It seems like every week is a big week in this crazy season but this week is clearly a big one for the Allen Americans on and off the ice. The Americans play four games against the team just ahead of them in the standings and just behind them in the standings. The week gets underway against Wichita tomorrow night followed by a three game series against Utah on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Americans could end the week with a points percentage as high as .676 and in first place in the Western Conference and as low as .598 and fighting for a playoff spot. By the end of the week Allen will have only 21 games remaining in the regular season.
- A great opportunity lays ahead for the Americans with 11 of their next 12 games at home. The 12 games are against three teams, Tulsa (5), Wichita (4) and Utah (3). The lone away game is in Tulsa. Why is this a great opportunity? Allen's home points percentage is the best in the ECHL at .786 (15-3-2-1). The Americans road points percentage is .538 (14-12-0-0) ranked #8 in the ECHL.
- As important as the four games on the ice this week, what takes place off the ice may be more important. Thursday is the ECHL trade deadline and it is hard to believe general manager Steve Martinson isn't trying to find ways to improve the roster. There are 15 rookies on the Allen roster if you include the two players that Martinson has signed that won't report until next week. The team could use more veteran presence/leadership and there is a vet slot available. I am sure it is difficult to trade for a vet with every ECHL team still believing they can make the playoffs. The bottom line is the last time to improve the roster through trades is Thursday (2:00 pm Allen time).
- Other roster movements you may see this week is AHL players being assigned to ECHL teams. Wednesday is the deadline for AHL teams to switch players from one ECHL teams to another. It does not prevent players from being assigned to ECHL teams after Wednesday, this rule just relates to switching AHL players from one ECHL team to another.
- Another decision this week is whether co-captain Dyson Stevenson, who last played on March 14, be cleared to play? Stevenson's leadership on and off the ice has been missed, especially on the road since he has not traveled with the team.
- There is no doubt all playoff bound teams will get stronger as the playoffs approach. It is important to remember AHL/NHL contracted players (with few exceptions) assigned to the ECHL must play five games in the ECHL to be eligible for the playoffs. These five games must be played before the end of the AHL season which is May 16. For AHL players assigned to ECHL teams that have no games played in the ECHL this season the assignment date will have to be around May 7 in order for them to play in five ECHL games. The assignment date will be even earlier if teams want to build in a couple of game cushion in addition to the five games. The point is these decisions are right around the corner.
- The number of games remaining in the regular season varies from 21 (Florida & Tulsa) to 26 (Jacksonville & Wheeling). Allen has 21 games remaining. The final standings will be based on winning percentage rather than points this season.
- The elephant in the room keeps growing as each week passes and there is no news on Steve Martinson's future with the Allen Americans. As of today Martinson has 73 days left on his contract and remember his quote when I interviewed him about his contract:
"I don't want to be wondering in July what I am doing. Right now I want to climb the standings and have other organizations take notice of the entertaining brand of hockey we are playing."
DID YOU KNOW: Last season 10 of 26 (38%) ECHL teams finished with a winning percentage below .500, the top team was at .742 and the bottom team was at .300. This season one of 14 (7%) teams is below .500, the top team in the league is at .677 and the bottom team is at .413. An example of how close teams are this season is looking at the records over the last 10 games. While all teams are close, Allen has the best record in the ECHL over the last 10 games. Here is the ECHL Stats post from today:
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