There have already been two members of the Milwaukee Admirals who joined the Nashville Predators during their second round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks. Both Pontus Åberg and Marek Mazanec were summoned ahead of that series and were with the Predators in San Jose in the first two games against the Sharks.
Fiala was the Admirals leading scorer this past season. He scored 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists) in 66 games. He played 5 games for the Predators this season and scored his first career NHL goal on 1/14/16 on the road against the Winnipeg Jets.
This past season was Kamenev’s first full campaign in North America. He spent the entirety of the 2015-16 season playing center and produced 37 15 22 in 57 games which puts him at the third highest points per game ratio of Admirals who played more than 50 games this season. He missed time due to his participation in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships where he was the captain of Team Russia and earned silver while producing 6 points (5 goals, 1 assist) in 7 games.
Gaudreau was the true feel good story of this past season for the Admirals. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Admirals back in 2014-15 where he split time between the AHL and ECHL totaling a combined 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) from 57 games between the Admirals and the Cincinnati Cyclones. This season Gaudreau performed so well that the Predators couldn’t ignore his abilities and signed him to a two-year entry level contract. Gaudreau scored 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 75 games and represented the Admirals in the inaugural AHL All-Star Challenge where he won the championship game with the Central Division All-Stars.
Elliott and Potter were part of the Admirals major defensive shake-up at the middle stages of the season which also included Patrick Mullen being brought on-board. The three brought experience as well as right-handed shots from the back end for the Admirals that really boosted the team down the stretch as the team went 25-10-1-2 from their debut on 1/15/16 to the end of the regular season.
While going over the “Thank You” column that I wrote the night of the Milwaukee Admirals playoff exit you probably thought I forgot some people: the photographers. Well, that’s just simply not true because this post is entirely a massive thank you to the photographers who have once again captured so many incredible moments this season.
The main man that heads up photography for the Admirals is Scott Paulus. When he’s not with the Admirals he is more than likely helping out the Milwaukee Brewers as pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. This opens up the window for people such as Stephanie Moebius, Jeff Hanisch, and Sara Stathas to showcase their great eye around the rink.
Someone else that deserves an Admirable mention is Jamie Wahl whose photography often ends up being used by your’s truly to craft the various memes or reaction faces that you see used on Admirals Roundtable’s social media. Her work was even brought up by Jimmy Oligny during his Fifteen interview in regards to this photo of Taylor Aronson.
It’s a shame that the Admiral of the Month Award won’t extend past the month of April. The Milwaukee Admirals 2015-16 season really did deserve a longer run. That said, the final monthly award from Admirals Roundtable was a rather easy choice to make. It had to go to Pontus Åberg.
At the end of the regular season there wasn’t a hotter player on the Admirals roster than Åberg. The numbers from the last month of the regular season pop: 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) in 8 games, 4 power-play goals, 2 game-winning goals, 2 first-goals, an average of 2.0 shots on goal per game, and he was held without a point in just 2 games.
Similar to the Admirals as a team it’s a shame that such a great run at the end of the regular season didn’t see better results in the playoffs for Åberg. In the Admirals playoff exit the 22-year old Swede was unable to score a point. Considering the Admirals were held to a single goal in all 3 games against the Grand Rapids Griffins there wasn’t much scoring to get excited about in general. Still, something that Åberg offered that extended into the playoffs was his reliability to the team to double-shift on the wing. His all-around play was so consistent that the coaching staff really pushed him to offer up a boost when the Admirals needed it. There is a reason, despite the lack of scoring in the playoffs, why the Nashville Predators saw fit to give Åberg his first career NHL call up prior to the start of their second round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks. He was the hottest forward on the ice for the Admirals and that motor can translate to the Predators if they needed him out on the wing. With the Predators now down 2-0 to the Sharks perhaps some new blood and energy in the form of Åberg would be a good thing.
Admirable Mentions: Vladislav Kamenev, 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 11 games… Juuse Saros, 5 wins from 6 starts with a 2.34 goals against average and 0.919 save percentage… Félix Girard, for his efforts in the face-off circle and work on Admirals special teams… Kevin Fiala, 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 11 games… Max Reinhart, 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 11 games… Max Görtz, 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 11 games… Adam Payerl, 5 points (4 goals, 1 assist) in 11 games… Matt White, 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 11 games…
Who do you feel was the Milwaukee Admirals top performer during the month of April? Was it Pontus Åberg, Vladislav Kamenev, or someone else? Answer in the comment section below.
The entire Western Conference has its second round of the playoffs set. The Lake Erie Monsters will be hosting the Grand Rapids Griffins. And the Ontario Reign will be hosting the San Diego Gulls in a best of seven game series format that will laughably go 1-1-1-1-1-1-1. The second round officially gets underway this coming Wednesday when the Toronto Marlies host the Albany Devils.
Enough time has officially passed where it’s safe to really plunge back into how the Milwaukee Admirals 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs ended as quickly as it did. With the Admirals having such an incredible regular season, that saw them claim their first divisional title since 2010-11, expectations for a long playoff run were high. It instead came and went as quickly as it possibly could making the playoff experience something of a blur to the landscape of everything the regular season provided. What went wrong? It isn’t a one-sentence answer.
~Handshake Line~
For as much internal complaining as there could be done there isn’t enough credit in the world that could be given to the Griffins. The opening round playoff series was a microcosm of how the head-to-head series between the two teams went in the regular season. Combine what happened in the playoffs and the Griffins went 8-3-0-0 with the Admirals never once having won consecutive games against the Griffins and only once having won two out of three games. There couldn’t have been a worse opening round opponent for the Admirals than the Griffins.
Another item worthy of bringing up is experience. I made mention prior to the start of the series that there were going to be nineteen returning names from the Griffins 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs roster. That meant having a little under 60% of a team that nearly punched a ticket to the 2015 Calder Cup Finals squaring up with an Admirals team that would give the pro debuts to Anthony Richard and Yakov Trenin in the series. As much as the Admirals looked to be playing playoff hockey in the closing stages of the regular season the actual playoff experience that the Griffins had wasn’t anything to be taken lightly. The Admirals looked to get through the playoffs on talent alone. The Griffins looked to get through the playoffs as a team that previously went to the Western Conference Finals a year ago. That’s a very real thing that made a difference in the series.
~Missing Names~
Another area that was a slight issue for the Admirals that wasn’t really the case on the opposite side of the rink was the missing names of higher ranking players. It’s hard to say anything against when the Nashville Predators have a need for their cause in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It is, and that’s the slight unfortunate grey area of being the AHL affiliate that is also competing in a playoff run. But the lack of even someone such as a Cody Bass was a very real thing.
The Admirals captains at the start of the season went as follows: Colton Sissons (C), Cody Bass (A), and Conor Allen (A). Sissons would go up to the Predators. Bass would go up to the Predators. Allen would get traded mid-season to acquire Patrick Mullen. Your initial leadership group wasn’t available for the playoffs. This pushed the captains to be: Max Reinhart (A), Félix Girard (A), and Jamie Devane (A). The coaching staff has made mention that the leadership group of the room has been great, so you can’t really have any gripes with that, but there is something to be said of losing out on the on and off-ice abilities that a Bass or Sissons provides.
I’m very happy to see Bass taking part of the Predators playoff run. I’ve long been a proponent of calling up the veteran AHL talent to fill a lower line role than having one of your high energy scoring prospects be subjected to a lesser role where they are tasked with playing outside of their comfort zone and be mistake free and defensive. That’s why having a Bass up with the Predators, and not a Kevin Fiala, is a good thing. What I do question though is what’s going on in the head of Austin Watson when you’re technically that bridge gap and being superseded by Bass. You would think the two could be contributing to the NHL and AHL causes all the same during the playoffs but, instead, Watson -someone who wasn’t playoff eligible to the Admirals- is being kept low on the totem pole. He’ll be seeing his contract kick up to a one-way deal next season but is being treated less of a Black Ace than Pontus Åberg who, for a brief half-hour period, looked as though he would be making his NHL debut in Game 1 of the Predators playoff series against the San Jose Sharks. I’m not sure how that inspires confidence nor helps the entire organization be at their optimum.
Then there is “Mr. Elephant in the Room” Taylor Aronson who, according to Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason, left the team due to personal reasons with three-games remaining in the regular season. He never ended up returning for the playoff run so the Admirals were without their best defenseman this season against the Griffins. That was a massive loss considering how many situations Aronson contributes for the Admirals. In the Admirals last six-games of the season without him they went 1-5-0-0 with five straight losses to end the season. Aronson is always the first man over the boards for the Admirals power-play. In those six-games without him they were 5/31 (16.1%) on the power-play including 2/17 (11.8%) during the playoff series against the Griffins. The Admirals ended the regular season with the second best power-play in the entire AHL (21.2%). Losing Aronson, who provided 18 assists on the power-play from 64 games in the regular season games, was huge.
~Zebras and Rule Books~
It is 100% inescapable that this topic would come. In fact, this may have been the hardest pill for all fans to swallow as the Admirals were given the unceremonious exit from the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs. The chaos and drama of the Admirals and Griffins opening round series didn’t come entirely from the on-ice product that the two teams dished up as much as the embarrassing flaws and ineptitude of AHL officiating and rules were exposed in broad daylight.
79.1 Video Review – It shall be the Referee’s sole discretion as to whether the use of the video review system shall be utilized for any apparent goal or non-goal that takes place during the course of the game.
Any potential goal requiring video review must be reviewed prior to or during the next stoppage of play. No goal may be awarded (or disallowed) as a result of video review once the puck has been dropped and play has resumed.
When a team scores an apparent goal that is not immediately awarded by the on-officials and play continues, the play shall be reviewed at the next stoppage of play only at the sole discretion of the on-ice officials. If the goal is confirmed by video review, the clock
(including penalty time clocks, if applicable) shall be re-set to the time the goal was scored. If the goal is not confirmed by video review, no adjustment is required to the game clock time.
Only one goal can be awarded at any stoppage of play. If the apparent goal was scored by Team A, and is subsequently confirmed as a goal through use of video replay, any goal scored by Team B during the period of time between the apparent goal by Team A and the stoppage of play (Team B’s goal), the Team B goal would not be awarded. However, if the apparent goal by Team A is deemed to have entered the goal, albeit illegally, the goal shall be disallowed and since the play should have been stopped for this disallowed goal, no goal can be awarded to Team B on the same play. The clock (including penalty time clocks, if applicable), must be re-set to the time of the disallowed Team A goal and play resumed.
Any penalties signaled during the period of time between the apparent goal and the next stoppage of play shall be assessed in the normal manner, except when a minor penalty is to be assessed to the team scored upon, and is therefore nullified by the scoring of the goal. Refer to Rules 16.2 and 18.2. If an infraction happens after the first stoppage of play following an apparent goal (infraction after the whistle) by either team, it is assessed and served in the normal manner regardless as to the decision rendered by the video review.
79.2 Procedure – If the Referee determines the use of the video review system is necessary, the referee shall inform the off-ice official at ice level and the Public Address Announcer shall announce that “The play is now under review”. Once the play has been reviewed and deemed a goal, the goal will be announced in the normal manner. If the review reveals that the goal must be disallowed, the Public Address Announcer shall announce the reason for the disallowed goal as reported by the Referee.
When the Referee indicates there is to be a video review, all players (with the exception of the goalkeepers) will go to their respective players’ bench immediately. During the period of video review, no replay of the situation may be shown on the arena video
screen or any other public video monitor.
79.3 Situations Subject to Video Review – The following are the only situations subject to video review by the Referee:
(i) Puck crossing the goal line.
(ii) Puck crossing the goal line prior to the goal frame being dislodged.
(iii) Puck crossing the goal line prior to, or after expiration of time, at the end of the period.
(iv) Puck directed or batted into the net by a hand or foot or deliberately batted with any part of the attacking player’s body. With the use of a foot/skate, was a distinct kicking motion evident? If so, the apparent goal must be disallowed. A distinct kicking motion is one which the player propels the puck with his skate into the net. If the Referee determines that it was put into the net by an attacking player using a distinct kicking motion, it must be ruled no goal. This would also be true even if the puck, after being kicked, deflects off any other player of either team and then into the net. This is still no goal. However, a puck that enters the goal after deflecting off an attacking player’s skate or that deflects off his skate while he is in the process of stopping, shall be ruled a good goal. See also 49.2.
(v) To determine whether the puck entered the net by going through the net meshing.
(vi) To determine whether the puck entered the net from underneath the net frame.
(vii) Any situation in which the puck may have entered the net undetected by the Referee.
79.4 Coach’s Challenge – A team may request a formal Coach’s Challenge if they have their time-out available. The Coach’s Challenge must be effectively initiated prior to the resumption of play.
Only the situations subject to video review as outlined under
Rule 79.3 may be challenged.
If the Coach’s Challenge does not result in the original call on the ice being overturned, the team exercising such challenge will forfeit its time-out.
If the Coach’s Challenge does result in the call on the ice being overturned, the team successfully exercising such challenge will retain its time-out, which may be used for another challenge.
79.5 Video Review Assistant – The position of Video Review Assistant shall be recognized as an official off-ice officials position required for each League game to assist the Referee in the timely review of any situation subject to video review as outlined under Rule 79.3.
79.6 Logistics and Equipment – The video review monitor and controls shall be located at the scorer’s table positioned between the penalty boxes. The Referee shall have full control of the video review system at all times with the assistance of the Video Review Assistant.
79.7 Final Decision – If the Referee determines the use of video review is necessary, or it is utilized as a result of a Coach’s Challenge, the Referee shall not be required to consult with the Goal Judge. In determining whether to award an apparent goal, the video review must conclusively show the entire puck entered the net legally with regard to the situations subject to review as outlined above. After the play has been reviewed with the use of the video review system, the Referee shall make the final decision.
79.8 Reports – Following any game in which the video review system was utilized, the Referee must report to the League all video reviews conducted during the game.
You get all that? Great, because now we can rant a bit. There is a human element to the game of hockey. That shouldn’t mean that standard is limited to just the players. Officials get one real solid look to make a determination of a call on the ice in a game that happens at incredible speed and ferocity. Mistakes happen. They’re always going to happen. But when those mistakes happen in such a way they can drastically impact the game itself there is a problem that far exceeds an issue of on-ice officiating. The league itself must be held accountable.
Looking at how the series played out you’ll have no doubt been angry when seeing Rule 79.3 (v). It happened in quick succession during Game 3 in Grand Rapids and on both occasions saw the Griffins be awarded goals. Now comes the hard part to say that some might still be hot over: they were goals. Yes, they were goals. There is nothing wrong with saying that those were goals and video replay afforded the officials a chance to make what should have been right on the ice – right. That’s a good thing to have the game held accountable. It’s great that the officials have a chance to use the technology around them to see major points of a game be correctly handled if it wasn’t done appropriately in the moment when it happened.
Now comes the inexcusable parts…
For the AHL to not allow for video review of goaltender interference. For the AHL to have nothing in the rule book in connection to the maintenance of their goals and nets by teams or officials being obstructed to inspect goals and nets before a game, before a period, or after a game is inexcusable.
In Game 2, the Admirals were trailing 2-0 to the Griffins in the second period when Max Gortz deflected a shot by Corey Potter. The crowd finally had something to get loud about and the game was 2-1 with all kinds of momentum set to finally go the way of the Admirals. It was then waved off. Why? Goaltender Interference. It’s an unreviewable play by AHL standards yet the disallowed goal could have been quickly amended with something as simple as the jumbotron feed showing that not only was Tom McCollum not interfered with but that there wasn’t anyone within two feet of him.
What’s the point of video review if you can’t review something? What’s the point of the coach’s challenge if they can’t challenge a play on the ice? It’s as if the AHL has what they have in place to come across as professional as possible. Like looking at someone in the distance who looks to be wearing a tuxedo and a coat. Yet, the closer you get – the more you get into the details – all you’re looking at is a clown in a tuxedo t-shirt. You cannot have rules in place while ignoring other major points of conflict that can arise in the game of hockey. The AHL did. The officials made a mistake and then proceeded to stick to the letter of the rule book. And the victim of the situation, the Admirals, get nothing more than potentially being the sacrificial lamb to significant rule changes that should have been in place already. It’s inept. It’s embarrassing. And the worst thing of it all was that it was all avoidable.
~Closure~
I went into the BMO Harris Bradley Center the day after the Admirals playoff exit. It was the team’s last day together and I had the chance to speak with a great deal of the players. Time and time again I found myself saying that it wasn’t the end to the season that everyone wanted and hoped for but it doesn’t detract from how special of a season it was for the Admirals. It’s right, too. This season the Admirals were absolutely terrific. There were so many bright spots, great performances, unexpected stars, signs of great promise for the future of the Predators, and all of that is something that shouldn’t be lost on you – the fans. Even better, there is no reason why what you saw this season shouldn’t be just as good or better next season. The Admirals were an incredibly young team in 2015-16. That remains true for 2016-17. What should be exciting is the returning name talent that there will be coming back to the Admirals that took in the 2015-16 season. The close of the Bradley Center was special. The return to the Admirals original home next season will be too.
Yesterday’s news was that the Nashville Predators recalled Pontus Åberg from the Milwaukee Admirals. It wasn’t publicized by the Predators but also included in the mix was Marek Mazanec who was part of the healthy scratch brigade in last night’s 5-2 Game 1 loss against the San Jose Sharks.
Those releases aren’t to say that it is the last you will see of those guys. Especially those last three who were drafted by the Predators in recent years. It’s likely that you will see either entry level contracts signed through the Predators or standard player contracts penned to the Admirals in the off-season.
As for the “Black Aces” that typically go up to the Predators once the Admirals season ends there should be more than just Åberg and Mazanec heading up during the parent club’s playoff run. Other names that are very likely to be going to Nashville ahead of Game 3 are: Kevin Fiala, Vladislav Kamenev, Juuse Saros, Frédérick Gaudreau, Stefan Elliott, Corey Potter, and Félix Girard.
Now that the Milwaukee Admirals season has come to an end there should be a few names heading to the Nashville Predators as their playoff season continues tonight with a second round match-up against the San Jose Sharks. The first name that will be getting recalled will be Pontus Åberg whose first career NHL call-up comes during the midst of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Nashville, Tenn. (April 29, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Friday that the club has recalled forward Pontus Aberg (PAWN-tuhs AW-buhrg) from Milwaukee (AHL).
Aberg, 22 (9/23/93), scored 25 goals and amassed 40 points in 74 games for the Admirals in 2015-16, tying for 13th among all AHLers in goals, while tying for the AHL lead in game-winning goals (8) and first goals (8). The 5-foot-11, 196-pound winger also ranked fourth on the Admirals in points; he amassed 34 points (16g-18a), ranking fifth on the team in the category, as a rookie in 2014-15. A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Aberg was Nashville’s first choice, 37th overall (second round), in the 2012 Entry Draft. He helped Farjestad advance to the 2014 Swedish Hockey League Final, earning a silver medal, and was a finalist for the 2012 Swedish Elite League Rookie of the Year with Djurgarden.
Individual tickets for Round Two of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the San Jose Sharks are on sale now and available for purchase at NashvillePredators.com. The first two contests of the series will be held in San Jose before the club returns to Bridgestone Arena for Game Three on Tuesday, May 3 (8 p.m. CT on USA) and Game Four on Thursday, May 5 (8 p.m. CT on CNBC). If necessary, Game Six will be played in Nashville on Monday, May 9 (time and broadcast info TBD). For the latest information about the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, visit NashvillePredators.com, or follow @PredsNHL on Twitter using #StandWithUs.
This past-season was Åberg’s second professional playing season in North America and it was a huge leap forward. Åberg finished the 2015-16 season with 40 points (25 goals, 15 assists) from 74 games. More specifically, Åberg finished the regular season on a white hot run of 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in the Admirals last 21 games of the season. In that span Åberg was held without a point in just 5 games. He finished the season as the Admirals top goal scorer. More names from the Admirals are expected to join the Predators in the near future.
Today is the last day in which the Milwaukee Admirals will be together as a group before departing, heading separate ways, and closing the book on the 2015-16 season. I had the chance to round up several players this morning to get comments from the playoff exit, the season that was, and other general happenings due to unfold this off-season.
At the time I’m publishing this the team is having its final meeting. Considering I rounded up as many players as I already did I chose to come home prior to the meeting and let the team have its last send-off as a group. Most want to get packed up and situated as soon as that meeting ends anyways so I’m very fortunate that Milwaukee Admirals Hockey Operations Coordinator Ryan Costello was able to round up as many players as he did to allow for these interviews today. Thanks to him. Thanks to the players. And as I said earlier – thanks to all of you.
(Photo Credit: Daniel Lavender… because it’s a selfie)
This is always such a conflicting post to make. It’s the end-season thanks and goodbye. On one-hand I hold the congratulatory applause from so many warm and caring fans who are sharing their appreciation for a season of hard work that I’ve put in. On the other hand I hold yet another Milwaukee Admirals season that has ended far sooner than it should have.
There are several talking points that could be brought up from last night’s game that saw the Admirals get eliminated in the opening round of the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs. No question about it. Fear not though because that will have its time and place for discussion. The shortest sentiment that I offer up now is that it was a game of utter frustration and confusion that thundered to the ground. The season is over. It’s over right when it should have been getting at it’s absolute best. And it is just unfortunate.
I try my best to leave myself as the simple byline to all that you see associated with Admirals Roundtable. I always rather leave the focus where the interests are greater. That of course meaning to put and leave the spotlight on the team and the players. This post isn’t going to be totally done that way. Instead this is my chance to open up and talk more about me and my own experiences of the season that was.
2016-16 marked my third-season running things here at Admirals Roundtable. It also marked my fourth-season with the Admirals dating back to my internship season of 2012-13 where I was able to contribute to their 35th Anniversary campaign. It feels like every season I’ve taken part of since that debut season becomes my new best season. That happens not as a solo effort but thanks to the unbelievable amount of people associated with the work that I’m privileged to say is work for me. I made mention of this on Facebook, in relation to the final regular season game played at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, but I can expand on it more here. The people who work tirelessly behind the curtain make doing what I do all the more special.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
It didn’t take long for me to realize as an intern that the fun loving chemistry of the entire Admirals front office is a reflection of the people in charge. Admirals Owner/CEO Harris Turer and President Jon Greenberg are such friendly, caring, family oriented, and fun people to be around. Throughout this season their tireless work behind the scenes have kept this franchise right here in Milwaukee. The season may have ended last night but I can almost guarantee you that those two are now heavily focused on making sure that the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena will feel more of a home for Admirals fans than ever before. For as much of a focus is on the on-ice product there is an on-ice product for years to come thanks to these two. With how they set the tone from the top that same level of care comes out from everyone else associated with the front office. Admirals VP/Communications Charlie Larson is right there to assist whenever I want to conduct interviews. So much of the content you get out of this website comes thanks to having someone like Charlie who keeps the doors so open to me in being able to shine the spotlight on the team and players as I chose to. Admirals broadcaster Aaron Sims, who we are all so fortunate to have as our play-by-play man, always makes himself available to me so I can throw him questions when I miss out on things on the road and is always such joy to hear tell stories around the rink.
(Photo Credit: Stephanie Moebius)
The Admirals coaching staff and players have been incredible to me this season. Such a massive part of why last night was such a painful experience was knowing how tightly knit this year’s group was. It really was a special team with countless wonderful people. Whether I was speaking with Dean Evason, Stan Drulia, or Scott Ford the coaching staff always welcomed me in as a reporter to ask away my questions and provided very humble and honest answers. The same can be said of the players they coached up this season. There were so many new faces this season from last season but everyone seemed to gel together so well so early. There are always incredible characters in a hockey locker room. The Admirals weren’t short of that at all this season. You had a trio from Québec with their very own nickname. You had a Russian teenager that was adapting to what had to feel like an alien world around him but never seemed to let that change his happy demeanor. There were players dead set on redemption over previous individual misfortunes. Players not knowing how much longer they can continue playing pro hockey in this country or at all. And others just simply trying to make it. When you eliminate the players and simply look at who the Admirals are as people the world I come back to is genuine. There were so many high quality people that wore an Admirals sweater this season and it has been an honor getting to know so many of them. I always admire how humble hockey players truly are. It’s an infectious attitude when you’re around a team the likes of which the Admirals had in 2015-16. And I cannot thank the team enough for simply being themselves.
Then there are many individuals I bump shoulders with (often literally) who make getting to the rink that much more fun. The man with the blog Dave Boehler is always so much fun ribbing throughout the season. Our linemate, aka our table buddy, Sam Sirna is also always great for keeping things light during the grind of working away as he spins the music at home games. Mario Tirabassi for being a laugh when he turns up to cover games. Nate Haeni and Kristen Wooten of the Rockford IceHogs who both made my first road trips so much fun (and easy) to take in.
I always have to thank the many countless people in Nashville, Cincinnati, or abroad for all the fun that this hockey season has provided. Justin Bradford of Penalty Box Radio for having me on the airwaves a number of times this season and venturing up to Wisconsin-land to have a jolly fun time. Kristopher Martel, Jeremy K. Gover, Robby Stanley, and Cutler Klein for the usual Nashville shenanigans we get up to throughout the season. The fine people of On The Forecheck and Predlines for always sharing Admirals Roundtable and giving Nashville a spotlight to Milwaukee. Dakota Johnson of Sin Bin Cyclones for always keeping me informed on how the Cincinnati Cyclones are doing so that I can give proper insight on the Admirals ECHL affiliate. Sean Shapiro and Stephen Meserve on offering up such fun AHL beats down in Texas and Patrick Williams for doing the same up in Manitoba. Again, countless individuals that I could keep rattling off that remind me that the sports media business isn’t the shark tank that I expected it to be but rather one big loving community where we all support one another.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Last, and most important of all, you fans reading this I owe the biggest thanks of all. I’m almost overwhelmed by how much Admirals Roundtable has grown in the three-years that I’ve headed it up. It’s breathtaking. There is something special about this sport and work when I can finish a story that I slaved away on into the middle of the night, publish it, and there will still be early birds in Europe excited to get to read it ASAP. Those that know me, possibly even those that don’t, probably know just how hard and how much time I spend putting work into this. I still lack a full-time job on the sports business so I treat Admirals Roundtable as just that. All I think about are ways to improve what it is that you see, get, read, or listen to here. I obsess over it and I want this to be the go-to place for Milwaukee Admirals information, Predators prospects coverage, and just an enjoyable place to talk hockey. All the hard work and sleepless nights that go into what you see is made all the more enjoyable because of each and everyone of you. I love this. I love this even more because you all let me be myself. I’ve been fortunate enough to have met so many great people purely because of the work that has come through Admirals Roundtable. That’s special. All of you make it special.
What comes next? Well, truth be told, I hadn’t mapped out any sort of end-season columns yet. I wasn’t planning the Admirals season ending so early. Last season it was a little more obvious but this was a blindside hit that has me… well.. all of us.. stuck in the mud for a short while. You should expect some of what you saw last season in regards to the End-Season Report Card, Season in Pictures, as well as multiple Best-of content. None of that was prepped though. So it won’t come right away. Be patient. I’ll get to it in due time.
For Admirals fans still bitter or sad over last night: don’t be. We can’t get caught being too selfish wanting the Admirals to be Calder Cup champions or bust. A swift playoff exit shouldn’t mean that the regular season was a waste. This season, no matter how it ended, was special to be part of whether you were a fan, reporter, front office staffer, coach, or player. What life at the AHL level provides is experience. Everyone this season experienced one of the most special teams in Admirals history at a time when we said goodbye to a building that the Pettits had built for the purpose of hosting a hockey team twenty-eight years ago. This season was a success. We were all part of it. Thanks for being part of it with me.
Daniel Lavender
Editor-in-Chief
Admirals Roundtable
The Milwaukee Admirals lost 4-1 on the road against the Grand Rapids Griffins Tuesday night at the Van Andel Arena.
After such a highly successful regular season the Admirals have been swept out of the opening round of the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs. The Central Division champions had a massively successful first period but where stopped in their tracks after a lengthy video review period in the second period put the Griffins equal at 1-1. This was followed by yet another goal that went through open netting that would be ruled as such by replay to give the Griffins a lead they would never lose.
The Admirals have lost their last eight straight playoff games. The last time the Admirals escaped the opening round of the playoffs came five-years ago in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs. They end the 2015-16 season having lost five-straight games for the first time all-season. Admirals head coach Dean Evason’s playoff record is now 1-9.
It was a very purposeful start by the Admirals. They were flying in the first period and generating numerous shots to the net. Before the horn could sound in the opening frame the Admirals hard work saw a pay off with Yakov Trenin’s shot from the left wing rebounding off of Tom McCollum and sitting in-line for Adam Payerl to smack in home to give the Admirals their first lead in the series since Game 1. The primary assist by Trenin was his first career pro point.
What happened at the start of the second period can only be summed up with the word insanity. Play was stopped momentarily to assess whether or not a shot by Brian Lashoff was a goal or not. The puck hadn’t hit a post. It didn’t trickle across the line. It evidently flew clean through the netter. After a seriously long video review, with multiple officials looking at the overhead view, the officials determined it to be a good goal. The net wasn’t checked and it was left as is.
Moments later a shot by Anthony Mantha appeared to get through the left arm of Marek Mazanec and sail wide to the right wing corner boards. Mantha celebrated and went to the bench for five-fives amidst confusion. After another video review, a much quicker one, the officials called it a good goal and then checked the net before getting a replacement net in place for the Admirals.
There was no replay needed for Mantha’s second goal of the game coming at the end of the second period. Xavier Ouellet skated out towards the left wing circle and dropped a pass off to Mantha for a bomb from the high slot that whistled through net front traffic and beat Mazanec over the shoulder to make it a 3-1 Griffins lead through two periods of play.
In the third period the Griffins scored their fourth unanswered goal. The Admirals won a neutral zone face-off but Trevor Murphy turned the puck over right to Colin Campbell who immediately raced in on a breakaway where he finished backhand to forehand over the pad blocker-side of Mazanec to make it a 4-1 Griffins lead.
There were still four-minutes remaining when Mazanec hit the Admirals bench to get the extra attacker on. In something that sums up the Griffins defensive structure against the Admirals the majority of this 2015-16 season there wouldn’t be a goal scored despite the Admirals pressure with the added man on the ice. The Griffins would win 4-1 to complete the opening round sweep of the Admirals. The Griffins will now face the Lake Erie Monsters in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
A tip of the cap can be given to Griffins goaltender McCollum who was the surprise choice in Game 1 of the series over the main man in net for the entire season Jared Coreau. In this series McCollum stopped 91/93 shots on goal in the series for a 0.968 save percentage and 1.00 goals against average in the three-game set.
Ramblings: There were no roster moves made since the last time the Milwaukee Admirals played on Saturday night. The Nashville Predators will be playing in their first Game 7 in franchise history tomorrow night in Anaheim. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Cyclones lost Game 6 and have been drawn into a Game 7 against the Fort Wayne Komets that will be contested on tomorrow night in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Tonight’s line combinations for the Admirals featured a significant change up in the forward lines: Reinhart-Kamenev-Åberg, Richard-Gaudreau-Görtz, White-Trenin-Fiala, Devane-Girard-Payerl, Oligny-Potter, Näkyvä-Elliott, Murphy-Mullen. Tonight’s Scratches: Jack Dougherty (healthy), Zac Larraza (healthy), Janne Juvonen (healthy), Joonas Lyytinen (healthy), Aaron Irving (healthy), and Alexandre Carrier (healthy). In addition, the Admirals tabbed Marek Mazanec with starting duties tonight marking the first time in 10 years that the Admirals had two different starting goaltenders in a playoff series since Brian Finley and Jake Moreland split the duties in the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs.
What is your reaction to this game and specifically the controversial moments that occurred at the start of the second period? With how great the Milwaukee Admirals played in the first period did that long first video review delay stop their momentum completely?
Play Together. Win Together. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
When you look at the organization right now the entire system finds themselves with their backs up against the walls and in must win situations. Last night the Nashville Predators won Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 to force Game 7 on Wednesday night in Anaheim. Also happening last night the Cincinnati Cyclones lost in Game 6 to the Fort Wayne Komets 2-1 (OT) having had a chance to close out the series and now finding themselves in a Game 7.
The Milwaukee Admirals aren’t in a Game 7. They can’t be. It’s a best-of-five series in the opening round of the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs. That doesn’t mean that isn’t their mentality tonight. The Admirals lost both games on home ice to open the series against the Grand Rapids Griffins and now need to win out to see themselves through to the second round.
The Admirals haven’t won in Grand Rapids all season. The Admirals haven’t won in Grand Rapids in their last seven-games at the Van Andel Arena. The last time the Admirals won in the Van Andel Arena they had a 26-save shutout from Magnus Hellberg in net during a 4-0 win on 1/31/15. In fact, there are so many “haven’t done this since” or “the last time the Admirals did this” that I compiled a ton of them last Chatterbox. It all paints a bad picture with the lasting image of the Admirals, in the entirety as a franchise, have never overcome a 2-0 playoff series deficit and last won consecutive games in Grand Rapids in the same season back in 2012-13.
I’m not here to give the usual Scouting the Enemy blurb on players or goalies. You can get as much basically from the initial playoff edition here with the exception being the Grand Rapids curveball of Tom McCollum in net over Jared Coreau. Instead of doing that I’m going to focus in on two specific games that these two teams have played and I want you all to focus in on the video highlights from them.
The first thing I want you to do is ignore who was on the ice. I don’t want you to wag a finger and say, “Well we don’t have Cody Hodgson or Taylor Aronson right now so it doesn’t matter.” Ignore the names and numbers and simply look at the two teams. What did you notice of those games relative to Game 1 and Game 2 of this playoff series between the Admirals and Griffins?
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
There is a lot different from the Admirals and Griffins that played those games that are playing these playoff games. The biggest difference is speed. The Admirals ability to get through the neutral zone to have space opened up in the offensive zone was blindingly obvious from those videos as opposed to these playoff games, right? That’s because the Griffins have been putting on a master class at the second half of neutral ice to really interfere with the Admirals on zone entry to either force dump ins, which the Admirals may or may not get, or physically stop them in their tracks by brute force. In the photo above you see just that. Frédérick Gaudreau, a great skater, being zeroed in on as he’s attempting to start the Admirals offense from blueline. He’s being physically slowed and the puck side defenseman is cutting his angle down so that he can either be the first to retrieve the puck or camp the front of the net should a trailing forward be tracking Gaudreau. The Admirals, throughout the two-games at home, died time and time again right there with an attack that could never truly generate the speed that the Admirals want to play with. The Griffins force them into small gaps that they can control and are constantly pressuring the Admirals out from the center of the ice into these board battles where the Griffins are finding tremendous amounts of success.
So, how do the Admirals look to counter that? They need to less pressurized into being sucked into the Griffins numbers and looking to get the puck side-to-side more often because the Admirals focus of North-South is getting blocked off hard by the Griffins. Playoff hockey is a marathon. It isn’t a sprint. So just because you have puck control doesn’t mean you have to go for a home run pass or some blitzkrieg rush down the boards. Rather, the Admirals should be getting these Griffins to start thinking laterally and getting them to be the ones freezing in place. It worked for the Admirals in those games above. It can work for the Admirals tonight. The Admirals asset of speed can be welcomed back into this series if they’re able to connect intelligent passes to the wings on their races down the ice. You can still get North with smarter angles of attack East-West. It will get the Griffins out of their sheep herding mode on defense and more into a panic over blindside attacks.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Another huge element that the Admirals shouldn’t shy away from is the willingness to throw pucks to the net for the sake of throwing pucks to the net. McCollum has looked alright in this series, sure, but he’s looked at his best when the defense in front of him is making the shots coming his way more predictable. Even when that has been the case he hasn’t been perfect at allowing a rebound or two that could be sitting right on a plate for those fighting for ground in front of the goal mouth. If the Admirals find themselves winning a neutral zone battle, cycling the puck into the attacking zone, or are on the power-play – the shot is always there and it should be taken. The Griffins have been masterful at making the Admirals passing and shooting lanes dirty so why not dirty up the shots? How many highlight reel pristine goals do you usually see come playoff time? The better majority are rebounds or bad angle shots getting in thanks to traffic. Don’t hesitate. Don’t allow yourself to be pasted to the boards or pass into traffic and sticks. Rather pass a puck to the net and see if you get a stick, get a skate, or get a rebound.
A last major talking point, something that Admirals head coach Dean Evason has brought up, is battling through the Griffins “in the regular season this was called interference but we’re not calling it now” obstruction plays throughout the ice. Evason brought up terms like needing more “will” or “desire” in the “battle areas” of the ice. That to me translates to fight through it anyways. The Admirals will either wear down the Griffins by pushing back or earn penalties by keeping their wheels turning. If there was ever a time to truly fight for your space it is in moments like tonight when the Admirals are the ones with nothing to lose. They’re the ones on the brink of elimination. Run through those walls that the Griffins are building. If they’re not calling interference consistently throughout this series than playing into that isn’t going to stop them from doing that. Run through them and make them pay for blocking off space.
I know that tonight could well be the last Admirals game of the 2015-16 season. The team knows it – coaches and players. There is a lot to fight for tonight but it is done with memories erased. The “No Goal” call didn’t happen. There are no “what if” scenarios to question. The only thing that matters is tonight. Win tonight and play for tomorrow.
What are your expectations for tonight’s game? Will the Milwaukee Admirals be able to survive tonight? Will a fast start for the Admirals be key to shutting up the crowd in Grand Rapids or would it be in their best interest to ride out the storm?
Admirals Roundtable 