The Red Wings have always been a team that's not afraid to make a splash at the trade deadline. I mean, don't you remember the year they added Bill Ranford, Wendel Clark, Ulf Samuelsson, and Chris Chelios at the same deadline? That was pretty weird, wasn't it?
This year, Detroit's moves likely won't be remembered fondly the way the 1999 trade deadline was. But the two players they did pick up are technically young enough to be considered prospects. Both of them are in a good position this season on a Grand Rapids team that's essentially just auditioning young players for next season. As two players with a couple of AHL seasons under each of their belts, it's not at all a stretch to think that either could turn some heads in the Detroit front office.
The first trade that Detroit made was trading Kris Newbury to the New York Rangers for forward Jordan Owens. Owens does have a very good chance to make a splash for Detroit -- considering he's already under contract for next season. Owens is a product of the OHL, having played three seasons for the Mississauga IceDogs. His best season came in his last, his overaged season, where he put up 74 points in 60 games, including 32 goals.
His first professional season consisted of a split between Hartford (AHL) and Charlotte (ECHL), with 14 points in 41 games and 13 in 20, respectively. He put up 37 in 67 last year, his first full season in the AHL, and was a +17 on the season -- good for 4th on the team. He played in 50 games for Hartford this season before being acquired by Detroit.
Owens got a long look in the pre-season for a regular roster spot in New York. He's praised for his honest two-way style of play, and the fearlessness he plays the game with despite average size (6'0, 189). He plays a physical game and isn't afraid to drop the gloves. While still a long shot, there's a chance Owens gets a long look from Detroit next season as a possible injury callup.
Later in the day, Detroit got together with the Calgary Flames to swap Andy Delmore for Riley Armstrong. Armstrong is not under contract for next season, but at 25, he's still young enough to have some potential. The brother of Atlanta's Colby Armstrong, Riley got his start through two years in the WHL, his best season coming with 44 points in 69 games in 03-04. He spent the next five seasons in the San Jose system, even getting two games in with the big club last year.
He signed with Calgary in the offseason, but was limited to just 38 games due to some injuries. He had produced 11 goals and 19 points in that time, close to his career best pace the he set last year when he had 42 points with Worcester. Like Owens, Armstrong is known for being equally fearless, playing the agitator/energy role. He's a good skater who will never be accused of taking a shift off. He's got a good shot, but doesn't have the vision or creativity to ever be a big point producer. However, he's proven to be a late bloomer, and he'll have every chance of earning a new contract with a strong finish in Grand Rapids.
Statistical report after the jump.
American Hockey League
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
+/- |
PIM |
Last week |
Notes |
| 3 |
Logan Pyett |
Grand Rapids |
65 |
9 |
18 |
27 |
+3 |
27
|
1G in 2GP |
|
| 4 |
Travis Ehrhardt |
Grand Rapids |
38 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
-10 |
34 |
2PIM in 1GP |
|
| 5 |
Jakub Kindl |
Grand Rapids |
58 |
3 |
21 |
24 |
-9 |
55 |
2PIM in 2GP |
|
| 7 |
Sebastien Piche |
Grand Rapids |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
4 |
|
Playing in Toledo (ECHL) |
| 8 |
Cory Emmerton |
Grand Rapids |
61 |
9 |
19 |
28
|
-1 |
16 |
1GP |
|
| 9 |
Evan McGrath |
Grand Rapids |
56 |
8
|
11 |
19 |
-18 |
25 |
1GP |
Loaned to Syracuse (AHL) |
| 12 |
Dick Axelsson |
Grand Rapids |
17 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
+1 |
6 |
|
Playing in Farjestad (SEL) |
| 13 |
Jan Mursak |
Grand Rapids |
64 |
20 |
14 |
34 |
+11 |
38 |
2A, +1 in 2GP |
|
| 17 |
Francis Pare |
Grand Rapids |
63 |
13 |
18 |
31 |
+16 |
14
|
2PIM in 2GP |
|
| 18 |
Mattias Ritola |
Grand Rapids |
58 |
15 |
18 |
33 |
-7 |
46 |
2A, -1 in 2GP |
|
| 25 |
Jamie Tardif |
Grand Rapids |
62 |
13 |
11 |
24 |
-12 |
70 |
5PIM in 1GP |
|
| 27 |
Tomas Tatar |
Grand Rapids |
48 |
13 |
14 |
27 |
+8 |
10 |
1GP |
|
| 28 |
Sergei Kolosov |
Grand Rapids |
51 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
-8 |
17 |
2GP |
|
| 31 |
Daniel Larsson |
Grand Rapids |
43 |
18 |
21 |
1 |
2.87
|
.903 |
1-1, GAA down, sv% up |
|
| 35 |
Thomas McCollum |
Grand Rapids |
26 |
7 |
14
|
1 |
3.61 |
.874 |
DNP |
Hasn't won since Dec.13 |
| 36 |
Jordan Pearce |
Grand Rapids |
5 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3.82 |
.875 |
|
Playing in Toledo (ECHL)
|
ECHL
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 20 |
Travis Ehrhardt |
Toledo |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
+4 |
0 |
|
Playing in Grand Rapids |
| 25 |
Sebastien Piche |
Toledo |
38 |
5 |
18 |
23 |
+2 |
51 |
2A, -2, 7PIM in 4GP |
|
| 30 |
Thomas McCollum |
Toledo |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4.48 |
.864 |
|
Playing in Grand Rapids |
| 35 |
Jordan Pearce |
Toledo |
30 |
12 |
13 |
1 |
3.72 |
.887 |
1-0, GAA up, sv% down |
|
NCAA
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 7 |
Brendan Smith |
Wisconsin |
32 |
15 |
25 |
40 |
56 |
2PIM in 2GP |
Only D in NCAA top 50 scoring |
| 7 |
Max Nicastro |
Boston U. |
34 |
3 |
12 |
15 |
26 |
2GP |
|
| 16 |
Nick Oslund |
St. Cloud St. |
34 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
22
|
2GP |
One point since 1/9 |
| 81 |
Julien Cayer |
Clarkson |
22
|
2 |
3 |
5 |
16
|
DNP
|
Injured |
| 89 |
Bryan Rufenach |
Clarkson |
34 |
5 |
15 |
20 |
53 |
2A, 6PIM in 3GP |
5th in team scoring |
| 89 |
Gustav Nyquist |
Maine |
32 |
17 |
37 |
54 |
14 |
1G, 1A in 2GP
|
Leads nation in scoring by 4 points
|
Swedish Eliteserien
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 31 |
Dick Axelsson |
Farjestad |
14 |
6 |
4 |
10 |
+2
|
22 |
1G, 2PIM in 3GP |
|
| 16 |
Anton Axelsson |
Timra |
50 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
-19 |
6 |
3GP |
|
| 18 |
Joakim Andersson |
Frolunda |
54 |
6 |
12 |
18 |
+6 |
40 |
1G, -2 in 3GP |
|
| 24 |
Jesper Samuelsson |
Timra |
23 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+0 |
8 |
|
Playing in SWE-2
|
| 28 |
Adam Almqvist |
HV71 |
27 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
+11 |
10
|
3GP |
Back after missing ~1 month w/ knee injury |
Swedish Allsvenskan -- Regular season completed
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 3 |
Jesper Samuelsson |
Sundsvall |
35 |
3 |
13 |
16
|
-12 |
36 |
1GP
|
|
| 16 |
Johan Ryno |
AIK |
47 |
9 |
11 |
20 |
+7 |
34 |
4PIM in 2GP |
|
| -- |
Adam Almqvist |
Troja/Ljungby |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Playing with HV71 (SEL) |
Swedish J20 League
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 4 |
Adam Almqvist |
HV71 |
15 |
5 |
29 |
34 |
+14 |
14 |
|
Playing with HV71 (SEL) |
Kontinental Hockey League
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 21 |
Gennady Stolyarov |
HC MVD |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Finally made season debut |
| 26 |
Jiri Hudler |
Moscow Dynamo |
51 |
19 |
32 |
51 |
|
16 |
|
In playoffs |
Ontario Hockey League
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 10 |
Stephen Johnston |
Windsor |
16 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
-2 |
17 |
-1 in 2GP |
|
| 11 |
Stephen Johnston |
Belleville |
18
|
6
|
4
|
10
|
-3
|
16
|
|
Traded to Windsor
|
| 18 |
Brian Lashoff |
Kingston |
55 |
6 |
21 |
27 |
-9 |
71 |
1A, -3, 4PIM in 3GP |
|
Western Hockey League
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 9 |
Brent Raedeke |
Edmonton |
39 |
17 |
14 |
31 |
+4 |
60 |
|
Traded to Brandon |
| 9 |
Brent Raedeke |
Brandon |
31 |
6 |
18
|
24 |
+10 |
31 |
1G, 3A, +1 in 3GP
|
|
| 13 |
Landon Ferraro |
Red Deer |
51 |
16
|
30 |
46 |
-13 |
51 |
1G, 2A, -5, 2PIM in 4GP
|
|
| 19 |
Willie Coetzee |
Red Deer |
70 |
29 |
51 |
80 |
+10 |
32 |
1G, 1A, -1, 2PIM in 4GP |
|
| 24 |
Mitchell Callahan |
Kelowna |
70 |
19 |
27 |
46 |
+2 |
165 |
+3, 9PIM in 3GP
|
|
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 11 |
Andrej Nestrasil |
Victoriaville |
48 |
15 |
34 |
48 |
+2 |
38 |
4A, +4, 4PIM in 2GP |
Best week in over two months |
| 14 |
Gleason Fournier |
Rimouski |
56 |
13 |
36 |
49 |
+4 |
76 |
1G, +1, 4PIM in 2GP |
|
United States Hockey League
| # |
Name |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PIM |
Last Week |
Notes |
| 6 |
Nick Jensen |
Green Bay |
45 |
6 |
18 |
24 |
+27 |
33 |
1G, 2A, +3 in 3GP |
14 of 24 points since I interviewed him |
