Hodgson, Cowen Injured

  Buffalo Sabre’s forward Cody Hodgson suffered a set-back as it was announced that he will be out indefinitely with a broken bone in his right hand. Rochester Americans Head Coach Ron Rolston says it will be a few weeks before having his player evaluated.

  Hodgson was injured October 27th, the result of a slash delivered by Adirondack's Brandon Manning. Hodgson is one of the many players to have signed in the American Hockey League during the lockout, and becomes one of the many victims thus far to suffer an injury before the NHL season has gotten under way. In nine games this season, Hodgson has tallied one goal and ten points.

  The 22 year-old was acquired in February by the Sabres from the Vancouver Canucks in a mega deal by the rebuilding Buffalo club. Hodgson was selected 10th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and spent the majority of 2010-11 in the American Hockey League where he totaled 17 goals and 30 points in 52 games with the Manitoba Moose. He was called up for just 8 games, and tallied one goal and one assists. Last year was his first full NHL season, and in his rookie year he showed the ability to produce points. Due to the trade, Hodgson actually played 83 games (in an 82-game season) and between the two clubs he recorded 19 goals and 41 points.

  It remains to be seen just how long Hodgson will be out, while the Sabres will pay close attention to his recovery – a sure bet to make the roster in 2012-13.

  The Ottawa Senators were dealt a heavy blow on the blue-line with the announcement that Jared Cowen will require surgery on his lower body, to repair a small tear in the labrum – an injury that could sideline him for the entire year.

  Cowen played his first full season with the Senators last year where he appeared in every contest, and finished with 5 goals and 17 points with a -4 rating. Cowen placed fifth on his team amongst defensemen in average time-on-ice, fifth overall (on the team) in blocked shots (74), and second only to forward Chris Neil for most hits with 217. The 2009 9th overall draft pick of the Senators tallied three assists in three contests with the Binghamton Senators, Ottawa’s affiliate.

  Cowen’s large 6’5 230lbs. frame will be greatly missed on the Senators blue-line as he proved to be a great physical presence with strong defensive play in his rookie year. Though the Senators will have a hole to fill, the early season opening may make way for prospects – namely 2012 15th overall pick of the Senators, Cody Ceci. However, after the fun is over, the Senators are likely looking to free agency in an attempt to replace – even if temporarily – their big defenseman. A player that stands out in my mind as a good replacement is a a man that has a history with Ottawa and Eastern Canada as defenseman Chris Campoli has still yet to find a home for 2012-13.Likewise an unrestricted free-agent, veteran defenseman Sean O'Donnell might be a good fit as well at a bargain price.

- Kendall Grubbs

Red Wings Motoring On

  Though the game has yet to resume at the NHL level due to the lockout, the Detroit Red Wings’ players are hitting their stride early in great form through various other leagues, and look to be hot on the trot ahead of the hopeful 2012-13 NHL year.

  The name Pavel Datsyuk is synonymous with perfection, leadership, and consistency. It’s not surprise that he’s had a great start to his 2012-13 year of hockey currently playing in his native land of Russia. In the KHL, Datsyuk has netted 6 goals and 19 points for CSKA Moskva, and currently 8th in points-scored of all NHL players currently playing overseas. It isn’t Datsyuk that the Wings need to worry about, as his play at the NHL level has never waivered. Last year Datsyuk totaled 19 goals and 67 points, and has led his club to not only capture two Stanley Cups (2001-02, 2007-08), but his four Lady Byng Trophies and  three Frank J. Selke Trophies have spoken of his abilities year after year.

  Red Wings center Valtteri Filppula is playing in his native land of Finland currently in the SM- Liiga. After setting a career-best in point totals of 23 goals and 66 points last year with the Red Wings, he has started well with 6 goals and 15 points in 15 games with Jokerit Helsinki. Currently 17th in the league in points, he is also helping his brother Ilari take his game to the next level as his teammate. Ilari Filppula is currently 3rd best in the league, having a brief history with the Red Wings’ organization last year – a relationship that has since ended, but will hopefully resume one day.

  It’s a bit deeper down the charts that Detroit is really looking primed for a good season, if and when that season should happen. Despite losing Cory Emmerton, Darren Helm, Dan Cleary, Patrick Eaves, and Joey MacDonald to various injuries before the season has even begun, the depth charts of the Wings’ roster is flourishing around the world.

  Henrik Zetterberg is another big name on Detroit’s impressive roster. The Swede has done nothing but great things for the club, also paying his dues in the Cup run of 2007-08, where he was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner and raised the Stanley Cup for the only time in his career – a year after claiming the Gold Medal for Team Sweden. Last season the Swede played all 82 games for the Red Wings, scoring 22 goals and 69 points. In 668 games with the Wings he has totaled 252 goals and 624 points. In 109 playoff games, he totals 51 goals and 102 points.

  Currently playing in Swizterland with the EV Zug Lions, Zetterberg is off to a flying start, but the story goes much deeper. In the off-season, the Red Wings signed free-agent Damien Brunner, the League MVP of the Swiss League last year. The signing of Brunner, though relatively unknown amongst the common NHL fan, was nothing short of brilliant. The Red Wings’ organization has proved time and again with their rich history of finding the right guys through free-agency and the draft, and they look to continued success with the experiment going quite well in Switzerland.

"In talking to Zetterberg, he likes him and thinks he should be able to play in the NHL," said Zug coach Doug Shedden.

  The Swiss-born winger was signed as a free-agent to a one-year entry-level deal at a bonus salary rate of just over $1.3 million on January 7th with the sole intention to play him on a line with Henrik Zetterberg to spur on the Swede’s point production or the coming season. On October 8th, Zetterberg resigned his immediate hopes of the lockout ending, and subsequently signed with EV Zug of the Swiss Extra League – the same club that Brunner himself has spent his last four seasons playing pro hockey. The story has a brilliant twist, as Zetterberg then contacted his future teammate and asked him to join in on the fun.

"Detroit said they were going to put Brunner on a line with Zetterberg, so I got to do it first," Shedden said in an interview. "I texted Red Wings GM Kenny Holland and said: `It works."

  “It works” may be an understatement, as the two have dominated from the start. While Zetterberg light up the scoring sheets early, he currently sits fourth on the team in points with eight 8 goals and 13 points in just 7 games. Brunner, his line-mate, has appeared in 17 contests and has netted 17 goals and 28 points, which leads the entire league. Furthermore, teammate Linus Omark is second in the league with 26 points, and Zetterberg, having played ten less games, is 38th overall.

"If you take a Zetterberg, Brunner and (Montreal Candiens defenseman) Diaz out of our lineup, we're in deep, deep, deep water," he said. "But 75 per cent of our games are played before Christmas. So if those guys ... can help us get into a playoff situation before they've got to leave, I'm certainly going to shake their hand and thank them very much."

  If the lockout ends is the key, but even while the Swiss League may not compare to the NHL, the pair are not the only high profile names currently playing in Switzerland as John Tavares, Jason Spezza, Rick Nash, Joe Thornton, Patrice Bergeron, Patrick Kane and Tyler Seguin are among the players to have come over during the lockout.

  182nd overall 2006 draft pick Jan Mursak isn’t doing too bad, either. Mursak currently is top-five among all NHL players to have gone overseas during the lockout as he is posting up big numbers for his club, Ljubljana Olimpija HK. He has totaled 7 goals and 22 points in just 13 games – second on his team. Mursak may not be guaranteed a roster-spot come the start of the NHL season, but it’s not for a lack of ability or compete level. Mursak was marred by injury in the pre-season last year, but managed to appear in 22 games where he scored a goal and 3 points. The power-forward native of Slovenia will most likely suit up for the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids when the lockout ends, which has proven to be a grow house of great talent for the organization, and is proving to be just that thus far in the AHL regular season.Speaking now of North American Hockey, the Grand Rapids Griffins' team is one to play for these days.

  Sitting in third place overall in the AHL points race is none other than the highly touted Gustav Nyquist. The 23 year-old Swede, who signed with the Red Wings to a two-year entry-level contract in March of 2011 is in his second year with the Grand Rapids Griffins, and looking ever so much better. He led the team in goals last year with 24, and tied three-ways for team lead in points as he totaled 58 points in a full 20 games less than teammates Tomas Tatar and Jamie Johnson did – 56 compared to 76. His performance was so great that he was called up for 18 games with the Red Wings last year, and scored 1 goal and 8 points. In pre-season, the prospect of Nyquist’s skating and puck-handling abilities next to the brilliance of one, Pavel Datsyuk, was enough to make a Red Wings fan blush with excitement. Nyquist has wasted no time as in 13 games with the Griffins this year, he has scored 6 goals and 15 points and a +9 rating, a rating that also leads his Griffins’ club.

  In fact, the Grand Rapids’ Griffins roster is proving to be full of future Red Wings. 21 year-old teammate Tomas Tatar hasn’t looked too bad, either. The 2009 60th overall draft pick of the Red Wings put up big numbers last year, and is 21st overall in the AHL in 2012-13 having scored 5 goals and 12 points with a +6 rating.

  Large-framed defenseman Brendan Smith, who is a likely lock for a spot on Detroit’s blue-line this coming season is off to a flying start as well. The slick puck-moving defenseman who was drafted 27th overall in 2007 by the Red Wings added two more goals on Friday night to help his team win – brining his totals to 3 goals and 8 points in 13 games with a +5 rating. At this rate, he is looking to eclipse his totals last year where he posted 10 goals and 34 points in 57 games. Smith also appeared in 14 NHL games with the Red Wings, scoring 1 goal and 7 points.

“I think I played well and showed them what I've got,'' Smith said. “The biggest thing for me is to hit the gym really hard this summer and get bigger and work my way into the lineup. I'm pretty excited to have played as many games as I did, and hopefully that will give me that much more of a chance to jump right into the lineup.''

  Though these are just some of the stand-out names on the Grand Rapids gleaming roster, the simple fact of the matter is that the Red Wings’ depth is shining brighter perhaps than it has in quite some time. The great start that the AHL club has had this year, currently 3rd place in the Western Conference, combined with the compete level that the Red Wings players overseas have begun with are nothing but positive signs looking forward to the start of the NHL season. Though the lockout has darkened the skies above the world of North American Hockey, the Red Wings are beaming with confidence.

- Kendall Grubbs

Heat, Horak Best Marlies 4-2, Top AHL

  The Abbotsford Heat hosted the Toronto Marlies on Friday night in Abbotsford, B.C. for the second consecutive night. After embarrassing the Marlies last night in a 3-0 win which saw Abbotsford set a franchise record two goals in three seconds, the local heroes didn’t disappoint in the second of the back-to-back divisional rivals’ weekend series.

  Roman Horak continued his dominance in the early season with a natural hat-trick, claiming three of the four goals scored by his club. Horak accomplished this feat in front of 4,655 fans on a night in which the team set a franchise record with 1,202 tickets sold on game day. Abbotsford took the game with a final score of 4-2.

  With the win, The Heat have moved into the top spot in the American Hockey League, even in points with division rivals Lake Erie Monsters, and one point ahead of the Rochester Americans. The North Division has proven to be one of the toughest divisions in the league thus far. The Toronto Marlies have been on the back foot of this division, and claim last place in the division with the two straight losses in Abbotsford.

  The Marlies, who fall to last place in the North division with the loss, got off to a desperate start. Spencer Abbott got the Marlies going early as he netted his first of the season and first career AHL goal at 2:32. With just three seconds remaining in the first period, Roman Horak began his natural hat-trick on a clever tip-in redirected shot from defenseman Steve McCarthy.

  Ben Walter and Sven Baertschi each earned two assists in the game, assisting each of Horak’s next two goals. Horak buried a rebound as he was planted firmly in front of the net early in the second period at 1:03, and in a mad scramble rebound situation wristed the puck past Marlies goaltender Mark Owuya just over five minutes later to finish the trick.

 After assisting Horak's first goal and fighting Greg Scott at 10:46 of the 2nd period, Quinton Laing recorded a ‘Gordie Howe Hat-Trick” as he tallied the last goal of the game at 8:58 of the third period, solidifying the Abbotsford lead.

  Heat goaltender Leland Irving stopped 25 of 27 shots for his first victory of the season as he stood tall against the Marlies repeated attempts to take down the Heat, who were out-shot 27-19.

  Having scored his first AHL natural hat-trick in front of a packed house, 21 year-old Czech forward Roman Horak also takes the lead in goals scored in the American Hockey League with 10 in 9 games. Horak, drafted 127th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers leads his team in points with 11, and is 4th overall in the AHL in points – just two behind league leader Justin Schultz.

  Horak spent 14 games with the Heat last season where he tallied 2 goals and 4 points, but quickly made the jump to the Calgary Flames for his NHL debut where he contended in 61 games and finished the season with 3 goals and 11 points. Horak was destined for a spot on the Flames’ roster again this season, but has instead found himself back in Abbotsford due to the NHL lockout. Roman is currently on a seven-game points-scoring streak, and is looking more like a top tier prospect than originally intended.

  Horak was acquired from the New York Rangers after Tim Erixon, the Flames’ 2009 NHL Entry Draft Choice 104 picks before Horak was selected, failed to sign with the club. Calgary subsequently sent Erixon to the Rangers along with a 4th round pick and received two 2nd round picks and, of course, Roman Horak. Roman had spent two seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins of the WHL, where he amassed 47 goals and 125 points in 130 games, but had lost some of his flair prior to the draft. Horak seemed to struggle somewhat off the ice having moved freshly from the Czech Republic, but is finally starting to hit his stride as a player in professional North American Hockey.

  Now that Horak has some North American professional experience under his belt, his natural goal scoring and offensive skill sets are starting to shine. He is now over a year’s experienced in a league of men.

“He’s definitely finding the net, and it’s great because there are very few people in the game of hockey that would ever find a streak like this,” Head Coach Troy Ward said. “We just sit back and enjoy it. And we’re really happy for Roman, because I think it’s really important to him to continue to try to establish himself where he wants to be looked at in the game - and that’s a top-six forward.”

  Roman Horak is a real threat to the scoring title chase in the American Hockey League, but the scoring title certainly plays second fiddle to the ability to regularly make the NHL roster of the Calgary Flames. Until then, Roman leads the way.

  With the league lead in hand, the Abbotsford Heat will begin to defend their position against the much talked about Oklahoma City Barons on Friday night, as Horak will most definitely be matched up against the current league leader in points, Justin Schultz.

- Kendall Grubbs

Aeros' Rookies Shining Bright

  Having missed the playoffs for four consecutive years, the Minnesota Wild are starting to pick their heads up. Off-season mega acquisitions took the headlines with the signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but it’s the little things that count, such as the talent pool of first round picks buried in the American Hockey League that are really the shining star in the near future of the Minnesota Wild.

  Mikael Granlund's two assists and plus/minus +3 rating in last Saturday's 4-0 blowout of the Milwaukee Admirals helped push him to the top of the charts in the hearts and minds of the American Hockey League's much wider following through its' first full month of play in the 2012-13 season.

  Granlud, labeled  'Rookie of the Month' by the AHL, is in a seven-way tie for fifth most points through the season thus far, having notched 3 goals and 10 points through 7 games of play with a very impressive plus/minus +6 rating. The 20 year-old Finn leads his Houston Aeros team in points, shots on goal, and plus/minus. Though being held scoreless in his debut on October 13th, he would proceed to string together a six game points scoring streak.

  Drafted in the first round, 9th overall, by the Minnesota Wild in 2010, Granlund is showing his ability as quick as the club had predicted in a much stronger league than it normally would have been due to the NHL lockout. The Wild would have been poised to break out their Finnish stud at the beginning of the NHL season which has yet to come to fruition. Though the deal took a bit longer than the Minnesota Wild would have preferred, Granlund was signed to a three-year entry-level contract on May 25t with a baseline salary on $900,000 per-year. The deal, however, has bonuses with plenty of performance bonuses, leaving him the potential for $2.1 million per season. Not bad, but with a reputation like Granlund’s in Finland, there had to be some incentive to persuade him to finally come to North America.

  Granlund presents a superlative playmaking and puck-handling upside, which has been shown previously in his play in Finland.

  His last three seasons have been spent with HIFK of the Finnish Elite League and has represented his country numerous times in World Junior Championships. In 2010-11 Granlund missed the 2011 U20 World Junior Championship due to a concussion, but played for Finland's men’s national team scoring 2 goals and 9 points giving Finland its’ first world title since 1995.In 2011-12 as a 19 year-old, he led Helsinki of the SM-Liiga in points with 20 goals and 51 points in 45 games, helping his club attain the Championship. In 129 games in Finland’s top league, Granlund totaled 41 goals and 127 points.

  Though the season is very young, Granlund presents a real threat for the AHL’s top rookie honors this year, provided the lockout sees no end, as he trails only league leader Justin Schultz for points scored by rookies. The Minnesota staff is ever wishful that the NHL season gets under way, as Granlund’s offensive play will inevitably see him in the same race at the top level. The off-season addition of players such as Ryan Suter and Zach Parise will do nothing but bolster the Finn’s scoring chances on the ice.

  Just as strong in the light of rookies for the Houston Aeros club and the whole of the American Hockey League, has been forward Charlie Coyle. Coyle may not have quite the same level of hype that the aforementioned Granlund has, but he is none the less very intriguing looking into the future of the Minnesota Wild.

  With a much larger frame of 6’2 and 205lbs. Coyle is the leading goal scorer for the Aeros, having notched 5 goals and 6 points with a plus/minus +6 rating, and is currently in an eight-way tie for 5th best in AHL goals scored this season.

  Coyle, a product of Massachusetts, is on his way in quick order of living the American dream for a hockey player. Coyle cut short his college career after two seasons with Boston University where he appeared 53 times, scoring 10 goals and 40 points, to make a splash in the Quebec Major Junior League last season, where in his only season with Saint John, he tallied 15 goals and 38 points in 23 games with a stellar plus/minus +23 rating to help lead the team to the Championship. In the playoffs, Coyle stepped up his game to tie for best in points, where in 17 games he racked up 15 goals and 34 points with a +27 rating.

"He's a world-class player in his age group," Wild Assistant GM Flahr said of Coyle. "Everything he could have hoped for has fallen into place."

  Coyle, too, was selected in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but instead was chosen by the San Jose Sharks late with the 28th pick overall. The Wild, in a blockbuster deal, acquired him on his draft day which brought himself, Devin Setoguchi, and a 1st round selection in 2011 for  defenseman Brent Burns and a 2nd round selection in 2012.

  With the Minnesota Wild’s roster relatively short on space for rookies, Coyle is less likely to start for the Wild should there be a season this year, but is truly one to watch for in the future. Coyle has great size and strength, playing much larger than his frame actually is. To top off his stature, he is an extremely powerful skater and is very successful at guarding and containing the puck – something that a player of Mikael Granlund’s ability can make great gains from on the wing.

  In 2011, the successive draft, the Wild were also able to make a draft-day impression when they made, for the second year straight, two first-round selections.

  The latter of the two, 28th overall pick Zack Phillips, is competing at 19 years of age for the first time in professional ice hockey with the Aeros. Thus far, he has tallied a goal and an assist in six games, and has shown some promise.

  As a teammate to Coyle, Phillips tallied an impressive 30 goals for 80 points and a +47 rating through 60 games, finishing third on his team in points and helping his Saint John Sea Dogs’ club win the Memorial Cup. Having gone 16-1 in the playoffs, Phillips tallied 9 goals and 23 assists.

  In a total 192 regular season games for the Sea Dogs, Phillips recorded 84 goals and 219 assists. His post season numbers were equally impressive, totaling 20 goals and 62 points in 55 playoff appearances.

  Zack Phillips is a gifted play-maker and goal scorer at the Junior level, but will need time to develop in the American Hockey League before making it to the big show. Fortunately enough for him, the AHL is at a higher level due to the NHL lockout than it has been in the past – something that will only increase his rate of growth.

  Drafted 10th overall by the Wild in 2011, Swedish born defenseman Jonas Brodin is developing quickly in his first season of professional North American hockey.

  Never having been a major point producer, Brodin’s exceptional defensive attributes saw him play top four minutes for Farjestads of the Swedish Elite League last season where he tallied 8 assists and a +6 rating in 49 games. In his first seven games in the American Hockey League, Brodin has already shown signs of all-around improvement having tallied 2 goals and 4 points with a +4 rating.

  The very mobile and strong skating Swede has played against the best the NHL has to offer in the past, as he was paired up against some of the NHL’s elite in the 2011-12 World Championships as he was paired against the likes of Pavel Datsyuk and Evgeni Malkin of the eventual Gold Medal Winning Team Russia.

  Brodin, along with most recent first round draft choice Matt Dumba, are likely to take a bit longer in development before making the jump to the NHL as defensemen commonly do.

"I'm old school; I'd go five years with them," Aero’s Head Coach John Torchetti said. "It's more demanding what they're doing (than what forwards do). You're the last line before the goalie. It's just a tougher position to teach. There's a lot to it. You put a defenseman in the NHL at 18, he's not going to be ready until he's 22 or 23, and that's early."

Torchetti believes Brodin’s skating level is currently on par with NHL level skating, but he has played a more stay-at-home style in Sweden compared to what he'll be expected to do in the NHL, and has spent time working on his offensive side to the game.

"It's probably the most talented development camp I've been a part of," Torchetti said during the club’s training camp. "It's a great future."

  Meanwhile, the Wild’s most recent first-round draft choice (7th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Matt Dumba, is lighting up the WHL for the Red Deer Rebels, and without question is bound for the NHL once his Junior career is up. There is no doubt that these excellent draft choices of the Wild over the past few years was a big part of the sales pitch in urging Suter and Parise to sign with the club on long-term deals. It’s the long term that General Manager Chuck Fletcher has in mind, and the future looks very, very bright.

- Kendall Grubbs

Healthy Hall

  While the Edmonton Oilers fans are missing out on watching the young and dynamic roster on the ice this season, the city of Oklahoma has been treated to a largely improved roster of rising stars that include names like Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Justin Schultz, and as of this coming Friday, Taylor Hall.

  Hall, the 2010 first overall draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers, had his season end early last year after having sustained a shoulder injury, and missed the last 11 games of the regular season while his team failed to make the playoffs. His last game was March 16th, where he was knocked unconscious from a hit by Calgary Flames defenseman Cory Sarich. Hall has been practicing with the Oklahoma City Barons, Edmonton’s American Hockey League affiliate, and recently returned to Edmonton for evaluation where he was cleared to begin play. Though he is likely to start Friday against the Houston Aeros, he will not play in back-to-back games straight away.

  Through his first two seasons, Hall has appeared in 126 games and scored 49 goals and 95 points, just narrowly missing the 30 goal mark last year. Taylor Hall is a key part of the Oilers’ future, and headlines a whole host of highly drafted and highly touted young Edmonton Oilers stars.

  Since the lockout, many players have traveled down to the American Hockey League and given AHL fans a higher level of play in their home arenas, while others have opted for European destinations. Last year’s Calder Trophy potential and fellow first overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been relatively productive for the Barons with 2 goals and 8 points, good for 2nd on the team, while off-season free-agent signee Justin Schultz is commanding the scoring leader boards with a league best 12 points through seven games from the blue line. The third of their first overall draft picks, Nail Yakupov last year, is currently playing in the KHL with Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik where he has tallied 8 goals and 11 points in 12 games.

  Hall, who signed a seven year contract extension in August worth $42 million, will finally have his chance to play alongside his fellow teammates for the first time since his injuries which included a concussion and shoulder surgery. The Oilers have quite probably the most exciting pool of young talent the NHL has to offer, and with a large group of them starting to warm back up in unison, the city of Edmonton will be ever hopeful that the league comes out of its’ current lock out.

- Kendall Grubbs

Schultz Electrifying AHL, Oilers Drooling

  Though the National Hockey League has yet to get a glimpse of the highly touted Justin Schultz on NHL ice, the 22 year old native of Kelowna, B.C. is doing nothing short of electrifying the American Hockey League with a brilliant start for the Oklahoma City Barons.

  The offensive defenseman has shown by his level of play yet another reason why it is so unfortunate to be missing out on NHL hockey these days. In 7 games with the Oklahoma City Barons, who are currently eighth in the west, Schultz has a more than impressive 6 goals and 6 assists for 12 points. His goal tally is tied for second best in the league, and his points total is the highest of any other player in the American Hockey League early on in his first year of professional hockey. For a 22 year old rookie defenseman in a league of men, Schultz has done plenty to boost the Edmonton Oilers’ anticipation for NHL action to resume.

  Unsurprisingly, Schultz was the second player of the year thus far to receive the AHL’s “Player of the Week” recognition, but accolades and high praise are something that Schultz is used to receiving. Shortly after receiving his player of the weeks status on October 21, Schultz netted two shorthanded goals (one on the empty net) against San Antonio on Friday October 23rd and had a plus/minus 5 rating on the evening and continued with a highlight reel goal against Lake Erie on Saturday after undressing defenseman Cameron Gaunce and beating the goaltender one on one.

“I kind of blacked out there. I didn’t know what I was doing,” said Schultz. ”I usually don’t get many one-on-ones with a goalie.”

  Among Schultz’s accomplishments prior to stepping foot on professional ice he is best known for his tenure at the University of Wisconsin. There, as a Badger, he totaled 40 goals and 73 assists for 113 points in 121 games with a plus/minus 27 rating.  He was voted the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year two consecutive seasons, made the WCHA All Rookie Team, and twice appeared in the WCHA First All Star Team as well as the NCAA West All American Team. Last season with Wisconsin he was named the Spike Carlson Most Valuable Player by his Wisconsin teammates after finishing second on the team in points, and is currently eighth all time for Wisconsin in points from defensemen. Prior to his collegiate appearance he played two full seasons of Junior A with the Westside Warriors of the BCHL where he was named Interior Conference Top Defensemen in each season. He totaled 24 goals and 90 points in 106 games for the Westside Warriors.

“That was pretty cool.” Schultz said of his experience at Wisconsin. “There were a lot of talented players, especially defensemen,”

“They’re all congratulating me on a good start and my friends and family are able to see too. But, this is only a start. There’s a lot more games in this league than in school. We would only play 41 or 42 a year, max.”

  The beauty of Schultz’s offensive game is not that of a prototypical scoring defenseman. Schultz has an uncanny ability to skate the puck through the neutral zone and through top defensive pairings, capable of creating offensive plays or a pin-point accurate shot. Unlike most defensemen whom often blast the puck from the point, Schultz’s strength is his wrist shot. Having won the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year award for the last two consecutive seasons, he’s proven to be no slouch on the defensive side of the game either.

  Schultz proved his worth long ago playing next to current Toronto Maple Leafs rising star on defense, Jake Gardiner, at the University of Wisconsin as a fellow blue liner. Accordingly, Schultz is said to be the one Toronto were after in the deal that sent Francois Beauchemin to Anaheim in early 2011, with Gardiner being playing the expendable role in available depth players. None of this has gone well for the Ducks given the fact that Gardiner has excelled tremendously fast, while Schultz never did dress for the club that drafted him.

  Schultz, who was originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks 43rd overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, signed as a free agent in the offseason with the Edmonton Oilers. The list of NHL teams eager to sign the then 21 year old was quite a lengthy one, with Anaheim begrudging the deal that was eventually made by the Oilers. The initial entry-level contract of three years, as per CBA stipulations prior to the lockout, was let run dry by the defenseman as he opted to stay in college and rack up a plethora of points and experience, all the while never intending the play with the Ducks. Anaheim would in fact see no compensation for this, as in section 8.3 (b) of the NHL’s former collective bargaining agreement, a team would only receive a compensatory draft pick if a team failed to sign a player that was drafted in the first round.

  This, among many clauses in the various outlines of a new collective bargaining agreement, has been a worth-while talking point going forward. While the NHL had originally proposed a five year entry-level contract minimum to avoid such happenings, the league uncharacteristically softened to the NHLPA’s requests, and reduced the minimum or standard to just two years. While a player determined is bound to end up leaving if he wishes, the league and players association must try to remedy these situations - the type that limit teams growth through the draft.

  The CBA talking points seemingly have no end, but for players such as the caliber of Justin Schultz, it is a shame that there may not be an opportunity for him to display his talents at the NHL level and almost assuredly challenge for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. Though there is a vast amount of challengers, he has displayed a top level ability early in his pro experience. For the Edmonton Oilers, the fans and organization alike are drooling over the amount of talent they are set to have going into the next hockey season – whenever that may be. Another top challenger for the Calder would be none other than the Oilers’ own 2012first overall draft pick Nail Yakupov, who is a story within his own right.

  It’s very difficult to see a positive to a full-season lock out, but for Schultz, he is now amongst professional players on a nightly basis and, as he did with his college career, will only continue to develop and improve his game ahead of the official start to the next season of NHL play.

- Kendall Grubbs