The following is a general update on what’s happening with prospects across the system. It covers the period since the last update, about six weeks ago.
Thrashers Rookies
A total of five rookies have played with the club so far this season. Below are their stats, in order by points. The only player currently with the club is in blue.
|
Pos.
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts
|
+/-
|
PIMs
|
Shots
|
|
| Weaver |
D
|
34
|
0
|
5
|
5
|
-7
|
12
|
18
|
| Hartigan |
C
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
-3
|
0
|
5
|
| Snyder |
C
|
7
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
-1
|
13
|
6
|
| Safronov |
D
|
6
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
-6
|
6
|
4
|
| Lessard |
RW
|
11
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
44
|
4
|
Mike Weaver was called up to Atlanta on October 31st. Since then he has secured a spot among the top four defensemen, playing an average of 18:26 a game, and has been very solid for the team. He is the only rookie currently on the roster.
Mark Hartigan was sent down on December 9th. He has scored 18 of his 24 points, including all of his goals, since being returned to the Wolves. Francis Lessard was sent down on December 11th. The effort to both convert him to a wing and keep his “enthusiasm” in check is ongoing at the AHL level. Kirill Safronov was sent down to Chicago after five games at the beginning of the season, then briefly recalled on December 15th, played one game, and was sent back December 19th. Yuri Butsayev exercised a clause in his contract not to spend over 21 days in the minors and returned to play in Russia on December 17th.
Wolves update
The Chicago Wolves (AHL affiliate) are 19-16-2-2 on the season, and 5-4-1-0 in their last ten. If the playoffs started now, they would still have to play the lightning round, similar to last year. Simon Gamache is the Wolves’ top scoring prospect, with 29 points in 37 games, including 12 goals, and 7 power play goals. Goaltender Milan Hnilicka was reassigned to Chicago for a second time on January 9th, but with the latest groin injury to Dafoe, will likely be recalled to Atlanta again. Norm Maracle and Frederic Cassivi remain on the roster in Chicago as well. Defensively the team is stocked as well, with Luke Sellars and Libor Ustrnul still struggling for ice time.
Other news and notes
- Goaltender Kari Lehtonen led Team Finland to a second straight bronze medal in the World Junior Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Lehtonen posted a 2.19 goals against average and a .923 save percentage in six games, including two shutouts.
- Wolves defenseman Garnet Exelby was named to 2003 AHL All-Star game, representing Canada. The game will be played February 3rd in Portland, Maine. JP Vigier represented the Wolves last year.
- Michigan State freshman winger Colton Fretter was named CCHA rookie of the week for the week of December 10th 2002, after posting a 2G, 2A weekend against Ferris State. Fretter continues to post solid numbers for the Spartans: 11 points in 17 games.
- Wolves defenseman Luke Sellars represented Canada in Spengler Cup in Switzerland.
Stats
Players are grouped by level for easy comparison, except for goalies who are listed together at the bottom. Within each level they are listed by point totals.College prospects
|
Team
|
Pos
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
PTS
|
+/-
|
PIM
|
Shots
|
|
| Slater, Jim | MSU | C | 21 | 7 | 15 | 22 |
+7
|
16
|
60
|
| Baby, Stephen | Cornell | RW | 15 | 5 | 16 | 21 |
36
|
||
| Stuart, Colin | Colorado College | F | 22 | 9 | 8 | 17 |
36
|
||
| Nielsen, Evan | Notre Dame | D | 22 | 2 | 13 | 15 |
+7
|
24
|
29
|
| Fretter, Colton | MSU | RW | 17 | 4 | 7 | 11 |
+4
|
16 |
28
|
| McRae, Mark | Cornell | D | 15 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
6
|
||
| Dwyer, Pat | WMU | RW | 21 | 4 | 7 | 11 |
+1
|
12
|
46
|
| Gajic, Milan | Michigan | C | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
-2
|
16
|
36
|
| Dwyer, Jeff | Yale | D | 16 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
14
|
||
| McRae, Matt | Cornell | C | 15 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
22
|
||
| Oystrick, Nathan | NMU | D | 13 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
0
|
8
|
21
|
| Fitzrandolph, Colin | St. Lawrence | C | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
4
|
||
| Sipotz, Brian | Miami | D | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
+9
|
24
|
15 |
Juniors
|
Team
|
Pos
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
PTS
|
+/-
|
PIM
|
|
| Stewart | Plymouth OHL | LW | 42 | 20 | 35 | 55 | +23 | 63 |
| Schell | Spokane WHL | C | 25 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 14 |
| Boldt | Kamloops WHL | D | 44 | 6 | 7 | 13 | +8 | 74 |
| Suderman | Saskatoon WHL | D | 32 | 0 | 5 | 5 | +7 | 83 |
| Manson | Moose Jaw WHL | D | 43 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -11 | 123 |
Europe (through Dec 17th)
|
Position
|
Team
|
League
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
PTS
|
PIM
|
|
| Nummelin | D | HC Lugano | Switzerland | 29 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 10 |
| Santala | C/LW | HPK | Finland | 26 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 76 |
| Dobryshkin | LW | Severstal Cherepovets | Russia | 30 | 14 | 6 | 20 | 48 |
| Cartelli | D | Kladno | Czech | 25 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Isosalo | RW | Lukko Rauma | Finland | 27 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Nikulin | D | Moscow Dynamo | Russia | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 26 |
ECHL Greenville Grrrowl
|
Pos
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
PTS
|
+/-
|
PIM
|
Shots
|
|
| Flache | D |
19
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
-7
|
16
|
23
|
| Kaczowka | LW |
27
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
-3
|
118
|
21 |
AHL Chicago Wolves
| Pos | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | SHOTS | |
| Gamache | LW | 37 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 9 | 18 | 100 |
| Hartigan | C | 31 | 6 | 18 | 24 | -1 | 19 | 98 |
| Foster | D | 36 | 6 | 16 | 22 | -14 | 94 | 97 |
| Vigier (now in ATL | RW | 23 | 10 | 10 | 20 | -6 | 18 | 68 |
| Snyder | C | 32 | 10 | 9 | 19 | -1 | 38 | 65 |
| MacKenzie | C | 39 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 7 | 38 | 65 |
| Tapper (now in ATL) | RW | 19 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 26 | 35 |
| Simon | LW | 39 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 54 | 63 |
| Safronov | D | 32 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 25 | 59 |
| DiPenta | D | 39 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 60 | 59 |
| Karlsson | C | 15 | 5 | 7 | 12 | -6 | 4 | 26 |
| Nielsen (total) | C | 37 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 60 |
| Piros | C | 29 | 4 | 7 | 11 | -10 | 10 | 49 |
| Blatny | LW | 36 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 58 |
| Exelby | D | 39 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 97 | 38 |
| Eakins | D | 37 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 46 | 45 |
| Lessard | W | 17 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 59 | 12 |
| Sellars | D | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -7 | 50 | 10 |
| Herperger | C |
4
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-1
|
9
|
6
|
| Ustrnul | D | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 8 |
Goalies — all levels
|
Team
|
GP
|
Min
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GAA
|
SPCT
|
|
| Lehtonen | Jokerit, Finland |
30
|
18
|
8
|
3
|
1.81
|
||
| Hnilicka | Chicago, AHL | 9 | 514 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2.68 | .914 |
| Smid | Pizen, Czech Elite |
13
|
6
|
6
|
1
|
2.74
|
||
| Maracle | Chicago, AHL |
23
|
1258
|
8
|
11
|
2
|
2.77
|
.907
|
| Cassivi | Chicago, AHL |
11
|
564
|
4
|
5
|
0
|
3.40
|
.884
|
| Garnett | Greenville, ECHL |
19
|
1041
|
7
|
11
|
–
|
3.98
|
.873
|
Of note
- Mark Hartigan ranks 15th among AHL rookies with 24 points, despite missing 8 games for the Wolves. He and Simon Gamache are currently playing on the top line together.
- Stephen Baby has been coming on strong for Cornell in the past few weeks and is on pace to easily set career highs.
- David Kaczowka has already set career high pro numbers with the Grrrowl with five points on the year. He’s playing a regular shift on the third line and is one of Greenville’s most consistent forwards of late.
- Paul Flache had tonsil surgery in December, missed 13 games for the Grrrowl, and is just now getting back into game shape after dropping 15 pounds.
- Pat Dwyer of Western Michigan is struggling after a good start to the season.
Comments and questions are welcomed on the HF Thrashers Board.
