We are now ten games into the Milwaukee Admirals 2014-15 season. The record is 8-2-0-0 (16 points) and has them second in the Midwest Division and fifth in the Western Conference. Most teams sitting ahead of the Admirals, with the exception of the Texas Stars (14 points), have played extra games in the schedule at this point. The top two in the conference are the Utica Comets (22 points) and Rockford IceHogs (21 points) – both of whom have played thirteen games.

There have been so many positives through the opening ten games. The Ads had a franchise best six-game winning streak to start a season. Marek Mazanec went five-for-five with wins to start the season. Brendan Leipsic is currently better than a point-per-game player in his rookie season with 11 points (all of which are assists). The young Admirals defense, combined with the great goaltending performances behind them, have only allowed 21 goals – only the Utica Comets have allowed less… one less.

Above all, what has excited me the most about our 2014-15 Admirals season through ten games has been the composure of a team that entered as the youngest in the AHL this season. Rarely has age or inexperience looked like a factor for the Admirals. If anything, it is the new brew here in Milwaukee that are the reason for the early success. Only Jimmy Oligny and Jonathan Diaby, of the ten rookies on the Admirals roster, have yet to record a point of offense. Even then, as defensemen, the two have a combined +2 plus/minus.

The sophomores, Colton Sissons and Miikka Salomäki, may not have had the quickest of starts as they may have liked. Sissons: 4 points (4 goals, 0 assists). Salomaki: 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists). That is something that doesn’t bother me all that much, though. The two have a combined 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) in the last two-games alone. These two combined for 94 points (45 goals, 49 assists) of offense last season. It is only a matter of time before they start storming back to last season’s points-per-game form.

In goal, Magnus Hellberg appears to have found the magic he displayed in his 2012-13 rookie season when he was the rock that spearheaded the Admirals into the Calder Cup playoffs. He has only made three starts but has won them all – including the 4-0 shutout in the Admirals most recent game against the Grand Rapids Griffins. He now has an AHL best 0.64 goals against average and 0.973 save percentage. Considering the hot start for Mazanec. This return to form for Hellberg creates a phenomenal problem to have. Which goalie do you start? And does it really matter who starts at this point – all things considered? Spoiled for choice.

Who has impressed you the most through the Milwaukee Admirals opening ten games? Who has impressed you the least? Which Admiral rookie has been the best so far? What does this hot start to the season do for the Admirals in the later stages of the campaign? Who would you say was the Admiral of the Month for October?

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It’s official, the AHL now has a brand new “Leggio” rule in place to deter the manuever pulled by Bridgeport goaltender David Leggio. If such an instance were to occur again, the goaltender would get a game misconduct (resulting in an ejection of that player), with a penalty shot awarded to any player on the ice at the time for the opposing team.

Via The Hockey News:

On Thursday, the AHL announced a brand new rule change to prevent any further occurrences of this sort, instituting an automatic game misconduct for the offending goaltender and allowing for the opposing team to select any shooter from the ice to take the penalty shot on the replacement goaltender.

In case you missed the play, the Sound Tigers released a new camera angle showing Leggio’s clearly blatant dislodging of the net:

So Roundtable . . . What do you think of the conclusion of the Leggio saga? Should the AHL allowed more referee discretion on plays like this one to award a goal for the opposing team?

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Every once in a while a play comes around that forces a change in hockey’s rule book. One of the most famous was the Sean Avery rule, concerning the forward’s unique method of screen goaltender Martin Brodeur, or Los Angeles forward Jarret Stoll’s hand on the puck defensive zone faceoff rule that went into effect after the Kings’ 2012 Stanley Cup run. Detroit fans are probably still clamoring for some rule changes after this horrendous no goal call last week.

On Sunday the AHL had a play likely to lead to a rule change in the not too distant future. Bridgeport Sound Tigers goaltender David Leggio pulled an interesting little trick in a game against Springfield:

Call it bush league or call it whatever you want, but Leggio successfully ended a two-on-none shorthanded breakaway coming at him by blatantly knocking the net off its pegs, giving Falcons forward Dana Tyrell a penalty shot. Leggio proceeded to stop the attempt, making the play all that more ingenious.

Afterwards via Twitter, the 30-year-old goalie played coy about the crafty maneuver, using the opportunity to plug his goalie clinics:

We teach knocking off nets in the summer at Leggio Goaltending, along with fixing a “broke” strap and patching bad ice when your tired

— Leggio Goaltending (@LeggioGoaltend) November 3, 2014

Thanks Mr Deadspin! “@Deadspin: Brilliant goalie knocks over his own net rather than face a 2-on-0: http://t.co/Tr1fFkFQsH”

— David Leggio (@DLeggio33) November 3, 2014

So Roundtable . . . What do you think of Leggio’s decision? Was it intelligent or bush league? What is the most unusual thing you’ve seen at an AHL game?

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The Milwaukee Admirals announced this afternoon that Zach Budish will be assigned to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. This roster move comes as a result of the addition of Rich Clune to the Admirals after he cleared waivers and joined the team yesterday.

Budish has 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 6 games this season with the Admirals. He has performed on the team’s fourth line with Joe Pendenza and Frederick Gaudreau. He’ll be joining a Cyclones team that he played 16 games with at the end of last season and scored 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists). Budish also was with the Cyclones for their outstanding playoff run, played in 24 playoff games, scored 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists), and came up just short of winning the Kelly Cup with Cincinnati.

As for Clune, expect him to factor into this weekend’s games against the Chicago Wolves. He has 275 games of AHL experience to his name. His last career AHL game was with the Manchester Monarchs on 1/11/13. He had four shots on goal in that game and, interestingly enough, a two-minute penalty for diving to go along with a play where he was slashed by Tim Sestito.

Thought’s on this roster move? Was Zach Budish the right candidate to be assigned to the ECHL to make room for Rich Clune? What are your expectations of Clune’s time with the Admirals?

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Yesterday, my colleague Daniel Lavender speculated on what it would mean to Milwaukee, and notably popular Admirals forward Michael Liambas, if Nashville Predators forward Rich Clune cleared waivers. Today, as expected, Clune cleared waivers and was assigned to Milwaukee. Therefore, tonight against Iowa we will all find out the 25-year-old’s plans and Milwaukee/Nashville’s plans for him, and Liambas, going forward.

Clune took to Twitter soon after the news:

Bad times don’t last, but BAD GUYS do. -16

— Rich Clune (@richcluneshow) October 29, 2014

Clune’s spot in Nashville will be taken by forward Matt Cullen, who is returning from the IR. Clune, a Toronto native, and known NHL enforcer (166 PIMs last season with the Predators) becomes the latest light scoring, tough guy to clear through waivers into the American Hockey League. Thanks in part to boon in the use of advanced stats, many NHL teams seem inclined to move away from utilizing a classic low scoring enforcer (see Colton Orr) on their lower lines and instead employ third and fourth line checkers that can also fight if need be (see David Clarkson).

If this in fact Clune’s final go-around with Nashville, the popular winger will have dressed in 106 NHL games with the team, scoring seven goals and 16 points, along with collecting 279 PIMs.

If Clune does dress with the Admirals, this will be his third stint in the AHL after playing for the now extinct Iowa Stars (2007-2008) and formerly more colorful Manchester Monarchs (2008-2013). He also saw 14 games with the Los Angeles Kings in 2009-2010.

So Roundtable . . . Are you excited to see Clune in Milwaukee? Along with a great Twitter handle, what can he bring to the Admirals?

The Nashville Predators have made some roster moves this afternoon. Matt Cullen has been removed from the team’s injured reserved and will be active for the team’s upcoming six-game road trip. To make room for this, the team has placed Rich Clune on waivers in the hopes that he clears and is able to reach the Milwaukee Admirals. In addition, Viktor Stalberg will be coming to the Admirals as part of a conditioning assignment as he recovers from a lower-body injury.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

The Nashville Predators will activate forward Matt Cullen off of injured reserve, making him available for the team’s upcoming road trip that begins Wednesday night in Edmonton.

Cullen skated on a regular forward line at Monday’s practice, setting him up for his first game action since suffering an upper-body injury Sept. 24 during a preseason game against Tampa Bay.

“We’re anxious to get Matt back in the lineup, as he is a veteran who can contribute in a number of situations,” General Manager David Poile said.

To make room for Cullen’s addition to the roster, the club has placed forward Rich Clune on waivers, with the intention of assigning him to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.

“Rich is a character guy in our locker room,” Poile said. “We are hopeful that Rich will clear waivers and be available for recall in the future.”

The Predators have also assigned forward Viktor Stalberg to Milwaukee on a conditioning assignment. Stalberg suffered a lower-body injury during training camp, missing the entire preseason schedule and first three games of the regular season. He has skated in five games this season.

“Viktor has had some unfortunate injury trouble during his last two training camps,” Poile said. “We want Viktor to have some time in Milwaukee to fine tune his game and we look forward to having him back in Nashville.

“Both Rich and Viktor have seen limited playing time this season at the NHL level and we feel that they will benefit from the additional ice time that they will receive in Milwaukee.”

These moves leave the Predators with 22 skaters – 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders – in advance of Wednesday’s game at Edmonton, the first of a season-long, six-game, 12-day road trip. Nashville’s primary developmental affiliate, the AHL’s Admirals, receive a further influx of talent to a team that has already started with a franchise-record six consecutive wins to start the 2014-15 season.

“Having to send Viktor and Rich to Milwaukee exemplifies the depth we now possess in the organization,” Poile said. “We have a great deal of flexibility at the forward position, which should benefit us moving ahead.”

The question will be whether or not Clune clears waivers in the first place to reach Milwaukee. Should he do so, I’m doubting his ability to factor in all that much to the team’s current setup much the same way Mike Liambas didn’t factor into the team’s last two games whilst healthy.

With Stalberg also en route to Milwaukee, it pushes Liambas on the outside again to make it into upcoming games. The way the Admirals have been playing it seems as if the rich will be getting richer with another offensive minded talent, an NHL one at that, joining the team in the midst of a franchise record best start to a season.

So, what would this end up meaning for the likes of Clune and Liambas? Should we end up seeing the Nashville enforcer and Twitter extraordinaire – it could mean that Liambas would end up with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL purely from a “this role is now taken” standpoint.

UPDATE: Rich Clune has cleared waivers and will be assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals.

What do you make of today’s roster moves by the Nashville Predators? What happens to the forward lines with the inclusion of Viktor Stalberg? What becomes of Rich Clune and Mike Liambas? Are we seeing the end of the prototypical enforcer in hockey?

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I had spoken with Magnus Hellberg back on Media Day in regards to any new mask being in the works for him. As it turns out, the airbrushing maestro David Gunnarsson (DaveART) was putting the finishing touches to it. And here is what we have for Hellberg this season.

Details on the mask via David Gunnarsson:

Today we have the pleasure to present the new Milwaukee Admirals mask artwork for my friend Magnus Hellberg.

The design is created in a classic old school style, crisp and clear, in total sync with the team uniform. And the closer you come the more details will be discovered, and the mask enters a new dimension… :) I just love that :)

The design is created in a vintage style so it looks used and old, and built-in in the stripes created with pearl tech, you find the skull and bone logos of the team.

And for sure all the DAVEART trademark effects is here, many of the details you can only see when you see the mask live.

On the side of the mask you will also find a picture of Magnus´ loved grandma and grandpa.

And just as usual Pelle Svanslös pop up on the side of the mask. Pelle is a Swedish cartoon, and this cool cat comes from the same town as Magnus :) He always pop up on Magnus´ masks, it´s a thing Magnus and me came up with for many years.

You are welcome to check out the mask in the mask gallery or on our Facebook page. You´ll also find a lot of behind the scene photos on our Instagram, and you´re welcome to follow us also on Twitter.

Thanks Magnus, I am so happy to be your painter! And thank you all for your visit here!

Indeed you can see some more close-ups of Hellberg’s new mask on Instagram: here, here, and here. You can also view Hellberg and DaveART’s previous collaborations here: Pelle in AmeriCat and Pelle the Nashville Country Singer.

Thoughts on Magnus Hellberg’s new Milwaukee Admirals mask? Is it an improvement to his previous Admiral lid? Where does it stack up to other masks worn by Admirals goaltenders? Which goalies here in Milwaukee had the best masks?

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This afternoon the Milwaukee Admirals have announced a roster move that will assign Josh Shalla, Jaynen Rissling, and Mikko Vainonen to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. All three players were healthy scratches in the Admirals opening two games this past weekend. The lone healthy scratch to not join this group to Cincinnati is Jonathan-Ismael Diaby.

With the Admirals carrying nine total defensemen over the weekend you had to expect a move would be coming. I do find it interesting that it appears Taylor Aronson has in fact worked himself into a spot above, at least, Rissling and Vainonen. I wouldn’t anticipate the defense than has won the opening two games to be shaken up right away either. So that would mean some more time out for Diaby. It could be that both Aronson and Diaby flip in-and-out of the lineup this season in similar fashion to how Charles-Olivier Roussel was utilized as a seventh defenseman last season.

As for Shalla, in his first two professional seasons he has fluctuated between the Admirals and Cyclones. His points production as an Admiral has never been as good as a Cyclone. 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in 58 games as an Admiral. 58 points (35 goals, 23 assists) in 66 games as a member of the Cyclones.

The move down for Shalla is probably more indicative of the fourth line performance of Joe Pendenza, Frederick Gaudreau, and Zach Budish than it is a return from injury for Patrick Cehlin or Mike Liambas. Both players out with injury still seem to be on the road back to full fitness. Meanwhile the Admirals fourth line, with Pendenza playing Shalla’s left wing role, has come up with 6 combined points in the first two games – including a goal for each player on the line.

What’s your take on today’s roster moves? Do you think we will see Josh Shalla again at some point this season here in Milwaukee? Are you surprised to see Taylor Aronson picked ahead of Jaynen Rissling and Mikko Vainonen?

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