Player Prediction--Jordan Messier

This kid and his love of the Detroit Tigers is pissing me off. Just kidding.



Jordan put together a decent rookie season. I think there were many people who had high expectations of him because of the family name. And that he came out of hockey factory Notre Dame. Obviously, expectations are not going to diminish, so hopefully he can avoid as sophomore slump. I think he's talented enough to avoid it, but what do I know?

Strengths: size, he's a decent sized kid, who will be growing (I assume), he skates well and has good vision. He seems coachable and adjusted to whatever coach threw at him.

Weaknesses: he was a rookie, made rookies mistakes. Needs to focus on defensive responsibilities, he was a-5 during the regular season which is not a good thing on such a successful team. Granted, he did some 3rd line time, the grinder line which tends to spend some time faced up against teams' top lines. But still. Needs to follow a real baseball team.

Predictions: Jordan had 9 goals last season, 14 helpers. If he's trained hard this summer and did whatever drills and stuff coach told him to work on, he could easily double that. Could being the operative word here. If he wants to make an impact on this team he's going to have to go above and beyond his rookie-class teammates Justin Feser and Brooks Macek.

Q & A with Chet Pickard

glove tap to Bkblades who sent me the link to this interview with Chetters from Hockey's Future.

HF: You had a goalie coach in Tri-City, Jerry Price [father of Carey Price], how is what he worked with you on different from what you do with [Nashville's goalie coach] Mitch Korn?
CP: I think Jerry's more trying to teach guys about the game, different styles you can play, different ways of stopping the puck. Mitch adapts to our styles and pushes us to do things like be quicker, work harder, so we're better prepared for the pro level. In my case, me and Mitch are really working on me getting quicker. We're not focusing on how I make I saw, it's more just quickness.

HF: Is he (Calvin) similar in technique as you?
CP: We both kind of play a similar style. We're both very technical goalies, like to play the puck. We're both relaxed when we're in the net and I think that's a bid thing for a goalie these days. I think that's something I kind of taught him after it was taught to me.

The rest of the interview here.

Player Prediction--Johnny Lazo (and I fail at life)

I apparently forgot the alphabet and missed Johnny Lazo. I am teh suck. This is why I usually do things by #. So I apologize, it was not intentional.

This is the first of the player predictions that also includes a potential overager for next season. Teams are only allowed to keep 3, there's currently 4 on the roster, 5 if you count Chet.



Strengths: SPEED. Westie calls him "The Roadrunner". He's a little guy so he's quick, very quick. He also uses his small size to get into tight spots to fight for the puck that bigger guys can't squeeze into (like in between Tyler Myers and some other Rocket giant). Because of his speed he doesn't take a lot of lazy penalties, putting his team at a disadvantage.

Weaknesses: Size. It's just the way it is, being a small guy he gets pushed off the puck easy. Hard to say that's a weakness of Johnny since it's not something he can just change. That being said, he must have incredible core strength because he isn't tossed around as easily as one would expect for a little guy. Johnny is also streaky. He did his best last season when playing with Jason Reese. Then he got moved around so that Reeser and Fadden could be on the same line and blah blah blah. When Johnny's in a groove and has good chemistry with his linemates, he does well, but when he gets shuffled around his game suffers.

Predictions: He put up good numbers, 4th on the team in regular season scoring with 22 goals, 38 helpers (60 pts) and a +20 rating. It was his best season ever in juniors. Will it be enough to keep him as an overager? I think it's unlikely, but when it comes to what Bob will do for overagers I am as clueless as they come.

So let's assume he is kept as an OA. He'll be expected to provide a lot more offense than he ever has. If he clicks with whomever Coach pairs him with he should be ok. He could potentially reach 30 goals, he has the talent and the shooting ability, but it depends a lot on his linemates.

In my opinion, Johnny is good enough to be an OA in this league, just not sure if he is a good fit as an AMS overager. Which kills me. I adore Johnny. Srsly. Love this kid. This is why I could never in a million years be a GM, it would break my heart to have to make decisions like this.


1st star with hat trick, night after Halloween. Love it.

A Moment of Silence Please

Today marks the spot in the roster where I should be making predictions for Mitch McColm.



This kid will forever be one of my favorites to have ever put on an AMS sweater. Srsly. He's gonna get a huge ovation when he comes into town with the Chilliwack Bruins, and I'll be one of the loudest. I wish nothing but the very best of luck in everything you do Mitch! You're greatly missed in Tri!!

To keep from being too upset thinking about it, I shall gaze at the loveliness that is Matt Garza and later get boozed up to mock the All-Star Game. Good times.


This is the picture on my desktop. Yes, he's replaced Mitch Fadden. It's serious.

Player Prediction--Riley McIntosh

Riley was acquired in November from Kelowna. Not who I was hoping we'd get from the Rockets (hellooo, Collin Bowman anyone??). I spent most of the season completely disappointed in him. I can pretty much guarantee that will translate into a not-so-nice prediction for Mr. McIntosh here.

Now believe me, there's nothing wrong with a defensive defenseman. But when you spend an average of a minute a game in the penalty box...grrrrrr.
Strengths: tall, has long stretch, skates well.

Weaknesses: doesn't use his stretch well, hence all the penalties--dumb ones for holding and shit. Needs to use his skating abilities to be in position to play right, not take lazy penalties. Doesn't use size effectively. He's one of the tallest guys on the team (but skinny). TOO MANY PENALTIES. Anyone who stupidly puts the team at a disadvantage on a regular basis is not going to be on my "Favorites" list. Needs to shoot the puck, add some offense to his game.

Prediction: Riley had a decent playoff run. Maybe it inspired him to play against his former team, I don't know. But he was less sucky. If he can play like that this upcoming season I will shoot fewer daggers out of my eyeballs aimed at his head.

Had zero goals, 8 assists last season. Again, that's not a huge deal to not have any goals (though offensive is always a plus), but more worrisome is his meager +2 rating. I know +/- is a quirky stat, but on a team as successful as the AMS were last season, a +2 is a sad sight.

I remembered the stats master Alan Caldwell over at Small Thoughts At Large did a mid-season stats post that included information about players being in the box when their team gets scored on. Riley didn't make the top 22 that Caldwell listed, but still.

I will give the boy props, he did get in a fight his first game in Tri, showing Don Nachbaur that he could play on his team. Not that it went well for him, but still. Also, he got in a fight later in the season against Portland which was right in front of me and I got my best ever fight picture. :)



It's really a pity Riley pissed me off so much because he has terrific sexy eyebrows. *sigh* Stop sucking Riley.

The Uphill Battle for Tyler Weiman

Once again, Gregg Drinnan over at Taking Note has pointed readers to great links, including this great article from the Coloradoan about former AMS-goalie Tyler Weiman.

Tyler Weiman, who helped lead the Colorado Eagles to a Central Hockey League title in 2005, was signed by the Avalanche earlier this week.

It marks the second time in his five-year professional career that the goaltender will open camp with the Avs. Weiman spent the early portion of the 2007-08 season with the Avs.

"Once you get up there (NHL) and get a taste of what it's like, you definitely want to get back up there," Weiman said. "I obviously wanted to re-sign with Colorado. I feel like I have some unfinished business."

"It's been an uphill battle," said Weiman, who was drafted in the fifth round (No. 164 overall) of the 2002 NHL Draft by the Avs. "I've had to play at every level, and I've had to work for every opportunity I've ever gotten."

(John Russell/Getty Images)

today was full of fail.

Rays lost, Jays lost, it's still the hockey off-season. UGH.

However, I was reminded this morning by one of my besties, Motley Su, of this amazing piece of hockey and baseball awesomeness. Clark, the Canadian hockey goalie. Watch the whole thing, you will NOT be disappointed. Trust me.



Here's what the pitiful Rays game looked like (from Fan Graphs):


You can see the complete destruction at the top of the 7th, Garza was just over 100 pitches and shoulda been pulled, he gave up a two-run homer. Choate replaced him, gave up another two-run homer and it was (as seen on the graph) downhill from there.

The bright point (for me?) seeing the lovely Matt Garza (till the 7th inning collapse).


srsly. that is a sexy man. and THE DIMPLES!! **swoon**


But he does bear a striking resemblance to the Duke Blue Devil. No I didn't think of that myself, the Rays announcers did. But it's true...look.



It's been brought to my attention by a dear friend that the Jays/Rays rivalry isn't very, well, sexy. It needs excitement. I suggested blog wars against Eyebleaf, bkblades suggested strip wars. Wait what? "Every time the Jays win, Rays fans have to take an article of clothing off. they meet each other 16 times in a season, someone is going to get naked". So I guess that just leaves me to go in search of a Jays fan (blogger) who will go along with this hahahaaaaaa

Player Predictions--Brett Martyniuk

ahhh, the most lovely backup goalie ever. I admit, I kinda liked it when he didn't play cuz then I could gaze at him on the bench. *sigh*



Marty had respectable numbers, for not playing much. And for being a rookie. Poor behbeh didn't even play a singe minute until December. He did well enough in Chet's absence to take over the primary backup position (I've ranted about the unfairness of the 3-goalie crap before, I'm not going there again).

Strengths: good vision, nice lateral movement, technically sound. Knows when to come out and challenge shooters. Not easily rattled--at all.

Weaknesses: size. He's a beautiful mini-goalie. Granted, we AMS fans have been spoiled by large goalies in Carey Price and Chet Pickard. He's also not where he should be, developmentally, as an 18-year-old goalie in this league (for which I blame Bob).

Prediction: Hard to say. It depends on what happens with Russian goalie Bob picked up in Import Draft. Obviously, by selecting a 19-year-old NHL drafted goalie, Bob intends for Alexander to be the #1, putting Marty (and/or Drew) in the backup position once again. If Alexander doesn't get released from his Russian team (unlikely) then Marty will be fighting for the #1 spot in camp this fall.


pwning Drayson Bowman. RAWR!!

So, given the unknowns, for the sake of this post, I'll assume Marty will be backup (I'll make the same assumption when I analyze Drew Owsley). Depending on how much of a work-horse Alexander is, Marty will probably play in like 20, 25 games (if Bob goes back to 2-goalie system). His save percentage in the regular season of 08-09 was .896 and .923 in 31 minutes of playoff games. He's a good goalie so his % will be probably in the .910-.920 range.

This just in...

I heart baseball.

The end.

Player Prediction--Brooks Macek

Hang on to your ovaries, ladies, it's time to take a closer look at Brooks Macek.



In order to stay focused on the hockey and not say inappropriate things, I'm just gonna dive right in.

Strengths: size, speed, talent. He came in as a highly-touted rookie out of hockey factory Notre Dame, and didn't disappoint (me, anyways). He's got good vision and good shooting sense. For someone so lovely, he's not afraid to get gritty, he uses his size well and if he continues to grow, he has the potential to be a true power forward. Hockey Canada likes him also, as he was selected to participate in the National Under-18 Selection camp later this summer to try out for Ivan Hlinka tournament in Europe in mid-August.

Weaknesses: he was a rookie last season so made rookie mistakes. Needs to work on developing his two-way game, step up his defensive responsibilities. He also needs to work on convincing his good buddy Jaden Schwartz to forget the NCAA route and report to the AMS.

Prediction: He only had 8 goals last season (8G, 16A, 24pts +4) but I predict he'll double that. He has the potential to more than double that. He had 3 goals in 11 playoff games as well. +/- is an interesting stat, the +4 shows he and his linemates struggled with the defensive part so hopefully that is something that will improve as well. I know he did some hockey stuff over in Europe this summer so that was hopefully some good experience and development opportunity for him.


We can't talk Macek without mention (or photo) of tongue...