Prospect Info: Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)/Maine Mariners (ECHL) Thread: Part XII

[RangersFan1994]

Sure Meskanen clears a roster spot/ contract . Good for him to go to Europe now get Kravtsov Back

I hope this is the reason that this was made, but didn't they have enough roster spots or not so close to the roster limit in the organization

 

[gravey9]

I hope this is the reason that this was made, but didn't they have enough roster spots or not so close to the roster limit in the organization

It's doubtful this was a move the Rangers/Wolf Pack wanted. Meskanen was playing well in his role for the Pack as of late. He was a good fit on a deep team. I think he saw that he was probably not making the NHL any time soon with the Rangers and decided it was time to go back home to make more money. But that's just my guess. If the Rangers needed a contract spot I'm guessing there were easier candidates like Gropp.

 

[cwede]

I hope this is the reason that this was made, but didn't they have enough roster spots or not so close to the roster limit in the organization

..If the Rangers needed a contract spot I'm guessing there were easier candidates like Gropp.

per CF, NYR are only at 47 contracts, of 50 limit:
New York Rangers - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps
ROSTER SIZE: 22/23
CONTRACTS: 47/50
RESERVE LIST: 68/90

 

[NYR Viper]

And this would put them at 46

 

[nyr2k2]

It's doubtful this was a move the Rangers/Wolf Pack wanted. Meskanen was playing well in his role for the Pack as of late. He was a good fit on a deep team. I think he saw that he was probably not making the NHL any time soon with the Rangers and decided it was time to go back home to make more money. But that's just my guess. If the Rangers needed a contract spot I'm guessing there were easier candidates like Gropp.

Ehh Meskanen was mediocre at best. Not a defensive liability but his offense completely dried up, he barely even shot the puck. I think this was done because the guy wanted to go home and we were happy to get a contract off the books.

I was a big fan of his last year, but it wasn't working this year.

 

[nyr2k2]

Gropp, on the other hand, probably would have already been up had he not refused his assignment initially.

 

[Kovalev27]

It made zero sense for meskanen to stay even as long as he has. He wasn’t going to be a part of this team long term. He was a mediocre at best AHL player. Prob make a nice living back in Finland. Honestly surprised he’s been here this long.

 

[Ola]

It made zero sense for meskanen to stay even as long as he has. He wasn’t going to be a part of this team long term. He was a mediocre at best AHL player. Prob make a nice living back in Finland. Honestly surprised he’s been here this long.

There is a general belief that a few years in NA, even if its in the AHL for guys that don't cut it, can strengthen players pretty much. Just to play a different brand of hockey that is more oriented around puck battles, smaller marginals and a faster pace. I think many players feel that it will be good for their career to spend some time in the AHL even if they are heading in the wrong direction.

The problem for Meskanen is that he is a RHS sniper specialist, and Vinny L just pwned that role for HFD and Meskanen never took whatever chances he got. If he doesn't get to skate away a bit from the traffic and be served passes -- he is like everyone have seen a pretty average player overall.

 

[cwede]

There is a general belief that a few years in NA, even if its in the AHL ... can strengthen players pretty much. Just to play a different brand of hockey that is more oriented around puck battles, smaller marginals and a faster pace...many players feel that it will be good for their career to spend some time in the AHL...

interesting take. makes some sense, i can see how that might contribute to a stronger, longer pro career in Europe

 

[Ranger Ric]

In the game I saw he showed some good hockey sense but he just wasn’t quick enough. He should do much better on the bigger ice back home.

Ehh Meskanen was mediocre at best. Not a defensive liability but his offense completely dried up, he barely even shot the puck. I think this was done because the guy wanted to go home and we were happy to get a contract off the books.

I was a big fan of his last year, but it wasn't working this year.

 

[eco's bones]

Hartford ahead of Binghamton 1-0 after 2 periods. Have to kill most of a penalty to start the 3rd. Shesterkin's in net and has 16 saves through 2. Boo Nieves with his 2nd goal of the year from Gettinger and Loverde.

 

[nyr2k2]

Gettinger from Ebert and Jones makes it 2-0.

Binghamton pulls one back with 2:20 to go.

ENG by Jones makes it 3-1.

Time runs out and it's 3-1 final. 30 saves for Shesterkin.

 

[Tob]

The pack wins the exact game that we lost last night.

 

[eco's bones]

The one downer from this game was that Fogarty blocked a shot early in the 3rd---it went off his hand and he left the ice throwing his helmet down angrily and he didn't return---so there could be a hand injury. He's a very important player for the Pack---leads the team in scoring with 21 points in 26 games and plays in all situations. He is to the Pack kind of what Zibanejad is to the Rangers.

 

[nyr2k2]

The one downer from this game was that Fogarty blocked a shot early in the 3rd---it went off his hand and he left the ice throwing his helmet down angrily and he didn't return---so there could be a hand injury. He's a very important player for the Pack---leads the team in scoring with 21 points in 26 games and plays in all situations. He is to the Pack kind of what Zibanejad is to the Rangers.

If it's something that will keep him out for a long time they should look around the SHL and Liiga and see if they can find anyone for an AHL max deal or close to. They already have some offensive struggles and losing him will hurt immensely in that regard.

 

[eco's bones]

If it's something that will keep him out for a long time they should look around the SHL and Liiga and see if they can find anyone for an AHL max deal or close to. They already have some offensive struggles and losing him will hurt immensely in that regard.

I think what's more likely if they need another player is bring one up from Maine. They have a good D and good goaltending. They'll probably figure on putting more onus on Lias and maybe Boo. Getting a guy off a SHL or Liiga this time of year would probably be difficult anyway.

 

[nyr2k2]

I think what's more likely if they need another player is bring one up from Maine. They have a good D and good goaltending. They'll probably figure on putting more onus on Lias and maybe Boo. Getting a guy off a SHL or Liiga this time of year would probably be difficult anyway.

You're probably right, it will be someone from Maine. That's not gonna cut it, though, IMO. They need someone else.

Even at this stage there are still guys floating around that can be signed. Maybe it's a guy that had been on the AHL and signed his first European contract this year and wants to come back. Maybe it's a guy who just want to make more money. There are always guys to be found who through various circumstances need a new team. Some guys play on 2-3 teams in 2-3 leagues each year. Even KHL guys come available--I noticed that Enver Lisin only played five games with Traktor before being granted his release.

I really think they could find a quality guy if they wanted to. But like you said, I don't think they want to. They'll just call up some dude from Maine and slide Lias back to C.

 

[Joey Bones]

Good luck @Ola!!

But why not just keep the team in Poughkeepsie?

#HometownBias

 

[JohnC]

Good luck @Ola!!

But why not just keep the team in Poughkeepsie?

#HometownBias

Have you been to Poughkeepsie lately? The galleria doesn’t even have Bugaboo Creek outside it anymore ffs.

 

[Leetch3]

 

[ThirdEye]

Impressive. How much longer can the Rangers realistically keep him down there? Think he came here to get a shot at the NHL and he's more than earned it thus far

 

[Ola]

If it's something that will keep him out for a long time they should look around the SHL and Liiga and see if they can find anyone for an AHL max deal or close to. They already have some offensive struggles and losing him will hurt immensely in that regard.

One area that there -- really -- is a lot of room for improvement is all factors relating to European players not wanting to stick in HFD, and more often than not perform well at all either.

Some factors are of course what they are, but if we look at like Toronto Marlies their track record with Europeans are 10x as good as HFD's. A lot of what can be done is pure "knowhow" stuff. One example I have mentioned before is how our management went out and courted Petr Zamorsky in Europe and manged to get him to sign a contract with us in competition with a few others teams. Then one game in to the Traverse Tournament it becomes obvious that Kenny G wants nothing to do with Zamorsky. Right or wrong, if anyone is what they are its Petr Zamorsky. You will know exactly what you get and what you don't get watch him for 20 minutes on some crappy feed. Before there was obviously zero connection between recruiting for HFD and what the coach wanted. That just can't be the case.

There also should be a much more structured and tailormade process to get players fresh our of Europe to adopt to the NA game. I was thinking about that when watching Rykov this weekend. Of course its never good to be injured. But so many times we have seen kids from Europe have a good camp, be demoted to the AHL, instantly face some adjustment issues which results in them getting less ice-time, and just a couple of things into the season things have gone sour. Rykov have been sitting and watching AHL games for two months, he have been listening to the coaches prior to and after games for a couple of months. He knows exactly what to expect and what will be expected of him when he hits the ice.

Like seriously, they should start prepping these kids with video sessions in June. The kids should be prepared that the first couple of weeks has zero impact on how week 21 and 22 will look. Zucc was a 4th liner in HFD for over a month his first year there. His agent was negotiating with a Swedish team and Zucc was seriously considering going back to Europe instantly.

There is just zero reasons for the frictions we are seeing with these kids. All parties, our management, the coaches and the player in question should know exactly what issues the player will have when he gets to HFD, how he will be used, how the transition period will be handled etc.

 

[nyr2k2]

One area that there -- really -- is a lot of room for improvement is all factors relating to European players not wanting to stick in HFD, and more often than not perform well at all either.

Some factors are of course what they are, but if we look at like Toronto Marlies their track record with Europeans are 10x as good as HFD's. A lot of what can be done is pure "knowhow" stuff. One example I have mentioned before is how our management went out and courted Petr Zamorsky in Europe and manged to get him to sign a contract with us in competition with a few others teams. Then one game in to the Traverse Tournament it becomes obvious that Kenny G wants nothing to do with Zamorsky. Right or wrong, if anyone is what they are its Petr Zamorsky. You will know exactly what you get and what you don't get watch him for 20 minutes on some crappy feed. Before there was obviously zero connection between recruiting for HFD and what the coach wanted. That just can't be the case.

There also should be a much more structured and tailormade process to get players fresh our of Europe to adopt to the NA game. I was thinking about that when watching Rykov this weekend. Of course its never good to be injured. But so many times we have seen kids from Europe have a good camp, be demoted to the AHL, instantly face some adjustment issues which results in them getting less ice-time, and just a couple of things into the season things have gone sour. Rykov have been sitting and watching AHL games for two months, he have been listening to the coaches prior to and after games for a couple of months. He knows exactly what to expect and what will be expected of him when he hits the ice.

Like seriously, they should start prepping these kids with video sessions in June. The kids should be prepared that the first couple of weeks has zero impact on how week 21 and 22 will look. Zucc was a 4th liner in HFD for over a month his first year there. His agent was negotiating with a Swedish team and Zucc was seriously considering going back to Europe instantly.

There is just zero reasons for the frictions we are seeing with these kids. All parties, our management, the coaches and the player in question should know exactly what issues the player will have when he gets to HFD, how he will be used, how the transition period will be handled etc.

Agreed. We'll have to see how it goes with the new administration I Hartford. I don't think Kravtsov is indicative of anything necessarily and Meskanen really just wasn't special, so we'll have to evaluate with the next wave of guys they bring in.

 

[eco's bones]

The Rangers hung with Gernander way too long. Everybody could see the kind of players he was intent on turning out. Creativity and skill were downplayed. Gernander's favorite kind of player was a third line defensively responsible grinder---this is something he wanted even his most talented players to conform to.

That said both Meskanen and Lindqvist were free agent signings. They'd had success at an early age in top European leagues but to me these kinds of signings are almost always rolls of the dice. Sometimes you win one but generally you don't. There's no reason not to do it though if you're a bit low on prospect depth on your minor league team. The AHL/NHL game is predicated on a player functioning with less time and space and in a more physical environment. That is too much of an adjustment for some players to make.

 

[Kovalev27]

Watching the game now

first period:

5 mins in and Shesterkin has made about 3 or 4 really good saves the last one from a break in off the left side cutting across the net and he stays with the shooter who tries to slide it back against the grain.

Rykov getting some PP time at the top of the key walking the line really well not afraid to shoot it. Like this kid a lot I mean I really like him he may be the best of the 3 (Lindgren Hajek Rykov) in my opinion. At least he’s the most polished. I really don’t think he has a lot to do at the AHL level. We’ll see how this plays out. Just getting back of course.

Lias with some nice work behind the net gets it to Keane for a great chance nice stop by the goalie.

Shesterkin dangling guys at the top of the circles was something. Lol.

0-0 good chances for both teams but limited to 7 and 6 shots respectively