Jets Prospect Update

 

We had a quick look at some important prospects last Monday, but inside is a more complete look at all the Jets still in production. 

News: Zach Bell signed a two-way (ECHL/AHL) deal with St John’s. Cody Sol has been sent to the ECHL. 

This AHL club is already in a spot of trouble. After earning points in both their games opening weekend on the back of 4 goals by Eric O’Dell, they spotted Hamilton two shorthanded goals to lose 3-2, and took a beating at the hands of TJ Brennan and the Marlies 6-3. Brennan scored a hattrick (he’s a defenceman) and now has 10 points in 3 AHL games so far this season. He was a Buffalo prospect, traded to Florida for lack of thuggery last season, where he scored 9 points in 19 NHL games. He’s 24, so time is running out, and there is a bit of a log jam in the Maple Leafs defence group. He (or another blueliner) may be available at some point this season once the Leafs can afford another salary to help them into the playoffs. We’ll keep an eye. 

For now, O’Dell continues to create shots – averaging 4 per game – but the points dried up this past weekend. Not for Kichton, though, who continues to impress at both ends of the rink. The team has a -1 goal differential, making Lowry’s -4 (tied with Pardy for team-worst) a somewhat concerning number.

Sutter hasn’t played in all of Red Deer’s games. I can’t find news on why – perhaps a minor injury? 

Last we checked in on Petan, he’d played in 7 games with 13 points. So yes, it’s only been one game since our last update, but it’s also been three assists. JN <3’s NP. 

Ryan Olsen’s offence is not where we would hope so far after a break-out season last year and a return for his over-age year. He looked good at the Young Stars tournament, though a bit shy on offence there as well. It’s an issue.

Kosmachuk is a fiesty little fellow. 17 PIMS and 12 points in 9 games is exciting. Lodge is a few points shy of relevant so far.

To clarify Kasdorf – he had one shutout and was pulled in the third period from a game after 6 goals. Up and down for the young man. Obviously Colorado College has not yet played a game this season. NCAA hockey is just getting started, so we’ll have more on them as the weeks progress.

Look at Andrew Copp’s numbers! Heck of an opening weekend for a fourth round sophomore. Some might remember him as the over-ager who scored 19 of his 21 Freshman points in the last 21 games of last season. It seems he’s picked up where he left off.

A few notes about these guys – Poolman has played in 4 of 5 games. But the Lancers have not been scored on in 5 games. That’s right – 5 straight shutouts. So +4 is kinda the norm on that team. It’s actually a USHL record, and they swept the weekly awards for week 1 of the season. Poolman is on a very good club, and we’ll have to consider his stats with that in mind.

Marcus Karlstrom is playing up a division this year over last, and has 11 points in 11 games with AIK’s SuperElit Division team. It’s a huge step for the young 7th rounder, given he played just 5 games and scored one point in this division a year ago. Major positive arrows for this young man.

A few things to keep in mind about Sweden’s hockey system: SuperElit is a little like Major Junior, in that it runs from 15 to 20 year olds and is the best age-restricted league available. Unlike in Canada, AIK is a franchise with teams and properties throughout the many Swedish leagues, and so Karlstrom can move up and down between divisions while staying within the same "team," loosely defined. For example, 1993 birthday Jonathan Andersson scored 10 points as a defenceman on that same AIK SuperElit team in just 7 games before being promoted to the SHL club (and then recently loaned to a different Allsvenskan club), which opened minutes for Karlstrom. Karlstrom is tied for 7th in points per game by defencemen and 3rd in total scoring by a defenceman in what is a very high-scoring version of Swedish hockey. To give some context, the points leader (a forward) has 23 points. Further context – AIK has the 4th oldest U20 club in the league this year. 

In sum – Karlstrom is doing very well, but not so well as to suggest he’s beating his draft number just yet.

A couple players that slipped under my radar so far this year:

Vinny Saponari was released by the Jets and attended camp with the Predators this year. He has an AHL contract with Milwaukee, but was sent down to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL to start the year. The ECHL schedule kicks off this weekend where he should see his first action of the year.

Maybe others were well aware of this one – Zach Yuen signed an AHL deal with the Marlies two weeks ago. He’s a personal favourite, so I’m happy he found a deal in pro hockey. He hasn’t played a game for Toronto yet. I’ll keep my eyes peeled.

As an aside, both players are still listed on the Jets website as "In the System." The Jets have the worst web presence.