Seth Griffith vs Utica Comets 12/13/2017 (Grade C-)

Wednesday night the Amerks finally managed to exorcise their home ice demons against the Comets with a 3-1 victory. Even though Rochester had taken points in the last 3 games in Utica, the Comets had outscored the Amerks 7-1 in the previous two meetings at the Blue Cross Arena. After an early soft goal spawned from the inability of MacWilliam and Tennyson to clear the net, it looked as though a repeat was forthcoming. However, that was the only goal that Ullmark would surrender in a dominant performance. MacWilliam also grew into the game very well and played great physical hockey delivering blows behind the net on several occasions.  

Unfortunately, Seth Griffith was not able to find his game in a similar fashion. He played his worst game since arriving in Rochester (and still managed to record an assist). I am going to rate his performance a C-. 

Offensively, Griffith was very disappointing. He committed a litany of neutral zone turnovers in bad spots that led to odd man rushes.  Whether failing to skate the puck, or completely missing a pass, he just didn't have it. On one occasion in the offensive zone, he allowed his man to step right in front of him to intercept the puck and clear it up the boards with ease. The only bright spot (and only SOG) came on the power play when he flung a nice low shot to the far post. It led to a juicy rebound that CJ Smith cleaned up for a goal. This extended his point streak to 6 consecutive games. When your hot, your hot.  Based on how well Griffith has played in previous games, I’m sure this was an outlier game for him and I expect much better performances in the future. 

Defensively, Seth really wasn’t much better. He was on the ice for the only Utica goal and failed to cut down the angle on the breakout pass that started the play. If 39 was fore-checking more intensely he could have easily prevented the pass up the wing. I don't think he applied enough pressure on defensemen for the majority of the game.  Fore-checking or pressing the point, he just didn’t have enough energy and wasn’t able to effect the play. If not for a fantastic night from Linus, his turnovers also could have let the Comets right back into the game.  

It can not be said enough what a great addition Griffith has been to the Amerks. As a proven goal scorer at the AHL level, he will certainly play a massive role with this team going forward. I am looking forward to seeing how he bounces back from this shaky game. 

Casey Nelson vs Hartford Wolf Pack 12/1/2017 (Grade B)

Although the Amerks looked the better team for the majority of the night they fell Hartford in a 5-4 shoot out loss. However, there was much more to take away from this game than just a point. Seth Griffith looked phenomenal in his debut and will likely be a key piece in Rochester this year. Also Fasching and Rodrigues continued to impress earning both of them a call up to Buffalo. The only real letdown of the night (aside from a less than stellar performance from Wilcox in goal) was blue chip prospect Alexander Nylander. He looked un-invested in the game, didn’t forecheck with any intensity and missed on a handful of scoring chances you would expect him to do better with. 

Casey Nelson played a very solid game, but there was a few things he could have done better with as well; mainly avoiding the penalty box. The two tripping minors he took will drop his grade to a B. 

The tripping minors that Nelson acquired no doubt stem from his defensive style. As player that consistently chooses to poke and play the puck instead of taking the body he will naturally accumulate more tripping penalties. As of now they represent 3 of the 6 minors he has been whistled for this year. Also instead of lifting the stick and removing his man from the crease Nelson chose to front him in order to deny access to the puck. It worked for him, but if Casey was unable to block incoming shots he would only be providing a double screen for a shaky Adam Wilcox. Though it seems to be a stylistic choice for Nelson to avoid contact he still executed very well. He was able to disrupt entry with his active stick and shut down shooting lanes to block shots consistently. He was always where he needed to be and did not turn the puck over at all. 

Offensively, Nelson has taken tremendous strides from where he began last year as a rookie. The nonsensical and frustrating defensive zone turnovers have been completely removed from his game. Instead he has replaced them with careful passes to clear the zone under pleasure, and some gorgeous tape to tape stretch passes in tight windows when given space. One stretch pass up the wing to Griffith turned a breakout into immediate offense as he was able to pick him out  while Hartford was changing. He made a similar play a week before to assist Nylander on the opening goal of their 10-3 victory. It looks as if the game has finally started to slow down for Nelson and he is handling the puck with much more confidence then in his cringe worthy past performances. 

Overall, Nelson is one of the best defensive prospects in the organization because he continues to improve. Any time you see a player turn a weakness into a strength in such a short period of time it speaks to a fantastic work ethic. Before he makes the jump to the next level he will need to work on his physical play and showcase some ability to become a threat on the point. It may take some time, but by the start of the season next year, Nelson will be very close to NHL ready. 

Evan Rodrigues vs Binghamton Devils 11/24/2017 (Grade A+)

Friday night (11/24) the Amerks thoroughly dominated the Devils in a 10-3 victory in front of what has been the most loud and energetic crowd of the season. Almost everyone on the roster played a phenomenal game and it seemed as if every puck off an Amerk stick was destined for the top corner. Nylander had the best shot of the night to open the scoring with a wicked wrister right off the bar to beat the Devils netminder on the far post. Fasching continued to improve as well, netting two goals and earning himself the third star. On the other side the scoring column, Casey Nelson and Sahir Gill passed the puck very well finishing with 2 and 4 assists respectively.  However, Nick Baptiste continues to underwhelm. In a game with 10 goals he only registered one assist, not making a strong case for a call up in a very crucial year of his development. 

One player who did look like an NHLer was Evan Rodrigues. He was the night’s first star with two goals and two assists. He earned a definitive A+ in my gradebook for his performance. 

Offensively Rodrigues played great. He followed up Nylander early on with a perfect top shelf snipe for the games second goal. It was nice to see his shot measure up with one of the clear blue chip prospects of the organization. But Erod’s second tally was created by the blue-collar work ethic he’s become know for while playing in Rochester. After sneaking behind the net with a man advantage, he gained net front position and notched a nice deflection goal. In addition, zone entry was fantastic.  He made no neutral zone turnovers, and was always willing to sacrifice his body in the corner to dig out pucks. As good as Rodrigues played offensively, goal scoring is not likely to be his key contribution at the next level.  

Defensively Erod is an absolute terror. His fore-checking gave the Devils issues the entire night. He created multiple turnovers in the offensive zone and was able to frustrate their defenseman consistently. Erod showed a bit of this ability as an agitator at the NHL level as well when goading Dion Phaneuf into an altercation last year.  Still, the most impressive thing about Evan on defense is his motor. He is willing to lead a lung-busting fore-check for 60 minutes if that is what it takes to win. That attitude in combination with his speed, active stick, and tight angle control makes him a force to be reckoned with at any level. 

I was very glad to have the opportunity to scout Erod in Rochester this year, because I do not feel that he is an AHL caliber player. I think he is destined for a long NHL career as a 3rd or 4th line energy forward. Potential top 6 players like Nylander and Bailey will get more attention because of their flashy playing style, but in my opinion Erod is the most pro ready prospect in Rochester and should be transitioning to Buffalo full time shortly. 

Alexander Nylander vs Hartford Wolf Pack 10/17/2017 (Grade B+)

Friday’s Military Appreciation Night clash against the Wolf Pack marked the second consecutive impressive home victory for the Amerks. Though the headlines going in were all about the return of Evan Rodrigues and Alexander Nylander, CJ smith stole the show with a massive night featuring two goals and two assists. Blackwell also impressed for the second game in a row notching a pair of assists himself to go along with a +3 rating. 

However, for many the most exciting moment of the night remained the return to action of Alexander Nylander. Although he looked to be shaking off a bit of rust on his first couple shifts Nylander looked amazing. He was able to showcase his lightning quick skating, supreme confidence on the puck and deadly shot. After watching him play it was clear that he was the most talented player on the ice. Im going to rate his performance a B+. 

Offensively, Nylander played very well, but I was bit disappointed his line featuring Rodrigues and Baptiste could not register a full strength goal. They did muster a few dangerous chances including a shot from Nylander in the slot that rung of the top corner of the post in the first period. I was most impressed with Nylander on the power play. As in the past he looked phenomenal in the role of point forward. The speed and vision he showcased while whipping pucks around the zone was exactly what this Amerk’s power-play has been missing so far. It was beautifully strung together combination of quick passes that spread Hartford out to create the chance for CJ Smith to score his second goal of the night. The only thing I worry about with Nylander is his ability to create when he doesn't have as much space. He took a a couple big hits on the night and had a couple turnovers behind the enemy net that looked to come from purely from a desire to avoid punishment on the boards. Though he is still extremely creative I worry that his toughness, (or lack there of) could negatively affect his decision making in certain situations.

Defensively, Nylander did not make much of an impact at full strength. I was impressed with what he was able to when called upon as a point forward though. He made a couple very nice plays under pressure to keep the puck in the zone and didn’t look uncomfortable defending the counter attack. He was called for a slashing minor trying to poke away the puck as a Wolf pack forward tried to skate the puck out of the zone; but I thought it was a terrible call and saw no wrongdoing.   

Overall, it’s only a mater of time before Nylander leaves Rochester for a permanent spot in Buffalo. I would not be at all surprised if that happens at some point this year. I think he possess elite playmaking ability even at the NHL level, and if he can become more accurate with that deadly wrister of his Nylander has the potential to be something really special.   

Colin Blackwell vs Albany Devils 11/16/2017 (Gade A)

Wednesday marked the Amerk’s first shutout victory of the year. And while Linus Ullmark did play fantastic, the story of the night was the 60 minutes of clean, conservative hokey played by the Amerks. Rochester took an early lead scoring two power-play goals in the first four minutes. It was a stark contrast from the way special teams have operated this year. I want to give a bit of credit to Coach Taylor because the team tried some quick zone entry plays tonight that seemed to catch the Devils off guard. On the theme of great special teams play, the Amerks only gave Albany one power-play opportunity, which should also be commended. 

On a night where conservative disciplined hockey took center stage, Colin Blackwell played a perfect game. With the first line of Fasching, Criscuolo, and C.J. Smith really humming and creating plenty of chances, mistake free hockey was exactly what should be expected from a third line center. Also, late in the game he did a fantastic job in the face off circle while the Devils were applying pressure. Blackwell won 4 of his 6 defensive zone face offs in the 3^rd period. Im going to rate his performance an A.

Offensively, Blackwell did not contribute anything special. He did create one chance as a forechecker when he won the puck behind the Albany net, and then delivered a nice centering pass, but it didn’t lead to a goal. Most of his time in the offensive zone, he was camped in the high slot or covering for a pinching defenseman. I was shocked to see how high in the zone 43 was for the majority of the game, but it did led to smart possession oriented hockey, so it was perfect. On the breakout, his passes were measured and always tape to tape resulting in no neutral ice turnovers. Even though Blackwell is not going to be the guy that provides a spark on this team, his conservative brand of hockey was exactly what was required against the Devils Wednesday night.


Defensively, Blackwell did a serviceable job on the forecheck, but I would have liked to see a bit more intensity. After all, the one time he really pushed the envelope it led to his best scoring chance of the night. Outside of that, I didn't have any issues. His man-marking was exceptional, even trying to fight off forwards in front goal at times. He also did good job of digging pucks out in the corner to create outlet passes. On the one power-play opportunity the Devils had, Blackwell did a great job and was able to kill off precious seconds in the corner before clearing the danger. For the most part he didn't have to spend much time in the defensive zone because he was playing such mistake free possession hockey on the other side of the ice.


Overall, Blackwell proved to be a valuable cog in what has been a much improved machine in Rochester. While he may not bring some of the sexy playmaking ability of other youngsters, solid mistake free hockey has been a rare sight in the Blue Cross Arena during recent years. 3^rd line center is the perfect spot for him on the roster, so If he can bring the same kind of workman like performance to the rink every night, Blackwell should be an ideal fit with the Amerks.

Barry Goers vs Hershey Bears 11/03/2017 (Grade B+)

Friday's shootout victory against Hershey was certainly a thriller by all accords. After a 6 goal second period for Rochester the Bears clawed their way back in to the game forcing overtime with only 5 minutes to go. And for the second night in a row Cornell played the role of hero in the shoot out with a game winning goal. I'm glad to see he is giving coach Taylor a reason to put him in the line up because he has been less than impressive during regulation. However, one player that continues to impress this year is top prospect Brendon Guhle. He took on some major responsibility on the power play taking the majority of the point shots. Most of them were low and generated long rebounds, but on one occasion he was able to pick out the top corner and tie up the game in the second frame.

Another Amerks defenseman who continues to impress is Barry Goers. The new addition has been a very important cog in the machine with the absence of Paetsch, Faulk, and Fedun in the lineup. It's difficult to say a defensemen fulfilled their duties in a game where 6 goals were allowed, but his grade is a B+.

Offensively, I thought Goers did a great job and was able to make a positive impact on the game. While on the point, he chose not to take many shots opting to let his partner do most of the heavy lifting. Considering he was partnered with Guhle it was probably the right choice. Barry also picked all the right times to aggressively pinch and kept the puck in every time. He even skated the puck behind the opposing net at times (reminiscent of Fedun last year). What I liked most about his game was his ability to sneak forward during the opposing breakout and cut off passing lanes. He forced a couple turnovers early that led directly to instant offense.

Defensively, Goers was certainly busy. His first call to action came only 44 seconds into the game. Sadly, he was not up to the task. On a 2 on 2 he gave his man too much space and he was able to get off a shot from the high slot. Goers was unable to get his body in front of it and served more as a screen than anything else on the play. The result was a quick opening goal for the Bears. Fortunately, he learned from his early mistake and in similar situations for the rest of the game his man didn't come close to getting off a shot. Goers also did a serviceable job in front of net tonight. Outside of his first mishap he actually blocked a lot of shots and angle control was phenomenal, especially when shorthanded. The only area he struggled with was fending off the the 6ft 7' 235 pound Mathius Bau in front of goal. Goers did his best to lift Bau's stick but he was an immovable object on Friday (Hudson Fasching actually did his best impression and notched a great net front goal).

Overall I love what Goers has been able to do since he has arrived in Rochester. Even when others return I think he has the capability of a top 4 defensemen and I love the way he is gelling with Brendan Guhle. He would have to become a bit more consistent and incorporate more shooting into his game if NHL aspirations are in his future, but regardless he is a fantastic piece to have in Rochester.  

Kyle Criscuolo vs Syracuse Crunch 10/28/2017 (Grade A-)

In what was a reversal from the previous night (10/27) in every way, the Amerks played two great periods of hockey, but let a win slip away with a disappointing third period. As it should have been, playing a complete 60 minutes was a major theme in the post game press conference. Although it was a very disappointing divisional loss, there were definite positives. I thought Goers and Guhle played fantastic, and Sahir Gill extended his goal-scoring streak to 3 straight games.

Among others, I was extremely impressed by the performance of Kyle Criscuolo. The new addition has been a big time player for the Amerks, and was even sporting the Alternate Captain patch against the Crunch. Fittingly, I am going to rate him an A-.

Offensively, Criscuolo had a good night, extending his own goal-scoring streak to two. He did so after making a phenomenal forechecking play that directed a breakout pass on net. He drove the net hard and elevated the rebound over a sprawled goaltender. The net front turned into a place of residency for him on the night as he was designated to set up screens on the first power play unit. Despite his small stature, I thought he did a great job, even though he wasn’t able to tip anything past the goalie (it would be nice to see Fasching able take advantage of his size in that role). Kyle also did a good job in the face-off circle going a combined 12 for 18.

Defensively, Criscuolo was absolutely amazing. He was a complete pest in the forechecking game, creating countless turnovers. 51 was equally impressive backchecking, and was able to poke a few pucks right back to defenders and then start the breakout in the opposite direction. While short handed, he won several key draws and was able to make zone entry difficult by cut off shooting lanes on the point. Unfortunately, he did have a couple of lapses in the defensive zone where he lost track of his man, and Syracuse was able to punish those mistakes.

Overall, Criscuolo has turned into a massive piece with the Amerks this year. He is centering a top 6 line and contributing to both sides of special teams. Hopefully, when some skill players return to the lineup, he won’t need to handle such a heavy load on both sides of the puck. One thing is for sure; he is earning the A that has been placed on his sweater.

Sahir Gill vs Laval Rocket 10/27/2017 (Grade B)

On Friday night, for two periods the Amerks looked exactly like like a team that was dominated in consecutive appearances on home ice last weekend. By the end of the first two frames, the Amerks had officially been outscored 14 to 6 while on home ice. Fortunately, what followed was a magnificent 3rd period and an overtime win. Even though the Amerks heaped on 29 shots and a power play goal, the teams special teams issues are far from resolved as they only converted one of their six opportunities.

Sahir Gill played a solid game for the most part, and even kick started the comeback with an opening goal in the historic final period. However, there was certainly room for improvement so I’m going to rate his performance a B.

Offensively, I love what Gill brings to the table. He is a speedy winger who is strong on the puck and does an amazing job on the boards. I was shocked to see how good he was with the puck in traffic, especially under heavy pressure behind the net. Gill was consistently able to win the puck in dirty areas of the ice and get off clean passes to teammates. He plays every bit as hard and physical on the boards that Hudson Fasching should (and does it with a much slighter build). On the breakout, he also did a good job of stretching the defense and creating space for Moses and Porter to skate the puck.

Defensively, Gill was less consistent. He did a decent job in the forechecking game, but still wasn’t a game changer. And for the most part, only applied token pressure. Then again, major forechecking effort isn’t something that normally goes hand-in-hand with playing first line minutes. Inside his own blue line Gill was much more active. In fact he was all over the ice. It was great to see his high energy level, but positional discipline was an issue for him. The empty spots he created led to a lot of switching and chaos in front of Linus. It was a major factor in the first two goals that Laval scored.

Overall, I don’t think that Gill is exactly a first line talent, but he does enough things well to make him a fantastic complimentary piece. You could easily plug him into any spot on the roster, and I have now doubt that he will be successful. Going forward I would like to see more positional discipline out of him and a continuation of his ability to hit small windows shooting the puck.

Adam Krause vs Utica Comets 10/21/2017 (Grade F)

If one thing is certain it’s that the Amerks will welcome the chance to face off against a team other than the Comets this weekend. For the second time In a row Utica completely outclassed the Amerks in their home building. Most evident were the teams short comings in special teams. Rochester went 0-6 on the power-play, while giving up 4 power-play goals to the visitors. The massive disparity brings up something that could become a real issue for the Amerks this year; And it’s not the first time we have seen it under coach Taylor. In his previous stint as the Amerks special teams coach they faced similar struggles.

Like the majority of the roster, Adam Krause struggled against utica. In fact, he was down right awful, and might have played his worst game as a pro. He took two bad penalties in the first period, but instead of amping up his game to atone for the mistakes he continued to spiral. I’m going to rate his performance an F.

Offensively, Krause was completely ineffective. Clean zone entry was not something his line was ever able to accomplish, so he needed to rely on a physical presence and workman like effort to win pucks deep. Unfortunately, those were not aspects of his game on this night. Krause only finished checks well in the first period of the game. As it wore on the power and speed slowly flickered out of his game until he was simply going through the motions. He did have one great opportunity to score on 2 on 1 but, mishandled the puck and wasn’t even able to get off a shot. It was certainly a night to forget.

Defensively things were not any better. Krause looked slow and lazy on the forecheck for much of the night. He wasn’t able to put any pressure on the Comets, and the two penalties he took early further compounded Rochester special teams woes.

I chose to scout Krause against the Comets because I thought he played a fantastic game the night before against the Checkers. He certainly doesn’t have elite speed, but if he is going to make up for that he will have to play smart physical hockey going forward. With young players like Danforth, Kile, and Muzito-Bagenda waiting in the wings in Cincinnati, as well as Rodrigues and Nylander, out injured, it is very possible Krause could wind up on the roster bubble soon.

Steve Moses vs Charlotte Checkers 10/20/2017 (Grade C-)

Brendan Guhle said it was key for the Amerks to start fast after Friday morning's game day skate. Hopefully tonight they can focus on 60 minuets of good hockey instead. After getting out to an early 2-0 lead Rochester surrendered five straight goals agains a very good Checkers team. Charlotte did a phenomenal job applying pressure and getting into passing lanes. They were able to lock the Amerks into the defensive zone for long stretches and made zone entry a nightmare. The entry plays coach Taylor had his team running were far too basic and extremely predictable. Compounding that was poor execution making it a rough night all around.

However, Steve Moses was a breath of fresh air on the breakout. As a left wing he entered the zone from all areas of the ice tonight often creating an overload. It could also be looked at as a lack of positional discipline, but on a night the Amerks struggled to get set up I appreciated the creativity. Despite that, there was some holes in Steve’s game that prohibited him from being as productive as he needed to be. I am going to rate his performance a C-.

Offensively, I was very impressed by the ability of Moses get on the puck in dangerous situations. After a handful of games this year, being in the right place at the right time is becoming a Hallmark of his game. It was especially evident on the power play where he was able to set up Redmond for the second goal of the night and draw a big penalty in front of goal to create a 5 on 3. Unfortunately, he was not able to match that success at even strength. In fact strength on the puck was a big issue for him. Moses had a difficult time receiving passes in traffic as well as getting the puck off his stick while under pressure. His inability to clear the zone directly led to a turnover that created a goal for the Checkers. It was also the main reason he finished the night with a -3 ratio; The other being his lack of elite finishing ability in front of net. Moses had two great chances to score but missed the net on a one-timer,  and put a backhand right into the goalies logo on the other.

Defensively, Moses helped create turnovers in the offensive zone with a couple of nice forechecking plays. However his effort to harass defenseman was not consistent enough for my liking. On a night where Charlotte defensemen looked particular shaky on the puck and tunrovers led the the Amerks’ best chances, he should have smelled blood in the water and been more active. Moses also made a couple mistakes on tired legs that hurt him. Instead of busting down the ice to leg out an icing he pulled up at the blue line to try and get a change (keeping him on the ice even longer). And then later in the game when trying to change he sent a lazy outlet pass long that went for icing.

Overall I think Moses is a very creative player who has a chance to be very successful in an Amerks sweater this season. As of right now, I don’t think he has the talent to play at the next level. If that is going to happen he needs to work on his finishing ability and get much stronger on the puck.

Hudson Fasching vs Utica Comets 10/13/17 (Grade F)

Friday night the Amerks played a very underwhelming brand of hockey against the Comets. Zone entry was once again very sloppy, and they weren’t able to dig pucks out well either. Chemistry continues to be an issue for this new roster, and swapping Baptise and Moses on the first two lines only seemed to worsen matters. Aside from Justin Bailey the entire team looked very slow and as a result they were shut out 2-0.

Unfortunately, Hudson Fasching was no exception. He continues to slump early on in the season, looking nothing like the player he’s been in the past. My issues with his performance go far beyond a chemistry fit. The lack of effort and physicality he put for are completely unacceptable for a player of his skill set. I’m going to rate him an F.

Offensively, Fasching was non-existent; he was consistently behind during the breakout and wasn’t able to win puck battles on the boards as a result. Even arriving late, he had opportunities to take advantage of his big frame to keep the puck in the zone. Instead he refused to play physically passing up on several checks that could have dislodged the puck and created some momentum for his team. There were also two occasions entering the zone where he was clearly offside and was lucky the play wasn’t blown dead. It was completely unacceptable to see from a returning player who should be a veteran presence.

Defensively, Fasching has always been a strong player due to a high motor and a physical presence. Without those elements in his game, Hudson was extremely frustrating to watch. While forechecking he was flat footed far too often, applying no real pressure to defenders on the breakout. This was a common theme in his game, and was the same while in the defensive zone. He looked lost at times and was not able to eliminate options on the point by getting in passing lanes.

So far this season ice time for Hudson Fasching has gone way down. Maybe part of his slow start is due to frustration of the way he is being utilized by coach Taylor. However, the role of a 3rd line winger matches perfectly what will be expected of him at the NHL level. If he can’t execute as a physical high energy forward then his days within the organization will be short lived.

CJ Smith vs Syracuse Crunch 10/6/2017 (Grade A-)

After a long and very active offseason, the Amerks look to have taken the first step back to AHL glory. They appeared far in a way the better team when facing off against the Crunch on opening night. Most notable were the performances of Justin Bailey, Kevin Porter, and Linus Ullmark. Bailey was able combine his lethal speed with clinical finishing that has not been a part of his game in the past, leading to two fantastic goals. Porter was every bit of the captain the Amerks need him to be this year. He was great in the faceoff circle, looked to have a solid chemistry with line mates Baptiste and Bailey, and handled his defensive responsibilities exceptionally well. This was capped by a goal saving play to clear the puck of the line after it snuck past Linus. And that was just about the only puck that Ullmark didn't have under control all night. His rebound control was exceptional and he was also able to produce a few acrobatic saves that fans have come to expect from him. The Crunch were lucky to get the breakthrough they needed to avoid a shutout, only after capitalizing on an exhausted Amerks unit that had worked tirelessly to kill off a 6 on 4 in the dying embers of the game. 

Like most Amerks, rookie CJ Smith put together a very impressive performance. I had high hopes for him after a strong preseason debut, but he was able to match expectations. If not for a few pinpoint shots from Bailey, his line featuring newcomers Criscuolo and Moses (who had a snipe of his own) would have been the most productive of the night. For his efforts, I am going to rate his debut an A-.Offensively, Smith showed some very creative stick handling in the neutral zone that led to consistently successful zone entry. It was an area many other units struggled with due to a lack of early chemistry (especially on the power play). On his first shift CJ was so effective on the wing that he was able to skate in clean and deliver a perfect centering pass across the face of goal. His playmaking ability was on display even more in the second period. After dancing into the zone he made a nice drop pass to Criscuolo who set Moses in the slot for what would be the game winning goal. Later in the period Smith was able to fly passed a defender once more forcing him to take a penalty, eliminating a clear scoring chance. There is something special about Smith when he gets the puck in space, and I can’t wait to see more of it going forward.

Defensively, Smith was the best forechecker on the ice. He was able to keep the pressure on during the breakout, and generated 3 turnovers in the offensive zone that directly led to chances. I was also very impressed to see him covering for Guhle at the point on a few occasions. Guhle has potential to be a special type of player when getting forward and he will only get more opportunities to showcase that if trailing forwards are aware enough to cover for him. It also speaks a lot to the job that coach Taylor has done this offseason to see a rookie winger and an aggressive point-man consistently on the same page. My only real criticism of Smith is that I would like to see him get a bit higher and cut off more passing lanes in the defensive zone. He wasn’t able to make things difficult or create any turnovers inside of his own blue line. 

Going forward I have very high hopes for CJ. I think his offensive creativity can play a big role for the Amerks this year. Once the team irons out some their zone entry issues on the power play I think Smith will be a dangerous weapon when things are set up. I would also like to see a few more entry plays that give him a chance to skate the puck with a man advantage. With so much talent on this roster I think he has an opportunity to flourish this year. 

Brendan Guhle Vs. Hershey Bears 4/7/17 (Grade A-)

Like most in Rochester, I was very excited for the highly anticipated arrival of Brendan Guhle. It was unquestionably worth the wait.  Even in a loosing effort, Guhle was the best Amerk on the ice. It’s unbelievable to see such a high hockey IQ in a 19-year-old prospect.  He was rewarded with the 2^nd star of the game. I’m going to rate his performance an A-.

 

Offensively, Guhle was a revelation. Unlike Fedun, he was able to make an impact without skating the puck very often. Instead, he moved extremely well off the puck finding gaps and creating space for others. Early in the first after starting the breakout, he flew up the ice splitting the defense. A quick return pass from Vaive left him wide open in the slot, allowing him to coolly sneak a quick wrister past the goalie on the far post. Guhle also used his effortless speed to generate multiple odd man rushes without shirking his defensive responsibilities. He chose his moments to join the rush well, and was able to quickly recover if a stray pass was made. His decision-making was equally strong when choosing to pinch.  

 

Defensively, Guhle played very well against a strong Hershey team. I was  impressed with his commitment to eliminating passing lanes. Several times in the defensive zone, he kept his stick low to the ice and cut down angles so the only option was a short post shot that Johansson had covered. However, on the power play the quick passing of the Bears proved too much on one occasion. They whipped it around the zone so quickly that Guhle was caught flat-footed on a centering pass and they were able to get a tap in goal. There was one more time that Guhle was stuck on his heels late in a shift, but I attribute that to a massive amount of ice time and his willingness to get forward on the breakout. The only weakness in his game is a lack of physicality. He was so much quicker than everyone else on the ice that he was able to get away with poke checking to strip the puck. However, at the next level he won’t have the same advantage and will need to to be a more complete player. 

 

Because Guhle has been so successful, it almost seems like an afterthought that he will start next year in Buffalo. I still think Brendan needs more time to show he’s strong enough to compete at the next level. He definitely has the speed and IQ to play in the NHL, but I would like to see him spend a half-season in Rochester getting used to playing the physical brand of hockey that will be required of him.

Hudson Fasching vs Binghamton Senators 4/5/17 (Grade B)

Hudson Fasching continued his strong play on Wednesday by netting a goal in the 5-2 victory against the Senators. His work rate was excellent, but after watching him I feel he still has plenty of work to do before he can effectively play at the next level. I am going to rate his performance a B.

 

Offensively, Fasching was able to use his strengths to create chances. He drove the net exceptionally well for the duration of the night. It was that net drive that led to his goal. After Fasching made a nice cut to split defenders, Bailey threaded a fantastic backhand pass to Kennedy who centered it to Hudson for a tap in. He continued to work hard in front of net by setting up screens. His net front presence led to several rebound chances for him but he wasn’t able convert any.

 

His finishing was a weak point Wednesday. He had two dangerous opportunities in the slot that were wasted; the first was a shot wide and the other into the chest of the goalie. More importantly, he seemed outmatched physically. When trying to take on defenders he had a very difficult time getting past them. His hand speed and skills were impressive, but he didn’t play with enough quickness or power to complete his moves. Instead, after getting around his man, Hudson was promptly moved off the puck or beat to it by the next defender. His lack of physicality also led to issues during the breakout. When receiving the puck on the boards to exit the zone, he was knocked off his feet before making an outlet pass on multiple occasions. A player of his size needs to be able to stand his ground in those situations if he has any chance to be successful at the next level.

 

Defensively, Fasching’s work rate was able to make up for his physical struggles. He took very good angles into forechecking scenarios and used his active stick to generate several turnovers in the offensive zone. He also continued his fantastic work on the penalty kill. The partnership he has developed with Grant has been a major factor in Rochester’s success down the stretch. His aggression on the point made it very difficult to find open shooting lanes. Hudson was caught over pursuing once, but that’s been a rare sight this year.

 

Fasching missed a good portion of this year with a serious groin injury, but has been a pivotal cog since he has returned. I’m hoping after a healthy camp he can come back a stronger, faster player next year. If that is the case, I think he has potential to become an NHL front man. If not, he can still be a top player at the AHL level.