Roblogg’s Panthers Portal

The Florida Panthers have signed RW Graham Mink to a 2-year contract. The winger played for Washington’s farm team Hershey last year and was part of the team there that won the Calder Cup. The Trophy was his second as a member of the AHL’s Bears. Panthers inter-rim GM Randy Sexton said about Mink:

“We are very pleased to welcome Graham to the Florida Panthers. Graham, [...] has experienced tremendous success on the AHL level and also understands what it takes to compete on the National Hockey League level.”

The 30-year old AHL veteran played in 68 games for Hershey last year, scoring 32 goals and accumulating a total of 59 points. In the Calder Cup playoffs he played in 22 games and scored 7 goals and contributed 8 assists. While mink is very experienced on the AHL level he has only played 7 games in NHL with the Capitals.

The Stowe, Vermont native, may very well have a shot at playing on the Panthers fourth line this coming season, but most likely this deal has made with an eye on helping the Rochester Americans achieve some success in the increasingly competitive AHL. After a disastrous previous season, the first with the Cats as the sole NHL affiliate, the Amerks are now getting some solid AHL veterans to boost its cause this coming campaign.

The lure is likely to be a shot at making a Panthers roster that is remarkably open to a competitive challenge from seasoned AHL’s at the moment. Many will probably feel that head coach Pete DeBoer will give everyone a fair chance of making the roster out of training camp.

While this is good; it is important to have a successful farm team, it is also a bit concerning to see that the Cats’ roster perhaps lacks some proven NHL quality through the lines….

And so it has been the story with the refs as of late. Some skinny calls on the ice, and you can always count on those goalies to react!!

Rask, the future of Bruins goal tending, has a meltdown on the ice.

Now, the question is, should this incident go to video review to have a closer look? I mean, I could swear that one of those goals was a rebound … which is shameful for a ref to allow. In my opinion, it shouldn’t matter what level it is – NHL, AHL – rules are rules. What do you think?

According to an article in the Democrat and Chronicle, the Rochester Americans pressed their parent team the Florida Panthers hard to get Latvian Hockey player Janis Sprukts back to the AHL. The player himself however, was under the apparent impression he’d be playing in the NHL with the Cats.

So, Janis left Europe to sign a 1-year contract with Florida, but has so far only played one single game with the Cats, the remaining contests have been played in the AHL with Rochester. Not exactly the deal he thought he had bargained for. The 26-year old wasn’t given any guarantees from the Panthers organization, as far as anyone is willing to admit to anyway, but it seems the player was under the impression he’d get a real shot at establishing himself in the NHL.

It is likely that this was never the case; as already in August billboards in Rochester were publicizing his imminent return to the team. But Sprukts is a consummate professional and remains one of the few Amerk players to have distinguished himself in an otherwise mediocre campaign.

Jan is disappointed with the treatment from Florida and can’t envisage signing a new contract with the Panthers. He thinks he’ll return to Europe instead: "To me, it seemed right away there wasn’t much interest up top," Sprukts said in the article interview. "I signed to be playing in The Show, to be playing in the NHL. I don’t look at myself as an AHL player for the rest of my career."

Despite the obvious sense of disillusionment which Sprukts gives the impression of feeling, his line with fellow Panther call-ups Tanner Glass and Michal Repik has been producing of late. Coach Benoit Groulx believes the Americans are finally beginning to see what Janis is capable of on the ice; after having had a recurring groin problem early in the season which seriously limited his ability to play as well as he could.

Janis Sprukts’ hard work and dedication seems to have been rewarded as he has been given the opportunity to help Latvia try and qualify for the Olympic Games next year. It was  announced the other day that he had been loaned by the Panthers to the Latvian National Team for the Qualifying Tournament, to be held between February 5th and 8th. He’ll then be eligible to return to Rochester’s next road trip, starting on the 10th. Florida’s GM Jacques Martin said in a statement:

“This is an excellent chance for Janis to gain further experience playing at the international level, […] he has provided the Americans with a consistent effort all season long and he is very deserving of this opportunity to represent his native country. We are also very pleased that the Rochester ownership group recognizes the importance of Janis playing in this tournament and for agreeing with this mutual decision.”

If the Florida Panthers are hoping that this decision, to let him play for his national team, is going to make Janis re-sign for the Panthers next year; they may have another thing coming…

One can only speculate as to what exactly was said to lure him here in the first place, but it seems unlikely he’ll fall for the same ruse twice. If indeed Florida had hoped to utilize Sprukts in a future NHL roster, they may very well have blown that chance already. And even if he plays an important role in Rochester, the kind of tricks used here are unlikely to impress other players who may want to sign for the Cats in the future. None of them will want to sign with the Panthers, expecting to play, and then be sent up north for AHL schooling instead.

These things spread fast and can tarnish a franchises reputation with players, and so it seems like a precarious move to make and has a – not so small – hint of desperation surrounding it. Hopefully it is a case of misunderstanding and not a deliberate subterfuge from the Panthers, but that would be the best of any possible rationalization; while all others reek of the pungent smell of deceit.

Janis Sprukts has remained a true professional throughout this time, playing through injury in the early campaign, and has a team leading 28 points on the board (in 39 games). That is six more than the closest following players – line mate Michael Repik and defender Jason Garrison (22). Janis has 12 goals and 16 assists, minus 10 and 10 penalty minutes in total.

Dwindling attendances, a team filled with rookies that were unable to win or get points in any shape or form. Things hit a new low in Rochester at the beginning of this season.

People looked for answers and the Panthers organization failed to provide any adequate response. Director of Player Personnel Jack Birch was approached in one instance by the editor of letsgoamerks.com and rather than providing reassurance of any kind he angrily retorted at any allusion of lassitude, on his or the Panthers organizations part, by petulantly snapping back at he who dared inquire about the sad state of affairs. [Read article here]

The defensiveness is perhaps understandable. It would never be an easy step for the Panthers organization to fill out the Americans boots on their own. Having previously shared the affiliate with Buffalo, Florida announced before this season that they were ready to shoulder the ‘burden’ on their own. The reasoning being that the Cats now had enough promising youngsters to fill a line-up and hopefully continue to develop them in to future NHL players at Rochester by themselves. The idea was good, but it could perhaps be argued that they (both the organization and the rookie youngsters) weren’t quite prepared for the competitiveness of the American Hockey League.

Realistically, a sensible approach to the early tribulations; would be that problems were simply to be expected and there is always a learning curve to everything. Perhaps no one could have foreseen the early season struggles being of such a mammoth proportion however. Likely this unpreparedness and disbelief, experienced by the Amerk faithful, led to a sentiment of vanished pride; which illustrated itself in falling attendances and in scattered outbursts of booing – and even in instances of fans heckling its own players.

There was also a distinct of lack in faith, when it came to the competence of the Panthers organization; which is as much due to a history of unsuccessful drafting’s and player development – as it is a reflection of the slide in fortunes of the club itself over the years in the National Hockey League. All this hampered Rochester in those murky losing days and the snappish attitude displayed of Jack Birch hardly helped to restore any confidence or pride in Rochester either.

The turnaround didn’t come until December, when goaltender Mike Brodeur was brought in to try and steady the ship. Finally Birch and his cronies had woken up and taken action where it counts; on the ice. Brodeur worked magic in goal and his displays brought much needed self-belief to the other players on the team, and they started to slowly get out of the doldrums. Apart from Mike’s excellent goalkeeping, the injuries in South Florida that autumn/early winter probably helped the Amerks also. While the short term consequences were that they lost players, who were called up to the Panthers, the long term equation was that players returned back north with a sense of restored self-confidence after some assured displays for the Cats.

All in all, things were finally on the up and a time for restoration of pride has slowly begun in Rochester. While it is never good in itself to lose or go through bad times, it is true on the other hand that there is much to learn from these occasions and it is the kind of thing that builds character amongst players. They are, believe it or not, richer for the experience, or as Nietzsche would say: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.

More good news for the Americans is that Mike Brodeur was recently tied up for another year, after being initially signed on a 25 game professional tryout. An 8-3-1 record, two shutouts, 1.59 goals against average and a .944 save percentage later, Mike was All Star nominated and with a fresh contract in his hands. Undoubtedly well deserved and a big part in the remarkable turnaround of the club. While Jack Birch may need to hone his people and interview skills, he did do a good job in getting Brodeur in and signed for the Amerks. At the announcement of the deal he said: “He [Mike Brodeur] has certainly shown he has the talent to play in the AHL and the potential to play at the next level.”

Indeed, it will be interesting to see if his continued displays warrant Panther GM Jacques Martin to call him up for Panther duty next season; especially considering current back-up Craig Anderson has his contract set for unrestricted free agency this summer…

However, not only Brodeur has been clicking of late and the entire team has continued to perform in the New Year. After yesterday’s win against the Hamilton Bulldogs (6-5), Rochester has won 4 out of the previous 5 games and improved its season record to 13 wins and 29 points; now only 5 points behind the next club in the AHL North Division standings:

Shawn Matthias, reassigned to the Amerks after Panthers 8-4 win against Atlanta, contributed with two goals in the game, winning first star. Cory Murphy, at the end of his 14 day conditioning stint, also contributed with a goal and two assist (6 points in 5 games overall), whilst rookie and former College player (and Florida call-up) Jason Garrison had a four point night (1+3).

Here are the Rochester team statistics (showing only the current roster players) after 39 games:

Good news for Rochester Americans and Florida Panther fans is that there are some talented players here who will likely shine brighter with time. The turnaround in Rochester was not only timely, but quite necessary for both clubs. A few sighs of relief has undoubtedly crossed the lips of Panther and Amerk directors and staff lately. Now improvement is the key word and continued upgrading of the Americans standing in the AHL.

It is crucial for future development and a healthy Florida franchise that the affiliates, especially the AHL one, are vigorous and strong. Montreal and its affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs, which the Amerks beat yesterday, are a proof of this importance. Just take a look at their track record; and most Canadien players have come through this line of success – from AHL to NHL. And, as we all know, success breeds success; at whatever level it is achieved.