Prospect Info: 2024-2025 In The System: Checkers, Ghost Pirates, CHL, NCAA, Europe, etc.

[iam76]

Some very short evals from last night's game. Keep in mind I missed most of the first period because the parking lot situation was absolutely brutal. Took 45 minutes from arriving at the arena to actually parking. Hartford scored their 1-1 goal just as I got to my seat section.

Denisenko - Not too different from my previous times seeing in play in person. He does have a very "pro" way about him. His movements are very calculated and fluid, Barkov-esque dare I say. But he's never overly involved in the play from what I see. He makes little passes, takes some shots, but I don't find him to be creating much.

Late in the first (or maybe it was at some point in the 2nd) he took a weird hit and fall in the corner, but got back up and didn't appear to be injured. His shifts were pretty limited in number in the 2nd and 3rd - not sure if it was performance related or related to that fall. In the 3rd specifically, he played about 2 shifts in the first 5 or so minutes, then didn't get a shift until about 7 or 8 minutes left (despite there being several power plays). On that first shift, he got an assist on a broken play goal in the slot. I missed the goal in real time because I was typing a post lol, by the replay on the screen I thought he had actually scored it but it was Tierney (17 vs. 14).

I've never really come away impressed watching him, so maybe I'm biased here but he didn't really stand out in any particular way. I'd be surprised if he had more than 12 or 13 minutes of ice time.

Heponiemi - I thought he was really great. Felt like he had the puck on his stick more than any of the other forwards, if not pretty close. He looks very confident with the puck. Played the half-wall on the PP. No complaints, I think he'll put up career numbers this year and likely be a top call up option. I missed his goal because of the parking situation, but it wasn't anything fancy from the replay I saw. I think it was a bouncing puck that was redirected in the slot.

Sourdif - I thought Sourdif was very noticeable, even more so than Denisenko. He had at least 3 high-quality scoring chances in the 2nd alone, I forget exactly what they were - I think one was a shorthanded chance since he was getting PK time. Great skater, confident player, I think he'll put up some good numbers this year. Trocheck-esque.

Kinnunen - Good puck mover, good size, I see him as a better Gildon. He got pretty heavy ice time - on the PP, PK, and was the starting D in OT.

Sjalin - Similar to Kinnunen, good puck mover and relied upon a lot last night. He took a brutal hit from behind by Julien Gauthier in the 2nd and left the game for a bit, but came back. I don't believe he was on the PP, but he was on a couple of the PK units with Carlsson.

Bowlby - I like his game a lot. Smart, reliable, can really skate - he had a breakaway chance, plays PK. I think he eventually gets in a game for us.

Levtchi - Really involved, great shot, good size. I don't think the AHL will be much of an issue for him, I'm guessing he's probably at or near the top of the call-up list. Top PP unit and started in OT with Nash and Kinnunen.

Carlsson - Really no surprise here, he got heavy minutes. It felt like he was on the ice the whole game. Every situation he was out there. He was beat a bit on the Hartford 3-2 goal, but the guy had some good speed on the outside and recovered from Carlsson's stick check, so I don't totally fault him.

Hutsko - As usual, bit of a waterbug out there. I think there was a stretch in the 2nd where he didn't really get a shift, had a couple scoring chances where he threw his head up in disbelief.

Ludvig - Didn't really stand out but with his game that's probably a good thing. He was pretty physical and got into it in one of the scrums with a guy that was much bigger than him, you could see his face on the Jumbotron and it gave me Tkachuk vibes from the other night. Reminder that he hasn't played much hockey over the last 2 years because of covid and last year's injury, so I'm interested to see how he does this year.

Giles - Big body and moves well despite that. Uses his size too. Curious to see what he can do in a full season.

Berube - I thought he was pretty good overall. I'd like to see him stop the 2nd one on the PP, looked like it just went right through him. But in then 2nd and 3rd he probably made 3-4 grade A saves that could've really changed the game if they had gone in.

--

Hopefully I can get out to some more games this year. It's hard to balance just relaxing and watching the game with focusing on players lol.

for a moment i thought you were up here in the hartford area.. If anyone is and wants to hit a game here to check out the checker hit me up

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Some early season standouts

Sandis Vilmanis off to a good start in Sarnia (OHL) with a goal and 5pts in 6 games.

Kirill Gerasimyuk having a decent start in the MHL through 8 games, sporting a 2.20 GAA and .911 sv%

 

[iam76]

Jack Devine (7th rd, 221 '22) from the Frozen Four Champion Denver Pioneers had an assist on Friday night. He has a goal and an assist in three games this season.

my pick to be our next weegar... 7th rounder who gets there...

 

[Prominence Problem]

my pick to be our next weegar... 7th rounder who gets there...

I seen him a lot on the highlights last year, following Benning.
Plus would have learned how to win as they won the national title. Really good pick.

 

[Prominence Problem]

Some early season standouts

Sandis Vilmanis off to a good start in Sarnia (OHL) with a goal and 5pts in 6 games.

Kirill Gerasimyuk having a decent start in the MHL through 8 games, sporting a 2.20 GAA and .911 sv%

I didn't realize Panthers have a prospect playing for the Sting. That is in my backyard, maybe half hour drive. I used to work at that Arena. I'll be checking him out for sure. Actually last night my wife and I plan to go to a Sarnia game on February 26th, North Bay at Sarnia to watch Arnsby (7th rd, #214 '22)

 

[Prominence Problem]

The real centerpiece for Calgary in the Chucky/ Ruby trade IMO was Schwindt.
He had two assists today in the Calgary Wranglers franchise opener in the AHL.

 

[Prominence Problem]

I just came across this good article with a breakdown of players and the team from the Checkers this past opening weekend.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Nause is back in the lineup tonight for Quebec. Game time is 6 pm.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Denisenko relegated to 4th line again..

 

[Prominence Problem]

Denisenko relegated to 4th line again..

Noel must still be hurt.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Levtchi with a 3pt night, he's leading the team in goals and points, he's definitely gonna get a look at some point if he keeps this up.

Sourdif with his first official pro point.

Charlotte comes back from down 3 and starts the year 3-0-0. Their PP is clicking (2 for 3 tonight) and offense is again one of the best in the league.

Borgstrom doing good in the AHL, wonder if he holds out hope for one more crack at NHL or eventually goes back to Finland soon?

 

[Prominence Problem]

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Levtchi with a 3pt night, he's leading the team in goals and points, he's definitely gonna get a look at some point if he keeps this up.

Sourdif with his first official pro point.

Charlotte comes back from down 3 and starts the year 3-0-0. Their PP is clicking (2 for 3 tonight) and offense is again one of the best in the league.

Borgstrom doing good in the AHL, wonder if he holds out hope for one more crack at NHL or eventually goes back to Finland soon?

Captain with a good first game back. I bet the team is excited for his return. Five straight goals for Charlotte.
Borgstrom scored with one second left.

 

[KW]

Who’s doing nothing on the big team? Mostly the whole 4th line. Waive them all and give these guys a chance.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Samo has 2 assists last night. I looked at the box score yesterday and it showed he had no points. Weird.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Samo has 2 assists last night. I looked at the box score yesterday and it showed he had no points. Weird.

Maybe the box scorer was from Calgary and didn't count them?

 

[BabyBennettov]

Mackie with another goal in the first… This kid is dynamite !

 

[Prominence Problem]

Samoskevich's #5 Michigan is playing unranked Lake Superior State in northern Michigan. He has a goal and 2 assists in the 2 games.

 

[Prominence Problem]

#4 Denver Pioneers beat #11 Providence. Benning had two assists, and Devine with an assist as both continued their Good Seasons so far.

Devine's assist

 

[Prominence Problem]

Lindmark's unranked Wisconsin beat up the #16 Minnesota Duluth, as he had an empty net goal in the Win.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Samoskevich's #5 Michigan is playing unranked Lake Superior State in northern Michigan. He has a goal and an assist so far through 1⅓ games.

He only has 1 goal tonight but I have a hard time believing he doesn’t have an assist as well watching the fantilli goal. Btw Fantilli is going to potentially be the second overall pick. He’s gross.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Have yourself a night Logan Hutsko, he was silent the first 3 games, then he decided to pop off for 2 goals and sets up the OT winner.

Guzda starts and he wins again, now 2-0 to start the year and stopped 54/57 over his first two appearances

Dalpe continues to be a solid vet as he had two helpers tonight.
Played his first game yesterday and had 2 goals so he's had back to back multi point games.



Charlotte now 4-0-0 and continue their red hot start to the year.

 

[Prominence Problem]

Krygier ( remember him? In his special 5th year as an overager because of covid) scored his first of the year tonight in the battle of the unranks as Michigan State beat Long Island.

 

[Prominence Problem]

Have yourself a night Logan Hutsko, he was silent the first 3 games, then he decided to pop off for 2 goals and sets up the OT winner.

Guzda starts and he wins again, now 2-0 to start the year and stopped 54/57 over his first two appearances

Dalpe continues to be a solid vet as he had two helpers tonight.
Played his first game yesterday and had 2 goals so he's had back to back multi point games.

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Charlotte now 4-0-0 and continue their red hot start to the year.

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Really excited to follow Guzda this season. It's going well for him early. He had a good overage last year in the OHL before getting hurt in the playoffs. Might be looking at the future for the Panther backup goalie here.

 

[Prominence Problem]

Two games in a row that Vilmanis has scored with less than 4 minutes left , either the game tying or game-winning goal.

This was posted before the game tonight, which he scored in again.

 

[KW]

Have yourself a night Logan Hutsko, he was silent the first 3 games, then he decided to pop off for 2 goals and sets up the OT winner.

Guzda starts and he wins again, now 2-0 to start the year and stopped 54/57 over his first two appearances

Dalpe continues to be a solid vet as he had two helpers tonight.
Played his first game yesterday and had 2 goals so he's had back to back multi point games.

View attachment 597748

Charlotte now 4-0-0 and continue their red hot start to the year.

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Deni… only note is taking a penalty… not a good look. Wonder what’s going on with him? Makings of a wasted talent story…