SB Nation - Drew MacIntyre

Nashville Post-Game: Anderson Looking for NHL Players, Kulda Responds

The Falconer — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:42:48 -0000

The Atlanta Thrashers lost 5-0 on Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a game in which they were out-played and out-shot 33-22 as their top scorers and top defensemen did not dress. After the game, Coach Anderson was philosophic about the outcome.

"Everyone has their own philosophy about who to dress on a certain night. Nashville dressed their best line and they were men among boys out there. And that's OK, that's part of it. We had indoctrination by throwing them into the fire to see how they would react.

Anderson thought the rough 1st period was a case of stage fright as much as anything else.

"They were nervous, you could see it right from the start. Oystrick falls down with no place to go. It kind of scared everybody. They were nervous whenever they had the puck. It got better as the game went along. We did make some plays, we have to remember that none of these guys have really played together."

There was both a talent and experience mis-match between the Thrashers and Predators last night. I asked Coach Anderson what his goal was for that game.

"Very simple, I want to see if someone can play in the National Hockey League."

Did anyone make that kind of statement in the 5-0 loss?

"Arturs Kulda stepped up. He had some big hits and a big fight. MacIntyre was strong in the 1st period. Popovic got better as the game went along. Stapleton and Krog--I liked them too. I thought Evander Kane got better as the game went along."

For prize rookie it is a big adjustment going from facing junior players to NHL level competition. Coach Anderson pointed out that this is Kane's first taste of what NHL game action looks like. It is the first step in evaluating his readiness for the big leagues.

"Kane has played against junior players. Even at the Traverse City Camp he mainly faced junior guys. We need to see how he reacts if he is going to play in this league."

Mark Popovic was very active in the contest. He frequently pinched all the way to the slot area trying to spark some offense. Anderson noticed his aggressive play.

"I had [Mark] a couple of years ago in Chicago. He scored something like 16 goals for me. He's an offensive guy who can handle the puck and he's a decent skater, so we have to look at him pretty closely"

Drew MacIntyre

In the first period Drew MacIntyre single handedly kept the contest close. The Thrashers were back on their heels in awe of Nashville. He stopped numerous point black chances. He did allow 2 goals in the first, but in each case he made the initial save and the puck went to the opposite side of the ice. Once a goalie is down, it is very difficult to respond to a change in the point of attack. Coach Anderson talked about his game:

"I don't know exactly how many shots we allowed in the first period, but he kind of kept it close for us. It was his first game and I think he was drained by the end. The only goal I didn't like was Weber's goal. But it is, what it is. Overall I thought he played a strong game. We had a lot of action around him and for a first game it was pretty tough on him."

After the game Drew MacIntyre was kind enough to talk about his start. It was the first time he had played an entire NHL pre-season game, in previous stops he had been allowed just one period to show what he could do. Don Waddell had mentioned the previous day that they scouted MacIntyre in the AHL and really wanted to add him to their organization. I asked him about the Thrashers pursuit of him over the summer.

"I was a little surprised--with the goalies that they have in their organization. But I'm grateful for the opportunity. I just wish that I had played better for them."

Asked to assess his game, MacIntyre felt he made some strong plays early, but made some mistakes as the game wore on.

"I wanted to give our team a chance to win. I think I did that at the start, but then I let in some soft ones. It is disappointing way to start...I was too deep in my net, I have to get out higher for those."

MacIntyre was obviously not pleased with the final outcome of the contest, but he did draw some confidence from making some tough saves on NHL level shooters.

"I know that I can play here [in the NHL.] I have to play better than I did tonight. I'm ticked off about the weak goals and I'll work to address that."

Tim Stapleon

Another pleasant surprise for the Thrashers in an otherwise rough evening was diminutive forward Tim Stapleton. He came to Atlanta this summer as part of the Exelby for Kubina trade. He is now past age 25 and not really a prospect anymore, but after 4 years of college hockey and 2 years in the Finnish league and one season in the AHL, he's a polished offensive hockey player. Stapleton's scoring numbers in the AHL are similar to numbers that Rich Peverly put up in the minors. If Stapleton does not make the Thrashers out of camp, he could be called up to replace an offensive player in the team lineup.

Stapleton had played just one pre-season NHL game prior to last tonight. He said that he received only a small amount of ice time in that contest. The Thrashers game him a much longer look last night and they informed him that he will play in the 2nd pre-season game in Tampa Bay on Friday.

He was very active during the contest and displayed both good skating ability and puck abilities. I asked him about his play.

"I was trying to do everything that the coaches wanted me to do. The coach likes skilled plays and I was trying to use my skill and do good things when I had the puck. I started off slow, but felt better as the game went along. I thought our whole line played much better. It was tough to lose, but we'll have to focus on tomorrow."

Stapleton was traded for the first time in his career and is adapting to a new organization. I asked him if there was a significant difference between the systems used by the two franchises.

"I think so. We're a little bit more open here in terms of using our skill and making plays. In Toronto they focus a lot on getting the puck deep and not turning it over. I feel a bit more comfortable here with the style the coach wants us to play. I'll keep trying to make plays and hopefully good things happen."

I asked him about the mid-summer trade to Atlanta and the opportunity for him in this organization.

"I thought we were close to a signing a deal with Toronto. I had actually moved back there this summer-that's how the business works. To be traded here, I was really excited and I'm still excited. I think this is a good opportunity for me in a new organization that wants me to play the style of game I'm capable of playing."

Training Camp Preview: Position Battles Among AHL Veterans

The Falconer — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:49:06 -0000

NHL Training Camp is still about six weeks away from beginning and hockey news is rather sparse. So I decided to put together a table that looks at the AHL stats of F, D and G who will fighting it out at camp for NHL jobs. I tried to include everyone who played in the AHL last season or the season before that (Oystrick, Stewart) who is under contract with the Thrashers.

My table does not include Evander Kane or Angelo Esposito who both played junior hockey last year. I did include Rich Peverly and Bryan Little in the table--even though both those guys have locked up a roster spot, I found it interesting to see how their stats compared to other players.

First up we have the Forwards. I have chosen to list them in the order of their age (except for Bryan Little who I added after I listed all the other forwards). Age is extremely important since a 20 or 21 year old player is MUCH more likely to take a dramatic step forward and a guy at age 25 is close to being a physically mature prospect.

Forwards

Player	Age	08-09 NHL Games	08-09 AHL Games	Career NHL Points Per Game	Career AHL Points Per Game	Career NHL Plus/Minus	Career AHL Plus/Minus
Spencer Macheck	20	0	74	.00	.43	0	+8
Riley Holzapfel	20	2	77	N.A.	.60	N.A.	+10
Jordan LaValle	23	2	64	.50	.48	+1	-15
Anthony Stewart	24	59	0	.11	.51	-4	-19
Brett Sterling	25	6	52	.21	1.04	-5	+17
Joey Crabb	26	29	42	.31	.49	-2	+24
Tim Stapleton	26	4	70	.25	1.06	-3	+15
Josh Gratton	26	19	21	.07	.33	-13	+13
Rich Peverley	27	39	27	.49	.95	+16	+14
Jason Krog	33	4	74	.29	1.19	+5	+41
Bryan Little	21	79	0	.53	.74	-7	+1

A few things jump out at me when I look at these numbers. Peverley was very hot in the 2nd half and that led to his NHL plus/minus being better than his AHL numbers--I expect him to come back down to Earth a little bit next season. Riley Holzapfel is two months older than Spencer Macheck, but the younger player has the better statistical profile. Gratton is a fighter who comes from a tough organization (Flyers). I'm all in favor of signing tough guys rather than using a draft pick on one. In my mind there simply isn't enough difference between a NHL and AHL tough guy to merit using a draft pick that could potentially land an impact player.

LaValle's NHL scoring rate is higher than his career AHL scoring rate--and since the AHL rate has a larger sample size it is probably a better indicator of LaVallee's true NHL offensive skill level. I'll be shocked if Jordan keeps up that half a point per game pace. On average AHL players who make the NHL only keep about 45% of their AHL scoring rate when they move up. Crabb and LaVallee head to camp competing for the same checking line job. The stats suggest that LaVallee has more offensive upside than Crabb, but the plus/minus indicates Crabb has the better two way game. (Plus/minus is not good measure of defensive ability--but it is a good measure of Even Strength Goal Differential which is very important to winning hockey games.)

Anthony Stewart is a mixed bag. On the one hand, his AHL scoring rate suggests he has slightly underachieved offensively in the NHL, but his ugly AHL plus/minus numbers suggest he wasn't much of an impact player in the minors. One year Stewart had a bad plus/minus on a weak team, but the other year he finished nearly dead last in plus/minus on a roster where most players were a slight plus.

Four players (Sterling, Peverley, Stapleton and Krog) have all averaged around a point per game in the AHL. That suggests that they all have sufficient NHL puck skills to play at a high level. Of that group, Peverly and Krog have gotten some real opportunities to make the league. Sterling has never really gotten the long audition he should have received in my opinion (such as last year) and Stapleton might also just need an extended NHL trial to prove himself. Peverley has a NHL job, but the other three might earn one out of camp or have a chance to impress with a mid-season injury call up.

Defense

Player	Age	08-09 NHL Games	08-09 NHL Games	NHL Career Points Per Game	AHL Career Points Per Game	NHL Career Plus/Minus	AHL Career Plus/Minus
Arturs Kulda	21	0	57	N.A.	.26	N.A.	+10
Chad Denny	22	0	40	N.A.	.22	N.A.	-2
Boris Valabik	23	50	11	.09	.17	-16	+41
Scott Lehman	23	1	50	.00	.13	0	-8
Grant Lewis	24	1	54	.00	.39	0	+33
Anssi Salmela	26	26	40	.23	.60	+1	-8
Nathan Oystrick	26	53	0	.23	.54	-2	+8
Noah Welch	26	40	7	.12	.48	-4	+25

Kulda was a top defensemen for Chicago all last year. He's the youngest guy on this list. I think he will become a NHL player, it just a question of when. Chad Denny on the other hand struggled to get into the lineup in the AHL and was even tried as a forward--he's yet another example of a string of busted draft picks to come out of the QMJHL (more on that in a future post).

I know some posters on the official boards are down on Valabik--and he is still rather raw in his decision making at times. But he is still just 23 with some time to take another big step forward. Lehman on the other struggled to suit up in the AHL last year is simply not a very good player. Lewis is 24 but injuries have cost him a year of development, I thought he looked fine in his one NHL game last year.

Salmela, Oystrick and Welch are all fighting for the last few defenseman roster spots and none of them can be considered prospects anymore at they are 26 now. All three players averaged roughly half a point per game in the AHL at age 25 or 26. None are considered outstanding defenders but all three fit into Coach Anderson's offensive minded system and have the puck skills necessary to play with NHL level forwards. Whether they have the hockey IQ or the defensive skills to hang with NHL forwards is the big unknown.

Goalies

Player	Age	08-09 NHL Games Played	08-09 AHL Games Played	Career NHL Save %	Career AHL Save %	Career NHL Goals Against Average	Career AHL Goals Against Average
Ondrej Pavelec	21	12	40	.890	.912	3.42	2.69
Peter Mannino	25	0	50	.885	.900	4.51	2.94
Drew MacIntyre	26	3	34	.864	.918	2.95	2.36

None of the three AHL Veteran goalies have really torn it up at the NHL level. Pavelec has the major advantage of being just 21 at a position where many goalie don't hit their stride until their mid 20s. He has already put up a career AHL SV% close that of MacIntyre who is 5 years older than him.

Conclusion

It is far too early to try and figure out who will win those last roster spots coming out of camp. However, it is August and this is a blog. So let's imagine one of you kidnapped my cat and forced me to make a prediction about the NHL Opening Roster--my guesstimate appears below.

I suspect the competition for the last two forward spots is going to be just brutal. I can imagine LaValle or Crabb sneaking in under the wire too. I'm guessing Evander Kane goes back to the WHL, he might get into a few NHL games. This also assumes no waiver wire pick ups as well. Among the unknowns there is also training camp injuries which often open up a spot.

F1 Kovalchuk-White-Antropov

F2 Kozlov-Peverley-Little

F3 Macheck-Reasoner-Armstrong

F4 Boulton-Slater-Thorburn

D1 Enstrom-Bogosian

D2 Hainsey-Kubina

D3 Valabik-Oystrick

G1 Lehtonen-Pavelec

Bench: Stewart, Hedberg, Salmela

Thrashers Sign 2 More Goalies, Ready to Make a Trade?

The Falconer — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:04:06 -0000

In the last 24 hours the Atlanta Thrashers have added two minor league veterans to their organizational depth chart. By my count that puts them at FIVE GOALIES under contract for next season. The fact that they signed two AHL veterans tells me that they do not plan on Ondrej Pavelec being in Chicago next year.

Now whether Pavelec is in Atlanta or another city remains to be seen. It looks to me like Kari Lehtonen, Johan Hedberg and Pavelec will either fight it out for the two NHL jobs. Or one the team could trade one of them before the season starts.

Drew Macintyre (age 26) has posted excellant numbers in 179 AHL games (.918 SV%), but has seen only 2 NHL starts. He strikes me as a fine choice as a #3 depth chart goalie.

The other addition is Peter Mannino (age 25). He was a 4 year player for the University of Denver and has received 3 NHL starts with below average performance (.885 SV%) in that tiny sample size. He had 34 AHL starts and 3 NHL ones with the Islanders. Peter was also a teammate of Thrashers prospect Grant Lewis with the Pittsburgh Forge of NAHL junior hockey league before both guys headed off to play college hockey.

Kudos to the Thrashers for being pro-active on the UFA minor league goalie market before their options are reduced by other teams signing the best available guys. On paper Drew MacIntyre has an impressive AHL track record.

Has goalie Drew MacIntyre signed with the Atlanta Thrashers?

Dirk Hoag — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:22:46 -0000

While there hasn't been any official announcement, it appears that goaltender Drew MacIntyre, who played 55 games for the Milwaukee Admirals this season with a 34-15-4 record, has signed with the Atlanta Thrashers organization. Kudos to the guys at Admirals Short Shifts for noticing this first, and The Falconer for pointing out via email that this isn't an uncommon practice in Atlanta, as last year they would wait and issue a press release covering 3-4 minor signings like this.

Presumably, this sets the table for Mark Dekanich to be the #1 guy at Nashville's AHL affiliate while Chet Pickard joins the team in a backup role.

Nashville's free agents: will they stay or will they go?

Dirk Hoag — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:02:50 -0000

More photos » by Frederick Breedon - AP

Steve Sullivan's comeback was a dramatic story and provided much-needed offense for the Nashville Predators, but will he re-sign with the team as an unrestricted free agent?

Browse more photos »

Now that the season is over for the Nashville Predators, it's time to assess the year gone by and look ahead towards next season. I'll provide player evaluations early next week, but for now, I wanted to assemble the list of players along with their contract status, so folks have an idea of what David Poile has to work on this summer. All salary values are in millions, data courtesy of NHLNumbers.com.

In a nutshell, the players designated "UFA" are unrestricted, free to sign with any team in the league as of July 1. Restricted Free Agents (RFA) are able to sign offer sheets with potential suitors, but the Predators have the right to match any such deal and keep the player. If they opt to let them go, the Preds would be compensated with draft picks, depending on the salary level of the contract.

So what do you think, Preds fans? Which players on this list should the Preds hold on to? Which ones will attract interest from around the league?

Player	Pos	Age	Cap	2008-9	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13
Forwards
Legwand, David	C	27	4.5	5.5	5	4.5	4.5	4
Arnott, Jason	C	33	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.5	UFA
Erat, Martin	L	26	4.5	3.5	5.25	5.25	6	5.5
Dumont, Jean-Pierre	R	30	4	4	4	4	4	UFA
Sullivan, Steve	R	33	3.2	3.2	UFA
Bonk, Radek	C	32	1.475	1.6	UFA
Tootoo, Jordin	R	25	0.975	0.975	0.975	UFA
Fiddler, Vernon	C	28	0.85	0.9	UFA
Nichol, Scott	C	33	0.75	0.75	UFA
Jones, Ryan	R	24	0.984	0.92	RFA
Smithson, Jerred	C	29	0.5	0.525	0.725	0.75	UFA
Ward, Joel	R	27	0.5	0.5	UFA
Belak, Wade	R	31	0.65	0.65	0.65	UFA
Pihlstrom, Antti	L	23	0.568	0.53	RFA
Hornqvist, Patric	R	21	0.713	0.595	0.62	RFA
Ortmeyer, Jed	R	29	0.75	0.75	UFA
O'Reilly, Cal	C	21	0.533	0.505	RFA
Santorelli, Mike	C	22	0.592	0.59	0.62	RFA
Defensemen
Weber, Shea	D	22	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.5	RFA
Suter, Ryan	D	23	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5	UFA
De Vries, Greg	D	35	2.5	2.75	UFA
Hamhuis, Dan	D	25	2	2.25	2.5	UFA
Zanon, Greg	D	28	0.725	0.75	UFA
Koistinen, Ville	D	26	0.7	0.7	UFA
Klein, Kevin	D	23	0.65	0.5	0.8	RFA
Sulzer, Alexander	D	24	0.691	0.64	RFA
Goaltenders
Ellis, Dan	G	28	1.75	1.5	2	UFA
Rinne, Pekka	G	25	0.547	0.575	0.725	UFA
MacIntyre, Drew	G	25	0.5	0.5	UFA VI

Two Predators prospects named AHL All-Stars

Dirk Hoag — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:36:44 -0000

Two prospects in the Nashville Predators organization, goaltender Drew MacIntyre and defenseman Cody Franson, have been named to the 2008-9 AHL Second All-Star team.

From the American Hockey League:

The American Hockey League announced today the 2008-09 AHL First and Second All-Star Teams, as voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 29 member cities.

2008-09 AHL First All-Star Team

G Cory Schneider, Manitoba Moose (37gp, 28-7-1, 1.89gaa, .932sv%, 5 SO)
D Johnny Boychuk, Providence Bruins (73gp, 20+43=63pts., +21, 5 GWG)
D Danny Syvret, Philadelphia Phantoms (70gp, 12+39=51pts., 29 PP pts.)
LW Alexandre Giroux, Hershey Bears (64gp, 55+36=91pts., +23, 8 GWG)
C Keith Aucoin, Hershey Bears (69gp, 25+69=94pts., +26, 10 PPG)
RW Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Hartford Wolf Pack (74gp, 29+49=78pts., 12 PPG)

2008-09 AHL Second All-Star Team

G Drew MacIntyre, Milwaukee Admirals (51gp, 31-14-4, 2.35gaa, .919sv%, 4 SO)

D Cody Franson, Milwaukee Admirals (71gp, 9+41=50pts., 27 PP pts.)

D Ben Lovejoy, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (72gp, 7+22=29pts., +43)

LW Janne Pesonen, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (65gp, 29+45=74pts., +10, 12 PPG)

C Jason Krog, Manitoba Moose (69gp, 29+54=83pts., +25, 6 GWG)

RW Darren Haydar, Grand Rapids Griffins (74gp, 29+46=75pts., 14 PPG)

Each All-Star Team member will receive a custom designed crystal award in recognition of his selection to the 2008-09 AHL First and Second All-Star Teams.

2008-09 AHL First All-Star Team

Cory Schneider, Goaltender (Manitoba Moose):
A first-round draft pick by Vancouver in 2004, Cory Schneider has had a breakout sophomore pro season for Manitoba. He owns a 28-7-1 record and currently paces the league in goals-against average (1.89) and save percentage (.932) while ranking tied for fourth in wins and tied for second in shutouts (five) in 37 appearances. The Marblehead, Mass., native’s 13-game winning streak from Oct. 17 to Jan. 10 was interrupted by his NHL debut for the Canucks, with whom he made eight appearances. Schneider, 23, has allowed three goals or fewer in 34 of his 37 appearances, and earned the start in net for PlanetUSA at the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic.

Johnny Boychuk, Defenseman (Providence Bruins):
Johnny Boychuk has put together a standout year for Providence, leading all AHL defensemen in goals (20), assists (43), points (63), power-play goals (10) and shots on goal (273) while adding a plus-21 rating in 73 games. A second-round draft pick by Colorado in 2002, Boychuk kicked off the year with a six-game scoring streak and later started on the blue line at the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic. The 25-year-old Edmonton native is the only rearguard currently leading his team in scoring, and he has also appeared in one NHL game for parent-club Boston on the campaign.

Danny Syvret, Defenseman (Philadelphia Phantoms):
A fourth-year pro, Danny Syvret had never tallied more than four goals or 20 points in a season before racking up 12 goals and 51 points in 70 games for Philadelphia in 2008-09. The 23-year-old from Burlington, Ont., had eclipsed his career high in both categories by the end of November and currently ranks second among AHL backliners in points and fifth in goals. Drafted in 2005, Syvret appeared in the AHL All-Star Classic in January and suited up for two games with the parent Flyers in March.

Alexandre Giroux, Left Wing (Hershey Bears):
One of the most prolific AHL snipers of this decade, Alexandre Giroux leads the league with 55 goals – the highest single-season total in Hershey’s 71-year history – and ranks second with 91 points, both career highs, in just 64 games with the Bears. A Quebec City native, Giroux registered a point in 23 consecutive games for the Bears from Nov. 15 to Jan. 30, a stretch that included his league-record 15-game goal-scoring streak. The 27-year-old forward has long since clinched his fifth consecutive 30-goal AHL campaign and has chipped in two points (1-1-2) in 12 NHL games with Washington as well.

Keith Aucoin, Center (Hershey Bears):
Currently showing 25 goals and 69 assists for 94 points, Keith Aucoin has been atop the AHL’s scoring list since registering his first of three five-point efforts this season on opening night in October. Aucoin, seeking his first AHL scoring title after three top-10 finishes, has earned his first First Team All-Star berth after garnering Second Team nods in 2006 and 2007, and he appeared in his fourth consecutive AHL All-Star Classic in January. The 30-year-old from Waltham, Mass., joined the AHL’s 500-point club on Feb. 14 and has one goal and two assists in seven NHL games for Washington on the season.

Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Right Wing (Hartford Wolf Pack):
On track to finish among the AHL’s top 10 scorers for the third consecutive season, P.A. Parenteau currently ranks fourth in points (78) and tied for fourth in assists (49) in 74 games for Hartford. The 26-year-old native of Hull, Que., is one goal shy of reaching 30 for the third year in a row, and three points away from his career high of 81 set last season. Parenteau, a Second Team AHL All-Star in 2007-08, has put together scoring streaks of six, seven and eight games during the campaign.

2008-09 AHL Second All-Star Team

Drew MacIntyre, Goaltender (Milwaukee Admirals):
Drew MacIntyre (31-14-4) has enjoyed a sparkling season in 2008-09, setting career highs in wins, shutouts (four) and games played (51) for Milwaukee. The 25-year-old netminder is currently one off the league lead for victories and ranks among the top 10 in both goals-against average (2.35) and save percentage (.919). A native of Charlottetown, P.E.I., MacIntyre won 15 of 19 decisions from Dec. 10 to Feb. 6 and has earned his second consecutive berth on the AHL’s Second All-Star Team.

Cody Franson, Defenseman (Milwaukee Admirals):
Second-year pro Cody Franson has been one of the AHL’s top-scoring defensemen all season, currently ranking third in points (50) and tied for second in assists (41) in 71 games for Milwaukee, making him the Admirals’ third-leading scorer overall. A Nashville Predators draft pick in 2005 and a member of the AHL’s All-Rookie Team last year, the 21-year-old Sicamous, B.C., native made his AHL All-Star Classic debut this winter and has not had a scoreless drought of more than five games all season long.

Ben Lovejoy, Defenseman (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins):
In his second pro season out of Dartmouth College, Ben Lovejoy is the league’s plus/minus pacesetter at plus-43, which would be the highest mark in the AHL in more than a decade, and has topped his rookie-year totals in goals (seven), assists (22) and points (29) through 72 games played to lead all Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defensemen in scoring. Lovejoy, a 25-year-old from Canaan, N.H., made his National Hockey League debut with Pittsburgh in December and appeared in his first AHL All-Star Classic in January.

Janne Pesonen, Left Wing (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins):
The most potent newcomer to a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton club that reached the Calder Cup Finals in 2008, Janne Pesonen leads the Penguins with 74 points while ranking second in both goals (29) and assists (45) through 65 games of his first season of North American hockey. A native of Suomussalmi, Finland, Pesonen found the scoresheet in 15 of his first 18 contests this season and has averaged at least a point per game in every calendar month thus far. Drafted in 2004, the 26-year-old Pesonen has also appeared in his first seven career NHL contests for Pittsburgh.

Jason Krog, Center (Manitoba Moose):
Jason Krog, the AHL’s scoring champion and its regular-season and playoff MVP last season, has orchestrated another extraordinary performance in 2008-09. Poised to finish in the AHL’s top 10 in scoring for the third straight year, Krog shows 29 goals, 54 assists and 83 points to go along with a plus-25 rating in 69 games for Manitoba this season. The native of Fernie, B.C., has recorded 24 multiple-point performances to lead the Moose’s charge towards the North Division crown. Krog also contributed one goal in four NHL contests with Vancouver this year.

Darren Haydar, Right Wing (Grand Rapids Griffins):
A two-time Calder Cup winner and a former AHL MVP, scoring champion and rookie of the year, Darren Haydar picks up another accolade with a Second Team All-Star selection in 2008-09. The Toronto native is currently tied for fifth overall in the AHL with 75 points in 74 games for Grand Rapids, notching his 500th career AHL point on Feb. 7. In his first year with the Griffins, Haydar has captained the club back to postseason action after a one-year absence from the Calder Cup tournament, where he is already the league’s all-time leading playoff scorer.