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Posts tagged 'Chris Taylor'

Posts Tagged ‘Chris Taylor’

Top AHL Free Agents Still Available, Where Others Signed

July 5, 2010 - By
Top AHL Free Agents Still Available, Where Others Signed

Some of the top AHL free agents like Giroux, Minard, Sterling, Johnson and Stafford have all signed somewhere but there’s still a number of players still available.  Monday will probably be a busy one after a quiet weekend and hopefully some of the top free agents left will be signed by the Florida Panthers for the Rochester Americans.

We know that Mike Santos and Jody Gage have been working together, looking forward to hearing about some completed deals.  The one thing that most players are still looking for is the chance to earn a call up to the NHL, unfortunately that’s something the Panthers may not be willing to offer as quickly as some other teams.  Hopefully that does not get in the way of things and some contracts get signed.

Here’s a look at some potential free agents still available and how they’d fit into the Amerks roster followed by where the top players have already signed.

The Amerks are in need of a top line center to replace the scoring that Jamie Johnson provided.  The best option for him would be Corey Locke, a player that helped lead the Bulldogs to the Calder Cup in 2007.  Some people [...]Read More

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Free Agency Impact on the Amerks, This Year, Last Year, Current Players

July 1, 2010 - By

The 2010 edition of free agency is set to begin at Noon EST today and we may not see immediate moves by the Florida Panthers and Rochester Americans but there definitely will be.  A lot of people still consider the Panthers a “bad parent club” but they did a very good job partnered with the Amerks in building a successful AHL team last season.  A few minor upgrades (defense and coach) and the team is already better.

One move that seems to have been overlooked is that the Panthers acquired Michael Grabner in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks.  The Panthers sent Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich to the Canucks in exchange.  Grabner has spent the majority of the past four seasons (180 games) with the Manitoba Moose and is good for 20 goals and 20 assists.  He’s not a veteran player based on games, but he’s a fast skater and team him up with a speedy center and we’ll have a reliable scoring line.

Jamie Johnson has already said that he’s been in contact with the Panthers and would be willing to come back.  Johnson was a leader on the ice and led the team in scoring.  He [...]Read More

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Grading the 2009-2010 Amerks Player by Player

May 4, 2010 - By

One week ago today we were mentally preparing for game 7 against the Abbotsford Heat and hoping for a legendary game.  It certainly turned out to be a legendary game, unfortunately not in favor of the Amerks.  As sports fans, it’s the type of loss that will live with us forever until another Calder Cup is won.  Until that happens next season, there’s still a number of things to discuss about the one that just ended and I’ll start by grading each of the players.

Thanks to Eric Bourgeois (frequent reader, supporter and die hard Amerks fan) who contributed to this.  There’s a couple things I disagreed with him on and noted.  You may agree or disagree yourself on a lot of things said and I’d love to hear your thoughts.  These grades are based on a lot more than just a stat sheet.

Starting with highest grade to lowest:

Jason Garrison: A-
– He’ll have a full time job in the NHL soon enough.  Eric had him listed as a B+ but I gave him an upgrade.  The Amerks defense had issues all season and without Garrison in the lineup for the post season (2g+7a) things may have [...]Read More

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Audio from 2010 Amerks Locker Cleanout, Vets, Nolan and Staats

April 30, 2010 - By

The Amerks season is over and a few of the players spoke after their exit meetings and they cleaned out their lockers.  Uploading audio is a new feature and this one took me a little while longer as I’m uploading them to YouTube.  This way the audio is easier for people to share outside of this site.

Jamie Johnson was the most outspoken player because he does not plan to come back here next season.  Some people have criticized him for his words but if others were leaving they probably would have shared the same thoughts.  Everything said are valid points about the way he felt he was treated.  Johnson was the team leader in points with 27 goals and 44 assists.  He was also one of only two players that played in all 80 games.  Sure he had a rough stretch but so did everyone else, in the end he was there every day working hard.

Lewis Staats and Ted Nolan talked about hearing the fans loud and clear and said that it’s something that will be brought up during meetings.  The decisions are all made by the Florida Panthers but in meetings everything is brought up and thoughts [...]Read More

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Contract Status for Amerks Players Heading into Next Season

April 29, 2010 - By

Now that the season is over for the Rochester Americans it’s time to take a look and see who is still under contract with the Panthers or Amerks, who is and who is not still likely to sign.  I grouped players by signed, likely to sign and RFA and UFA.  Under each category I put some guesses about the status of the players.

Currently Under Contract for 10/11:

Coaches: Benoit Groulx and Jason Cipolla

Goalies: Alexander Salak, Marc Cheverie

Defense: Michael Caruso, Keaton Ellerby, Adam Comrie, James DeLory

Forwards: Evgeny Dadonov, Michal Repik, Brady Calla, Graham Mink, Chris Taylor, Shawn Matthias, Victor Oreskovich, Eric Selleck, AJ Jenks

One Way: Clay Wilson and Jeff Taffe are signed but to one way contracts with the Florida Panthers.  If they don’t fit into their plans it’s still possible the Panthers will try and have them clear waivers to be sent to the Amerks.

***** Shawn Matthias has probably played his last game in the AHL and should be able to earn a job with the Panthers going forward.  Keaton Ellerby will be trying to earn a job as well but he has some work ahead.  It’s amazing that James DeLory is still under [...]Read More

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Listen to Amerks Game 7 Post Game Interviews

April 28, 2010 - By

Here’s some audio from the postgame interviews in the locker room following the Amerks loss in game 7.  I’m trying something new here posting the audio and is something I’ll try and do more of next season.  As you listen to the interviews you’ll probably find it interesting hearing Groulx talk about the other team being ready.  You can hear the frustration in the voice of Rory Fitzpatrick.  You can hear Chris Taylor say he just does as he is told.

If you’re reading this on Rochester Sports Fan or through the RSS feed you may need to visit the actual site to hear the audio.  Please offer any feed back you may have!

Benoit Groulx

Tyler Plante

Jeff Taffe

Rory Fitzpatrick

Chris Taylor

Jordan Henry

Enjoy and any feedback is welcome!

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Gameday: Time for a Legendary Game 7 for the Amerks

April 27, 2010 - By

In the words of Barney Stinson, it’s time to suit up and prepare for a legendary night.

It’s all on the line tonight for the Rochester Americans in game seven against the Abbotsford Heat.  The winner starts preparing for the Hamilton Bulldogs, the loser reserves a tee time.  We know the Amerks can defeat this team and they have to do it again tonight.

The game on Sunday was not something to be proud of but it’s in the past.  It’s time to get excited again.  The Amerks have home ice advantage and get to play the last game of the series in their barn, on their rink.  Tell your family, friends, neighbors and keep the kids out late on a school night and get to the game.  To steal the line from the NHL commercials, history will be made.  Time to send the Heat home packing and start preparing for the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Of course for that to happen the Amerks need a hero.  It could be someone who’s done it before, a Chris Taylor, Jamie Johnson, Jeff Taffe, Graham Mink or Mike York.  Keaton Ellerby could step up and make everyone forget about his past mistakes.  Jordan Henry [...]Read More

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Amerks Win Gives Them a Commanding 3-1 Series Lead

April 22, 2010 - By

The Rochester Americans lit up the scoreboard on Wednesday night with four power play goals in a 6-1 win over the Abbotsford Heat to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.  Rochester could win the series with a win on Friday night.  Ever since the game one loss last Thursday I don’t think anyone would have predicted the Amerks would be scoring goals like they are.

Well, David Shantz has been the starting goalie for the Heat so it’s not that far fetched.

Tyler Plante stopped 46 of 47 shots on Wednesday night.

The Amerks have outscored the Heat 18-6 since last Thursday and just about every player on the Amerks roster is producing points in this series.  They’re playing the way a team should play in the playoffs.  Ignoring game one, they’ve done a decent job not taking as many dumb penalties.  They’ve scored big goals in the second period to build leads.  They’ve had strong goaltending.  They’ve played physical and proved that they could not be pushed around.

The chemistry that this team had back in October as they won game after game is back.

Here’s the scoring:

1. RCH Johnson, (1) (Garrison, Matthias), 8:49 (PP)
[...]Read More

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Regular Season Mistakes Sink the Amerks in Game 1

April 16, 2010 - By

Benoit Groulx made the decision to start rookie goaltender Alexander Salak in the first game of the 2010 playoffs for the Rochester Americans and the decision back fired on him.  The Heat scored three first period goals against Salak and that was enough for him, he was pulled after the first period and replaced by Tyler Plante who had a two period shutout.

Tyler Plante was the hot goalie down the stretch and will get the start on Saturday night for game 2.  Just about everyone in attendance was wondering why that did not happen in the first place.

The Heat had 11 power play opportunities, the Amerks had eight.  Both teams scored two power play goals.  The penalties were an issue but both teams had plenty of chances, the difference was playing at even strength and the Heat had that advantage scoring a goal only 35 seconds into the game.  Rochester was not able to recover from that at all.

Chris Taylor could have wrote this article in one sentence with his comment saying, “One bad period really cost us the game.”

The Abbotsford Heat also deserve credit for a well played and well coached game.  They got [...]Read More

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Round 1 Preview of the Amerks vs Heat

April 14, 2010 - By

The Amerks begin their run for the Calder Cup on Thursday night against the Abbotsford Heat in I’m guaranteeing will be a great round of hockey.  The two teams met four times during the regular season with the Heat winning three of those games but the teams that played each other during the regular season are not the same teams playing now in the playoffs.

Only one of the four games was a “blowout” where the Heat were the clear winners and that was on December 5th when the Amerks had Chris Beckford-Tseu in net.  Chris Taylor had also been kicked out of that game half way through the first period.  The defense was also without Rory Fitzpatrick at the time.

In other words, the four previous games do not really mean anything heading into the first round.

“They play hard, a lot of fast little forwards that finish their checks,” Jeff Taffe said talking about the Heat this past Friday.  “It’s something we have to battle through and expect.”

Speed has not been a redeeming quality of the Amerks this season so slowing down the Heat will be one of many keys to the Amerks winning some games.

Every [...]Read More

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Amerks Hold on Tight and Defeat Marlies in Shootout

April 10, 2010 - By

The Rochester Americans got the job done on Friday night defeating the Toronto Marlies to clinch home ice advantage for their first round in the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs.  It may not have been pretty as the Amerks gave up a three goal lead but they found a way to get the job done, and that seems to have been the story of the season.

There’s a couple different ways to look at the game.  One of which is that it was an ugly victory and not the way you want to play during game #79 heading into the playoffs.  Another way to look at it is that the Amerks had four players who’ve played under 10 professional games, are still missing a lot of others and that they fulfilled their goal of making the playoffs with a much needed win.

One game remains on the regular season schedule and that’s Saturday evening on the road against the Syracuse Crunch.  According to Chris Taylor just because the team has clinched the playoffs and home ice don’t expect the team to take the night off.

“It’s good to see that even though we only played a solid period tonight we found [...]Read More

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Amerks vs Marlies Shootout and Fight Videos

April 10, 2010 - By

The Amerks defeated the Marlies by the final score of 4-3 in a shootout on Friday night at Blue Cross Arena.  The game also had a couple of early fights between Andrew Lord and Richard Greenop and also Jimmy Bonneau and Phil Oreskovic.

Shootout featured (in order of shot taken): Jamie Johnson, Tim Brent, Jeff Taffe (scored), Josh Engel (scored), Mike York (scored), Greg Scott, Chris Taylor, Ryan Hamilton (scored), Michal Repik (scored), Justin Hodgman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwm6oF6Q8CM

Andrew Lord vs Richard Greenop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdHp6400X_4

Jimmy Bonneau vs Phil Oreskovic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLH4jMyqYm0

Share and enjoy!

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