Welcome to the month of May, everyone. It is sad knowing that the Milwaukee Admirals season is at an end but, that being said, we still need to round out that final month of the season with Admiral of the Month for April.
The way the results panned out in April weren’t pretty. Between the end of the regular season and playoffs the Admirals finished with a run of 3-5-3-0 in April with two of those overtime defeats coming at the hands of the Grand Rapids Griffins in their opening round match up in the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. The Admirals were trying to round out their game and integrate new pieces to the team before the playoffs started. There were simply inconsistencies in form from a team and individual perspective from the start of April to the end of the Admirals 2016-17 season.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
That’s not to say there weren’t some solid efforts and performances by those on the team to finish on a positive note on an individual basis. Marek Mazanec perhaps doesn’t get enough credit for what he meant for this year’s team and did shoulder the load for the Admirals in net through to the finish line. Mike Ribeiro ended his time with the Admirals by recording 8 assists in the Admirals final 9 games which includes scoring an assist in all 3 games against the Griffins in the playoffs. Frédérick Gaudreau may have only scored a single point, which was a power-play goal, in the final 8 games of the regular season but ended as the Admirals leading scorer in the playoffs with 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist).
(Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
Plus, there are other individuals I feel well worth giving a mention without even thinking about what’s being done offensively. Trevor Smith, Justin Florek, and Adam Payerl all did such great and gritty work down the stretch for the Admirals. Florek especially stood out to me purely in how active he was defensively to generate lots of pressure and get sticks to puck to negate passes and shots on net. I also feel that Jack Dougherty and Justin Kirkland both started to really hit a stride at the end of the season and look very comfortable across the board. Dougherty was a lot more mobile and was showing signs that he could be kicking up another gear for his sophomore season.
Ultimately though I was most impressed by a single player this time around. Someone that didn’t really have a lull along the way in April through all the ups-and-downs that the team was still running through. My Admiral of the Month for April is Vladislav Kamenev.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Kamenev has had some bumps along the way in his sophomore season but you certainly get a good sense for a player when they end a season strong. Gaudreau did it in 2014-15. Pontus Åberg did it in 2015-16. And Kamenev did that to end the 2016-17 season. He played the game at a higher pace and looked more aggressive than I feel I’ve seen him play since joining the Admirals last season. He was physical with checking when he needed to be, hounding down puck carriers, and looking to make plays up ice while also crashing towards the net to get the dirty goal – not the highlight reel goal. Kamenev tallied 7 points (5 goals, 2 assist) in 8 games to finish the regular season off. He also scored a goal in Game 2 against the Griffins at the Van Andel Arena. He appeared to thrive at the highest pressure points for the Admirals at season’s end. And he was doing that operating in all facets of the game at center.
~Admiral of the Month Award~
October: Juuse Saros November: Alex Carrier December: Harry Zolnierczyk January: Marek Mazanec February: Frédérick Gaudreau March: Pontus Åberg
April: Vladislav Kamenev
That ends the monthly awards here on Admirals Roundtable for the 2016-17 season. I’m big on giving the award to the one I really feel stamped the best month out be it offensively, defensively, or in net. And, for a second successive season, I’ve just completed a season in which a different player won each and every month. There is something about that which I find great and also highly promising.
Next on tap here at Admirals Roundtable we will be doing more 2016-17 season recap material. I’m effectively going to be doing this all on the fly this go-around. No set plans of what or when but I plan on lumping end season awards into the final report card column. That would be the last of the recap write-ups before calling it a job well done for the season. Keep the eyes out for all that -and- with the Nashville Predators who really have something special going for them at the moment.
Who do you feel was the top performer for the Milwaukee Admirals during the month of April? Was it Kamenev, Gaudreau, Mazanec, Dougherty, or someone else? Tell me who your Admiral of the Month was in the comment section below.
If I really had to pick who the Milwaukee Admirals were to face in the opening round of the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs – it would be the Grand Rapids Griffins. There are so many storylines that can make this five-game series special and you can start exactly a season ago when these two opened up the playoffs against each other on the back of the Admirals winning the Central Division title. That Admirals team was great. Yet, this year’s Admirals team matches up even better against this year’s Griffins and the chance for redemption is available.
~Redemption~
When the Admirals entered last year’s opening round series with the Griffins they entered having gone 3-5-0-0 against them during the 2015-16 regular season. All of their wins came on home ice and -at the time- they hadn’t won on the road in Grand Rapids since 1/31/15. This season, the Admirals are 5-6-1-0 against the Griffins and the majority of their wins have come at the Van Andel Arena. The Admirals won three of six games in Grand Rapids this season.
There are a few standout moments from when these two locked horns last year. They all end up being moments that ended with officials pausing the action only to give the Griffins a boost.
When the Admirals hosted Game 2 last season they were wrongly negated a goal for goaltender interference at a point in the game when they were starting to generate a solid push. The delay stunted that push and disallowed a perfectly good goal for Max Görtz. The Admirals would later get a goal from Vladislav Kamenev but lose on that disallowed goal call.
Game 3 of last year’s playoff series match up almost doesn’t need an introduction. That was the “Replacement Net” game in which a 1-0 Admirals first period lead suddenly vanished as not one but two shots by the Griffins in the second period were judged to have gone through the net for goals. The delay that came from both reviews only could have ever ended in stunting momentum that the Admirals generated and then giving it back to the Griffins to recover and surge – which they did en route to a series sweep.
Needless to say, I hope the officials do a thorough check on both nets for all games against the Griffins at the Van Andel Arena this time around.
~The Road Ahead~
As the Admirals will need to be road warriors in the playoffs everyone should rest in knowing that the Admirals ended the season as the league’s third best road team with a record of 23-11-1-3 (50 points, 0.658 points percentage). That will of course best tested out the gate against the Griffins who tied for eighth best in the league this season with a home record of 25-11-0-2 (52 points, 0.684 points percentage).
Another point of interest for the home-road splits between these two teams will be on special teams. The Admirals had the third best road penalty kill in the AHL this season killing 84.7%. The Griffins home power-play was the second best in the AHL at 26.2% which was marginally less than the best by the San Jose Barracuda (26.5%). The Admirals road power-play stands at 17.2% while the Griffins home penalty kill is 83.9%.
When you flip the two, the Admirals finished the regular season right behind the Griffins with the third best home power-play at 24.6%. The Admirals home penalty kill stood at 82.1%. The Griffins road penalty kill was 82.1% and their road power-play was the best in the entire league at 22.5%.
So, in short, penalties conceded in this series could make or break a game – especially at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. We saw a taste of that in the regular season finale when the Griffins won 5-1 with their power-play going 2/5 and penalty kill working a perfect 7/7. The chances with the man-advantage need to be capitalized upon for the Admirals and they will need to play mistake free hockey in order to lessen trips to the penalty box.
~Less Talk, More Play~
It makes sense for divisional opponents to have some bad blood between them but the Admirals and Griffins rivalry has mainly been contested out of supremacy rather than sheer nastiness on the ice. Earlier in the season Joe Hicketts did deliver a low-bridge check against Harry Zolnierczyk and become a slight lightning rod figure. That seems to have faded over time and things stick more to hard play.
That’s not to say that these two can’t get feisty. The talk I hear from most who play against the Griffins is that they are a team that talk, talk, and talk some more while never being the type to back of their words with a fight. You can get a general sense for some of their gamesmanship when the Admirals face them because they can get under the skin through players such as Tyler Bertuzzi, Mitch Callahan, and Colin Campbell.
If not talk alone, the Griffins do get into very underhanded tactics in an effort to win games despite having the talent to win on talent alone. Last year’s playoffs saw them rip the helmet off of Stefan Elliott and then push a puck at him to earn a helmet violation. As if to remind everyone of that moment – the Griffins did the exact same thing twice during the regular season finale. They ripped Trevor Murphy‘s helmet off and then passed a puck at his skates as he was skating towards the bench to make the necessary change. That wasn’t called -but- when they did it moments later to Mike Liambas – it was. It should go without saying but you’d hope the officials heading into this series are aware of this shady play by the Griffins and start actually calling for roughing when they rip off helmets rather than the secondary helmet violation that follows. This shouldn’t be a thing. The Griffins have somehow made it one.
~Key Contributors~
When you get away from antics and get down to the skill – the Admirals and Griffins are incredibly similar teams. Both can match up in speed, skill, strength, and goaltending. It always feels that the winner when these two meet ends up being the one who maximizes the best use of those qualities on the night.
The Griffins have some real firepower on offense and heads up playmakers. Matt Lorito ended the season as the team’s top scorer by a point ahead of Ben Street. And those two weren’t alone at 50+ points on the season for the Griffins as Evgeny Svechnikov and Martin Frk rounded that list off. Those top three names all had 30 assists or more while it was Frk ending the season as the Griffins top goal scorer with 27.
When looking at the Admirals you’re getting a team entering the playoffs without its best player this season. As rough as it might feel not having Pontus Åberg in the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs with the Admirals one would have a tough time arguing he doesn’t belong with the Nashville Predators during their 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. This entire season has seen Åberg be a dynamic all-around force for the Admirals and he ended the regular season as the team’s top scorer with 52 points (31 goals, 21 assists) in 56 games. It will be difficult to fully replace his efforts on the ice -but- his absence creates serious opportunities.
Tyler Moy and Yakov Trenin both arrived at the completion of their respective collegiate and junior playing seasons and both have had time to work their way into the Admirals before the playoffs started. Moy and Trenin tallied their first pro goals last week and it was Trenin who made his pro debut this time last season in the opening round of the playoffs against these exact same Griffins. Both are going to be afforded a chance to really take a leap forward early in their pro careers in an intense playoff atmosphere.
Speaking about playoff experience. The Admirals happen to have someone in their lineup who has 67 career games of Stanley Cup Playoffs experience in Mike Ribeiro. It took the first few games for him and his linemates Frédérick Gaudreau and Anthony Richard to get going but all have been outstanding since coming together. That line, as well as the group featuring Kamenev centering Adam Payerl and Justin Kirkland, have been a constant as far as work ethic is concerned. Those groups could be key for this first round series.
~Between the Pipes~
The Griffins have a very good goaltender in Jared Coreau who should be -the guy- for them in this series. That said, he has split work this season alongside 26-year old Eddie Pasquale and it wasn’t Coreau in net for the Griffins during last year’s playoff series. That means things are a little up in the air for them – but both should be serviceable.
Against the Admirals this season Coreau did make more appearances than Pasquale. Coreau went 3-3-0-0 from 6 appearances with a 2.53 goals against average and 0.904 save percentage. Pasquale managed better numbers in his time against the Admirals this season with a 4-1-0-0 record from 5 appearances with a 1.79 goals against average, 0.945 save percentage, and 2 shutouts.
There is far less mystery when it comes to what the Admirals will do in net. Marek Mazanec has been the Admirals anchor for the 2016-17 season and should continue to be for the playoffs.
Mazanec’s numbers this season have been good. He has a record of 27-17-2-1 from 47 appearances with a 2.65 goals against average, 0.912 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. Yet, things get a bit sour for him when specifically looking at how this season has been against the Griffins. He has a 3-4-1-0 record this season against Grand Rapids with a 3.50 goals against average and 0.887 save percentage.
~No Excuses~
While the Admirals top scorer is up with their NHL affiliate in the Stanley Cup Playoffs the Griffins don’t have that issue. The Detroit Red Wings playoff streak of 25-seasons ended this year and that allows for the Griffins to load up. This shouldn’t be an issue to the Admirals though. Above all, the Admirals biggest key to success for this series and the entire 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs should be to focus on their game and the strengths. The first challenge that awaits them is a big one but one that should also put that mindset into perspective. If the Admirals play their brand of hockey they should be good for a long run.
How do you see this opening round series between the Milwaukee Admirals and Grand Rapids Griffins playing out? Who will be the crucial figures for the Admirals that need to step up and deliver against the Griffins? What do the Admirals need to do in order to prevent results such as the regular season finale?
Remember back to when Max Görtz was traded by the Nashville Predators to the Anaheim Ducks? If you don’t, I wasn’t a very big fan of that trade at the time it happened because I felt a sophomore slump on the part of Görtz should have taken his value down as badly as a one-for-one swap with defenseman Andrew O’Brien. It was a struggling prospect for struggling prospect trade. And, now that we’ve all had the chance to digest things even more, I think I can very easily say something I have no problem saying – I was wrong.
O’Brien might not be producing Görtz’s offensive output from the 2015-16 season but neither is Görtz for that matter. What the Admirals needed more than anything as an organization at the time of the trade was actually a defenseman more than an additional forward.
The forward group was fine. Guys such as Adam Payerl, Justin Florek, and Matt White are all having great campaigns as part of a depth scoring unit that Görtz was sputtering away from. Meanwhile, the Admirals lost Adam Pardy due to injury and it wasn’t clear at the time just how long he would be out for due to a compound fracture of his left arm that he suffered two days prior to the trade to acquire O’Brien. The Admirals needed a big body presence back on defense. And O’Brien has been that while showing great glimpses of much more than just that.
What I’ve seen out of the 24-year old is a 6’4″ defenseman that not only uses the body well but skates incredibly well for his size. He moves quick and I feel his best attributes are how quick he is in decision making on the ice. O’Brien makes simple plays: battling off the wall, get pucks out of the zone, get pucks deep, and always tends to be direct when in the attacking zone by getting pucks to the net. He is very instinctive in the way that he plays rather than reactive and he benefits greatly from playing that way. His physical attributes were such that the San Diego Gulls -at times- rolled him out as a forward but -as a defenseman with the Admirals- you can see him playing at his best position with his tools working to their best use.
(Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
Görtz was awesome a season ago. It was very sad seeing him have such rotten luck in the 2016-17 season. Yet, this was a trade for both sides to try and shake things up while benefiting their AHL organizations in ways they both needed it and giving two players a change of scenery to help them grow. Görtz has since provided a Gulls team, who are in the playoff picture out of the Pacific Division, 19 points (4 goals, 15 assists) from 28 games. It is a farcry from his 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 72 games with the Admirals last season but significantly better than his 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) that he produced in 30 games with the Admirals before getting traded mid-season.
(Photo Credit: Greg Hamil)
O’Brien hasn’t so much been about point scoring from the defense. He does have 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in 32 games for the Admirals. But it is everything else away from that which you appreciate that much more. On average, most of what he has been doing as a part of the Admirals has been career best work from him. His plus/minus rating of +9 with the Admirals is +6 better than a year ago with the Gulls and it feels the structure in place is something that really suits his game. The way in which the Admirals defensive group work is meant to reflect ever so slightly that of their parent club the Nashville Predators with active defensemen who can join the rush, pinch down low in the attacking zone, and skate well enough to do transitional work effortlessly.
O’Brien might be a big guy with the nickname “Meat” but the powerhouse from Oakville, Ontario, Canada skates well enough to look the part. And it would be a joy to see what an full-season of him would be like in the system having processed everything he has this season on the fly.
Cheers to Andrew O’Brien for taking the time out to chat with Admirals Roundtable. Tomorrow we will be releasing the next edition of Fifteen which will feature Milwaukee Admirals team captain Trevor Smith. Beyond that, we’re getting down to the wire for time and selections but am always happy to hear suggestions as to who should be featured next.
Yes, the calendar still reads March but the Milwaukee Admirals slate of games for the month came to an end last night with a 3-2 victory on the road over the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Admirals went 8-4-0-1 in March and saw several key contributors along the way.
This is an immensely hard choice this time around. The scoring race between Pontus Åberg and Frédérick Gaudreau has been staggering to sit back and watch them in their “anything you can do I can do better” contest develop. Yet, behind their high octane efforts, the level of play by Trevor Smith and Marek Mazanec deserve serious recognition for how well both have played. Let’s review all four players.
(Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
Åberg scored 14 points (11 goals, 3 assists) in 13 games during the month of March. I would say the only reason you have not seen the 23-year old Swede more in the NHL this season is because of how thick the glass ceiling has been for the organization’s topside forward depth. If Craig Smith continued at a snail’s pace for scoring there is a good chance that Åberg could have been brought up and given a chance to capture in the NHL what he so firmly has in the AHL. This has been his best season as a pro. Not only is his scoring touch evident but his all around game. His defensive work rate is just as skillful as his offense and he has been very reliable in all situations. This past month was as good of a run as he has ever had and he is a pair of goals shy of becoming the fourth ever Admiral in the AHL era of the team to hit 30 goals in a season. He even still has the time to pass Wade Megan and become the first Admiral since Danny Lecours in 1982-83 to win a league goal scoring title. When you are looking to do something that was last done ten-years before you were born – that’s a thing.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Last season, Gaudreau burst on the scene with the Admirals by playing his way into the AHL All Star Classic and then earning an NHL Contract from the Predators. What he is doing this season, and specifically right now, is special. Gaudreau is so polished defensively and it is his offensive game that has been needing the boost to make him an NHL caliber name. It’s the reverse of what you normally see as far as prospects go. The evolution of Gaudreau has been amazing. Gaudreau recorded 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists) in 13 games during March. To give you some perspective, Gaudreau’s first pro season of 2014-15 saw him record 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in 43 games – the entire AHL season. You will rarely see someone work harder than Gaudreau – either in practice or during a game. He is now putting together all aspects of his game at a high rate of skill and success.
(Photo Credit: Mark Newman)
While those two were off scoring goals like bonkers the Admirals captain, Smith, was playing a huge role. As this team transitions towards playoff style “defense-first” hockey Smith’s play has stood out. I’ve heard countless times of his leadership skills but they are really evident on the ice at this point in the season. His work rate has been phenomenal and his contributions on face-offs and special teams has been huge. You can’t get a much better example of that than last night’s game. Smith’s goal scoring rate dropped off from where it had been in the earlier stages of the season but he ended a goal scoring drought for himself this month which had spanned twenty-three consecutive games without a goal. Perhaps that would feel more noticeable if he wasn’t creating so many for others. In March Smith recorded 14 points (1 goal, 13 assists) in 13 games.
(Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
Many might view this as a lost season for Mazanec. He looked set to be the Predators back-up this season. That didn’t happen. He arrived to the AHL. And you never would have known that he was hurt by the situation. All he has done is work hard, learn, and grow. This might be a really important season for Mazanec’s growth as a goaltender. He will become 26-years old this Summer and is looking to play his way into a new contract elsewhere that could afford him NHL opportunities. This month, when the pressure starts to ratchet up, Mazanec has responded in a large way. Mazanec played in all but two games for the Admirals this month. He went 8-2-0-1 with a 0.924 save percentage. As the Admirals gear up for playoff style hockey and a “defense-first” approach the growing pains comeback to Mazanec to bail his team out. He has. And he has often and often -so- well.
This is as tough of a decision as I have needed to make for this Admirals Roundtable monthly award. All four richly deserve the distinction for how well they played. But, there should be only one to claim it. If I think more and more of it I can’t help but settle on the Swede. This has been the month where all I see of Åberg is an NHL player playing in the AHL. Your Admiral of the Month for his contributions in March, Pontus Åberg.
~Admiral of the Month Award~
October: Juuse Saros November: Alex Carrier December: Harry Zolnierczyk January: Marek Mazanec February: Frédérick Gaudreau March: Pontus Åberg
Who do you feel was the top performer for the Milwaukee Admirals during the month of March? Was it Åberg, Gaudreau, Smith, Mazanec, or someone else? Tell me who your Admiral of the Month was in the comment section below.
Mark Visentin has one of the best Milwaukee Admirals goaltending masks in recent years. He has only had the chance to use it once in-game with the Admirals in the AHL this season. (Photo Credit: Steve Comer)
It’s been far too long since we have checked in on our pals the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Milwaukee Admirals ECHL affiliate has had a rather turbulent season as far as the ups-and-downs go. What is promising right now is that they appear to have really come together as a team at the right time of the season. The Cyclones are currently storming through the ECHL as the regular season is coming closer and closer to its end.
The Cyclones are currently at the end of a five-game road trip which started in Idaho, climbed up to the splendiferous charms of Alaska, and are now en route to play in Indiana before returning to home ice next week Wednesday. They played three consecutive games against the Alaskan Aces and, mercifully, don’t have a game again until Saturday night.
As rough as I’m sure those Alaska games were to follow along to for Cincinnati fans there might be a part of them that wanted that to continue. The Cyclones swept the Aces for three wins in four days at the Sullivan Arena to push their current run of form up to 9-2-0-0 in their last 11 games.
To get an even better sense for how the Cyclones are doing as their season screams towards the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs we reached out to Dakota Johnson of Sin Bin Cyclones to get the scoop on the Admirals ECHL affiliate. Here is our recent chat.
~Q&A with Dakota Johnson of Sin Bin Cyclones~
Admirals Roundtable. It has been a very up and down sort of season for the Cincinnati Cyclones. Lately, things look like they are finally starting to click. How’s this season been going and what’s worked so well lately?
Dakota Johnson. To say the start to the season was rough would be an understatement. Consistency was their downfall out of the gate. They would win one, lose one; win two, lose two; win five, lose five. There was just no level of consistency at all. For the first few months, well into January, they struggled to find ways to win to the point they couldn’t buy a win.
In early February, they were down and out. They trailed South Carolina by like 10 points for that final playoff spot in the South Division and playoffs began to look like a pipe dream. On February 1st, after getting just flat out beat by a pretty bad Rapid City team, things just clicked almost overnight. Guys started buying into Matt MacDonald’s systems and began playing for each other again. They knew what task was at hand and since then, they’ve gone 17-5-0 and now sit just one point back of Greenville for second place. The job is far from over to secure a playoff spot. It’s as cliche as ever, but they’ve just got to keep doing what they’re doing.
AR. As grinding as our three-in-three games can be would you care to talk me through the joys of playing games in Alaska like the Cyclones just did? It was shades of the midnight hour 2014 Kelly Cup Finals all over again!
DJ. When the ECHL released the schedule last April, these Alaska games were what I was looking forward to most for that very reason. The morning of the first game when I woke up, it felt like I had gone back in time to 2014 again. Except this time, I knew what I was getting myself into with the 11:15pm starts on the East Coast and made sure to stock up on Mountain Dew so I could stay up past 2am.
It definitely hurt a bit seeing that 2014 Championship banner hanging up in the Aces building. It was a little on the personal side for me because the Aces won the cup in Cincinnati on June 9th, 2014. June 9th also just happens to be my birthday. The Cyclones went in there on Alaska’s big Olympic sized sheet of ice and swept by winning all three games. As you’ve probably heard by now, the Aces are ceasing operations at the end of the season. That was definitely some poetic justice going into Alaska’s building for the first time since that 2014 series and sweeping the mini-series.
AR. It may not be the deepest that the Admirals roster has ever been in recent years. Their lone names down there include: Jonathan Diaby, Jaynen Rissling, and Mark Visentin. We’ve also had the opportunity to see the grinder Shawn O’Donnell. How have those guys been for Cincinnati?
DJ. Shawn O’Donnell has pretty much carried this team for the last several weeks since the departures of Peter LeBlanc and Andrew Yogan, who were our top two point scorers at the time. He’s the only skater on the roster that has seen a significant amount of time in the AHL. O’Donnell has 37 points in 40 games with us and has been a big part of the Cyclones turnaround. He’s the type of player you build teams around, I’d imagine re-signing O’Donnell will be one of Matt MacDonald’s priorities over the off-season.
Mark Visentin has had a bit of a rocky year. He’s battled injuries and has been off and on injured reserve most of the season. It’s been a mixed bag with Visentin, he’s had nights where the puck has stuck to him like velcro and some nights where the puck somehow finds a way past him. He did win Goaltender of the Week honors back in January, and despite all the injuries, he’s had a good head on his shoulders and has been a team-first guy. There’s a lot of good he can bring, just keeping him healthy has been the hurdle.
This has certainly been the most confident Jonathan Diaby I’ve seen in awhile. This is the biggest offensive output he’s put up in his professional career with 11 points in 26 ECHL contests. He’s still got some issues with his defensive game that he needs to tighten up on. There’s been one or two times he’s gotten caught puck watching and lost track of his defenseman that’s sneaking back door who ends up scoring but fortunately, it’s a much rarer occurrence than it has been in years past.
It’s been a career year for Jaynen Rissling in pretty much every category. As you guys in Milwaukee know, the first couple years for him were rough because like Visentin, he struggled to stay healthy. Last year, he only played 10 games then missed the rest of the season injured. This year has been different. He’s played in 59 of the 65 games the Cyclones have played. He’s put up a career high 27 points and is the type of player who can do it all. You need him to play forward, he’ll play forward. You need him to play defense, he’ll play defense. Need him to quarterback a power play or kill a penalty, he’ll do that. You need him to rough it up and drop the gloves, he’ll do that too.
AR. For players such as Visentin and Rissling they become free agents at the end of this season. Where do you see their future going from the Cyclones after 2016-17 ends?
DJ. It’s a tough call with Visentin. There is certainly talent there but he has to have one good healthy season. I don’t think he’ll have trouble finding work but I don’t see him getting an AHL contract next season. I see him being an ECHL contracted goalie next season so he can reinvent his career a bit and prove he can stay healthy to earn his way back to being a full-time AHL goaltender. Maybe it’s with Cincinnati, maybe it’s with somebody else but I think he’ll be in the ECHL next season.
As for Rissling, I firmly believe he will be in Cincinnati next season on an ECHL contract. Our coaching staff really like him. He’s a leader in our locker room and is somebody the guys look up to. He serves as an alternate captain. Is he still AHL talent destined for the NHL? No. But he’s a perfect fit at the ECHL level. I will legitimately be shocked if he doesn’t go the route of Zach Budish and signs with Cincinnati after not renewing with Milwaukee/Nashville.
AR. Has Diaby done enough in extended playing time in Cincinnati this season to make a case for playing full-time in the AHL next season?
DJ. That’s a tough question. I will say Diaby is in a much better place now than he was last season when he was here. I’ve seen some significant improvement in his game and I’m sure starting the season in Milwaukee and being up there for the better part of the season in the AHL had a lot to do with it. However, inconsistency still bites him. One night, he’s one of the Cyclones best defensemen out there and the next night not so much.
I don’t think he’s full-time AHL ready. Yet. I think he needs a little bit more seasoning in Cincinnati. I think next year the Admirals need to start him in Cincinnati, have him stay there for the first two months or so of the season, then bring him back up to Milwaukee and go from there.
AR. For the life of me – can you explain the contract situation for Andrew Yogan? He could be such a huge part of the Cyclones right now but is back where his season started in Italy with HC Bolzano.
DJ. There was some language in his initial contract with HC Bolzano that stated he needed to finish the season in Bolzano or else the rights to his International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) card would belong to Bolzano for the next five seasons. What that means is he would not be able to play for any IIHF credited team in Europe except for Bolzano and would not be able to take part in any IIHF sanctioned events during that time period.
This would’ve affected him here as well. Because he started the season in Bolzano, he could not accept any AHL call-ups. He was not allowed to sign any AHL PTO’s. If an AHL team wanted him, they would have to sign him to an SPC straight up. So, had he finished the season here and continued to play here, he wouldn’t be able to accept an AHL call-ups for that five-year period.
He didn’t particularly like it in Bolzano, which is why he came back to Cincinnati in the first place. But for the betterment of his career, he made the conscious decision to return to Bolzano and finish out the contract. When he left, Bolzano only had four games left in their season but he couldn’t come back to the Cyclones because Bolzano’s season went past the ECHL’s deadline for players to return from Europe. So, Yogan’s season is over and his summer is already underway.
Will he come back to Cincinnati next season? I like to think he will because he was a big part of our organization and a big part of our locker room that has been hugely missed these last couple months.
AR. There are of course several names that Admirals fans might be unaware of related to the Cyclones. A player such as Jordan Sims comes to mind as someone who has put together a really nice season. Who have been some of the nice surprises on this year’s group?
DJ. Sims has without a doubt been this team’s unsung hero. This has been a breakout year for him. He has kind of taken the long road around and started his career in the SPHL, then got his shot in the ECHL, and even got a look in the AHL last year. He really stepped up and led the way at a time where the Clones were just decimated by injuries. He’s got 47 points in 57 games and he is one of the least talked about players by Cyclones fans when he should absolutely be one of the most.
Another pleasant surprise would be Saverio “Sam” Posa. He is one of our more stable defensemen. He doesn’t put up a ton of points, he’s only put up eight points this year but he’s a stay-at-home defensemen that does his job.
A third name that comes to mind would be one of our SPHL call-ups when the injuries stacked up in Dylan Nowakowski. He was in training camp with the Cyclones but unfortunately had to be let go due to numbers from Milwaukee. Our coaching staff loved him and brought him back. He is one of the hardest working players on this team. He’s a smaller guy but has the speed and offensive skill to compensate. I firmly believe he’ll be in Cincinnati on a full time ECHL deal next year.
AR. It’s shocking to think that this season is nearly entering playoff mode. It felt like it wasn’t that long ago when I was watching the Cyclones invitees to Admirals Training Camp work at the MSOE Kern Center! That said, the Cyclones have worked themselves into a nice enough spot. Can this group contend for a Kelly Cup this season or will the Allen Americans win for the third consecutive time?
DJ. I almost don’t want to answer that question simply because superstition. But if you want to get technical, the Cyclones playoffs began in February and they’ve done a hell of a job so far. If they’re able to get into the playoffs, once they’re in, anything is possible. They’ve proved time and time again during this stretch recently that they are not a team you can take lightly as they’ve beaten Idaho, Toledo, and Fort Wayne who are some of the best teams in this league. I’m confident they can hang with any team in this league.
As for Allen, I’m going to be honest, I’m really sick of them winning. But now that I’ve said that, they probably will win a third straight Kelly Cup.
Cheers to Dakota Johnson of Sin Bin Cyclones for taking the time to fill us in on the latest out of the Milwaukee Admirals’ ECHL affiliate. Hopefully both the Admirals and Cyclones are getting hot at the right time! You can follow along with Dakota’s work on The Sin Bin where he is an associate editor of the ECHL. For great in-game updates on the Cincinnati Cyclones I highly recommend giving him a follow @SinBinCyclones on Twitter.
One of the real treats of life in the AHL is the surprises that it can provide. There are roster shake-ups all the time and it can often require the services of players from outside the organization. When players are signed to professional try-out (PTO) contracts in the AHL it becomes a two-fold process. The team is getting an extra body in on loan from an ECHL based team but the player is getting to audition their on-ice résumé to show that they belong in the next level. Matt White was the pleasant surprise a season ago. Derek Army has been that story this season.
Army comes from a terrific hockey family. His grandfather, Tom, played for Providence College. His father, Tim, played for Providence College but also has a high level coaching career that has seen him be the assistant coach of the Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, and has been with the Colorado Avalanche since the 2011-12 season. He has also been the head coach with USA Hockey and his alma mater. His uncle, Bill, played at Boston College. And his brother, Tim, played NCAA Division III hockey with Stonehill College.
As you might suspect then Derek’s path was always leading to this sport. He, like many in his family, turned to Providence College where he enjoyed a four-year collegiate career. He played 149 games and recorded 76 points (38 goals, 38 assists). He would join the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL following the conclusion of his college career and that would be his main base of operations for numerous cracks at breaking into the AHL scene.
In his first full season of pro hockey Army would make the ECHL All-Rookie Team. He produced 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 72 games which set the stage for a 2015-16 season that would have him entering four different AHL organizations on PTO basis. He played more games in the AHL (36) than he did in Wheeling of the ECHL (29) despite all the fluctuation of playing with the Portland Pirates, Ontario Reign, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Texas Stars.
This season Army is approaching the 50/50 area of ECHL and AHL time. The different between last season and this one is he has found an AHL home with the Milwaukee Admirals. He was brought into the group in early December with the roster in a state of flux as the Nashville Predators were rattled by injury. That stint only lasted a week but he was brought right back in January and has yet to return to the ECHL. His time right now with the Admirals is the longest sustained time in the AHL of his career.
Cheers to Derek Army for taking the time to chat after practice last week. I wish those Wheeling Nailers fans let the world know sooner of how good of a hockey player and personality this guy is! Next in Fifteen is really dependent on who you want to hear from next. There are still plenty of players yet to be featured. Who do you want to hear from? Hit the comment section below with your suggestions.
At the end of November the Nashville Predators recalled four players to their roster during a tough injury stretch. Kevin Fiala and Petter Granberg have been in the mix before but seeing the names Frédérick Gaudreau and Mike Liambas as part of that day’s call-ups from the Milwaukee Admirals was a pleasant surprise. Gaudreau’s story and emergence has been rather well documented. As for the journey that Liambas had to take before reaching the NHL? It’s a long story.
Liambas is a native of Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. In his junior playing career he suited up for the Erie Otters in the OHL. Originally, Liambas was a defenseman but the main characteristic of his play from the word “GO” has always been his physicality. There are very few players in hockey with the fearlessness and determination that Liambas brings on the ice with every shift and his willingness to drop the gloves for his teammates, regardless of being a smaller skater on the ice than some heavyweights he will duke it out with, only serves to remind people in broad daylight of the heart he has.
What is unfortunate is that for many, still to this day, Liambas is known for a single moment in his junior playing career. In 2009, on Halloween, Liambas’ Otters were matched up against the Kitchener Rangers. The play itself was incredibly simple and happens, or can happen, numerous times in a given hockey game. The Otters chipped a puck deep from the neutral zone, went for a change, but left Liambas out to press deep against the puck carrier. The man tasked with puck retrieval on the dump-in was Rangers defenseman Ben Fanelli. What happened next would impact both of their lives.
After getting a quick stop behind the net by the goaltender, Liambas saw Fanelli gathering up the puck and cycling back around the net with his head down. The natural instinct would be to follow through with a check, which Liambas did, and the two came together with astonishing force. Fanelli saw Liambas at the last second, started to rotate out of the incoming check, but he was always getting leveled from the check. Fanelli was hit so hard by Liambas that his helmet came off prior to his head catching the metal stanchion separating the glass panels and then crashing to the ice. He would remain motionless as the medical staff rushed to the ice. He required to be stretchered off the ice and would later be diagnosed with a skull fracture and concussion. Fanelli would return to complete his junior playing career in Kitchener but the hit would effectively be the end of his hockey playing caeer.
That incident came at the beginning of Liambas’ fourth junior playing season in the OHL. He would be suspended for the rest of the season as well as that year’s playoffs as a result of the boarding penalty against Fanelli. The hit was the end of Liambas’ junior playing career. What came next was the true test of whether or not he would ever be able to make a career out of playing the game as a professional hockey player.
Liambas’ first step from that moment involved going back to the IHL with the Bloomington PrairieThunder. He had played briefly with the outfit in the previous season in 2008-09. By the end of that 2009-10 season he had logged more games in the IHL (25) than he did in the OHL his final two junior playing seasons (9).
His next step came at the University of British Columbia playing in the CIS. At the end of the 2010-11 season he would officially join the Cincinnati Cyclones in the ECHL to become a professional hockey player. His time with the Cyclones would last through to the 2012-13 season which saw a spell with the Orlando SolarBears. Where he would go next is where this journey really starts to go onwards and upwards.
At the end of the 2012-13 season a scrappy young Liambas showed up on a PTO Contract with the Admirals. His AHL debut came eight days prior to his twenty-fourth birthday in Milwaukee against the Houston Aeros. I suppose you can say for Admirals fans it was love at first fight. The 5-10 Liambas paired up to fight 6-3 forward Ryley Grantham. Liambas from his first ever AHL experience showed Milwaukee his greatest attribute: it isn’t the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog. Liambas is as fearless as they come.
From that moment since Liambas has been a staple in the AHL. The very first full-season he had as a member of the Admirals came in 2013-14 and saw him break Jordin Tootoo‘s Admirals record for penalty minutes accumulated in a single season. He fought twenty-five times that season.
Yet, looking past fighting majors, Liambas has fought his way from that fateful night in 2009 to get to where he is today. His evolution as a player through the tutelage of Admirals head coach Dean Evason as well as Admirals assistant coach Stan Drulia has been one of the most fun developments I’ve had the chance to watch in my time around the organization. It isn’t just about fighting. The days of the out-and-out enforcer aren’t there anymore. You need to play. And, make no mistake about it, the day the Liambas was officially given the call by the Predators organization it came as a result of having established himself as a well rounded player.
Liambas’ game has matured with time on and especially off the ice. He displays great leadership qualities and players in Nashville such as Anthony Bitetto and Colton Sissons would be quick to credit him for his guidance along their individual journeys as well.. That recall wasn’t a reward for service time by the Predators or a simple pat on the back. He earned it.
Cheers to Mike Liambas on taking the time out after practice last week to chat at such length. Tomorrow Admirals Roundtable will be covering the Milwaukee Admirals road game against the Rockford IceHogs at the BMO Harris Bank Center. On Wednesday we will be hoping to get you the next installment of Fifteen which features Derek Army.
When most people think of Miikka Salomäki they think of a Finnish wrecking ball on skates. I can’t really refute that. Salomäki was second to only Shea Weber on the Nashville Predators last season in hits. The Finn is a relentless force on the ice. Yet, while he spends time back in Milwaukee on long-term injury loan, I am reminded of what I think of Salomäki. He has come a long way off the ice.
What most people get to see with hockey players is their on-ice work. In fact, where I assume the majority of those reading and listening to this will come from is the Nashville fan base who get to see a more finished product. Lost in that is the developmental process that has come along the way in either the AHL, ECHL, or even professional leagues. Not only that, but in a player such as Salomäki’s case, the adaptation of more than just a smaller rink in the North American pro game – but North America on a day-to-day basis.
When I first met Salomäki he was 21-years old and about to embark on his first professional playing season outside of his native Finland. His tenure with Kärpät, a Finnish organization which brought in the likes of Pekka Rinne, did him well enough to be selected in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft by the Predators. His first season away from home was the 2013-14 campaign. Unlike his Scandinavian teammates from Sweden the language barrier was a very real test for Salomäki. It was something that once prompted this gem from his Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason in our first ever edition of Chatterbox.
“When he turns purple when you say “Good Morning” to him it’s probably an indication that he’s shy. Off the ice he is shy. There is a bit of a language barrier. Not tremendous. He understands. He speaks, but he is a shy guy. But he pulls a sweater over his head and he’s a different man. He just goes out and he plays the same way every single night. And he’ll mature, obviously, and get to know how to conduct himself off the ice and be more comfortable. But, on the ice? No issues.” ~Dean Evason
That debut season for Salomäki was always going to be a stiff test as he was introduced to a new style of hockey and a new style of living. Fortunately, the language barrier that could have trouble him was lessened by having a contingent from home with the likes of Joonas Järvinen and Joonas Rask on the roster. There are always niche groups within a locker room as it is such a diverse game and having that ability to communicate in your native language can offer homely comforts that make a long and grinding season in the AHL or ECHL as a first-year player can go a long way.
If you view those three Finnish players from the Admirals that 2013014 season you also got to view the ups-and-downs of how the translation from the European to North American game can go. Järvinen appeared to find a groove that season but perhaps didn’t have the all-around abilities or skating prowess that the Predators would have wanted in their ranks. Rask, who has great skating ability, just wasn’t able to wire all of his tools together as effectively as he may have been able to as the smaller ice surface meant getting closed down quicker and grinded up along the boards. As for Salomäki? A smaller surface area in which to play perhaps only enhances his style of hockey.
Salomäki, from as early as that first season with the Admirals, earned a reputation as being a “Bull in a China Shop” from Evason. He never switches off ever, every shift he brings it, and every shift is met with high level effort, grit, and tenacity. A smaller rink only means that Salomäki has less distance to go from hit-to-hit or switching from defense to offense. In his first season in North America he was the Admirals leading scorer with 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists) from 75 games of work which saw him tied for fifth overall in the AHL’s rookie scoring race.
The next season Salomäki might not have been on the scoring rush that he had prior but his all-around play was taking flight. He was incredibly sound defensively and was doing such consistent work that he earned his first career NHL recall. On 1/8/15 he would make his NHL debut with the Predators in front of a packed Bridgestone Arena. He would score on a breakaway against Kari Lehtonen of the Dallas Stars for his first career NHL goal and also contribute a game best seven hits. It was the perfect debut showcasing Salomäki’s résumé on the NHL stage.
Unfortunately, right after his NHL debut he would end up being sidelined for the rest of the 2014-15 season due to shoulder surgery to take care repeated dislocation. The next season he would be with the Admirals on opening night but Salomäki’s main calling was to be in the NHL. He played 61 games for the Predators in the 2015-16 season, scored 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists), and amass 164 hits. Weber collected five more hits than Salomäki on the season but Weber had also played far more games. At 2.7 hits per game Salomäki wasn’t just atop the Predators in that respect but near the top ten of a powerhouse Central Division.
The word unfortunate turned up again this season for Salomäki. In fact, it has come up far too often. In the second game of the Predators season he broke his hand blocking a shot. He was sidelined until 12/2/16 when he made his return to game action on conditioning assignment with the Admirals. He participated in one period of play and never returned to the game. The reason for that was he suffered a significant leg injury while delivering a check. One that some thought could have held him out for the rest of this season. Thankfully, that isn’t the case and he is close to returning to where he belongs – on NHL ice.
Seeing Salomäki, whether it was in Nashville two weeks ago or here in Milwaukee this past week, reminds me of the journey he has been on off the ice. The man who would turn purple if you said “Good Morning” to him is far more comfortable in his own skin now in this country and when it comes to the English language. When he first arrived? I wanted interviews with him to be short and sweet because I relate to the social anxiety factor and just how unsettling it must be communicating in a different language with a microphone in front of you. Today? He is the goofball prankster that he very much is. Sure, it isn’t easy communicating in a different language -but- he does it now with a big laugh.
A massive thanks to Miikka Salomäki for providing the time to do such a lengthy interview and -Happy Birthday- as he turns 25-years old today. In the next two installments of Fifteen we will hear from Mike Liambas as well as Derek Army. Those will likely be released at the start of next week on Monday and Wednesday respectively.
The first ever Milwaukee Admirals “School Day” game held at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena featured a perfect storm of an atmosphere created by the fans and one made from a brilliant overtime win for the Admirals over their Amtrak Rivals. (Photo Credit: Sara Stathas)
Last season, the Milwaukee Admirals had their first ever “School Day” game which featured a 10:30 AM CST start time. The game took place on 11/11/15 against the then named Lake Erie Monsters at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. It was an adventurous project as far as logistics of bringing in various schools and moving them in and out effectively. It ended up being one so successful that it made all the sense in the world for the Admirals to do it twice this season at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
In that inaugural event the Admirals attendance was a solid 12,972. That alone was fantastic but the grand total of 11,047 students in attendance that day was even more so. The crowd was treated to a rowdy 6-3 win for the Admirals in a game that lived up to the energy provided in the building that morning.
When it came time to attempt doing the feat once again, but at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, it was yet another successful blending of atmosphere created by the school crowd in attendance as well as the way the game transpired.
The Admirals second “School Day” game took place on 11/9/16 and pitted them against their Amtrak Rivals the Chicago Wolves. It was once again a 10:30 AM CST start time and this go around saw an attendance of 8,631 fans. It has been said time and time again by players that the “O’Reilly Auto Parts Minute of Madness” segment that day was one of the loudest atmospheres that they’ve participated in. And it was something that ended up holding from that point forward. The youngsters in attendance knew how to become part of the game. They certainly didn’t hurt the Admirals in the proceedings, either.
In an early glimpse into just how this year’s Admirals squad goes about their business – the Admirals came from behind, forced overtime, and ended up winning 5-4. Much like the inaugural event the frenzied “AM” crowd filled with children from various schools were treated to not just a hockey game – but a great hockey game.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
What is perhaps best about these events that the Admirals have put on since last season is its ability to create lifelong fans out of those who may have never encountered the sport of hockey prior to attending the “School Day” game. I’ve always felt that the sport lends itself very well for first-time viewers as the game is rather self explanatory, there are minimal stoppages or breaks in the action, and -for in Arena entertainment- when there is a stoppage there is still fun to be had. The sport of hockey is such a humble one and bringing in schools as the Admirals do, seeing that they are educated them on the game, and allowing them to see it in person is a humble gesture as well. I can create a lifelong fan or even see those watching want to try and play the game themselves. It is a really fun sight to sit back and watch kids seeing the sport for possibly the first time and gravitate to it.
Around the American Hockey League it feels like more and more teams are getting these sorts of events organization throughout a yearly schedule. I completely understand the business sense of it: weekday game crowd turning into a big boom. That said, the ramifications of having these games far exceed an attendance total or bottom line. To know that the next super fan for the sport of hockey could be invented under your team’s banner is such a rewarding accomplishment. To get communities actively excited about hockey, being active and going out and participating in the sport itself, is rewarding.
If you just so happened to be -not- working tomorrow or “sick” and are attending the game tomorrow morning I ask of you to do a favor. I want you to really look around when you’re in your seat inside the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. What you’re seeing and hearing is the next wave of fans. That’s a pretty special feeling.
Have you attended either of the Milwaukee Admirals’ “AM” games? What did you think of the experience and crowd atmosphere? Would you be in favor of more “AM” games or do you feel that having two games, such as this season, is the sweet spot?
It has been a seemingly up and down last three months for the Milwaukee Admirals. The Nashville Predators organization was hit by injuries in December and January. That hurt the Admirals in the form of testing the depth then and the past month of February was a feeling out process with pieces aligning back into place. “How did that process go,” you ask. Not too shabby.
In the month of February the Admirals went 8-3-1-0 from 12 games. They averaged 3.75 goals per game and 3.17 goals against per game. On special teams the power-play went 11/42 (26.2%) and penalty kill went 33/42 (78.6%). And they did something that the team hadn’t done in over two years – win at the Van Andel Arena against the Grad Rapids Griffins – and they did it twice.
There were plenty of key contributors to the success of the past month. Mainly, I feel the biggest comes in the form of the organization itself finally being healthy and allowing for the Admirals to get a set group for forward lines and defensive pairings. It is a luxury to have that in the AHL and the Admirals finally had that in February.
As far as individuals go? I would have to say that there were a few players worthy of getting the nod for Admiral of the Month but I can’t see another choice for the month of February other than Frédérick Gaudreau. The Predators have Fil-bruary. The Admirals just completed Fred-ruary.
(Photo Credit: Stephanie Moebius)
Gaudreau started February off with a bang by recording his second ever hat trick with the Admirals in a 4-3 overtime win at home against the Rockford IceHogs. That set the stage for a month in which he produced 15 points (10 goals, 5 assists) in 12 games. He has been sharp across the board the entire month and contributes in all aspects for the Admirals. Gaudreau has always one of the best defensively sound forwards on the Admirals roster but it is when he adds the offensive elements to his game at this high of a level when he starts to give the Predators an idea that he can be part of their future plans. Gaudreau only had 6 goals from his previous 33 games this season before the month of February. Everything clicked this month for him and, for the Admirals run to continue into the playoff push, you hope it continues.
Admirable Mentions: Vladislav Kamenev, 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists)… Pontus Åberg, 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists)… Jimmy Oligny, he continues to be absolutely phenomenal on defense… Anthony Richard, he has settled down in his rookie season and is becoming a great spark plug for the team… Adam Payerl, he has always played a strong game but his work with the likes of Kamenev -as well as Justin Kirkland– has put his offensive numbers into career highs after this month… and Trevor Murphy, he overcame some rough patches with the ups-and-downs of the team to put a solid two-way defensive game together.
~Admiral of the Month Award~
October: Juuse Saros November: Alex Carrier December: Harry Zolnierczyk January: Marek Mazanec February: Frédérick Gaudreau
Who do you feel was the top performer for the Milwaukee Admirals during the month of February? Was it Gaudreau, Kamenev, Åberg, Oligny or someone else? Tell me who your Admiral of the Month was in the comment section below.
Admirals Roundtable 