2024-25 Rockford Icehogs season

[Mrfenn92]

 

[Kevin Musto]

Can't be overstated that Frank is the best prospect in the AHL right now.

He's top 4 in U25 scoring, and the guys ahead of him are all older by at least a couple years.

 

[Mrfenn92]

 

[Mrfenn92]

Hogs lose 3-2 in overtime

G) Sanford, Guttman

A) Marcel, Cates, Seney, Mayhew


Weeks was very good

 

[Taze em]

Michigan attempt for Nazar. Goalie squeezed off the top corner. Love the way Lev looks on pP2 always looks like a threat to shoot so the PK has to honor him. Opens lanes. That's how its done.

 

[Taze em]

When Levshunov is not on the PP I can't even describe what I'm seeing. He looks like hes depressed or something. He looks nothing like himself. Maybe he's confused or something. He glides around and doesn't jump in play or anything. He's going to be fine but usually youngsters look bad in the way Korch looked bad. Mind going 100 miles an hour, jumpy, trying to do too much. Lev looks like he might fall asleep on the ice.

 

[Kevin Musto]

When Levshunov is not on the PP I can't even describe what I'm seeing. He looks like hes depressed or something. He looks nothing like himself. Maybe he's confused or something. He glides around and doesn't jump in play or anything. He's going to be fine but usually youngsters look bad in the way Korch looked bad. Mind going 100 miles an hour, jumpy, trying to do too much. Lev looks like he might fall asleep on the ice.

That's how he looked in his draft year.

My biggest takeaway when watching him is I'd always describe him as "nonchalant".

He's a very low energy player.

 

[Taze em]

That's how he looked in his draft year.

My biggest takeaway when watching him is I'd always describe him as "nonchalant".

He's a very low energy player.

On the defensive side, sure there was some of that no doubt. That can chanve. I just want to see him back to jumping into the rush and shit again.

 

[Kevin Musto]

On the defensive side, sure there was some of that no doubt. That can chanve. I just want to see him back to jumping into the rush and shit again.

At this point it's really hard to be worried about anything.

He's 12 games into his professional career, and he's not even supposed to be in the NHL next year either. He's like 2-3 years away from being anything.

 

[MHO]

I don't want to underestimate how hard it is to adjust from college or Junior to the AHL but I really hope they get their stuff together in time to make the playoffs. It would be so great if they could make a deep playoff run together.

Maybe they could even add guys like Rinzel, Greene, Moore, Lardis, Thompson, and James and win a whatever the cup is called down there. I think it would be great for all of their development and a chance to really develop build chemistry.

 

[Mrfenn92]

I don't want to underestimate how hard it is to adjust from college or Junior to the AHL but I really hope they get their stuff together in time to make the playoffs. It would be so great if they could make a deep playoff run together.

Maybe they could even add guys like Rinzel, Greene, Moore, Lardis, Thompson, and James and win a whatever the cup is called down there. I think it would be great for all of their development and a chance to really develop build chemistry.

Commesso staying down would help. Weeks has been ok in goal for a young Ahl only contract goalie. They really need their veteran scorers to start putting the puck in the net. Defensively they probably need to add a Ahl veteran “all star” to help when injuries occur and the inevitable up and down nature of young dmen:

 

[MHO]

Commesso staying down would help. Weeks has been ok in goal for a young Ahl only contract goalie. They really need their veteran scorers to start putting the puck in the net. Defensively they probably need to add a Ahl veteran “all star” to help when injuries occur and the inevitable up and down nature of young dmen:

When Brossoit comes back, if ever, the crease in Chicago gets pretty crowded so they might even add Soderblom to the AHL roster. Guttman has been ok but it would be nice to get more from Seney and Mayhew. It'll also be curious to see what happen with Athanasiou if/when he comes back.

Mostly because the NHL team has been a disappointment, I'm so intrigued by who signs at the end of their junior/college seasons and how talented the Icehogs roster could be. We'll see if that talent can overcome the experience of the other teams in the AHL.

 

[Mrfenn92]

When Brossoit comes back, if ever, the crease in Chicago gets pretty crowded so they might even add Soderblom to the AHL roster. Guttman has been ok but it would be nice to get more from Seney and Mayhew. It'll also be curious to see what happen with Athanasiou if/when he comes back.

Mostly because the NHL team has been a disappointment, I'm so intrigued by who signs at the end of their junior/college seasons and how talented the Icehogs roster could be. We'll see if that talent can overcome the experience of the other teams in the AHL.

Soderblom is approaching waiver eligibility in 4 games played. Can’t imagine they’d waive him if he reaches it before Brossoit comes back. Seney/mayhew/sanford just need to get consistent offense. Andreas would help obviously but he’s out 4-6 weeks. The younger guys wouldn’t be added until late in the year.
Hogs have been playing better

 

[MHO]

Soderblom is approaching waiver eligibility in 4 games played. Can’t imagine they’d waive him if he reaches it before Brossoit comes back. Seney/mayhew/sanford just need to get consistent offense. Andreas would help obviously but he’s out 4-6 weeks. The younger guys wouldn’t be added until late in the year.
Hogs have been playing better

RE: Soderblom - what do they do if Brossoit takes longer to come back? Do they call up Commesso or Weeks and send Soderblom down just to protect him? Do they just stick with Mrazek and Soderblom up and then trade someone when Brossoit comes back? Do they stick with 3 goalies on the active roster?

It's a weird problem.

 

[Mrfenn92]

RE: Soderblom - what do they do if Brossoit takes longer to come back? Do they call up Commesso or Weeks and send Soderblom down just to protect him? Do they just stick with Mrazek and Soderblom up and then trade someone when Brossoit comes back? Do they stick with 3 goalies on the active roster?

It's a weird problem.

Think you ride with Soderblom the way he’s playing and roll with 3 goalies if/when Brossoit recovers.
Might have to make a trade or signing for a vet Ahl level goalie to backup Commesso and weeks.

 

[Dempsey]

From an article online about Levshunov:

"Every new season, Levshunov takes a massive leap to a higher level of competition.

He jumped from the Belarus junior leagues to the USHL and then to the NCAA. In both instances, he learned on the job, found his footing on the ice, and improved his game as the weeks passed. By the end of each season, he had become one of the most effective and exciting players in the league.

The same pattern should repeat itself in the AHL.

His first few games with Rockford were not for the faint of heart. Out of rhythm and facing professional competition for the first time, Levshunov committed a string of turnovers, mishandled the puck, fired shots into shin pads, and was repeatedly beaten off the rush. He looked nothing like the player who dominated shifts in the NCAA, often deferring to teammates in transition and forcing them to cover his mistakes.

However, the defenceman’s play is already trending upward. Shaking off the rust, he has started activating with better timing and flashing higher-end playmaking skills. He appears more comfortable handling the puck, keeping up with the pace of opposing rushes, and anticipating the next play.

Watching him orchestrate plays at the blue line, skate to catch up to attackers, and box them out near the net, there is confidence that Levshunov’s tools will translate well to the NHL. Nevertheless, spending an extended period in the AHL would likely be best for his development.

As the IceHogs continue to provide him with top minutes and power-play opportunities, regardless of his mistakes, he should rapidly adapt to the professional game. Hopefully, by season’s end, he will emerge as the team’s best defensive prospect."

 

[Larmer83]

From an article online about Levshunov:

"Every new season, Levshunov takes a massive leap to a higher level of competition.

He jumped from the Belarus junior leagues to the USHL and then to the NCAA. In both instances, he learned on the job, found his footing on the ice, and improved his game as the weeks passed. By the end of each season, he had become one of the most effective and exciting players in the league.

The same pattern should repeat itself in the AHL.

His first few games with Rockford were not for the faint of heart. Out of rhythm and facing professional competition for the first time, Levshunov committed a string of turnovers, mishandled the puck, fired shots into shin pads, and was repeatedly beaten off the rush. He looked nothing like the player who dominated shifts in the NCAA, often deferring to teammates in transition and forcing them to cover his mistakes.

However, the defenceman’s play is already trending upward. Shaking off the rust, he has started activating with better timing and flashing higher-end playmaking skills. He appears more comfortable handling the puck, keeping up with the pace of opposing rushes, and anticipating the next play.

Watching him orchestrate plays at the blue line, skate to catch up to attackers, and box them out near the net, there is confidence that Levshunov’s tools will translate well to the NHL. Nevertheless, spending an extended period in the AHL would likely be best for his development.

As the IceHogs continue to provide him with top minutes and power-play opportunities, regardless of his mistakes, he should rapidly adapt to the professional game. Hopefully, by season’s end, he will emerge as the team’s best defensive prospect."

Link please.

 

[Dempsey]

Link please.

Chicago Blackhawks top prospects Nazar, Levshunov, and Korchinski making AHL strides

For the Chicago Blackhawks three key parts of the rebuild are taking development steps this season with the Rockford IceHogs. David St-Louis examines how and why they've succeeded so far.

eprinkside.com

The full article is behind a paywall at Elite Prospects, which I highly recommend. I linked it above but I doubt it will be readable without an account. They also have write-ups on Nazar and Korchinski in this same article.

 

[Larmer83]

Chicago Blackhawks top prospects Nazar, Levshunov, and Korchinski making AHL strides

For the Chicago Blackhawks three key parts of the rebuild are taking development steps this season with the Rockford IceHogs. David St-Louis examines how and why they've succeeded so far.

eprinkside.com

The article is behind a paywall at Elite Prospects, which I highly recommend. I linked it above but I doubt it will be readable without an account. They also have write-ups on Nazar and Korchinski in this same article.

Thank you.