BEHOLD! These probably won’t be the new Admirals uniforms… or will they? Join the “All Aboard” event next Wednesday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center to find out!
Well, I suppose that rebranding speculation can stop. The Milwaukee Admirals confirmed today that the team will be unveiling new logos uniforms next Wednesday evening at their “All Aboard” event at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Milwaukee, WI—The Admirals are excited to usher in a new chapter in team history when they unveil a new logo and jerseys on Wednesday, July 15th at 6 pm at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The “All Aboard” event is free to attend and open to the general public. It will feature appearances by current Admirals Felix Girard and Jonathan Diaby, assistant coach Stan Drulia and past Admiral stars including Danny Lecours, Phil Wittliff, Carl Valimont, and Fred Berry.
There will be a fashion show to reveal the new jerseys and other merchandise, all of which will be available at the event. In addition, there will be complimentary food and non-alcoholic drinks, as well has fun activities for kids and meet-and-greet opportunities with the current and former players.
The event is scheduled to run from 6-8 pm, with the program to introduce the new logo beginning at 6:30. Fans should enter the building through the Potawatomi Gate, which is located at the northeast corner of the building.
Based on the actual typeface and “A” in the “All Aboard” slogan I’d say that is as much of a teaser as fans are going to get before the full unveiling on Wednesday. Is that shade of blue echoing the Calder Cup winning era of the team? Are those actually the logos and typeface we can expect to be part of the uniform or are they a swerve job to show off something else entirely? …how very M. Night Shyamalan-y of them would that be. Nashville Predators rip-off jerseys to mirror the parent club like so many other AHL teams do? Nope, the president of the Admirals squashed that rumor and Mario Tirabassi‘s dreams.
In the poll I conducted last Friday to gauge whether or not fans would be in favor of an Admirals rebranding the results came back: 51.02% (Yes – Overhaul), 24.49% (No), 16.33 % (Yes – Slight Tweak), 8.16% (Indifferent).
Funnily enough that poll was a hard “Yes” or “No” at the top the entire vote. Some will be happy. Some won’t. Truthfully, we can’t exactly be judgmental until actually seeing the new look can we? I’ll be at the event and will have a full story up on the new uniforms and logos the morning after. Do feel free to stop me at the event to let me know what you think and feel of the new look for the Admirals because I am really interested in the opinions of this rebranding from all of you.
What are you expecting? Is there something that you want this rebranding to look like? Should this new look for the Admirals be something simplistic or bold and daring?
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Orlando, FL – The Orlando Solar Bears, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, announced that goaltender Rob Madore has agreed to a two-way AHL/ECHL contract with the Toronto Marlies. Madore was named the ECHL Playoff MVP in 2014 after guiding the Cincinnati Cyclones to the Rob MadoreKelly Cup Finals before falling to the Alaska Aces in six games.
Madore (5-11, 188 lbs.) has appeared in 117 regular season games in his ECHL career with Cincinnati, Florida, Evansville, and Chicago, posting a 52-46-15 record with a 2.79 GAA, a .907 save percentage, and six shutouts. He has played 17 games in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers and San Antonio Rampage, going 6-7-1 with a 2.32 GAA, .933 save percentage, and two shutouts. During the 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs, Madore went 14-10 with a .930 save percentage and 2.29 GAA, including helping the Cyclones defeat the Solar Bears in the first round.
A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Madore played four seasons (2008-12) for the University of Vermont (NCAA). He ended his collegiate career second in school history (behind Tim Thomas) with 3,352 and third in games played (behind Thomas and Joe Fallon) with 127.
“Rob Madore is the exact type of player we want in the this organization,” said Head Coach Anthony Noreen. “He is an elite goaltender that competes every day and will provide leadership for our group on and off the ice.”
The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, play all of their home games at the 2012 Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year, the Amway Center.
Follow the Solar Bears at http://www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, Facebook, andTwitter (@OrlandoHockey) for all the latest news and updates. Stay in touch with Shades on Instagram by following ShadestheSolarBear.
As you can tell by the press release, Madore should be expected to join the Marlies ECHL affiliate the Orlando Solar Bears later this fall. Madore was the Milwaukee Admirals ECHL goaltender last season, was called up to back up a few times, but spent the almost all of last season with the Cincinnati Cyclones. When the Admirals signed Brandon Whitney to fill their ECHL goaltending role it effectively ended Madore’s two-year run in Cincinnati – where he won the 2014 Kelly Cup MVP despite coming on the losing end of that year’s finals to the Alaska Aces.
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Happy Goal Scoring Triston Grant is still the best Grant. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
More plays continue to move elsewhere from the 2014-15 Milwaukee Admirals. I had mentioned in an edition of Ramblings that the Admirals could potentially chose from one of their three bruisers last season: Mike Liambas, Triston Grant, and Rich Clune. The Nashville Predators ended up adding Cody Bass to the mix. As for the previous three? They are all gone now. Grant has just signed a one-year contract to join the Grand Rapids Griffins.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday announced that they have re-signed left wing Jeff Hoggan and defenseman Nathan Paetsch and have signed left wing Triston Grant, who returns to the team following a one-year absence. Paetsch inked a two-year deal while Hoggan and Grant each signed one-year contracts.
The trio led the Griffins to their first Calder Cup championship in 2012-13 and will again provide the team’s veteran foundation in 2015-16 under new head coach Todd Nelson.
Grant, 31, reunites with his Calder Cup brethren after spending the 2014-15 season with the Milwaukee Admirals, where he posted career highs in goals (13), assists (13, tied) and points (26), tied for eighth in club scoring and ranked third in penalty minutes with 123 over 73 games.
During his initial two-year stint with the Griffins (2012-14), the Neepawa, Manitoba, native appeared in 126 games, posting 26 points (10-16—26) with a plus-seven rating. His 299 penalty minutes slot him into 17th place in franchise history.
After contributing 10 points (4-6—10) and leading the Griffins with 196 PIM over a career-high 75 games during his first season in Grand Rapids, Grant chipped in four points (2-2—4) and played in all 24 playoff games during the team’s run to the 2013 Calder Cup. While only appearing in 51 games during his second season in 2013-14, he still improved his totals in each scoring category (6-10—16), notched a plus-six rating and finished third on the Griffins with 103 PIM.
Grant, a 10-year pro who was Philadelphia’s 10th choice (286th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, has registered 153 points (73-80—153) and 1,688 PIM in 634 AHL games with Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Oklahoma City, Rochester and Philadelphia. He has also seen action in 11 NHL games with Nashville and Philadelphia, showing one assist and 19 PIM.
Grant is coming off of his most productive scoring season as a pro: 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 73 games with the Admirals in 2014-15. He was a member of the Calder Cup winning Griffins in the 2012-13 season. Grant had the following to say via Twitter:
Defiantly bittersweet situation for me. Love my MKE fans but really excited to come back to GR and re-unit with some old friends and fans!!
Thank you everyone for the support over the years whether I was wearing baby blue or red and white. #muchlove❤️ — Triston Grant (@frozenturks23) July 6, 2015
Now it feels like the final dagger for most Admirals fans would be a Mark Van Guilder signs with “Insert Rival Team Here” news story.
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It didn’t take long but Rich Clune became an immediate fan favorite in Milwaukee. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
There is yet another member of the 2014-15 Milwaukee Admirals roster on the move to a new destination. Rich Clune has just signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies.
The Toronto Marlies announced today they have signed forward Richard Clune to an AHL contract, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Clune, 28, skated in 62 games last season with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) recording 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 62 games. The Toronto native was also held pointless in one appearance with the Nashville Predators last season. Clune has skated in 120 NHL games, recording 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) along with 305 penalty minutes as a member of the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings.
Originally selected by the Dallas Stars in the third round (71st overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Clune will be attending training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs opening September 17th.
It didn’t take too long for Clune to become a big hit with Admirals fans. Whether it was a fight, a goal, or an interview segment he was always a blast to kick back and watch. After clearing waivers from the Nashville Predators he suited up for 62 games with the Admirals and scored 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) with 181 penalty minutes (17 fights) and had an even plus/minus rating.
If you haven’t read Clune’s article titled The Battle on The Players’ Tribune I highly recommend it. His story coming up through the ranks of hockey while battling addiction and getting sober is a great one. While I’m sure lots of Predators and Admirals fans will miss seeing him on the ice what I like about this move to the Marlies for him will be his opportunity to play in his native Toronto in front of family and friends. That’s always pretty special. Plus, he’ll connect back with Brendan Leipsic where I’m sure their chirping will drive plenty of teams crazy this season.
“It’s not easy being Dicky sometimes.”
~Rich Clune
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First Mike Liambas jumped across enemy lines and now Cody Bass will jump across to balance out the rivalry. (Photo Credit: Greg Hamil)
In an interesting twist, the Nashville Predators decided to sign free agent forward Cody Bass to a one-year two-way contract. This happens not too long after the Chicago Blackhawks picked up Mike Liambas. The two will effectively be switching sides next season in the AHL when the Milwaukee Admirals play against the Rockford IceHogs.
Nashville, Tenn. (July 4, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Saturday that the club has signed free-agent forward Cody Bass to a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 at the AHL level.
Bass, 28 (1/7/87), has appeared in 49 NHL contests with Ottawa and Columbus since 2007-08, posting five points (2g-3a) and 71 penalty minutes. The 6-0, 202-pound center has spent the majority of the past eight seasons with Binghamton, Springfield and Rockford of the American Hockey League, posting 89 points (37g-52a) and 710 penalty minutes, including 14 points (6g-8a) and 165 penalty minutes in 61 games with the IceHogs in 2014-15. The Owen Sound, Ont., native has served as an alternate captain in four of the past five seasons, and won the 2011 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as presented annually to the AHL’s man of the year for service to his local community. He also helped Binghamton win the 2011 Calder Cup.
Ottawa’s third choice, 95th overall (fourth round), in the 2005 Entry Draft, Bass logged 247 Ontario Hockey League games with Mississauga and Saginaw from 2003-07, amassing 124 points (40g-84a) and 371 penalty minutes.
According to HockeyFights.com, Bass got into 17 total fights last season which includes two battles with Rich Clune, one against Jonathan Diaby, and an encounter with Mr. Liambas.
It’s not just about the fighting side of things for Bass. That’s just one element to his physical style of play. He does also have the capacity to get on the scoresheet and these past two AHL seasons have been among the best in his career. Last season with Rockford he scored 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 61 games with 165 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of +4. Prior to that he was with the Springfield Falcons where he had a new career high as a pro with 18 points (8 goals, 10 assists) during the 2013-14 season.
I actually see Bass for Liambas as a clean trade off and possibly even better off on the Admirals side of things. Bass is a bigger body player but also carriers the weight of 49 games of NHL experience when he was a member of the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets. Considering the youthful roster the Admirals will be carrying next season having someone who has been to that level is a great boost and can provide excellent on and off ice leadership. Speaking of which, Bass has been an alternate captain with three different AHL teams in four seasons. He’s a very respected player in the locker room and, good news to the Admirals front office and their outreach programs, also gets involved in his local community and won the 2010-11 Yanick Dupré Memorial Award.
It might still be sad to see a personality such as Liambas leave only to join the enemies down in Rockford. It also was tough seeing players like Joe Piskula and Magnus Hellberg leave. But you know what? There are a ton of pieces being brought in that make last year’s squad a whole lot better: Max Görtz, Kristian Näkyvä, Brandon Whitney, Juuse Saros, Max Reinhart, Conor Allen, and now Bass. That’s not even mentioning the return of a 100% healthy Miikka Salomäki and Félix Girard. What if Vladislav Kamenev joins? The 2015-16 Milwaukee Admirals are a stacked team with lots of potential.
What do you make of the Milwaukee Admirals roster right now? Are you a fan of the Cody Bass signing? Do you feel that the role of the enforcer is dead to the game of hockey?
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No Piskula? No Liambas? How about a bit of both in Conor Allen? (Photo Credit: Hartford Wolf Pack // flickr)
No Joe Piskula? Ruh-roh. Well thankfully a quick depth signing by the Nashville Predators has helped add to the defensive rotation for the Milwaukee Admirals. They have just signed former New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack defenseman Conor Allen to a one-year two-way contract.
Nashville, Tenn. (July 2, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Thursday that the club has signed free-agent defenseman Conor Allen to a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000 at the NHL level and $80,000 at the AHL level.
Allen, 25 (1/31/90), has spent the majority of the past two-plus seasons with the New York Rangers organization, playing seven NHL contests while recording 65 points (17g-48a) and 184 penalty minutes in 145 AHL games with the Hartford Wolfpack. In 2014-15, the 6-1, 210-pounder tied for 10th among all AHL blueliners in goals (11), and was one of just two AHL defensemen to register more than 30 points (11g-23a-34pts), 100 penalty minutes (113), and post a positive plus/minus rating (+1).
A native of Chicago, Allen played three seasons at the University of Massachusetts (2010-13), registering 39 points (14g-25a) and 110 penalty minutes in 99 games, and was named to the 2012 Hockey East All-Academic Team as a sophomore. Prior to entering the NCAA ranks, he spent a season with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede (2009-10), and won a Robertson Cup with the NAHL’s St. Louis Bandits in 2008-09.
Allen is a 25-year old from Chicago who is freshly removed off a quality season with the Wolf Pack in the AHL: 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 72 games with 113 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of +1. He and the Wold Pack made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals before getting swept by the eventual Calder Cup Champions the Manchester Monarchs. He also played 4 games with the New York Rangers last season and played 3 games for them the year before that.
The Admirals defense might be on the young side again but there is some fresh new talent being added with others being tasked with stepping up. Kristian Näkyvä should be another name on the Admirals at the start of the season and could be a dynamic defenseman much like Allen. Pair that with someone like Garrett Noonan earning a bigger role this season and the defense might be a little more offensive than in year’s past.
Thoughts on this signing by the Predators? What is your confidence level in the current Admirals defense? Is a Scott Ford veteran type of defenseman needed still?
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*stick taps for Bussie* (Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro)
The Milwaukee Admirals appear to be losing bits and pieces early in free agency. While a Joe Piskula or Magnus Hellberg in an AHL setting might not be too bad in terms of head-to-head competition against their former team you just cannot say the same about this news. Mike Liambas has signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today they have agreed to terms with defenseman Cameron Schilling on a two-year contract, which runs through the end of the 2016-17 National Hockey League season, and defenseman Michael Liambas on a one-year contract, which runs through the end of the 2015-16 NHL season.
Schilling, 26, appeared in four games with the Washington Capitals and recorded 18 points (3G, 15A) in 63 regular-season games for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League last season. The Carmel, Ind., native also notched eight points (3G, 5A) in 10 postseason games with Hershey.
He has skated in six NHL games, all with Washington (2012-15). He has also registered 50 career points (13G, 37A) in 210 career AHL games, all with Hershey (2011-15). Prior to turning pro, Schilling tallied 57 points (8G, 49A) in four seasons at Miami University. He was also named to two NCAA All-Regional teams (2008, 2010) and helped Miami win the 2010-11 CCHA Championship.
Liambas, 26, collected eight points (5G, 3A) and 158 penalty minutes in 54 games with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL last season. He has registered 17 points (9G, 8A) and 499 PIM over 141 career AHL games, all with Milwaukee (2012-15).
The Woodbridge, Ontario, native previously totaled 21 points (3G, 18A) and 403 PIM in 87 games over three seasons in the East Coast Hockey League with the Cincinnati Cyclones (2010-13) and Orlando Solar Bears (2012-13). Liambas also recorded nine points (3G, 6A) and 82 PIM in 25 games for the University of British Columbia in 2010-11 and four points (1G, 3A) and 146 PIM for the Bloomington PrairieThunder of the International Hockey League from 2008-2010. Prior to turning pro, Liambas notched 13 points (5G, 8A) and 357 PIM in 124 games over four seasons with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
I feel like I must preface this much the same way I did when Scott Darling made this move. You can’t help but feel happy for the guy because of his story, his dedication to getting better and better, and simply the person that he is. Liambas could well be known only for fighting or an incident in juniors but in his time with the Admirals he’s worked so hard on the details of the game and results have come from that. Him getting this deal speaks volumes to just that.
What’s sad now, especially for fans, is he’ll most likely be on the opposite end of one of the Admirals biggest rivals, the Rockford IceHogs. Liambas is the type of player you hate to see playing against you but love having on your team. Imagine him scrapping it out now against former teammates? Well, perhaps that might not entirely be true because the press release by the Blackhawks announced him as a defenseman.
Liambas played his entire career as a defenseman until his time as a member of the Admirals. When injuries hit back in February he even managed to step back into the role on the blue line and looked like he didn’t miss a beat. Liambas has been fine enough as a bottom line winger and penalty killing forward. Him reverting back to defense might peel back some of the fighting with a bigger emphasis on being solid and smart defensively. It won’t be fun playing against him, true, but it will be fun seeing him back in a role he once played and one that could possibly set him up for an even better future.
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So Long. Farewell. Auf Wiedersehen. Adieu. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The harsh reality that there is a business side to the sport of hockey smacked everyone back over the head yesterday with two key names from the Milwaukee Admirals going to pastures new: Magnus Hellberg and Joe Piskula. Each case presented the business scenarios that come with the sport. Either a team made a trade to move a player elsewhere or a player makes the decision to leave on their own terms. It was certainly sad seeing both leave but it’s such because of their impact on and off the ice in Milwaukee.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
When looking at Piskula’s situation it’s one I think most are fine with. He signed on with the Anaheim Ducks organization and may well have a better opportunity to play more NHL games than the log jammed defensive core of the Nashville Predators would ever allow. At this stage in his career Piskula should be continuing to push for NHL hockey because his time with the Admirals showed how good of a defenseman he is. If the Predators aren’t an option he was always going to be looking for the best possible fit. That place was Anaheim. Their AHL option is San Diego Gulls of the ECHL’s new Pacific Division. He leaves behind his native Wisconsin where he not only grew up in Antigo, played college hockey for the Badgers, but also captained the Admirals.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
In Piskula’s career he has only played 13 career games in the NHL. The hefty bulk of his professional playing career has been in the AHL where he has played 533 career games. He will be turning 31-years old this Sunday. All that being said and you think the picture that was just painted is a bad one. It isn’t at all though. His last two seasons with the Admirals have been perhaps the two best of his pro career: 140 games, 40 points (4 goals, 36 assists), 86 penalty minutes, and a plus/minus rating of +40. It feels like he’s actually trending upwards rather than falling off with age. Anaheim clearly saw and respected that. And I would love for Piskula’s time with the Admirals to have been that last big push to get him a longer NHL run than his career high of 5 games in a single NHL season. He’s earned it. He’s not a slick skating puck moving offense defenseman. He isn’t a thrash and bash physical defenseman. He’s just incredibly smart on and off the puck and can play in all on-ice scenarios that the Ducks would be able to throw at him.
And then, inhale-exhale, there is the case of what happened for Hellberg yesterday. It’s safe to say that the reaction I’ve read across Admirals Roundtable’s social media reach is that this one stung a lot. It was a punch square in the feels and a cold hard slap from a thing called reality. I equate Hellberg being traded to the New York Rangers yesterday as being a lot like getting your shots when you were a kid. You knew it was coming, you saw it was coming, there is no avoiding it, and then it happens.
Here’s the flip side to that analogy though. The aftereffects of getting a shot when you are a kid was pretty much just the amazement that you spent all that time worrying about the shot and now its all over and life goes on. Guess what? Life does still go on and it goes on in the form of big time goaltending prospect Juuse Saros and his first full-season of pro hockey in North America.
That is precisely what I feel the Nashville Predators brass would like everyone to be thinking and feeling. The reality is this. In the way that the Predators rewardingAustin Watson for his efforts in Milwaukee set a great example for all current and incoming Predators prospects that hard work and dedication to the Admirals in the AHL could pay off with NHL reward – the Predators shattered that sentiment by tossing Hellberg, a former second round selection, to the recycling bin like a partially drunk can of soda. When you’re good? You’re good and Nashville recognize it. When you’re good? I don’t know so go away.
(Photo Credit: Greg Hamil)
The handling of the Milwaukee goaltending situation and how Hellberg was kicked to the curb had that sort of careless feeling behind it and one that I would go so far as to say puts Marek Mazanec directly in the firing line as well. This wasn’t about Hellberg. It wasn’t about Mazanec. It was about how Nashville could comfortably fit Saros in Milwaukee as soon as possible. It makes me at the very least wonder what this off-season would have been like if the Predators opted to not go two-year deal on Carter Hutton when they did and instead gave him a one-year contract. Is Mazanec not the back up now? Is your AHL tandem Hellberg and Saros? Or, for all we know, Hutton skips a one-year deal and the Predators build from within by maintaining Scott Darling as an AHL option and promoting Mazanec. It’s easy for me to say something such as that now but so is saying that wouldn’t happen because I’m sure a veteran option would have been brought in in-place of the AHL options in hand. It’s that line of thinking that is ‘safe’ general managing and not one that takes risks and sees if what you drafted has value. In the case of Hellberg? The Predators never cared to find out. Either that or his cameo of a relief appearance that lasted 12:12 of ice time summed up his entire career from past to present to future and I didn’t see what everyone else saw.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
In short, it’s just as sad way to end what was a really great time with the Admirals organization for Hellberg. I feel like there were far more highs than lows from him in net and his ceiling really hasn’t been touched yet. The Rangers got themselves a goaltender with big upside who now has that extra little chip on his shoulder and they acquired him for a sixth round draft pick all the way off in 2017. Hellberg should be competing as the first choice goaltender of the Rangers AHL affiliate the Hartford Wolf Pack this coming season. He’ll be given the chance to play regularly which is something he never had too often the last two seasons as an Admiral. If he makes good on his potential? I think everyone in Milwaukee will be celebrating while Nashville fans will be asking, “why?” Should things be same ol’ same ol’ from Hellberg, and the group in Milwaukee one-up him, then things ended up working out as Nashville would like. My hope is for one Swede to eventually learn up close from another Swede, Henrik Lundqvist. That would be a fun and very Tre Kronor goaltending tandem.
(Photo Credit: Jamie Wahl)
So what does this do for the 2015-16 Admirals? It makes the focus a clean, simple, and driven one. Mazanec and Saros will be battling against each other for playing time and Brandon Whitney will be hanging out with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL in case anything problematic were to occur (that means injuries – knock on wood). The reality here is that the Admirals are perfectly fine. I feel Saros can live up to his hype but will have to make that tough adjustment in net to the speed and playing style of North American hockey. The rink is smaller, the game is faster, the players crash the net harder, and the importance of where you place the rebounds is paramount. During this entire learning process Mazanec will need to repay the Predators organization with results for the faith they showed in him to keep him over Hellberg who had out-performed him last season. Mazanec will need to do this without the Admirals best defenseman Piskula in front of him and possibly even without Anthony Bitetto if he makes the Predators out of camp. This season will already be defined much like last season was. Can the team’s immaturity and defensive ability do enough to match the offensive want-to? While a question like that hangs in the balance the man in net is the great equalizer who can smooth over the rough patches. According the the Predators those two men are going to be Mazanec and Saros. Will it work? Tune in this fall to find out.
What is your take from yesterday’s moves made by the Nashville Predators and former Predators players and prospects? How do you feel Hellberg will do as the expected number one goaltender of the Hartford Wolf Pack next season? Can Piskula make the Ducks roster to start the season or will be be back in the AHL for the majority of this season? What pieces need to be added to Milwaukee to either fix or build upon their current roster?
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Milwaukee will miss you, big guy. (Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro)
The goaltending scenario that looked ominous for such a long time now has now fully cemented. Brandon Whitney signed an AHL contract to be the Cincinnati Cyclones man for the Milwaukee Admirals. Marek Mazanec signed his one-year contract to stick with the Nashville Predators organization. Juuse Saros signed his entry-level contract to start his North American professional playing career. Which meant only the following would happen. The Predators have traded Magnus Hellberg. The Swede and netminder of the Admirals these last three seasons will be joining the New York Rangers in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Hellberg was the first goaltender selected in the 2011 NHL Draft and was a huge impact player for the Admirals at the end of his rookie season. He just about carried the team on his back en route to securing their playoff berth on the final day of the season: three starts, three days, back-to-back shutouts in the final two games of the season.
The follow-up campaign couldn’t have gone much worse. He was injured in pre-season camp, Mazanec out performed him early in the AHL regular season, he struggled to secure wins, a guy named Scott Darling started winning games in net, Hellberg then picked up a high ankle sprain that sidelined him just when he was gearing up to start games on a regular basis for the first time all season, and then Rob Madore‘s incredible 2014 Kelly Cup Finals MVP run forced him on the bench at the ECHL level for the rest of the season.
This past year was a return to form. He was second choice to Mazanec out of the gate but did well. So well in fact he earned a spot in the AHL All Star Classic. Like the entire Admirals team though his season took a dip and stayed down all the way until reaching the finish. His numbers were still good, massively improved from the previous season, but the team missing the playoffs for the first time in thirteen seasons seems to hang over most sparkling performances by the squad.
The Rangers already have a Swede in net named Henrik Lundqvist. They also shipped out Cam Talbot and added King Henrik’s back-up in the form of Antti Raanta. It would appear that the Hartford Wolf Pack is the new home for Hellberg. There he’ll find competition in Mackenzie Skapski and Cédrick Desjardins.
What is your reaction to the Predators trade of Hellberg? Was this the best they could receive back in exchange? Are they making the correct move by choosing Mazanec over Hellberg or is it safer to say they’ve taken Saros over both?
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Best of luck, Good Guy Joe from Antigo. (Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro)
When the 2015-16 Milwaukee Admirals hockey season begins it will begin without last year’s captain. Joe Piskula will be joining the Anaheim Ducks organization on a one-year contract.
The Ducks have signed goaltender Matt Hackett to a two-year contract and center Chris Mueller and defenseman Joe Piskula to one-year contracts. Per club policy, no financial terms of the deals were disclosed.
Hackett, 25 (3/7/90), has appeared in 26 career NHL games with Minnesota and Buffalo, going 4-17-2 with a 3.11 goals-against average (GAA) and .906 save percentage (SV%). He split last season with Buffalo (0-4-1, 4.32 GAA in five games) and the Sabres’ American Hockey League affiliate (AHL) in Rochester (8-5-3, 2.76 GAA in 16 games). Selected by Minnesota in the third round (77th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Hackett set career highs in wins (3), GAA (2.37), SV% (.922), appearances (12) and minutes played (556) with the Wild during his rookie season in 2011-12. The 6-2, 171-pound goaltender has also played five AHL seasons with Houston and Rochester, posting an 86-75-18 record with three shutouts, a 2.59 GAA and .910 SV% in 184 career games.
Mueller, 29 (3/6/86), has scored 3-7=10 points with eight PIM in 53 career NHL games with Nashville, Dallas and the New York Rangers. He played seven games for the Rangers last season, picking up 1-1=2 points. The 5-11, 210-pound center made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut with Dallas in 2014, going scoreless in four games during the First Round vs. Anaheim. Mueller has played 447 career AHL games with Hartford, Texas, Milwaukee, Lake Erie and Grand Rapids, scoring 131-155=286 points with a +19 rating and 214 PIM.
Piskula, 30 (7/5/84), has played 13 career NHL games with Nashville, Calgary and Los Angeles, going scoreless with 10 PIM. Piskula appeared in one game for Nashville and 67 for the Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee last season. The 6-3, 208-pound defenseman is a veteran of nine AHL seasons with Milwaukee, Abbotsford and Manchester, scoring 13-102=115 points with a +78 rating and 421 PIM in 533 career games. Piskula has also appeared in 33 career Calder Cup Playoff games, recording 2-4=6 points with 20 PIM.
This is a pretty big blow to the Admirals. They’re defense was on the young side as it was last season but this season it will be all down to the youngsters to make it work. Who are the elders next season you ask? Anthony Bitetto (who turns 25-years old in July) and Garrett Noonan (who will turn 25-years old in late-January). The off-season is still young in its own right though. Moves could be worked out that might help Milwaukee’s defensive depth.
Reaction to this news? Surprised that the Nashville Predators weren’t able to bring Piskula back? Will Piskula be able to play NHL hockey as a member of the Ducks this coming season?
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