February 25, 2007: Traded to Atlanta by St. Louis for Glen Metropolit, Atlanta’s 1st (later traded to Calgary – Calgary selected Mikael Backlund) and 3rd (Brett Sonne) round choices in 2007 Entry Draft, and Atlanta’s 1st (later traded back to Atlanta – Atlanta selected Zach Bogosian) and 2nd (Philip McRae) round choices in 2008 Entry Draft, February 25, 2007.

June 26, 2007: Traded to St. Louis by Atlanta with future considerations for Atlanta’s 1st round choice (previously acquired, Atlanta selected Zach Bogosian) in 2008 Entry Draft, June 26, 2007.

On June 26 of the same year, St. Louis reacquired Tkachuk along with a conditional 4th round draft pick for a conditional first round pick in 2008. If Tkachuk had resigned with the Thrashers, the Blues would have Atlanta’s 1st round pick in 2008. Since the Blues acquired exclusive negotiating rights with Tkachuk and resigned him to a two-year deal, Atlanta will now receive a conditional 4th round pick in 2008.^[7]

• 500 career goals — April 6, 2008, against the Columbus Blue Jackets
• 1000 career points — November 30, 2008, against the Atlanta Thrashers

LLL

“Mike Penny, with John Ferguson right there, said, `There’s no f–king way we’re f–king signing a guy and having him play in f–king Sweden. What the f–k is this bullshit?’” says Button. “I’m sitting there thinking, `Okay. Don’t listen to me. That’s okay. But you hired this guy, Thommie Bergman, and this is his job, to find talent in Europe, and this is how he gets treated?’ But that’s exactly what was said.”

Mike Penny, 58, was named the director of player personnel of the Maple Leafs on July 31, 2000. In the summer of 2002 he added the assistant general manager portfolio to his duties. In his role, Penny is consulted on all team personnel decisions and manages the areas of amateur and pro scouting and administrative duties assigned by the general manager. In addition, he is the general manager of the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, and is directly responsible for all player personnel assignments with the team’s minor league affiliates.

Prior to joining the Maple Leafs, Penny spent the previous 20 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. During Penny’s tenure in Vancouver he held several positions such as assistant general manager, director of player development and scouting, and chief scout. Most recently he was in the role of vice-president, amateur scouting. He was named to that position in August of 1988.

Before joining the Canucks, Penny was the general manager of the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League from 1975-1980. The Montreal native was also an amateur scout with the New York Rangers from 1969-1975.

- Jack Barzee, NHL Central Scouting

“Schroeder is a very imaginative playmaker who may be small in stature, but is a mature, take-charge guy who runs the PP and distributes the puck beautifully. Can also wire a sneaky snap shot that he should use more often. He’s very advanced and should be in the NHL in a year after dominating college hockey as a freshman and being the best performer on the U.S. World Junior squad.”
- Red Line Report’s Kyle Woodlief, writing for USA Today

“Schroeder is an offensive machine. He’s short and stocky, but is size doesn’t affect him as it would other players because he has such a strong core.”
- A scout, quoted in The Hockey News 2009 NHL Draft Guide

“Jordan is a very dynamic player with high-level skills. An agile and speedy playmaker, Schroeder’s perimeter quickness gets opponents defenses into a panic. His game changing scoring abilities put him in the top ten of the talent pool in this year’s draft class.”
- International Scouting Services 2009 NHL Draft Guide

http://www.andrewsstarspage.com/index.php/site/comments/nhl_draft_jordan_schroeder_profile/

Joe Pleckaitis

J.S. PLAYS FOR THE MINNESOTA GOPHERS

ONE OF THEIR TOP PLAYERS

DECIDED TO GO THERE RATHER THAN TO MAJOR JUNIOR

I HOPE HE LEAVES

OTHER TEAMS PLAYERS LEAVING

GARTH SNOW ARTICULATING

SHIFT POSITION-LIKES ONE BIG LINE

OTHER TEAMS KEEPING QUIET

GILLIS HAD THREE GUYS THERE

THEIR D IS TERRIBLE

STRESS D BUT TERRIBLE

DOESN’T COACH DURING THE GAME

ONE LINE DOES MOST OF HIS SCORING-

MAJOR JUNIOR-MORE HITTING, STRESS DEFENSE, NUCKS CAN WATCH

I DON’T THINK THAT HE’S IN A GOOD SITUATION

Tensions began to rise in his second season in Minnesota between Gophers coach Don Lucia and Islanders General Manager Garth Snow.  Lucia had been playing Okposo at center, not at his natural position of right wing.  Snow believed this could hinder his development and pushed for a change.  On December 19, 2007 Okposo informed his team he would be leaving the University of Minnesota at the conclusion of the semester.

Professional Career – The Islanders signed their 2006 1st round pick to a 3-year entry level contract on December 28th and immediately assigned him to their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.  He appeared in 35 games before getting the call to the NHL to complete the 2007-08 campaign.  He made his debut on March 18, 2008 versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, a month shy of his 20th birthday.  Just three days later he scored his first NHL goal, beating future Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur with a game-winning power play tally.

1st round 7th overall in 2006

During his nine-year tenure, 48 of his players have been drafted by NHL franchises including 11 first round selections. Erik Johnson was taken first overall in the 2006 draft by the St. Louis Blues while Thomas Vanek (2003), Blake Wheeler (2004) and Phil Kessel (2006) were all taken with the fifth overall choice.

“Being in Ann Arbor in the National Team Development Program it taught me a lot about hockey and a lot about life too,” Schroeder said honestly. “It’s brought me to both ends of the ice, defensively and offensively. I’ve learned a lot through it. Playing International hockey you get a feel for that too so I’m pretty comfortable with it.”

By Brian Stensaas, Star Tribune

Last update: December 20, 2007 – 11:08 PM

“Quite frankly, we weren’t happy with the program there,” Snow said in a telephone interview. “They have a responsibility to coach, to make Kyle a better player, and they were not doing that.”

Asked for specifics, Snow said, “[Okposo] just wasn’t getting better — bottom line. And to me, that’s the frustrating part. We entrusted the coach there to turn him into a better hockey player, and it wasn’t happening. We feel more comfortable in him developing right under our watch.”

Notified of Snow’s comments Thursday, [Don] Lucia e-mailed the Star Tribune via the University’s sports information department.

“I am proud of all the success of our program,” the coach’s statement read. “I believe our staff does an excellent job of developing our players on and off the ice.

Lucia is in his ninth season as the Gophers coach and led the program to NCAA championships in 2002 and 2003.

After scoring 40 points in as many games as a freshman last season, Okposo had 11 points this season for Minnesota (9-8-1). Okposo was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2006 NHL draft.

Okposo’s decision to leave was announced by the team Wednesday afternoon. Lucia said then in a released statement that, “it is unfortunate that the Islanders put him in a very difficult position.”

Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi, when told of Snow’s comments, was dumbfounded.

“He must feel that somebody’s angry,” Maturi said. “And I can understand why; you took a kid from a team in the midst of the year and he’s probably trying to justify it. And that’s his right.

“It’s my understanding they now have a roster spot for [Okposo] and therefore our coaching is bad. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Maturi made note of Lucia’s coaching record — more than 500 career victories in 21 seasons — and the number of NHL-quality players produced under his tutelage.

Still, Snow didn’t feel the Gophers were a right fit for Okposo.

“It’s well-known in hockey circles that the situation for college players is to develop and get better,” Snow said. “And quite frankly, it’s a big responsibility for a college coach — a program — to handle these kids.

“Whether it was Kyle or another player, until things change in that program we’d probably make the same decision. There should be a coach there that looks in the mirror.”

The Islanders recently contacted Okposo, Snow said, but added the ultimate decision to leave school was Okposo’s.

“Obviously, it’s Kyle’s decision whether to stay or leave,” Snow said. “But we contacted Kyle and asked how things were going. And that’s why we’re where we’re at.”

Snow then responded “he’ll get better coaching” when asked what Okposo would get in the Islanders system.

Snow declined comment when asked about Okposo’s contract status.

“[He] will be a tremendous hockey player. We’re happy to have him,” Snow said.

2006-07: Okposo collected 19 goals, 21 assists for 40 points and picked up 28 penalty minutes in 40 games played for the University of Minnesota.For his efforts last season with the Golden Gophers, Okposo was named the team’s Rookie of the Year. He also represented Team USA at the World Junior Championships.

Read HF’s interview with Kyle Okposo.

2007-08: Okposo made his NHL debut on March 18 vs. Toronto and continued with the team, playing the final nine games of the season with the Islanders. He recorded five points (2+3) and scored his first NHL goal, a game-winner scored on Brodeur, on March 21 at New Jersey. He also recorded his first NHL point, an assist, in the same game. Prior to the pro action, he played in 18 games with the University of Minnesota (WCHA) before leaving for the World Junior Championships.

Kessel is the fourth Gopher to leave for the pros this offseason following Danny Irmen, Kris Chucko and Ryan Potulny.

For the fourth time in six years the University of Minnesota had two players selected in the first round of the National Hockey League Entry Draft as Nick Leddy and Jordan Schroeder each went among the top picks.

The Gophers have now had 10 first-round picks since 2004 and eight players selected in the first round in the past four years. They also had two players selected in the first round in 2007 and 2004 and had four first-round picks in 2006. Leddy and Schroeder were among the first three American-born players chosen in the draft.

“We want him to get ice time,” said Senators GM Bryan Murray. “We want him to develop.

O’Brien was used primarily on the fourth line by the Golden Gophers last season and is eager to take on more responsibility.

“I never wanted to take a kid out of school,” Murray said. “I never encouraged that. I think Jim feels that this is the best road for him at this point in his career.”

O’Brien will be joining the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.

Both Coach Eaves and Coach Lucia are great at what they do. They play two different styles, and they’re both doing well…and will continue to do well over the next couple years. I think Coach Lucia plays a more offensive style, and I think that style best fits me.

What type of role do you see yourself falling into with the Gopher’s open style offense, and especially with the likes of such great players as Potulny, Irmen, Hirsch, and the incoming Blake Wheeler

Phil Kessel (3:38 PM)

I figure I’m coming in the same as any other freshman. I’m more of an offensive player and I think I’m expected to help more offensively, but I’ll do whatever the coaches ask and do whatever it takes to win.

“It was really hard to leave (Minnesota) behind. Some of my best friends go to Minnesota.”

Kessel said some of the factors behind his decision were his ability to adapt to playing with some professionals in the recent World Championships in Latvia and the opportunity to realize his dream of playing in the NHL.

Also present during the teleconference was Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli. He was certainly excited about landing Kessel, saying the Bruins needed to add speed, skill and offensive grit and Kessel fills those voids.

As for the process of adding Kessel, Chiarelli said contract figures weren’t really a factor because of the stipulations in the new NHL collective bargaining agreement regarding rookie salaries.

The clause says rookies can only earn a maximum annual salary of $850,000 in base salary and bonus, with a maximum of 10 percent of the salary being in the bonus.

“It was more of a decision-making process for Phil than a negotiation,” he said.

He also said the Bruins left the decision up to Kessel and that the process went into Wednesday night.

Kessel – who put up 18 goals and 33 assists (51 points) in 39 games last season – said he called Gophers head coach Don Lucia Thursday afternoon to inform him of his decision and that he thought they had a pretty good chat. Lucia said he felt the same way and that he wasn’t surprised by Kessel’s decision.

“I think it was pretty evident as this was going on that Phil was going to sign,” Lucia said.

Lucia also said he was appreciative of the fact that Kessel chose to play for Minnesota but was a little less clear as to whether or not he thought Kessel made the right decision.

“It’s not my decision,” Lucia said. “If he’s playing in the NHL (next season), it was the right decision.”

Lucia said Kessel’s combination of speed and skill should transfer over well almost immediately in the NHL and that he thinks Kessel will start the season with Boston and get a chance to crack one of the team’s top two scoring lines.

http://www.areavoices.com/rinkandrun/?page=listing&tag=minnesota%20gophers

The Gophers play a delightful freewheeling style, which should allow Kessel to use his speed most effectively-unless, of course, he matriculates to the pros immediately after this June’s draft. “By the end of this season,” Irmen said, “Phil will be the best player in college hockey.”

Says Minnesota coach Don Lucia, “I’ve told Phil he’ll have two difficult years in his career: his draft year and the year he goes to the NHL, with all their pressures. After that he’ll settle in. I hope he gets through this year, enjoys himself and leads us to a really strong finish. The most important thing I want to see from him is a smile every day.”

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Gross

The NHL is holding their draft combine this weekend, and North Dakota’s Jonathan and Minnesota’s Phil Kessel both made news; not for what they did during their workout, but what they did after their workouts. TSN reported on their combine blog that both Toews and Kessel needed a bucket to vomit into after their workout on a stationary bike.

Both players didn’t necessarily get the best reviews for their physical testing. But anything that gets made of this will be too much, in my opinion. I didn’t need a room full of scientists and NHL scouts to tell me that Jonathan Toews would fall below the median in a bench press competition, when the NHL loves to invite 6+ ft. 200+ lbs. players to this thing.

TSN also made the point that the college season ended in April for most players(March for Phil Kessel*), while the major junior players played much deeper into the spring. There’s a lot to be said for being in “game shape” and it’s pretty much impossible to maintain, no matter how hard you work. Kessel was said to do well in the strength tests, which is much easier to work on over the summer.

In the end, these workouts aren’t that big of a deal. Teams are going to focus more on what a player can do on the ice instead of what they do in a weight room. Hopefully people don’t focus too much on the performance of Kessel and Toews on the stationary bike.

“He’s a great coach,” Schroder began. “During practices, he’ll teach us a lot of small things, but when it comes to the games, he doesn’t say too much. He just kind of lets us play. I think that’s part of the reason why we’re having some success this year.”

“The main things that I got out of the program were that I learned how to become a better defensive player and how to play at both ends of the ice,” he said. “I was a pretty offensive guy in high school and never really knew how to play D, but then once I went there I learned a lot more. Now, I’d say that I’m ok, but I obviously could be a lot better. I want to keep improving on that.”

KKK

“I won five Stanley Cup rings, all with the Canadiens,” Ferguson says, “but the first one we had to order ourselves.

“We got a local jeweler to make them. We had to pay for them ourselves. And I remember having to pay $60 for the ring, which doesn’t seem a lot by today’s standards. But you have to remember that we weren’t making that much money back in those days.”

That’s quite a contrast to 1986, when the title-winning Canadiens gave each player a ring festooned with 23 diamonds, each gem representing a Montreal championship.

KKK

“Right now, they’re all messed up, my thoughts,” Giroux said. “A lot of things are coming into my head. It’s kind of hard to come back every year to NHL camp and have some goals to accomplish; my goal is to always prove that I can play good in the AHL to come back in the NHL. Last year, with the team we had, the season I had, personally, I don’t think I can do more than that to prove that I can.

“They focused on four games in preseason instead of 106 games last year. So that’s why it’s hard for me to refocus on new goals. But it’s a team sport. We’ve got a great team, great guys in the room.”

Giroux vowed to gain that focus in time for Saturday’s regular-season opener.

“A lot of guys was smiling to see me back here today,” he said. “I was probably the only one who was not smiling. As soon as I step on the ice, this is life, this is my job. So I cannot be disappointed the rest of my life. I get on the ice. I do what I like. I play hockey and I like it. In a couple days I’ll be fine. At the beginning of the season, I’ll be ready to go.”

Bears head coach Mark French applauded Giroux’s practice effort.

“I think he is a professional,” French said. “All I asked is he came out and worked hard in practice, and he did.”

Alexandre Giroux couldn’t have picked a better time to be on the verge of becoming an unrestricted free agent.

While his point totals for the current American Hockey League season are simply staggering, the Hershey Bears forward added to his personal collective of hardware and also came up with the most important piece of jewelry, at least at this level: a Calder Cup ring.

The Hershey Bears capped a Calder Cup championship last night with a 4-1 victory over the Manitoba Moose before a crowd of 15,003 at the MTS Centre.

Just as he was during the regular season when he produced 60 goals and 97 points to lead the AHL in both categories, Giroux followed up a regular season with 15 goals and 28 points in 22 post-season games.

During the championship final, Giroux also came up huge, scoring a hat trick in Game 1 that included the overtime winner.

He also set up the game-winner in Game 4 and finished with six goals and eight points in the championship final.

Giroux finished the post-season on a 13-game point streak and established a new AHL record for most goals in a campaign, including regular season and playoffs, with 75.

“I’m sure somebody is going to do it again,” said Giroux, who turns 29 in August. “When I go on the ice, I don’t think about that. I just try to help the team win. I don’t want to be the guy who just gets goals and can’t play defensively or can’t play physical, especially in playoff-time. I like to get involved in the game.”

The parent Washington Capitals are expected to try to get a deal done before Giroux becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but if they don’t there should be several teams interested in his services.

“I hope so,” said Giroux, originally a seventh round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. “I hope the guys in Washington or another team in the league will see that what I did was a good job and hopefully, I get some calls this summer from teams that are interested in me. Hopefully, that leads me to the NHL.”

Bears head coach Bob Woods expects Giroux will get plenty of calls, if it comes to that.

“We’ve seen a lot of amazing things out of him and he’s scored some pretty goals,” said Woods. “We’ve witnessed first-hand and he’s just a special player. He knows what to do when he’s in a scoring position and he’s stepped up his game.

“In this day and age, where everybody is looking for somebody that can score goals, somebody is going to give him a serious look.”

Before the period was out, AHL MVP Alexandre Giroux intercepted a cross-ice pass by Guillaume Desbiens, went in on a breakaway and made a nifty move to the backhand before sliding the puck past Cory Schneider.

With the goal, Giroux extended his points streak to 13 consecutive games and now has a league-best 15 goals and 28 points in 22 post-season contests.

Alex Giroux has got one heck of a shot, and he showed it off in the second period when he rifled a power-play one-timer (from Keith Aucoin) off of goalie Cory Schneider and into the net to put the Bears ahead, 2-0.

Giroux now has 74 goals in the regular season and playoffs combined, which is an AHL record. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent, but with those numbers, seems to me he’s going to earn a one-way contract from someone next season.

sports.webshots.com

December, 2000

Top Prospects Camp 07/13/2002

Alexandre Giroux- If not for Jason Spezza, Alexandre could have stuck out as the most impressive stickhandler at camp. I have seen him perform quite a bit, and Giroux always looks good enough to deserve high marks. I wish I could have seen just a bit more spunk and aggressiveness from him, but Giroux didn’t look out of place playing along the likes of Vermette, Klepis and Spezza. Something tells me that Giroux will have to be more than simply ‘good’ at training camp. His ability to play the body is a strength, and he’ll have to employ it to the fullest this fall.

2003

Alexandre Giroux

Giroux has been a surprise in camp and preseason thus far, scoring goals and getting in a scrap with the veteran Jamie Pushor. The 22-year-old left wing plays a solid two-way game. Giroux is a former Hull Olympique and had a solid season in Bingo last year with 19 goals, 35 points and more than 100 PIMs. Probability for NHL action: 40%.

spring, 2005

15. (NR) Alexandre Giroux, LW – 23 – Hartford, AHL
Drafted: 7th Round (213th overall) in 1998 (Ottawa), Grade: 6C, Projection: Depth forward

Acquired from Ottawa in the Greg de Vries trade, Giroux has been a bright spot in his first full season as a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack. He led the team in goals with 32 and points with 54 and also posted 128 penalty minutes. A speedy skilled player, Giroux has worked hard to improve his play since he was drafted. This season marked another step forward in terms of consistency and defensive play as well.

Although Giroux still requires further development, he could see an NHL call-up when play resumes if he continues to produce the way he has. He has the potential to become a regular forward in the NHL if he can put all the pieces together.

autumn 2005

Alexandre Giroux, who scored 54 points in 78 games with Hartford last season, was the highest scorer among the forwards that are returning to the team. Giroux, a 6’3, 195 lb center, who was acquired in 2004 from Ottawa, will begin his fifth season in the AHL. His scoring production has increased each year he has remained with the club, and the Wolf Pack are expecting him to continue to be an offensive force this year.

may, 2007

Alexandre Giroux, C
6′3, 201 lbs
Jun 16, 1981
Signed as UFA in 2006

Giroux was expected to be a depth forward who could contribute when called upon to do so.  While having a remarkable season in the AHL, the Capitals called on him to fill in, and add some potential offense to their roster.  In his limited time playing reserve forward for Washington, he played very well, leaving the door open for more opportunities at the NHL level in the future.

When the injury bug hit the Capitals in December, Giroux was called up as a replacement.  He made his Capitals debut on Dec.19, and stayed up for two games, in which he did not record a point.  He was reassigned to Hershey on Dec. 26, once Capitals regulars began returning from injury.  He stayed in the AHL until March 2, and after seven games was reassigned to Hershey again despite having 2 goals and 2 assists in those seven games.

Giroux averaged 10:11 minutes of ice time per game, and scored 2 goals and 2 assists in nine games played.  His AHL numbers were much better, finishing second in the AHL in goals, and also second in plus/minus with +29.  In the AHL playoffs, Giroux has 10 points in 12 games.

With the lack of depth in the Capitals lineup, Giroux could be a utility player that the Capitals continue to count on.

October, 2007

Another candidate for the top line is Alexandre Giroux, though as a center, he may be better suited to pivot on the second line.  He had a career-high 42 goals and 70 points in 67 games for the Hershey Bears last year.  Along with a trip to the Calder Cup finals with the Bears, he also played nine games for theWashington Capitals.

He’ll be joined up front by Alexandre Giroux, a retread in the Washington Capitals organization, who is picking up where he left off the last time he was in Hershey.

If Giroux, who also has an AHL-best 18 goals, gets into the lineup tonight in Carolina, it will be his 11th NHL game and first since the 2006-07 season

Touch returns — The very last thing that Hershey forward Alexandre Giroux could afford to forget when he went off to Washington was his scoring touch. But unfortunately for him, it was hardly anywhere to be seen when he was up there last month.
He certainly knows where to find it when he’s in “Chocolatetown” though.

In his six games back with the Bears, the veteran has 10 goals and 4 assists. That follows an 11-game stint with the Caps in which he tallied 1 goal and, by his own count, failed on six breakaways.

“It’s mental. Here (in the AHL), it’s more natural,” Giroux said. “Over there, you are thinking too much. (It’s) better goalies, for sure. I get too excited. You see yourself scoring before you actually do. But Washington knows I can score.”

Pretty much everyone who watches him play can write that on their scouting report. Giroux leads the league with 28 goals and his 11-game goal-scoring streak entering this week was AHL’s longest in almost three years.

“I want to come back, prove them wrong, show I should’ve stayed up there,” Giroux said. “I was not upset (when he was demoted). I was disappointed. You work hard to get the call. Maybe in different circumstances, I would still be there.”

The American Hockey League announced today that left wing Alexandre Giroux of the Hershey Bears has been named the winner of the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s most valuable player for the 2008-09 season, as voted by coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league’s 29 cities.

Named a 2008-09 First Team AHL All-Star last week, Giroux has played 66 games this season and scored 57 goals, the sixth-highest total ever in the AHL and the most by a Hershey Bear in the 71-year history of the franchise. In addition to his historic goal output, Giroux has set career highs in assists (37) and points (94), tying him with teammate Keith Aucoin for the overall AHL scoring lead heading into the final weekend of the regular season. He is also tied for the league lead with 21 power-play goals and sits one off the league lead with eight game-winning goals, and he ranks fifth among AHL forwards with his plus-24 rating.

Giroux broke one of the AHL’s most impressive records by scoring a goal in 15 consecutive games, bettering the league mark of 14 previously held by future Hockey Hall of Famer Brett Hull. Giroux scored 22 goals in those 15 games, a streak that was interrupted by five separate NHL recalls by the parent Washington Capitals. It was also part of a run in which Giroux tallied a point in 23 consecutive games, the longest such streak in the AHL this season. Giroux, who was voted to the starting lineup for the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic, has had 12 multiple-goal games this year, including a four-goal effort on Jan. 4 at Worcester.

A native of Quebec City, Giroux has recorded 255 goals and 211 assists for 466 points in 564 career AHL games entering the weekend. His one goal and one assist in 12 games with Washington this season give him six points (3g, 3a) in 22 career NHL contests.

Giroux needed less than 24 hours to record nine points after being reassigned to Hershey by the Capitals on Saturday afternoon. That night in Hartford, the former Wolf Pack forward burned his former club for a goal and three assists to help the Bears to a 6-2 victory. Then on Sunday afternoon, Giroux tied an AHL season high with four goals and added an assist as Hershey wrapped up its weekend road swing with a 7-2 win at Worcester.

Alexandre Giroux made an important decision late last season that, in the short term, cost him a championship ring.

The high-scoring winger from Quebec City was on one of the best teams in the American Hockey League and averaging nearly a point per game, but things weren’t going as smoothly as he’d hoped.

The Chicago Wolves had too many veterans and Giroux was occasionally a healthy scratch, so he asked for a trade back to the Hershey Bears, where he had 42 goals and 70 points in 67 games and also had a chance to play nine NHL games with the Washington Capitals.

Giroux missed out on a Calder Cup, but got his career back on track and put the fun back in his game. After scoring three goals in Game 1 against the Manitoba Moose, Giroux is three wins away from capturing a championship.

“It was a good team in Chicago and it was a big decision for me to ask for a trade to come back to Hershey,” said Giroux, a seventh round pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. “When you got back to an organization that believes in you, then you play a little bit better. So far, so good.”

Winning a title would be the perfect way to end the season for Giroux, who was named AHL MVP in April after a 60-goal, 97-point campaign.

“He’s a dangerous player,” said Moose head coach Scott Arniel. “He doesn’t need much space. He has a great shot and he’s got great accuracy. He gets it off quick. If you give him a couple of opportunities, he’s going to bury them. You have to know where he is all the time.”

With his game-winner Saturday, Giroux now has the most overtime goals in AHL history with four.

The other three OT winners came against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, including two in 2007 and another last spring.

“He’s a big-game guy and that’s why he’s in the situation that he’s in,” said Bears head coach Bob Woods. “You look for those type of things, for your big players to step up and score big goals and that was definitely the case.

“We’ve seen a lot of amazing things from him all year. He had a 15-game goal streak (to break Brett Hull’s 22-year-old AHL record of 14), he scored 60 goals and this was just another step for him.”

Alexandre Giroux set many records as a member of the Hershey Bears during the 2008-09 season. The biggest one for him was breaking Brett Hull’s 22-year old record for goals in consecutive game. He also set a BEARS franchise record by score 60 goals during the season, break Tony Cassolato’s record of 53 set during the 1982-83 season.

Giroux enjoyed a career year in the chocolate and white. He set career highs for goals (60), assist (37) and points (97). In addition to his record breaking season in HERSHEY, Giroux also scored his first NHL goal in two years with the Washington Capitals.

Chris Rahn: When did you realize you could break Brett Hull’s record?
Alexandre Giroux: When I came back (from Washington). Guys started mentioning it around game 9, 10 and 11. I scored in game 12 and Woody said ‘good job keeping this thing going’ and I was like oh yeah that’s right. After that I was just looking to tie the record, and when I got close I thought it would be cool to break it.

Chris Rahn: During the game when you set the record, did you begin to wonder as the game went on if you were going to break the record?
Alexandre Giroux: Not in the first. I didn’t try to think about it. I remember that game; I had quite a few shots, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t. I was hoping it wasn’t one of these games. Between the second and third, I looked at the clock and was alright I got 20 minutes to do it.

Chris Rahn: What was your feeling after you set the record?
Alexandre Giroux: I didn’t know what was going on. I came back to the bench and all the guys, and I saw Doug come and I realized it was something special. We had champagne in the room afterwards.

Chris Rahn: Statistically you had your best season. How would you rate your season?
Alexandre Giroux: I think its all team. The team’s been in first position all year, so that helps. If we were a last place team in the league, I don’t think I could do as good as I did. Playing with Keith Aucoin and Graham Mink obviously helps. I mean, I think we have lots of good players here, but Keith is good with the puck, and Graham and I are more like pinchers, so the combination of our two helped a lot.

Chris Rahn: You’ve played for several different AHL teams, where does Hershey rank among your favorites?
Alexandre Giroux: It’s got to be here for sure. I like everywhere I played to be honest, but two years ago when we went to the finals, that was something special and we always always talk about it. You can tell now, they’re all in Washington and do well. I came back here last year and that was a fun group; even though we went out in the first round of the playoffs.

Chris Rahn: What’s in been like playing on a line with Aucoin and Mink, arguably the best line in the AHL?
Alexandre Giroux: I think we are when we play our best. There are so many good players in this league and every team always has their number one line and their always just as good. With Keith, he’s played about 40 games in the NHL, and with Graham Mink, he’s been around a while. The combinations of the three of us do a good job of covering all the activity on the ice.

Chris Rahn: How much did it play on your mind as you closed in on HERSHEY’S single season goal record?
Alexandre Giroux: I’m not going to lie, I thought about it for sure. I got 50 and I think that was amazing, I was really proud of that.

Chris Rahn: Which record means more? Consecutive games with a goal or HERSHEY’S single season goals record.
Alexandre Giroux: To be honest, I think the 15 in a row. I think that’s a hard thing to do. I think that was something special to do, score one goal a game, but I think that record’s pretty special.

Chris Rahn: How do you normally spend the offseason?
Alexandre Giroux: Usually I take a trip somewhere and try to relax. I have a friend in Switzerland, and I’ve been there six times over the past couple of years. After that, I want to go back home and take two weeks off. I train every day with a couple of guys back home, we actually skate 2-3 days each week. I love fishing; going fishing with my family and friends. I have a tennis membership and I go there during the week. Summer goes by just like that.

Luongo has an out after 5 years, the Canucks can also trade him after 7 years

203 regular season, 22 post-season

kirk mclean – 10 seasons, brodeur 7

Barrasso played in ten

Part of my research into Pittsburgh’s playoff history left me staggered. I was reviewing how long some players had played during the post-season for the Penguins and was surprised to see the two goalies have played well over 50% of Pittsburgh’s playoff games. They are of course Tom Barasso – 101 games in 10 post-seasons, and Marc-Andre Fleury, who has played 45 games as of today.

After these two, the numbers fall off to: Ken Wregget who played in 26 and Johan Hedberg who played in 18 one playoff series.

Pittsburgh had played in 24 post-seasons – of a potential 41 times:  1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982…1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999…2000, 2001…2007, 2008, and 2009. Fleury, on the other hand had come to the Pens the 2003-04 season and didn’t make it into the post-season until three years later.

And after Barasso had left – and before Fleury had arrived, Ron Tugnutt had played in the 2000 post-season and Johan Hedberg in the 2001 playoffs (Ken Wregget had primarily served as Barrasso’s backup.).

And before that, it was kind of a goalie per year who backstopped the Penns.

courtesy of nhl.com

This lack of continuity seemed strange to me, until I compared the Penguins goalies to those of the Canucks.

Kirk McLean was Vancouver’s backstop from the 1989 until the 1996 playoffs (The ‘nucks didn’t reach the post-season in 1990.).  And, he played in 7 post-seasons before being traded to Carolina.

Vancouver played in 21 post-seasons – of a potential 36: 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996…2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2009.

After Kirk McLean, there are three goalies who played in 20 or more playoff games: Richard Brodeur, Dan Cloutier, and Roberto Luongo.

So, Pittsburgh had one main goalie – in their history – with another one who has played in three post-seasons and has a great career ahead of him. They totaled 14 of their 24 post-seasons.

Vancouver, on the other hand, had one main goalie – who paid in 6 of Vancouver’s 21 seasons – and three other goalies who played in 10 post-series.

LLL

LLL

2007-08 • Freshman Season
Appeared in all 45 games as a freshman and led the team with a plus-nine rating • had two minus ratings over the final 26 games, posting a cumulative plus-five rating • team was 7-0-2 when he scored a point • spread his 10 points over nine different games • scored a second period goal to put team ahead 2-1 in eventual 3-2 double overtime win over Minnesota State in WCHA playoffs (3/16) • collected goals in each game of home series against Wisconsin (2/22-23) • first career goal was the game-winner in a 4-3 victory over top-ranked Michigan (10/13) • only multiple-point game came with a goal and an assist against Wayne State (1/4) • did not score in 4-3 win at North Dakota (12/8), but had a plus-three rating • had two three-game scoring streaks (11/9-16 and 2/22-29) • scored points in each game of sweep against Minnesota State with a goal the first night and an assist the following night (11/9-10) • split time at center and wing on second through fourth lines throughout the season • earned first letter.

HIGH SCHOOL:
Played his prep hockey at Grand Rapids High School • head coach was Bruce LaRoque • finalist for the 2007 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award • named the 2006-07 Associated Press and Duluth News Tribune Player of the Year • finished his senior season with scoring totals of 18-31–49 in 30 games • named AP and St. Paul Pioneer Press first team all-state, Duluth News Tribune first team all-area and Iron Range all-conference • led the Thunderhawks to second place at the 2007 Minnesota State High School Class AA Tournament • earned all-tournament team honors • played 12 games with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL following his senior season at GRHS, scoring eight goals and one assist • helped Team USA capture the silver medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship this past April • led Grand Rapids in scoring with 23-29–52 in 30 games in 2005-06 • helped the the Thunderhawks to a 21-9-0 record and a runner-up finish at the Class AA State Tournament • named to the all-tournament team with 5-1–6 in three games • named AP all-state honorable mention, Duluth News Tribune second team all-area and Iron Range all-conference • had 18-15–33 in 26 games during his sophomore season and 2-5–7 in his freshman campaign • selected with the 25th overall pick in the first round by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

courtesy of gophersports.com

PERSONAL:
Management major • lists golf, ping pong and spending time on the lake as hobbies • lists playing in the high school state tournament twice as his most memorable sports thrills • born January 20, 1989.

Don Lucia has helped many Gophers move on to the next level as well. During his nine-year tenure, 48 of his players have been drafted by NHL franchises including 11 first round selections. Erik Johnson was taken first overall in the 2006 draft by the St. Louis Blues while Thomas Vanek (2003), Blake Wheeler (2004) and Phil Kessel (2006) were all taken with the fifth overall choice.

ryan stoa foregoes senior to sign with Colorado

Named first-team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association, College Hockey News and Inside College Hocke

Jordan Schroeder

Named National Rookie of the Year by College Hockey News and Inside College Hockey

ranked third on the team in scoring with 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points • shared the team lead with 16 power play points

-New Jersey 2nd rounder

Appeared in 35 of team’s 37 games, missing two games to participate in World Junior championships • ranked third on the team with 12 goals and led the team with six power play goals

Mike Carman-Colorado 3rd round pick-2nd line centreWhite’s sophomore season with the Golden Gophers began as a disappointment. He did not record his first goal until the last weekend of November in the Golden Gophers’ fourteenth game of the season.^[11] However, White quickly turned his play around, scoring four goals in the Golden Gophers’ next ten games, including the game winning goal 1:38 into overtime at the 2009 Dodge Holiday Classic to lead the Golden Gophers to a 3–2 victory over Northeastern University.^[12][13] White scored two goals in the two-game tournament, earning All-Tournament Team honors.^[14

^{]White was named to the United States team for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships in Finland, his firstInternational Ice Hockey Federation-sanctioned event.[17] White scored three goals and two assists in seven games—including a two-goal performance against Latvia in which he scored the game-winning goal—as the United States lost 6–5 to Russia in the gold medal game.[18][19]}

By Brian Stensaas, Star Tribune

Last update: December 20, 2007 – 11:08 PM

New York Islanders General Manager Garth Snow on Thursday criticized Don Lucia’s coaching, saying that was the reason sophomore Kyle Okposo is leaving the Gophers hockey program and negotiating a contract with the Islanders.

“Quite frankly, we weren’t happy with the program there,” Snow said in a telephone interview. “They have a responsibility to coach, to make Kyle a better player, and they were not doing that.”

Asked for specifics, Snow said, “[Okposo] just wasn’t getting better — bottom line. And to me, that’s the frustrating part. We entrusted the coach there to turn him into a better hockey player, and it wasn’t happening. We feel more comfortable in him developing right under our watch.”

Notified of Snow’s comments Thursday, Lucia e-mailed the Star Tribune via the University’s sports information department.

“I am proud of all the success of our program,” the coach’s statement read. “I believe our staff does an excellent job of developing our players on and off the ice.

“We have had numerous players sign and play in the NHL, but just as important many more move on to have successful careers after graduating from the University of Minnesota. We have always and will continue to work to ensure our players reach their potential on the ice and in the classroom.”

Lucia is in his ninth season as the Gophers coach and led the program to NCAA championships in 2002 and 2003.

After scoring 40 points in as many games as a freshman last season, Okposo had 11 points this season for Minnesota (9-8-1). Okposo was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2006 NHL draft.

Okposo’s decision to leave was announced by the team Wednesday afternoon. Lucia said then in a released statement that, “it is unfortunate that the Islanders put him in a very difficult position.”

Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi, when told of Snow’s comments, was dumbfounded.

“He must feel that somebody’s angry,” Maturi said. “And I can understand why; you took a kid from a team in the midst of the year and he’s probably trying to justify it. And that’s his right.

“It’s my understanding they now have a roster spot for [Okposo] and therefore our coaching is bad. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Maturi made note of Lucia’s coaching record — more than 500 career victories in 21 seasons — and the number of NHL-quality players produced under his tutelage.

Still, Snow didn’t feel the Gophers were a right fit for Okposo.

“It’s well-known in hockey circles that the situation for college players is to develop and get better,” Snow said. “And quite frankly, it’s a big responsibility for a college coach — a program — to handle these kids.

“Whether it was Kyle or another player, until things change in that program we’d probably make the same decision. There should be a coach there that looks in the mirror.”

Snow was a standout goalie with the University of Maine, graduating in 1993 before turning pro. He was asked if he thought it was OK for a player to leave midway through a college season.

“I don’t think we’d be at this point if he was being coached properly,” Snow said.

Snow also refuted that the Islanders’ decision to bring Okposo into the system now had anything to do with Chris Simon’s NHL-record 30-game suspension, handed down Wednesday.

“We had our meetings well before that transpired,” Snow said. “If that incident hadn’t happened, we’d probably still be at the same decision.”

The Islanders recently contacted Okposo, Snow said, but added the ultimate decision to leave school was Okposo’s.

“Obviously, it’s Kyle’s decision whether to stay or leave,” Snow said. “But we contacted Kyle and asked how things were going. And that’s why we’re where we’re at.”

Snow then responded “he’ll get better coaching” when asked what Okposo would get in the Islanders system.

Snow declined comment when asked about Okposo’s contract status.

“[He] will be a tremendous hockey player. We’re happy to have him,” Snow said.

“We tried to forge the team concept,” Lucia said. “I felt there were a lot of kids…maybe it was their dream to play at Minnesota. Once that dream came true, they didn’t work as hard as they would if they wanted to get to that next level as a player or as a team.Not only on the ice, but off the ice. (The Minnesota coaches) make you more accountable, a more well-rounded person. … If you’re going to college, you’re there to develop not only as a hockey player but as a person. And that’s where Lucia and his staff do a better job than anyone in the country in that. It’s the best program to be in because they prepare you academically and socially.”

“Some players just don’t fit with some coaches. The player and the coach just don’t get along. There’s no one reason why — it’s not the player’s fault, it’s not the coach’s fault. It just happens and it’s part of hockey.

“There are players who are at Minnesota who don’t even get to play who could play on a lot of other teams. Why not give them an opportunity? To be there just because you think you have to, that’s not right.

many NCAA fans are rather jealous of Minnesota and their ‘arrogant’ style, but that has more to do with the program’s success and mentality than their ability to develop prospects.

Aaron Ness and Patrick White had big weekends in the Dodge Holiday Classic last weekend in St. Paul. Ness scored his first collegiate goal in route to being named Tournament MVP. White scored two goals (his second and third of the season) including the game winner in overtime in the championship game against Northeastern. Hopefully he can continue to bury the puck and turn his season around.

Take Al Iafrate: The Capitals had him pose on a motorbike; he has that booming slapshot that won the skills competion; and then his comment about open net goals.

A tough hardass who takes no prisoners.

JEFF JACKSON: Al Iafrate was nuts about music.  From the second he showed up, you could tell

that he was a different dude.  Russ Courtnall, Al and I lived together in the Westbury Hotel.

Before going to the game, we’d meet in one of our rooms and Al would play this tape really loud

on his ghetto blaster – Morris Day and the Time – and we’d walk over to the Gardens.  Al was

always quite paranoid about losing his hair.  He’d come into the dressing room, sit down, take off

his ball cap and immediately throw on his helmet.  Then he’d get dressed with his helmet on.

Other days, he’d actually wear his helmet in the shower.  No one even paid attention cause it was

just Al.

http://www.rheostatics.ca/pdf/hoser’s_promenade.pdf

JOHN BROPHY: Al was so self-conscious about his baldness that when he took off his helmet

for the anthem, he bent down and hid behind Alan Bester, who was a few feet shorter than him.

Another time, he jumped up along the boards in a sitting position after getting checked and ran

into the spot where the boards met the glass.  He fell to the ice hard and his helmet flew off.  He

was hurt, but he had enough energy left to reach out and put the helmet back on his head before

he died.

“I’d walk into the Leafs dressing room to get ready for the day and Harold (Ballard, the owner) would be there in his boxer shorts shaving. King Clancy would drop by a little later, play the fool, and then head off to the racetrack.”

“If you’re asking me how I played the game, I liked hitting people,” he said. “I liked hurting people. No question about that. And anybody I was near on the ice, I tried to hurt. Of course, I ended up getting hurt myself, but I tried to hurt everybody I was near.”

When the Leafs would fall behind or take a period off, a fuming Brophy might enter the dressing room between periods and fling his expensive wristwatch to the floor. Then he would take off his custom suit jacket.

“He would tear the jacket in half and have it down on the ground with his foot,” said Jeff Jackson, who played in St. Catherines and followed Brophy to Toronto. Today Jackson is the Leafs’ director of hockey administration. “It was deadly quiet, and no one dared crack a smile.

Al Iafrate would come off the ice and if a water bottle was the first thing he would grab, a cigarette was often the second.

Fairly or not, some thought it a symptom of the somewhat confused state of mind attached to the very talented body of a defenseman who became a Washington Capital in January. Yesterday there were more questions about his state of mind after the team announced Iafrate was “emotionally exhausted” and would not play in tonight’s first game of the Patrick Division semifinal series against the New York Rangers.

General Manager David Poile said, “To answer the obvious question, it has nothing to do with alcohol or drugs.”

When Gary Leeman, (who was a Leaf at the time) started going out with the former Mrs. Melissa Iafrate (who’s ex-husband Al Iafrate was a Leaf and a friend of John’s) it caused sparks to fly between Kordic and Leeman.

Gil Perrault would make the opposition look like pylons.Al Iafrate used to call himself “The Human Highlite Reel” I wonder if he’s seen this video?

Leafs defenseman Al Iafrate is not with the club. He has returned home to Livonia, Mich., to sort out personal problems.

Jan 30, 1989

After a narrow victory in 1994, Boston Bruins defenseman Al Iafrate was asked why, in the closing moments of the game, he had fired the puck around the boards rather than into the empty net. His reply? “Empty-net goals are for faggots.”

Chara will conduct a shootout with five impressive challengers,
including Edmonton defenseman Sheldon Souray, who earlier this month staked
his unofficial claim to the title of NHL’s hardest shooter by firing a slap
shot that was clocked at 106.7 mph at the Oilers’ SuperSkills competition.
Chara, Souray, Montreal’s Mike Komisarek, Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier,
Nashville’s Shea Weber and the New York Islanders’ Mark Streit will be
gunning for Al Iafrate’s official NHL All-Star SuperSkills record 105.2 mph
shot set during the 1993 All-Star Weekend in Montreal.

between 1984 and 1999. He is perhaps most famous for his rocket slap shot that set the NHL Skills Competition record at 105.2 miles per hour (169.3 km/h). He was given the nickname “the Planet” by Boston Globe sportswriter Kevin Dupont for his “all world” talent.

Iafrate was selected 4th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft after a standout career with the Detroit Compuware Spitfires and a short but distinguished stay with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League. During his time with the Spitfires, Iafrate was a teammate of fellow Detroit-area natives and future NHLers Kevin Hatcher and Shawn Chambers. Hatcher and Iafrate would later team to quarterback theWashington Capitals power play in the early 1990s.

He played 799 career NHL games, scoring 152 goals and 311 assists for 463 points. He also compiled 1301 penalty minutes. His best season statistically was the 1992–93 season, when he scored 25 goals and 41 assists for 66 points with the Washington Capitals. That year the Capitals set a record for most goals by defensemen on a team in one season.

Iafrate dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, sciatic nerve damage in his back, and a ruptured appendix. These injuries ultimately led to his retirement at age 32. Iafrate attempted comebacks during the 1998-99 and 2001-02 seasons, although these comebacks ended during training camp.

Iafrate played for Team USA in the 1984 Winter Olympics at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

During his career, Iafrate also played for the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks.

AL IAFRATE

courtesy of capitals.nhl.com

Q: But, didn’t they promote this image in Washington with you riding a Harley?

A: They had me on a poster.  It didn’t bother me.  I think in hockey if you speak your mind and you like things that are considered wild or whatever, then they assume you must be a wacko and a party animal or whatever.

Q: What advice would you give a rookie today?

A: My advice would be because of what I’ve gone through, never get too worked up by things when they’re going bad and never get too high on your horse when things are going good.  Mentally try and stay neutral.  Physically you try and stay on the top all the time, but when things are going really bad or good you can’t really get too caught up in it. Be strong and try and counteract the mental part of it by physically being on your game.

Q:  How about a hardnose like John Brophy?  Was he really hard on you because you were an individual?

A: A lot of the things I achieved are because of the coaches I had.  Dan Maloney, Doug Carpenter, Terry Murray, Al Sims.  These guys gave me a chance when I hadn’t played in a year and a half…you know to make the team and show what I can still do. Which has helped my career in a certain way…You know everything you go through in your life, that’s the character that you get formed into in the end.  I think the power of your mind to rationalize is unbelievable.  You can turn something bad into something good if you want.

Q: Are you a guy who likes to walk the line?

A: Unfortunately, because my whole game has been my skating and my speed, I’ve had devestating knee injuries. I’ve had six knee operations and four of them have been majors.  When things like that happen you realize you only get 10 or 15 years and 10 is past the norm. And I’m coming up on 15 and I feel that I’m the luckiest guy in the world.  In that you’re only going to get this one chance.  And if I’m going to be a little bit sore for the rest of my life for coming back it’s no big deal because people who’ve never played a sport all their lives end up having knee replacements and stuff like that.  Some people get the BF Goodrich and other people get the Parelli tires (Laughs). When you try to go 100 with the BF Goodriches they’re going to wear out when you go a little faster.

http://sharkspage.com/2007_08_01_archive_history.html

“It was a nightmare, and he never relented the whole time I was there, but in retrospect it was the best thing for me. When I left, I knew no matter what any coach ever did or said to me, it would be child’s play in comparison. It made me much tougher.”