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Posts tagged 'Transactions'

Posts Tagged ‘Transactions’

Goodbye Taffe, Everblades and Possible Coach This Weekend

July 23, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

It’s the middle of the summer and hunting down stories isn’t really a priority this time of year for me, so here’s some updates to get you caught up.

** Mike Santos told the Sun-Sentinel that he “expects to name a coach at AHL Rochester this weekend.”  Today is Friday the weekend is upon is.  It’s going to be interesting with the affiliation up in the air after this season if someone agrees to a long term deal or just a one year deal to get through this season.

** Jeff Taffe was traded on Thursday from the Florida Panthers to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Marty Reasoner.  This was a salary dump by both teams.  Taffe was signed by Randy Sexton last season and I didn’t really see him making the Panthers roster this season.  It was also unlikely the Panthers wanted to pay him NHL money to play in the AHL.  The Blackhawks are still trying to dump salary so they got rid of Reasoner who is someone Tallon is familiar with and would probably rather have on the roster.

** Mark Cullen was signed to a one year two way deal at the same time.  [...]Read More

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Carl Hudson Signs with Panthers, Will Help Amerks Defense

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July 9, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak
Carl Hudson Signs with Panthers, Will Help Amerks Defense

It’s the ninth day of free agency in hockey and although some of the top free agents have signed elsewhere, the news that the Florida Panthers signed defenseman Carl Hudson to an entry level contract is great news.  There’s still a need for a veteran defenseman, but I’ll take the news for the day.  Hudson was one of the bright spots on the Rochester Americans defense at the tail end of the 09/10 season and into the playoffs.

In his last season at Canisius College, Hudson had 14 goals and 20 assists in 35 games.  In the 12 games he played for the Amerks he only had one assist but the stats don’t tell the whole story.  Hudson played a physical defensive game, something some of the other players failed to do.  Hudson will help fill the role of a physical defenseman, something returning players Keaton Ellerby, Jordan Henry and Michael Caruso aren’t exactly known for.

In his first professional game he dropped the gloves with  Andre Deveaux of the Toronto Marlies.  He didn’t exactly win the fight, but he stepped up to show he wasn’t going to be pushed around and would stand up for himself.

The fact that [...]Read More

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More Top Free Agent Signings in The AHL

July 7, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

It appears as if the going rate for the top free agents around The AHL is a two year two way deal with an NHL team.  I’ll hold off for now on making assumptions about why there have not been mor signings for the Amerks.

Defenseman Dan Jancevski along with forwards Tim Stapleton and Mike Glumac are still available and two players that could fit in with the Amerks.  One of these days there’ll be some news about Rochester and not just everyone else.

Here’s the players signed so far today:

Forward Kyle Greentree and defenseman Brian Fahey signed to play for the Hershey Bears.

Corey Lockey signed with the Ottawa Senators, will likely end up in Binghamton which is a team that needs all the help they can get.

Andrew Hutchinson signed for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  In an instant he gave a huge boost to the blue line for the Penguins.  Watch for them to be serious contenders again this season.

As always, stay tuned to twitter.com/LetsGoAmerks for the latest updates and discussion!

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Panthers Hire Brian Skrudland for Development Role

July 5, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak
Panthers Hire Brian Skrudland for Development Role

The Florida Panthers have added another name to their front office with the hiring of Brian Skudland.  As Gorten says below, he was the Panthers captain for the first four seasons of the organization.  Having a front office that believes in the franchise will hopefully trickle down to having players that can create a winner from top to bottom.

From Steve Gorten of the Sun-Sentinel:

Brian Skrudland will soon be named either the Panthers’ director of development  or director of player personnel.

From what I understand, his role will be as a mentor, helping the young players adjust to the league, so I would tend to think the title will be development.

Skrudland was the franchise’s captain from its inception through the first four seasons, including that 1995-96 team that reached the Stanley Cup finals.

With the description of his role we’ll likely see him in Rochester often.

Tags: ι ι Categories: Amerks

Triston Grant and Bill Thomas Signed for the Amerks

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July 3, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

On the second day of free agency the Florida Panthers signed Triston Grant and Bill Thomas for the Rochester Americans.  When most people heard of the news today in Rochester they replied with, “who?”  Both players may turn out to be decent, expectations were just a little bit higher though for the second day of free agency.

Bill Thomas is a right winger that is four games short of being considered a veteran player.  He’s considered a decent player but also streaky.  His best season in the AHL was 2007/08 with the San Antonio Rampage when he scored 24 goals and had 28 assists in 75 games.  In a combined 72 games the past two seasons with the WB/S Penguins and Springfield Falcons he had a combined 13 goals and 22 assists.

Here’s more on Triston Grant from Kevin O:

He’s a gritty, gutsy left winger who has some skill, can definitely skate and isn’t afraid to fight anyone. This past season with the Milwaukee Admirals he scored 12 goals, assisted on 13 and also piled up his customary 200-ish penalty minutes (236). He has averaged 192 minutes for his five-year AHL career with the Philadelphia Phantoms and Admirals.

[...]Read More

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New Teams for Johnson, Bonneau and MacIntyre

July 3, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak
New Teams for Johnson, Bonneau and MacIntyre

Three players that made an impression in a Rochester Americans uniform last season have now moved on and found jobs with other teams.

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!

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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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A Few Panthers Draft Day Notes and Impact on the Amerks

June 25, 2010 - By Keith Wozniak

On Friday evening the Florida Panthers will begin their process of building (again?) for their future through the draft but chances are it’ll have little impact on the Rochester Americans.  It typically takes two years for a draft pick to work his way up through the junior ranks and into minor league systems.  Things could change, but at this point all signs are pointing to this probably being the last season the Amerks and Panthers are affiliated which means we’d never see these draft picks in Rochester.

That could all change once Tallon visits Rochester.  If he can sell the Amerks that they really are committed to a winning culture and strong business commitment the affiliation could be saved.

** To get the reaction of Panthers fans about the draft and to even talk about anything else, visit LitterBoxCats.com.  There’ll be an open thread and continued analysis of the draft and all moves.

** The Panthers have the 3rd pick in the draft and are likely to pick Erik Gudbranson or Cam Fowler.  All signs seem to be pointing to Gudbranson who has been compared to Chris Pronger.  Gudbranson is the player that can hit and hit hard but [...]Read More

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