We Ran Home to Blogger

With sincere apologies we have returned to our old home at blogger.

http://theprospectpark.blogspot.com/

Roman’s Giving and Taking

The middle of the week with just two games involving prospects of either the New York Rangers or New York Islander on the schedule. The Chilliwack Bruins featuring Roman Horak (2009 5th) and Brandon Manning (Traverse City) were on the road against the Edmonton Oil Kings while Dylan McIlrath (2010 1st) and his Moose Jaw Warriors headed to Prince Albert to face the Raiders.

In what was one very exciting game, the Bruins hung on for dear life edging the Oil Kings 2-1. This game the Bruins need to get on the bus and get out of town as soon as possible because they know that if not for their goalie Lucas Gore they should have lost this one.

We know people care about the Ranger prospects but when you see a performance like Gore’s it is hard not to give him the rightful credit he deserves. Gore stopped 37 out of 38 shots (19 of 30 in the 3rd) including 1 right at the buzzer to steal this one for the Bruins.

Roman Horak scored his 7th goal of the season to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the first but as rock solid as he has been playing so far this season; he could have made life easier for his Bruins if he had just finished on any of the (what we counted were) 5 good scoring chances he had after his goal.

Horak did not play badly but tonight his finishing touch was just not there as Horak should have had a hat trick tonight as he kept missing on his chances. Horak also was a central figure on the only goal that the Oil Kings scored as he took a hooking penalty at 12:39 of the 3rd period.

Just after the penalty had expired as Horak was rejoining the play, the Oil Kings scored to make it a 2-1 game and if not for the goalie Gore, the Oil Kings tie and go on to win.

Brandon Manning saw his 8 game scoring streak come to an end but the one time only offensive defender was just outstanding on the defensive side that he was named the game’s second star. That sound you keep hearing is the cash register as Manning’s signing price goes up with each passing game.

We really liked the selection of Dylan McIlrath (2010 1st) and the reasoning that the Rangers gave for passing on Cam Fowler and others to select McIlrath. When we see efforts like McIlrath put on tonight against the Prince Albert Raiders then it makes the pick look really good.

McIlrath scored his 2nd goal in as many games, picked up a secondary assist while going a season high +4 as the Warriors took one from the Raiders 5-4 in the shootout

McIlrath has a thing about scoring the game’s 1st goal as he did tonight jumping on the board with a shot at 3:37 in the first to give Moose Jaw an early 1-0 lead.  McIlrath added a secondary assist on Moose Jaw’s 3rd goal of the game as they  had to rally from down 3-1.

It was a strong game for McIlrath who also showed some poise as he is starting to get the message that he helps Moose Jaw more when he is not in the penalty box.  It is part of his development as the young 18 year old defender is starting to pick his spots in both fights as well as going for that monster hit.

Is He Staying or Is He Going?

The clock is not ticking as the New York Islanders have to now make the decision as to whether or not to keep 2010 first round pick Nino Niederreiter or send him back to the Portland Winterhawks.

The decision has most likely already been made and either Nino knows or he will first thing on Thursday. Nobody asked us but we believe the Islanders are going to return him to Portland but for the wrong reasons.

If they send him back then they can claim that they have NHL ready prospects in the AHL and can afford to let Nino develop at a slower pace. We think they are wanting to send him back to save a year towards his free agency, arbitration rights and anything but helping his develop.

In our book, Nino does not gain anything by playing in the WHL this season as learning how to play in the NHL under the guidance of Doug Weight .  The danger of sending Nino back to a Winterhawk team than he has not spent a second with is that Nino will go back with the “Post Draft Blues” and pick up some bad habits.

The Islanders kept Nino out of the Winterhawk training camp and none of this is a reflection on the Winterhawks, heck for selfish reasons Nino back in Portland means we have an excuse to live out of Portland.

If Nino had looked in over his head against the NHL players then yes sending him back would be the right call but he has shown he can play.  We think the decision will be made more about his contract status than his development.

Easy Money

Tuesday night was just one prospect from both the New York Rangers and New York Islanders in action. For us it was an easy night as it was Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) and when he plays it is just another easy writeup.

Ethan Werek is a writer’s dream because you can count on his consistent efforts at both ends of the ice.Werek is what you like in a prospect because when there is a key moment in a game, then Werek is going to be involved with it.

Tuesday night Werek set up Conor Stokes first goal of the season just 21 seconds of the 3rd period which started a 5 goal outburst to defeat the Sudbury Wolves 6-2. It was the first win for the Frontenacs in Sudbury since 2003 as the Frontenacs improved to 7-4-1-0 good for 2nd in the OHL’s East division.

Werek is 8-8-16 on the season which among the New York Ranger prospects is 2nd in goals and tied for 2nd in points. But again as we have pointed out in the past, Werek if you have tracked his career has always been consistent.

The one difference that some might miss is if you look at Werek’s numbers and compare them to other prospects ask how many have as close to a 50-50 goals to assists ratio as Werek has had not just now but in his OHL career.

2008-09 32-32 -64

2009-10 30-34-64

2010-11 8-8-16

Go look at the other prospects and see how many are both goal scorer and playmaker as Werek is. Now you see why we are so high on Werek as more than just a 3rd liner.

3 Is Not A Crowd

What a strange but nice Sunday as 3 different prospects put up 3 point games as they had direct impacts on how their team played. We start with a prospect who for reasons that escape us never gets his proper respect.

We love how some people want to say they know how to judge the potential of the prospects. Take New York Ranger prospect Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) for example; when we look around Werek is viewed with very little respect.

“Werek is a 3rd line player”, “Werek is going to be a checking forward” and other (in our eyes) badly judged views. Not sure how people want to measure a prospect but we will always include talking to the prospect as part of potential projections.

We said it last year and we will not waver as Werek is a Top 2 line forward who is going to bring scoring as well as play making to those lines.  When people ask who will be the New York Ranger’s future first line center; we want to know why Werek is not considered?

On Sunday, Werek gave us a great example why our prediction of his potential is more realistic than other folks. Werek was the offense for the Kingston Frontenacs as he led a 3 goal comeback as the Frontenacs rallied from 2-0 down to earn a 3-2 overtime win over the Saulte Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Trailing 2-0, Werek got the Frontenacs going when he found linemate Michael Fine who scored at 8:05 of the second period. In the last minute of regulation after the Frontenacs had pulled their goalie; Werek fired a blast that found it’s way to the top right shelf for a tie game at 19:23.

It was Werek’s 7th goal of the season and Werek was not done as he saved his best for overtime. In the overtime Werek needed just one shot to earn his 3rd game winner (we include his SO winner too) of the season just 59 seconds into the overtime period.

Werek is now 8-7-15 good for 3rd among prospects.

Remember yesterday’s report when we said Ryan Bourque (2009 3rd) that his offense was perfectly fine? Guess who put up a 3 point effort for the Quebec Remparts on Sunday?

Ryan Bourque in 3 days has put up 7 points including a 1-2-3 effort against the Moncton Wildcats as his Quebec Remparts defeated the Wildcats 4-2.

Bourque got his Remparts going by scoring his 4th goal of the season at 5:06 of the first period on the power play. Bourque added 2 secondary assists on key goals like the game winner and the 4th goal which put the game out of reach.

When play started on Friday Bourque was a 2-2-4 and had people were wondering about him. Now Bourque is 4-7-11 so does anyone have any more doubts about him?

The Oshawa Generals are the only team that has both Ranger and Islander prospects on their roster. From the Islander side are defensemen Calvin De Haan (2009 1st) and Tony DeHart (2010 5th) and Christian Thomas (2010 2nd) is the Rangers prospect.

Against the Ottawa 67′s, it was the combination of De Haan and Thomas that rallied the Generals from down 3-0 in the 3rd period to force a tie before the Generals lost in the shootout 4-3.

De Haan and Thomas combined to set up 2 goals as the Generals started their comeback. First they set up Alain Berger at 4:55 on the power play; then Scott Laughton at 8:16 at even strength.

At 18:53 of the 3rd period De Haan scored his first goal of the season on the power play for a 3-3 tie and force overtime. Nobody scored in overtime so the game went to the shootout where both De Haan and Thomas missed on their attempts as Ottawa managed to score in the shootout to salvage the win.

Tony DeHart the 3rd prospect in the game did not score and was a -2 for the game. De Haan wound up 1-2-3 for the game to bring his numbers on the season to 1-7-8 +6 in 7 games.

Thomas regained the Ranger prospect scoring lead with his 2 assist to improve to 10-7-17 +10.

Aaron Ness (2008 2nd) and his Minnesota Golden Gophers managed to earn a series split from the St. Cloud State Huskies with a 2-1 win in WCHA play. Ness was scoreless, taking 3 shots and earning a +1 for his efforts.