peter holland traded for jesse blacker.

Sometimes, we forget that minor league hockey is a business. This morning, we got a nice reminder.

games 5&6: six-point weekend

With Frederik Andersen in Anaheim, highly-touted prospect John Gibson got complete and total control of the net against the Albany Devils this weekend.

Both games against the ADevs had the same result. A team won 2-1 in the shootout with the only regulation goals coming on the Power Play for either team.  Albany’s trap style is inherently boring, forcing much of the game to be played in the neutral zone. Nonetheless, the Admirals were still outshot in each game. Saturday’s contest was a little closer, with Norfolk getting 26 shots to Albany’s 28.

 

John Gibson was the story for both games. The rookie goalie was outstanding, only allowing one goal in each game. He seemed to control bounces that were 20 feet outside his net. He’s coming more into form as a professional netminder, and the future is obviously very bright for him. Among AHL goalies with at least 4 starts, Gibson is 2nd in save percentage behind only Jake Allen of Chicago.  Both Martin Jones of Manchester and Richard Bachman of Oklahoma City have 6 starts, which does obscure some perspective. Reminder that we’re only six games in the season, anyway.

 

Friday’s shootout saw goals from DSP and Joseph Cramarossa to win the game. Saturday’s game was similar, but different. Charlie Sarault notched a power=play goal after being scratched on Friday. Despite this, the game still went to another shootout. No Admirals scored a goal, and thus a loss. Six points were up for grabs this weekend, with the teams splitting three a piece. Norfolk has to get better 5v5 and get shots on goal. It’s not happening, though Saturday may have been a slight improvement.

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Brad Staubitz has been placed on waivers by the Ducks.  Despite playing in both games over the weekend, Anaheim feels he is probably better off somewhere else. No team has yet to claim him (3:30 Eastern, Sunday).  Buzz abound that he might go to the Montreal Canadiens since they’re out Brandon Prust and George Parros. 

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Utah went 1-1 over the weekend, with Igor Bobkov in net for both starts.  Jamie MacQueen scored 4 goals on Friday for a victory over the Idaho Steeleheads, while they dropped a game on Saturday against the Las Vegas Wranglers.

game 2: wild and crazy kids

Game 2 saw the Ads take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the first time this year.  John Gibson got his first pro start, Ricky Rakell keeps breaking out, and a comeback is mounted by these wild and crazy kids. 

it’s cut day (kinda)

Today was the NHL’s final roster day, where teams must submit their 23-man roster for opening night. There are exceptions for injured players, and well that’s where we find ourselves. Let’s look at who’s taking a flight from LAX  or John Wayne or wherever to ORF.