Prospect Info: Cliff Pu (2016, 69th) – '18-19: Traded to Carolina

[LaxSabre]

No Cliff Pu tonight for Kingston. Kingston trails Hamilton 5-1 after two periods of play.

 

[LaxSabre]

Cliff Pu is back in the lineup for Kingston.
Kingston are currently hosting Hamilton in Game #3 of the OHL Eastern Conference Finals.
The score is tied at 1 after the first period of play.
Hamilton scored first on a goal by Gleason with Cranford tieing it up for Kingston off a rebound.
Vilardi thought he gave Kingston the lead but the goal was disallowed.
Shots on goal for the first period - 12-11 Kingston.

Kingston Frontenacs‏ @KingstonFronts -
We will head to the 3rd period tied 1-1.
Max Jones for cross checking. Need a PK here!
Just after the penalty expires, the Bulldogs grab a lead. Isaac Nurse gets the goal.
Hamilton hits the empty net with less than a minute remaining. 3-1 Bulldogs.
Hamilton takes it 3-1. They lead the series 3-0. We have won 4 in a row twice in the playoffs. Not done yet!
The come back starts Tuesday night at 7 PM! Thanks for joining us fans!

LaxSabre - Cliff Pu Stats - 0 Goals - 0 Assists - -2 +/- - was on ice for the game-winning goal (5:50-Third Period) and the empty-net goal (19:34-Third Period) - 2 Shots On Goal - 12 For 22 On Face-Offs.

Ouch! Terrible weekend for the "local" teams in the playoffs.
Friday - Both Rochester (6-2) and Kingston (7-1) get killed.
Saturday - Both Rochester (6-5) and Cincinnati (2-1) lose one goal games.
Sunday - Both Cincinnati (4-2) and Kingston (3-1) lose by two goals.
Cincinnati gets eliminated while both Rochester and Kingston will be elminated with one more loss.
Rochester next game is Wednesday night at home while Kingston gets to play at home one day earlier on Tuesday.
Go Amerks! Go Fronts! Don't lose the next game! - at least!

 

[hizzoner]

Hamilton wins 3-1 to take a 3-0 lead in games. Not much push from a team with Vilardi, Pu, Max Jones, Sean Day etc.

 

[LaxSabre]

Xyz - Hamilton Bulldogs‏@BulldogsOHL -
GOOOALLL!!! - the point shot by @BenGleason42 finds the back of the net! 1-0 for the good guys!
GOOOALLL!!! - @isaacnurse99 puts one home to give th Bulldogs the lead!
GOOOALLL!!! - @brandonsaigeon adds the empty netter to put the Bulldogs up 3-1 late in this game!
The better Black and Gold take Game #3!!!

 

[hizzoner]

I am glad that Pu's knee injury only kept him out of one game. I hope to see him hit the scoresheet. If Fronts are swept I wonder if he gets a look with Amerks. Probably not.

 

[Chainshot]

I am glad that Pu's knee injury only kept him out of one game. I hope to see him hit the scoresheet. If Fronts are swept I wonder if he gets a look with Amerks. Probably not.

I doubt it. The Amerks aren't in position to plug him in. I do wonder if the knee is the reason why he missed time 6-8 weeks ago. It was never reported what the issue was that had him out of a cluster of games.

 

[Ethan Edwards]

I do wonder if the knee is the reason why he missed time 6-8 weeks ago. It was never reported what the issue was that had him out of a cluster of games.

I have no inside info and I haven't been able to watch any of the Hamilton series (blessing in disguise?), so I'm completely useless here. Even more so than usual. I agree with the point above that it seems like a meek exit, or near-exit, for Pu and the Fronts...which is the name of my next garage band now that I say it out loud.

 

[hizzoner]

Well Pu gets a goal and Fronts are ahead 1-0

 

[hizzoner]

I want to watch the draft Thursday. Since Bulldogs have tied it up I might be able to...

 

[hizzoner]

So Pu et al back Thursday to Hamilton.

 

[LaxSabre]

Kris Baker‏ @SabresProspects -
Cliff Pu's first goal of the series and fourth of the playoffs gives Kingston an early 1-0 lead on Hamilton.
Cliff Pu finishes with one goal - team-high five shots - Kingston lives to play another day - 5-2 Game #4 win over Hamilton.


LaxSabre - Cliff Pu Stats - Game #4 - 1 Goal (Was scored at 3:32 of the first period - gave Kingston a 1-0 lead.) - 0 Assists - 5 Shots On Goal - 0 +/- (Along with the goal that he scored - he was also on the ice for the Hamilton goal that was scored at 6:54 of the first period - which tied the game 1-1.) - was 11 for 24 on face-offs.

WNY HOCKEY PROSPECTS‏ @wnyh2234 -
Hasn't exactly taken the jump forward many of us were hoping for this year I'm sure. Can he still go back for an overage season next year?

Kris Baker‏ @SabresProspects -
Kid made it through a tough start in London, but has done a nice job rounding out his game once he got to Kingston. He'll be in Rochester next year.

 

[LaxSabre]

Kingston Frontenacs‏t @KingstonFronts -
Cliff Pu snipes to put us up 1-0! Assists to Day and Hotchkiss.
Max Jones cuts across the centre of the ice and goes glove side to tie the game! 2-2!
Sam Field takes a feed from Hotchkiss and buries it. Brett Neumann gets the second assist. 3-2 good guys!
Jason Robertson waits, and waits, and waits...then beats Fulcher on the power play! 4-2 Kingston! Vilardi and Day get assists.
Sean Day with a wrister from the point makes it 5-2! Vilardi and Robertson get assists.

 

[LaxSabre]

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

An overage season won't help for him. He's been a focus guy at the OHL level, time to see what he can do in the pros.

 

[LaxSabre]

Kingston Frontenacs‏ @KingstonFronts -

FRONTS GOAL!!!!!!! Jason Robertson keeps it on an odd man rush and beats Kaden Fulcher. 1-0 Good Guys!
After one period, we have a 1-0 lead! Jeremy Helvig with 9 saves and Jason Robertson has the goal.
Justin Lemcke ties the game - 1-1.

Hamilton grabs the lead. Walters from the point. 2-1 Bulldogs.
Helvig on the bench for the extra attacker.
No luck with the goalie on the bench. Hamilton takes it 2-1 and wins the series 4-1.

What an effort by our boys in the final minutes!
Congrats to @BulldogsOHL on a great series. Good luck moving forward in the playoffs.
Thanks for joining us on this ride fans! We had a great time and we appreciate every one of you!
We can't wait to see you in September!



Cliff Pu Stats - 0 Goals - 0 Assists - 1 +/- (Was on the ice for the lone Kingston goal of the game - goal scored by Jason Robertson at 9:50 of the first period.) - 0 Shots On Goal - 8 for 21 on Face-Offs.

 

[Chainshot]

So that's it then, there are now no Sabres prospects playing in league play. Well... bleh.

 

[LaxSabre]

 

[joshjull]

 

[Chainshot]

So now the question - where does he slot and how do they groom him?

 

[Aladyyn]

So now the question - where does he slot and how do they groom him?

I just hope they don't shoehorn him into a role and never budge from it (like what happened with Baptiste)

 

[Ethan Edwards]

So now the question - where does he slot and how do they groom him?

The current regime has shown an ability to be patient at the AHL level. That's what he'll require--patience. He's shown an ability to adjust that he'll need to carry over to be successful.

With that in mind, I don't have a problem throwing him right into the middle (3C?) in Rochester. See how he does, while affording enough adjustment time and picking complementary wingers (regular Amerk viewers can toss out some options). Mix in some wing time as needed due to injuries or simple curiosity, or switch him up if he can't handle a pro pivot role? Absolutely, no problem. Analyze and see what works. I really don't want them to blow this one because he has a really interesting blend of skills, as we've discussed. If they do their part, it's on Mr. Pu to shine like Mr. Hankey, his more festive cousin.

 

[lawrence]

how did he look at prospects camp?

 

[ForsakenSabre]

how did he look at prospects camp?

He did not participate. They didn't let anybody play who wasn't 100%

 

[Chainshot]

We still don't know why he missed games in Kingston nor what he was recovering from to have him out of on-ice participation at development camp.

 

[Dingo44]

For what it's worth I saw him after the scrimmage signing autographs and taking pictures with kids for a long time. Didn't see any ill affects. I'm sure it was precautionary more than anything. Seems like a real good kid.