Rochester Americans and Jacksonville Icemen 2024 Season Thread.

[NotABadPeriod]

Mildly crazy that they have climbed back into top spot - momentarily at least since Laval came back to win after this graphic was posted.

Lots of games in hand though for the teams chasing them, that probably has a ton to do with it.

 

[Chainshot]

Lots of games in hand though for the teams chasing them, that probably has a ton to do with it.

"Lots" is just Toronto.

 

[sabremike]

Is it a fair observation that the Amerks improving greatly roughly around the same time Levi was mercifully sent down is not coincidental?

 

[Chainshot]

Is it a fair observation that the Amerks improving greatly roughly around the same time Levi was mercifully sent down is not coincidental?

They have rounded into shape at different plateaus, Levi returning being one. Consider they were 1-4-0 to start the year, then ran off 5 wins in a row, then went 0-2-2, with the last of those 4 being the first time Levi returned and they lost in Laval in the shootout. He's 9-2-1 down there which looks good but there are a couple of those games - a 5-4 loss against Cleveland where he gave up 2 in the third and they lost, the 4 GA brackets around the recall to Buffalo where he also gave up 4 against Toronto.

 

[Chainshot]

An odd stat I noticed earlier - every skater, all 25, who has played for the Americans this year has at least 1 point. 20 have at least 1 goal. Also odd, only 2 players (Rosen and Murray) have more than 7 goals on the year, and five have scored 6 goals each.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Chainshot]

Looked in earlier and it was 2-0 and then 3-1 Utica.

Now 6-3.

Rochester.

 

[Chainshot]

Make that a 6-3 final for the Amerks.

 

[Chainshot]

Jax also wins tonight - 7-6 after getting out to a 5-1 lead. Amerk legend Peter Tischke +5 tonight.

 

[sabremike]

Saw Bridgeport lose 4-1 to Providence tonight. Bridgeport has now played 15 games at home this season.

They have only won once.

Heckuva' job Lou!!!

 

[Chainshot]

Saw Bridgeport lose 4-1 to Providence tonight. Bridgeport has now played 15 games at home this season.

They have only won once.

Heckuva' job Lou!!!

That's worse than Utica. Which is saying something.

 

[sabremike]

That's worse than Utica. Which is saying something.

Utica is just a single point behind Bridgeport but has played five (!) fewer games.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

They have rounded into shape at different plateaus, Levi returning being one. Consider they were 1-4-0 to start the year, then ran off 5 wins in a row, then went 0-2-2, with the last of those 4 being the first time Levi returned and they lost in Laval in the shootout. He's 9-2-1 down there which looks good but there are a couple of those games - a 5-4 loss against Cleveland where he gave up 2 in the third and they lost, the 4 GA brackets around the recall to Buffalo where he also gave up 4 against Toronto.

Do you see some Wolf in his game, development path and upside ? And not to be a smart ass, but does he have trade value if needed organizationally ?

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Fjordy]

What do Komarov, Novikov and Neuchev look like? I'm watching Novikov first with +15.

 

[Chainshot]

Do you see some Wolf in his game, development path and upside ? And not to be a smart ass, but does he have trade value if needed organizationally ?

As someone who liked Wolf prior to him being drafted, I'm not sure how to compare them. Levi's working on his rebound control which is needed. Wolf I watched in the WHL more than in the AHL so I don't think I can give a straight across comp.

 

[Chainshot]

What do Komarov, Novikov and Neuchev look like? I'm watching Novikov first with +15.

Komarov still looks like he's getting up to speed at the AHL level. He has flashes of his dominant late Q time - moving the puck, jumping down into the zone from the blueline, crisp passing, knocking people away from the crease defensively - and still times when he does things that leave me thinking he has a lot of maturation to go (the 2nd Nemec goal tonight where he reached to swat at the puck and spun himself around for example).

Novikov continues to make strides. I like looking at 5-on-5 primary point generation as a benchmark (so either a goal or the primary assist) and he's 2nd among all Amerk defensemen with 5 (2-3) which is 2nd only to Metsa's 7. He doesn't draw in on the PP like say Clague or Rathbone, but he's got the mobility and there is some savvy timing on when to get up into the play. He moves really well - if I had to make a comp there is some Hank Tallinder to him, though I think Novikov has more bite and is a slice below Hank in his skating.

Neuchev I really enjoy. He competes. He goes into harder areas, will initiate contact to win or maintain possession of the puck, and has excellent hand skills. He leads the Amerks in 5-on-5 scoring and is second to 3rd year Isak Rosen at primary point generation (11 for Neuch, 13 for Rosen). The growth in his game last year has carried into this season. He's had two scoreless droughts - one five game, one four game - yet hasn't had any other strings where he hasn't hit the scoresheet even though he's not always playing with the most talented guys. Sometimes he's up the lineup, sometimes it's more of a checking line. If he's stacked more strength, it'll help his separation, but I like his pace - his feet seem to always be moving, he's trying to get somewhere with verve. I'm still holding to the idea of not sleeping on this kid. In a development arc, he's probably closer to where Rosen was mid-way into his 2nd year (last year). Probably another year off, but there's game there.

 

[Fjordy]

Komarov still looks like he's getting up to speed at the AHL level. He has flashes of his dominant late Q time - moving the puck, jumping down into the zone from the blueline, crisp passing, knocking people away from the crease defensively - and still times when he does things that leave me thinking he has a lot of maturation to go (the 2nd Nemec goal tonight where he reached to swat at the puck and spun himself around for example).

Novikov continues to make strides. I like looking at 5-on-5 primary point generation as a benchmark (so either a goal or the primary assist) and he's 2nd among all Amerk defensemen with 5 (2-3) which is 2nd only to Metsa's 7. He doesn't draw in on the PP like say Clague or Rathbone, but he's got the mobility and there is some savvy timing on when to get up into the play. He moves really well - if I had to make a comp there is some Hank Tallinder to him, though I think Novikov has more bite and is a slice below Hank in his skating.

Neuchev I really enjoy. He competes. He goes into harder areas, will initiate contact to win or maintain possession of the puck, and has excellent hand skills. He leads the Amerks in 5-on-5 scoring and is second to 3rd year Isak Rosen at primary point generation (11 for Neuch, 13 for Rosen). The growth in his game last year has carried into this season. He's had two scoreless droughts - one five game, one four game - yet hasn't had any other strings where he hasn't hit the scoresheet even though he's not always playing with the most talented guys. Sometimes he's up the lineup, sometimes it's more of a checking line. If he's stacked more strength, it'll help his separation, but I like his pace - his feet seem to always be moving, he's trying to get somewhere with verve. I'm still holding to the idea of not sleeping on this kid. In a development arc, he's probably closer to where Rosen was mid-way into his 2nd year (last year). Probably another year off, but there's game there.

Thank you for the detailed answer, I'm glad that Novikov and Neuchev seem to be progressing.