Joseph Blandisi – McKeen's Hockey

Pacific Coast – Anaheim Ducks 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:36:01 +0000

Review/State of Play - Finished with their fifth straight 100 point season getting swept in the first round by San Jose after making it to the conference finals two out of the three previous years. It was an impressive achievement given injuries would plague their veteran players with Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry and Cam Fowler all missing meaningful time. They represent $30.25 million in cap space and a significant factor in any further success this season. There have been some promising young pieces emerging, but the window is closing on this forward group.

GM Bob Murray largely stood pat over the summer except for minor depth additions, despite professing the need to become a faster team. Faithful to coach Randy Carlyle, often the target of criticism for a throw back style of coaching that doesn’t seem to fit the offseason narrative of Murray. In the bottom of the third of the league in CF% with 48.62, he may succeed in getting the club into the postseason, but are they built to succeed, particularly when other strong teams have added significant pieces to challenge?

Anaheim Ducks center Rickard Rakell (67)

Growing internally – There were some encouraging signs of internal growth of younger players. Rickard Rakell definitively established that last season’s breakout was real and hit new highs in goals (36) and points (69) to lead the team in scoring, after Getzlaf had the honor for the prior six seasons. He finished 10^th in the league in 5v5 goals with 22. He tied for third last season with 26 and is behind only Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews over the two seasons combined. He led the team in scoring with eight goals on an anemic Anaheim power play (tied for second last in power play goals scored).

The emergence of young defenders 26-year-old Josh Manson and 24-year old rookie Brandon Montaur as impactful regulars was key last season. Manson led the backend in scoring with 37 points, all but one of them coming at even strength. He also anchors the shutdown pairing alongside 24-year-old Hampus Lindholm and led the team in shorthanded time on ice. Montour produced 32 points and played over twenty minutes a game leading the team in power play time on ice and points (18). They form one of the strongest core of young defenders in the league when including 26-year-old Cam Fowler.

The biggest development last season came from 24-year old goaltender John Gibson. He turned in an outstanding season and was one of the best keepers in the league from January on posting the leagues second best save percentage (0.937) and third in GAA (1.95) for goalies who played 10 games or more – he was first among tenders who had played 20 games. He was instrumental in keeping the franchise playoff bound and among the top ten teams in the league.

The spectre of age and injury loom - Corey Perry is drawing a cap hit of $8.625 million and at 33 years of age his 30 goal seasons appear to be over after not achieving 20 in the past two seasons. A rebound may be a reach, and his contract remains an albatross with a no trade clause. Ryan Kesler, also 33 years old, had a tough season after hip surgery and a December debut. He did not seem to get back to form entirely by seasons end and there are reports he is in intensive rehab and talk of missing the season entirely. Patrick Eaves missed all but two games last season and whether he can contribute at his past level remains to be seen.

Adam Henrique at 28-years-old added some depth up the middle after being acquired for Sami Vatanen and scored 20 goals for the Ducks in the final 57 games. He brings speed, work ethic and good hockey sense entering his prime. He rounds out a solid experienced group up front. They signed 30-year-old Brian Gibbons on a one year contract in the offseason - having previously played and showed chemistry with Adam Henrique.

Outlook - They enter this season with a similar line up to last season but did add experience and depth on the back end in Andrej Sustr and Luke Schenn, both on low cost one-year contracts ($1.3 million and $800,000 respectively). They replace veteran Francois Beauchemin.

Third in the league in goals against with an improved defense and three solid lines up front when healthy the Ducks have some factors in their favour for another appearance in the playoffs. A sweep in the playoffs exposed their lack of speed and could not produce offense when called upon.

They have made no significant improvements to a weak offense that is reliant on an aging superstar. The power play in desperate need of help did not receive any. The are placing their hopes that a healthy Eakins and Kesler along with general good health amongst the veterans along with an emerging young group will carry them further. A strategy that should see a further, if slow, decline this season.

NHL Prospect Watch: New Jersey Devils

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 20:36:49 +0000

Readers of this column have been privy to some excellent farm systems and some dull ones. This week we scrape the bottom of the barrel with the New Jersey Devils. Ranked dead last in the offseason by Hockey Prospectus (http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/top-ten-prospects-30-the-new-jersey-devils/), they have done nothing this year to change that, although the upcoming Entry Draft may move things in the right direction. Previous long-term scouting direction David Conte was let go last year and the team immediately drafted two of its better prospects in Pavel Zacha and Mackenzie Blackwood and supplemented those additions with a few free agent signings such as Joseph Blandisi, Sergei Kalinin, Kenny Appleby, and Vojtech Mozik, the first two of whom have already proven his worth in the NHL. The organization’s AHL team in Albany had a fantastic season before bowing out in the seventh game of the second round, but their success was mostly on the backs of veteran hockey pros, the true prospects few and far between on that roster.

Pavel Zacha, C, Sarnia (OHL) (6^th overall, 2015)

While I generally avoid writing about CHL prospects, I will make an exception in Zacha’s case for two reasons. First, the system is pretty lean. There is only so much of interest that can be said about future up-and-down guys. Secondly, I have something to say about him. Zacha is a very good prospect, with a full set of physical tools that would lead some – many – to expect future greatness. He’s a very good skater, while his shot, puck skills and off puck play all grade out as above average. His physical game is exceptional. And yet he produces offense at a rate much lower than would be expected. Essentially, there is something that has prevented the Czech import from putting it all together and dominating to the extent that his natural gifts suggest. In his draft eligible year, he put up 34 points in 37 OHL games, a total which many (including the Devils) brushed off as being due to suspensions, injuries, acclimatization to North America and the WJC. This year, one year older, wiser and more experienced, he produced 64 points in 51 games. Better, but not commensurate with normal expectations for top ten picks at forward in the Draft +1 year. Also, he was once more a relative non-entity for the Czech Republic at the WJC with only a single assist across three games. Zacha ended the season with a short stint with Albany.

In my viewings of the 19 year-old, I have seen a player with clear high end talents, but who plays hockey as if they were all somehow miscalibrated, and out of sync. Every is done at a high pace and with intensity, but lacking precision, with passes just missing his teammates and Zacha fumbling too many of his teammates reciprocal passes. Through his general aptitude and talents, he is always around the play, but all too often makes flawed decisions, leading to too many instances where he ends up chasing a play that he had very recently been in front of. Zacha is still very likely to end up as a solid second line forward – he can play both center and left wing – but until he learns to slow the game down, which will also lead to reduced time spent wallowing in the penalty box, he will not reach the heights envisioned for him on draft day last year.

Brandon Baddock, LW, Edmonton (WHL) (161^st overall, 2014)

Sticking with the CHL for a few more moments, Baddock deserves notice both for his play as well as his contractual status. Drafted in 2014, the big winger has yet to sign an ELC and has only a few more weeks to do so before the Devils will surrender his rights. Never a big scorer, he has produced at a rate only slightly above one point every other game since being drafted by the Devils. Thankfully, Baddock was not drafted for his scoring potential.

He was drafted for his energy game. Baddock is a player who can work the cycle and succeed along the boards. A good skater with decent top speed, he has enough in his wheels to recover and race back to catch a streaking opponent and break up a rush. His physical game, combined with a modicum of skill has been enough to occasionally take over shifts at the WHL level. His skill level is enough to play a simple north-south game. He may be no more than a bottom six energy/grinding player going forward, but there is enough there to be more than worth the Devils’ while to give him an ELC and keep him in the organization – especially considering their paucity of alternatives.

Steve Santini, D, Boston College (NCAA) (42^nd overall, 2013)

Of the five collegians whose player rights are currently owned by the Devils, three spent last season playing at Boston College. Santini spent three seasons at BC before signing his ELC with New Jersey in April, shortly after the Eagles were eliminated in the semifinals of the NCAA Frozen Four. His junior season was his best as a collegian as he stayed healthy and finished the year with a career high 19 points. Santini appeared in one year-end game in the NHL and then went off to represent America at the World Championships in Russia. He is currently (as of this writing – eight games in) the only active player on the American roster without a point).

Clearly, offense is not his bag. Santini will fire in wrist shots from the point. They have decent carry, but will very rarely be enough to evade the netminder and hit twine. He never scored as a member of the USNTDP and potted five goals in three seasons at BC. He can carry the puck through the neutral zone and will occasionally sortie behind the opposing icing line to help support a rush, but he circles back to the blueline as soon as possible. What the Devils have in Santini is a potential shutdown blueliner with minimal ability to impact the game in the opposition’s end. He can be a prominent penalty killer. Santini maintains tight gaps on opposing forwards and finishes his checks every time. With the Devils lacking experience on the blueline outside of Andy Greene, they may be inclined to bring in one or two veterans to supplement Adam Larsson, Damon Severson and Jon Merrill. If so, Santini will be afforded time to develop his game in the AHL. Being patient with prospects is always a benefit to their evolution, but Santini will not need much of it to get to his expected NHL role.

Alexander Kerfoot, RW, Harvard (NCAA) (150^th overall, 2012)

A scoring sensation in the BCHL, Kerfoot went to Harvard and most recently could be found to Jimmy Vesey’s right, where his speed worked to open up the ice for his illustrious linemate. Undersized at 5-10”, 175, Kerfoot has never figured out how to score at the NCAA level, with close to 75% of his collegiate points earned as assists. In fact, he scored only four goals last season alongside the Hobey Baker winning Vesey.

Kerfoot has quick hands and is a thrill to watch him carrying the puck through the neutral zone. He will often shade to his off-wing when carrying and he does tend to end his rushes by dumping the puck in deep more than I would ever recommend, but his speed is hard to teach. The Devils are wise to leave him in Harvard for his senior year (I also doubt Kerfoot would have left the Ivy League school early) to see how he produces without a talent like Vesey beside him. Even if he does not increase his goal scoring, will he be able to maintain the better than point per game he has had for the past two seasons? Further, even though he has put on close to 20 pounds since enrolling, he is still notably weak. His physical game is non-existent and his lack of upper body strength prevents him from getting too much zip on his shots. If he lets himself try to create more often and gains just a bit more strength, he could be a keeper. If not, current Devils GM Ray Shero will feel no responsibility for the player selected while he was still in charge of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nick Lappin, RW, Brown/Albany (NCAA/AHL) (UFA, signed Mar. 8, 2016)

A well under the radar player when he signed as an undrafted free agent in early March, Lappin was never able to lift the Brown program above the second half of the ECAC standings in his four years with the Bears. The Devils were impressed enough with the Illinois native, who exceeded one point per game twice in his collegiate career, and sent him to the AHL, where he got in 23 games between the regular season and playoffs scoring eight times.

What New Jersey signed in Lappin is a winger with a good shot – both in terms of its strength in a vacuum as well as his willingness and ability to get it off at opportune moments. He knows how to use defenders as a natural screen to shield his intentions. Lappin is a decent skater, with respectable top speed, but not quite enough to be able to blaze by many defenders to the outside. He will come to the fore once his team is in possession in the offensive zone, finding gaps in coverage to collect passes and unleash his wrist shot on a goaltender in flux. He also displays a commendable two-way game, with persistence in puck recovery and good presence in all three zones. He is by no means a sure thing as an NHL’er, but his quick start in the AHL lends credence to the scouts who advocated on his behalf in the organization. He projects as a middle six player who will be usable in all manpower situations down the road. I fully expect him to exceed his father’s total of seven NHL games as soon as the 2016-17 season. A good find for the scouts.

Scott Wedgewood, G, Albany (AHL) (84^th overall, 2010)

As incumbent NHL backup Keith Kincaid struggled last season to a .904 save percentage, looking especially bad when he was forced to take on the bulk of starts in the absence of starter Corey Schneider, there is room in New Jersey to consider handing the reins to a new #2. Wedgewood, in stopping over 93% of shots in the AHL last year, his fourth professional season, is primed to make the New Jersey think twice and thrice before the 2016-17 season kicks off. Wedgewood made his NHL debut and kicked things off with a bang, allowing only one goal in his first two games, which included a shutout of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Wedgewood, in spite of his copious professional experience, is the same age as the aforementioned Lappin. He moves well from post to post, anticipating passes well through a solid tracking game. He is a pure butterfly netminder who stays low in his crease. He will move to the top of the paint when the puck is at the point, but will not challenge the shooter much more than that, not counting breakaway situations, as he prefers to give himself room to slide from side to side in case of a pass. His legs are quick when needing to las out for kick saves as well. The graduate of the now defunct Plymouth Whaler program is not exceptional at any facet of the game, but outside of some mild deficiencies in tracking the puck through screens (perhaps through his position deep in the crease) his game would work well in a backup slot in the NHL. I would support the Devils giving him the support job next season. He is what he is at this point and that is an upgrade on Kincaid, albeit not someone who will ever threaten for the starter’s job – a good thing as the Devils have a pretty good one already. If the Devils don’t go with Wedgewood, he may lose his chance to make an impact in this organization, as they have a few promising goalies on the way up in the aforementioned Appleby and Blackwood.

The Devils have a few more players of interest who spent this past season with Albany, but none who project as more than roster depth. Reese Scarlett and Vojtech Mozik could each spend some time in the NHL in bottom pairing defense roles. Scarlett is more of a puck mover with decent mobility, while Mozik is stronger in his own end, taking out his man and making simple, short passes to begin the transition. Blake Pietila is an energy winger who plays in dirty areas and has a high enough hockey IQ to earn some time on the PK. Ryan Kujawinski is a two-way guy with an above average shot. As mentioned earlier, Albany’s success this season was mostly the result of a veteran, non-prospect lineup. As Shero and his team put their stamps more on the roster, expect the prospect depth to grow and gain in attractiveness.

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire

McKeen's Hockey — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 20:00:58 +0000

The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching and now is the time to make a move and give your fantasy roster a push if you are a contender. This week the Waiver Wire looks at NHL players on hot streaks. Some are short term solutions, but some may have keeper potential for some leagues.

Jordan Staal, Centre – Carolina Hurricanes, 50% owned

Carolina currently sits just outside a playoff spot, and are 5-3-2 in their last ten games. In that stretch, Staal has ten points, including four points in his last two games. Staal is putting up a strong second half of the season so far with 16 points in a 14 game span, and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Benoit Pouliot, Left Wing – Edmonton Oilers, 45% owned

Pouliot has seven points in his last ten games, including back-to-back two point games coming against Ottawa, and Columbus. As long as he remains on a line with Connor McDavid, and Jordan Eberle, Pouliot is fantasy relevant and is worthy of picking up off the waiver wire over a higher profile player who is slumping or injured.

Zack Kassian, Right Wing – Edmonton Oilers, 26% owned

His second chance this season (and likely the last of his career) with Edmonton has gotten off to a good start, considering he missed the first half of the season and training camp. Kassian has played in ten games for the Oilers and has four points, 16 shots, 43 penalty minutes, and 37 hits. He has shown flashes of offensive skill during his career in the minors and when he was on a line with the Sedin twins in Vancouver. His real fantasy value comes in leagues which score peripheral stats such as hits and PIM’s.

Joseph Blandisi, Left Wing – New Jersey Devils, 27% owned

Since being recalled by the Devils Blandisi has been on fire with four points in four games. He has been bounced between the NHL and AHL a few times this season, but to date he has ten points including three powerplay points in 15 games. He mainly gets recalled for injury relief, but his offensive production may earn him a regular roster spot on the top line with Adam Henrique and Lee Stempniak as well as powerplay time. Don’t sleep on Blandisi!

Cody Ceci, Defence – Ottawa Senators, 41% owned

The Sens only other offensive defenseman has been red hot lately with eight points in his last ten games, doubling his point total on the year to 16 in 47 games. That scoring pace has him on par with teammate Erik Karlsson, which is obviously unsustainable, but shows promise for his offensive development and fantasy relevance going forward. The former first round pick continues to improve, suggesting his ownership number will quickly increase so don’t procrastinate.