Finding the Missing Pieces

If you want to follow the AHL, the first thing you must learn is how high the turnover rate for each team is. No matter how prepared you may feel to handle losing several players, the first off-season is an eye-opener. Between trades, free agency, and call-ups, you can barely get used to a player being around before he’s gone. This season is no exception.

We lost several key players and their roles can not go unfilled. In this post, I’ll take a look at the big guys we lost and the prospects I think will fill their shoes.

Player: Bryan Helmer
Role: In losing Helmer, the Bears lost 3 key parts of the team: a stay-at-home defenseman, veteran experience, and a team captain.
Replacement: Brian Fahey/Andrew Joudrey
Reason: Fahey brings his roughly 7 years of AHL familiarity to the table. At only 29, he knows how to play quality defense and he knows what it takes to win a championship (he won the Calder Cup in 2008 with the Chicago Wolves). He is also a great on- and off-ice leader. In Lake Erie last season, we wore an ‘A’. During the 2006-2007 season with the Chicago Wolves, he was awarded the “Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award.” This award is given to the player on the Chicago Wolves “who best typifies Breslin’s on-ice spirit and team-first attitude.”

However, Fahey may not be the choice for Captain because he’s new to the team. On Friday, October 8th, it was announced that Andrew Joudrey was named the new team Captain. This may have come as a shock to people who expected older guys like Brian Willsie or Keith Aucoin to get to job, but Joudrey is a great choice. He’s no stranger to having a leadership title; he wore an A in the preseason games and during his time at the University of Wisconsin. He’s one of those guys that you marvel at well they are able to keep composed under all situations. If you were to look up “unsung hero” in the dictionary, you could find Joudrey’s picture there. This is his fourth full-year with Hershey and it’s about time he got his song.

Player: Alexandre Giroux
Role: The goal scorer, power play time, leadership
Replacement: Francois Bouchard
Reason: Bouchard is only 23 years old and is just getting started. He’s rapidly adjusting and creating his own style of play. And, okay, maybe he’s not going to be the 50 goal scorer yet like Giroux, but I think he stands a good chance at trying. And the loss of some top line guys opens up the opportunity to find out. Increasing his playing time could be a game changer. And maybe they both have a little of that French-Canadian scoring magic?

Player: Michal Neuvirth
Role: The #1 goalie
Replacement: Braden Holtby
Reason: Some may argue that Dany Sabourin will actually be the replacement. And they would have a solid argument, especially because I don’t think Sabourin particularly enjoys the role of back-up goalie in the AHL. He certainly has the experience to be #1. However, the Caps are looking to develop Holtby. I believe that Hershey will depend on Holtby to carry them to a championship as they did on Neuvirth. After playing back-up for two Calder Cup Championships, Holtby is chomping at the bit to prove he can be the playoff guy to rely on. When you throw in the added factor that Semyon Varlamov is a bit of an injury-prone goaltender, Sabourin is likely to be seeing more time in Washington.

Player: Karl Alzner and John Carlson
Role: Similar roles carrying the load of responsibility on the blue line, including the power play
Replacement: Zach Miskovic and Patrick McNeill
Reason: Another set of young guys that the Caps will want to develop for the future. McNeill was really coming into his own by the end of last season. Unforunately, we’ll have to wait patiently for him to bounce back from the injury he suffered during playoffs. He will likely be out until the end of November. Here’s hoping that he has a swift recovery and can return to his strong playing style. I’m sure the Caps are looking at him to be a call-up in the future.

Miskovic suffered a knee injury at the hands of Joe Finley during Development Camp, but, thankfully, he rebounded in time for Hershey’s preseason, where he scored three goals in three games. He’s ready for a full-time slot this season and consistent playing time. Even with veterans like Lawrence Nycholat and Sheldon Souray around, he could still benefit from playing more minutes per game.

Player: Chris Bourque
Role: Second line goal scorer, playoff MVP, power play time
Replacement: Steve Pinizzotto
Reason: Both Bourque and Pinizzotto are forwards with defensive skill. It could even be a improvement from Bourque because Pinizzotto has both a height and size advantage over Bourque. Pinizzotto’s defensive prowess does not get enough credit. He was also second in the league last season in shorthanded goals. He has proven that he can handle both ends of the ice in all situations. Much like with Bouchard, the open spots leave room for him to move up. He has the perfect combination of grit and talent. Each year, his stats improve and I have no reason to think that he’s going to plateau any time soon.

These are just my guesses as to which players will be stepping up this season. Sadly, I do not have psychic powers to foresee who will be making the biggest impact this season. But my magic eight ball did say that we would do well this season.