Well, the 2005-2006 Hartford Wolf Pack season is halfway over, and it has certainly been an eventful one thus far. By my count thirty-two different players have seen a Wolf Pack uniform this season, and obviously some of them stand out far more than others. So, for this edition of Calder’s Corner, I’m going to try and give a run down of each of them, seeing as I haven’t given an update in a while. So, without further delay, I present to you:
The 2005-2006 Hartford Wolf Pack Halfway Report
#1 Ty Conklin - Goalie
Now for those of you who don’t know, Ty Conklin was assigned to the Wolf Pack by the Edmonton Oilers on a conditioning assignment at some point in December. He since has returned to Edmonton (Halleluiah). He started in two games which went to shootouts, one of which the Pack won, and one of which they lost. In the game which the Pack lost, I think no one in attendance is ever going to forget the scene of him skating out to the blue line in Overtime trying to beat the attacker to the puck. Now up until that one play I was a fan of the guy, but seeing as I don’t think he ever got to the puck (hard to tell from my seat), and it almost cost us a game vs. a mediocre team which we probably should have won, I was glad to see him return to Edmonton.
#2 David Liffiton - Defense
The offensive production of Liffiton is up from last season, which is good for a physical stay-at-home defenseman. He’s also second on the team with 99 penalty minutes, with fighting majors included. Overall I’d say his game is improving, he still makes some mistakes when pressured, but for the most part is a steady defenseman. He drops the gloves too, which is a bonus, but his overall game needs some work.
#3 Maxim Kondratiev - Defense
I think the Rangers were pretty smart to make the trade for Sykora, with a rumor circulating that Kondratiev may be headed back to Russia and may not sign in North America. One of the more interesting moments of the Wolf Pack season was Max playing one night in Manchester, then heading to Portland (AHL Affiliate of Anaheim) with the Wolf Pack on the day he was traded. Just minutes before game time, with word of the trade reaching the Wolf Pack, he switched locker rooms and walked to the Pirates dressing room where he suited up in his new jersey. Interesting, to say the least.
#5 Dale Purinton - Defense
Does anyone really want to see him in New York again? There seems to be a general negative feeling towards Dale from the entire Rangers fan base. Honestly, there are a lot of kids coming up through the system who have more talent then Dale, and eventually there won’t be room for him. There have been rumors that have been going around that Dale will be named captain down here, which has drawn mixed reactions. He’s been hurt for a good portion of the season, only appearing in 9 games.
#7 Joe Rullier - Defense
He’s improving. Towards the start of the season he really wasn’t doing much, but he now has 11 points in his last 11 games, including a 3-point night against the Manchester Monarchs, his former team. Other than that I really don’t know what to say about him.
#9 Nigel Dawes - Wing
He’s been phenomenal for the Pack so far this season. Not only is he sharing the team lead with 32 points, but he’s staying out of the penalty box. Aside from his 2-penalty performance on opening night, he’s been to the box in only 4 out of 38 games. I think the biggest knock on Nigel was his size, and that might be the only thing keeping him out of the NHL. He’s proving that he still can score at a higher level, and score often. Right now he’s scored 2 goals in each of his last 3 games, and he’s second only to Dwight Helminen for the team lead in goals.
#10 Alexandre Giroux - Wing
He was on an unbelievable streak in November where he put up 15 points in 10 games, but then he got injured. I don’t know how he was able to do it, but he returned to the lineup rather quickly after his foot was broken, but he managed only 2 points in 9 games he appeared in in December. So far he’s got 5 points in 7 games in January, hopefully he can return to the form he was in during that incredible streak earlier this season.
#11 Blake Bellefeuille - Forward
He’s now with the Philadelphia Phantoms, was playing with Charlotte before Hartford signed him to a PTO and he played five games. I honestly never saw him play, so I can’t really say much. Like I said he’s no longer with the team.
#15 Hugh Jessiman - Wing
He didn’t do anything while he was up in Hartford, but he seems to be performing well in Charlotte, I think it’s time for a call up personally.
#16 Jarkko Immonen - Center
He’s one of only two Wolf Pack players to appear in all 40 games thus far, knock on wood. If the Rangers needed a center it’s either him or Dwight Helminen who would get the call up, and it’s a difficult call to choose between the two of them. Jarkko has been pretty consistent all season, and is tied for the team lead in scoring with 32 points.
#19 Daniel Sparre - Wing
Before he came down with a viral infection he had 6 points in his first 11 AHL games. Since he returned to the lineup he only has 3 in his last 14. He’s small and he’s quick on his feet, and the two goals that I’ve seen from him were both nice. On one of them he came out of basically nowhere and knocked in a rebound, nobody picked him or the puck up. Hopefully he can improve on the offensive side a little more.
#20 Dwight Helminen - Center
The last time Hartford had a 40 goal scorer was when Brad “Shooter” Smyth lit the lamp 50 times way back in 2000-2001. Helminen has 20 goals in 39 games so far, and accordingly is on pace to hit the 40 goal milestone. The line of Dawes - Helminen - Genoway has been the best line Hartford has seen this season, with the 3 players putting up a total of 95 points in 40 games. They’ve all been phenomenal, especially Helminen. He’s improved a tremendous amount since the 04-05 season, probably due to the fact that he’s not only a penalty killer anymore. I’m in shock he didn’t make the all star team.
#21 Chad Wiseman - Wing
Should be the best player on the team, but for some reason is not. He’s been decent all season, 27 points in 29 games, but he’s been in the AHL for 4 seasons now, and was slated by many to be the team’s next captain. He’s not playing up to what fans expected him to play up to, but he’s been decent when he’s played.
#22 Thomas Pock - “Defense”
You’ll notice defense is in quotes. In my opinion, Pock would be better slated as a forward. If the Rangers are looking for someone to quarterback the power play, it’s not Thomas Pock. Yes, his offensive numbers have improved tremendously from last season, but he lets the puck out of the zone way too much. Plus he’s made some critical errors at defense which have been costly to the team. He’d be better off up on the forward lines, and I think that it’ll become noticeable once he gets into some NHL games this season.
#23 Ivan Baranka - Defense
This kid hits hard. Not only did he almost decapitate some guy on opening night, but he also served some guy on Saturday which drove the unlucky recipient of the check straight THROUGH the bench door.
#24 Petr Prucha - Wing
I think you all know how Petr Prucha is doing in New York.
#25 Jake Taylor - Defense
Fighting, not the best idea for Jake Taylor. I say this because he was sporting a nice bruise on his face after he got nailed by Wilkes-Barre / Scranton forward Daniel Caricllo and he hasn’t played since the incident. Other than that, he’s improved. He hasn’t been spectacular, but the quality of play has improved. Other than him and Rullier, New York doesn’t really have any other options for right-handed defensemen, unless they elect to give Daniel Girardi a look.
#26 Bryce Lampman - Defense
Out for the season. Shoulder injury requires surgery, he probably could have been our best defenseman this season if he stayed healthy. He’s the “Blair Betts” of this season, as Betts could have been one of our best forwards last season if he didn’t get hurt. Lampman only got into 11 games this season.
#27 Martin Grenier - Defense / Forward
Probably would be better suited as a forward if he ever made it to the NHL, seeing as he’s pretty much only a fighter. He’s been taking shifts at forward for a while now, because of a lack of bodies, and he’s a real big body. He’s 6’6, 260 lbs. according to the AHL site, so I’d wish we could see more of him standing in the slot, because he’d be difficult to move and would be a good screen.
#28 Jeff Taffe - Forward
Not a fan of Taffe honestly. He got off to a real good start, but since then has tapered off and hasn’t been producing as much lately.
#29 Al Montoya - Goalie
Coming into Hartford he had some enormous shoes to fill, seeing as Hartford fans were used to seeing reliable, consistent goaltending night in and night out. Jason LaBarbera and Steve Valiquette was the best goaltending tandem in the AHL in 04-05, each with spectacular GAA’s and save percentages. So far, Montoya is 13-3. One of those losses was in overtime, one was to the best team in the AHL, and one was on a night where Hartford only managed 1 goal on 50 shots. Keep in mind, he’s a rookie.
#30 Bernd Bruckler - Goalie
Was impressive in his AHL debut, but other than that wasn’t really spectacular. He’s now down in the ECHL.
#31 Chris Holt - Goalie
A 4.49 GAA in seven games played speaks for itself.
#34 Robert Gherson - Goalie
Please sign this kid. He’s so much better than Holt, and has an identical save percentage to Al Montoya. Despite the fact that he’s on a personal three game losing streak, when Montoya was injured he bailed the Pack out big time. He earned the Wolf Pack standing points in his first nine games as a member of the Pack, winning 6 of them.
#36 Craig Weller - Forward
Every season he keeps getting better and better. He hits hard, he’s improved his offense for the third straight season, and he’s been solid and consistent all season long. He does his job every night, and I mean every night. He has not yet missed a game this season.
#37 Bryan Rodney - Defense
I haven’t seen him, but apparently he’s supposed to be a real good offensive defenseman. He played on the same team as Daniel Girardi in juniors.
#38 Bruce Graham - Forward
Currently out of the lineup due to a viral infection. He’s been pretty good, considering he’s only 20. He earned a spot on the team with his performance in training camp, and he’s a pretty big body, (6’5) but needs more muscle.
#39 Colby Genoway - Forward
Easily one of the best forwards Hartford has had this season, very useful power play player as well. He’s getting top line minutes with Dawes and Helminen, and he’s using them well. He’s put up 31 points, only one off the team lead. He’s also a rookie, and at times will make rookie mistakes, but he’s playing very well. I do not believe he has a NHL contract, but if he keeps up his offense, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him with one soon.
#44 Ryan Hollweg
I think you guys know how he’s doing in the NHL.
#47 Lee Falardeau - Forward
He started off strong, picking up 6 points in his first 9 games since being called up from Charlotte of the ECHL. However, he has since cooled off, he only has two points in his last 20 games. On an all around scale, his game is up from last season. However, I’m concerned that he went 15 games without a single point, especially on a Hartford team which has the fourth most goals for in the entire AHL.
#48 Daniel Girardi - Defense
Beats out Rullier and Taylor for the best right-handed defenseman on the roster in my opinion. He’s been solid since being called up from Charlotte, exceeding my expectations from him. At first I figured he was only going to be up for the a couple games, but he’s been great for the Wolf Pack blue line. Again, I don’t believe he has an NHL contract, but the Rangers don’t have a lot of right-handed defensemen. He should get a look.
#81 Fedor Fedorov - Forward
The Rangers should have kept Balej, simply put. I had high hopes for Fedorov, but he’s simply not producing.
That’s it for this edition of Calder’s Corner, hopefully you’ve all been caught up to speed on the Wolf Pack, who currently stand at 22-11-2-5, in sole possession of the 3rd place spot in the AHL’s Atlantic Division with 51 points on the season. They trail the division leading Portland Pirates by 6 points and the second place Manchester Monarchs by 2.
- Calder
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