Two seasons ago the Houston Aeros became Calder Cup champions when they defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs in seven games and goaltender Johan Holmqvist was named playoff MVP. But with a lack of veteran leadership in 2003-04, the team struggled to only 28 wins and were eliminated in the West Division qualifying series versus the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in two straight games.

Aeros General Manager Tom Lynn recognized the shortcomings of the squad and added experienced veterans this offseason to avoid a similar fate in 2004-05. Another significant change this season is that the Dallas Stars signed on for one year as a secondary affiliate, which means that they will add between three and six players including one goalie to the Aeros lineup. Combined with the NHL lockout, the Houston Aeros will have a wealth of quality players to fill their roster for the coming season.

Goaltending

The affiliation with Dallas will derail Wild goaltender Kyle Kettles more than anyone. The two-year pro spent last season as the Aeros backup goalie to Holmqvist, appearing in 22 games and putting up a 2.80 GAA and .894 save percentage. Kettles was waiting for his chance to start in the AHL and now this season he’s competing with a couple of rookies including the Wild’s top goaltending prospect Josh Harding.

Harding has played well thus far in training camp and looks to have an edge on Kettles based solely on performance. In two appearances, Harding has allowed only one goal and posted a lofty .975 save percentage. Kettles has not played in the preseason. The other rookie is Robert Gherson who was signed by the Aeros as a free agent when the Washington Capitals let him walk in the offseason, but he has not done as well as Harding with one preseason appearance in which he allowed 4 goals on 16 shots. Gherson has also done poorly in training camp scrimmages and it’s expected that he will land in the ECHL within a matter of days.

At this point it appears that Harding will start the season with the Aeros while Kettles will head to ECHL affiliate Louisiana IceGators to fill the spot that the departed Frederic Cloutier held until last season. Gherson could be backing him up.

Mike Smith, Dallas’ 18th ranked prospect, is the sole Stars keeper in camp and will stick with the Aeros assuming his offseason rehabilitation from a knee injury continues smoothly. He has yet to play in the preseason, but is guaranteed the other goaltending spot and will probably not see significant action until the regular season begins.

Returning: Kyle Kettles

First time with Aeros: Josh Harding, Robert Gherson

From Dallas: Mike Smith

Defense

As expected for any AHL team with a new secondary affiliate, the Aeros roster is experiencing more change than normal offseasons. The Dallas Stars signed 11-year pro Patrick Traverse who, along with the Wild’s own veteran defenseman signing of Ray Giroux, will likely anchor the defensive corps. Traverse has played in 278 career NHL games including 65 appearances in 2002-03 for the Montreal Canadians as well as 309 AHL games, while Giroux has six years of pro hockey experience including 38 NHL games played, 11 of which came last season for the New Jersey Devils, and 319 AHL contests. Tough guy John Erskine will also begin the season with the Aeros where he will continue to develop and try to improve on all aspects of his game. Signed as a free agent on September 22, Todd Reirden is another new face in Houston. He’s been a pro for 10 years with games played in the NHL, IHL, AHL and ECHL. His best NHL campaign came in 1999-00 when he appeared in 56 games for St. Louis and had 4 goals, 21 assists, and a +18 rating.

Brent Burns, who played just one game in Houston as a winger on a conditioning stint in 2003-04, comes to camp assigned to defense where Wild coach Jacques Lemaire has high hopes for the 19-year-old. The rest of the defensemen vying for the one or two remaining spots on the Aeros blue line are Erik Reitz, Chris Heid and Zbynek Michalek. Reitz is off to a strong start in training camp with a goal and an assist in two games. Michalek was quite good last season in 51 games with the Aeros, and he also reportedly came to camp in better physical condition, so Heid might be the odd man out.

Among those not returning is Maxime Fortunus who appeared in 12 games for the Aeros last year, but has been assigned to Louisiana IceGators of the ECHL to start the season.

Although Travis Roche led all Aeros defensemen in points last season with 38 (8 goals, 30 assists), he failed to impress in a five-game stint with the Wild who decided to cut their losses this summer and part company with the three-year blueliner who always put up good offensive numbers. Roche landed on his feet and was signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Thrashers and was assigned to the Chicago Wolves. Another face missing off the roster from 2003-04 season end is Michael Schutte who was released by the Wild in July.

Jan Vodrazka and Kevin Mitchell won’t be back either. The pair played 104 games combined for the Aeros last season. Vodrazka will play for the ECHL’s Pee Dee Pride and Mitchell moves to Germany to play for the Iserlohn Roosters.

Returning: Erik Reitz, Chris Heid, Zbynek Michalek, Brent Burns

First time with Aeros: Ray Giroux, Todd Reirden

From Dallas: John Erskine, Patrick Traverse

Forwards

Gone are Jeff Hoggan, who played the most games of any Aeros player in 2003-04 with 77, and Mika Hannula who returned to Sweden to play with the MIF Redhawks, but forward will still perhaps be the Aeros best asset this season. Almost all of the Aeros’ top forwards from last season are back, and the infusion of some Dallas Stars skaters will lead to an improved group up front. AHL veteran Jordan Krestanovich and rookie Mark Rooneem were a few of the early casualties of the stiff competition and have both been assigned to the ECHL already.

Competing with the likes of Marc Cavosie, Christoph Brandner, Mark Cullen, Rickard Wallin, Derek Boogaard, Kyle Wanvig, Stephane Vellieux, Dan Cavanaugh and Matt Foy will be shoo-ins like newly signed free agent Kirby Law, Pierre Marc Bouchard, and the Wild’s top prospect, Mikko Koivu. The Stars have also assigned second-year pro left wing David Bararuk, rookie center Marius Holtet, and 2003-04 Hobey Baker winner Junior Lessard to the Aeros.

With the bounty of players of that caliber, it’s clear that the main problem for the Aeros will be deciding who to keep. As expected, skaters such as free agent rookie Bill Kinkel didn’t stand much of a chance and he was reassigned to the Ice Pilots. David Morisset, who was inked to a pro tryout, is also on the bubble and isn’t likely to survive another round of cuts.

In the two preseason matches played so far the unlikely goal scoring leader for the Aeros is giant Derek Boogaard with two. Bararuk has chipped in with a goal and an assist, while Wanvig has added two assists.

The bulk of cuts to come are with the forwards, and veterans such as Cavosie and Cullen might end up on the outside looking in at the center position where Bouchard, Koivu, Wallin and Holtet are likely to hold spots come opening night, as long as Dallas elects to keep all of their current skaters with the team. Jason Beckett played in 72 games for the Aeros last season and setting an AHL career best in goals with four couldn’t save him from being assigned to the Ice Pilots.

On the left side it would be expected the Veilleux, Brandner, Bararuk and Boogaard will make the final roster, and on right wing it should be Wanvig, Law, Lessard and either Foy or Cavanaugh.

Returning: Marc Cavosie, Christoph Brandner, Mark Cullen, Rickard Wallin, Derek Boogaard, Kyle Wanvig, Stephane Veilleux, Dan Cavanaugh, Matt Foy

First time with Aeros: Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Mikko Koivu, Kirby Law, David Morisset

From Dallas: David Bararuk, Marius Holtet, Junior Lessard

Outlook

Overall, the Aeros look like a team that can do better than 28 wins in the regular season and make it past the first round of the playoffs, but that will be dependent on whether their goaltending can be consistent throughout the year and how well the new players mesh with the old. That said, even though they are without Holmqvist, the Wild goaltending situation looks to be very secure with Harding and Smith likely to share time.

Financially speaking, the team is hoping to put more Texans in the seats by having Dallas Stars prospects on board, and the Aeros’ switch to clear Minnesota Wild colors was no doubt a compromise to keep everyone happy with the affiliation situation.

As with all AHL teams, the NHL lockout has infused the lineup with a deeper group of quality players and the Aeros will benefit from a number of key veteran signings on defense and up front. The balance between development and winning shifts somewhat and several strong prospects who would otherwise have begun the year in the AHL have lost or will lose spots to experienced or higher rated prospects, forcing them to begin the year in the ECHL while hoping for an end to the lockout.

Copyright 2004 Hockey’s Future. Do not duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.