*-> Montreal Canadian and soon to be free agent Glen Metropolit is rumored to be heading back to Europe this summer. Reports have said several Swiss and Russian teams have made offers to the free agent forward. While Glen has said in the past he would consider heading back to Europe one day I believe he still has interest in the NHL. I can't see it happening unless he feels his career is ready to wind down or he is wanting a bigger salary.
*-> Yuri Alexandrov of Severalstal Cherepovets of the KHL has agreed to an entry level contract with the Boston Bruins who he was drafted by.
*-> Roman Josi of Bern HC was also signed today by the Nashville Predators. He was drafted by the Preds in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft.
*-> The Carolina Hurricanes have come to terms with forward Jiri Tlusty. The deal is worth 500K for just one season. It looks like Tlusty will get one more Season with the Canes to prove he belongs.
*-> Nick Petersen of Wakefield Quebec was signed today by the Pittsburgh Penguins who drafted him in the 4th round of the 2009 Entry Draft. Its an entry level deal. Petersen played last season for the St Johns Sea Dogs.
*-> Riku Helanius is reported to be sick of the goaltending situation in Tampa Bay and has reportedly been pursuing a transfer to Sodertalje of the SEL. The Lightning have an abundance of goaltending prospects all fighting for time down in the minors with no real future with the club.Kari Ramo experienced the same fate before bolting to the KHL last season.
2 comments:
Why is it that the whole league seems to have an abundance of blue-chip prospect goaltenders, yet the Sens can't pick up a young prospect who can stop the puck? All we've ever had for goalie prospects are late round picks who steal a job on the backs of our shutdown defence and then look like 7th round picks when the pressure is on.
Look at the past: Emery (unhyped), Hurme (unhyped), Elliott (unhyped), Prusek (unhyped)... The last time I remember the Sens developing their own goalie who had some pedigree was Jeff Glass, who won the World Juniors with Canada... that's WITH not FOR, he wasn't all that stellar. He ended up being a bust.
So how do the Sens find that goalie to put them over the top? Trade? There's a reason teams don't want to trade number one goalies... namely they are #1 goalies. Free agency? A bona-fide number 1 will fetch far more than most teams want to lock up in a netminder, (see HASEK, Dominic)... The draft? I think drafting goalies is a bit of a crap shoot, since they develop so late, but at this point I'm willing to try anything...
So far, Robin Lehner looks good. I'm hoping he can fill the net in 2-4 years from now. Otherwise the sens are doomed to wade in the waters of obscurity for years to come.
CA
CA,
I feel your pain, but goaltenders seem to develop later than position players, making it harder to select a blue chip prospect goaltender as an eighteen year old.
Emery was an OHL goaltender of the year and a fourth rounder, and he may have proven a quality number one if his head had stayed screwed on stratight.
However, other top picks this team has made didnt' pan out:
- Chouinard, drafted in both the first (15th if I recall) and second round
- Lajeunesse, second round
- Hurme, third round (but just 58th overall)
Carey Price in Montreal had as much hype as any goaltender coming in, but Montreal was criticized for picking him when they did, lauded when he starred as a rookie, and now criticized again when he may be on his way out of town after just three seasons.
Unfortunately, there is little to no accuracy to the term "blue chip goaltending prospect," else every year there wouldn't be thirty teams in the league and only fifteen quality starting goaltenders.
Have faith that a top 15 goalie will emerge from the current crop of Leclaire, Elliort and Lehner. Leclaire's finish to the 'Pens series was at least encouraging and next year is a contract year for him.
- Jalen
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