It is an important couple of days for the coach, players and fans of the Allen Americans. Everything revolves around the trade deadline which arrives tomorrow at 2:00 pm local time. There are so many factors to consider when making roster changes at this time of year. Fans don't want to see their favorite player moved after watching them all season. All things being equal coach Martinson prefers to keep the players that have been in Allen all year. Team chemistry is also important and many times players that are great/vocal in the locker room aren't the star players. Winning a fifth straight championship and third straight Kelly Cup is a once in a lifetime opportunity so getting one or more impact player is always a consideration. There are many pros and cons for both standing pat and trading some of the future for a chance to win this season. Certainly discussions are happening and trades could take place today or tomorrow before the deadline but the outcome still remains to be seen.
- Have had a couple of questions regarding the meaning of the
Recall/Assigment deadline which is today at 11:59 p.m. local time.
This deadline applies to players under AHL or NHL contracts who are
currently playing in the ECHL. For those players to be reassigned to
another team in the ECHL, the reassignment must take place by 11:59 p.m. today. If there is a player currently recalled to the
AHL, this deadline does not apply to them. They can still be assigned
to any team in the ECHL after the deadline passes.
- One of the many memorable quotes you hear from coach Martinson is, "My job is not to make everyone happy, my job is to win. I can always find another most popular player." The best thing about whether roster changes take place before the trade deadline tomorrow or Martinson stands pat is he knows he will have a roster that is capable of winning another championship.
- Don't forget another source for adding players are amateurs and the trade deadline doesn't impact recruiting for college/junior players that are completing their eligibility. That process will continue and has proven to be a good source for improving the playoff roster in the past.
- Intensity definitely picked up at practice yesterday as the team prepares for games with Missouri on Friday and Indy on Sunday. At the beginning of the season Martinson said there will be times when we have too many good players and somebody will have to sit out. Unless something changes (trades, loans, recalls) before the team leaves for Missouri tomorrow (Thursday) there will be good players not playing in the two road games. With Hanson and Moore back from their time in the AHL the Americans have 14 healthy forwards. As one player pointed out after practice, even AHL teams don't keep 14 healthy forwards. With Gens and Roy on injured reserve there are just six healthy defensemen. The expectation is Riley Gill will be ready to go for the weekend after his bout with strep throat.
- Every once in a while I like to go through the entire ECHL statistical report and marvel at the number of categories Allen has a player in the top three. When you figure there are somewhere around 600 players in the ECHL, to be top three in any category is worthy of recognition. Since it is a slow news day I am going to start at page one of the ECHL report and list every Allen player in the top three on every page. Here goes:
1st in overall points - Chad Costello (104)
1st in overall assists - Chad Costello (73)
1st in overall penalty minutes - Derek Mathers (231)
1st in overall major penalties - Derek Mathers (27)
2nd in overall power play goals - Greger Hanson (12)
2nd in overall power play goals - Spencer Asuchak (12)
1st in overall power play assists - Chad Costello (31)
3rd in overall power play assists - David Makowski (21)
1st in overall power play points - Chad Costello (40)
3rd in overall power play points - David Makowski (27)
2nd in overall shots on goal - Greger Hanson (212)
1st in shootout percentage - Greger Hanson (100% - 3 for 3)
1st overall plus/minus - Joel Chouinard (+34)
1st in goals against average - Riley Gill (2.09)
1st in save percentage - Riley Gill (.938)
1st in shutouts - Riley Gill (6)
3rd rookie shooting percentage - Zach Hall (23.1%)
2nd in goals by defenseman - David Makowski (14)
3rd in power play goals by defenseman - David Makowski (6)
1st in power play assists by a defenseman - David Makowski (21)
1st in power play points by a defenseman - David Makowski (27)
3rd in game winning goals by a defenseman - Eric Roy (4)
1st in plus/minus by a defenseman - Joel Chouinard (+34)
2nd in season streak for goals - Bryan Moore (6 games)
1st in season streak for assists - Chad Costello (8 games)
3rd in season streak for points - Chad Costello (15 games)
2nd in current streak for assists - Greger Hanson (7 games)
1st in current home streak for goals - Greger Hanson (4 games)
1st in season home streak for goals - Bryan Moore (7 games)
3rd in current home streak for assists - Chad Costello (6 games)
2nd in season home streak for assists - David Makowski (8 games)
2nd current road streak for goals - Gary Steffes (2 games)
2nd current road streak for points - David Makowski (9 games)
1st in game high for goals - Greger Hanson (4)
1st in game high for points - Greger Hanson (5)
1st in game high for points - Bryan Moore (5)
DID YOU KNOW: Last year defenseman Matt Register was acquired by Allen at the trade deadline. In 2015 Allen made no trade deadline deals.
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