Alumni in the Pros - February 2008

[Jacob '06]

[quote redhair34]Rough day for Moulson as it looks like the Kings kept all of their forwards[/quote]

They didn't really have any prospects to move anyone since Nagy was out and everyone else is useless. Hopefully Thornton and Willsie will be gone after this season, and one can only hope they can get rid of Nagy. Boyle, Purcell, and Moulson should all get a decent shot at the NHL next year for the Kings.

[ugarte]

Anything interesting about the Rangers backup goalie situation? Does Lenny have any chance of getting to the NHL? (I know enough that I don't expect him to get a starting role...)

[Cactus12]

This move doesn't really do much for either team. Montoya was not going to draw anything big- case of AHL overexposure in my opinion. They could have had Lundqvist extended last year and moved Montoya for a bit more (but I guess not doing that allowed for gomez/drury acquisition, so can't really argue management there).

As for LeNeveu... I think he's going to be Wolfpack for quite some time. Lundqvist plays a ton of games. Valiquette starts occasionally for the next-day games and against some power forward teams (flyers), and has really done a good job of it. Backup goalie hasn't really been an issue at all. LeNeveu's NHL future is not looking great if he stays with the Rangers for any length of time.

[Josh '99]

[quote calgARI '07]Pretty lateral in terms of Sjostrom for Hossa.  Both pretty ineffective players with scoring touch.[/quote]Disagree - Hossa's lack of scoring touch is why he hasn't caught on anywhere yet.  He cycles well, finishes some checks, can kill penalties...  but finishing is not his strong suit.

Now that I've calmed down a bit, it's nice to have a Cornellian in the Rangers' system.  I guess I could see him potentially competing to back up Lundqvist in training camp before next season.

[DeltaOne81]

Its been discussed, but yes, Montoya's stock has dropped significantly. I grew up in Ct and my dad happened to bring it up in some context recently and mentioned that he'd lost the starting spot on the Wolfpack.

[cbuckser]

I saw this video of Ryan O'Byrne's textbook hip check on Jarkko Ruutu last week:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=duq-73hbXN8

[redhair34]

[quote Cactus12]LeNeveu's NHL future is not looking great if he stays with the Rangers for any length of time.[/quote]

Maybe so, but his NHL future looks better with the Rangers, or really another team that may have landed him, than it did with the Coyotes.

With Montoya headed to the San Antonio Rampage and unavailable for comment, AHL rookie Miika Wiikman (15-5-1-3, 2.32 goals-against average, .917 save percentage) became the Pack's No. 1 goalie. But he'll be pushed by LeNeveu, 24, a second-round pick by Phoenix in 2002.

LeNeveu was an AHL All-Star with Springfield in 2003-04 and had a 9-7-3 record, 2.66 GAA and .911 save percentage with the Rampage this season. He's 5-9-2 with a 3.38 GAA in 21 career games with Phoenix, where he worked with Benoit Allaire, the Rangers' goaltenders coach.

"Wiikman's development had something to do with [trading Montoya]," Rangers GM Glen Sather said during a teleconference call. "But there also was the opportunity to get LeNeveu, who had a really good record in the AHL when he was working with Benoit in Phoenix. He sees him as a very good prospect who has a chance to develop into a No. 1 in the NHL. He has been anxious for us to make a deal to get him, but Wiikman's development has certainly helped this opportunity."

http://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-wolfpack0227.artfeb27,0,2791837.story

[KeithK]

So it sounds like LeNeveu has an advocate in the Rangers organization.  It'll take more than that to get him a spot in the NHL but it's probably a lot better than having coaches that don't like you.

[Josh '99]

[quote KeithK]So it sounds like LeNeveu has an advocate in the Rangers organization.  It'll take more than that to get him a spot in the NHL...[/quote]But it's probably enough to get the Rangers to re-up him for another year and see what he has to offer since he's an unrestricted free agent this summer.  And Allaire knows his stuff, so it makes me happy that he thinks Lenny still has that kind of potential.

[Josh '99]

[quote jkahn]The Sharks picked up Brian Campbell from Buffalo today, which may impact the playing time of Doug Murray.
Full Trade:  Campbell and a 7th round draft choice for Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick.[/quote]In SJ's first match since acquiring Campbell, Murray remains in the lineup but early on is -1 (game tied 1-1 after 1) and has taken an elbowing penalty.  Kyle McLaren is day-to-day with a knee injury at the moment but once he's ready to go I'm going to guess that Douglas will be the odd man out.

[redhair34]

[quote Josh '99] Kyle McLaren is day-to-day with a knee injury at the moment but once he's ready to go I'm going to guess that Douglas will be the odd man out.[/quote]

I doubt it.

[KeithK]

[quote redhair34][quote Josh '99] Kyle McLaren is day-to-day with a knee injury at the moment but once he's ready to go I'm going to guess that Douglas will be the odd man out.[/quote]

I doubt it.[/quote]
When Murray came back from his recent hip injury there were a number of quotes from the team to the effect that they had really missed his physical presence.  Some may be boilerplate commentary but it does seem like he has established himself as a solid part of the team this year.  Obviously we'll see when and if the rest of the blueline gets healthy but I'd bet that he'll still get playing time.

[Josh '99]

[quote KeithK][quote redhair34][quote Josh '99] Kyle McLaren is day-to-day with a knee injury at the moment but once he's ready to go I'm going to guess that Douglas will be the odd man out.[/quote]

I doubt it.[/quote]
When Murray came back from his recent hip injury there were a number of quotes from the team to the effect that they had really missed his physical presence.  Some may be boilerplate commentary but it does seem like he has established himself as a solid part of the team this year.  Obviously we'll see when and if the rest of the blueline gets healthy but I'd bet that he'll still get playing time.[/quote]I asked a Sharks fan I know and he speculated that if everyone is healthy, Murray, Carle and Ehrhoff would rotate being healthy scratches, with McLaren getting the odd day off to help him stay healthy for the playoffs.  Could be wrong though - they did miss his physical presence when Murray was out.

[redhair34]

[quote Josh '99]I asked a Sharks fan I know and he speculated that if everyone is healthy, Murray, Carle and Ehrhoff would rotate being healthy scratches, with McLaren getting the odd day off to help him stay healthy for the playoffs.  Could be wrong though - they did miss his physical presence when Murray was out.[/quote]

I'd be shocked if Ehrhoff sits in order to get McLaren in the lineup.  

FWIW (admittedly not much at all)..."Murray or McLaren" http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=483262

This was a make or break it year for Doug and he's clearly made it.  I don't think he's been a healthy scratch at all since the beginning of the season.  He's consistently getting #4/5 Dman ice time and has dramatically improved his skating and decision-making.  In last night's game he was paired pretty much exclusively with Brian Campbell.

[Josh '99]

[quote redhair34]This was a make or break it year for Doug and he's clearly made it.  I don't think he's been a healthy scratch at all since the beginning of the season.  He's consistently getting #4/5 Dman ice time and has dramatically improved his skating and decision-making.  In last night's game he was paired pretty much exclusively with Brian Campbell.[/quote]That's a good pairing.  If that remains the case, here is a projection of Murray's offensive numbers.  :-D