The real downfall has been the inconsistencies.  Everything from goal scoring to goaltending to wins and losses.  This is a hard working group of hockey players with a lot of potential how much they can really accomplish is the question.  The hope for any sports team is to get into the playoffs and then anything can happen.  It’s going to take a lot for this team to get there with a group of hard working but inconsistent players.  They are currently without Colin Stuart, Evan Rankin, Corey Tropp and Michael Ryan all out with injuries.  They’re also without defensemen Brayden McNabb and TJ Brennan, both currently on recall to the Sabres but both are also injured.  Those six players could make significant improvements to the team but that’s assuming the world is perfect and there were no injuries with the Sabres and that’s unrealistic for any NHL team.

So, you can point to injuries but you can also point to weaknesses in scoring that this team has had since July 1st and nothing was done about it.  Second and third line players have been expected to play top six positions and minutes.  That will not bring a team success.

As for the game itself, it went in the opposite direction of what the Rochester Americans needed to win.  The Griffins scored three goals in two minutes and 22 seconds halfway through the first period and it was enough  for the Griffins to eventually win the game by the final score of 4-1.  Derek Whitmore scored his first goal in seven games early in the second period but it wasn’t enough of a spark to get the team back into the game.

The Griffins press release gives a pretty good description of the three goals:

The Griffins abused the glove of Rochester netminder David Leggio in the opening period, whipping three shots past it in a span of 2:22. Fabian Brunnstrom started the scoring at the 9:17 mark, bringing the puck across the Amerks’ line on a 2-on-1 and firing it high into the corner of the cage from the right circle.

Brent Raedeke and Johnson then combined for the Griffins’ fastest two goals this season. Wide-open in the right circle, Raedeke cradled a long cross-ice pass from Janik and snuck a shot just beneath the crossbar at 11:15. Only 24 seconds later, Johnson was alone in the slot when he took a feed from Chris Conner out of the left corner and deposited the puck inside the right post.

And that was more than enough to hold on to control of the game.

Derek Whitmore had not scored a goal or tallied an assist in seven games but broke that drought with the Amerks only goal of the game at 5:59 of the second period.  Whitmore was near the front of the net and was able to bury a Drew Schiestel rebound.  Phil Varone was also given an assist.

Zack Kassian had a great chance early in the third period trying to back hand the puck into an opening but Griffins goaltender Joey MacDonald robbed him with a super glove save.  Shawn Szydlowski also had a couple of scoring chances but MacDonald made the save on those as well

Igor Gongalsky tried to create a spark in the game by getting into a fight with Sebastien Piche of the Griffins, as seen here (ignore Don Stevens saying Minard):

Travis Turnbull also tried to get feisty in an attempt to fight Trevor Parkes but Parkes didn’t want anything to do with him and Turnbull went to the penalty box by himself.

The Griffins made the score 4-1 thanks to a power play goal from former Rochester Americans defenseman Doug Janik.  Janik rifled a shot from the blue line past Leggio.  It looked as if Leggio was screened on the play so give credit to Janik for getting his through to the net without hitting anyone else..

Rochester was scoreless on four power play opportunities and have now failed to score in any of their 18 previous power play opportunities.  They only had three shots total during their first three power play chances of the game.  Everyone hates when someone yells “shooooooot it” but sometimes that can be the only way to create a scoring chance with a man advantage.

The Griffins defense and goaltending was better and it shows in the score.  Leggio made 32 saves but was left vulnerable by the defense.  Corey Fienhage and Drew Schiestel were on the ice for the first two goals, Biega and Crawford for the third and Finley and Morrisonn trying to kill the penalty on the fourth goal.

One of the things that Rolston has preached from his first day was that a team needs to win from goaltending on up and that just isn’t happening.

The Amerks left Grand Rapids on their sleeper bus for a long 10 hour bus ride home before they play Syracuse on Friday and Toronto on Saturday afternoon.

Griffins 3 Goals in Under 3 Minutes Defeats Amerks; Gongalsky vs Piche is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

The Griffins and Pirates didn’t play each other at all last season so there’s no real head to head matchup comparison available.

The first two losses of the season were split by David Leggio and Drew MacIntyre, both allowed some questionable goals but neither game would be considered bad.  David Leggio did play a better game on Friday night against and the Lake Erie Monsters and because of that will likely get the start tonight.  The Griffins were the first AHL team that Drew MacIntyre played for from 2004-2006.

If Travis Turnbull can continue to go after the puck and not back down from players he’ll continue improving.  If Derek Whitmore continues with his same effort and energy he’ll continue to put points on the board along with helping Zack Kassian grow.  The key is Mark Voakes playing a leading role as the teams number one center, something he may not be ready for but is being pushed into.

The defense is a work in project that should have Shaone Morrisson being a guy that everyone looks up to and learns from.  After three games it’s debatable if that’s happening.

It’s a no brainer that scoring goals builds confidence so if this young Amerks team can get ahead early they’ll have some added confidence to help them through the rest of the game.  The home opener last Thursday may have been a bust but if they improve on what was done Friday than tonight should be a better game.

Here’s something from the Amerks about them being a young team:

Appearances Can Be Deceiving: At an average age of just 23 years and eight months, this year’s Amerks are the fifth youngest team in the American Hockey League. Of the 26 current players on Rochester’s active roster, 10 were born in 1990 or later, while eight players are at least older than 25. At 31 years of age, Ryan is the Amerks’ oldest player.

No updates as of writing this on the injuries to defensemen Drew Schiestel or Dennis Persson.

Grand Rapids: A couple familiar faces in Doug Janik and Jamie Johnson are still on the Griffins squad, two former Amerks from over the years.  The Griffins have 16 of 22 players from last seasons team which could be good or bad considering they finished near the bottom of The AHL in the standings in 2010/2011.

Here’s the gameday writeup from The AHL:

Grand Rapids and Rochester meet at the Blue Cross Arena this evening in the first of six meetings this season… Both the Griffins and Americans were off last night, after both won their first game of the season on Friday… Willie Coetzee (2-0-2) has scored two of Grand Rapids’ five goals this season, while Gustav Nyquist (1-2-3) and Chris Conner (0-3-3) lead the club in points…Corey Tropp (0-3-3) is the Amerks’ top scorer, with T.J. Brennan, Michael Ryan and Derek Whitmore chipping in 1-1-2 apiece.

Game Promotions: The game falls on the first installment of the “Red Hot Sunday Funday” promotion, which again features the Zweigle’s Family Four Pack. For the third straight year, fans can purchase four hot dogs, four sodas and four 200-End tickets to any Sunday home game for the low price of just $44.00. In conjunction with Savor Catering at The Blue Cross Arena, fans will have five opportunities to take advantage of this family-friendly promotion this season.

(lineup, click to enlarge/print)

See you there!

Gameday Thoughts and Lineup: Griffins at Amerks is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Rory Fitzpatrick – Retired
Jamie Johnson – Grand Rapids Griffins
Mike York – Finland
Graham Mink – Peoria Rivermen. He was traded to the St Louis Blues in exchange for T.J. Fast.  With the money the Panthers saved by trading Mink they immediately signed Joe Callahan.
Jeff Taffe – Traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Marty Reasoner
Mathieu Roy – Signed 2way deal with Tampa Bay Lightning
Maxime Gratchev – Hartford Wolf Pack
Jordan Henry – KHL
Jimmy Bonneau – Hamilton Bulldogs
Chris Beckford-Tseu – unknown
Alexander Salak – loaned to Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League. With Vokoun and Clemmenson as #1 and 2 in Florida and Markstrom and Plante planned for Rochester there was no room for Salak so the Panthers allowed him to go back to Europe.
Steve MacIntyre – Edmonton Oilers
David Brine – San Antonio Rampage
John de Gray – Syracuse Crunch
Victor Oreskovich – Vancouver Canucks (or Manitoba Moose).. he was traded along with Keith Ballard to the Canucks in exchange for Steve Bernier, Michael Grabner and a 1st round selection (Quinton Howden) in 2010.
Andrew Sweetland – Elmira Jackals
Peter Aston – unknown
Daniel Steiner – Switzerland

If anyone has any info on the “unknowns” please let me know.  There’s other players as well not returning but I didn’t think they were big enough part of the team that anyone would wonder about.

Amerks from Last Season Not Returning is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Jimmy Bonneau signed a one year deal with the Hamilton Bulldogs.  Bonneau made headlines in the world of hockey fights last season when he fought Jon Mirasty four times in two games in October 2009.  Tough player who stands up for his team and not afraid to back down from anyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDEUjvoi28k

Jamie Johnson signed with the Detroit Red Wings along with Chris Minard and goalie Joey MacDonald.  All three were signed for North Division rival Grand Rapids Griffins and immediately made that team better.

Steve MacIntyre returned to the Edmonton Oilers with a one year deal, the same team that claimed him off of waivers in 2008 and then waived him in 2009.  He’ll have a great chance at cracking the Oilers lineup.

Highlight of the season was seeing MacIntyre knockout Jeremy Yablonski:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jIBsmoBrGQ

Best of luck elsewhere guys and don’t beat up on the Amerks too much when you’re an opponent!

New Teams for Johnson, Bonneau and MacIntyre is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

(this also appeared on LitterBoxCats.com, a great Panthers site over on Sports Blog Nation)

There was one player more than willing to share his thoughts the day after the playoffs ended last week and his feelings towards the Florida Panthers, the player was Jamie Johnson.  He was the Amerks leading scorer (27 goals + 44 assists), on a two way contract, played through his own injuries, gave a solid effort when half the team was called up and also played in all 80 games but never once got a call from the Panthers.  I asked him if he would come back next season and he said he does not want anything to do with Florida.

“They haven’t made the playoffs the 10 years,” Jamie Johnson said.  “They had no interest in me all year, I don’t think I should give them the time of day for another season.”

The Panthers are yet again in the stages of trying to find ways to improve for the future.  If players are leaving unhappy, does that paint a bigger picture of problems within the organization?

I talked to General Manager Randy Sexton about a number of things this morning and when this was brought up he simply said, “no comment.”  A question in return was asked if Johnson has ever played a game in the NHL and the answer is no.

At 5’11″ he’s the type of player where size could be an issue, but he was never afraid to mix things up or throw a big hit when given the chance.

“I don’t know what they want up there, they can’t score goals, they can’t win games.  They don’t call up the people who can produce, not much justice to be honest,” Jamie Johnson had said.  “First I think it looks bad, you have guys that do well, do everything they’re told to do, pay their dues and there’s no reward.”

Interesting points by both of them.  Johnson has never played in an NHL game but he’s also never had the opportunity.  There are a lot of players who play in the American Hockey League who produce at a high level that never evolves into the necessary talent to play in the NHL.  When the big club is struggling though, players question what they really need to do to move up and help out.

A similar situation happened with Janis Sprukts during the 2008/2009 season.  Sprukts had been lured back to play in North America with the expectations he would be given an opportunity but only saw one game played with the big club.  He made it very clear during the season that he was unhappy and leaving once the season was over.

When the Panthers struggle to improve and seem to have some tools in the system that are not utilized you have to question what NHL free agents think when approached to play for the Panthers.  They’re constantly improving for next season and always seem to have a few what if scenarios where the season could have turned out differently.  What if David Booth had been healthy all season is just one example.

Not talking about Johnson specifically, I asked Randy Sexton to explain a little further about how they determine what players to call up from the Rochester Americans.

“You recall players becuase you have a need.  We look to fill a need that we have on the big team as a result of injury or suspension or to try and upgrade the play of our team in Florida,” Sexton said.  “At various times of the year we needed various types of players.  Just because someone is scoring doesn’t mean someone is automatically recalled.  You really have to look at the needs of the team and the fit of the team so you have the highest premonition of talent and chemistry to give your team the best chance to win.”

Johnson also said the day after the season ended, “It’s pretty disappointing when they don’t give you any respect.”

It may sound as if players like Johnson and Sprukts were whining and not NHL caliber players in the first place, but you have to wonder what players in the NHL really think but can’t publicly say.  Bother Johnson and Sprukts felt as if they could have been an upgrade and been an asset to the Panthers.  Either the players are being given false hopes by the Panthers about playing with the big club or the players think they’re better than they really are.  Either way, the Panthers struggled this season and when a team has not made the playoffs in 10 years it’s a discussion worth bringing up about confusion players in the system seem to have.

Players Leaving Panthers System in Rochester Feeling No Respect is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

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 been worst.  Once he masters his shot from the point and can use it more effectively he’ll have a long career ahead of him.

Mike York: B+
– He was the heart and soul of this team and his play making was dazzling.  The Amerks were a better team when he was in the lineup than when he was not.  His skill for feeding the perfect pass or stepping out from behind the net to score a goal were always highlight reel material.  Can’t give an A due to the fact that he disappeared for two months out of the lineup.  It doesn’t really matter anymore if something more than knee surgery happened but when he left the Amerks ability to win disappeared as well.

Jimmy Bonneau: B+
– It seemed like a huge mistake when the Amerks released him after the first game of the season but they quickly called him back.  Jimmy did everything that was asked of him throughout the season.  His span of four fights in x games with Jon Mirasty was a memorable moment of the season.  He proved he could stand toe to toe with anyone and also play a regular shift on the ice without being a liability.  He does not strike fear into the eyes of opponents, but they know he’s there and will have to answer to him.  When Steve MacIntyre arrived his role sort of faded, but I’d love to see him back in an Amerks uniform again.

Jordan Henry: B+
– Led team in +/- and really came into his own offensively.  However, sometimes plays too offensive.  He appeared to have a conflicting style of play this season between trying to be offensive but at times not being defensive.  He’s a bonafide NHL prospect that deserves to get a look over other players.  He’s a leader on the ice but also from the bench.  Very few players were as vocal as him on the bench.  I upgraded him from Erics score of a B to a B+ because he played in 76 regular season games and was more consistent than any other defenseman.

Chris Taylor: B
– He needs to be a player-assistant with a reduced role next season.  Maybe 40-50 games.  Looked gassed in the playoffs.  I say he gets 40 points in 40 games playing rested.  Could be more of an asset in the playoffs rested too.  Taylor was the only player other than Jamie Johnson to play in all 80 games, something Taylor would probably say he was fine with.  At the start of the season he was often making great plays at the right times to win games but that magic faded as the season went on.

Jeff Taffe: B
– Scoring 28 goals and 28 assists were a huge part of the Amerks offense all season but still less than what he produced the year before with the WB/S Penguins.  He’s more of a play maker than a goal scorer but scoring goals is what was expected of him in Rochester.  Expecting something out of a player that he is not is a great way to screw with the way he plays.  Taffe is on a one way contract with the Panthers for the 10/11 season which means unless they send him through waivers he may not be back.

Shawn Matthias: B
– The only game he’ll ever play again in Rochester should be with the Florida Panthers when they play their preseason game here in October against the Boston Bruins.  He’s an NHL player and when matched up with better players he steps his game up.  Playing on a third line in the AHL was slowing his career progression.

Jamie Johnson: B
– Played in all 80 games for the Amerks through the good times and the bad times.  He’s consistently productive and plays hard.  If he had been more of an offensive threat in the playoffs his score would have been higher.  He’s the type of player you’d love to have on your team every season if he stays as productive.  He has clearly stated he would not return next season as he pursues his goal of playing in the NHL.

David Brine: B
– He is what he is – a checking center.  He’s good on draws and the penalty kill.  He showed promise as an NHL player when he played in nine NHL games in the 07/08 season but since then has played to the calibre of being an AHL’er.  He’s not considered a veteran yet 245 career AHL+ regular season games.  He’ll earn a job somewhere but it’ll be somewhere else, not playing for the Panthers or Amerks.

Graham Mink: B
– A back injury in a game against the Hershey Bears cost him an A, but he’s the type of guy you build this team around…not the guy you scratch for a game 7.  BIG, Plays hard, fights, scores, good around the net and in the room.  Goalies hate when Mink is in front of them because of his size.  He may not get a real chance in the NHL but he enjoys playing in the AHL and if the Amerks can continue giving him a great experience here he could stick around fora while.

Steve MacIntyre: B
- Knocked down Mirasty, Knocked OUT Yablonski, took out the Heat bench.  He is THE deterrent in Hockey.  Don Cherry says he’s the best heavyweight in hockey.  Eric said he was not appreciated here AT ALL.  I think it just took some time for fans to realize players are literally afraid of him and did not want to ever fight.  Players do feel safer knowing he’s around.  When he’s given the chance he can look somewhat decent in a semi-regular shift.

Maxime Gratchev: B
– He was inserted into the lineup and did not have the luxury of really knowing players since he only played in 13 games.  Gave us much needed speed, would be an excellent depth signing for next season.  There may not be room in the lineup every game for him but having him on standby with the Florida Everblades would be a great thing.

Daniel Steiner: B
– The guy can produce, but due to the vet rule there may not be room for him in Rochester.  When Mike York was out of the lineup Steiner was vital to this team.  If he decides to stay in North America next season he’ll likely be invited to an NHL camp somewhere and should be a leader on an AHL team.

Kenndal McArdle: B
– Will Florida re-sign him, will he be healthy?  Is he the 10-11 version of Tanner Glass?  Has to play physical to be effective, but gets injured playing that style.  Tanner Glass recovered from similar injuries and spent the season playing in the NHL, the same should happen with McArdle.  If he would’ve been healthy all season he likely would have earned an A.

John de Gray: B
– He’s going to be the “enemy” next season playing in Syracuse.  He’s a solid defensive defenseman that got better as the season went on and was reliable to not give up the puck.  He needs to learn to use his body more than just the long reach of his stick, in other words he seemed to play too nice sometimes.  He was a quality player to get on loan from the Ducks when the defense was really hurting.

Tyler Plante: B
– A solid AHL goalie.  He would make a nice veteran goalie to have around, especially with his fire.  He needs to be given the chance to play or he seems to get rusty.  He protects his crease and is not afraid to get physical or allow the physical part of the game to get to him mentally.  The Panthers have a logjam of top goalie prospects coming in (Cheverie, Markstrom and Salak) so his time may be over due to the numbers, not his skill.  Watch out for him to come back and haunt the Amerks like David Shantz did this season.

Jason Cipolla: C+
– A lot of people questioned how he became an assistant coach in the AHL but he has done a good job with what he has had to work with.  It’s been widely discussed the issues players seemed to have with Benoit Groulx but no one had any issues with Cipolla.  He was the coach on the ice with players well after practices had officially ended.  He was constantly working with players and always talked with players during games.  Eric had given him a much lower score, but I think Cipolla did the best he could do with what he had to work with and even possibly allowed to do.

Evgeny Dadonov: C+
– He becomes invisible, but was only a rookie AND in a foreign country.  He will continue to become a better player and probably needs to be put on the same line as players with more speed.  Playing with Graham Mink and Chris Taylor will teach you a lot, but those two are not the fastest.  He needs to work on his ability to carry the puck through the neutral zone.  He will be better next season and should grow into an NHL player.

Clay Wilson: C+
– He was one of the top scoring defensemen in the AHL this season and a great power play QB but his size in the defensive zone was often an issue.  He’s a small player and was never afraid to stand up to another player but was easily overpowered.  He made costly turnovers that resulted in the other team scoring, something often overlooked because he would make an offensive play to make people forget.  Even though we gave him a C+ I would have no problems seeing him in an Amerks uniform again.  The Panthers saw enough interest to offer him a two way NHL contract and he deserved the call up which he finally got at the end of the season to try and show something more.

Michal Repik: C+
– Invisible in the playoffs and down the stretch.  Can’t sustain a good game over the course of a full season.  Eric said he can’t envision him being in the NHL at this point.  I disagree.  I think he’s like Shawn Matthias and he’ll play better in a better league.  His development may have been hindered due to the number of veterans that seemed to get more ice time than he did.

Mike Duco: C+
– When he plays like like Mike Duco is supposed to play he could be an energy NHL’er.  When he doesn’t play physical he isn’t worthy of an AHL roster spot.  When he did play physical he was a force on the ice and the type of player that other teams are frustrated by and fans love.  Some games he played with that force and energy, many he did not.

Rory Fitzpatrick: C
– He had a horrible end to his career but looking at the bigger picture it’ll just be a small note.  He played okay for the most part when he was healthy and could play.  Someone players relied on for assistance on and off the ice.  If anyone could predict injuries he never would have been signed but in theory it was the right decision to sign him.

Luke Beaverson: C
– A reliable defenseman when others are injured but he’s likely going elsewhere.  He’s got the size but too much depth hurt his chances to really try and move up the rankings.  Some time in the ECHL playing full time will help him try and get noticed by someone else.

Michael Caruso: C
– He was never bad but was never great either.  He struggled in the middle of season.  Definitely not a top prospect anymore.  Maybe not a prospect anymore?  You’re either a vet contributor or a true prospect.  Caruso could turn out to be the type of defenseman that suffered from not having a solid defensive coaching staff.  He’s not a player you’re worried about having in the lineup but he’s also not a game changer.

Alexander Salak: C-
– There’s two ways people will look at Salak, one way would be off of the stat sheet and the other would be for those who saw him play.  He was near the top of the league with 29 wins and only 14 losses but he needs help.  As the season went on he was not an AHL goalie.  His desire to compete gets him hot and is something to build on but that desire also seemed to have an impact on his game, unlike Tyler Plante.  Salak was new to North America and started off the season on a streak but opposing teams quickly figured him out.  He was easy to get out of position and score goals on.  If he would have had a goalie coach working with him all season instead of about 10 days total he probably would have been much better.

Victor Oreskovich: D
– Is it effort with him?  History suggests it is.  He was physical the last 2 games, and shows signs of promise, but was not consistent and not offensive at all after the first 5 games of the regular season.  After taking two years off it was probably too quick for the Florida Panthers to call him up and rely on him for half the season.  Once his productivity slowed he was sent back down and he never had that fire and passion he had at the start of the season.  If they had allowed him to continue playing in the AHL and building upon his game he may not have regressed as the season went on.

Keaton Ellerby: D
– He has regressed.  That is not arguable.  Defensively he’s a huge liability (and he doesn’t posses a Wilson type of offense).  Unless you’ve watched him play on a regular basis you’ll probably disagree with this grade.  His avoiding a hit to gain the red line on an icing in game 7 was the type of play that took momentum away from the team.  A horrible giveaway in game 6 that the Heat turned into a goal was a play that costs the Amerks the series.  It’s not entirely his fault, but it could be argued that the Amerks were worst defensively with him on the ice.  The scouting reports from Juniors questioned him, and now we have our own questions.

Peter Aston: D
– He was a warm body that knew how to play defense when someone else was called up or injured.  Players spoke highly of him in the locker room but will never be a top six defenseman in the AHL.

Andrew Sweetland: D
– One of the most baffling comments ever was when Benoit Groulx said he was the best player on the ice after a game.  It’s amazing to think he played in 51 games this season.  If the Panthers had thought so highly of him they should have had him playing in the ECHL to improve his offensive game, not playing on the fourth line in the AHL.

Benoit Groulx: F
– After what many felt was a terrific rookie season where he never made excuses, team played hard, and he said all the right things…this year everything fell apart.  After a hot start where we still were playing subpar some nights, we had many injuries and recalls and when the players came back nothing clicked.  Line juggling, no emotion (almost took a nap as Mirasty attacked the Amerks bench), getting out-adapted by an always in motion Playfair in the playoffs are all examples of why he had a terrible season.  Rumors of players not respecting him have turned out to be true as exit interviews with Johnson and Fitzpatrick indicate.  His willingness to yank a goalie is a strength, but his decision to go with Salak in game1 may have cost us a sweep.  His decision to sit a winner with proven playoff experience in Mink was as bizarre a move as I’ve ever seen by a coach.  Him not sitting down with Fitzpatrick and explaining his scratching in Game 1 was wrong.  For all this – he needs to be removed as head coach of the Rochester Americans.  His lack of awareness and poor communication aren’t helping us win a cup, sell seats….nor is it helping Florida develop players.

Other players worth noting but never really played enough to be given a grade…

Brady Calla
– He’s not a goal scorer, he’s not a great passer and he’s not really a physical player.  What role does that leave him to fill?

Ernie Hartlieb
– 2 stints, 10 games…represented us well.  I wanted to give both he and Andrew Lord kudos for helping out this season.  Lord took a lot of punches the week he was here, and deserves a look in September.  If guys like Carlson, King and Delory were signed for depth than players like Lord and Hartlieb deserve to be kept on speed dial in times of need.

Carl Hudson
– Just what the doctor ordered.  A young angry D not afraid to hit, punch or slash.  I want him here next season.  Florida ought to think about signing him even… not just us.  At the end of the 08/09 season I said the same thing about Matt Duffy and he never really progressed, but certainly worth keeping around as he could become one of those rare finds.

Matt Duffy
– A solid defenseman for depth in times of need but never really continued on the same path he had at the end of the 08/09 season.  He may have been another casualty of depth.

Mathieu Roy
– He’s a 7th defensemen in the NHL.  He has the toughness for the position.  He didn’t get a grade as he was really only seen in the playoffs and even then it seemed as if he was still favoring his ankle at times which may have slowed him a bit.  He seems to want to play in the NHL more than the AHL which is fine, but not the type of distraction needed from a player here next season.

Grading the 2009-2010 Amerks Player by Player is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

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 are shared.

The Amerks ownership is dedicated to winning and they also want more fans (a  no brainer).  Everyone is still a little sour at the way the season ended but we can all be guaranteed that they’ll build another team next season that is supposed to win.

The affiliation agreement between the Amerks and Florida Panthers has one more season.  The original agreement says that they have to either have a new deal by November or it will have to wait until the end of the season.  I think moves and changes over the summer by the Panthers will determine whether the Amerks really want to pursue a renewal or test the waters to see what else is out there.

Jamie Johnson – Talks about the wasted season, coming back to Rochester, the Florida Panthers, the head coach, lineup changes, Amerks ownership and the crowd.  Two different interviews, basically says the same things.  I had talked to him first and then he talked again when Kevin O and YNN were there.

Part 1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4lF0ZBWysM

Part 2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mULhrvVjSk

Mike York – talks about the season, coming back, and player changes during the playoffs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmLtx8UCCQc

Graham Mink – “To sit and watch game 7 was one of the hardest working things I’ve had to do in my career.”  He did say it wasn’t the hardest thing in life, but in his hockey career.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPWZzw4k-3k

Jeff Taffe – “I think they (younger guys) got a harsh dose of reality there in the playoffs.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ExOJnfNNQ

Ted Nolan – “When they voice their concerns like that we have to listen,” talking about hearing the fans chanting.  “I’m kind of baffled myself right now,” when asked what he thought happened.  When asked if he was coming back he said, “I’m banking on coming back.”  Also talks about the season, hearing the fans and more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdu-qrQpn74

Lewis Staats – Mentions talks with Randy Sexton, hearing the fans loud and clear, attendance numbers, 5500 as the goal of fans per night, desire of Styres to win Calder Cup, and the affiliation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE9REPqc_rU

Chris Taylor had to visit the dentist and was not there, thanks to Michal Repik wacking his face trying to get at a puck.  Rory Fitzpatrick was not present either, he told the team the night before he wasn’t coming in.

Audio from 2010 Amerks Locker Cleanout, Vets, Nolan and Staats is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

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 contract but has never been given a chance in the AHL.

Likely To Sign:

Goalie: Jacob Markstrom

Defense: Colby Robak

Forward: Scott Timmins

Restricted Free Agents:

Goalies: Tyler Plante

Defense: Jason Garrison, Jordan Henry, Peter Aston, Luke Beaverson

Forwards: Andrew Sweetland, Kenndal McArdle, Dan Collins, Mike Duco

***** It’s a no brainer that Jason Garrison will be offered a contract and likely battle for a full time job in Florida.  Jordan Henry, Mike Duco and Kenndal McArdle should be made offers as well.  The status of Tyler Plante will likely depend on what the Panthers have in store for Jacob Markstrom and if they’re going to try and trade Tomas Vokoun.  We can probably say goodbye to Peter Aston, Andrew Sweetland, Luke Beaverson and Dan Collins.

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Goalies: Chris Beckford-Tseu

Defense: Mathieu Roy, Rory Fitzpatrick

Forwards: Steve MacIntyre, Jimmy Bonneau, David Brine, Jamie Johnson, Mike York

***** Jamie Johnson has made it clear he’s not coming back.  Mike York was on an AHL contract with the Amerks and said he’d love to come back.  MacIntyre had an NHL contract, Bonneau was AHL only with the Amerks.  It’d be nice to have at least one of them back into the lineup.  They both proved they could be enforcers and also play the puck as well.  Fitzpatrick is retiring and Roy will likely be looking for an organization that can offer him a real chance in the NHL.  The same can probably be said about David Brine, I imagine he’ll be chasing the dream elsewhere.  Chris Beckford-Tseu, well we all know he won’t be back.

Others:

Daniel Steiner, Matt Duffy, Carl Hudson, Maxime Gratchev, John Scott Dickson, Andrew Lord, Corey Syvret, Scott Hotham, Ernie Hartlieb

***** These players were all either signed to AHL, PTO or ATO deals by the Amerks throughout the season.  I could see Daniel Steiner getting another look if he can’t find an NHL deal somewhere.  Carl Hudson was a tough gritty defenseman who may have earned himself a look somewhere.  Gratchev and Hartlieb could be a couple of players offered deals but spend a lot of time with the Florida Everblades.

There’s always a lot going on when it comes to the status of players and contracts.  I think I have everyone but open to feedback if anyone see’s an error somewhere.

Contract Status for Amerks Players Heading into Next Season is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

Johnson said that it was a wasted season.  The franchise turned things around from worst to second place but this season they should still be playing for the Calder Cup.

Jeff Taffe, Graham Mink, Mike York and Jamie Johnson all talked about the decisions made in the playoffs and said they’re not really sure how they came to be, whether it was Groulx or someone higher but what happened happened.

One player not going to the arena today for exit meetings was Rory Fitzpatrick.  On Tuesday night he said he was not going to be there for meetings with the coaches and Randy Sexton.

I think the players would have wished they had separate meetings, one with the coaches and one without the coaches and just Randy Sexton in the room.  When you’re together in a room with your boss and his boss there are certain things that you do not want to say.

Mike York and Jamie Johnson were on one year contracts, York said he enjoyed his time here and would definitely think about coming back.  Jamie Johnson said he’s going elsewhere to try and chase his dream of playing in the NHL.  He said he loved Rochester but he’d never give Florida the time of day again.  In the future an AHL deal could be an option.

Graham Mink was political in his answers and said it was tough watching the game seven loss but what happened is over with.

Everyone heard the “Groulx Must Go” chants during the game last night.  Everyone.  The players, the coaches, staff, management and ownership.  Ted Nolan and Lewis Staats said that with the full affiliation agreement they can’t make there own changes but in meetings with the Florida Panthers those are things that will come up in discussion.

Maybe down the line when the emotions and dust settles some thoughts will change, but right now all fingers point at the man in charge of making decisions, the coach.

Check out this quote to Kevin O at the D&C:

Groulx seemed a little surprise to hear the criticism. “It’s so easy when it’s over to start pointing fingers,” Groulx said. “I’m not going to do that. I have too much respect for players here.”

Rory Fitzpatrick talked after the game on Tuesday night about the poor communication on the ground level of the team between the people making player decisions and the actual players.  He would not directly say it was the coaches, but there’s no way Randy Sexton is making phone calls and telling Groulx what to do.

To end for now on a positive note, every player has great things to say about Ted Nolan, Jody Gage, Lewis Staats and Curt Styres.  They all love playing for those guys.  Lewis Staats said that Jody Gage will be back and that they plan to have Ted Nolan back as well.  Ted Nolan said he loved working here and would love to come back as well.

I think there’s only one change that needs to be made.

A lot more in the days ahead from the final days of the season including today’s locker cleanout.

Players Talk About A Wasted Season, Only One Change is Needed is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.

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 could score another end to end highlight reel goal like he did earlier in the season.  Steve MacIntyre would love to score his first goal of the season, there’s no better time than now.  Shawn Matthias may fly past the Heat defense and score on his farewell tour of the AHL (I expect him to earn a full time job in the NHL next season).

Here’s a great excerpt from Hockey O-Zone about Graham Mink:

“I think we’re getting ready,” right winger Graham Mink said. “You can’t let anything bother you. You just leave it all out there.”

Mink speaks from experience. He has played in a Game 7 twice, both with the Hershey Bears, and both during runs to Calder Cup championships.

In 2006, the Bears opened a 3-1 series lead on Portland in the conference finals. The Pirates won Game 5 and Game 6.

“They smoked us in Game 6,” Mink recalls.

Is this sounding familiar? Mink sure hopes so. The Bears regrouped and won Game 7 in overtime, 5-4.

I’d prefer they don’t play with our emotions and have the game go into overtime, but whatever needs to be done has to be done to win.  That’s just proof that these guys know what is on the line.

They can win, it can be done.  There’s no need to talk about anything else other than winning.

David Brine and Evgeny Dadonov have only had one assist the entire series.  Remember when David Brine was leading the league in short handed goals early in the season?  Now would be the time to score another one of those.

Tyler Plante will be the starting goalie and even if the defense leaves him all alone against the Heat it’s his turn to make that huge save that changes the entire momentum of the game.

Victor Oreksovich and Mike Duco need to create some big hits that results in turnovers and goals.

MacIntyre needs to send someone through a pane of glass in a corner or send a Heat player back into his own bench.

Even if none of those things happens as long as they win everything will be great and start over again for round two.

It’s going to be a long day at work thinking about the game…. See you at the rink!

Gameday: Time for a Legendary Game 7 for the Amerks is a post from: Let's Go Amerks!. For discussion visit the forums at LetsGoAmerks.com/Forums.