Trouble at NTDP?

[Brock]

So if Crosby decided he didn't want to be a Penguin, they should just let him go?

So if Tavares decided he didn't want to be a Knight, they should just let him go?

So if Maxwell decides he doesn't want to play for the NTDP, they should just let him go?

Sorry, I don't see the difference.

If Sidney Crosby or John Tavares are assaulting teammates and disturbing the general team make up, absolutely.

But your comparison's differ in one way. In the NHL and the CHL, if those players are causing your lockerroom to become cancerous, you can trade them and get assets back. For the Development program, this is not an option.

Not to mention it's not like Maxwell is the team's most dynamic player like a Tavares or Crosby.

If anything I'd be more inclined to compare his impact to someone like a Sean Avery. Remind me again what happened with him this season?

Different strokes for different folks I guess, but as a coach I only want players who play as a team and who are committed 100% to playing. That is regardless to how talented they are. But that's just my motto and the type of team dynamic I like my teams to have.

 

[Brock]

The funny thing to me is Maxwell was already a highly regarded prospect. I envisioned him as a second rounder at worst. I doubt a move to the OHL this year would have helped his draft postion all that much if at all.

You are probably right, although you can't underestimate the impact that a strong memorial cup run could have had on his draft position.

That is assuming he would have played for Windsor and that if he had shown up, Windsor would not have traded his rights to Kitchener.

Of course, if he still gets traded to Kitchener and plays for them, his draft stock probably changes very little and if anything could go down due to Kitchener's struggles this season.

 

[VINMONTY]

Unlike other NTDPers, it doesn't appear that any USHL teams own any of their rights. That's the most likely destination if Higgins (Maine), Palmieri (Notre Dame), or Yanakeff (Michigan State) want to pursue their college commitments.

I am not 100% sure but the rosters for all USHL teams are locked in right now and they cannot add anyone else. If Higgins and Yanakeff are not asked back to the U18 team next year, they definitely will be heading for the USHL, while Palmieri will be off to Notre Dame (hopefully).

 

[Brock]

If Higgins and Yanakeff are not asked back to the U18 team next year, they definitely will be heading for the USHL.

Or the OHL

Higgins - 12th round pick of Oshawa.
Yanakeff - 9th round pick of Barrie.

 

[andrewtfotleafan]

maxwell is a magget so scott stager i think hes name is played behind him in triple A look whos better now

 

[The Exiled One]

I am not 100% sure but the rosters for all USHL teams are locked in right now and they cannot add anyone else. If Higgins and Yanakeff are not asked back to the U18 team next year, they definitely will be heading for the USHL, while Palmieri will be off to Notre Dame (hopefully).

I couldn't find the cutoff, but I think it might have been February 6th. There were a dozen transactions that day according to Pointstreak, but none recorded after. I thought for sure some Minnesota HS players would be playing USHL after the high school season ended, but I guess I could be wrong on that. (I'm talking about HS players not currently protected or actively listed).

 

[hugehockeyfan88]

Who are some other players that have been dismissed by the program in the past? Or has this ever happened?

 

[William H Bonney]

Who are some other players that have been dismissed by the program in the past? Or has this ever happened?

John Kemp was dismissed in the past for drinking issues. I believe he got a DUI while with the team.

 

[Ward Cornell]

These kind of problems have been a long time coming for the NTDP. There's always been rumours of this kind of stuff going on and the assumption has been that the program has been able to smooth over the problems in the public eye. A lot of scouts have said that the program has problems controlling kids, largely because it also has problems controlling the parents. As for the status of some of these kids, I know Guelph has been putting a full court press on Palmieri to get him to come north. The Storm are going to be pretty good for the next two seasons with Holland, Beck and Latta up front and Cody McNaughton developing further down the depth chart. Palmieri could be joining a Guelph team with Memorial Cup designs.
In terms of Maxwell and Morin, both are supposedly going to be reporting to the Kitchener Rangers next season which means that the headache could go from being USA Hockey's to Steve Spott's. The Rangers have managed to control pretty big egos and attitudes in the past, so it wouldn't surprise me to see the two of them mature a bit during their time in Kitchener.

you can now add D'Amigo to the list to Kitchener.

As for the assault, like others said, it may have been building up now for months since Maxwell asked to leave to go to Windsor. I addition to that factor, Maxwell was always an outsider to a lot of teammates because of his Canadianism (born in Fla. when his dad was working there but was raised all his life in Canada) When it came known about his desire to leave for he OHL all of this came to the forefront and the dressing room was toxic. Basically this was an American team with a Canadian who was always an outsider. If you're not welcomed on your team I would think most players would want to leave. What options did he have besides Windsor. When he asked to be let go, it just inflamed the situation even more.
It takes two to tango! Things could have been worked out if both sides wanted it to.
btw.....Morin is on board as a friend with Maxwell because he's also half Canadian and has encountered a bit of the same but definately no where near as much. Maybe some of the stuff was happening in jest, but sometimes there are limits and everyone has different limits.

The main problem with the team is that it's for development with no real end goal as a team with team goals. It's a team of 'stars' with no real pluggers and grinders.
Because of this, egos will always be bigger than the team.


Just my 2 cents!

 

[orangeandblack]

you can now add D'Amigo to the list to Kitchener.

As for the assault, like others said, it may have been building up now for months since Maxwell asked to leave to go to Windsor. I addition to that factor, Maxwell was always an outsider to a lot of teammates because of his Canadianism (born in Fla. when his dad was working there but was raised all his life in Canada) When it came known about his desire to leave for he OHL all of this came to the forefront and the dressing room was toxic. Basically this was an American team with a Canadian who was always an outsider. If you're not welcomed on your team I would think most players would want to leave. What options did he have besides Windsor. When he asked to be let go, it just inflamed the situation even more.
It takes two to tango! Things could have been worked out if both sides wanted it to.
btw.....Morin is on board as a friend with Maxwell because he's also half Canadian and has encountered a bit of the same but definately no where near as much. Maybe some of the stuff was happening in jest, but sometimes there are limits and everyone has different limits.

The main problem with the team is that it's for development with no real end goal as a team with team goals. It's a team of 'stars' with no real pluggers and grinders.
Because of this, egos will always be bigger than the team.


Just my 2 cents!

Do you know anything more on why Palmieri was released? Seems odd that there isnt an incident tied directly to it, unless it dates back to Sweden. But from what I remember he wasnt suspended for the tournament. The only thing Ive heard was that a parent of a suspended player in Sweden threw him under the bus. I know Maxwell is a goalie, and makes it tougher to release him, but if he punched someone and didnt get released, what did Palmieri do for them to just completely cut off ties?

 

[NJdevildog]

Do you know anything more on why Palmieri was released? Seems odd that there isnt an incident tied directly to it, unless it dates back to Sweden. But from what I remember he wasnt suspended for the tournament. The only thing Ive heard was that a parent of a suspended player in Sweden threw him under the bus. I know Maxwell is a goalie, and makes it tougher to release him, but if he punched someone and didnt get released, what did Palmieri do for them to just completely cut off ties?

i'm not going to copy and paste from USHR, but they are reporting that there was a swedish girl in the hotel room.

seems a little harsh for dismissal.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Do you know anything more on why Palmieri was released? Seems odd that there isnt an incident tied directly to it, unless it dates back to Sweden. But from what I remember he wasnt suspended for the tournament. The only thing Ive heard was that a parent of a suspended player in Sweden threw him under the bus. I know Maxwell is a goalie, and makes it tougher to release him, but if he punched someone and didnt get released, what did Palmieri do for them to just completely cut off ties?

I have no idea at all and I doubt in all these cases that we'll get a definitive answer that everyone can agree with. The NTDP will spin stuff to make them look good and innocent, the players will also spin stuff to make look sweet and innocent.
The truth as always lies somewhere in-between!

Perhaps the 2 year commitment needs to be reviewed and shortened to two one year commitments.
Right now in the present format there are difficulties in making it work!

Opinion?

 

[RangerRed]

you can now add D'Amigo to the list to Kitchener.

What makes you think that? I've heard rumblings that his commitment to attend RPI next season was wavering but that he would follow Morin and Maxwell to Kitchener seemed to be far less certain. I guess Morin and D'Amigo coming north means the Rangers are taking a defenseman (please Sefton!) in the Priority Selection.

 

[Ward Cornell]

i'm not going to copy and paste from USHR, but they are reporting that there was a swedish girl in the hotel room.

seems a little harsh for dismissal.

In the hotel room?....

That's totally against the rules.....he should have taken her to the parking lot!

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I have no idea at all and I doubt in all these cases that we'll get a definitive answer that everyone can agree with. The NTDP will spin stuff to make them look good and innocent, the players will also spin stuff to make look sweet and innocent.
The truth as always lies somewhere in-between!

Perhaps the 2 year commitment needs to be reviewed and shortened to two one year commitments.
Right now in the present format there are difficulties in making it work!

Opinion?

It all seems pretty draconian to me. I'm not an insider-but who is? If the program is being measured by results in international competition, aren't we looking at relative failure? There's a definate disconnect that needs to be addressed.

 

[Ward Cornell]

What makes you think that? I've heard rumblings that his commitment to attend RPI next season was wavering but that he would follow Morin and Maxwell to Kitchener seemed to be far less certain. I guess Morin and D'Amigo coming north means the Rangers are taking a defenseman (please Sefton!) in the Priority Selection.

On the Rangers message board a poster 'LoneRanger' who has about .999 batting average over the last few years and has deep insider connections mentioned that D'Amigo will be a Ranger next year.
I assume Morin, D'Amigo and Maxwell are friends and it makes everyones decision easier to make.
Sefton sounds like a Ranger pick unless somehow Catenacci drops through 2 or 3 teams and I doubt that will happen.

 

[orangeandblack]

i'm not going to copy and paste from USHR, but they are reporting that there was a swedish girl in the hotel room.

seems a little harsh for dismissal.

Yea, Ive read the article, but why now? Why wait till March, when this happened what, 2 months ago?

 

[RangerRed]

On the Rangers message board a poster 'LoneRanger' who has about .999 batting average over the last few years and has deep insider connections mentioned that D'Amigo will be a Ranger next year.
I assume Morin, D'Amigo and Maxwell are friends and it makes everyones decision easier to make.
Sefton sounds like a Ranger pick unless somehow Catenacci drops through 2 or 3 teams and I doubt that will happen.

Any word on who the Rangers are looking at with their high Import pick? I've been hearing a return to the former Czechoslovakia with Daniel Krejci as a possibility. Wouldn't be the first time Kitchener had the brother of a former Olympiques (Ales and Petr Hemsky).

 

[Ward Cornell]

Any word on who the Rangers are looking at with their high Import pick? I've been hearing a return to the former Czechoslovakia with Daniel Krejci as a possibility. Wouldn't be the first time Kitchener had the brother of a former Olympiques (Ales and Petr Hemsky).

Sorry, no idea.
But I would imagine it will be a forward!

The Rangers are loaded on the backend with Stevens (who will be a beast next season), Jaspers, Gronvaldt, Wilson and Morris (B players) then throw in Sefton or Harrington (and thats without Dzeilski, Kelly and Bortuzzo returning). Then Maxwell and Morrison in net therefore from the blueline back the Rangers should be strong. I haven't totally locked in Maxwell as number 1 because i think he'll have his hands full with Morrison pushing him all season. Which is a great situation to have.

 

[Cams]

What about Johns? Was he not suspended also..... Any word on if he is in fact going to report to Windsor next year? Here's hoping Cam Folwer will bring any of Johns, Kenny Ryan, and/or Jack Campbell with him!

 

[RangerRed]

Sorry, no idea.
But I would imagine it will be a forward!

The Rangers are loaded on the backend with Stevens (who will be a beast next season), Jaspers, Gronvaldt, Wilson and Morris (B players) then throw in Sefton or Harrington (and thats without Dzeilski, Kelly and Bortuzzo returning). Then Maxwell and Morrison in net therefore from the blueline back the Rangers should be strong. I haven't totally locked in Maxwell as number 1 because i think he'll have his hands full with Morrison pushing him all season. Which is a great situation to have.

Yeah, I was impressed with Stevens when I've seen the Rangers this season. I haven't seen Jasper because he was injured when the Rangers went on their East Division road swing. I wasn't that impressed with Gronvaldt and I can't speak to Andrew Wilson or Branden Morris. With the way Bortuzzo has come back from injury, I think he'll be signed and assigned to Wilkes-Barre next season barring another injury before the end of the OHL season. Kelly and Dzielski will be back for sure though and you're right about throwing Harrington or Sefton into the mix. I guess the defence would look something like this
Kelly - Stevens
Dzielski - Jasper
Sefton/Harrington - Gronvaldt

You're right about the goaltending situation. Having those two push each other all season can bring nothing but good things for the Rangers next season. As for forwards, with Skinner, D'Amigo, Morin, Akeson, Aleardi and Randell up front, you don't really have room for another top six forward unless you don't think that Aleardi or Prince are ready for primetime.

 

[Ward Cornell]

I wasn't that impressed with Gronvaldt and I can't speak to Andrew Wilson or Branden Morris.

I know what you saying about Gronvaldt but I think he has tremendous upside. Sometimes imports takes a year to adapt and i suspect Gronvaldt is the prime example. But one thing about Gronvaldt he does need to become a lot more physical and nasty (which I believe goes back to the start of this reply and learning to adapt). If the Rangers draft Sefton or Harrington, would the Rangers consider releasing or trading him and go with 2 import forwards?
Aleardi is ready to become a prime time player. His speed alone breaks the trap, he also has good hands and fearless. Prince is much the same but the Rangers can only carry so many smaller players. For that reason I think Catenacci won't be back.

Sorry....this has gone off-topic!

 

[Ward Cornell]

Well, he sure looks to be doing a masterful job as a parent so far.

I think that when parents sends their kids across the country to play for a team that some guardianship for the kids is ensured by the NTDP. I know boys will be boys, especially teenage hockey players living away from home and are treated like 'stars' (well, in some way they are). But when there has been so many problems in the last 6 months perhaps we shouldn't be entirely be pointing fingers at the players (I know you're not) but at the system in which this stuff happens. Just curious, but how many of these players that has had problems are at such a great distance from their families that the families are not seeing them every weekend or every second weekend. How many Michigan kids got suspended or demoted?
It's all fine and dandy to have rules but they don't mean much if they aren't being vigilant in enforcing them.

*Please note, that I have no proof that the adults involved are lax but when there has been continuing problems the buck stops at the top!

 

[NJdevildog]

I think that when parents sends their kids across the country to play for a team that some guardianship for the kids is ensured by the NTDP. I know boys will be boys, especially teenage hockey players living away from home and are treated like 'stars' (well, in some way they are). But when there has been so many problems in the last 6 months perhaps we shouldn't be entirely be pointing fingers at the players (I know you're not) but at the system in which this stuff happens. Just curious, but how many of these players that has had problems are at such a great distance from their families that the families are not seeing them every weekend or every second weekend. How many Michigan kids got suspended or demoted?
It's all fine and dandy to have rules but they don't mean much if they aren't being vigilant in enforcing them.

*Please note, that I have no proof that the adults involved are lax but when there has been continuing problems the buck stops at the top!

a very interesting point of view. i mean, are all the kids bad? perhaps the ntdp should re-evaluate their own policies in dealing with kids.

 

[WesternCollegeHockey]

How many Michigan kids got suspended or demoted?

Both Higgins and Yanakeff are from southeastern Michigan.

And there was a kid that turned down a spot at the NTDP this year to stay at home and yet he still got in trouble for drinking this season.