Prospect Info: Hartford Wolf Pack/Cincinnati Cyclones Thread: Part XV

Rutger McGroarty flying in to avenge Hayes and getting absolutely popped and giving up immediately thereafter was hilarious

Roob has had a very nice season for the pack. approaching 30 points from the third line and on both special teams. Lots of hits from him and 4-5 fights. Not a shy man.
 
Rutger McGroarty flying in to avenge Hayes and getting absolutely popped and giving up immediately thereafter was hilarious

Roob has had a very nice season for the pack. approaching 30 points from the third line and on both special teams. Lots of hits from him and 4-5 fights. Not a shy man.
McGroarty bit off more than he can chew. He thought he was gonna skate up on Roob, play patty cake and scold him for throwing a legal check. You instigate like that, you better be prepared to drop the gloves.
 
  • Like
Reactions: egelband
The fight was over for McGroarty even before Hayes stepped in. The way Rutger got up he was a little stunned.

Roobroeck's been going 3/4 times a year for the last few years. He's not a really frequent fighter. He uses his length. I've seen him let his opponent wear himself out trying to reach him on a couple occasions but pretty much it's stiff arms whoever he fights and tries to pick them apart with straights and uppercuts. There are some guys his size who he might have issues if he fights them but for most guys this strategy is going to be sound.
 
the homegrown forwards - roobroeck, chmelar, sykora, laba, and mcconnell-barker, are all of a similar 'decent bottom-6 prospect that needs to establish at least one pro-level dimension' type. (berard and othmann ostensibly have established that but if i had to bet, id say both of those guys get at least 15 games in hartford next year. There's just too many wingers.)

My point is - i want those guys to keep playing together in hartford and developing a culture of effort, sticking up for one another, defensive prowess, and, hopefully, winning. I don't know if Potulny is the guy to help build that culture but it would be ideal if, over the next 2 seasons after this, these kids become the "go-to" forwards in Hartford.

The vet contingent - Groulx, Belzile, Blidh, Leschyshyn, Sucese, and I'll include Brisson here - should be phased out over that time. Id like to see continuity with Groulx and Belzile in particular, and I think they've deserved camp looks and maybe spot assignment at the NHL level. Blidh is a good tone-setter, he's had a fair amount of pro experience and that's valuable in the room, but I'm not a huge fan of relying on him in big spots vs the kids. Jake L needs to go yesterday.

The addition of Gabe and maybe one more decent UDFA forward would be a great start to get Hartford off on a respectable foot next year. Defense and decent goaltending is the key to winning at the AHL level imo.
 
The vet contingent - Groulx, Belzile, Blidh, Leschyshyn, Sucese, and I'll include Brisson here - should be phased out over that time. Id like to see continuity with Groulx and Belzile in particular, and I think they've deserved camp looks and maybe spot assignment at the NHL level. Blidh is a good tone-setter, he's had a fair amount of pro experience and that's valuable in the room, but I'm not a huge fan of relying on him in big spots vs the kids. Jake L needs to go yesterday.
All of those guys except for Brisson are UFA. Groulx would have been RFA, but he didn't play enough NHL games for us to retain his rights.

It's possible that we will bring back one or more of them, but even if we don't, we'll bring in other AHL vets.

I get the idea of wanting them all to play together and build a culture, but if they are going to have an NHL future, they need to be pushing for an NHL job sooner rather than later, even if that job ends up being with another team.
 
Springfield won last night beating Iowa leaving the Pack 6 points behind with Springfield having a game in hand, Lehigh Valley lost leaving the Pack 7 games behind having played the same number of games.

Although the Pack has played much better the last several games with only 8 games left the team pretty much needs to win out and then still get a lot of help from either of these teams to make the playoffs.

Pack play Providence tonight. Alex Thomas says Garand back in goal tonight and Casey Fitzgerald back from injury. He likely replaces Hillman or Dorrington. Pack also call up Brett Budgell from Binghamton because of injuries. Not sure who is injured but likely includes Grouix who left the last game in the first period.
 
All of those guys except for Brisson are UFA. Groulx would have been RFA, but he didn't play enough NHL games for us to retain his rights.

It's possible that we will bring back one or more of them, but even if we don't, we'll bring in other AHL vets.

I get the idea of wanting them all to play together and build a culture, but if they are going to have an NHL future, they need to be pushing for an NHL job sooner rather than later, even if that job ends up being with another team.
Don't mind a couple of vets but want more space for the kids. Leschyschen has to go to free up space for Laba and Roobroeck at center and because he's not very good. Brisson has not impressed me in the times I have watched but willing to give him another chance starting with the team. Nash also is UFA but have to think he is done having missed the entire year. Success is on an AHL contract.

On defense Robertson is RFA and Harper and Ruhwedal are UFA. Unless the Rangers bring in another right handed defenseman or decide to give Case McCarthy or Ryan Siedem a chance Ruhwedal could come back with only Fitzgerald right handed and Scanlin playing on his off side. With Dorrington and Mackey and possibly Fortescue as left handers the Robertson experiment needs to end.

With Garand likely the third goalie and Boyko and Olas waiting in the wings I don't see Domingue coming back. His play declined this year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: egelband
Belzile from Blidh and Robertson in the 1st.
At the half point of the second, Hartford 1-0 over Providence.
Garand in net.
Terrible call on Belzile with the Wolf Pack on a 2 on 1.
4 on 3 for the Bruins fo 90 sec.
Hartford killed it off.
 
  • Like
Reactions: egelband
Springfield beats Providence to move past Lehigh Valley and go ten points up on the Pack with only seven games left. Lehigh Valley nine points up on the Pack.

Do you believe in miracles?
 

Ad

Ad