Today, we look at possible blue liners for YOUR San Antonio Rampage. Keep in mind, some of these guys may end up in Phoenix or Las Vegas or even traded. The blue line is deep this year with a nice mix of quality veteran players and young hot shot prospects.
Garrett Stafford 7g-25a-32pts with Texas (AHL)
Stafford is essentially Sean Sullivan's replacement. He is Sully with leadership and experience. Stafford had 32 pts last season in Cedar Park and added another 10 in the playoffs. He is a very offensive minded defenseman as evidenced by his 10+ goals in 5 of 7 AHL seasons. He is a fluid skater and excels with the puck. One of his drawbacks is his size. At 6' 195lbs, he's a bit on the small side and his defensive game suffers because of it. He's a bona fide 1st line AHL defenseman though and I expect another solid season.
Nolan Yonkman 2g-7a-9pts 170 PIM with Milwaukee (AHL)
Yonkman is a monstrous human being. At 6'6" and 250+ lbs, he is a true defensive stopper. He uses his size well and punishes opposing players in his defensive zone. He's also not afraid to drop the gloves topping 100 PIM 3 times in his last 4 seasons. On the downside, he's not much of a skater, and that might be me being nice. His puck handling is subpar as well. He will struggle to reach 10 pts for the season. But putting him on the #1 pairing with Stafford will really help both players overcome their deficiencies as a unit. I expect Nolan to wear the "C" this year.
Chris Summers 4g-12a-16pts For Univ. of Michigan 1g-0a-1pt in 6 games with the Rampage
Summers is another UM guy (Go Blue!) and came to the Rampage for the final 2 weeks last season after graduating from UM. He's a very smart and skilled defenseman. He has good skating ability and always plays hard. He is still learning the game at this level but, in my opinion, he has true shut down ability. Also has experience playing forward in a pinch and should be a nice addition to the power play.
Maxim Goncharov 4g-13a-17pts for CSKA Moscow in KHL
Plays very physical for his size. Sometimes can get caught out of position trying to get the big hit. Has a tremendous shot from the point and is a very skilled skater. Some scouts have called into question his drive and work ethic. We will see if coming to N. America changes that.
Nick Ross 0g-2a-2 pts in 47 games with San Antonio
Ross started last season in Las Vegas with the Rampage's ECHL affiliate before being called up after the injury to Jonas Ahnelov. He is a young, raw talent that just needs to keep playing. The potential is obviously there. He's a big hitter, but is also very smart. He rarely gets caught out of position. He is a good skater and is still developing as a puck handler/passer. He is very little of an offensive threat...for now.
Jonas Ahnelov 0g-1a-1pt in 11 games w/ San Antonio
Jonas is coming off his second consecutive injury filled season with the Rampage (shoulders both times), playing in just 54 games the last 2 seasons. When healthy, Ahnelov flashes fantastic ability as a skater and passer for a player his size. At 6'3" 205, he is an aggressive checker and loves to line up the big hit. Sometimes, he gets a little too agressive though and it can cost him in his own end. I know that at least one of his shoulder injuries was a direct result of a fight. Hopefully, he has learned from this and will let the enforcers do the dirty work.
Mathieu Brodeur 4g-25a-29pts with Cape Breton (QMJHL) and 0g-1a-1pt in 2 games with San Antonio
Only saw Mathieu for 2 games at the end of 2009, but what I saw, I loved. He's a big strong kid that really plays aggressively. Really should be a great addition to the team this year. May start out in the ECHL, but with a strong camp, could make it as a 3rd pairing guy.
Jeff May 2g-4a-6pts in 46 games with San Antonio
May was signed to an ATO with the Rampage halfway through the 08 season. Since then, he has established himself as a hard worker and a steady defensive presence. He did, however, miss almost half of the 09 season with a knee injury. He's not very big at 6'1" 186, but he makes up for it by being a smart and fundamentally sound positional defenseman. He has a hard, but somewhat innacurate, shot from the blue line. Also can get a bit feisty and will drop the gloves when pressed. Just ask Kris Chucko.
Michael Stone 21g-44a-65pts with Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
The 2008 3rd round draft pick will be making his professional debut this season. He is a true project on the blue line. He has a terrific shot and good passing abilities, but is a weak skater and needs a lot of work in his own zone. I see Stone playing the majority of 2010-11 in the ECHL.
David Schlemko 5g-26a-31pts in 55 games with San Antonio 1g-4a-5pts in 17 games with Phoenix (NHL)
Expected to push for the 6th or 7th defenseman spot in Phoenix. Great puck skills and skater. Has a good, crisp first pass out of his own zone. Also very smart but can sometimes make simple mistakes. Unfortunately, he lacks strength against the bigger forwards and would sometimes be pushed around or off the puck in his own zone. I expect Dave to be in Phoenix most of the year.
Others:
All indications are that the 2009 1st rounder (6th overall) will either be playing in Phoenix or will be sent back to Europe to continue playing in the SEL. If he does end up in San Antonio, I will put up a short write up at that time.
There we have it. A full list of all defenseman currently under contract (w/ 2 way deals) with the Phoenix Coyotes who are expected to see San Antonio at some point. My pairings, though completely irrelevant and likely wrong, are as follows:
Yonkman/Stafford
Ahnelov/Goncharov
Summers/May or Ross
Schlemko in Phoenix
Stone and Brodeur in Las Vegas.
This is miles different and better than anything I have seen in the 3 years I have watched the Rampage. A good balance of offense/defense/experience/and leadership. A complete philosophical shift this season. The defense and goaltending are the focus. If the offense can produce even at a slightly above average rate, this could be a dangerous team.
Until next time, when the forwards are discussed...
All contract info courtesy of http://www.capgeek.com/
All stats courtesy of http://www.hockeydb.com/
All scouting reports courtesy of me. With some help from http://www.hockeysfuture.com/
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