I’ll have more as the day goes on, here’s just a couple of things..

After the morning skate David Booth  said that he’s excited to play again and in a building where he started his professional career.  While smiling he said, “I just need to keep my head up.”

Andrew Peters  knows his role and said that he does not plan his fights but is always ready to fight if needed.  He’s determined to prove that he’s a great 4th line player and is going to do everything he can to not be sent down to the Amerks.  Peters was asked about his fight with his brother in the AHL years ago and he laughed saying, “my moms an attorney and I had to sign a document saying I’d never talk about it.”

When asked about Keaton Ellerby, Pete DeBoer said that Ellerby put on 20 pounds of muscle over the summer and he needs to be more assertive.  He’s not going to be leading the power play but he needs to be someone who can lead with the puck down the ice.  Ellerby picked #4 for his jersey, which was the same number Jay Bouwmeester wore.  Ellerby had been compared to Bouwmeester but that’s not why he picked 4, he said that’s always been his favorite number and was excited when he found out it was available.

A Couple of Things on Ellerby, Peters and Booth is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Booth had missed 45 games after a hit by Mike Richards on October 24th early in the season.  The absence of Booth from the lineup for over half the season was probably one of the primary reasons for the poor season by the Cats.

The fact that he was so slow getting up and taken to the hospital, even if just for precautions, it likely means that the Amerks will lose a forward this weekend.  That call up will likely go to Michal Repik or Jeff Taffe.  With only nine games left and three big games this weekend this was the last thing the Amerks needed.  Repik and Taffe are key to the teams offense.

Florida plays on Saturday in Ottawa.  I suppose we’ll learn more tomorrow morning to see who the call goes to, again assuming Booth can’t play.

As for the hit by Spacek, I’m not sure he did anything wrong.  I could be wrong, but from the video below it appears Booth is skating with his head down and Spacek stands up to him and but does not appear to raise his elbow.  What’s Spacek supposed to do, move out of the way?  Watch the video and make the call and let me know if you disagree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1ifchlu1Gg&feature=player_embedded

Keep an eye on the @LetsGoAmerks Twitter feed for updates.

Amerks Call Up Expected, Booth Taken Down Again by Hit is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Repik is currently Rochester’s leader in points with 6 goals and 5 assists in nine games.  Repik is also seventh in the American Hockey League in scoring.  This will be his third career recall.

Kenndal McArdle currently has two goals and four assists and he also leads the team with 54 penalty minutes in en games.  Those 54 penalty minutes also tie him for 2nd in the league with the most penalty minutes.  McArdle also leads the league with 12 minor penalties.

McArdle has played a different type of game this year.  He’s playing a more physical game and not afraid to back down from anyone who gets in his way.  Although he has 12 minor penalties I can’t think of any that stick out as being “dumb penalties.”  He’s aggresive and it shows.

While I hope the Panthers stay healthy this season to keep down the number of callups needed it’s also refreshing to know that this Amerks team is capable of playing on.  Last season if Repik and McArdle had been called up at the same time along with Duco and Fitzpatrick out of the lineup we would’ve been near the brink of a disaster.

Brady Calla and Andrew Sweetland will likely get some playing time on Friday in Binghamton.  It’s possible but not likely that Repik and McArdle will be sent back by then.

Panthers Call up Repik and McArdle is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Photo courtesy of Maureen Landers

The Amerks could see a couple of players called up this week to the Panthers.  The Florida Panthers just lost their game to the Philadelphia Flyers and had two players out injured by the end of the game.

Radek Dvorak left the game in the second period with an “upper body injury” and did not return to the game.

David Booth had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher after Mike Richards delivered a nasty hit to the head.

The next game for the Florida Panthers is on Wednesday night.   We could see Kenndal McArdle and Shawn Matthias or Michal Repik called up.

The Panthers also need to make a decision on Dmitry Kulikov by Wednesday.

10:11pm Update from George Richards:

David Booth will remain in Philly but the good news is he is awake and has movement in his extremities. Radek Dvorak may be out for a while with what looks like a left knee injury.

From George Richards:

Booth was hit in the Flyers zone and immediately hit the ice where he remained motionless for a few moments. A team doctor from the Flyers was escorted onto the ice and a stretcher was rolled out. The doctor and the paramedics rolled Booth over and there seemed to be a little movement. When Booth was rolled over, a puddle of blood could be seen collecting under where his face had been resting.

Booth collided with Flyers captain Mike Richards who led the hit with his shoulder. Booth didn’t appear to see the hit as he was playing the puck and turned into Richards.

If you care to see the hit, here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUNPTXkcxOQ&feature=player_embedded

Dvorak and Booth Injured for Florida is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

David Brine finished last season with 31 points (8 goals, 23 assists) and was the Amerks best center at taking face offs.  Brine played nine games during the 2007-2008 season for the Panthers.  This will be his year to step up his game.

Former Amerks from previous seasons Anthony Stewart, Drew Larman, David Shantz, Franklin MacDonald, and Tanner Glass were not given offers and allowed to become unrestricted free agents.

Luke Beaverson will likely replace the role MacDonald had on defense.  We’re hoping that a veteran center will be signed to replace Larman.  Tyler Plante, Alexander Salak, and Chris Beckford-Tseu will be fulfilling goaltending duties in the Panthers system.

The only real surprise here was Tanner Glass, but Florida Panthers Assistant GM Randy Sexton said that they would like to sign him again.  The play of Glass last season was hampered by a shoulder injury that he eventually had surgery on which leads me to believe that the Panthers want to wait and see how his recovery is going.  When he’s healthy Glass plays with grit and works hard.  The shoulder injury had been hampering his play for some time which explains many of the games where he did not appear to “show up.”

No real surprises with Larman, Shantz, and MacDonald not being given offers.  David Shantz showed some promise at the end of last season but it was a case of too little too late.  Larman and MacDonald also played well at times but in terms of development it was not enough for the Panthers to keep them around.

It’s also no surprise to any Amerks fans that Anthony Stewart was not qualified.  The Panthers wanted to sign Stewart to another two way deal last summer but Stewart won by getting an NHL only deal, something he was not able to prove he deserved.  I could have told anyone that was going to happen.

Steve Gorten of the Sun-Sentinel talked to Stewart who said:

I spoke to Stewart on the phone a little after 5 p.m. He said he was “disappointed” and it “definitely didn’t go the way I wanted it to go.” He hoped to do more on the ice and the Panthers expected he would do more.

If there’s any opening for a gritty fourth line winger on the Panthers it’ll be a perfect opportunity for Mike Duco to try and get a chance playing in the show.  Panthers head coach Pete Deboer coached Duco when he played for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League.  Duco is an agitator but can also provide offensive talent.  Given the past relationship between Duco and Deboer it’s only a matter of time before he’s playing in the NHL.

Janis Sprukts is an unrestricted free agent but as expected the Panthers are letting him leave without trying to sign him again.  Sprukts had signed last summer expecting to get a chance at playing for the Panthers but the plan was just for him to play in the AHL with the Amerks, something Sprukts was not happy with.  Sprukts is heading back to Europe.

The Panthers 2009 sixth round draft pick Scott Timmins is expected to replace the roster spot that Sprukts took last season.

Wednesday is when the free agency period starts, a time that the Amerks and Panthers have said they will be active in to improve the Rochester Americans.

Brine Returning; Larman, Glass and Others May Not is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Going into Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Panthers were on a six-game winless streak.  The Ducks took an early lead in the game, but David Booth would have nothing of that.  He scored three consecutive goals for his first career natural hat trick.  Booth scored 22 goals in his first full NHL season with the Panthers and is now a fan favorite in Sunrise where you can hear fans yelling “Booooooottthhh” often during games.

David Booth Gets First Natural Hat Trick is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.