Nashville assistant GM Paul Fenton joined Aaron and Wojo for the Admirals Center Ice Radio show Monday night on Sportsradio 1250 WSSP. And as usual, he shared some great information to give us a little more of an idea on what to expect this year.
– Scott Ford is “pretty darn close” to signing.
– Fenton is not expecting Brad Winchester to be back.
– Thinks Daniel Bang may end up staying in Europe. Bang is a restricted free agent who received a qualifying offer.
– Colton Sissons and Miikka Salomaki should be in Milwaukee this year. More on them in a moment…
– Scott Valentine is working out as both a forward and a defenseman during the off-season, but Fenton thinks he’ll end up playing on D.
– Fenton is still looking to sign three or four more guys to complete the Milwaukee roster. (I would hope that one or two of them will be of the puck-moving-variety-of-defensemen.)
– Talked a bit about the big time AHL salaries that some guys are getting. Previously, under the old CBA, if a guy on a two-way or one-way contract made more than $105k in the AHL, he was subject to re-entry waivers. That magic number was removed in the new CBA, so some clubs are willing to spend some more, and some guys are cashing in.
Sissons played last season with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL, and was over a point per game (28g, 39a, 61 games). On The Forecheck blog posted some scouting reports from a couple of sources at the time he was drafted in 2012. Follow the link for the whole bit…but here’s a taste:
A responsible two-way forward with a high level of compete, Sissons makes an impact at both ends of the rink for the Rockets. The 6’1″, 189-lb center, who also plays right wing, has good skating ability and mobility, and plays a very strong defensive game. With good size and strength, Sissons excels at winning those grinding battles on the boards and in the corners, and can protect the puck well.
Sounds like our kind of guy.
Salomaki is projecting to be another two-way player, who is good in the battles for the puck, and isn’t afraid to work in front of the crease. Here is a highlight package from the youtube.
Admirals Roundtable 
I’m really excited to see Salomaki. From the scouting reports I have seen, he seems to be similar to Latta but (and the vid shows this) with better hands and a better scoring touch. I am a bit concerned about one report that says he can be undisciplined at times. Oh well…that’s what the A is for!
A bit disappointed that Winchester won’t be back. I really liked him when he was with my Sharks and he was a decent player here.
The Ford soon to be signing does have me a bit surprised. Yes, good, solid veterans are good to have, but with Ford well over the limits set in the AHL development rule, I figured his time in the A was just about up.
Sissons could be the unsung hero here. I love two way forwards (which is why I was so disappointed in Cehlin’s ‘now you see me, now you don’t’ act on D last year) and if he can duplicate his WHL success in the A, we are in for a treat.
Any word on goalies? I believe we need 2 goalies on the roster. I count 1.
1. Magnus Hellberg … 2. Marek Mazanec
Good stuff as always ryan, its nice to hear some more free agents are looking to be signed, there’s one guy out there that we know well, Hamill. He wasn’t offered a QO so he’d be a nice addition if we could get him. Glad Ford is close to being in the fold, I know he’s gotten a bit slower with age, but he adds great leadership and is able to bond well with the young guys and get them used to pro life. I know he never has dazzled the stats sheet or ever will but Fordo has shown something hardly anyone since Robin Yount was playing and that’s a desire to play here and live here in Milwaukee. We’re not really a pro’s dream town to live in but he resides here, gives back and genuinely enjoys his time here. I know all of that doesn’t get your # retired but he is someone I think of when I think Admirals Hockey over the last five years.
Marek Mazanec’s 4.25 GAA and .880 SVS% with IHC Pisek in the Czech League should really translate well to the North American game. But it does look like he’s with the Ads this year since Elite Prospects already lists him on the Ads’ roster. Let’s hope Hellberg, Hutton and Rinne don’t get hurt durning the season or we may be looking at Chet Pickard II here.
Per Section303.com, Admirals signed a goalie – Scott Darling. He’ll be #5 on the depth chart…
http://www.section303.com/report-admirals-sign-goaltender-scott-darling-50967
Stats: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=12553