Alumni in the Pros MAY '05

[The Rancor]

player report cards from hockeysfuture.com
lots of cornell alumni reports:


Will Ryan O'Byrne sign with the Canadiens during the college offseason?

John D.
Dubuque, IA

Thank you for the question John. We thought we might take this opportunity to address O'Byrne specifically and touch upon other college stand-outs that might be looking to sign with an NHL organization this offseason.

O'Byrne is a big-bodied defenseman for Cornell University. To date, we have not heard anything regarding O'Byrne leaving Cornell early to sign with Montreal. But the offseason is still young.

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11. Doug Murray, D Age: 25
Grade: 6.0 B
Acquired: 8th Rd, 241st Overall, 1999 NHL Entry Draft

It took Doug Murray some time, but the project eighth round defenseman taken in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft out of the Eastern Junior Hockey League has finally gotten his NHL opportunity.

A Hobey Baker finalist his junior season at Cornell University, Murray impressed all with his open-ice hitting and cannon shot in his rookie pro season with the Cleveland Barons in 2003-04. Murray has battled a nagging shoulder injury, the NHL lockout, and a hip injury his first two seasons with Cleveland, and despite starting the 2005-06 season in Cleveland, where he scored one goal and seven assists in two games, Murray has acquitted himself well in the NHL.

Recalled Dec. 2, the 6'3, 240-pound skating linebacker has provided San Jose with a physical presence on the blue line and an open ice hitter to match Kyle McLaren. Murray has skated primarily as a sixth defenseman, as he's averaged 14:34 of ice time after 28 games and has only one assist. A shoulder injury kept him out of the line-up heading into the Olympic Break.

In order to assure his place in San Jose's future line-up, as San Jose has a number of good prospect defensemen in the system, Murray must continue to improve his skating and footspeed, vital in the new NHL. He also must find a way to stay healthy. Murray has the potential to be a physical fifth defenseman who can fill in on the power play now and again with his point shot. At worst, he should be a serviceable seventh defenseman.

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What physical defenseman was used to shut down the opponent's top lines after Brad Stuart was traded to Boston in the Thornton trade? Rookie Doug Murray.

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Doug Murray, D (26)
8th Rd, 241st overall, 1999 NHL Entry Draft

It's been a long journey for Doug Murray, drafted in the eighth round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft out of the Eastern Junior Hockey League's New York Apple Core, but the Cornell University grad's hard work has paid off with NHL action in 2005-06.

The hard-hitting, 6'3, 240-pound blueliner established himself as one of the top open-ice hitters in the organization while with the Cleveland Barons When Brad Stuart was traded to Boston, Murray was the defenseman San Jose recalled to maintain a physical presence on the back end. Murray scored a goal and seven assists in 20 games for the Barons before being recalled Dec. 1 by San Jose. By late December, Murray was receiving a regular shift and being used to shut down opponents' top forwards.

However, as January wore on, Murray's ice time decreased from over 18 minutes per game to around 13 minutes per game, and then he suffered a shoulder injury Feb. 4 against Anaheim. By the time Murray was healthy in mid-March, although he did play three games in late February and early March, Christian Ehrhoff had solidified his game and was playing over 20 minutes per game and Josh Gorges too had solidified his spot in the Sharks line-up. Murray played only six games for the Sharks down the stretch and had yet to play in the NHL playoffs through ten playoff games.

It's not because Murray isn't an NHL-worthy defenseman, though.

"He played well, then he hurt his shoulder, and then he got healthy and he couldn't get back into the line-up," Burke said of Murray's dilemma. "It's not like he's out of the line-up because he can't be in the league, it's just that we've gotten on a roll."

Murray has been criticized for his skating and footspeed, but he's been able to use his awareness to keep himself out of the penalty box while maintaining his physical presence.

"People would think he'd struggle with the new rules, but he doesn't," Burke said. "He's not a stick guy and a hooker."

Despite establishing himself on Cleveland's power play with his heavy point shot, Murray was a defensive defenseman for San Jose. In 34 games, Murray had a lone assist and 21 shots. Although Murray had trouble cracking San Jose's line-up down the stretch and in the playoffs, his work ethic should ensure that he stays in the NHL.

"He's a kid that, you give him some information, he'll do it a million times 'til he gets it right," Burke said.

Murray is 26 years old, has played three pro seasons, and has played fewer than 80 NHL games, but the fact that he was not technically under an NHL contract during the lockout means he is not eligible for Group VI unrestricted free agency. Even though Murray did not play for the Sharks in the playoffs, he's an NHL-caliber player, and the rest of the NHL knows it.

"I don't think you'd be surprised to know that a lot of teams called about him at the trade deadline," Burke said. "A lot of teams need this kind of player."

Given how poorly Kyle McLaren played against Edmonton, Murray may be able to make McLaren expendable. McLaren was paid $1,900,000 in 2005-06, Murray may only make a third of that in 2006-07. In bang for your buck, Doug Murray is a smart choice, and he wouldn't let Raffi Torres have his way with the team.

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David LeNeveu, G (Age 22)

One man's loss is another man's gain. So was the case when the Coyotes lost goalie Brain Boucher to an injury in the preseason. David LeNeveu stepped into his role and alternated with Curtis Joseph early on, seeing action in nine games before he was sent to San Antonio to play the bulk of season.

The Fernie, British Columbia native would rejoin the team in late March and saw time in an additional six contests. Overall, he went 3-8-0, had a 3.24 goals against average and a .886 save percentage in a total of 15 games played.

Smith on LeNeveu's two stints with the Coyotes: "LeNeveu had a good start for us, but he had to go down to the minors to get his ice time. There was no sense to keep him up when Boucher came back healthy. He played very well in the AHL and earned himself a chance to come back up towards the end of the season. We need to discuss whether he goes back down to get more playing experience, he stays up with us next season, and if he stays, can he help us win games at this level. We don't put numbers on anybody's backs. It all depends how well he comes through training camp and what the next season will bring."

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After seeing time with the Coyotes early on in the season as a backup to Curtis Joseph, David LeNeveu returned to San Antonio to get his minutes in and continue to pad his experience in the AHL. While he can handle the talent in the league, he seemed overburdened at times. LeNeveu still had respectable numbers going 10-12-6 in 28 games played. He finished with a 2.92 goals against average; a .921 save percentage and snuck in two shutouts.

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Mckee achieved a great deal of success in the NAHL. During his first and only year for Texas, Mckee went 26-7, had a GAA of 2.41, and a save percentage of .899. He was also named to the NAHL First team, and the NAHL All-Rookie team.
2003-04: Mckee came in as a freshman and was a force in net for the Big Red. He went 16-10-6 with a GAA of 1.84 and a save % of .920. He was named ECACHL Co-Rookie of the year, second team all-Ivy, and Honorable mention All-ECACHL.

2004-05: Mckee had a dominant sophomore season. He went 27-5-3 with a GAA of 1.24, and a save % of .947. He also posted 10 shutouts, which, along with his five shutouts from the previous year, gave him the Cornell record for most career shutouts previously held by Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden. His 10 shutouts also set a Cornell and ECACHL single season record for most shutouts in a season. He was named Ivy League player of the year and first team all-Ivy, First Team All-ECACHL, ECACHL Player of the Year, and the Ken Dryden award that is awarded to the ECACHL's top goalie. He was also a First Team All-American and was one of the hat trick finalists for the Hobey Baker Award given to college hockey's top player.

2005-06: As a junior, Mckee posted a 22-9-4 record, along with a 2.08 GAA and a .910 save %. He was named as one of the finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, and was recently signed to a contract by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

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Stephen Baby, RW
Age: 26
7th round, 198th overall, 1999
Baby had a good season point-wise when he was in the lineup, but missed the last two months of the year with a concussion. His 22 points in 39 games was by far the most productive of his three seasons with the Wolves. His penalty minutes were dramatically down, only 44 compared to 115 last year.

The 1999 pick was re-signed in 2005.

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yup.

[cth95]

Thanks for summarizing all of that.  Great post.

[Josh '99]

Matt Underhill's Alaska Aces won the first game of the Kelly Cup finals, the ECHL's championship series.  Can't seem to find a box score but game recaps say that Underhill did play.

[Avash]

[quote jmh30]Matt Underhill's Alaska Aces won the first game of the Kelly Cup finals, the ECHL's championship series.  Can't seem to find a box score but game recaps say that Underhill did play.[/quote]

Box score - http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/ppublic.cgi?action=box&id=3236. Underhill stopped 34 shots in a 3-2 win.

[mgl11]

more info, including Matt's plan to retire after the season. Here's hoping he goes out on top.

http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=7954

[billhoward]

Story says Underhill, suffering from a back injury, wants to teach English.

[cth95]

I saw an article about McKee on ESPN's website today.  There is nothing we don't know, but it is linked as one of the 3 daily stories under NHL on the home page.  Very good publicity for him and Cornell.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2006/news/story?id=2457120

[ugarte]

[quote cth95]There is nothing we don't know[/quote] Actually, I didn't know that he is on the playoff roster.

[Roy 82]

and I didn't know that Cornell "lost to eventual national champion Wisconsin at this year's Frozen Four".

[cth95]

You guys read it closer than I did.  I just skimmed quickly, seeing the focus about a goalie from the south.  I didn't think about the playoff roster, and I didn't catch the FF mistake.  Although wrong, maybe the multiple FF references noticed this spring could be good publicity as far as raising the perception of Cornell hockey to general hockey fans (and recruits).

[Bio '04]

[quote ugarte][quote cth95]There is nothing we don't know[/quote] Actually, I didn't know that he is on the playoff roster.[/quote]

I think I remember reading about that on this board before...

edit: But isn't he ineligible?
http://elf.elynah.com/read.php?1,95124,95206

[profudge]

From ESPN (Scott Burnside) article about Gretzky's  challenge over next couple of years coaching Phoenix
[Q]...
Can this team challenge for a playoff berth in 2006-07?

Promising young netminder Dave LeNeveu will see more action next season but also will have the benefit of working with veteran Curtis Joseph, who recently re-signed with the Coyotes. LeNeveu will have to prove he is ready to assume a starting role in the NHL if the Coyotes are to take another step forward.
...[/Q]
 for whole article see  http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2464506