Making The Grade -- Moose At The Half

[fergo]

I figured a few of you guys might be interested in how the Canuck prospects are doing on the farm so far. Here's the report on the first half of the Manitoba Moose season I did for my website. Feel free to comment on it (preferably with as few swear words as possible :D).

Making The Grade -- Moose At The Half
Originally written for MooseView on January 18, 2005 by Craig Ramm

What a difference a year makes. The Manitoba Moose at this point last season were struggling to a 15-18-6-1 record, and had just gone 3-4-3 in their last ten games leading up to the halfway point of their lost cause of a season. This season, the Moose are riding high with a 27-10-1-2 record, and have gone 8-2 in their last ten.

So what has caused this great improvement? Certainly a better atmosphere in the dressing room--largely due to an influx of new players--as well as a more team-oriented plan, instituted by new Moose Head Coach Randy Carlyle. Simply put, if one line gets shut down by the opposition, there's another to step up in its place. Also, the lack of an NHL season means that no one is getting called up and disrupting any good things happening down on the farm.

With the Moose reaching the halfway mark of their season, it's time to break out the pen and write up some players' report cards. To say the least, this year's crop of players doesn't have many bad marks.


Lee Goren (A+)
-- The Winnipeg native has made good in his return to Manitoba's capital, becoming a very effective power forward for the Moose. Goren currently leads the Moose in power play goals, and is tied with Ryan Kesler and Jeff Heerema for most game-winners. Goren is also only one of two players on the Moose to score a shorthanded goal (Jason King being the other).

Ryan Kesler (A+)
-- Definitely Manitoba's most improved player this season, Kesler has become a very effective shutdown guy, penalty killer...and it doesn't hurt that he scores points, too. He's also improved on his faceoffs--a major weak point of his last season--enough that he's now called upon in key late-game situations.

Jason King (A+)
-- Known for having a nose for the net, King is rounding out his game, being put in all situations by Head Coach Randy Carlyle, including being one of the team's main penalty killers. Even when he had a short dry spell near the midway mark of the half, King helped out his team in other ways.

Alex Auld (A)
-- Expected to become Vancouver's backup before the NHL went into lockout mode, Auld has left no doubt he deserves at least that spot once the NHL resumes. He had a rough first couple of games, but he's really turned up his play to firmly secure the starter's job in Manitoba. He also got invited to play for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup, where he went 3-1. Since he's come back from the Spengler Cup, Auld has gone 6-0 in his last seven games, with a 1.41 GAA, a 0.945 save percentage, and one shutout.

Nolan Baumgartner (A)
-- Took a few games to adjust to the captaincy role he was given by Head Coach Randy Carlyle, but he's since thrived in it. His offensive production has slightly dropped off lately, but his defensive play more than makes up for it.

Wade Flaherty (A)
-- Has settled nicely into his role as mentor to Alex Auld, and has been on top of his game in the majority of his starts. Like Auld, Flaherty has turned up his game as of late, picking up a 5-2 record in his last seven starts, with a 1.96 GAA, a 0.929 save percentage, and three shutouts.

Peter Sarno (A)
-- Manitoba's leading point-getter, and by far their best playmaker, Sarno is currently on pace for his best season as a pro. He still has a limited package defensively, but certainly isn't as bad in that regard as he was in his short time with Manitoba in 2003-04.

Kevin Bieksa (B+)
-- His four-game audition at the end of the 2003-04 season was just a preview of what Moose fans have gotten used to this season. Bieksa quickly earned the trust of Head Coach Randy Carlyle and has been put in all situations, including killing penalties. Bieksa has also shown some offensive flair that wasn't necessarily expected from him.

Joe DiPenta (B+)
-- Plays a simple defensive game, and has been one of Manitoba's best defencemen this season. DiPenta won't be mistaken for an offensive defenceman anytime soon, but he's already tied his career high for points in a season with eight.

Josh Green (B+)
-- Took a little time to adjust, but now fits comfortably in Manitoba's lineup. He's played between the top two lines for the last half of this part of the season. Green has taken shifts on the power play and killing penalties, and has also taken a few of the younger players (like Alexandre Burrows, Jesse Schultz, and Brandon Nolan) under his wing.

Alexandre Burrows (B)
-- What started as a part-time gig became a full-time job. Burrows has shown the Manitoba coaching staff that he can play in all situations and not be a detriment to his team. Very effective with his fellow Inferno Line teammates (Brandon Nolan and Jesse Schultz), and over the last few games has received some penalty kill time.

Jeff Heerema (B)
-- Had a good start, then trailed off halfway through (one point in 15 games), only to regain his form in the last part of the half. Even when not contributing offensively, he's provided solid defensive play even-strength and when killing penalties.

Tomas Mojzis (B)
-- Still hasn't broken out offensively like some people hoped he would, but he's improved on his defensive coverage. Mojzis should get more ice time on the power play with the departure of Kirill Koltsov.

Jimmy Roy (B)
-- With the Moose keeping one extra veteran, Roy has ended up being the odd man out on many nights. He's never complained about that, or his reduced role with the team, and has played solid whenever he's been inserted into the lineup.

Nathan Smith (B)
-- Will never be known as an offensive dynamo, but his defensive play is underrated. He's also one of Manitoba's better faceoff men, and an effective penalty killer.

Wade Brookbank (B-)
-- Played average as a forward, but regained his form switching back to defence (his natural position) after an injury to Johnathan Aitken and the departure of Kirill Koltsov to Russia. Will likely return to the wing once Aitken returns.

Brandon Nolan (C+)
-- Struggled out of the gate, but played well enough midway through the half to earn some ice time on Manitoba's second line. He's since become an effective energy line guy with Alexandre Burrows and Jesse Schultz.

Jesse Schultz (C+)
-- Earned himself a spot on the top line at the beginning of the season, but fell to the lower lines not long after. Has found his niche with fellow Inferno linemates Alexandre Burrows and Brandon Nolan.

Johnathan Aitken (C)
-- Has battled injuries for a good part of his season. Struggled for the first part of the half, then once he started to get things going, he hurt his back. Aitken will likely return to the lineup sometime in February.

Kent Huskins (C)
-- Was the odd man out on a lot of night early on, but has re-entered the lineup on a full-time basis due to the departure of Russian defenceman Kirill Koltsov. He isn't putting up the offensive number he has the past few years, but hasn't been detrimental on defence.

Justin Morrison (D)
-- Perhaps the biggest disappointment on the Moose this season, Morrison has just now found his scoring prowess after struggling through his first 25 games. If not for his performances over the past couple of weeks, he would've likely received an D- or F.

Tim Smith (F)
-- Has received limited ice time, but has done little with what he has been given. A trip to Columbia isn't out of the question, so he can get some ice time.

Incomplete
Greg Amadio
-- Played one game in his pro-tryout with Manitoba, picking up four penalty minutes against Cleveland on December 28, 2004. He's played the majority of the season in Columbia, where he's been named an All-Star.

Kirill Koltsov
-- Played in 28 games for the Moose before getting homesick and heading back to Russia to play for Avangard Omsk. Before going back, Koltsov made strides in his defensive play without sacrificing things on offence. He still gets too far into the attacking zone at times, but nowhere near as bad as last season.

Rob McVicar
-- Played good in his only game with the Moose, a 3-2 overtime loss to Cleveland. McVicar made 42 saves in the game on December 28, 2004. He's played the majority of this season in Columbia, where he's struggled to a 5-7-0-1 record.

View Manitoba's first half stats here.
View Manitoba's first half home stats here.
View Manitoba's first half away stats here.

[Score]

Thanks for the update, fergo!

Go Moose Go!