It came down to the wire, but the Florida Panthers were able to keep a second Russian Rocket in the fold. However, the Panthers also decided not to sign 3 of their 1997 draftees.
Ivan Novoseltsev, labelled by some as the second coming of Pavel Bure, signed a lucrative $2.3 million contract over 3 years, with many goal scoring bonuses and major awards bonuses. Novoseltsev originally asked for the 1997 rookie-cap of $925,000 while the Panthers claimed a 4th round pick didn’t deserve that much.
Although drafted in the 4th round, Ivan’s post-draft development was stunning, as he broke out to score 54 goals in 63 games this season for the Sarnia Sting, a new team record. (Coincidentally, the team is owned by Panthers winger Dino Ciccarelli). He also chipped in with 10 game winning goals and was 2nd overall in goal scoring in the OHL.
As good as Novoseltsev is, don’t expect him in a Panthers uniform next season unless he blows everybody away at training camp. With a plethora of scoring wingers (Parrish, Kvasha, Bure, Dvorak, Whitney), and the fact Novoseltsev has a lot of defensive zone coverage to learn, he will likely christen the expansion Louisville Panthers and lead their new affiliate to success.
“He has a chance to play right away, but to be fair, it’s going to be tough for him because of competition with a number of young players on the team,” stated General Manager Bryan Murray, “unless he really has a great camp, we do want to be careful (with his development.)”
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LOS ANGELES KINGS ORGANIZATIONAL ROSTER
Owners: Philip F. Anschutz and Edward P. Roski Jr.
Governor: Bob Sanderman
President/Alternate Governor: Tim Leiweke
General Manager: Dave Taylor
Assistant General Manager: Kevin Gilmore
Director of Player Personnel: Bill O’Flaherty
Director of Professional Scouting: Ace Bailey
Director of Amateur Scouting: Al Murray
Professional Scout: Rob Laird
Amateur Scouts: Serge Aubry, Greg Dreschel and John Stanton
European Scouts: Vaclav Nedomansky and Ari Vuori
Trainer: Peter Demers
Equipment Manager: Peter Millar
Assistant Equipment Manager: Rick Garcia
TV Commentators: Bob Miller and Jim Fox
Radio Commentators: Nick Nickson and Cammi Granato
Affiliates: Lowell [AHL] Long Beach [IHL] Mississippi [ECHL]
Head Coach:
Assistant Coaches:
Captain: Rob Blake
Alternates: Doug Bodger Garry Galley and Luc Robitaille
Training Camp Opens: Sept 4, 1999
Arena: Staples Center
Capacity: 18,500
Flagship Station: KRLA-AM 1110
Radio Network: KBET-AM 1220 [Santa Clarita], KGEO-AM 1230 [Bakersfield],
KHJJ-AM
1380 [Palmdale/Lancaster], KSHP-AM 1400 [Las Vegas], KAMP-AM 1430 [El
Centro],
KMET-AM 1490 [Banning], KMSL-AM 1510 [Ontario] and KTRO-AM 1520 [Ventura].
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PLAYER |HT |WT |P|S|DOB |ACQUIRED |LAST KNOWN LOCATION | Read more»
Some Sabres fans have been scratching their heads lately wondering who this #46 is on the right wing. When he made his NHL debut in a home game against the New Jersey Devils, it was for the most part unexpected. Most fans are somewhat familiar with young stud prospects Erik Rasmussen and Dominic Pittis, but have no idea who this 26 year-old Dean Sylvester is.
With Miroslav Satan sidelined and Coach Ruff sending inconsistent winger Michal Grosek a message by benching him, Sylvester found himself in the lineup for the last few games of the ’98-’99 season, and has seen considerable playing time in the 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Dean Sylvester, at 6’2″ and 205 lbs, has the size to be a NHL forward. He was born in Hanson, Massachusetts and attended college at Kent State. After Kent State did away with their hockey program, Dean transferred to Michigan State for his senior year. As a senior, he was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Conference At-Large Team. After a strong senior year, he graduated at age 23 and was drafted 2ndoverall in the 1993 Supplemental Draft by the San Jose Sharks.
Sylvester is somewhat of a late bloomer, having just broken into the NHL at the age of 26. He was signed to a free agent contract by Rochester in July of ’98 after spending time in the San Jose minor league program with Mobile (ECHL) and Kansas City (IHL). He led Kansas City with 33 goals in the 1997-98 season and also scored 5 playoff goals in 11 games.
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On June the 25th, the Atlanta Thrashers will load their team with one player of each NHL’s team except for Nashville Predators.
The rules of the expansion draft are simple: Atlanta must draft 3 goalies, 8 defensemen and 13 forwards. They cannot draft more than 6 free agents.
According to the rules the NHL’s teams a) cannot lose a goalie if Nashville drafted one last year, b) can protect one goalie five defensemen and nine fowards exposing one exeperienced d-man and two experienced forwards (under contract for 99-00 with 40 game experience in 98-99 or 70 game experience in the last two years), or c) can protect two goalies, three defensemen and seven fowards .
The best strategy for the Thrashers is:
1. pick the best player available from each team
2. pile up the maximum goalies (5).
3. take players in their prime (25-29 year old)
4. use their 3rd, 4th, and 5th pick in the entry draft to select older European players
5. sign one or two free-agent
6. sign minor league free agent or players with independant teams.
Here is some of the players that will be made available by the NHL’s teams and my pick for each team.
Anaheim ( Anaheim cannot lose a goalie because of Shtalenkov).
Players likely available: Dan Trebil d, Pascal Trépanier d, Pavel Tmka d, Frank Banham f, Stuart Grimson f, Peter Lebouthillier f, Mike Leclerc f, Tomas Sandstrom f, Read more»
Following a disappointing playoffs perfromance, Sens fans are left with the
NHL Draft to try to compenste for a great season but awful playoffs.
The Sens needs are glaring: a top goalie, a second line center, another
sniper, a PP QB. With those needs, however, will play no part on who the
Sens will draft. The Sens, as always, select the best player available,
every draft, no matter the team need. The question is, at slot 26, who will
be the best available. This is a very difficult draft to figure
out. With all the Europeans, and goalies, and 1997 re-entries, its hard to
calculate who will be available at the 26th spot, 39th spot, and the 54th
spot. Some of the possible Sens selections are:
Maxime Ouellet – the Sens aren’t completely sold on Mathieu Chouinard as a
#1 goaltender due to his inconsistence this year. Ouellet would provide as
insurance in case as Chouinard doesn’t have what it takes. Ouellet may also
be better than Chouinard. With Damian Rhodes likely headed to Atlanta in
the expansion draft, goaltending is a definite hole the Sens want to fill.
In all likelyhood, Ouellet will be selected before the Sens first rounder,
leaving the Sens to select….
Evgeny Konstantinov - Nikolai Khabibulin clone. Some scouts say the Russian
goalie is better than Ouellet, and some scouts say Ouellet will be better Read more»
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