Jean Dupuy vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms 12/30/2016 (Grade A-)

For the first time in four tries the Amerks were finally able to defeat the Phantoms in a 4-3 overtime thriller. After a shaky first five minutes, I was starting to get an all too familiar feeling about how the game was going to go. However, everything changed when Baptiste hit O’Reilly on a bullet of a centering pass leading to the opening goal. He finished the night with two more assists, including one to set up Fedun for the game winner in overtime. Even though Baptiste was the best player tonight, the X-factor was the work of O’Reilly and Kennedy in the face off circle. 

Dupuy also had performed admirably on draws. After losing his first three face offs he was able to turn things around, going 3 for 7 on the night. However, he brought much more to the table then that. His physical play was unmatched by any other player on the ice. Dupuy also registered five shots and an assist, resulting in the most complete game of two-way hockey that I have seen all year. It was not without a few miss steps though. I am going to grade him an A-.

Even though he still has some rust to shake off, Dupuy played a strong offensive game. He got himself in some dangerous situations and was unlucky not to score. He ripped two great shots on the point while covering for Austin to start the night. The first was hard and low creating a rebound and the second he rang off the outside of the post. Later on the power play he snuck into the crease and received a nice pass from O’Reilly.  He tried to lift it into the roof of the net, but instead almost sailed it into the upper deck. He continued to be effective on the power play as the game shifted frames. With the game knotted at two in the second, he was able to get to the net and shield a drive from Baptiste on the point. The goalie wasn’t able to see it, and Schneider banged home the rebound. It didn’t look like he ever made contact with the puck, but a generous home book credited him with an assist. 

Dupuy’s greatest contributions came on the defensive side of the puck. While fore-checking, he set the tone for the rest of the team. Unlike most centers on the roster, he led the charge pressing defenseman and constantly finished his checks. He didn’t have to pound many defenseman into the boards before one took exception. Early in the second after driving Morin into the glass he came after Dupuy and dropped the gloves. It didn’t go very well for him; Dupuy hit him with strong right hook that eventually toppled him to the ice. The frustrated Phantom had to spend a little time getting stitched up before he could return to serve his time. 

Late in the game Dupuy was a defensive anchor. While trying to hang on in regulation he played a major role in keeping the game tied. Filling in for a teammate he drew the difficult task of trying to clear opponents in front of the net. Lambert should pull the tape at the next practice to show his defensive core how it is done. Dupuy stuck tight to his man, lifted his stick, and shepherded him away from the goal. On the final shift of regulation, he harassed a Phantom as he tried to enter the zone and stripped him of the puck. He then cleared it down the ice and locked up a point for the home team. 

I think Dupuy has the potential to play 3^rd or fourth line minuets at the NHL level. As high physical play starts to trickle into the team’s style he becomes a very important piece to a playoff charge. Once he shakes off the rust I think he can provide a nice spark offensively too. In more than one way he reminds me of William Carrier and he has the potential to have a similar impact on this level and the next. 

Casey Nelson vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms 12/28/2016 (Grade B-)

After taking what seemed to be a giant step forward against the Crunch, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms dominated the Amerks on Wednesday night. In the 4-2 contest Rochester was only able to muster 16 shots. Once again the play of Justin Bailey was the highlight of the night. He scored his 5th goal in four games on a well-taken wrister in the slot. Also, Jean Dupuy impressed in his return to the ice. After a long absence he provided a much-needed lift in the faceoff circle. Without Burgdoerfer, Bennett, and the new acquisition Shea, the Amerks defensive core struggled. Like most nights, Geiger was completely outclassed by the opposition. However, his partner Casey Nelson played his best game in weeks.

After what has been a shockingly rough month for Nelson he was much better than I expected. Even so, there is still plenty of room for improvement. I am going to rate him a B-. So far this year Nelson has had serious issues with turnovers and defensive positioning. Tonight he committed very few turnovers, made a few nice interceptions, and played disciplined positional hockey. His willingness to skate the puck through the neutral zone was a refreshing change from previous games. However, he made zero attempts to play physical at all.

Lack of physicality was the greatest detriment to Casey’s performance tonight. Early on Nelson allowed his mark to stand right in front of Ullmark and get a deflection on a shot. Instead of clearing him from the crease, Nelson stood nearby trying to cut down a passing angle. Late in the game he also allowed a winger easy entry into the zone. Even though Nelson had the angle cut down, he refused to play the body; this allowed his man to skate the puck all the way behind the net before he finally engaged. He was not able to win the puck and that led to the third Phantoms goal.

For the most part Nelson was able to poke the puck away from incoming wingers. Geiger’s shortcomings put him in several difficult odd man rush situations, and each time he did well to deny a pass or force tough shots for the opposition. His good instincts also allowed him to make several timely interceptions throughout the game.

Offensively, Nelson showed flashes of the player he needs to be if he wants to make it to the next level. He pinched well on the point, skated the puck more, and took a hard low shot that led to a good rebound chance. He also made a couple of nice stretch passes in open ice to create an odd man rush. He still needs to work on his passing though. On his very first shift he missed two easy passes that led to a turnover and an icing. He also needs to do a better job of making quick safe exit passes to start the breakout.

I think Casey Nelson will definitely play in the NHL some day. However he still has a lot of growing to do. His ability to skate the puck and hold the point in the offensive zone are huge potential assets. But, inconsistencies in passing and man marking mean he will need to spend a lot more time at the AHL level.

Justin Bailey vs Syracuse Crunch 12/26/2016 (Grade A--)

The Amerks came back from holiday break wearing their road blues; it was not the only way they looked like a different team. Coach Dan Lambert did a total reboot of the forward lines.  The new top line featuring Schneider, Kennedy, and Bailey combined for 6 points. Bailey earned the game’s first star for his two goals. Lambert had the magic touch tonight, as the Amerks were able to triumph over the Crunch for the first time in six contests. The night was charged with a physical energy uncommon of anything fans have witnessed at the Blue Cross Arena this year.  Syracuse grew more frustrated as the game progressed, and were not able to execute the way they have in the past. The catalyst of that frustration was Justin Bailey. 

 

Although Bailey was able to net two goals, and earn the first star of the night, the product he put on the ice was far from perfect. I am going to rate him an A--.  On the opening power play of the night, 95 was able to end the Amerks prolonged goal drought. He crashed the net well, and was able to bang home a nice rebound in traffic. The second goal he scored was the result of incredibly lazy back checking. Bailey trailed the play by so much that a stray drop pass found its way to his stick, giving him a breakaway. He was able to deek the Crunch net minder with some quick stick work and score with ease. The play was a perfect representation of the game that he played.

 

Tonight Bailey’s talent overshadowed his lack of effort for the majority of the night. Late in the first period while trying to help dig out a loose puck he took a high stick to the face. It was a clear turning point in Justin’s defensive night. Immediately following the incident he made a decision to put forth minimal (if any) effort in the defensive zone.  On four separate occasions he allowed forwards to test Ullmark from the slot, regardless of his close proximity. Even though he was within a stick length, Bailey didn’t even muster a token poke check. Instead his only motion was to turn his head and watch the shot. Lambert noticed this casual approach to defending and pulled him from the first penalty killing line in the third period.

 

Even though at times he looked appalling defensively, his offensive talent was the main headline of the night. His ability to quickly skate the puck length of the ice is becoming a staple of his play.  On multiple occasions he was able to burn past defenders into the zone and create dangerous chances. Twice Syracuse defenders resorted to taking penalties instead of trying to keep pace with him. Off the puck he moved very well, and generated a few good shots from the slot (the first resulting in a goal). More importantly, he was able to convert on his chances.  

 

For the first fifteen minutes of the game Bailey played the type of hockey that could take him to the NHL. He used his speed to chase the puck down in the offensive zone, created chances with his ability to skate the puck, and drove the net hard. During that time he was by far the best player on the ice.  He was also able to raise the level of his game after his second tally with ten minuets left in the game (being on hat trick watch is usually a strong motivator). He is far and away a different player when he is putting forth max effort. If Bailey is ever going to capitalize on his NHL potential he needs to maintain a high work rate at all times. 

Tim Kennedy vs Binghamton Senators 12/19/2016 (Grade J)

Tonight’s 4-1 collapse was one of the worst games Rochester played all year. After leading 1-0, the Senators scored four unanswered goals, snapping the Amerk’s three game home win streak. If O’Reilly had not been gifted an assist on what was a largely an individual effort, Baptiste-O’Reilly-Schneider would have gone their 3^rd strait game without a point. The #1 line is a combined -11 over that stretch. Once again that lack of production filtered into special teams play. Rochester has now failed to score on 23 strait power plays. The lone bright spot of the night was the hard work of Justin Bailey, who scored the only goal.  After a shaky start to the year, he is really starting to heat up. 

 

Among the things to be disappointed about was the return of Tim Kennedy. Tonight his rating was a J, for jet-lagged. After traveling over 30 hours this weekend, and moving his family from Sweden on Thursday, it looked obvious he wasn’t prepared to play. His slow reactions were most evident in the face-off circle. He lost almost every draw he had tonight (most of them cleanly). 

 

Offensively, Kennedy was never really able to get into the game. He very rarely found himself on the puck, and most passes to and from 95 and 19 were just out of reach. He was one of only four Amerks not to register a shot on goal. On the breakout he looked confused at times, like he didn’t know where to be. The one exceptional aspect of Kennedy’s performance was his fore-checking. He worked extremely hard to pursue the puck in the offensive zone. He was able to generate a few turnovers; and he always finished his checks. This was the first game I have seen all year that an Amerk has finished his checks consistently from the opening whistle to the final horn. Obviously he doesn’t know the type of hockey that is expected of a Rochester forward.

In the defensive zone he was wildly inconsistent. He showed flashes of a heady, two-way, veteran hockey player. He was very good in support of teammates on the boards. He was able to pick the puck out from skates on numerous occasions and start the breakout safely. He also made a smart move choosing not to play a puck that Geiger knocked down with his hand; avoiding a whistle. However, he got caught puck watching out of position way to often. As a result, he wasn’t able to get out quick enough to block shots from the point. He made a crucial error leading to the first Senators goal. During a delayed penalty, he had an opportunity to win the puck along the boards. After failing to do so, he did not pressure the pass well enough, allowing Rumble to slowly glide down the slot and pick out his shot.  

 

After spending the holiday break re-acclimating himself to the Rochester area, I’m sure Kennedy will play much better. The Amerks will need him to help mentor the very young roster. If he is going to make an on-ice impact, Kennedy will have to improve on what he showed in the faceoff circle dramatically. Unfortunately he can’t help Buffalo at the next level because his NHL rights belong to the Hurricanes. 

Cal O'Reilly vs St. Jons Ice Caps 12/18/2016 (Grade C-)

The Amerk’s were able to squeak out a close one in overtime tonight with a 3-2 win. Justin Bailey blazed into the zone, beat his man on the wing, and deeked the keeper to get the overtime winner. For his goal he earned the first star of the night.

In my opinion, the real star of the show was Taylor Fedun.  His ability to skate the puck effectively makes him the offensive catalyst the Amerks need on the point.  He made beautiful stretch passes to start the breakout; including one gorgeous pass from behind his net, through the neutral zone, onto the stick of his right winger. With him on the point, power play zone entry was flawless.  In Fedun’s absence this has been a glaring weakness.  When he did not skate the puck past centre ice, he was able to draw find an easy entry pass. He assisted on the first Amerks goal, and scored the go-ahead goal on a nice top-shelf wrister.  I also think Erik Burgdoerfer played a great game. He made several heads up plays in the defensive zone, and is evolving into a key blue liner.

Unfortunately, I was less than impressed with what I saw from the captain. I am going to give Cal O’Reilly a C- against the Ice Caps. I set a very high bar for Cal. He went into the game as the Amerks leading point scorer with a team high 20 assists. On a line centering Nick Baptiste and Cole Schneider, high production is a must. However, tonight the Amerks top line was not able to muster a single point. 

Offensively Cal did numerous things right. He was very calm under pressure and executed several nice passes in tight windows.  He made a few solid back passes early in the first to set up good shots from the point. O’Reilly had a nice give and go with Baptiste that led to a nice low shot from 13. However, it was a slew of miscues made by Cal that ultimately defined the captains frustrating night. Twice early on he was dispossessed trying to stick handle through defenders.   

He was the beneficiary of a great pass in the slot that left him 1 on 1 with the goalie.  Instead of coolly pick out the open far post with a well-placed wrist shot, (Maybe I have been spoiled by Baptiste) he fired a clumsy slap shot right into the belly of the waiting Ice Cap goalie. He had  similar opportunity later in the game on the left wing with a defender trailing him. He elected not to shoot at all; opting instead to fling a spinning no look pass across the slot. Unfortunately, the only Ice Cap defenders were in the area. It was not the only time he showed an aversion to shooting the puck. On the power play Cal passed up several chances to take shots. He needs to be more aggressive and establish himself as a threat to shoot. 

Defensively I don’t think O’Reilly put forth enough effort to play an effective two way game.  Cal receives a lot of ice time on a nightly basis. It seemed obvious from his first two shifts that he was conserving energy on the defensive end. He let Baptiste and Schneider do the lion’s share of the fore-checking work. In the defensive zone I thought he was slow to loose pucks all night, and didn’t get his body in front of enough shots. 

Because he was conserving so much energy in the defensive zone I expected O’Reilly to turn his night around and make a play when the game was in the balance. Unfortunately, in the closing moments he seemed frustrated and was wasn’t able make anything happen. The only way O’Reilly grew into the game tonight was in the face off circle. After a mediocre start he won almost all of his draws in the third period. 

Overall Cal O’Reilly is a fantastic AHL player. However in my opinion he will never be able to consistently play effective hockey at the NHL level. Because he isn’t a two way player Cal does not play a style of hockey that makes him a fit as a 3^rd or 4^th line player. And without a dynamic shot he does not fit the mold of a top 6 forward either. O’Reilly is the ideal AHL captain. He makes the players around him better and there is no indication he will be called up anytime soon.

Vaclav Karabacek vs Toronto Marlies 12/14/2016 (Grade A-)

Tonight’s 5-2 victory against the Marlies might just be the best of the year.  In a contest that was bogged down by some questionable officiating, Nick Baptiste played a near perfect game; and was able to record a hat trick.  Also Dan Catenacci was able to bust out of his slump, scoring a goal, and earning the second star. Power play woes continued as the Amerks went 0 for 4 on the night. Lambert attempted to put Nelson on the point. Instead of rising to the task Nelson continually turned the puck over impeding zone entry on a consistent basis. He even gifted the puck away on the point leading to a breakaway for the Marlies.

I am going to give Vaclav Karabacek an A- in his Amerks debut. In my first ever viewing of him I was very impressed. He played mistake free hockey for most of the night. I loved his fore-checking effort, and he combined with Catenacci for a nice assist. He was a +1 on the night and was able to register 2 shots on net. He was not involved in any special teams during the night, but I think he is starting to develop some nice chemistry with 95 and 43

Offensively it only took Karabacek a few shifts to start to click with his line-mates. He made a couple of nice cross-ice passes to Justin Bailey, creating good shot opportunities. He drove the net well, but Bailey was not able to generate any rebounds for him. He made a nice play on his assist; drawing a defender to him and sliding a nice no look drop pass to Catenacci (who finished it off in impressive fashion). 

The rest of Karabacek s offense was generated by his intense fore-checking efforts. On four separate occasions he was able to turn the puck over in the offensive zone, recover it, and create a chance. He was able to find Bailey wide open in front of the net early in the first period. Unfortunately even with time and space Bailey did not finish. Late in the second he was able to nudge a defender off the puck earning himself a nice shot in the slot. Sadly he put it right in the stomach of the waiting Marlie goaltender. Karabacek was rewarded for his efforts with a couple extra shifts late in the when the Amerks were trying to close out the game. It’s because of his hard work that the story of the last few minuets was focused on Nick Baptiste’s hat trick watch, rather than a Toronto comeback effort.

In the Defensive zone I thought Karabacek got locked in on the puck a bit too much. He was aggressive trying to make interceptions (sometimes to a fault) leading to a couple steals. However he gambled a bit too much and allowed a few open shots from the point. Also Karabacek gave his defender too much space on several occasions and wasn’t in position to block a shot.  Fortunately not one of those shots found the net.

Overall Karabacek s night was characterized by solid steady play. He did not look like an elite player on the puck, but I thought he played very well. Going forward I would like to see him stick handle and take more shots. I think if he continues to develop chemistry with Bailey and Catenacci they can make up a very strong 2^nd line.

Cole Schneider Vs Toronto Marlies 12/2/16 (Grade B+)

The Amerks were able to hang on by the skin of their teeth tonight against the Toronto Marlies for a 3-2 victory. The Amerks played an amazing first period, but after that they didn't look very sharp. Tonight's game was flooded with special teams play: It honestly felt like there was no 5 on 5 hockey played in the second frame. Dan Lambert decided to play 5 forwards on the power play all night. They went 1/7 as a result. The team had difficulty getting set up and neither Rodrigues or Schneider looked good on the point tonight. Il give Coach Lambert a bit of credit for being creative without Fedun and Nelson, but it just didn’t work. The difference tonight was the Baptiste-O'Rielly-Schneider line. I expected them to dominate, and they didn't disappoint. The trio finished with 5 points, scoring all 3 Amerk goals. I was most impressed by the play of Nick Baptiste. I think his days in Rochester are numbered at this point. His 10 goals lead the team so far this year and he is one of three Amerks to average over a point a game (others Captain Cal and Cole Schneider).

Tonight I scouted Cole Schneider, and he turned in a very solid performance. It was exactly the kind of game I have come to expect from him. He passed the puck exceptionally well, netted a nice opening goal, and played for the most part, mistake free hockey. However he didn't quite earn an A. I'm going to give him a B+. Schneider was thrust into a new role when playing the point tonight on the power play and I don’t think he did a very good job. He only skated the puck entering the zone one time and it resulted in a turnover. Overall I would have liked to see Schneider play a more aggressive offensive game.

Schneider still played a very good offensive game tonight. He had countless sparkling cross-ice passes that split defenders and landed perfectly on teammates sticks. More importantly he was able to hit them in stride, creating odd man rushes. However I was a little surprised that after he made his outlet passes he didn't skate very hard into the zone and crash the net. Honestly he seemed a bit complacent in allowing O'Rielly and Baptiste to try and make plays on their own. In addition I think he needs to shoot the puck more. On the power play he waited way too long to shot the puck and when he did it didn't get though to the net; making all the hard net front work Muzito-Bagenda did tonight worthless.

Cole played an amazing two way hockey game tonight. He made numerous fore-checking plays in the offensive zone to turn the puck over. Then he did a good job finding sticks quickly setting up a few very good chances. Schneider tracked his man pretty well in the defensive zone and wasn't afraid to take him to the boards on a few occasions. There was one time he got caught in a little deep and failed to close down the point on a shot, but Ullmark was more than up to the task (as usual). Schneider's breakout passes were exceptional all night so the Amerks top line wasn't forced to spend too much time in their own half.

To say that the Amerks missed Schneider during his call up is a gross understatement. He is by far one of the most pivotal cogs in the Rochester offense. His playmaking ability is irreplaceable for the Amerks and, they are not the same team without him. I would like to see Schneider shoot a bit more often and crash the net a sooner. Outside of that I don’t think Cole has too much to work on. I think he could be very effective setting up line mates at the NHL level right now, but if he is ever going to truly earn a place at the next level he needs to be a bit more aggressive.

Tyson Strachan Vs Utica Comets 11/25/2016 (Grade B-)

Tonight's 5-2 loss to the Comets was disappointing on many levels. Tonight's roster lacked the forward depth to allow the Amerks to compete for a full 60 minutes. In what has developed into a common trend for the Amerks there was almost no physical play. Nick Baptiste was a glaring bright spot tonight. He was on a mission to make things happen tonight and looked by far the best player on the ice for the Amerks. His silky smooth mitts have now netted him 9 goals and 3 Assists in just 11 games at the AHL level.

Tyson Strachan had a lot of things I wanted to see him fix about his game on Wednesday. He needed to be more physical in front of the net, turn the puck over less and be more efficient starting the breakout. From the very beginning of the night he made significant strides.  He was very conservative passing in the zone and sent every thing up the boards. Also he did a much better job clearing players from the front of the net and keeping their stick off the ice. Unfortunately Strachan's night ended prematurely. He took a shot directly in the face at the twelve minute mark in the 3rd. Based on the amount of blood on the ice it was very clear he was not going to return.

I was pleasantly surprised by how active Strachan's stick was tonight. He made a few very nice poke checks at the blue line tonight causing turnovers. He also made a nice interception that led to an odd man rush and deflected a few cross ice passes on the kill tonight. Overall Strachan played a good defensive game, but his lack of a physical presence is unacceptable. At 6 feet 215 pounds Strachan can't afford to play the style of hockey he does.  He doesn't move quick enough not play the body in open ice. It almost cost the Amerks a goal when he got beat in the slot trying to poke check the puck away early, but Ullmark was up to the task. He faced a similar situation in the second period and whiffed on the hit at center ice, falling to the ground, and giving the Comets an odd man rush.

I'm going to give Strachan a B- tonight but I'm grading him on a bit of a curve. He had a lot to fix after what I saw from him Wednesday and I was happy to see that he did so very quickly. Strachan has virtually no offensive value and is extremely conservative pinching on the point, but if paired with the right defensive partner, I think he can be an effective player. If he is paired with Burgdoerfer or Fedun I think he can do very well, if he adopts a physical style of play.

Erik Burgdoerfer Vs Providence Bruins 11/23/2016 (Grade B+)

There were a lot of questions facing how the Amerks would perform tonight after the recent call ups of Cole Schneider and Cal O'Riley. They looked very much like an undermanned roster playing without a captain. In O'Rilely, Schneider and Fedun, the Amerks were missing their top 3 point scorers this year accounting for 47 of the Amerks 135 points accumulated before tonights game. Including the 4 points Carrier has that is over 37% of the Amerks total scoring missing from the lineup. Tonight there was no quit in the Amerks and Bailey Nylander and Baptiste all played very well offensively and were able to combine for 3 goals and 3 assists. But top to bottom the Amerks did not play well enough to be competitive tonight.

The box score of tonights game will tell you that Erik Burgdoerfer was a -2 and had four penalty minutes. That does not do the performance that Burgdoerfer turned in justice. I thought he was the best blue liner that the Amerks had tonight and that is reflected in the grade I have assigned to him ; a B+. I personally don’t thing he deserved either one of the penalties he took tonight. On the first he mad a nice play to stop a break away tying up a forward after a bouncing back pass caused a turnover in the offensive zone. The Bruins forward was able to get a hold of Burgdoerfer's stick while he played the body and was able to fool the linesman into a hooking call. On the other Burgdoerfer made a phenomenal backtracking play to stop a sure fire goal scoring chance created from a turn over committed by Strachan.

Defensively he turned in a great performance. He was constantly glued to a man in the defensive zone and did a very good job getting the puck out of the zone when he was called upon. When his man went behind the net he was quick to follow him and promptly staple him to the boards so a team mate could swoop in and start the break out. He did a great job in front of the net moving his man out the goalies way. Early in the second he did a fantastic job hounding his man and lifting his stick off the ice so he couldn't receive a centering pass. Unfortunately the pas made it to a waiting Bruin on the point who fired a shot above Ullmark's shoulder. His partner did not do as good a job in front of the net. Honestly it looked like they were trying to run Burgdoerfer around the zone with a decoy forward for much of the night so they could set up shop behind Strachen all night long. The thing I like most about Burdoerfer's defensive play is the intelligence he plays the game with. His head is always on a swivel and he is constantly aware of his responsibilities.

Offensively Burgdoerfer is still lacking quite a bit of polish, but I thought he played a serviceable game. I thought he looked a little bit nervy receiving the puck and mad a few errors that could have led to turnovers. He did miss a pinch on a bouncing puck that led to the first penalty he took on the night, but outside of that instance I thought he picked the right times to pinch and did a good job keeping it in the zone and finding a stick. He made a very nice pass in the first period off the boards to give the Amerks and odd man rush, and showed his ability to skate the puck into the zone on a few occasions. I'd like to see him skate the puck a little bit more often and shoot a little bit more from the point. He only registered one shot and there was no traffic when he took it.

Going forward I think that Burgdoerfer is a key piece for the Amerks. Based on the way he sees the game and the speed he thinks I see no reason why he couldn't play at the NHL level. I think he has to be a little more solid in puck possession but outside of that I had to work pretty hard to find a flaw in his game.  

Nick Baptiste vs St.Jons Ice Caps 11/18/2016 (Grade C-)

I had very high hopes for the Amerks tonight after the return of Baptiste and Rodrigues was announced. After one period it seemed like the Amerks were firing on al cylinders and were going to dominate the game. Unfortunately they were not able to maintain that standard of play and were eventually edged in a shoot out loss. I was encouraged by what I saw from the Nylander Rodrigues and Bailey line that produced a beautiful goal in the first period. I had extremely high expectations for Baptiste tonight based on all the time he has spent with the Sabres and the production he has had with the Amerks. I felt very let down by his performance tonight and as a result I am going to give him a C- grade.

Baptiste played along side Cole Schneider and Cal O'Riley as his line mates tonight, and also received second line minuets on the power play. He registered only 2 shots on target and both of them came from very far out on the wing and were not a threat to beat the Ice Caps net-minder. He registered an assist on a nice pass to Casey Nelson that was expertly finished. Outside off that he displayed a couple flashes where he made good passes and got on the puck in dangerous situations but he didn't do enough. His line should have dominated tonight and to threaten as little as they did is unacceptable.

By far the biggest weakness in Baptiste's game tonight was his inability to get the puck off of his stick. He was clearly oozing with confidence on the puck, but it didn't do him any good. On numerous occasions in the offensive zone Baptiste tried to beat a defender or hold him off with his body, instead of dumping the puck deep. It resulted in constant turnovers. The few times he didn't play the puck directly into the defender he was moved off the puck with relative ease He was lucky not to get called for holding the defenders stick a few times as well. Late in regulation and overtime Baptiste had a chances to be the hero I expected him to be. Instead he lost the puck leading to dangerous odd man rushes going the other way that almost ended the game. In the shootout he was able to score with relative ease. Based on the elite hand speed he possess he met expectations. It would have been nice to see those quick hands in front of goal a bit more, but sadly that was not the case.

Defensively Baptiste played an incredibly average game. I thought his forechecking was serviceable, and he didn't get out of position. But he didn't make any defensive plays to turn the puck over. He did however do a good job in the defensive zone of establishing a physical presence. He wasn't exactly shaking the boards but he made a few nice hits that were able to take and Ice Cap off the puck and start the break out. Baptiste didn't make any mistakes in the defensive zone and as a result he finished +1 on the night.

In some ways it was a good thing that Baptiste's confidence never wavered taking on defenders. But he absolutely needs to do a better job getting his line mates involved. O'Riley and Schneider are arguably the two best playmakers on the roster and I'm shocked that he was not more successful playing beside them. Baptiste definitely has the talent to become an NHL mainstay but I was very disappointed by his performance tonight especially in the big moments of the game when there were plays to be made. Im sure things will get better for him as he gets reacclimatized with his Rochester team mates, and I am looking forward to seeing it.

Justin Kea vs Albany Devils 11/16/16 (Grade N/R)

Tonights 3-1 loss was a horrible game for the Amerks top to bottom. I consider myself an optimist, but the only positive I took out of this game was the impeccable work rate of Mike Aviani in the first game of his PTO (and he finished -3). For the first time on the year I thought coach Dan Lambert had a bad night. I thought he gave up on the Nylander, Schneider, and O'Riley line too fast. And I thought he should have kept Kea and Bailey together after the second period they had. Even Linus Ullmark had a bad night. Not in the traditional sense that he was bad as a shot stopper, but he took 2 penalties. He wasn't the only one to take a bad penalty tonight. The Amerks finished the night with 31 penalty minutes.

   
I don't think Kea had a bad night but I'm not going to rate him. At the half way point in the first period Kea seemed to be tackled from behind. Instead of being let up he got caught up in a fight. He was never really was able to take any swings because he couldn't stand up. After the awkward affair he was given a major and an extra 2 minutes for roughing. After serving his penalty he didn't get back on the ice in the first period. For the next two periods, the Amerks spent much of the game in special teams situations. This led to even less ice time for Kea. 

When he was on the ice I thought kea played well. Offensively he skated the puck well and led the breakout very effectively leaving the zone. On his first shift of the game he made an amazing drop pass that led to a goal scoring chance. Late in the second period Kea and Bailey created a chance with some strong checking in the offensive zone. After Kea won the puck he took a great low shot that produced a rebound. Bailey was taken down and drew a penalty. Unfortunately they didn't play together in the 3rd period. 

Defensively Kea played a good game. He was in the right place in the defensive zone and he was able to make an impact with his physical play. He did a good job following forwards behind the net and making things difficult for the Devils. Most importantly he efficiently executed the break out consistently, keeping the devils from establishing zone control when he was on the ice. 

Tonights game didn't do anything to change Kea's career arc. He is still one of the first names on the chopping block when the Amerks inevitably start to get some of their forwards back from Buffalo. I still think that Kea is one of the few Amerks that bring a physical presence, but as a fourth liner that doesn't play on special teams, there is nothing tying him to the roster.     

Dan Catanacci vs Hartford Wolf Pack 11/11/16 (Grade D+)

Tonight's 5-2 thriller was the most exiting home game of the year so far. There are a couple tap-ins that I would like to get to before Catenacci's scouting report. Fedun played an amazing game, and is starting to look like the playmaking defenseman he was expected to be for the Amerks. He far exceeded physical expectations in his dominant fighting performance that capped off his Gordie Howe hat trick. Also Fedun and Nylander are developing quite the partnership on the power play. In my last review I mentioned that I thought Nylander could turn into a special weapon on the power play and he didn't disappoint tonight, with a goal and an assist. Last I want to give credit to Justin Kea for playing one of the best games I have seen him play at this level. He picked his spot perfectly on his first goal of the night and did a great job fighting for net front position before he redirected his second goal. I think this could be a huge game for Kea, helping him to earn some more ice time even when the Sabres get healthy, and the Amerks get some reinforcements.

I was hoping that Dan Catenacci would take the mantle from Cole Schnieder as the offensive leader tonight. Instead of rising to the challenge he seemed to have no desire in making an impact tonight. At times I felt like he was more interested in watching the game then I was. My lasting impression of his game tonight will be him slowly ghosting into the zone (both offensive and defensive) behind the play with his stick on his hips waiting for the game to come to him. For that reason tonight I am going to give him a D+. I think Catenacci is capable of playing at a very high level and for a few shifts tonight he did, but in a night where he had an opportunity to step up and maybe become the next NHL call up he did the exact opposite. 

In the face off circle Catenacci did a decent job tonight and won the majority of his face offs. Unfortunately he did not do a good job on face offs in the defensive zone. This led to first goal of night for Hartford. After he lost the face off clean he failed to get out and pressure the shooter. Instead he watched the defenseman uncork a slap shot that found its way through traffic and into the net. I would like to see Catenacci work on his timing to win more face offs clean. When he wasn't able too he did a pretty good  job of tying up the other center and working hard to win the puck. 

In the offensive zone I don't think Catenacci worked hard enough to get on the puck. Most of the time when the puck was dumped in he was slow entering the zone and watching one of his other forwards dig the puck out. In one of the few instances he was ahead of the play on the breakout he made a nice play receiving a tough pass and getting a shot off. He chased down the rebound and moved it to the point leading to a goal for Fedun. Unfortunately that was only a quick flash in what was a very dull offensive night. He very rarely skated the puck into the zone but when he did he made a nice pass to Nylander that led to a good shot opportunity. Catenacci clearly has playmaking ability, but he needs to work harder to get on the puck in the zone and create chances. 

On the defensive side of the puck Catenacci was a liability for most of the night. His forechecking efforts were minimal and most of the time he let his other forwards do the work as he waited for Hartford to enter the zone. Once in the zone instead of sticking close to a man he spent most of the night in open space puck watching. His inability to be in position and close down shooters directly led to multiple shots tonight. Fortunately Ullmark was able to bail him out most of the time with another stelar performance between the pipes. But it wasn't a coincidence that Catenacci was on the ice for both Hartford goals.  

Catenacci is in a very important place in his career development. Over the coarse of this year he needs to prove weather he can earn a call up, or if he is going to become a career AHL player. I think he has a lot of potential, but his play is alarmingly inconsistent from game to game and even period to period. For him to have any shot at reaching his NHL potential he needs to put forth more consistent effort and production.

  

Alexander Nylander vs Syracuse Crunch 11/4/16 (Grade A-)

Tonight Alexander Nylander turned in the best performance of anyone I have scouted so far this year. In a game that finished in a very disappointing final period Nylander's performance was good enough to earn the nights third star, and an A- in my grade book. I think tonight the 18 year old showed flashes of why he was taken 8th overall in the 2016 draft. However he still has a few things to work on if he is going to play at the NHL level.  

The first weakness in Nylander's game was evident the first time he stepped onto the ice and constantly affected his play tonight. In a game where it was tough to read jersey numbers because of the camouflage alternates Nylander stood out as a boy amongst men. He was constantly looking to avoid contact. He played like he was afraid when he was on the puck and very frequently stopped short of defenders to avoid a hit. In the second period he was forced into a situation where he was required to make a check at center ice and ended up picking himself up off the ice instead.  On the defensive side of the puck he looked like he didn't belong for much of the night.  His forecheck was very ineffective and he frequently lost tract of forwards in the zone. He seemed uninterested in playing defense for much of the night. I want to give some praise to coach Lambert for pairing him with Rodrigues to help compensate. I can't be to harsh on Nylander for shying from contact because at the end of the day, he is still only 18 years old and played the style of hockey that suits his game (and health) best. But he needs to pick up his intensity on the defensive end.

       
On the offensive side of the puck Nylander was a revelation for most of the night. He was smart in puck possession and had few turnovers. Even though he avoided contact it was very apparent early on that if he wanted to run away, nobody on the Crunch was going to catch him. As a result he was pumping rubber all night long. He led the Amerks in the shot column tonight and all of them (excluding one shot that sailed high) were well placed shots that forced a save and created a rebound. His highlight for the night was a perfectly placed wrist rocket that gave the the Amerks a 2-0 lead on a 2 on 1. The goalie gave him too much space on the near post and I was happy to see him take advantage instead of trying to make a play passing the puck. 

A large chunk of the ice time Nylander received was on the point during the power play. I thought he was extremely conservative and needed to take more shots from the point instead of passing to his defensive partner. He did a good job in the zone getting to loose pucks first and getting the puck either back in the corner or to a stick on the point. There was a moment when the puck was turned over and he was required to perform his defensive responsibilities in his own zone. He looked so lost that I had to watch him through the fingers covering my eyes. However there is a definitive reason that Nylander deserves to play the point on the power-play, and I think it can be the difference that turns him into an elite offensive weapon even at the NHL level. That would be his body positioning. I saw shades of Tyler Seguin in him the way he was able to set up for a slap shot as the puck came to him. It was most notable during an extended chance during a 4 on 3. The only difference being unlike Seguin he never actually followed through and took the shot. If he develops a shoot first mentality in those situations I think he can transform the Amerks into a top 5 AHL power-play unit.

After tonight it is very clear that Nylander is going to be able to contribute at the NHL level. Currently I would rate him as my top prospect within the organization. Right now I think the only thing that is going to prohibit him from playing at the next level is his size. I love potential he has on the point. My bold prediction is by this time of the season in two years Nylander will be a top 6 forward for the Sabres. 

  

Evan Rodrigues vs Toronto Marlies 10/21/2106 (Grade B+)

In tonights 5-2 victory against the Marlies I saw more good things than I have in any other game the Amerks have played this year. Ullmark played his best game this year saving 32 of 34 shots. The Amerks generated a lot of offense from the point, especially on the power play. Most importantly even though there were still stretches of sloppy play, they were able to eliminate turnovers in the neutral zone that led to so many goals against the Crunch. Tonight I spotlighted Evan Rodrigues and I think he played a great game overall. As a result I'm giving him my highest grade of the year so far, a B+.

Rodrigues was an immediate spark coming off the bench. He was able to enter the zone in a dangerous position, and his net drive gave him a chance at a goal. After retrieving the puck he made a great attempt to bank the puck of the Marlies net-minder as he returned to the goal. Unfortunately he was only able to muster one more shot tonight on a soft back-hander into the chest of the goalie. As the game wore on Rodrigues seemed very fatigued. He was knocked off the puck much easier, and wasn't able to do much more than dump the puck into the zone and hope for the best. However he was still able to make a huge impact on the game. 

Rodrigues was arguably the best two way hockey player on the ice tonight. He had an active stick in the passing lanes making zone entry difficult (even more so when shorthanded). He was a ferocious fore checking presence making multiple plays in the offensive zone. One play stood out in particular when he took on three separate Marlies harassing each player until he stole the puck. Then he beat a defender and drew a penalty. Just when it seemed he had completely run out of energy, he made a great poke check in the dying moments of the game that sprung Catenacci for an empty net goal to put the game away.

The last thing I noticed was the amount of gamesmanship that Evan showed tonight. He's the type of player I would love to watch mic'ed up because of his ability to agitate opponents. Weather it was a slight cross check to the back of a forward lingering around the net, or the occasional slash to the calf of a defenseman going for a line change, the old school hockey fan in me couldn't help but crack a smile. I don't doubt that the frustration he was able to create tonight could have been responsible for some tempers flaring up, along with the discrepancy in penalty minuets between the Amerks and the Marlies. 

Not only do I feel Rodrigues has asserted himself as a legitimate AHL player, but I think he has laid the groundwork for the establishment of his NHL identity. He can still use a bit of polish as far as his offensive skills are concerned, and I think based on his high energy style he would benefit from some work on his fitness. But I think he has the potential to become an Antoine Roussel type player. I think sometime in the near future he will be able to bring the type of energy to a teams 4th line and penalty kill that could set him up for a long successful NHL career.