Prospect Ramblings – AHL rookie all-stars, OHL award nominees, OHL action, Pinho – April 5 2018

Pat Quinn

picture courtesy https://theahl.com/husso-ahl-player-of-the-week

Welcome again to the Thursday ramblings where we will check on Wednesday’s playoff action, some AHL awards, OHL nominees, and a few notes.

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The AHL released the members of its all-rookie team yesterday, results below (stats through Apr. 3 https://theahl.com/2017-18-ahl-all-rookie-team):

Goaltender – Ville Husso, San Antonio Rampage (37 gp, 15-13-5, 2.32 gaa, .926 sv%, 4 so)

Forward – Mason Appleton, Manitoba Moose (71 gp, 21+40=61 pts., +13, 7 PPG, 6 GWG)

Forward – Daniel Sprong, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (59 gp, 28+29=57 pts., +2, 10 PPG, 6 GWG)

Forward – Dylan Strome, Tucson Roadrunners (47gp, 22+28=50pts., +8, 9 PPG, 3 GWG)

Notes:

Husso is not long for the AHL, and Jake Allen’s consistently inconsistent NHL play is leaving the door wide open for Husso to snag the starting gig in the future. All he does is put up great numbers where ever he goes. It may take another AHL season (or at least a quarter) before the Blues deem him ready to back-up Allen, and then he will surpass Allen.

Niku and Appleton – Seriously, the Jets are going to need to lobby the NHL to use six forward lines and five defense pairings to fit all these young great players on their NHL roster. I guess it pays to have great scouts (Edmonton and Ottawa should take note), well and never trade players with other GM’s and continuously lose for a bunch of seasons (Realist). Niku is tied for first among all AHL defensemen in scoring and is tied for third in rookie scoring (behind Sprong and Appleton). Appleton is fourth overall in scoring and first among rookies.

Well there are some future positives for Detroit in Hronek, at least if he can make that mess of a Detroit blue line. He should be able to make it; the problem will be is that it will still be bad. There is a chance for him to snag the #1PP role though as there really is no one else on that roster that looks capable to do anything with that, especially if Mike Green moves on

Sprong is a known commodity by now, and next season he will be an NHL known commodity. Grab him in keeper leagues if you can

Strome is a player I have never been high on as I just never trust his skating, but he did put up soli AHL numbers meaning something has to be there. His NHL play is alright, but so far nothing to justify his draft spot. I would rather own Nick Merkley in keeper leagues than Strome… if he could stay healthy

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The OHL announced the awards finalists as well yesterday (http://ontariohockeyleague.com/article/ohl-announces-2017-18-awards-finalists), I listed the important ones below, also I will likely make incorrect predictions!

Rookie of the year: