Gaikoku-hito 2,138 Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 (edited) New York American Prospect Report Stated that I was looking at doing something like this in the locker room before even looking at the roster and all the prospects on the team so this one is going to be a big-oh my god since the team has a bunch more prospects than I expected. In fact, the team has twenty-five prospects not including the two players making the jump onto the roster this season; in Pierre Emile Bouchard and Augustus Kennedy. Hey, what the heck maybe I even break it down by position to make it that much more fun to write (I mean difficult). Either way here we are taking a look at the prospects of the New York Americans and whatever less I feel like adding. New York Americans Roster Forwards: (S77) Lochlan Chisholm, (S77) Miles Johnson, (S81) Robert Wilk and (S79) Tyler Reinhart Outlook: New York doesn`t have an active center on the roster for the coming season and no player earning over $3M might hint at that the team might have issues this year generating offense from the forward core. Chisholm and Johnson are also in the final year before retirement so New York hopefully has a strong potential of prospects ready to file the offensive void in the next season or two. Trade might be a way to improve the situation as Reinhart seems uninterested since being traded to the team after winning three straight cups with the Wolves. This means all of the offense will really fall on the shoulder of Wilk; who was just acquired via the Vasile Lamb trade until further prospects are ready to join the team. (If any) Forward Prospects Note* Spoiler Done simply based on the TPE order and not based on the strength or likeliness of playing for the team as I have no clear-cut crystal ball and cannot predict the future of my own life let alone other fictional players. This was also done for fun and nothing more so please don`t read too much into something written here!! (S83) Justin Adolfsen – LW – 340TPE Spoiler A player that is clearly developing as he was drafted 27th in the VHLM, then 18th VHLE and finally selected by the Americans 14th overall into the VHL. He helped lead the Saskatoon Wild to the Founder`s Cup in Season 82 and put up a point per game last season in the VHLE with Rome. He is a season away or more and it would be nice to see him develop a bit more of his offensive side to dominate in the VHLE next season. Projection: New York Americans S85 (S83) Svatopluk Puk – RW – 338TPE Spoiler The former first overall selection in the VHLM, 14th Overall in the VHLE and drafted by the Americans at 21st overall has shown a mixed bag of development with two full seasons in the VHLM with three teams playing with Ottawa, Halifax and twice with San Diego. He put up some very average numbers with 109pts over 144 games in the VHLM. This season he will finally make the jump to the VHLE and with a bit of luck might be ready for season 85 to join the Americans. His current build needs to focus a bit more on puck handling and is a bit all over the place at the moment in the way of a build. Hopefully with the right coach he will develop more into a two way forward that I am sure the Americans expected of this player when selected in the second round. Projection: New York Americans S85 (S81) CDS Leb – RW – 326TPE Spoiler Not much to say here as he is now third season and heading into forth season in the minors. His build is a mess and he is clearly a clicker with welfare and practice being collected only. He is still a full season away from even making the Americans and will only be a depth option once he does. Which in hindsight might not be that bad considering he was the last player to be selected in the S81 draft at 64th Overall in the fourth round so, if he makes the team at all will be a huge win for the scouting team. Projection: New York Americans S86 (S80) Jason Lajeunesse – RW – 319TPE Spoiler At 5’7” and (only the weight of wet towel) at 160lbs; He was always going to be a long shot to make the American roster for more than a cup of coffee. Not to mention he was another clicker with only welfare and practice being collected. Drafted 50th Overall in S80 and more than four seasons in the Minors lead to Jason deciding to retire so his dream of playing in the VHL are all but over. He was still seen kicking around the lower leagues last season as Stockholm took up the option on this player. Projection: Retired (S82) Budnik McDangle – C – 304TPE Spoiler Drafted 42nd overall in the third round of the S82 draft one would assume that this player is a long shot to make the Americans roster and they would be right as two years removed from his draft season and he made the jump to the VHLE last season where he had a very limited role on the Cologne Express and his production was very limited with a whooping three points over a seventy-two game season. This season in the VHLE will hopefully see an upturn in his development and offensive game as he should play a much larger role with the Express playing on the second line. He is still very much a few seasons away from make the Americans roster. Projection: New York Americans S86 or S87 (S81) Alex TheGreat – C – 215TPE Spoiler Drafted in the third round another player that seemed to have a higher ceiling when playing in the VHLM as he put up impressive numbers for the Las Vegas Aces winning a handful of awards as he was awarded the Skylar Rift Trophy (Most valuable player in the play-offs), Ethan Osborne Trophy (most points), Mitch Higgins Trophy (MVP Regular season) and Vladimir Boomchenko Trophy (Assist Leader) but he clearly plateaued and has really developed since being drafted in what might have looked like a steal at the time. This Alex will never live up to his name completely as his greatness ended in the VHLM and this player is not expected to play with the Americans. Projection: Will never play for New York Americans (S83) Juhnu Anttonen – LW – 215TPE Spoiler Drafted 53rd overall in S83 of the VHL Draft. He was a consistent player with twenty-six goals and twenty-six assist last season with Halifax and should be looking to join Vasteras Iron Eagles this season. He is clearly a long-term prospect and will not make the American roster for a few more season unless his development gets a sharp upturn in the VHLE this season. Projection: New York Americans S87+ (S84) Jon Webber Jr – LW – 209TPE Spoiler Drafted 20th overall in this year’s draft seems a bit like a panic draft selection as the player that I am assuming the team wanted/hoped for/needed was drafted one pick before at 19th overall. You never want to say that an early second round selection is going to be a long-term project but sadly that is what we see here for Webber Jr. Webber Jr did put up a point per game last season with the Philadelphia Reapers and has decided to chance the Founder`s Cup this season with the Reapers again instead of joining the much-improved Oslo Storm in the VHLE this season. At this time, it is too early to predict if this is the correct decision or choice that might hamper the development of the player moving forward. Either way it will be three or four seasons before this player is ready to join the Americans roster. Projection: New York Americans S87+ (S83) Hugh G Johnson – RW – 199TPE Spoiler Another third-round selection as the Americans would make four third round selection in the S83 draft; this being the third of the four selections. Johnson development has been slow and steady to say the least. He looks all but set to play his fourth season in the VHLM next season coming off the back of the Founder`s Cup Championship with the Las Vegas Aces and would assume he is looking to play a much larger role with the team as they set to defend the title. This shows that this player is years away from joining the Americans roster as the season after should be his first of expected two or three before he will even get a look see by the Americans. Not expected to be seen in an American jersey until S86 or S87 at the pace of development of this player. Projection: New York Americans S87+ (S83) Akio Suzuki – C – 212TPE Spoiler The big Japanese forward should really be looking to join the Oslo Storm this season but has decided to play another full season in the VHLM Mississauga Hounds, which must be a bit disappointing the VHLE Storm and Americans a like as this is surely going to stun his development. Already seen as long shot to make the Americans roster after being drafted 52nd overall in the fourth round of the S83 Draft staying another season in the VHLM means once again we won’t be seeing this player any time soon in the American colors. Projection: New York Americans S87+ (S83) barry bigman – RW – 207TPE Spoiler The young Canadian forward put up decent numbers on Halifax last season in the VHLM as the team fell short of the goal of hoisting the Founder`s Cup and that has seemed to lead to the decision of bigman to join the Express in the VHLE this season. A different choice then follow fourth round selection Suzuki means we have two players to watch in comparisons to decisions of development paths; VHLE versus VHLM. Only time will tell which was the correct choice but either way it will still be season before this prospect is ready to wear the American colors. Projection: New York Americans S87+ (S83) Manny Wilson – C – 191TPE Spoiler This third round selection has been polarizing as his development has been stunned by off ice issues that hasn`t seen the player develop that much since being drafted at 36th Overall in the second round of the S83 draft. He is looking to a team to sign with once again in the VHLM after Halifax dropped the player and is now in a tug of wars to try to reclaim this players rights. Either way this once highly thought of draft choice will need to try to get his career back on track if he is going to be a useful prospect for the Americans. If he can keep his nose clean, he should be able to develop into a depth player for New York but he is now classified as long-term project after falling behind the development of fourth rounds selections of Suzuki and bigman. Projection: New York Americans S87+ (S84) William Futch – C – 186TPE Spoiler Drafted this season in the third round at 36th overall means it is hard to project the future of this player but he will once again play in the VHLM as he was also drafted by Mexico this season after signing as wavier claim to the Las Vegas Aces and winning the Founder`s Cup. He should be a leader his season with the Kings as he will chase his second consecutive Founder`s Cup. Once again, this player is a few season away from joining the Americans but currently as a bit more upside due to age compared to Suzuki, bigman and Wilson. Projection: New York Americans S87+ (S83) Al Land – RW – 201TPE Spoiler Look no further then fellow prospect of Hugh G Johnson to see a cut and paste response. Land has decided to stay in the VHLM this season to defend the Founder`s Cup title with the Las Vegas Aces and will look to play a much larger role on the team. This will be his third season in the VHLM and suggest this player is a long shot to play with the American any time soon as also suggested by the fact that he was drafted in the fourth round at 56th overall but consistent development as seen him jump ahead of fellow prospect draft during the same draft like Suzuki and Wilson so it will be interesting to watch the prospect develop further. Projection: New York Americans S87+ (S83) Caius Nash – C – 149TPE Spoiler Sadly, drafted at 42nd overall in the third round a head of a lot of other American prospects. Nash development has seemed to come to a crashing halt. He managed to play twenty games with Mississauga in the VHLM as wavier claim before going all development stopped with this player. This is case of a bust as he is currently not retired but also not actively playing for any of the three teams that drafted him in S83. Projection: Will Never play for New York Americans (S84) Morgan Matthesson – RW – 84TPE Spoiler This is clearly a throwaway selection in this past season draft and makes me not want to say much about the player since he has never been active since creating the player. He did manage to play thirty-nine games in Saskatoon putting up a point per game and this must have been more than enough to at least get the attention of the Americans. No Future with the team. Projection: Will Never play for New York Americans (S83) Diabetic Cheese – RW – 116TPE Spoiler End of Meat and end of Diabetic Cheese, which most with taste buds will be more then thankful of!! In all seriousness drafted 57th overall meant the player was always going to be a long shot to make the American team and once being drafted fade way from the game. While not officially retired one would assume that this player will not return to active roster anytime soon. Projection: Will Never play for New York Americans Forwards Prospect Summary Eighteen Prospect done. Forwards complete and what have we learned about the state of the American prospects? Well, the team has two forward prosect that should be ready to join the roster for S85 replacing the two retiring players of Chisholm and Johnson. Meaning the team will at least tread water next season as these two players continue to hopefully develop into lead player for the Americans. The concern here is the huge drop off to the next ready prospects as the team might not see another serviceable forward until S86 unless the bring up prospect early to develop on the roster with the next likely being CDS Leb, Jason Lajeunesse and Budnik McDangle. The Americans are lacking high-end prospect that can really push the offense and lack the picks to either trade or select a much needed forward to boost the offense for the next two season. This means New York forward prospects is sadly a mess that won`t really be fixed anytime soon unless they can trick a few free agent players in signing with a team that is still completely not ready to compete in a weak North American conference. New York Americans Roster Defense: (S79) Jerome Reinhart, (S80) Sven Eightnine and (S84) Pierre Emile Bouchard Outlook: With one of the best defenders in the game in Reinhart one would assume that they defence core of the Americans is actually in really good shape and they wouldn`t be that far off as this is currently one of the teams strengths. While the back-end looks thin this season with only three defenders on the roster I can without even looking that much at the prospect pool tell you that they have prospects coming or already on the team. Being able to draft Bouchard the second highest rated player in the draft at 5th Overall was a huge moment for the team yet might have been a huge mistake. The team needed forwards more then they required a possible franchise defender in Bouchard but having drafted the ready for the VHL prospect means they have strengthened the future of the defensive core and will allow the team to focus on fixing other areas of the team (cough forwards). Trading for Sven Eightnine added to what should be a strong core but did they give up too much for a player that salary cap team needed to dump off and paying a first? Well, we are not here to judge drafts or trades but rather the state of the teams prospect pool so let’s get one with it. Defense Prospects (S84) Pierre Emile Bouchard – D – 400TPE Spoiler I hate talking about my own player as I don`t know if I over sale him or under sale him!! Either way he has always been a rookie after signing and helping lead the Saskatoon Wild to the Founder`s Cup as wavier claim with seven goals and eleven assist for eighteen points in nineteen play-off games as his development move him higher up the line-up as the season progressed. He was still only the third highest scoring defender on the Championship roster and had most questioning the defender’s ability. His decision to skip the VHLM draft and sign as free agent in the VHLE was actually meet with silence at first before two rebuilding team, Rome and Stockholm would come a knocking forcing him to chose between the bad and the ugly. Signing with Stockholm was surprisingly an easier choice and Bouchard would put up impressive numbers for a developing defender with twenty-one goals, fifty-one assist for seventy-two points or a point per game as a defender. He is clearly developing into a Franchise defender and is ready for the VHL now. Projection: New York Americans Ready (S82) Doug Matchett – D – 380TPE Spoiler Two years removed from being selected 36th overall in the third round and Matchett looked all but ready to join the Americans this season but has decided to stay in the VHLE this season. Which could be a mistake since we have him being overtaken on the depth charts by newly drafted Malum Maellard; who should easily join the team next season along side follow first round selection Bouchard giving the team a very solid three – four option behind Reinhart and Eightnine. This should see Matchett drop to fifth defensive spot and could become a trade asset Projection: New York Americans S85 (S77) The Loch Ness Monster – D – 526TPE Spoiler The Prospect that never was!! Sadly, Malmo reached down to select Monster with the 17th overall selection in the S77 draft before trading away the prospect for fellow prosect Zeljko Ranogajec straight-up that made no sense at the time. Looking back now neither team won this trade as both players would only play a single season for respective teams. Monster is a huge bust heading into their finals season before retirement and will not play another game in the American colors. Projection: Will Never play for New York Americans Again (S84) Malum Maellard – D – 345TPE Spoiler Clearly a reach down in this season draft to select a player that they knew a lot about as the Assistant General Manager also manages this player. That being said I am not ranking draft selections but only the prospect and Maellard is going to be a corner stone defender for the Americans for years to come. Two Franchise defender in one draft and most teams would be more then happy; not to mention that they seem to complement each other in way of builds with Bouchard being more offensive minded and Maellard being a heavy checking defender first. Maellard unlike Bouchard needs another season before they join the team next season (S85) after playing as season in the VHLE with the Express. Projection: New York Americans S85 (S81) Jp – D – 344TPE Spoiler A player three season removed from their draft class after being selected 38th Overall by the Americans. He was very much overshadowed last season in Stockholm with Monster and Bouchard play a huge amount of minutes. JP for himself bumped down the line-up in favor of the franchise defender. JP also decided to sign as free agent with defending Renaissance Cup champions Bratislava Watchmen so it most of come as bit of surprise when the American took Bouchard and Maellard bumping him even further down the depth charts as he was expected to make the Americans roster next season; (S85) but now the question is would he stay another season in the VHLE if given the chance. Projection: New York Americans S85 (S82) Jarno Lappi – D – 286TPE Spoiler As a second-round selection at 32nd overall one would expect a bit more from a prospect drafted this high. Lappi seems to have lost interest or his development has really plateaued since being drafted by the Americans. He is entering his second season in the VHLE with the Rush, who will be looking at make a run at the Renaissance Cup this season. Lappi is still a few seasons away with a likely projection of S86 at the earliest. Projection: New York Americans S86 or S87 (S82) Curtis Crumb – D – 258TPE Spoiler Drafted 68th Overall in the fifth round always meant that Crumb would need to put all the pieces of the cookie together if he was going to make the Americans. Move forward a few years and the cookie seems ready to back at least at the VHLE level as he should join the Istanbul Red Wolves this season as the team tries to recover from a disappointing season after failing to make the finals of Renaissance Cup last season after enter the season as one of the favorites. Ha, they crumbed like a cookie!! Either way they will enter the season once again as favorite and only time will tell if Crumb and the Wolves crumb together!! Still very much a long term project and season away similar to much highly touted Lappi. Projection: New York Americans S86 or S87 (S83) Carl Stridberg – D – 155TPE Spoiler Oh, Well!! A player that has clearly stumbled in the way of development as he was drafted around 140TPE as season ago and only gained a handful of development since. Not to mention that he didn`t play at all last season means we have another player that will not officially retired is clearly not going to really be seen around any team in the foreseeable future and should be considered retired. Will never play in the VHL. Projection: Will Never play for New York Americans Defense Summary Future looks set with two key defenders already on the roster and the team four best prospects all but ready to join the roster next season. Only question moving forward is what do they do with Crumb & Lappi; if and when they are ready to make the jump to the roster and can the team afford to keep the core of the defense together while they rebuild the forwards? Again, I am not reviewing that aspect so only time will tell but the defensive core is solid and the prospects here should secure the back-end for years to come. New York Americans Roster Goaltenders: (S83) Augustus Kennedy Outlook: Drafted Kennedy last season to be the teams franchise tender and so far so good!! Kennedy will make the jump to the roster this season after a trying season in Oslo with the Storm. The team looks set in net for years to come if the young Canadian can continue to develop as planned but the question remains more about the back-up and lack of goal-tending prospects after Kennedy. Goaltending Prospects (S83) Augustus Kennedy – G – 463TPE Spoiler After leading the heavy favorites of the Saskatoon Wild to the Founder`s cup in S82, Kennedy had a difficult task of playing in front of an undermanned team in Oslo last season. This would be great for developing a tender as he would see a ton of rubber might or destroy his confidence by allowing too many goals. The later was an issue as Kennedy put up impressive numbers with a 2.65ga and 0.934 sav% in fifty-nine games last season. Only giving more confidence that Americans have a goaltender of the future and have no issues handing him the net this season. Projection: New York Americans Ready (S81) Tadhg Byrne – G – 240TPE Spoiler The Irishman is only getting better and proved that he will one day be ready to be a steady back-up in the Americans nets behind Kennedy. He helped back stopped the Iron Eagles to finals last season with a 2.33ga and 0.920sav% in twenty game in a back-up role to Red Gaming but with Gaming joining the VHL next season with HC Davos, I mean Prague; nope not correct either!! Where was he trade now? Oh, Chicago Phoenix. Either way with Gaming moving up the net should be Byrnes to prove he is ready to back a team to a championship. Oh, Wait!! I am speaking crap as this is once again an inactive player and he needs to either be claimed by a team or sign as free agent in the VHLE. Unlikely he will ever make the roster in New York. Projection: Will Never play for New York Americans Goaltending Summary New York seems set in the net with what seems to be a franchise tender in Kennedy but have questions around the back-up role and the lack of prospects coming in this position. Which at this time shouldn`t be a huge concern as the team has more pressing needs. (Cough forwards) Overall Prospect Report The team would seem set from a defensive aspect with goaltender Kennedy and defenders Bouchard, Matchett and Maellard all joining the roster as soon as next season but the team has a clear hole at the forward position that cannot be expected to be filled by (S83) Justin Adolfsen or (S83) Svatopluk Puk as they just don`t seem to have enough high-level talent to carry the New York American offense. The team is going to have to rely on strong goaltending from a Rookie and offense from the defense if the team is going to have any success this season or over the next few seasons. The team need to prioritize find top level forwards. 4000+ words Claim July 3rd, July 10th, July 17th and July 24th Edited June 27, 2022 by Gaikoku-hito frescoelmo and MexicanCow123 1 1 Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/123204-new-york-prospect-report/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaikoku-hito 2,138 Posted July 4, 2022 Author Share Posted July 4, 2022 July 10th Claim Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/123204-new-york-prospect-report/#findComment-935636 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaikoku-hito 2,138 Posted July 11, 2022 Author Share Posted July 11, 2022 (edited) July 17th Claim Edited July 15, 2022 by Gaikoku-hito Posted the wrong date!! Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/123204-new-york-prospect-report/#findComment-936499 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaikoku-hito 2,138 Posted July 18, 2022 Author Share Posted July 18, 2022 Wow!! This aged badly!! Last claim July 24th. Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/123204-new-york-prospect-report/#findComment-937309 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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