I’ve often thrown out the term “Good Guy” as a way to highlight the many great actions I see players on the Milwaukee Admirals doing in and out of the rink. Today it is the Admirals turn to use that label and they did so by selecting Zach Budish as the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year for his contributions to the Milwaukee community this season.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

The Milwaukee Admirals are proud to announce that Zach Budish has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Milwaukee community during the 2014-15 season.

A second-year pro from Edina, MN, Budish was instrumental to the success of the Admirals reading program “Reading: The Ultimate Power Play,” as he went to multiple Milwaukee Public Schools that participated in the program to read to the kids in their classrooms. In addition, he made numerous other schools visits to talk with kids about the importance of sportsmanship and how success in school helped him reach where he is today.

Zach served as a celebrity waiter for Prevent Blindness of Wisconsin’s annual fundraiser that raises money to help prevent blindness and other severe eye problems in kids and was one of the top tip earners at the Admirals Celebrity Serve which raised over $18,000 for the Power-Play Foundation, which supports non-profits in southeast Wisconsin.

Zach also went to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to visit sick kids during the season and donated money to help buy presents for underprivileged kids at Christmas time.

Budish is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL’s 2014-15 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League later this month.

Budish isn’t just making splashes away from the rink. He is also having his best season in pro hockey to date. In his time with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL he recorded 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in 30 games. For the Admirals this season he has 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists). For both levels of hockey he has managed to maintain a positive plus/minus rating, as well.

All teams in the AHL announced their recipients of the “Man of the Year” team awards this afternoon. You can read up on the other award winners via the AHL. There you will see a couple of former-Admirals have also won for ther respective teams: Mathieu Tousignant, Mike Moore, Jonathon Blum, and Zack Stortini.

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If the Milwaukee Admirals current issue is scoring there might be some good news as far as tonight’s game is concerned. The Nashville Predators have just reassigned Viktor Arvidsson back to the Admirals.

Arvidsson’s first career NHL stint saw him log six games for the Predators. He didn’t register a point but he did average more than a shot per game. Wouldn’t have expected any less from the man who still leads the AHL in shots on goal this season.

His reintroduction to the team means the Admirals will once again have their leading scorer back in the lineup. Arvidsson has 51 points (19 goals, 32 assists) this season. The next closest to him on the Admirals in scoring is Austin Watson with 39 points (23 goals, 16 assists).

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I didn’t jot this up until the second intermission of this afternoon’s Nashville Predators game in the off-chance he’d flip right back all over again. That hasn’t happened (not yet anyways) so here you go. Kevin Fiala has been assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals and is expected to play in tonight’s road game against the Chicago Wolves.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee, WI–Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has reassigned 2014 first-round selection (11th overall) Kevin Fiala to Milwaukee. He will join the Admirals tonight when they take on the Chicago Wolves in Amtrak Rivalry action at the Allstate Arena.

Fiala made his NHL debut on Tuesday night, posting three shots on goal during 11:25 of ice time in the Preds 3-2 OT win over Montreal. Fiala has amassed 17 points (9g-8a) in 26 American Hockey League games since making his North American professional debut with the Admirals on Jan. 21. The native of St. Gallen, Switzerland, started the 2014-15 season with HV-71 of the Swedish Hockey League, posting 14 points (5g-9a) in 20 games – tied for the fourth-most goals and assists, and sixth-most points among SHL junior players – before being assigned to Nashville’s AHL affiliate on Jan. 15. Fiala also represented Switzerland at the 2015 World Junior Championship, being named one of the nation’s three best players for the tournament while tying for fifth among all skaters in goals (4g-1a-5pts, 6gp).

It’s a nice boost for sure. Though I get the impression that goal scoring isn’t the main problem for the Admirals during this latest cold stretch. No matter what the case may be, hopefully things get back on track tonight with a set up for the Tuesday/Wednesday road games against Lake Erie.

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Kevin Fiala has just been reassigned by the Nashville Predators to the Milwaukee Admirals following an emergency call up stint that saw the 18-year old make his NHL debut on Tuesday night.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tennessee (March 26, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Thursday that the club has reassigned forward Kevin Fiala to Milwaukee (AHL). Fiala was recalled prior to Tuesday’s game under emergency conditions.

The Nashville Predators play the Lightning tonight in Tampa (6:30 p.m. CT, FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game) in the first contest of a two-game road trip. The road trip concludes on Saturday when the Preds travel to take on former head coach Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals in the Nation’s Capital (11:30 a.m. CT, FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game).

For those that had the chance to watch Fiala’s debut you’d have seen pretty much the same play that you’ve been accustomed to seeing out of him in Milwaukee these past few weeks. His game has really calmed down and he is looking every bit as advertised lately. Sometimes you almost forget his age. Reminds me almost exactly of some Filip Forsberg kid a year ago. And I’m thinking the exact same maturation process is going on with Fiala most likely expected to start his 2015-16 season in the NHL.

Unclear what this move might mean for someone such as Gary Steffes who had just signed a PTO contract ahead of yesterday’s Admirals game. For as well as he played I would just assume keep him on-board if you can. Admirals could use as much firepower as they can get right now.

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The banged up Nashville Predators are in need of more reinforcements from the Milwaukee Admirals. The latest call up under emergency conditions will be none other than the first round selection by the Predators in the 2014 NHL Draft, Kevin Fiala. That also comes with the news that the Admirals will be signing forward Gary Steffes to a PTO contract.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee, WI–Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Tuesday that the club has recalled 2014 first-round selection (11th overall) Kevin Fiala from Milwaukee (AHL) under emergency conditions.

Fiala has amassed 17 points (9g-8a) in 26 American Hockey League games since making his North American professional debut with the Admirals on Jan. 21. The native of St. Gallen, Switzerland, started the 2014-15 season with HV-71 of the Swedish Hockey League, posting 14 points (5g-9a) in 20 games – tied for the fourth-most goals and assists, and sixth-most points among SHL junior players – before being assigned to Nashville’s AHL affiliate on Jan. 15. Fiala also represented Switzerland at the 2015 World Junior Championship, being named one of the nation’s three best players for the tournament while tying for fifth among all skaters in goals (4g-1a-5pts, 6gp).

In addition, the Admirals have signed forward Gary Steffes to a professional try-out contract (PTO). Steffes has played this season with the Allen Americans of the ECHL where is his second on the team with 73 points via a club-best 44 goals and 29 assist in 63 games. The Grand Blanc, MI native is also an impressive +31 while raking up 59 penalty minutes.

Steffes will join the Admirals for their game on Wednesday night when they host the San Antonio Rampage at 7 pm at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Fiala’s recent play has been spectacular to watch with the Admirals. I feel as if his comfort level to the North American game has improved game-by-game. At first, the speed in which the game and defense closed on Fiala seemed to catch him off guard and he’d either loose the puck from a stick check or pass lightly to nowhere in particular and turn the puck over that way. These last few weeks he has been producing some solid performances all-across the board. He’s looked better defensively. He gets involved in some of the more physical play. And, of course, has amazing stick skills.

Fiala will make his NHL debut tonight in Nashville when they go head-to-head against the red hot Montreal Canadiens. He’s getting his first look up in the NHL and joins Viktor Arvidsson as the second emergency recall made by the Predators in the past week. Fiala will be playing on a line with Mike Fisher and Craig Smith.

Meanwhile, this recently injury spell up top has put the Admirals in a slight bind. Félix Girard is still hurt. Mike Liambas is still nursing through a lower-body injury but has played through it. Eric Robinson was signed to an ATO and thrust into his first two career games as a pro. And now a new PTO signing is needed. That’s where Steffes comes in.

Steffes is an undrafted 27-year old native of Michigan who has spent this season playing for the Allen Americans in the ECHL. His stats there this season have been ridiculous: 73 points (44 goals, 29 assists) in 63 games. He has only ever had one spell in the AHL prior to this PTO contract from the Admirals and that came with the Lake Erie Monsters during the 2012-13 season where he scored 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 16 games. He played the following season with the Bakersfield Condors in the ECHL before exploding this season.

Thoughts on the moves? Do the recent call ups of younger Admirals signal anything for some of the more tenured guys in Milwaukee? What is your take on the signing of Steffes and can his offensive output in the ECHL translate to the AHL?

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With the season grinding along towards the finish one, myself included, could almost forget that it is ATO season. The college and junior playing seasons are coming to an end. That means bringing in new recruits. It worked well for the Milwaukee Admirals and Joe Pendenza last season. And we have our first ATO signee this season with Dartmouth College right winger Eric Robinson.

Robinson was selected in the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft by the St. John’s Fog Devils. Rather than go the junior route he opted for a lengthy five-year stay in college. In his time at Dartmouth he played 124 career games and scored 79 points (35 goals, 44 assists), had a plus/minus of +15, and 76 penalty minutes.

There hasn’t been official word on this signing as of yet but Aaron Sims has said as much and will have him on tonight’s pre-game show. That’s good enough for me.

~Update~

Darmouth College has now confirmed the move with a lovely article that also gives some more insight on Mr. Robinson.

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Ahead of tonight’s game the Nashville Predators have announced that Viktor Arvidsson has been recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals under emergency conditions. It is Arvidsson’s first career NHL call up.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (March 20, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Friday that the Predators have recalled forward Viktor Arvidsson from Milwaukee (AHL) under emergency conditions. He will wear No. 38.

Arvidsson, 21 (4/8/93), currently leads the Admirals, is tied for the AHL rookie lead, and tied for 10th among all AHL skaters in points (20g-31a-51pts) while playing in all 63 of the team’s games this season. The Kusmark, Sweden, native is also second among all rookies in goals and fourth among first-year players in assists, as well as ranking second among rookies in power-play goals (7), and tied for fourth in game-winning goals (4). He also leads the entire AHL in shots by 28 (237).

A 5-11, 176-pound right wing, Arvidsson – selected 112th (fourth round) by Nashville in the 2014 Draft – ranked ninth in the Swedish Hockey League in points (16g-24a-40pts) during the 2013-14 season, then helped Skelleftea win its second consecutive SHL title by tying for second in assists (12) and ranking third in points (16) during the postseason. During the title-winning season of 2012-13 he tied for fourth in playoff goals (6) and was named Swedish junior player of the year and a finalist for the SHL rookie of the year award.

Arvidsson tied for eighth in goals (4) at the 2013 World Junior Championship, helping Sweden to a silver medal, and also earned silver at the 2011 Under-18 World Championship, playing alongside Predators forward Filip Forsberg on both squads.

The Nashville Predators, who have an 11-3-0 record versus Eastern Conference opponents on home ice this season, take on the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena (7 p.m. CT, FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game). Saturday’s game is the second of three consecutive home games for the Preds; Nashville closes out the home stand on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Without Arvidsson this move could well signal yet another game in which an Admirals defenseman has to play the forward role. Félix Girard has missed the Admirals last two games after getting injured in his fight with Scott Valentine. And, as far as call ups go, Josh Shalla was placed on reserve yesterday by the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. Jonathan Diaby is healthy. He could come back and push a defenseman out on a third or fourth line capacity for tonight.

~Update~

I love when I go into full-on speculation mode only to find out there is another solution. That solution turns out to be the Admirals first ATO signing of the season: Eric Robinson of Dartmouth College has just signed.

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How about a nice jolt to the system to kick off your Tuesday afternoon? The Milwaukee Admirals have signed former-captain and long time Admiral defenseman Scott Ford to a PTO contract. In addition, the team has released defenseman Ian White from his PTO contract.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee, WI–The Milwaukee Admirals announced today that the team has signed defenseman Scott Ford to a Professional Try-Out Contract (PTO). Ford will meet the team in Oklahoma City and be available for tonight’s 7pm game against the Barons.

A veteran of 366 games with Milwaukee, Ford rejoins the team after playing this season with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL where he has a goal and four assists, 82 penalty minutes and a +14 rating in 40 games. The Stingrays are currently riding an amazing 19-game winning streak.

The Fort St. John, BC native has spent parts of the past six seasons with the Admirals, including two as team Captain, and has played the second most games since the Admirals joined the AHL, passed only recently be center Mark Van Guilder.
Overall with the Ads Ford has 14 goals and 29 assists for 23 points, a +41 rating and 563 penalty minutes–second most in team AHL history. Ford (+24 in 2011-12) and current Captain Joe Piskula (+20 in 2013-14) are the only defenseman since 2003-04 to finish the season +20 or better.

In addition, the Admirals have released defenseman Ian White from his PTO.

Milwaukee continues a season long six-game roadtrip tonight when they face the Barons at 7pm in Oklahoma City. The Admirals finish the trip on Friday in Grand Rapids before returning home on Saturday night to host the Texas Stars at 7pm at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

The Sheriff was not only signed today but is in fact in Oklahoma City tonight and ready to roll. This move feels rather reminiscent of the 2012-13 season when Ford was a member of the Peoria Rivermen and was brought back to the Admirals to provide a leadership role to the group.

As for White, this news comes as a slight bit of surprise when you consider how well he has plugged into the Admirals defense. He produced 19 points (3 goals, 16 assists) with a plus/minus rating of +4 and 13 penalty minutes in 34 games for the Admirals. Earlier this season White had played for the Providence Bruins on a PTO contract where he tallied 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 8 games. I imagine the move comes as a swap of veteran defenseman for veteran defenseman that has the additional trust of the coaching staff and a solid chunk of the locker room the instant he joins the team.

Happy about the return of Scott Ford to the Milwaukee Admirals? Are you disappointed to see Ian White released? What will Ford provide that White couldn’t?

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It wasn’t all that long ago when Magnus Hellberg was sitting in the upper echelon of pretty much all major goaltending categories in the AHL. Along with the current funk for the Milwaukee Admirals has come a spurt of goaltending results that haven’t gone to script.

In the past eighteen games the Admirals have gone 6-9-3-0 (15 points). That’s an important number of games because it is the current length of the Grand Rapids Griffins point streak that has seen them vault to the top of the Midwest Division and Western Conference standings. The Griffins are 14-0-3-1 (32 points) during that stretch. In that amount of games the Admirals have been outscored 62-48. Compared to the Griffins during that same number of games, minus the shootout marker, and Grand Rapids are outscoring teams 67-34.

While there is certainly a case of no offense or no defense there is a major case that goaltending can help mask problems. It’s happened in the past. It isn’t happening at all right now.

I must say though, of all the odd things happening during this stretch, is the questionable choice from the Admirals to limit the playing role of Hellberg since February. Marek Mazanec has been without question the first choice goaltender during that time as he has played twice the amount of games as Hellberg has. What makes it questionable is that his results in net have been equal to worse than that of Hellberg who remains on the bench during this span.

In February, Mazanec made seven starts and recorded a 2.87 goals against average and 0.905 save percentage. He won his first two starts that month and then proceeded to lose his next five games. Hellberg’s numbers weren’t exactly that much better, mind you. The big Swede posted a 3.07 goals against average and a 0.898 save percentage in February. The difference? Hellberg earned a point for the Admirals in each of his four starts that month.

This month, Mazanec has quite possibly been worked into the ground. We’re halfway through the month of March and Mazanec has already made six starts and seven appearances. From his six starts he has logged a 3.62 goals against average and a 0.842 save percentage. Like February, he won his first two starts. In fact he kicked off the month with a shutout in his first start of March. Since? He has ground to a halt and lost his last four games while surrendering seventeen goals. It wasn’t until last night’s third period that he was pulled in net for his troubles.

Hellberg’s March has also been spotty. He has appeared three times without a win with a 4.56 goals against average and 0.870 save percentage. Here’s the counter to Mazanec’s numerical struggles though. The time between appearances.

Hellberg’s first appearance in March was a road start against the Chicago Wolves. He allowed four goals from twenty-one shots before getting pulled ahead of the third period. It was his first taste of game action in eight days. His next appearance would come ten days later. He allowed four goals from forty shots against the Oklahoma City Barons. Then, fresh off the bench last night, he allowed the first shot he saw before stopping the next seven he faced in a relief appearance of Mazanec after sitting on the out for four days.

Now consider the month that Hellberg had in January prior to all these breaks in his stride. He won five out of seven starts and recorded a 1.80 goals against average, 0.933 save percentage, and a pair of shutouts.

The question becomes a pretty simple one. Why ride a goalie into the ground only too cool the other one off so much so that when he’s given the chance to substitute in he’s lacking the sharpness needed to perform? This goalie 1-A and 1-B formula doesn’t exactly work when equal opportunity doesn’t actually occur. At the moment it is a clear cut one-two in net and both are trending downward for different reasons: Mazanec being worn down. Hellberg being frozen.

It’s this rambling from me that reminds me to a question I posed to Admirals head coach Dean Evason back in November about the difficulty of selecting either Mazanec or Hellberg in net. His response:

“It’s always tough,” said Evason. “Everybody thinks it is so wonderful to have two guys playing well – make a decision – and everybody always says, “it’s a good thing,” but sometimes it’s not a good thing. Sometimes it’s one guy going and another guy gets hot.”

Right now, this decision should be a simple one. Mazanec isn’t going. And the only reason Hellberg isn’t is because he’s been on the bench. The Admirals need some serious energy right now as they’re battling their fourth losing streak of four or more games this season. An outlet could well be the man who did the job for the Admirals around this time two-seasons ago in Hellberg. The question is if he’ll be afforded the chance to do so.

Thoughts on the current state of the Milwaukee Admirals goaltending duo? Should Hellberg be given more chances in net or is this just a rough patch for the team and not for Mazanec?

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From the very end of January to today Miikka Salomäki has only played in two games for the Milwaukee Admirals. Today a source confirmed to me that Salomäki will in fact miss the rest of this season due to shoulder surgery.

This comes as a blow to both Salomäki and the Admirals. It had been a fantastic sophomore season for the Finn who was able to score a goal in his NHL debut in Nashville back on January 9th.

With the Admirals this season he had produced 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists) with a plus/minus rating of +15 and 30 penalty minutes in 38 games. He was successfully building upon his rookie season of 2013-14 where he led the Admirals in scoring with 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists).

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