Prospect Report, Overseas Roundup and The Week Ahead 10/29-11/4

Texas Stars

After getting destroyed in three games a couple of weeks ago, the Stars went 1-1-0 last week and had a vastly improved defensive effort (well for one game at least). They beat the Milwaukee Admirals 3-1 off a strong effort from Jack Campbell and Jamie Oleksiak's first goal of his AHL career.

Things didn't go so well though against the Oklahoma City Barons. Cris Nilstorp got the start in that game and let three of the 12 shots he faced (two from Justin Schultz) get past him before being pulled in favor of Campbell. The team also still has that penalty problem, taking nine more in the two games last week.

On the positive side, Cody Eakin continues to impress (one goal and one assist last week) and he looks like he'll be a hell of a playmaker for the team this year. I can't wait to see how he does once he gets some time with the Dallas Stars.

Nov. 3 - Grand Rapids Griffins @ Texas Stars

 

The Overseas Pros

 

Jamie Benn - Hamburg Freezers

The week for Benn couldn't have gotten much better. He had two goals and two assists in two games last week and was subsequently named the first star for both games. He was aggressive again with 11 total shots on net (he's averaging a little over eight per game), and had points on the power play, short handed and even strength.

About the only thing that didn't go right was a rare failed shootout attempt. He still has a relatively low eight percent shooting percentage so his points should improve with time (in his NHL career, he's at 12%).

Oct. 31 - Hamburg Freezers @ EHC Red Bull Munchen

Nov. 2 - Hamburg Freezers @ Augsburger Panther

Nov. 4 - ERC Ingolstadt @ Hamburg Freezers

 

Jaromir Jagr - HC Kladno

Jagr had a bit of a resurrection last week with four goals and three assists in three games (including a hat trick and four point game on Sunday). He's been quiet for most of Kladno's season so it was nice to see him show up on the scoresheet. Kladno sits third in the Czech League and has been playing very well.

Nov. 2 - Kladno @ Pardubice

Nov. 4 - Chomutov @ Kladno

 

Stephane Robidas - HIFK Helsinki

Robidas had his first point for his team last week but overall didn't do too much. Helsinki lost both games last week and four of their last five while allowing goals in droves.

Oct. 30 - HIFK Helsinki vs Jyp Jyväskylä

Nov. 1 - HIFK Helsinki vs Blues Espoo

Nov. 3 - Kalpa Kuopio vs HIFK Helsinki

 

Tom Wandell - Severstal Cherepovets

Wandell does what he usually did this week. He got himself a lot of ice time (third most among forwards on his team), took a bunch of face-offs and didn't do too much on the scoresheet. He only had one assist this past week to bring his point total this season to four (all assists). He's not getting a lot of shots on net (five total last week) and is just trying to be a playmaker on the ice. He's been solid, but nothing much that excites fans.

Oct. 29 - Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg vs Severstal Cherepovets (game already played, Wandell scoreless again in a 2-1 win)

Oct. 31 - Metallurg MG vs Severstal Cherepovets

Nov. 2 - Traktor Chelyabinsk vs Severstal Cherepovets

 

Philip Larsen - Rauman Lukko

Larsen had three games last week and had no points to show for it. His team lost two of the three games last week and sits near the bottom of the table in SM-Liiga. 

Oct. 30 - Tappara vs Rauman Lukko

Nov. 2 - Rauman Lukko vs Assat Pori

Nov. 3 - Rauman Lukko vs Jokerit

 

CHL Prospects

Radek Faksa - Kitchener Rangers

Faksa tailed off a bit this week with only one point (an assist) in three games, though his team was able to win two of them. The Rangers are much improved lately, winning five of the past six games and Faksa has been a big part of that, even if it's not showing on the scoresheet. He's been solid defensively and has just been a steady player.

Nov. 1 - Kitchener Rangers @ Niagara IceDogs

Nov. 2 - Windsor Spitfires @ Kitchener Rangers

Nov. 4 - Owen Sound Attack @ Kitchener Rangers

 

Brett Ritchie - Niagara IceDogs

There were goals galore in the IceDogs three games last week. Unfortunately most of those goals belonged to the opposition. Ritchie got himself a goal and an assist in the IceDogs one win last week before they got blown out of the water 7-2 and 4-1 in their subsequent games against Sudbury and Barrie. Ritchie was held off the scoresheet in those two matchups.

Ritchie is still maintaining a point per game pace though and has been one of the best looking prospects on the ice for the Stars this year.

Nov. 1 - Kitchener Rangers @ Niagara IceDogs

Nov. 3 - Guelph Storm @ Niagara IceDogs

Nov. 4 - Niagara IceDogs @ Peterborough Petes

 

Gemel Smith - Owen Sound Attack

Smith continues to score points with two more goals and two more assists in three games last week. He's averaging just over a point per game and had at least one point in every game in October (nine games). He's been the most impressive prospect for the Stars so far in the CHL, much better than I expected.

Expect more points out of Smith this week as he plays the league worst Erie Otters in an odd two games back-to-back at Erie.

Nov. 2 - Owen Sound Attack @ Erie Otters

Nov. 3 - Owen Sound Attack @ Erie Otters

Nov. 4 - Owen Sound Attack @ Kitchener Rangers

 

Matej Stransky - Saskatoon Blades

Stransky had a goal and two assists in three games last week as his team went 1-2-0-0 and continues to sit at the bottom of its division. Stransky has been solid though with eight points in the past six games (three multi-point games) and he's returned to form after a short slump at the beginning of October.

Oct. 30 - Saskatoon Blades @ Regina Pats

Nov. 2 - Saskatoon Blades @ Kootenay Ice

Nov. 3 - Saskatoon Blades @ Lethbridge Hurricanes

 

Mike Winther - Prince Albert Raiders

Mike Winther had himself a hell of a game on Saturday with a hat trick and a +4 rating in a 5-1 win over Moose Jaw. Winther has five points (four goals) in the past four games and has played very well since returning from his early season injury. He's registered 10 points in 11 games so far this season.

Oct. 30- Swift Current Broncos @ Prince Albert Raiders

Nov. 2 - Edmonton Oil Kings @ Prince Albert Raiders

Nov. 3 - Prince Albert Raiders @ Regina Pats

 

Branden Troock - Seattle Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds had three games last week and Branden Troock didn't take part in any of them as he rode the pine.

Oct. 30 - Seattle Thunderbirds @ Spokane Chiefs

Nov. 2 - Seattle Thunderbirds @ Swift Current Broncos

Nov. 3 - Seattle Thunderbirds @ Moose Jaw Warriors

 

Troy Vance - Victoriaville Tigers

Vance had one goal, his first of the season, this past week for the Tigers as they went 1-1-0-0. It was his first point in three weeks. The Tigers defense has been leaky lately, allowing at leas three goals in seven straight games. They have a tough test this week with the two of the best teams in the QMJHL on the schedule.

Nov. 1 - Val-d'Or Foreurs @ Victoriaville Tigers

Nov. 2 - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies @ Victoriaville Tigers

Nov. 9 - Cape Breton Screaming Eagles @ Victoriaville Tigers

Nov. 10 - Halifax Mooseheads @ Victoriaville Tigers

Maxime Lagace - Prince Edward Island Rocket

Lagace continues to struggle mightily for PEI Rocket. He started two of the Rocket's three games last week and allowed 10 goals on 53 shots. He's started nine of the Rockets 16 games so far this seasonand has allowed six or more goals in four of them. He's got some ugly numbers beside his name right now.

It'll be interesting to see if he starts the game against Shawinigan, the worst team in the QMJHL, and how he does.

Nov. 1 - Shawinigan Cataractes @ PEI Rocket

Nov. 2 - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada @ PEI Rocket

Nov. 9 - PEI Rocket @ Quebec Remparts

Nov. 10 - PEI Rocket @ Rimouski Oceanic