Appears going to Brantford is in the discussion.
I think that him already signing means that he is most likely on board with going to OHL this year and AHL the next. That feels like what team thinks might be best path for him and by signing already it's evidence that he has basically agreed to club's plan. Not 100% for sure, but that is my read.
And while his brother was certainly more NHL or AHL ready, the fact that he came over in his D+1 season, I'd think Adam would too.
Yes, he’d be AHL eligible in 25/26. Heck, he’d be AHL eligible in 24/25 too but I think we know that’s not a good idea and won’t happen.
Paul Fischer was invited to the US camp and I’d give him greater than 50% odds of making the team.
I can't wait for this year's WJC. Seeing our prospects dominate the tourney last year was a sight to behold.
I could be misremembering but wasn't he close to making the squad last year?
EP was VERY high on Mrsic in their draft guide this year saying he had one of the best shots and was one of the best skaters in the draft. He's a top-20 pick on pure talent alone (they ranked him 46th overall). The knock on him is that he appeared to lack good vision and the ability to do anything but try and blow by kids with his straight line speed, which we all know you can't really do with regularity at the higher levels. The good news is that he really showed flashes of a translatable game and better drive/vision toward the end of the season.
Not sure how close but he was in the selection camp. I recall him being considered a longshot but LD was a weakness for the US team so it was a pretty open competition. So maybe he was close to making it. I’m not sure.
Kaskimaki already spent 2 seasons in Finland after being drafted, I thought he was for sure penciled in for Springfield so that is kinda surprising.
Blues have a possible 10 forwards of their own that could/may play in the AHL this year, so maybe the thought is that the situation in Finland is better for development since he is known throughout his Finnish team and will likely get an increased role. That's the only thing I can think of along with Army not being too keen on having an entirely young group down in the AHL. I think Kaskimaki would arguably be one of the better players if he came over, but that's just my assumption.
If he’s not quite ready for the AHL then where else is he supposed to go? He could go back to Europe but he came over here to learn the language and adapt to the smaller ice surface so that doesn’t seem to be in the cards either.
Lots of key info in this interview.
Is he eligible to go to the ECHL? While we don't have an official affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears were home to a handful of our prospects during the course of the season with Biakabatuka, Dickinson, Gaudet, Malmstrom, and Colten Ellis, coincidentally former draft pick Evan Fitzpatrick was one of the other goalies there.
