It was a scary moment on Friday night at the Rochester Americans hockey game when Tyler Plante stood up on the bench during the second period, didn't look too well and he passed out behind the bench.  The incident occurred in the second period when he was backing up Jacob Markstrom in the Amerks game against the Hamilton Bulldogs.

The only news we know at this time is that he was alert after he was helped into the locker room and before he was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital as a precaution for what Coach Chuck Weber called a fainting spell.  As soon as more information is available we'll provide it.  Brian Foster has been recalled to the Rochester Americans to assist with goaltending duties.

The incident immediately brings to mind Ondrej Pavelec of the Atlanta Thrashers who unexpectedly fainted on the ice this past week.

Unfortunately the Amerks also lost 5-2 against the Bulldogs in what many in attendance called an ugly loss. More this weekend on the start of the Amerks season.

Everyone knows the role Andrew Peters is set to play on the Florida Panthers.  Having said that, it's not surprising he got into a fight early in the first period.  His opponent, Lane MacDermid of the Boston Bruins.  Watch for yourself and make a call on how he did.

Here's the line combination's straight from the board for the Florida Panthers in their game against the Boston Bruins tonight.  Tuukka Rask will be starting in net for the Bruins.

After the morning skate David Booth said that he's excited to play again and in a building where he started his professional career.  While smiling he said, "I just need to keep my head up."

(more after the jump)

Continue reading this post »

It's the ninth day of free agency in hockey and although some of the top free agents have signed elsewhere, the news that the Florida Panthers signed defenseman Carl Hudson to an entry level contract is great news.  There's still a need for a veteran defenseman on the Amerks roster, but I'll take the news for the day. Hudson was one of the bright spots on the Rochester Americans defense at the tail end of the 09/10 season and into the playoffs

In his last season at Canisius College, Hudson had 14 goals and 20 assists in 35 games. In the 12 games he played for the Amerks he only had one assist but the stats don't tell the whole story. Hudson played a physical defensive game, something some of the other players failed to do. Hudson will help fill the role of a physical defenseman, something returning players Keaton Ellerby, Jordan Henry and Michael Caruso aren't exactly known for.

Continue reading this post »

Depending on who you talk to or what you read you would think that the divorce is all but finalized between the Rochester Americans and Florida Panthers, but that's not entirely true.  It's not over because the Amerks and Panthers new General Manager have not even had a chance to meet yet to discuss how they envision the partnership developing.

When it was announced in the news papers on Monday that Benoit Groulx had handed in his resignation to the Florida Panthers we learned that the Panthers did not call anyone within the Amerks organization to let them know.  The Amerks also did not try to contact anyone within the Florida Panthers organization.

Lewis Staats was called by Bill Torrey the day that Dale Tallon was going to be announced as the new Panthers GM and advised it would be a few weeks before Tallon would be available.  Tallon has been busy with his travels to Germany for the World Championships, the NHL Combine in Toronto and the GM Meetings this week.  That's the same time frame I was given when I inquired about an interview with Tallon.  That all makes sense, but if time was found to talk to the Florida media, a few minutes couldn't be arranged with the Amerks first?

Either way, the expectation from the start was set that Dale Tallon would be talking more in depth with the Amerks next week and that's still the plan.  The Panthers are the ones in charge of hiring a replacement for Benoit Groulx so it really had no impact on the Amerks operations at all.

Things are looking up though with Dale Tallon in control.

Continue reading this post »

The Florida Panthers and Rochester Americans will be entering the final year of their current three year affiliation agreement and it's starting to sound like it's going to be the last.

Amerks president Lewis Staats told the Democrat and Chronicle, "We're willing to talk but we're not willing to negotiate an extension."

At the heart of the issue is whether or not the Florida Panthers are willing to help pay for the costs of veteran players in Rochester next season.  Staats says in the story that last July there was a verbal agreement in place that the Panthers would help pay for part of the costs associated with those players but "they just kept sending us a bill at the end of every month."  The Amerks thought the costs should have been shared but the sharing never came about.

Continue reading this post »

The season has been over for a week now for the Florida Panthers prospects who were playing with the Rochester Americans.  They had a roller coaster ride of a season going from a team on fire to a mediocre team that managed to hang on to second place thanks to the fast start.

These grades are based off of watching the Rochester Americans play in about 85 games this season, not simply based off of a stat sheet and what others have written.  Any time a list like this is put together not everyone will agree, feel free to share your thoughts or questions on the grades.

Here are the grades:

Jason Garrison: A-
– He’ll have a full time job in the NHL soon enough.  Eric had him listed as a B+ but I gave him an upgrade.  The Amerks defense had issues all season and without Garrison in the lineup for the post season (2g+7a) things may have been worst.  Once he masters his shot from the point and can use it more effectively he’ll have a long career ahead of him.

Jordan Henry: B+
– Led team in +/- and really came into his own offensively.  However, sometimes plays too offensive.  He appeared to have a conflicting style of play this season between trying to be offensive but at times not being defensive.  He’s a bonafide NHL prospect that deserves to get a look over other players.  He’s a leader on the ice but also from the bench.  Very few players were as vocal as him on the bench.  I upgraded him from Eric's score of a B to a B+ because he played in 76 regular season games and was more consistent than any other defenseman.

Continue reading this post »

The Rochester Americans, the Florida Panthers affiliate in the American Hockey League, recorded history this week when they were eliminated in the first round of the AHL playoffs after getting out to a 3-1 series lead.  It was a devastating loss for a team that was built to make a run for the Calder Cup.  After a loss like that players will typically call it disappointing, but the players took it a step further calling the entire season wasted.

There was one player more than willing to share his thoughts the day after the playoffs ended last week and his feelings towards the Florida Panthers, the player was Jamie Johnson.  He was the Amerks leading scorer (27 goals + 44 assists), on a two way contract, played through his own injuries, gave a solid effort when half the team was called up and also played in all 80 games but never once got a call from the Panthers.  I asked him if he would come back next season and he said he does not want anything to do with Florida.

"They haven't made the playoffs in 10 years," Jamie Johnson said.  "They had no interest in me all year, I don't think I should give them the time of day for another season."

The Panthers are yet again in the stages of trying to find ways to improve for the future.  If players are leaving unhappy, does that paint a bigger picture of problems within the organization?

Continue reading this post »

There's been a lot of debate about the purpose of Steve MacIntyre on ice for the Florida Panthers and the Rochester Americans.  Well, tonight we saw why he does not get into that many fights, very few will challenge him because of his strength.  During the first period of the Rochester Americans at Binghamton Senators game on Saturday night MacIntyre dropped the gloves with Jeremy Yablonski and the rest is history.  There are not that many fighters who would be willing to go against a true heavyweight.

If you're wondering who Jeremy Yablonski is just head on over to YouTube and do a search for him.

NHL fans you'll have to excuse the quality of the video, it's the best the American Hockey League has to offer.  Yablonski left the game and did not return.

Keaton Ellerby packed his bags after the Rochester Americans loss on Friday night to join the Florida Panthers for their game against the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday.  He was out of the locker room before I had a chance to talk to him to see why he's being called up.  Chances are it's to try and give Bryan Allen the night off.

The pickings are slim for a defensive player with Jason Garrison injured right now and Michael Caruso just returning from an injury.  Jordan Henry has been consistent all season but he seems to have fallen off of the radar of the Panthers.

Ellerby is a player that frustrates fans in Rochester.  He has excellent skating abilities but often makes costly mistakes with turnovers or leaving a player unattended.

Photo by Alyssa Wozniak of LetsGoAmerks.com

Florida Panthers prospect Alexander Salak is not only an excellent goaltender but a great entertainer as well.  During the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic skills competition Alexander Salak attempted this between the legs glove save against Tyler Ennis of the Portland Pirates.  It was the only goal Salak allowed during the Breakaway Relay. 

During the All-Star game itself Salak had another highlight moment when he caught the puck with his glove and rather than dump it over to a player he did a drop kick and sent the puck about 15 yards towards the blue line.  After the game I asked Salak about it and he said, "Maybe I'll try it in a game sometime."  Salak had another highlight moment when he made three great saves and as the crowd was acknowledging him he stood and waved back with his glove.