Albany Devils Thread - 2015-16 Edition

[Triumph]

It's March, so of course this is what any hockey fan is thinking about - who's going to be on the minor league team next year?  With the news from Chere about Paul Thompson being signed to an NHL contract and Matt Lorito being signed to a tryout, the picture is clearer.

 

Well, first let's look at the UFAs from this year's team:  Pelley, Janssen, Whitney, Sestito, and the brothers Zajac.  Pelley's the captain but he's playing 4th line minutes.  I'm not sure he will be brought back.  Janssen has been not healthy and has gotten suspended and is 31 in a month.  I suspect his time is up.  Whitney I assume will be back but he could go to Europe or another team - I don't know how many NHL opportunities he will get here (or elsewhere).  I think it's better than even money that he is back.  I think it's much better than even money that Sestito is back although I don't see a huge spot for him on next year's team, he'll be there.  I don't see how the brothers Zajac aren't there next year.  

 

Now coming into the organization, the Devils will have:  Joseph Blandisi (for sure), Blake Coleman and Blake Pietila (probably), Ryan Kujawinski (most likely although he is not yet signed), Connor Chatham (ditto, but given that NJ wanted him to get surgery, I think he'll be signed very soon), Matt Lorito (maybe).

 

So that's a lineup of something like:

 

Whitney-Timmins-Thompson

Sestito-K. Zajac-Sislo

Pietila-Black-Blandisi

Thomson-Coleman-D. Zajac

 

extras:  Lorito, Chatham, Johnson, Kujawinski, maybe Wolhberg, maybe McKelvie, maybe Myles Bell (though I doubt it, I think his time in the organization isn't going to last much longer)

 

I'm of course assuming that Boucher and Matteau make the big team next year - Matteau probably will, but Boucher it's unclear.

 

Defense there doesn't seem to be many questions - will Fraser be back in Albany next year?  Will Helgeson be the 7th D in the NHL or be sent through waivers to Albany?  Who knows.  I imagine it'll look something similar to what it does now:

 

Kelly-Hraberenka

Burlon-Scarlett

Helgeson-McPherson

 

Goaltender is an open question - Clemmensen turns 38 next year and clearly isn't better than an average AHL goalie.  Wedgewood is a 3rd year pro and has shown nothing.  Clermont is a 4th year pro and hasn't shown much.  The Devils should be in the market for a UDFA goalie, but given that they just locked their NHL starter up to a huge contract, it's not likely any of the best ones want to sign here.

Edited October 4, 2015 by Triumph

[nessus]

That sounds reasonable to me. I do think Boucher probably starts out in Albany though. I'm not sure where there will be an open spot for him next year. Even though Ryder and Havlat will (likely?) be gone, Zubrus still needs to be bought out or something for there to be room. Do you think Hrabarenka gets a shot at the NHL next year?

[vadvlfan]

That sounds reasonable to me. I do think Boucher probably starts out in Albany though. I'm not sure where there will be an open spot for him next year. Even though Ryder and Havlat will (likely?) be gone, Zubrus still needs to be bought out or something for there to be room. Do you think Hrabarenka gets a shot at the NHL next year?

Zubie will be a decent 4th liner, albeit expensive! For Boucher, it's time to fish or cut bait. I think with Bouch it's like Ryder & similar, it's WHO his line mates are.  He'll be crap in a checking role.

i know PDB was high on Hraberanka in camp, as were Devs brass.  You never know.

[mfitz804]

I agree regarding Boucher, if he doesn't make the big team next year it's probably time to move him along.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

I agree regarding Boucher, if he doesn't make the big team next year it's probably time to move him along.

I am definitely in the "Boucher isn't going to help" camp, but he should probably get one more full year with Albany before the Devils consider moving on from him...at least find out if this lost season was due to rotten luck.

[Triumph]

Boucher has had the same year as last year statisically, just the puck isn't going in.

 

Last year:  56 games, 22 goals, 16 assists, 146 shots

This year:  56 games, 13 goals, 15 assists, 149 shots

 

His true talent probably lies somewhere in the middle of these two seasons, goal wise.  Anyway, he's still only 21 and I expect him to crush the AHL next year - 35 goals/82 not out of the question.

 

I think Hraberenka will get a shot at the NHL next year, but I'm not sure how good he'll be.  I get the Sascha Goc vibe when I've seen him.

Edited March 15, 2015 by Triumph

[EdgeControl]

I'll hang on to baby face boucher for a few more years and hope hes a late bloomer and theres some extra testosterone coming I think you can even give him till age 23-24

Edited March 15, 2015 by EdgeControl

[NJDevils11274]

Clermont isn't bad. did well this year never shouldn't of been sent down

[thefiestygoat]

I understand the idea that having Schneider locked in could turn some UDFA goalies off from signing with the organization but with limited jobs to go around, I'm sure they could find someone willing to sign. Realistically any guy they sign will have a strong chance to earn the #1 spot in Albany and build up their resume.

 

Wedgewood and Clermont are both never going to be NHL goaltenders in my opinion so I would like to see at least one of them replaced. Wedgewood has a .899 SV% in just under 4,000 AHL minutes for his career. Clermont has hardly played in the AHL due to not being good in the ECHL. Sure he's had some nice starts here and there but that's just not enough. He earned 3 wins with Albany this season when posting a SV% below the league average. In his ECHL career he has just a .896 SV% in just over 6,400 minutes. Year after year both Wedgewood and Clermont rank below league average.

 

JR Jake Hildebrand for MSU has a .927 SV% in 95 NCAA games (5,585 minutes). He doesn't seem to get as much attention as some of the other goaltenders but I'd be interested in trying to get him in Albany. Attended the Devils prospect camp in 2013 so they should be familiar with him. I wonder if interest in SR Joel Rumpel from Wisconsin has dwindled after he and the team had a bad season? Had a .919, .929, .929 SV%'s his first 3 years before going down to a .902 this year. Maybe those earlier teams propped him up a bit?

[Triumph]

I mean obviously yeah they can get someone.  I just don't think it would be someone like this, not when there are huge goaltending holes in Edmonton and San Jose and Buffalo and so forth.

[thefiestygoat]

I just took a quick look and I think I have Albany sorted as of today. Let me know if I made any errors or omitted anyone.

 

Under Contract
LW: Boucher^, Johnson, Lorito, Thomson
C: Black, Blandisi, Kujawinski, O'Brien^, Pelley, Pietila, Coleman
RW: Sislo, Thompson^, Chatham*
LD: Burlon, Kelly
RD: Hrabarenka, Mozik, Scarlett
G: Wedgewood

* Not officially signed (yet) but indications last spring made it seem like it would happen this summer. Could still go back to OHL though.
^ Could win a spot in NJ out of camp.

Likely NJ?
Matteau (no longer waiver exempt)
Kalinin

Re-Signed
RW: Thompson (NHL Deal)
G: Wedgewood (NHL Deal)

Signed
RW: Kalinin (Avangard Omsk)
RD: Mozik (HC Plzen)

Not Retained
LW: Whitney (NYI)
C: Sestito
RW: Bell (Stjernen)
LD: Fraser
RD: McPherson
G: Clemmensen (Retired), Clermont

* I didn't include Bernier and Harrold in this since they were pretty much with NJ for most of the season.

RFA
LW: Matteau
LD: Helgeson

UFA
LW: McKelvie
C: Timmins, Wohlberg, K. Zajac
RW: Carrier, Janssen, Novak**, D. Zajac
LD: Keenan
RD: Baier, Faust

** Maybe he already has an AHL deal?

Edited July 2, 2015 by thefiestygoat

[RizzMB30]

I just took a quick look and I think I have Albany sorted as of today. Let me know if I made any errors or omitted anyone.

 

Under Contract

LW: Boucher^, Johnson, Lorito, Thomson

C: Black, Blandisi, Kujawinski, O'Brien^, Pelley, Pietila, Coleman

RW: Sislo, Thompson^, Chatham*

LD: Burlon

RD: Hrabarenka, Mozik, Scarlett

G: Wedgewood

* Not officially signed (yet) but indications last spring made it seem like it would happen this summer. Could still go back to OHL though.

^ Could win a spot in NJ out of camp.

Likely NJ?

Matteau (no longer waiver exempt)

Kalinin

Re-Signed

RW: Thompson (NHL Deal)

G: Wedgewood (NHL Deal)

Signed

RW: Kalinin (Avangard Omsk)

RD: Mozik (HC Plzen)

Not Retained

LW: Whitney (NYI)

C: Sestito

RW: Bell (Stjernen)

LD: Fraser

RD: McPherson

G: Clemmensen (Retired), Clermont

* I didn't include Bernier and Harrold in this since they were pretty much with NJ for most of the season.

RFA

LW: Matteau

LD: Helgeson

UFA

LW: McKelvie

C: Timmins, Wohlberg, K. Zajac

RW: Carrier, Janssen, Novak**, D. Zajac

LD: Keenan, Kelly

RD: Baier, Faust

** Maybe he already has an AHL deal?

So it's NHL or waivers for Matteau; Boucher needs to show us something before the folks around here start labeling him a total bust.  I'm looking at guys like Coleman, Pietila, Kujiwinski to step up and really impress.  

[thefiestygoat]

So it's NHL or waivers for Matteau; Boucher needs to show us something before the folks around here start labeling him a total bust.  I'm looking at guys like Coleman, Pietila, Kujiwinski to step up and really impress.  

With all of the guys that can play center in Albany, I wouldn't be surprised if Coleman moves to the wing. He's not a "big" player at 5'11", 195 lbs. but plays like one (almost a bit too recklessly at times). Take some defensive pressure off of him and try to open him up offensively.

I'm really interested to see how Kujawinski performs at the AHL level. He had a decent junior career but never lived up to expectations. This will obviously be a step up in competition but maybe the fresh start will do him well.

I don't expect much offensively from Pietila but he's one of those guys that gets a lot of praise for his D, is great in the faceoff circle, and can kill penalties. It will be interesting to see if he can carve himself out a role in the NHL eventually with this skillset on a 4th line.

Also, I added Dan Kelly to the under contract list. I originally went by Hockeys Cap but General Fanager had him under contract. Luckily Kelly's page at Cap Geek was captured by the Way Back Machine which confirmed he is under contract.

Edited July 2, 2015 by thefiestygoat

[DJ Eco]

What do you guys think about Thompson's chances of making the big team this year, if our RW depth stays the way it is?

[thefiestygoat]

Kelly Zajac just signed a 1 year deal with Lukko of the Finnish Elite League. Contract includes a 2 month tryout period. (Source, Roughly Translated) Hopefully he does well for them. It's too bad that injuries derailed his 2014-15 season after a strong campaign in 2013-14 for Albany.

Glancing at the other UFA's to see where some guys end up. No word if veteran Chris McKelvie will be back but he was just at a team function for the fans. Maybe he's still a player or perhaps he's taking a role in the organization?

Faust was in prospect camp so maybe he'll be back on an AHL deal.

No idea where Timmins, Wohlberg, Carrier, D. Zajac, Fraser, McPherson, Keenan, and Clermont are going to end up.

[Triumph]

I liked K. Zajac, but I think with a bunch of centers coming in this year, his spot was questionable.

 

Clermont's future, if he has one in hockey, is going to be in a 2nd tier Euro league.  Italy, Germany, etc.

 

I'm surprised Timmins is still unsigned, he's had 2 good years in the AHL; maybe he's holding out for an AHL deal instead of going to Germany or something.

 

Fraser's waiting for the AHL deal from Toronto.

[vadvlfan]

One of Sislo or Thompson (possibly both) could make big club out of camp. This is a sink or swim year for so many players.  We also don't know if Shero might sign

guys like Stempniak or Tlusty, and which, if any camp invites.

 

Anxious to see Lou's invites and new Marlies

[Jas0nMacIsaac]

Albany will no longer have a bunch of big bodied grinders and one and a half way forwards. I expect them to quickly transition into a fast attacking team.

 

Sislo (Fast)

Thompson

O'Brien

Johnson (Fast)

Thompson 

Blandisi (Fast)

Black (Fast)

Pietila (Fast)

Coleman

Kujawinski (Fast)

 

i'm sure there will be some late tryouts for main camp that will play in Albany as well.

[RizzMB30]

One of Sislo or Thompson (possibly both) could make big club out of camp. This is a sink or swim year for so many players.  We also don't know if Shero might sign

guys like Stempniak or Tlusty, and which, if any camp invites.

 

Anxious to see Lou's invites and new Marlies

I just don't see Sislo all of a sudden breaking out.  From what I remember he had a good shot rate and was speedy when he had caught a few NHL games.  Maybe a fourth liner that can stick in the roster, but he's still a fringe player at best. 

[thefiestygoat]

http://blog.timesunion.com/hockey/mcpherson-faust-novak-join-a-devils-roster/19852/

 

Looks like McPherson didn't find another opportunity and he will be back on an AHL deal. Wohlberg is trying out for Carolina's AHL team. No idea where Timmins and D. Zajac are going to end up. Also, Carrier is back with Albany but on a try out.

 

D David Shields and LW Gunnar Hughes are trying out for Albany. Shields looks like a big defensive defenseman - though I have no idea if he's any good or not at the AHL level. Hughes just turned 23, is listed by EP at 6'1, 201 lbs., and just finished 4 years at St. Lawrence were he was captain in his senior season. Not much of a point producer at the NCAA level though - 0.51 Pts/GP. Looks like the Devils are going to make use of Adirondack (ECHL) this season.

[titans04]

Carrier doesn't have the skills to play on a halfway decent team in the ECHL .  He couldn't even get a ECHL deal to start last year falling to the SPHL before Kowalsky called on old friend Vince Williams in Orlando where he did nothing before being called up to Albany.  

 

Isn't or wasn't there a Devil's scout who's last name was Carrier?

[thefiestygoat]

Carrier doesn't have the skills to play on a halfway decent team in the ECHL .  He couldn't even get a ECHL deal to start last year falling to the SPHL before Kowalsky called on old friend Vince Williams in Orlando where he did nothing before being called up to Albany.  

 

Isn't or wasn't there a Devil's scout who's last name was Carrier?

Claude Carrier. Been with the organization since 1984, though I'm not sure if he was let go or if he is related to Alexandre.

[titans04]

Claude Carrier. Been with the organization since 1984, though I'm not sure if he was let go or if he is related to Alexandre.

Thanks!  

[thefiestygoat]

http://blog.timesunion.com/hockey/albany-devil-release-three-from-tryout-contracts/19866/

 

Albany released Alexandre Carrier, Gunnar Hughes, and Jacob Sweeney from their tryouts. Carrier is going to Adirondack of the ECHL though. Appleby is still in camp on a tryout which seems like a good sign for him. Gragnani was officially assigned to Albany.

 

Current camp roster:

Goaltenders (3): Scott Wedgewood, Yann Danis, Ken Appleby*

 

Defensemen (9:): Marc-Andre Gragnani, Brandon Burlon, Raman Hrabarenka, Dan Kelly, Reece Scarlett, Vojtech Mozik, Corbin McPherson, Joe Faust, Dave Shields*

 

Forwards (14): Rod Pelley, Jim O’Brien, Ben Thomson, Paul Thompson, Mike Sislo, Graham Black, Blake Coleman, Ryan Kujawinski, Blake Pietila, Matt Lorito, Chris McKelvie, Pierre-Luc Letourneau‐Leblond, Joseph Blandisi, Max Novak

* = tryout

[Jas0nMacIsaac]

Current camp roster:

Ken Appleby

Scott Wedgewood

Yann Danis

 

Marc-Andre Gragnani - Reece Scarlett  

Brandon Burlon - Raman Hrabarenka

Dan Kelly/Corbin McPherson- Vojtech Mozik

Joe Faust

 

Matt Lorito - Jim O’Brien - Paul Thompson

Blake Coleman - Joseph Blandisi - Mike Sislo

Blake Pietila - Graham Black - Ryan Kujawinski

Ben Thomson - Rod Pelley - Chris McKelvie

Pierre-Luc Letourneau‐Leblond

 

This looks like a pretty good roster and certainly a playoff team with Ken Appelby in nets based on his OHL numbers and size.

Edited October 4, 2015 by Jas0nMacIsaac