I asked the voice of the Rampage, Dan Weiss (@DanWeissPBP) and fellow STH and co-host of The Gonzo in SA Show, JP Williams (@notthefakeJPW) to join me in predicting the Rampage roster and any surprises or disappointments we might see in this 2013/14 season. They were both very eager to join in and for that, I thank them. Since this is late (was supposed to go up Friday before the preseason game), there are some issues, which I will address at the end. Without further ado...
1. Forwards
NM:
Howden/Bjugstad*/Rallo
Matsumoto/Shore/Butler
Cornet/Trocheck/Pinizzotto
Gomes/Timmins/Ortmeyer
Winchester and Selleck stay up in FLA as extras. I really have no idea what the plan is any more. There is so much forward depth right now; it’s hard to project without seeing a regular contributor bumped to the ECHL. Good problem to have.
*Assumes Nick is healthy. If not, move Matsumoto to 1C and Cornet to the 2nd line. Insert Wilson onto the 4th line and move Gomes to 3rd.
DW: I think we’re on the same page regarding the forwards. I like Shaw and Turgeon to be the extras in San Antonio.
JP: Glorious glorious depth! Selleck seems like a lock to stay up. I like the idea of Wilson on the 4th line with Gomes centering the 3rd. I still have McFarland in Cincy. Also wouldn’t mind seeing Logan Shaw should the need arise (which I’m sure it will). I think I’m done with Jonathan Hazen BTW.
DW:
Cornet-Matsumoto-Butler
Howden-Trocheck-Pinizzotto
Combs-Gomes-Rallo
Selleck-Timmins-Ortmeyer
*Bjugstad (starts injured)
Winchester & Shore start in Florida
NM: I’m back and forth on Shore. I think his status all depends on the health of the Panthers forwards and their willingness to play Matthias on a wing. If he (Matthias) does move to wing to cover for an injury (Versteeg/Bergenheim), I definitely see Shore staying up. Selleck and Pinizzotto on the same team is a dollar night fan fantasy.
JP: I’m with Dan on this. Shore and Winchester start in Florida. I have a feeling Shore in up to stay. I wasn’t really planning on seeing Winchester here at all. Jack Combs makes an appearance. I like it! Combs and Gomes reunited. That was about the only thing I looked forward to seeing towards the end of last year. Cornet-Matsumoto-Butler. Dangerous man! Dangerous!
JP:
Howden - Bjugstad - Butler
Matsumoto - Trocheck - Rallo
Cornet - Gomes - Pinizzotto
Wilson - Timmins – Ortmeyer
I’m just going to go ahead and assume Shore either makes the big club or Florida starts early with the injuries and he heads up to stay.
Selleck stays up as a punching bag. Let’s throw Garrett Wilson in there, why the hell not?! He was throwing his weight around towards the end of last season. Might be fun to watch.
DW: Similar to Nate, I think the forward situation is kind of clearly spelled out at this point. Guys like Wilson and McFarland are going to have a hard time sticking in San Antonio because of the depth.
NM: I think if Shore stays in Florida, Winchester comes down, pushing Wilson the ECHL and first call-up status. I do agree that Selleck stays up as their “enforcer”.
2. Defense
NM:
Caruso/Petrovic
Racine/Gilroy
McFadden/Miscovic
Lee
Robak will stay up all year or going to get claimed if they try to sneak him through waivers (oh hi Winnipeg). I think Mottau stays up as healthy scratch until Jovo is healthy. Urban starts in Cincinnati.
DW: McFadden needs more minutes so he goes to Cincinnati. I have Brett Clark coming to San Antonio, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they added another defenseman during camp.
JP: All is well on the defensive front. I do wonder about the attitude of Petrovic if he was to start in San Antonio. D pairings at this point I feel are just mix and match. I see McFadden being the 7th though.
DW:
Caruso-Gilroy
Clark*-Petrovic
Racine-Lee
Miskovic
*Assumes Clark accepts AHL deal in San Antonio
Mottau & Robak start in Florida.
JP: Good mix of veterans and kids. Still think Racine and Caruso paired up would be fun to watch.
NM: It’s no secret that I much prefer Miscovic to Lee, but when we are splitting hairs about 6th/7th d-men, I’m not going to complain. Was hoping Mottau would be here all season as well. Hurry back, Jovo.
JP:
Mottau - Gilroy
Caruso - Racine
Lee – Miscovic
Panther fans get their kid. Petro and Robak stay up. Mottau would be first call up to FLA. McFadden would be first call up from Cincy.
DW: I have Mottau staying up and Petrovic beginning down here, but it could go either way. Again, don’t be surprised if there are a couple of defensemen added during camp.
NM: If it comes down to 3rd pairing/7th d-man in Florida, I think they’d rather have a Vet like Mottau in that role over Petrovic. They can send Petro to San Antonio and he can play 1st line minutes and dominate (if his attitude is right).
3. Goalies
NM:
Clemmensen
DGM
Thomas signs a one year deal and the Panthers shop Clemmensen. But due to his injury, and general lack of ability to stop hockey pucks, he is sent to San Antonio to split time and show he still has it. Eventually, he gets bought out and the Houser era begins. I see the goalies as the “weak spot” in the lineup. This scares me.
DW: Don’t see Clemmensen getting bought out mid-season. He’ll stay in the organization. In what capacity, who knows.
JP: I think they will be able to move Clemm. I could see him landing in Colorado. They have the cap space and could use the help between the pipes. 100% agree that this is the biggest area of concern for the Rampage moving forward. Bring on the offense. We’re going to need it.
DW:
DGM
Houser
Clemmensen* (Conditioning assignment to start year, afterwards ?)
JP: The most likely scenario. I don’t think Florida will eat Clemm’s contract and keep him in San Antonio. Madore is signed in Cincy. The Rampage will need someone on the books incase DGM or Houser go down. No?
NM: The Clemmensen mystery is certainly a head scratcher. I will ruffle some feathers here: If Thomas comes in and plays like Tim Thomas, don’t be surprised if Markstrom heads back here once Clemmensen is healthy. There’s my wild and crazy prediction.
JP:
Dov Grumet-Morris
Madore* (signs an AHL deal and beats out Houser in Rampage camp solely based on his kick ass Jurassic Park mask)
Houser to Cincy and Clemm get’s shipped off for little return. Thomas and Marky share time up in Florida. Goaltending becomes teams achilles' heel as the season progresses.
DW: Madore will go to Cincinnati over Houser is my thought, only because Houser is on an NHL deal.
NM: I agree with Dan. I don’t see any way Madore stays in San Antonio over Houser. Now if Houser turns into the second coming of Brian Foster, Madore will be given a one-way ticket to San Antonio.
4. Surprise player of the year (Jared Gomes Award)
NM
Jonathan Racine: I think we saw some flashes of his ability to be a top end d-man last season. He’s a decent enough skater and can play an extremely ornery game. If he can find even a little bit of offense, he will be a very good player. I would say he has a chance to be an All-Star, but well…the AHL had to ruin that prediction.
DW: Liked Racine at the end of last season, but he’s probably starting in a 5-6-7 role. Certainly can move up the depth chart as the season progresses, but so hard to count on rookie defenseman, especially the stay-at-home kind.JP: Ornery. I like that. He’s going to hurt some people this year.
DW
I’d actually pick Jared Gomes here again. I think he’ll score 20-25 goals and come close to a 50 point season.
JP: Pssh, way to mail it in Dan! Honestly though, it’s a good call. He apparently has been very impressive in camp and in the pre-season game against Nashville.
NM: I like the pick, but after a solid rookie campaign, I’m not sure this would surprise me. I have my Gomes colored glasses on, I suppose. One of my favorite players on the team.
JP
Scott Timmins. It was quite a rollercoaster ride for Scotty last year. A little time off to re-focus does him some good. Nothing out of this world but he’ll set career numbers. 16-19-35.
DW: I’ll take it!NM: So will I! If he can put up those numbers without his defense and penalty killing suffering, he would be a huge contributor to this team.
5. Disappointment of the year (Andre Deveaux Award)
NM
Philippe Cornet: I have no hunch, feeling, or anything else that tells me to pick Cornet. I am just so excited to watch him in a Rampage uniform, it’s almost a given he will not live up to my lofty expectations. I have never wanted to be more wrong about anything Rampage related.
JP: Well, it’s scary that you and I both picked Cornet without discussing it. I have no rhyme or reason for picking Cornet. Just felt right. Here’s to being wrong hopefully!
DW
NM – Dan, obviously, chose not to participate in this question due to his closeness to the team. I can’t blame him. Can you imagine an 8 hour bus ride with someone you just publicly said would be a “disappointment”?
JP
Philippe Cornet: Really hope I’m wrong here. Hopefully a fresh start here will not do what it did to Casey Wellman. I’m just picturing a slow start, Cornet gets shipped off to St. Louis, sent down to Chicago and has an OT game winner to complete a hat trick in his first game back in San Antonio.
NM: You watch your dirty mouth! Honestly, I feel the same way, but it might be because of the expectations I am assigning to him. If he stays here all season, anything less than 20 goals is probably a disappointment (to me) and that’s just ridiculous (because I am ridiculous).
6. Make one final statement that will surprise everyone reading this blog.
NM
I’m really not as cranky as my online persona may suggest. While I certainly have my bouts of rage and hockey snobbery (don’t you dare wear an Avs jersey to a Rampage/Barons game or feel my wrath), I’m a very chill and likable person.
If that’s not surprising enough, there’s this: The Rampage will be competing for a division title deep into the season carried by its…offense. The defense and goaltending will be the bane of my existence this year and will get bailed out by the offense on several occasions.
Oh, and due to a rash of injuries in both San Antonio and Florida, the team will re-sign Andre Deveaux and Shaun Heshka and I will burn both my season ticket card and media pass in one glorious fire.
DW: If the games are high scoring and there are a couple of fights each night, at least the fans will get their monies worth.
JP: Cranky? Snob? Bouts of rage? Nate? No way! Honestly, he’s just a big ol’ hockey loving teddy bear. Aside from those times when he’s a total cranky snob prone to bouts of rage.
We can all agree that expectations are high heading into 2013-14. We should revisit all of this in January. That’s more than enough time for things to go belly up. What’s Ryan Hollweg up to these days? Think we can lure him away from sucker punching people in Austria to come QB our power play?
DW
Roman Deryluk will re-join the Rampage following the conclusion of the KHL season, and will score the game-winner on the final day of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth, assisted by Jon Matsumoto of course.
JP: Flash back/forward to me running circles around my living room screaming. How Sweet it is!
NM: If this were to happen my head would pop off my neck. On the other hand, if this team needs a win on the final day of the regular season to make the playoffs, my head will have been long gone by then.
JP
I’d feel silly predicting the Rampage to make the playoffs. I guess I’m just bitter and jaded. How about, the Rampage finish better than the Stars in the division? Now THAT will move the needle!
There is a lot to be excited about this season. More so than any year I can recall. Mike Santos has made it very apparent that he’s tired of relying on defense and goaltending to win games. At the very least this season should be entertaining for the fans. If everyone stays healthy I think the Rampage could see a lot of success.
NM: I can’t really argue with anything you’ve said here. It’s very possible that the Rampage could finish ahead of the Stars this season in the standings. I still expect them to go 0-4-2 in Cedar Park though. Fraser is long gone, but we still have to deal with Nilstorp. Obviously, I agree with the health statement. Luckily, it appears that this team was built a little better than last year’s team (at both levels) and injuries might not have as big of an impact.
Its funny how much things can "change" over the course of a weekend. Selleck has been waived and assigned to the Rampage and Drew Shore has all but solidified a spot in Florida. With injuries in Florida, more surprises could be in store, but the season is still 2 weeks away so lets come back to this then.
Training camp is underway. I will update as much as I can. Your best bet for timely updates is to follow me on twitter @RampageNate
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