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Posts tagged 'Mike Duco'

Posts Tagged ‘Mike Duco’

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

July 1, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

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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Panthers Extend Offers to Five Players

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June 27, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

The Florida Panthers made qualifying offers to five players this weekend and told five others that they would not be coming back.  No real surprises with any of those moves.

Kenndal McArdle, Jason Garrison, Mike Duco, Jordan Henry and Tyler Plante were all extended offers.

Andrew Sweetland, Luke Beaverson, Peter Aston, Dan Collins and Nick Tarnasky were all advised to hit the free agency market on July 1st.

Tarnasky is a player that will stand up for his team but offers little in terms of offensive capabilities.  Assuming Kenndal McArdle can stay healthy he could easily step up to fit the same role and have the ability to score.

Dale Tallon told the media at the NHL draft that he wants to try and get Jason Garrison locked up into a long term contract.  Garrison is likely a full time NHL player for the rest of his career at this point.

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Three Awesome Words: Benoit Groulx Resigns

June 1, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

The news broke on Monday that Benoit Groulx had resigned as Rochester Americans head coach and returned to his prior position, coach of the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.  From the QMJHL press release, “Under his reign, the Olympics won three championships in six seasons. Groulx led the team to three appearances at the MasterCard Memorial Cup where the Olympics reached the final on two occasions in 2003 and 2004.”

There’s no hiding the fact that Groulx was not very liked as the coach of the Amerks so this news was a perfect way to get the summer started.  The players disliked playing for him, the teams management did not understand him at times, everyone questioned his decisions during games and all of that led to the fans chanting for him to leave at the last game of the year.

A bigger issue at hand could be that the Amerks management found out about this through the media, not from the Florida Panthers directly.  Groulx’s resignation would have been approved by the Panthers so he could officially take on the new job, but no phone call was made to anyone with the Amerks.  Interesting.  Just [...]Read More

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Grading the 2009-2010 Amerks Player by Player

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May 4, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

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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Contract Status for Amerks Players Heading into Next Season

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April 29, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

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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Hard Nosed Hockey Leads Amerks to Tie Series

April 18, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

Saturday night in Rochester was the definition of playoff hockey.  The Rochester Americans defeated the Abbotsford Heat in game 2 on Saturday night, an excellent rebound of a game from the way they played on Thursday night.

“It’s playoff hockey and both teams were trying to set the tone and trying to get the teams going,” Shawn Matthias said.  “It’s going to be a long series so we wanted to show them we’re not scared of them.  If you watch they’re always starting things after every whistle so we’re responding well and trying to play a hard nosed style.”

That’s not a style of hockey the Amerks have had to play every other night but it’s what they’re going to have to do in this seven game series against the Abbotsford Heat.

“We knew we needed to win this game,” Tyler Plante said talking about the game.  “Tonight it really felt like playoff hockey, we worked hard for 60 minutes and I really give the team credit for that.”

Plante was excellent in net and proved he should have been the starter to begin with in this playoff series.  The only goal scored on him in this series was not [...]Read More

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Griffins Double Up Amerks to Halt Winning Streak

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April 8, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

The Amerks had the odds stacked against them against Grand Rapids with majority of the teams defense either called up or injured.  The Griffins were able to score six goals against the Amerks in their 6-3 win which also denied the Amerks the chance to clinch home ice advantage.  The magic number is now one point.  The Amerks need either one point in one of their last two games to clinch home ice.  The other possibility is that they need the Abbotsford Heat to lose once in regulation in one their final two games.

Jordan Henry and Michael Caruso were the teams top two defensemen on Wednesday and had assistance from Luke Beaverson, Matt Duffy, Carl Hudson and Corey Syvret.  Those guys work hard at what they do but that’s more of an ECHL calibre defense than that of a 2nd place AHL team.  Rory Fitzpatrick did not make the trip, I assume he’s resting up his groin for the weekend.

Here’s the teams official recap:

For Immediate Release
April 7, 2010

GRIFFINS DOUBLE UP AMERKS TO HALT WINNING STREAK

(Rochester, NY)… The Grand Rapids Griffins scored twice in each period en route to a 6-3 win over the [...]Read More

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Dadonov and MacIntyre Up, Taffe and Duco Sent Back

April 5, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

Heading into the last week of the season it appears as if the Florida Panthers are using all of their frequent flyer miles and giving everyone a final look in the last week of the regular season.  Evgeny Dadonov is the latest player to get the nod to join the Panthers for at least one of their final four games.  Steve MacIntyre was also called back up to the big club.

Jeff Taffe and Mike Duco were sent back from the Panthers as well.

Everyone will be back at the end of the weekend for the start of the playoffs for the Amerks.

Maxime Gratchev was also released from his PTO and returned to the Elmira Jackals.

The Amerks have a game on Wednesday night on the road against the Grand Rapids Griffins and only need one win to secure home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs (assuming a potential tie breaker is wins, the Amerks will have more than the Heat).

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Panthers Recall Mike Duco and Clay Wilson

April 3, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

It only took 74 games played by Clay Wilson to get the call but it finally happened after the Amerks win over the Hershey Bears.  The dust was wiped off the Panthers duffel bag and off he goes to play with the Florida Panthers against the New York Rangers on Saturday night.  Wilson is second in scoring on the Amerks with 16 goals and 46 assists.  He was also recently named to the 2009-2010 AHL Second All-Star team.  He was pretty happy after the game to finally got noticed and his teammates in the locker room congratulated him as well.

Mike Duco is joining him as well for his first call up since December.  Duco has played in nine games this season for the Panthers and will likely be filling in for Victor Oreskovich who left the game on Thursday with a leg injury.

The Amerks will need to call up another defenseman for Saturdays game with Wilson called up and John de Gray questionable with an upper body injury.  Scott Hotham probably barely unpacked his bags and may be on his way back up.

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