Gone:
Ortmeyer
Daoust(possibly back on an Aeros contract)
Frasor
Offered, but perhaps decline:
Earl
O'Sullivan(less likely to return)
Brought back via qualifying offer:
Wellman
Palmer
Gillies
Endras(may go back to Europe if he doesn't make the Wild)
Falk
Prosser
Noreau(may sign in Europe for more $$$)
The other 3(Disalvatore, Bagnall, Penner) are the tough ones. Penner we just got so his evaluation is on now, Disalvatore is our leading scorer for the 2nd straight season, while Bagnall's a former captain who's a tough and steady defensive d-man, an ideal candidate for helping develop our prospects.
Coming in I believe Krupp's turning pro, and Foucault who doesn't have a contract(and I still believe might not get one). Kuemper's getting signed. Possibly Granlund and Lehtonen from Europe. Medvec is also in his senior season at Vermont, but might not get signed either.
Factor in a couple college signings and it might get tricky.
saywut.... in ur list of players not coming back u forgot to mention James Sheppard because i cant see him getting a qualifing offer from wild even though hes a rfa
saywut.... in ur list of players not coming back u forgot to mention James Sheppard because i cant see him getting a qualifing offer from wild even though hes a rfa
He's on an NHL contract.
And I'll ask this question. What has James Sheppard done hockey-related that makes him any less likely to receive a qualifying offer this season than last?
Did i really just read on the main board, that it came down to a choice between Kalus or Krejci? If this is true, my dislike of Risebrough just reached an all time high.
I like it because it opens up a contract spot. Kid peaked after he scored two goals on two shots. As I've said before, Houston's where prospects go to die (career-wise anyway)
Pretty sure the only forward prospect we've developed in Houston in the last five years is Clutterbuck. And I think the only defensive prospect who's graduated from Houston in the last five is Stoner. Otherwise pretty much everyone we've called up has been a fringe player who's gone back down.
Rushing the majority of our first rounders didn't help. And when you consider those players were able to win NHL roster spots goes to show you the lack of depth we had in terms of veterans on 2-way contracts.
Pouliot developed in Houston. Harding did as well. Voros played 31 games down there. John Scott and Joel Ward as well as players currently in the NHL.
Having Daum there for awhile as the coach didn't help either. Constantine might not have gotten the most out of players offensively, but he was a guy who'd make you play his way or not play at all. Look at the 07-08 Aeros, leading scorer was Joel Ward with 41 points but they went 45-29-6.
Ward was a free agent signing though, not really a drafted guy. Why the Wild didn't offer him a contract I have no idea.
41 points as a 27 year old in the AHL is nothing to write home about. Remember him in 06-07? Looked out of place in his 11 game call-up. Not as bad as Shawn Belle, but still did not look like an NHL player. Nashville just gives guys opportunities and sometimes they work.
I actually thought he looked good back then. A lot of the time this team won't give a chance to AHL players. Spurgeon seems to be one of the very few. Otherwise it's one or two games and back down for someone else. Just call someone up and let them play for a while.
Why we're doing this Peters/Ortmeyer/Almond/Wellman dance is beyond me. Pick one, and keep him up.
Peters came up and outplayed Almond, so he gets to stay. Now its a winger spot, so we bring up Wellman. He and Ortmeyer very well may play tonight. And if Wellman outplays Ortmeyer, he should have no problem sticking, assuming of course there is a spot open. And that shouldn't be very hard(outplaying Ortmeyer).
Whoever gets called up should be playing more than one game. With Koivu out, you need a center who will be up for a month or so. Everyone is going to have a bad game occasionally, or a good game occasionally. They should be up based on how they have played in Houston all year, not how they play in five minutes of ice time of one game.
Peters may have outplayed Almond in one game, but Almond has outplayed Peters significantly over his time up this year. Almond has at least created scoring chances. Peters has about as much impact as Latendresse.
