The Coyotes have been very busy trading. Starting with the first deal, the Coyotes dealt holdout center Robert Reichel, along with Travis Green and minor leaguer Craig Mills to the Toronto Maple Leafs for young defenseman Danny Markov. Markov is a solid two-way defenseman with good offensive instincts. He should play a big role for the Coyotes this upcoming season and in the future as well.
The second deal saw the Coyotes deal center Juha Ylonen to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Todd Warriner. Not much to talk about here as this was clearly a 3rd liner for 3rd liner type deal. The Coyotes needed wingers badly so making this deal helped them out.
Today the team announced that they have traded veteran defenseman Keith Carney to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in return for the 41st overall pick in the 2001 Entry Draft. With the addition of Markov, plus the solid group of young defenseman such as Paul Mara, Ossi Vaananen, Kiril Safranov and Radoslav Suchy, trading away Keith Carney was a move to reduce the payroll while improving for the future and also giving some playing time to the youngsters on defense. Teppo Numminen will be the backbone of the Coyotes defense this season and he will be looked upon by the youngsters for leadership, unless he is dealt this off-season, which has been rumored.
Today the Coyotes also signed Unrestricted Free Agent Branko Radivojevic. Radivojevic, 20, is a 6’0 186-pound right winger who played three seasons with the Belleville Bulls of the OHL. He was drafted in the 3rd round (93rd overall) of the 1999 Entry Draft by the Colorado Aval Read more»
It’s possible that the 2001 draft could be the start of a new era for the Pens (along with the continuation of an “old” era). It’s likely that the Pens will part with 4 time scoring camp and 2 time Cup winner Jaromir Jagr this summer and it’s possible that could come before (or during) the draft. In any event, the Pens will need to find that groups of prospect that will lead them to as successful of a decade as the one that just past. It won’t be easy for GM Craig Patrick, but he’s dealth with adversity well before and there is no reason to believe that he won’t make a successful post-Jagr transition.
Pens Draft Strategy
As with most teams, the Pens will draft the best player on the board in the first round, as their usual philosphy. The Pens draft table is a democracy, with GM Patrick and head scout Greg Malone at the head of that table. European scout Mark Kelly has a lot of influence in the decision making process and the Pens picks usually reflect that.
Recent Draft History
Last year was one of the few times in Patrick’s tenure that the Pens spent their first round pick on a North American born player. 4 of the 5 previous picks were used to select skilled European forwards. After the first round, the Pens generally select players to fill specific needs, all with a general theme. In 1997, the Pens spent 6 of their final 8 picks on defensemen. In 1998, 6 of 9 were forwards. 199 was a bit of a mix of players. They added depth to a number of positions. And finally last year, they spent most of their picks on tough gritt Read more»
The realignment includes three divisions in each of the two conferences. The
2001-2002 AHL alignment is as follows:
Western Conference
West Central South
Chicago Cincinnati *Hershey
Grand Rapids Cleveland Norfolk
Houston Rochester *Philadelphia
Milwaukee Syracuse *Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Utah
Eastern Conference
East North Canadian
Albany Lowell Hamilton
Bridgeport Manchester Manitoba
Hartford Portland Quebec
Providence Worcester Saint John
Springfield St. John’s
“We are very excited about the new alignment,” stated Norfolk Admirals
owner Mark Garcea. “The Admirals played some of their most memorable games
against these teams last season, including the playoff series against
Hershey. Our fans should see big rivalries continue against the new division
foes all season long.”
Last season, all four teams in the new South Division were in the AHL’s
Western Conference. Norfolk was in the Southern Division, while Hershey,
Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton were all in the Mid-Atlantic
Division. The Admirals faced each of the three teams eight times during the
regular season, the most games against any teams outside of their division.
The new South Division teams are those closest to Norfolk geographically.
The realignment places five of the expansion teams from the former
International Hockey League (IHL) in the Western Conference’s West Division,
with the sixth former IHL club, Manitoba, joining the Eastern Confer Read more»
After a disasterous season, the Florida Panthers find themselves in a very
enviable position: 4 picks in the Top 50, and the draft in their home court.
With the 2001 NHL Entry Draft considered to be the strongest in some time,
the Florida Panthers have the chance to stock their bare cupboards with some
blue-chip talent, and possibly bring in some older talent to help them compete
in the near future. As with any bottom-feeder squad, there are many gaping holes
to be filled. First, a look at the essentials.
Draft Tendencies:
The Panthers have had a love affair with the CHL, especially the OHL and WHL.
Of the 6 First Round picks the Panthers have had, 4 of them have been from the CHL.
26 of the past 36 Panthers picks have been from the CHL, with many of them being ‘safe’
‘character’ players that have amounted to absolutely nothing.
The Panthers have been deathly afraid of college players (DiPenta is the only
college pick of note), and have not ventured often into Europe, including just three picks
from the Czech Republic and ZERO picks from Slovakia.
This one-dimensional approach to drafting has led to predictable results, and it shows
in the standings, and on the farm. When the Panthers have ventured into uncharted waters
(Europe), they have had good success. Radek Dvorak, Filip Kuba, Oleg Kvasha, Kristian Huselius,
Jaro Spacek, Niklas Hagman, Marcus Nilson and Vladimir Saphozhnikov have all been very good
picks, and since the Panthers have only picked twelve European players since 1995, they have had
a Read more»
Not all players get the same amount of publicity as others. Yet there are
quite a few players who haven’t been talked about a lot leading up to the
2001 NHL Draft. Below is a list and why you should know about each of them…
Carlo Colaiacovo (D , Erie Otters) …. Colaiacovo is certainly one of the
top three offensive defenseman in the draft. Which makes you wonder why
people haven’t talked about him a whole lot. He tallied 12 goals and 27
assists last year on a on a offensive Erie Otters team which featured Brad
Boyes and Nikita Alexeev. Carlo is certainly a good choice in the middle of
the first round. If he slides up the charts leading up to draft day don’t be
shocked. Many scouts and this writer feel he will be a good one.
Duncan Milroy (RW , Swift Current Broncos) …. There are a large amount of
factors that work against Duncan Milroy in the NHL game. On the top of the
list is size. Milroy is just 6 feet and 180 pounds. Which is espically tough
for a guy who goes through players to score goals. Yet don’t doubt the talent
of this kid. Last year for Swift Current of the WHL , Milroy had a 38 goals
and 54 assists for 92 points in just 68 games. Some team is going to take
Milroy and hope he can compensate with skill for his lack of size. Yet , if
anyone can find the way to get it done it is Milroy , who has a amazing
amount of offensive potential.
Martin Podlesak (C , Lethbridge Hurricanes) …. Your 6’6 and your 200
pounds. Who are you and why aren’t you in the top of the first round? Well
y Read more»
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