be placed on the 2nd pair. Other than that I think Wellman will be the first line center and Rau the 2nd line center. Almond is more of a checking style of player and while I think he'll get plenty of power play time, but he is better suited to being on an energy line. Rau is a pure skill player and to put him on the 3rd line is a waste of his talents.
As far as Matt Hackett, he's a big athletic goaltender who has good positioning and crease awareness. He is still very lanky and needs to add strength to his frame. Yet at the most recent camp he had trouble controlling rebounds and did not look all that good.
will be on the 1st pair defensively no matter what. I understand the AHL is about development but no matter what he will be the best defenseman on that team and he's the one with the most experience so he is not going to be placed on the 2nd pair. Other than that I think Wellman will be the first line center and Rau the 2nd line center. Almond is more of a checking style of player and while I think he'll get plenty of power play time, but he is better suited to being on an energy line. Rau is a pure skill player and to put him on the 3rd line is a waste of his talents.
As far as Matt Hackett, he's a big athletic goaltender who has good positioning and crease awareness. He is still very lanky and needs to add strength to his frame. Yet at the most recent camp he had trouble controlling rebounds and did not look all that good.
Noreau was very soft and weak when we saw him in person. I think he faded halfway through and I wouldn't put him anywhere near the top pair. Maybe 3/4 and more on the power play.
i'd think khudobin/endras will have a say in who's starting goalie for the aeros. other then that, i dont know enough about our prospects status/abilities to judge the d line, and forward group
i'd think khudobin/endras will have a say in who's starting goalie for the aeros. other then that, i dont know enough about our prospects status/abilities to judge the d line, and forward group
endras is playing in germany this season that much i do know, and yeah khudobin/hackett will challendge for #1 next season, and if u think about it thats a solid starter and backup for houston.
I hope they either let hackett start or do a 1a/1b thing. we need him ready for the prime time in a few years. I really did enjoy watching khudobin play for the wild those couple of games, he's very mobile and fun to watch. but a starter he is not. wouldnt mind seeing them move harding for an asset and letting khudobin backup backstrom (if backstrom is himself this season)
Hmm. I've never put much stock in line combos. Probably "growing up" on Lemaire and Constantine, for whom line combination guesses were a complete waste of time, is to blame.
Though I'm about to write the profile over on T3I about Broda and my info tells me line chemistry is really critical for that guy, so it will be interesting (and probably some trial and error) to see how that shakes out.
I would say DiSalvatore will be on a higher line, but who do you bump down? Almond is a good defensive kid, but I'd like them to encourage his scoring ability. The guys who aren't prospects usually get the shaft in that regard, but DiSal can score, and we're gonna need it.
Looking at that defense though... Wow. I'm pretty happy if I'm Khudobin and Hack, right?
