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| If only... |
Of course, the Blades were the affiliate of the Canucks before ceasing operations, but, ya know, this is different...
In other news, and I know I said the goaltender review is next, but the Mavericks have added MORE forwards.
General Manager Brent Thiessen has plundered the failing Elite Ice Hockey League (UK) team the Newcastle Vipers signing Latvia native Toms Hartmanis and Albertan Dale Mahovsky. Neither can be considered a power forward nor are they scoring threats. You can read the stats in the press release, but even at the age of 23, Hartmanis brings a lot of high level experience to the team. He played in the UK's top league for a season and the KHL for seven games. He was also a part of the Latvian national U18 and U20 national teams. Hockeydb claims he is a left wing, so there you go. Mahovsky is listed as a right wing, and has a lot of professional and collegiate experience as well. They are both listed around 6 foot 185-ish pounds (where have I heard that before...).
Meanwhile, in a post I will get to later, forward Mike Berry returns. He had 57 points in 66 games, and was a +10 in his only season with the Mavs. Oddly enough, he played for the Newcastle Vipers in 2009-10...
That leaves the Mavs with fifteen forwards on the roster currently.
Line scenario time! Look, I know that line pairings in the CHL are tenuous at best, but it's fun to pretend, right? RIGHT? Validate this somehow, Coach Hillman!!!
Thinel-McGrane-Berry <---That will be an awesome line!
Hartmanis/Cooper-Pallardy-Dias <-----Hartmanis and Cooper, if it happens, could be a battle.
Hogg-Coccimiglio-Lewis <----Starring Coccimiglio as Bugs Bunny
O'Nabigon/Dickson-Courtney-Mahovsky
Bench/Press Box:
Knowles
Also, here is a list and brief explanation of each of the Canucks draft picks this year.
Vancouver Canucks President & General Manager announced today that the Canucks have selected forward Nicklas Jensen, goaltender David Honzik, right wing Alexandre Grenier, centre Joseph Labate, defenceman Nicklas Blomstrand, defenceman Frank Corrado, centre Pathrik Westerholm and Henrik Tommernas in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Jensen, 18, was selected 29th overall in the 2011 Entry Draft. He spent the 2010-11 season with the Oshawa Generals, collecting 58 points (29-29-58) points in 61 games played. In his first year in the OHL, he ranked fourth on the team in scoring and fifth in the OHL among rookies. Jensen tied for the team lead in goals (7) during the 2011 playoffs.
Honzik, 17, was picked in the third round, 71st overall in the 2011 Entry Draft. The Tabor, Czech Republic native spent the 2010-11 season with Victoriaville in the QMJHL. He posted a goals against average of 3.54 and record of 17-12-0-1.
Grenier, 19, was selected in the third round, 90th overall. The Laval, Quebec native appeared in 31 games for the Quebec Remparts in 2010-11, collecting 24 points (9-15-24). He also recorded 16 points (8-8-16) in 15 playoff games.
Labate, 18, was picked in the fourth round, 101st overall. In 2010-11, the Burnsville, Minnesota native collected 49 points (27-22-49) in 25 games for the Holy Angels and was a finalist for Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey Award. He has committed to the University of Wisconsin for the fall of 2011.
Blomstrand, 18, was selected in the fourth round, 120th overall. The Uppsala, Sweden native registered seven points (3-4-7) in 35 points for Djurgarden Jr. in 2010-11.
Corrado, 18, was picked 150th overall in the fifth round. The Toronto, Ontario native played for Sudbury of the OHL in 2010-11, recording 30 points (4-26-30) in 67 games.
Westerholm, 19, was selected 180th overall in the sixth round. The Karlskrona, Sweden native spent the 2010-11 season with Malmo Redhawks, collecting 21 points (8-13-21) in 34 games.
Tommernas, 20, appeared in 47 games, collecting 20 (3-17-20) for Frolunda in 2010-11. He was selected in the seventh round, 210th overall.
Who may or may not see time at the AHL or CHL level this year. Let's assume all of the guys playing for Canadian minor league clubs stay there. That leaves C Labate, D Blomstrand, C Westerholm, and C Tommernas, although none of those players are on the Canucks prospect camp roster. As of now, these players are also not on the Wolves roster. The Mavs could certainly have a Scandinavian feel to them this year, provided these players are playing in North America this year.
