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Blackhawks AHL/ECHL prospects update

Written by: Jon Hagan on 12/27/2005 Subscribe to HF's RSS Feed

On July 7, 2005, the Chicago Blackhawks named Trent Yawney the 35th head coach in team history. Previously, Yawney was the head coach of the AHL's Norfolk Admirals. He had been with the team since its inception and guided them to the postseason in each of the team's five years of existence. Now in their sixth year, and sixth as the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, the team is under the tutelage of Mike Haviland. Having led two different teams to the ECHL Kelly Cup in three years, Coach Haviland is accustomed to success and he is eager to apply his winning ways to Norfolk. With the Admirals currently tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference, they should be able to translate this into a sixth consecutive visit to the AHL postseason.

With Hawk alumnus John Marks at the helm in Greenville, Chicago's prospects on the ECHL affiliate Grrrowl are also in good hands. Marks played for the Hawks from 1972-82. This is the second year of affiliation with the Grrrowl.

Chicago has a host of defensive prospects on the Admirals and the Grrrowl who, at an average height and weight of 6'2 and 218lbs, can all play the game and will look to establish themselves on the Hawks' blue line for years to come. A number of these players form the core of what puts the Hawks third overall in the Hockey's Future organizational ranking. The forwards, consisting mostly of role players, are also an able-bodied group who should be able to contribute to the success of the Hawk organization for years to come.

Norfolk Admirals

Martin St. Pierre, C

Height: 5'9 Weight: 180 lbs

D.O.B: 1983-08-11 (Embrun, ON)

Like Syracuse's Geoff Platt, Hamilton's Corey Locke, Lowell's Keith Aucoin, Milwaukee's Darren Haydar, and Peoria's Peter Sejna, Martin St. Pierre is 5'9 forward leading his team in points. Signed in 2004-05 by the Edmonton Oilers, St. Pierre was signed first to an AHL deal by Chicago this year, then to an NHL contract in November 2005. He can find the net. In his final season with the Guelph Storm of the OHL in 2003-04, St. Pierre picked up 110 points and was awarded the Wayne Gretzky trophy as the league playoff MVP. In 2005, St. Pierre has lit it up as well. He is better than a point a game in Norfolk, and his 34 penalty minutes are the most he has had in his professional career. He even had a two-game call-up to Chicago.

YEAR

TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Edmonton (AHL) 18 4 3 7 n/a 8
2005-06 Chicago 2 0 0 0 -1 0
2005-06 Norfolk 26 10 19 29 2 34

Colin Fraser, C

Height: 6'1 Weight: 185 lbs

D.O.B: 1985-01-28 (Surrey, BC)

Colin Fraser was a third round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2003 Entry draft, and became property of the Hawks in the trade that saw Alexei Zhamnov move to the Flyers in February 2004. Colin is not a subtle player. He is someone who is going to draw penalties by getting under people's skin, and he does it well. The rookie is a solid checker and reliable third or fourth liner who, even though as a junior managed to put up some decent offensive numbers, will not be looked upon to do the same in Norfolk. He has just eight points in 27 games, but leads prospects on the team with 62 penalty minutes.

YEAR

TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Red Deer (WHL) 63 24 43 67 17 148
2005-06 Norfolk 27 5 3 8 5 62

Mikhail Yakubov, C

Height: 6’3, Weight: 210 lbs

DOB: 1982-02-16 (Barnaul, Russia)

Yakubov was drafted by Chicago 10th overall in the 2000 draft, but up to this point, has failed to consistently demonstrate the considerable skill that made him a top ten pick. He split the 2003-04 season with the Admirals and the Hawks where he scored 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) with the big club in 30 games. In 2004-05, he was with the Admirals full-time. He began this season with Spartak of the Russian Super League where he score 12 points (5 goals and 7 assists) in 29 games. He returned to North America after the team agreed to terms with the restricted free agent, and this may be the last year that Yakubov gets to prove himself with the Chicago organization. In his five-game stint with Norfolk, he has three points.

YEAR

TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Norfolk 59 12 15 27 n/a 43
2005-06 Spartak 29 5 7 12 -3 38
2005-06 Norfolk 5 1 2 3 0 6

Matt Keith, RW

Height: 6'2, Weight: 200lbs

D.O.B: 1983-04-11 (Edmonton, AB)

This young Edmontonian recently contributed to an Admirals franchise record when he and newcomer Eric Meloche scored seven seconds apart during a tilt with Bridgeport. Keith was drafted by the Blackhawks in 2001, 59th overall, and played 20 games for the Hawks in the 2003-04 season scoring 2 goals and adding 3 assists. Categorized as a third line winger, Keith is regarded as a smart, tough player who, as his rookie season indicated, has some scoring instinct. He has seven points in 21 games with Norfolk.

YEAR TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Norfolk 80 18 31 49 10 74
2005-06 Norfolk 21 4 3 7 -2 16

Nick Kuiper, D

Height: 6'2 Weight: 220 lbs

D.O.B: 1982-02-12 (Beaconsfield, PQ)

Signed by Chicago as a free agent in March 2004, Kuiper is a stay at home defenseman who will not be relied upon for offensive contributions, but his combination of excellent skating skills, his ability to make a good outlet pass and his hard shot from the point could make him a valuable addition to the power play. Kuiper also has very good hockey sense and will contribute a solid work ethic night after night. He is +5 on the year, best among prospect defensemen.

YEAR TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Norfolk 73 3 5 8 4 109
2005-06 Norfolk 29 2 5 7 5 38

James Wisniewski , D

Height: 5'11 Weight: 204 lbs

D.O.B: 1984-02-21 (Canton, MI)

Wisniewski is a young reliable defenseman with a considerable offensive upside. At this point in his second professional season he is seven points away from the 25 points he got in his rookie campaign, and he has achieved this in 37 fewer games. Drafted in the fifth round, 156th overall in 2002, Wisniewski is solid on his skates and is an effective quarterback for the Norfolk power play.

YEAR TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Norfolk 66 7 18 25 4 110
2005-06 Norfolk 29 4 14 18 0 31

Michal Barinka, D

Height: 6'3 Weight: 221 lbs

D.O.B: 1984-06-12 (Vyskov, Czech)

Barinka is a solid stay at home defender who should play a simple game in order to maintain his effectiveness. This Czech rearguard was drafted by the Hawks' organization in the second round, 59th overall in the 2003 draft, and, if he plays a straight forward game, should provide the Hawks with years of reliable defense. He was playing mostly with Babchuk in Norfolk. Recalled December 12th by the Hawks, Barinka has exhibited concussion like symptoms after a hit by Nashville's Scott Hartnell and is now on the Hawks' injured reserve and listed day to day.

YEAR TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Norfolk 59 1 10 11 -3 77
2005-06 Norfolk 25 1 6 7 0 48
2005-06 Chicago 2 0 0 0 -3 2

Dustin Byfuglien, D/RW

Height: 6'3 Weight: 250 lbs

D.O.B: 1985-03-27 (Roseau, Minn.)

An adaptable player who can play both defense and right wing, and so far this year has seen action as both. Byfuglien was drafted in the eighth round, 243rd overall by the Hawks in the 2003 NHL entry draft. While not always the most motivated player, Byfuglien is a skilled player who is not a defensive liability. He can skate, and has offensive skill, but his forte is his ability to hit; and when he gets rolling chances are he'll be remembered when he connects. Byfuglien missed four games with a hip flexor injury. In his remaining 25 games, he has 10 points.

YEAR TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Prince George (WHL) 64 22 36 58 -5 184
2005-06 Norfolk 25 5 5 10 2 29

Anton Babchuk, D

Height: 6’4 Weight: 212 lbs

D.O.B: 1984-05-06 (Kiev, Ukraine)

Another towering defenseman, Babchuk was drafted by the Blackhawks 21st overall in the 2002 draft. While in Norfolk, he played largely with Barinka, putting up 11 points in 23 games. He was first recalled by the Hawks on December 5th. He played in five games, scoring his first NHL goal against Nashville on December 15th. Returning to Norfolk for four days, Babchuk was again called up to replace the injured Brent Seabrook.

YEAR TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Norfolk 66 8 16 24 -15 88
2005-06 Norfolk 23 5 6 11 0 20
2005-06 Chicago 6 1 2 3 -1 4

Corey Crawford, G

Height: 6'2 Weight: 181 lbs

D.O.B: 1984-12-31 (Montreal, PQ)

Crawford entered the professional stage of his career in the 2005-06 season as a goalie who, in each of his previous four junior seasons with the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats, saw both his save percentage and goals against average improve significantly. In this, his first pro season, his goals against of 2.57 places him 12th best in the league. Consistent improvement of this type is what made Crawford the Hawks second round pick (52nd overall) in the 2003 draft and one of their best goaltending prospects. He is a butterfly goaltender who can move well laterally while keeping himself square to the opposition's shooters. He also maintains his composure when there is a lot of traffic around his crease.

Year Team GP W L T SPCT GAA SO
2004-05 Moncton 51 28 16 6 .920 2.47 6
2005-06 Norfolk 15 6 8 0 .902 2.57 0

Adam Munro, G

Height: 6'1 Weight: 195 lbs

D.O.B: 1982-11-12 (St. George, ON)

Splitting goaltending duties with Crawford is Adam Munro. Munro, signed by Chicago as a free agent in February 2004 after being drafted and unsigned by the club, made his NHL debut a month later registering a 2-2 tie with Nashville. So far this year Munro is 18th in the AHL with eight wins and 20th in the league with a goals against average of 2.89. He is a capable goalie, but is inconsistent. The knock on him has been that he will usually let in a suspect goal a game.

Year Team GP W L T SPCT GAA SO
2004-05 Atlantic City (ECHL) n/a 2 2 1 .937 1.99 0
2004-05 Norfolk n/a 14 10 2 .905 2.48 4
2005-06 Norfolk 15 8 5 0 .894 2.89 1

Greenville Grrrowl

Mike Brodeur, G

Height: 6'2 Weight: 188 lbs

D.O.B: 1983-03-30 (Calgary, AB)

Greenville goaltender Mike Brodeur was called up to Norfolk, then assigned back to the Grrrrowl from the Norfolk Admirals just before Christmas. The goalie, drafted in the seventh round of the 2003 draft (211th overall) by the Hawks, suited up for the Admirals, but did not see any action as Norfolk took on, and defeated, the Binghamton Senators 8-6 just before the Christmas break. Brodeur's 12 wins tie him for the ECHL lead in wins for goalies, while he is third in saves. Despite the call-up, Brodeur has played in 21 of Greenville's 23 games and is second in minutes played.

Year Team GP W L T SPCT GAA SO
2004-05 Greenville 35 19 15 1 .927 2.68 2
2004-05 Norfolk 1 0 1 0 .733 6.17 0
2005-06 Greenville 21 12 8 1 .917 2.60 n/a

Vladimir Gusev , D

Height: 6'3 Weight: 205 lbs

D.O.B: 1982 -11-24 (Novosibirsk, Russia)

Gusev was selected by the Blackhawks in the fourth round, 115th overall, in the 2001 entry draft. Recently called up to Norfolk as a replacement for Babchuk who was called up by the Blackhawks, he played one game for Norfolk registering no points and was demoted five days later to Greenville. Gusev is a solid two-way defenseman who shoots the puck extremely well. He understands the game and anticipates the play well. He passes the puck with authority, but must learn to play more aggressively along the boards especially with larger players.

YEAR TEAM

GP

G

 A P +/- PIM
2004-05 Norfolk 2 0 0 0 n/a 6
2004-05 Greenville 70 8 11 19 n/a 113
2005-06 Norfolk 1 0 0 0 4 0
2005-06 Greenville 19 2 7 9 n/a 34

Copyright 2005 Hockey's Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.

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