Luulen, että D-Macille käy vielä samat kun LaPointelle, eli joku muu on valmis maksamaan reilusti ylihintaa. Toivottavasti kaveri jatkaa Grind Linessa, johon muuten tarvittaisiin esim. Avary takaisin...
Laitoin jo viestin Fedexistä huhuketjuun, joten ei siitä sen enempää, toivon Hollandin puhuvan miehelle järkeä. Sergeihän jo kerran hylkäsi samankaltaisen diilin 5x10milj. kun Holik sai Satherilta viime kesänä...
Thornton tilalle! 8)
Ajattelin tuoda hieman uutta näkemystä farmipelaajien taholta, sillä sain meilitse erään paikallisen kaverin arviot muutamasta Grand Rapidsin pelaajasta. Juttu on aika pitkä, mutta kun ei sitä mistään sivustosta voi lukea, niin kiinnostuneet olkaa hyvä, muut jaksakaa skrollata...
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>
>#4 Defenseman Ed Campbell:
>
>Strengths: Ed plays a rugged, hitting, physical game, and although he does
>not drop the gloves very often, he is the first to protect his teammates.
>Campbell is a steady but unspectacular defensive defenseman who brings a
>veteran presence to the locker room. Ed works well with the younger players,
>and with his great sense of humor, always keeps things light. Campbell is
>not afraid to sacrifice his body and is quite an adept shot-blocker.
>
>Weaknesses: Campbell is not the most mobile of blueliners, and there is not
>much to his offensive game as evidenced by his not scoring a goal this
>season. Has suffered from inconsistency in his game this year with stretches
>of air-tight defense, and others with poor positioning and decision making.
>
>Comments: Ed was a steadying influence with Grand Rapids¹ young blueliners,
>and is a positive force in the dressing room, keeping players loose.
>Statistically Campbell did not have great year, and at times struggled
>defensively, but he came on at the end of the year. His skill level and game
>probably does not translate to an NHL level job, but he still has great
>value as a mentor to the young defensemen in the system.
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
>
>#35 Goaltender Marc Lamothe:
>
>Strengths: Marc seemingly has ice-water in his veins, and never gets
>rattled. Even after letting in a bad goal (which doesn¹t happen very often)
>he keeps his composure. Marc has a knack for being in the right place at the
>right time, and is positionally sound. Lamothe is in good shape and doesn¹t
>wear down with a lot of playing time. Marc plays well with traffic in front
>of the net, and because of his height (6¹2") he can see over the goal-mouth
>pileups.
>
>Weaknesses: Lamothe is not the best puck-handler in the world, and could use
>some improvement in that area.
>
>Comments:
>What a dream season for Lamothe, First Team all-star, Best team GAA, AHL
>Goalie of the year, 33 wins and 6 shutouts. Marc seemed to get better as the
>season went on, and was easily the Griffins MVP this season. Lamothe will
>probably use this season as a springboard to an NHL job next year
>
>Projection: At 29 years old, Marc is not really a prospect, but his play
>this season certainly has suggested he get another look at the NHL level, if
>not by Detroit, than someone else.
>
>
>____________________________________________________________________________
>
>#57 Right Wing Darryl Bootland:
>
>Strengths: Wow, where to start? Bootland has a lot of tools in his toolbox
>but the first thing you notice is his physical game. Darryl is a wrecking
>ball on skates, very physically mature, he is a punishing hitter, and a
>devastating fighter. Bootland is a strong skater with good balance and a
>powerful stride that fuels his hitting game. "Booter" plays a high-energy
>game that is often contagious for his teammates, and he draws a lot of
>penalties ala Sean Avery. The difference? He can back up his actions with
>his fists, and he very rarely goes to the box by himself.
>
>On the finesse side Darryl has soft hands, good puck handling skills, and a
>nose for the net that you don¹t expect from such a tough customer. Darryl
>has good anticipation and on-ice vision, and is creative with the puck.
>Bootland always seems to be in the right place on the ice and makes smart
>plays.
>
>Weaknesses: While he is a strong skater, he isn¹t explosively fast, so he
>needs to keep working on his skating.
>
>Comments:
>After a surprising training camp demotion to the ECHL, Darryl has rebounded
>to claim a spot with the other Red Wings Prospects in the AHL. Bootland is
>physically mature, and plays a grinding, irritating game that seems to draw
>a few penalties every game. Darryl is also capable of backing up his chippy
>play with his fists. What sets ŒBooter¹ apart though are his offensive
>instincts, Darryl has good hands, sees the ice well, and goes to the net.
>Bootland has improved his skating, but could use a little more work there,
>and should benefit from a full year in the AHL next year
>
>Projections: The sky is the limit with the talent that Darryl has. He
>reminds me of a young Joe Thornton, although he should project to be a 2nd
>or 3rd line forward like a supersized- Darren McCarty or perhaps a Rick
>Tocchet type Power Forward.
>
>____________________________________________________________________________
>
>#59 Defenseman Danny Groulx:
>
>Strengths: Danny has great on-ice vision uses that to fuel his offensive
>game. Groulx has excellent puck handling skills, and a very heavy accurate
>shot that he can get off quickly. Danny is stocky and has a low center of
>gravity making it hard for opponents to knock him around and he uses his
>size to play a gritty game. Groulx goes all-out every shift, playing with
>passion and heart, and will use his size to muscle an opponent out of the
>crease or block a shot. As he has adjusted to the speed of the AHL, Danny
>has learned to make better decisions with the puck, and he makes crisp
>accurate passes to set up plays. The power play is where Danny can work his
>magic, moving the puck fluidly or letting one of his wicked wrist shots go.
>
>Weaknesses: Groulx needs to keep working on his skating, although he doesn¹t
>necessarily look out of place now. Groulx was criticized as a junior for
>perceived defensive deficiencies, and worked hard this year to improve his
>defensive game, he still has some learning to do, but he made great strides
>this season.
>
>Comments:
>This season was a learning experience for this former QMJHL scoring
>sensation. Danny focused on learning the defensive game this season at the
>expense of his offense. As the season went on Groulx improved his skating,
>and his defensive play, and showed a flair for moving the puck. With a full
>season under his belt, Danny should show a marked improvement in his game
>next year
>
>Projection: If Danny¹s offensive game emerges next season to go along with
>his improved defensive zone play he should have a solid AHL season. He is a
>few years from being NHL ready, but with his heart and work ethic to go
>along with his offensive talent he might translate into a number 4 or 5
>defenseman, a poor mans Mathieu Schnieder.
>
>____________________________________________________________________________
>
>#73 Right Wing/Center Jason Williams:
>
>Strengths: Jason¹s game starts with his world class speed and his ability to
>make plays and carry the puck at that speed. Williams also has a hard,
>heavy, accurate shot that he can get off very quickly. He has excellent on
>ice vision and anticipation, and can make plays that most can¹t. Jason makes
>good on-ice decisions, and he plays bigger than his size
>
>Weaknesses: Despite the fact that he will play a gritty game, and he lays
>out some hard checks, a lack of size is the only thing holding Williams
>back.
>
>Comments:
>Jason showed time and again that he is an NHL¹er playing in the AHL.
>Williams has a big league shot, lighting fast wheels, and superior on-ice
>vision. It was very apparent that at times he was the most talented player
>on the ice. Jason has proved all he can at this level and is ready for a
>regular spot in Detroit.
>
>Projection: Jason has all the tools, and just needs ice time to use them.
>Williams can score at the NHL level and is capable of playing on one of the
>top 2 lines, 30 goals is not out of the question if plays with the right
>players.
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
>
>#77 Center Nate Robinson:
>
>Strengths: Nate is an incredible skater, both in terms of his lightning
>speed, and his balance. He also plays bigger than his size, and is not
>afraid to go into the high traffic areas on the ice. Robinson showed a
>gritty side as the season went on, and will take a hit to make a play. Nate
>has good on ice vision and anticipation, and at times used them to great
>effectiveness on the penalty kill.
>
>Weaknesses: If only his hands could work at the same level as his feet. Nate
>is not able to take advantage of the plays that his speed open up for him,
>although he has gotten better at using his speed to dart into the holes and
>work the give and go instead of trying to carry the puck so much. Like most
>players fresh out of Juniors, Robinson must continue to work on his
>defensive game.
>
>Comments:
>Nate is blessed with great speed, but found out that that is not enough at
>this level. Robinson played well in stretches, using his speed to move the
>puck and set up plays. Nate needs to add some muscle and gain some
>confidence in his ability to play at this level. 2 of his 3 goals were game
>winners.
>
>Projection: Nate will probably not be a scorer at the NHL but with his speed
>and anticipation, if he does make it, he probably compares favorably to a
>Kris Draper, or Kirk Maltby type of player.
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
>
>#82 Right Wing Tomas Kopecky:
>
>Strengths: Kopecky has size, and as the season wore on he started to use
>that size to his advantage, bulling his way through traffic to the net, and
>when the mood struck him, laying solid checks along the boards to knock the
>puck loose. Tomas also has good hands, and as he got used to the speed of
>the AHL game he showed a lot of poise with the puck both in stickhandling
>and his wicked wrist shot. Kopecky has good on ice vision and knows where
>he is supposed to be on the ice.
>
>Weaknesses: Inconsistency plagued Kopecky this season as their were time he
>was a world beater scoring goals in bunches, and other times were lengthy
>slumps. Tomas also seem to wear down in the last 3rd of the season as the
>grueling 80 game pro schedule caught up with him. Although he has improved
>since the start of the year, Tomas needs to continue to work on his skating
>both in speed and balance. To make the NHL Kopecky must continue to bulk up
>and add strength to his lanky 6¹3" frame, allowing him to take more of a
>pounding in front of the net and in the corners.
>
>Comments:
>Tomas made great strides this year his first as a professional. Moved from
>center to the wing, Kopecky used his size and puck handling skills to go the
>net and make plays. As his confidence grew so did the physical side of his
>game. Tomas played very well the second half of the season and had an
>outside shot at 20 goals for the year until some injury problems at the end
>of the year. Tomas needs to work on his skating, endurance, and his
>consistency in order to move up to the next level.
>
>Projection: With improved skating and size Tomas could be an effective 2nd
>line forward in the NHL and chip in 20 goals while playing a Sean Burr/Paul
>Ysebaert kind of game with a little more flash.