Official Rockford IceHogs Forum Thread

[icehogfan08]

For those of you interested, I think this allows these guys to show their stuff, could be pretty interesting games.

 

[stormbolter73]

Icehogs have signed D man Scott Fletcher, and forwards Zack Torquato and Andy Bohmbach. None of these guys have had much pro experiance. Bohmbach played at the U. of Wisconsin. These guys could end up on the low end of the Hogs roster or down in the ECHL but ya never know when somebody might be a pleasant surprise.

 

[icehogfan08]

Icehogs have signed D man Scott Fletcher, and forwards Zack Torquato and Andy Bohmbach. None of these guys have had much pro experiance. Bohmbach played at the U. of Wisconsin. These guys could end up on the low end of the Hogs roster or down in the ECHL but ya never know when somebody might be a pleasant surprise.

Torquato Zack Torquato hockey statistics & profile at hockeydb.com

Bohmbach Andy Bohmbach hockey statistics & profile at hockeydb.com

Fletcher Scott Fletcher hockey statistics & profile at hockeydb.com

 

[DewsSox79]

storm- as i have known you for a while, i trust your instinct when it comes to prospects. my question is this, who from the hogs will have the biggest impact on the NHL roster this year?

 

[stormbolter73]

That's a tough call. If we are going to include Skille et. al. in that conversation, I would tend to lean towards Bickell because he can play a heavy hitting, goalie screening role. I would like to say Skille but I just don't know what role they are going to give him. I personally love Jake Dowell and I think other people will too but he will be playing 4th line minutes so it's hard to give him the biggest impact seal of approval. I will say he will translate the quickest and best given his role.

For guys that may or may not get there, I look to Shawn Lalonde to have a shot a the team if we don't sign a vet. Pretty solid instincts, good speed, a little snarl, big shot. He looked like the best player on the ice often in the games he has played with the Icehogs. I just think he would be well served by 1 more season before the NHL.

Beach obviously has that impact potential. Big, nasty, scoring touch, on paper he has it all. The issues I have are A. where his head is at and if he can keep focused and smart. B. the contract is a bigger cap hit than I would like given our situation for a rookie with some questionmarks. SOme time in the AHL might teach him to be a pro. Much like Lalonde,in the limited sample size I have, he often looked like the best player on the ice.

Now for the randoms. Evan Brophey is the first guy on my AHL list of players that could make an impact. Each of his seasons,he has developed as an all around player. His point totals weren't fantastic last season but his D improved greatly. He should be at the top for a call up if necessary.

Brian Connelly is another guy that really impressed me. He is undersized but plays a very smart style of hockey. He positions well and uses his stick to his advantage. He is also very good in the offensive zone and has the speed to keep up with the pace that the Hawks like to play at.

My real sleeper here is Hugh Jessiman. The guy is huge, scores at the AHL level and isn't afraid to get physical. The issue is that after being drafted in the first round in 2003, he hasn't played a single NHL game. WHile I don't expect that to change this season, the physical combination this guy brings to the table leads me to think an eye should at least be cast his direction.

If the Hawks are just looking for another guy to punch somebody in the face, Wade Brookbank would be good because well, he tends to punch people in the face.

The Icehogs look like they are going to be really young this season and have a lot of talent. I left Morin, Leddy, and a number of others off the list because I havn't seen them yet. There are a number of guys that may get a real shot in the future, Ryan Stanton, Denis-Pepin, and Ben Smith could all get solid looks as they continue to develop.

Your question was hard to answer due to how up in the air both teams are in a lot of respects. The turnover on the Icehogs is pretty huge but not in a bad way, just in a way that makes it harder to predict things. Hope that helped.

 

[DewsSox79]

^^^^ you are the man!

 

[Capt. Serious]

That's a tough call. If we are going to include Skille et. al. in that conversation, I would tend to lean towards Bickell because he can play a heavy hitting, goalie screening role. I would like to say Skille but I just don't know what role they are going to give him. I personally love Jake Dowell and I think other people will too but he will be playing 4th line minutes so it's hard to give him the biggest impact seal of approval. I will say he will translate the quickest and best given his role.

For guys that may or may not get there, I look to Shawn Lalonde to have a shot a the team if we don't sign a vet. Pretty solid instincts, good speed, a little snarl, big shot. He looked like the best player on the ice often in the games he has played with the Icehogs. I just think he would be well served by 1 more season before the NHL.

Beach obviously has that impact potential. Big, nasty, scoring touch, on paper he has it all. The issues I have are A. where his head is at and if he can keep focused and smart. B. the contract is a bigger cap hit than I would like given our situation for a rookie with some questionmarks. SOme time in the AHL might teach him to be a pro. Much like Lalonde,in the limited sample size I have, he often looked like the best player on the ice.

Now for the randoms. Evan Brophey is the first guy on my AHL list of players that could make an impact. Each of his seasons,he has developed as an all around player. His point totals weren't fantastic last season but his D improved greatly. He should be at the top for a call up if necessary.

Brian Connelly is another guy that really impressed me. He is undersized but plays a very smart style of hockey. He positions well and uses his stick to his advantage. He is also very good in the offensive zone and has the speed to keep up with the pace that the Hawks like to play at.

My real sleeper here is Hugh Jessiman. The guy is huge, scores at the AHL level and isn't afraid to get physical. The issue is that after being drafted in the first round in 2003, he hasn't played a single NHL game. WHile I don't expect that to change this season, the physical combination this guy brings to the table leads me to think an eye should at least be cast his direction.

If the Hawks are just looking for another guy to punch somebody in the face, Wade Brookbank would be good because well, he tends to punch people in the face.

The Icehogs look like they are going to be really young this season and have a lot of talent. I left Morin, Leddy, and a number of others off the list because I havn't seen them yet. There are a number of guys that may get a real shot in the future, Ryan Stanton, Denis-Pepin, and Ben Smith could all get solid looks as they continue to develop.

Your question was hard to answer due to how up in the air both teams are in a lot of respects. The turnover on the Icehogs is pretty huge but not in a bad way, just in a way that makes it harder to predict things. Hope that helped.

Solid man. Great stuff.

 

[tbo41fan]

I hope Bickell plays well. From what little ive seen of him last year, he looks like a solid player

 

[DewsSox79]

I hope Bickell plays well. From what little ive seen of him last year, he looks like a solid player

needs grooming aka seasoning

 

[tbo41fan]

I dont know about that....I mean you could say that every player coming in needs seasoning.

I think Bickell played well enough in his games last year to warrant his spot on this team

 

[stormbolter73]

Bickell has been in the AHL for 3+ seasons, it's not like he played his first pro season last year. He isn't going to get any more "seasoned" by staying in the AHL for another year. He is either going to take the next step and be an NHL player or he isn't, but much like Skille and Crawford, another year of "seasoning" in the minors isn't going to do anything.

 

[DewsSox79]

Bickell has been in the AHL for 3+ seasons, it's not like he played his first pro season last year. He isn't going to get any more "seasoned" by staying in the AHL for another year. He is either going to take the next step and be an NHL player or he isn't, but much like Skille and Crawford, another year of "seasoning" in the minors isn't going to do anything.

i meant with an average nhl team. not a cup contender

 

[stormbolter73]

Then he would be out of the organization and it would become a non-issue all together.

 

[tbo41fan]

Dewey, what the hell are you talking about? lol
jk

 

[Capt. Serious]

Outside Toivonen, who is the backup?

 

[tbo41fan]

Huet

 

[Capt. Serious]

Eww

 

[stormbolter73]

In Rockford, it's less likely to be Huet, who I expect to end up in Europe. That Would leave the backups likely to be Joe Palmer or Alec Richards. Richards spent most of the season in ECHL affiliate Toledo, playing a decent amount of games while Crawford was rehabbing from a nagging groin pull and acquitted himself admirably. Palmer played in the Central Hockey League for a team in Texas, Played a game or 2 while the Hogs were were road tripping in Texas. Both guys are likely AHL talent but are going to need some playing time to see where they might be able to go in the future.

 

[DewsSox79]

I have tickets for 6 games this year for the hogs. i need to see more of the youth.

 

[tbo41fan]

Dewey, fly me out to go to one game with you