Game Recaps January 15, 2016January 15, 2016

That’s More Like It; Ads Shutout Rampage 3-0

The Milwaukee Admirals earned a 3-0 shutout on the road against the San Antonio Rampage Friday night at the AT&T Center.

Marek Mazanec didn’t have the busiest of nights in net but he denied all nineteen shots he faced to earn his second shutout for the Admirals this season and sixth of his AHL career. Vladislav Kamenev marked his return to the lineup scoring the game-opening goal which would also prove to be the game-winner tonight. The win for the Admirals snaps a four-game winless skid while the loss for the Rampage is their eleventh straight defeat on home ice.

To start the second period the Rampage had the Admirals pinned and managed to match their first period shot total of six within the opening four minutes of the frame. Unfortunately for them that all meant nothing and Taylor Aronson hit Vladislav Kamenev on a home run pass as he came off the Admirals bench. Kamenev was all alone on a breakaway and snapped a shot over the glove of Roman Will for his seventh goal of the season.

The second period would persist with several chances for the Admirals on the power-play. They had two chances on five-on-three power-play opportunities and went 0/5 from the power-play in the sandwich stanza alone. The last of those five-on-three power-plays came to an end after Maxim Noreau floored Max Reinhart with a standup check upon zone entry which caught the attention of Frédérick Gaudreau who rushed after the Rampage defenseman, started a fight, and picked up an instigator and misconduct for his troubles.

In the third period the penalty troubles for the Rampage finally caught up with them. After a delay of game call sent Duncan Siemens to the box the Admirals notched their first power-play goal of the night from their eighth power-play opportunity. A spectacular keep in by Aronson at the blueline not only prevented a potential two-on-one shorthanded break the other way but pushed the puck over to Kamenev who dished to the open Colton Sissons in front of the net for a rapid fire shot and his fifth goal of the season.

The Rampage did have a chance to make a dent in the Admirals lead when they had a fifty-seven second five-on-three power-play opportunity with 8:11 remaining in regulation. They burned their timeout and wouldn’t come close again.

Shortly removed from their power-play chance Rampage defenseman Maxim Noreau put this game away after an awful turnover deep in his own zone that fell to Adam Payerl who shot and scored past Will immediately. Payerl’s seventh goal of the season made it a 3-0 game with 2:33 remaining in regulation to polish the game off.

Marek Mazanec’s night in net wasn’t the most challenging he’ll experience in his career but he answered the bell when tasked to make saves. In particular, the start to the second period he needed to be big and push aside the pressure that the Rampage brewed up. He got through that and the Admirals scored moments later from a Kamenev that Mazanec managed to get an assist from. That goalie assist makes Mazanec the Admirals all-time AHL points leader from the goaltending position. He was tied with Pekka Rinne with six-assists before notching number seven tonight.

Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals last played all the roster moves in the history of planet Earth happened. Kevin Fiala and Cody Bass were recalled by the Nashville Predators. Viktor Arvidsson was reassigned from the Predators to the Admirals and Garrett Noonan was sent from the Admirals to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL). Predators placed forward Cody Hodgson on waivers, he cleared waivers, and joined the Admirals. The Predators made two trades that directly impacted the Admirals. Conor Allen was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Patrick Mullen. Victor Bartley was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Stefan Elliot. Bartley was then packaged with NHL All-Star John Scott to the Montreal Canadiens for Jarred Tinordi and Stefan Fournier. Tonight’s line combinations for the Admirals saw the return of many faces and introduction of a couple more: Arvidsson-Sissons-Hodgson, Åberg-Kamenev-Gaudreau, White-Reinhard-Görtz, Devane-Girard-Payerl, Alm-Aronson, Näkyvä-Mullen, Murphy-Oligny. Tonight’s scratches were: Joe Pendenza (healthy), Jonathan Diaby (healthy), Stefan Elliot (yet to join team). This game marked the return to the Admirals lineup for Taylor Aronson after having missed the previous eight-games due to a lower-body injury. The win tonight for the Admirals makes them the first team in the AHL’s Western Conference to reach 50 points this season. Yet, through points percentage, the Admirals are fourth in the Western Conference standings.

How did this Milwaukee Admirals squad look with its new face lift (if you will)? How did Patrick Mullen, Cody Hodgson, Viktor Arvidsson, Vladislav Kamenev, and Taylor Aronson all look in their Admirals debut/return?

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News January 15, 2016March 30, 2016

Trade: Stefan Elliott In, Victor Bartley Out

Let the not so blockbuster trades keep on coming! The Nashville Predators have acquired Stefan Elliott from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Victor Bartley. Not too long after the fact, Bartley was packaged with NHL All-Star John Scott to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jarred Tinordi and Stefan Fournier. So, the very turbulent 2015-16 season for Bartley just keeps on rolling.

To put some perspective on the last two days, the Milwaukee Admirals have lost two defensemen in exchange for two defensemen with the catch being that the new additions are right handed shots. The Admirals only right handed shot on defense was Taylor Aronson up until yesterday. Then they added another one in Patrick Mullen. And now they’ve added yet another in Elliott. Could it simply be that these last two days the Predators have had the Admirals best interests in mind? Weirdly, it kind of feels like it because I don’t exactly see these moves registering much on the Nashville radar.

If Elliott is a familiar sounding name to you Admirals fans it is because he has spent the majority of his professional playing career to this point as a member of the Lake Erie Monsters. Coincidentally, should he debut for the Admirals tonight or more likely tomorrow night, he would be playing against his ol’ Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate under their latest banner as the San Antonio Rampage. Elliott’s next game played in the AHL will be his 200th game and he has scored 95 points (43 goals, 52 assists). Last season for Lake Erie he totaled 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) in 64 games.

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Scouting January 15, 2016January 15, 2016

Rampage: Scouting the Enemy

The last time the Milwaukee Admirals went up against the San Antonio Rampage – this guy was here and scored twice on the power-play. (Photo Credit: Stephanie Moebius)

It feels like a long time since the Milwaukee Admirals last played. That’s both a great and potentially bad thing. Whenever there are long layoffs such as this the bodies get to rest up and, consequently, rust up. The Admirals should start tonight’s game with a little bit of lag but I have to believe many players desperately needed time to physically and mentally recover some energy. This recent down time has allowed for that and, hopefully, it means a more electric performance than what has been put together these last six games.

~Fiala Fiala Fiala~

In last night’s Nashville Predators game Kevin Fiala scored his first career goal and it came from his first shift of the 2015-16 season at the NHL level. Talk about showing everyone instantly why you were recalled and what you can do, eh? He logged 17:48 of ice time and was taking part on the Predators top line with Ryan Johansen and James Neal. On a fun side note, the first career NHL goal for Fiala came just one-day ahead of his one-year anniversary of being assigned to the Admirals to kick start his North American professional playing career.

Unfortunately, the Predators are going through perhaps an even more rough slump than the Admirals lately and they would fall 5-4 (OT) on the road to the Winnipeg Jets despite a massive rally to force the overtime period. It just seems to be tough sledding system wide right now. Something to take our minds off of that? THIS.

~San Anton’ Ya’ll~

The San Antonio Rampage enter this two-game set against the Admirals with a record of 16-15-7-0 (39 points). Their 0.513 points percentage has them currently in sixth place of the Pacific Division and eleventh in the Western Conference standings.

If the recent spell for the Admirals has you down – suck it up. The Rampage have had a far worse run of form. Dating back to the start of December the Rampage have gone 5-12-1-0 which spans their last 18 games. In a division where quite a few teams above the Rampage will be playing 8 less games, CALIFORNIA, that’s a borderline playoff killing run already. This is a team that should be playing desperate because they need to get back on course now before things become less borderline and more a matter of fact.

~So Far This Season~

The Admirals and Rampage have only played once so far this season. That first exchange took place here in Milwaukee and ended with a 6-3 Admirals win. You might recall that contest as the night Jamie Devane made Daniel Maggio rethink fighting against the Admirals ever again.

It’s also worth noting that in that game a guy by the name of Viktor Arvidsson played for the Admirals. He scored twice from the power-play in that game. He makes his return to the Admirals lineup tonight for the first time since 11/27/15. Also of note from that game was Vladislav Kamenev producing a pair of assists. He will be back for the Admirals tonight for the first time since 12/15/15 when he left to participate as team captain of Russia in the 2016 IIHF World Juniors.

One person who did score a goal for the Admirals in that game will not be taking part of course. Conor Allen‘s lone goal scored this season came against the Rampage and he was traded for Patrick Mullen yesterday in one of those weird NHL clubs trading AHL players trades. It’s possible that both Mullen and the recently cleared from waivers Cody Hodgson could make the Admirals debut as part of this San Antonio road swing that takes place tonight and tomorrow night.

~What About The Other Guys?~

The Rampage have four players with 20+ points of offense: Colin Smith, 29 points (11 goals, 17 assists)… Mikko Rantanen, 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists)… Joey Hishon, 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists)… Maxim Noreau, 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists).

That list is followed by six other players all closely matched to the 20 points produced plateau so the Rampage aren’t exactly lacking for offense. What can be noted though is scoring isn’t everything. The Rampage have produced 110 goals this season but allowed 118 goals. Only the Texas Stars (136), Binghamton Senators (121), Rochester Americans (120), St. John’s IceCaps (120), and Iowa Wild (118) have allowed more or as many goals as a team in the entire AHL this season.

In net the Rampage have gone to Calvin Pickard (Chet‘s brother) more than any other goaltender this season. Good news, he isn’t an issue tonight as he is currently up with the Colorado Avalance where he picked up his first career NHL shutout last night. That means leaning on the likes of Roman Will and Spencer Martin. Both have played 10 games evenly with varying results. Will: 4-2-2-0 record, 478:21 minutes in net, 3.89 goals against average, and a 0.883 save percentage… Martin: 3-5-1-0, 555:25 minutes in net, 2.92 goals against average, 0.910 save percentage, and has earned a shutout once this season.

Expectations for this two-in-two in San Antonio? Can the current skid of losing five of the last six games get put to bed? Will the time off help or hurt the Milwaukee Admirals? Will it be a giant boost to get so many players back?

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News January 14, 2016

Like For Like; Conor Allen Traded For Patrick Mullen

This news really comes straight out of left field. The Nashville Predators have acquired Patrick Mullen from the Ottawa Senators for Conor Allen. Both players are defensemen. Both players are on NHL two-way contracts for this season. Both are alternate captains to their respective AHL teams to which the two have played with all season. It’s effectively a like for like trade between NHL teams for their AHL affiliates.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (January 14, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Thursday that the club has acquired defenseman Patrick Mullen from the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Conor Allen.

Mullen, 29 (5/6/86), is in his seventh professional season, having posted 16 points (1g-15a) and 18 penalty minutes in 36 American Hockey League games for the Binghamton Senators. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., the 5-foot-11, 186-pound blueliner has suited up for 338 AHL games for Manchester, Chicago, Utica and Binghamton since 2009, amassing 148 points (34g-114a) and 178 penalty minutes. Mullen’s best pro season came in 2011-12, when he tied for fourth among AHL defensemen in goals (13) and tied for 11th in blueliner points (41) while playing for the Monarchs.

Undrafted, Mullen spent four seasons at Denver University from 2005-09, recording 81 points (20g-61a) and 148 penalty minutes in 152 NCAA games, winning a WCHA title in 2008 and being named to the conference’s all-academic team in 2009. He is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Mullen.

If there is anywhere that the “like for like” business ends between these two it is that Mullen is a right handed shot. The Milwaukee Admirals have only had one of those for the bulk of this season, like last season, and that man is named Taylor Aronson. Perhaps this was a move to find better balance for each AHL affiliate’s back line? [long pause] As I said it’s sort of out of left field.

Mullen is the top scoring defenseman for the Binghamton Senators: 16 points (1 goal, 15 assists) in 36 games with a plus/minus rating of -5 and 18 penalty minutes. In his AHL career he has 338 games of experience having played for the Manchester Monarchs (2009-12), Chicago Wolves (2012-13), Utica Comets (2013-14), and the Binghamton Senators from the end of the 2013-14 season until now.

Reaction to this news? Why do you feel this trade was made? Is Mullen going to be more serviceable than Allen?

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News January 14, 2016

Cody Hodgson Clears Waivers, Assigned to Milwaukee

The last time Cody Hodgson played in the AHL it looked something like this. (Photo Credit: Jason Kurylo)

The Stevie Moses experiment failed. The Cody Hodgson experiment isn’t far behind. After being placed on waivers yesterday by the Nashville Predators the 25-year old forward has cleared and is being assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals.

Normally I would share a “Press Release via Nashville Predators” about here. Unfortunately Hodgson’s press release is far shorter than anything Predators General Manager David Poile had to say about him when he was placed on waivers yesterday:

“We signed him to enhance our (offense) and it didn’t happen,” Poile said. “You look for other areas that maybe a player can help you — checking or penalty killing or some other area. Really, I think we were pretty honest with Cody and told him that he had to produce offensively, and he hasn’t. This is the move.”

Yeah, that sounded like a bit of a flamethrower at the end – but he’s right. Hodgson’s career regression at the NHL level speaks for itself. In the 2013-14 season he produced 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists) in 72 games for the Buffalo Sabres. The last two-seasons he has recorded 9 goals from 117 games. He had produced 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) in 39 games for the Predators this season and bows out after being a healthy scratch the last three games.

What does this mean for the Admirals? It means adding another Viktor Stålberg level project to the mix. It has it’s pros and cons. The pros are that the Admirals are getting an NHL level talent added to the roster which means the depth gets stronger. The cons are mostly going to come down to how this all plays between Hodgson’s ears from this point forward. Is he taking this moment as a challenge or is he taking it in stride and just looking to wait out his contract, not care about the Admirals and earn his NHL level cash from the Predators, and think about where he goes in the off-season? That’s all entirely on him. Last season’s version wasn’t particularly great for just such reasons which makes seeing the follow up moves to come rough to stomach.

Hodgson’s entrance likely means a goodbye to either Matt White (who is on a PTO contract) or Joe Pendenza who would be sent to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL). It’s no knock against their performances. They would simply be falling victim to the numbers in Milwaukee.

So what Hodgson will the Admirals be getting? It’s an interesting question and dilemma. He has played 71 career games at the AHL level and produced 49 points (22 goals, 27 assists). The way Poile spoke of him makes me feel like even a solid AHL run of form for him probably isn’t enough to see him claw back to Nashville anytime soon. I question the motivation level of a player in Hodgson’s position at a point like this. Luckily, the Admirals experienced such a situation a season ago and should get the proper handle on that before it begins. Hodgson in the AHL could be a great thing right now for both himself and the Admirals. He just needs to find his form again. And what better place to do it than a place he hasn’t played since 1/5/13, the AHL.

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News January 13, 2016

Fiala and Bass Recalled by Nashville

Now the earlier news makes some sense. The Nashville Predators have recalled Kevin Fiala and Cody Bass from the Milwaukee Admirals. The Predators have also placed Colin Wilson on injured reserve. This comes not too long after AHL Transactions cited Viktor Arvidsson returning to the Milwaukee Admirals and Garrett Noonan being reassigned to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL).

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (January 13, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Wednesday that the club has recalled forwards Kevin Fiala and Cody Bass from Milwaukee (AHL), reassigned forward Viktor Arvidsson to the Admirals, and placed forward Colin Wilson on Injured Reserve.

Fiala, 19 (7/22/96), has 12 points (4g-8a) in his last 13 games, and is tied for the Admirals team lead in assists (15) and ranks third in points (21) in 34 AHL games this season. The St. Gallen, Switzerland, native has appeared in a pair of contests for the Predators – a 3-2 overtime win against Montreal on March 24, 2015, and in Game Four of the 2015 Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. Chicago, the longest game in franchise history. Nashville’s first choice, 11th overall (first round), in the 2014 Entry Draft, Fiala started the 2014-15 season with HV-71 of the Swedish Hockey League before being assigned to Milwaukee (AHL) following the World Junior Championship, recording 17 points (9g-8a) in his first 26 AHL games.

Bass, 29 (1/7/87), played in his first two games for the Predators on Dec. 1 vs. Arizona and Dec. 3 vs. Florida, going scoreless while averaging 6:31 of ice time. In 21 games for the Admirals this season, the Owen Sound, Ontario, native has five points (1g-4a) and 50 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 205-pound center has appeared in 51 career NHL games with Nashville, Ottawa (where he was a teammate of Mike Fisher) and Columbus, posting five points (2g-3a) and 71 penalty minutes. Ottawa’s third choice, 95th overall (fourth round), in the 2005 Entry Draft, Bass helped the Binghamton Senators win the 2011 Calder Cup as AHL champions, in addition to winning the 2011 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, as presented annually to the AHL’s man of the year for service to his local community.

Fiala has had a rocky 2015-16 season to say the least. What should be noted is that right now things are trending more upward that anything else. Bass is a mere two-games into his return from a month long “upper-body” injury. Might I suggest reading more on these two lads in my recently published 2015-16 Mid-Season Report Card for much more detail on both?

Was Fiala the right candidate for the Predators or do you feel they’re just in need of a spark at this point and Fiala is their best option of that? How will Fiala do at the NHL level and has he put himself under the microscope considering his self made build up to make the Predators out of camp and now this is finally his chance to stick around for a bit?

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News January 13, 2016

Arvidsson to Milwaukee, Noonan to Cincinnati

According to AHL Transactions things are about to get a little more interesting. The Nashville Predators have reassigned Viktor Arvidsson to the Milwaukee Admirals. In addition, Garrett Noonan has been sent to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. This all being said and there is also a twenty-four hour waiting period to see if Predators forward Cody Hodgson can clear waivers.

Arvidsson’s recent run with the Predators hasn’t been all that hot. He has gone nine straight games without scoring a point. His last assist came on 12/19/15. His last goal came on 12/7/15. Perhaps another spell of top line work with the Admirals can recharge his batteries before returning to the NHL?

The last time Arvidsson returned from the Predators he went on a thirteen game point streak which remains the longest points streak in the AHL this season. It wasn’t until his final game before the Predators called him up that his streak came to an end: 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists), 6 power-play goals, plus/minus rating of +4, 6 penalty minutes, and an average of 4.9 shots on goal per game in 14 games of work.

Noonan, like Jonathan Diaby, was called up during a spell where the Admirals defense has been very banged up. Trevor Murphy, Victor Bartley, and Taylor Aronson were all dealing with injury at the time of their recall. Murphy has since returned. Bartley had returned to practice ahead of last weekend and is likely to return to action this weekend in San Antonio. While Aronson is still probably due out for another couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see if Noonan will be able to get to Cincinnati in time for their home game tonight against the Fort Wayne Komets.

Not having watched the Predators near as closely as the Admirals… would I be right in saying Hodgson isn’t too far behind Stevie Moses in the “this experiment has failed” category? Hodgson signed as a free agent last summer to a one-year, $1.05 million contract. In his career, he had scored 16 goals (2011-12), 15 goals (2012-13), 20 goals (2013-14), 6 goals (2014-15), and -so far this season with the Predators- 3 goals. It’s sort of like a Scott Gomez regression but on a smaller scale.

The waiver process takes a day to complete so, by tomorrow, we will know if the Admirals will be gaining the services of Hodgson or if another team has claimed him. That or we could be in for a Derek Roy swerve where he clears, gets assigned to the Admirals, and then gets traded only to leave this perfectly prepared jersey to never be worn by Roy or fans anywhere.

Thoughts on all this news? With Vladislav Kamenev due back this weekend, should Hodgson join the Milwaukee Admirals, what does Dean Evason do with the distribution of centers? How long before Matt White follows Zac Larraza back to the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL)?

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Feature, News January 13, 2016January 13, 2016

2015-16 Mid-Season Report Card

The Milwaukee Admirals have played thirty-eight games this season season. That’s literally the half-way point of the Admirals 2015-16 season. It feels crazy that we’ve already hit that marker, doesn’t it? Time really does fly! That being the case I feel it is time for a review on the players’ the season to date and divvy up some mid-season awards.

~Mid-Season Awards~

Most Impressive Player: Frédérick Gaudreau

Least Impressive Player: Stevie Moses

Best Forward: Frédérick Gaudreau

Best Defensemen: Jimmy Oligny

Best Goaltender: Marek Mazanec

Best Rookie: Juuse Saros

Most Improvement: Frédérick Gaudreau

Least Improvement: Jonathan Diaby

Player to Watch in the Second Half of the Season: Vladislav Kamenev

Player Who Needs to Step Up in the Second Half: Marek Mazanec

Player Who Will Step Up in the Second Half: Max Reinhart

~The Road So Far~

While the Milwaukee Admirals enter the official midway point on a sour note the reality is that this season has been tremendously successful. The Admirals ended last season winning four of the last twenty-six games. The Admirals would miss the playoffs for the first time since their inaugural AHL season of 2001-02. The summer presented many involved with a much needed mental break. Changes were then made on and off the ice. Players shuffled out of the organization and new prospects entered. The Admirals identity itself changed with a rebranding that brought forth new logos and uniforms.

As the 2015-16 season started it did so with echoes of the end to the campaign prior. That fortunately did not last too long. The team became a team – simple as that. For all the injuries, players being recalled to the Nashville Predators and reassigned, more injuries, recalls from the Admirals ECHL affiliate the Cincinnati Cyclones, the added need to sign ECHL talent on PTO contract basis just to fill out a lineup, and more injuries. Rinse. Repeat. And repeat again. Through it all the Admirals have maintained a strong team identity and done far more than keep their head above water. They’ve thrived.

At the mid-season marker the Admirals have lost five of their last six-games. They are fourth in the Central Division and fifth in the Western Conference. It’s been a rough patch -but- only a week ago they were the best team in the Western Conference. Despite all the injuries and roster changes they were that good. It was similar circumstances to that which crushed last season’s finish. That hasn’t happened. And I don’t feel the run of form that has caused the Admirals to stumble their way to the middle of this AHL season.

What has happened lately is a team that has just completed a marathon: nineteen games in forty days – nearly a game every other day. Fatigue, physical and mental, is a real thing. The past few games have really screamed an Admirals hockey team that isn’t playing with a full gas tank to go along with a roster than is stretched thin. At some point that will creep into the on-ice performances and results – and it has. What’s important to remember is that the Admirals have already done an immense amount of great work that has afforded them the wiggle room for a funk such as the one they are in right now. Other teams around the AHL will get through their own battles like this and, when they do, it will be up to the Admirals to take care of their end of business just like others have during their rough patch.

Everything I’ve sat back and watched out of this year’s Admirals team has been exciting to see unfold. They were the second youngest team in the AHL to start this season. Their ability to adapt in-game to momentum shifts and style changes have been outstanding. The goaltending has been great. The forwards have looked really good. And the defense, as banged up as they’ve been, have looked good when healthy.

My hopes for this team right now is for a deep playoff run. I don’t buy the Rockford IceHogs as a serious threat to the Admirals in the division or playoffs anywhere near as much as I do the Grand Rapids Griffins. For the Admirals to start really laying the foundation down on a solid playoff push and deep run for a possible Calder Cup they’re going to have to match up against the Griffins and display far better hockey when those two clash from here on out. Every Admirals-Griffins game is a litmus test for playoff caliber hockey. Should the Admirals start getting a foothold and match the strengths of the Griffins – why can’t this team achieve the spectacular?

~Report Card~

I always feel the need for a preface to any report card that I do by stating the following. These grades are purely my own judgement. I also feel that it is only fair to grade an “incomplete” to any player that hasn’t played in half the games that the Admirals have played this season or have endured most of their season at the ECHL level with the Cincinnati Cyclones. That means, if the player logged nineteen games for the Admirals, he will receive a letter grade. For the sake of convenience I will be listing the players based on their uniform number here in Milwaukee.

Continue reading “2015-16 Mid-Season Report Card” →

Feature January 11, 2016

Fifteen with Jamie Devane

Welcome back to Admirals Roundtable’s Fifteen series. If you haven’t taken a look at the Milwaukee Admirals’ schedule lately you might not be aware of how much open air time there is about to be. There’s four games in the next two weeks and all of those games are on the road – first in San Antonio and then in Lake Erie. That means getting to do these interviews becomes a bit trickier to do. But, I have a list of the players you want to hear from building and building. Today I’ve got the next man up on the list.

Here in Milwaukee by now we’ve become familiar with a man named Jamie Devane. It’s either his friendly off ice stories I hear about from fans, personally seeing him laugh it up in the Admirals locker room, or where all of us can see him do his handy work on the ice – KO.

It’s almost a distant memory but this was the man acquired by the Nashville Predators from the Toronto Maple Leafs when Taylor Beck was traded (and on my birthday no less). It’s clear that Devane isn’t what Beck was. But it’s also clear that Beck is not what Devane is. I’ve been regularly impressed by his work rate on the Admirals lower lines and particularly how he grinds teams down with the likes of a Félix Girard centering him. The short and sweet of Devane’s game is that I don’t think you can say he ever cheats the Admirals out of a shift. He battles hard and does a lot of dirty work that can do a world of difference in a hockey game. And, also, Marek Mazanec cited him as the funniest player on the team. That might have been all the introduction I needed.

~Fifteen~

Admirals Roundtable: What were your inspirations to play hockey?

Jamie Devane: I started when I was young. I didn’t really like it too much but, as I grew up, I started getting better at it. I dunno, just one of the only sports I played. (AR: You didn’t like it much?) Not when I was younger, no. (AR: Any reasons?) I hated skating.

AR: When did you realize that you were going to be playing hockey for a career?

Devane: Probably my first year of junior [2008-09, Plymouth Whalers]. I had a lot of good feedback from my coaches there and I was having a good season. So, first year of junior I thought I could make a career of it. (AR: You skating improve by then?) Yeah!

AR: Who was the first famous player that you encountered?

Devane: I think it was Mats Sundin. I’m from Toronto so I remember I saw him after a game. He had like a fan meet and greet.

AR: What is your greatest hockey moment?

Devane: Probably the day I got drafted [2009 NHL Draft, Third Round, #68 Overall, Toronto Maple Leafs]. That was the best day for me and my family.

AR: This is a fun one to ask you. What’s the most memorable goal that you’ve scored?

Devane: The most memorable goal I scored was probably a shorthanded goal against back in juniors. It was a game-winner. I got a breakaway somehow of the draw and it was during playoffs. That was a pretty memorable one. [Editor’s Note. I’m not so sure I’d say game-winner but…]

AR: What is the strangest game that you’ve played in?

Devane: [deep thought] (AR: I feel like the go-to answers for a lot of guys might be the AM hockey games played this year.) Yeah, I’ve played a lot of those in my day but it would have to be a couple years ago when I was playing in San Francisco in the [ECHL]. The zamboni broke down and they had to get the players to push off the zamboni.

AR: What is your most embarrassing hockey memory?

Devane: One time I forgot to take my helmet off for anthems.

AR: What is your most painful hockey moment?

Devane: One time I blocked a shot with my hand and I broke my hand blocking a shot. That’s probably the worst one.

AR: What are your favorite uniforms in hockey?

Devane: I think our’s this year. I really like our jerseys this year. But, in all hockey, I think the… oh… hate to say it but I do like the Blackhawks jerseys. (AR: NO!) Yeah, it’s tough to say! Hey, I hate the Rockford ones but I like the Blackhawks ones. (AR: Well, the Rockford ones have a stupid pig on them.) Yeah, exactly. Classic.

AR: Who is the funniest player that you’ve encountered?

Devane: I mean, Conor Allen is pretty funny but he will tell you he’s funny. So, I don’t know how good that one is. I played with a guy last year Greg McKegg, I think he plays in Portland [AHL] now, he was a pretty funny dude.

AR: What is your favorite aspect of Milwaukee so far?

Devane: I didn’t really realize how big of a city it was when I first came here. But it’s a pretty big city. I didn’t expect that at all.

AR: What is your favorite food, either here in Milwaukee or abroad?

Devane: Here? I just started trying cheese curds and I don’t mind those. Those are pretty good in Milwaukee. (AR: You just got everyone back who might have just been put off by the Chicago Blackhawks comment. That’s a very Wisconsin thing.)

AR: What is your favorite non-hockey hobby?

Devane: Watching TV series. I’m a big TV series watcher if you call that a hobby. I just started reading some books actually, so. I like reading books now. (AR: What shows?) Anyone. Game of Thrones, Lost, Prison Break, House of Cards, all of ’em.

AR: What is your favorite non-hockey memory?

Devane: Getting that little piece of paper. I graduated college and I got a little piece of paper saying I graduated college. So, that’s probably my next best feat.

AR: What do you see yourself doing after hockey?

Devane: Oof, hopefully I can somehow stay in the game of hockey but I don’t really know. I’ve not thought that far ahead. Hopefully I can keep it going for a little longer here. (AR: Scott Ford turned immediately into a coach, so.) Yeah, I think you have to be the mayor of some city. They call him the mayor of Milwaukee. (AR: He’s the Sheriff.) The Sheriff! I guess they call him that, too.

Thanks to Jamie Devane for taking the time to do this interview. Please please comment down below with who you would like to hear from next on Fifteen!

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Chatterbox January 10, 2016

Chatterbox, Vol. 106

The Milwaukee Admirals have been grinding along lately. In truth, I’d say they were grinding through a rough patch through all the injuries and roster changes. It just never felt like it because the Admirals kept finding ways to win, win, and earn points along the way. So much so the Admirals were leading the entire Western Conference not too long ago. Then the tides changed. And all that grinding came with losing. That wear and tear, both physically and mentally, gets impacted more-so with even more losses.

I never was expecting anyone that I spoke to after the game to use fatigue as an excuse but plenty of talk around the locker room was about the Admirals needing a break and time to practice. It’s something that almost goes unnoticed when you think of how often the Admirals have been logging games that throughout it they’ve not had much time to practice. They’ve been in full “GO” mode for what feels like a month or more now. In fact, going back from the start of December to yesterday, the Admirals have played 19 games in 40 days. That’s essentially like playing every other night. The bodies and minds are getting worn out and there hasn’t been much time to heal up – much less practice. It’s cliche to say but, cliche for a reason because it’s true, practice makes perfect. This Admirals team is banged up. They’re fatigued. And they aren’t playing smooth hockey because they’ve almost limited themselves to in-game situations one after the other. That takes a toll and the current run of form screams that.

The Admirals are currently fourth in the Central Division and fifth in the Western Conference standings. Just six days ago they were first both. This league is all about hot and cold stretches. Everyone goes through them. It’s about how quickly teams get past the rough patches and get back to it. For me, this month of January now opens up with lots of dead space and road games – all of which couldn’t have come at a better time. The Admirals played eight-games in the last two weeks. They will be playing half that amount over the next two weeks with massive gaps limiting them to weekend dates only. R&R, practice, and getting out on the road to get some quality team bonding is a well needed medicine right now. Admirals are getting that. Let’s see what it brings in terms of results next weekend in San Antonio.

After the game I spoke with Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason. I also spoke with Max Reinhart and Cody Bass. Here is what they had to say following the Admirals 4-1 loss to the Iowa Wild.

Comments on the comments? Is there any concern for you that this isn’t a matter of fatigue and that the Admirals are being outplayed in five-on-five hockey no matter what the circumstance?

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News & Discussion Site For Your Milwaukee Admirals