The Allen Americans haven't played a game since December 12 when they lost to Orlando at home 6-2 to end a three game winning streak. The rematch against the Solar Bears scheduled for the following night was postponed because Orlando didn't have enough players to field a team due to injuries and COVID. The postponement meant the Americans went into the Christmas break with the bitter taste of losing 6-2 at home to a team with just 13 skaters.
- Allen will try to get back on the winning track in Wichita tomorrow night, the team Allen beat three straight before the loss to Orlando. Wichita has really struggled recently having lost its last 10 games including 3-2 at home last night to Tulsa.
- The Americans will follow the usual Wichita single game road trip itinerary with practice this morning and departure for Wichita early this afternoon.
- There will be a full Allen vs Wichita preview tomorrow but one stat that stands out is playing from behind. Allen hasn't won a game all season when they trailed after the first period (0-4-0-0) or second period (0-7-1-0). Wichita is a little better with a record of 2-7-0-0 when trailing after the first period and 1-9-0-0 when trailing after the second period. A lead will be huge in the game tomorrow.
- What will the new NHL taxi squad rules mean for the Allen Americans? If you haven't seen the details here they are.
For purpose of COVID management the NHL has implemented a temporary taxi squad from 12/26/21 to each team’s final game before the All-Star game (2/5/22):
Each team will be allowed to have a taxi squad of up to six players (no minimum) and to make emergency recalls from the minors if COVID absences would cause any team to play without a full lineup.
Players on the taxi squad will be paid their minor league salary and count as being in the minors for cap purposes.
Players can be on the taxi squad for a cumulative maximum of 20 days.
As AHL players are called up to taxi squads, ECHL players will be recalled/loaned to AHL teams to backfill rosters.
- Teams that have a lot of NHL/AHL contracted players will be more impacted than a team like Allen with just one (Antoine Bibeau). Charlotte has three goalies on its roster and because of postponed games will not play again until January 8 at the soonest, so Bibeau should be remaining in Allen.
- Allen will still be at risk of having some of its young free agent players being loaned to AHL teams who are short players because of COVID and call ups to taxi squads.
- Allen had a practice last night at 7:30 pm, the first practice after the Christmas break. By having practice late in the day it allowed players that went home more time to return to DFW.
- Chad Butcher arrived in Allen Sunday night and practiced with the team last night. He will be in the lineup against Wichita. Zach Hall, who has been out on injured reserve will also return to the lineup.
- Here is my ECHL Stats post from this morning:
Hats off to ECHL coaches/general managers trying to keep their teams healthy, managing disruption caused by creation of NHL taxi squads and dealing with changing government COVID rules. Shifting schedules, postponed games, call ups and finding players all in addition to improving the on ice performance. A tough job for sure the next six weeks until the NHL taxi squads are scheduled to be disbanded at the All-Star break (February 5).
- ECHL teams have played as few as 19 games (Reading) and as many as 27 (4 teams). It is doubtful all teams will get in 72 games this season. The Allen Americans have played just 20 games.
- 10 ECHL games have been postponed in the last two weeks.
- 20+ ECHL players have moved to AHL teams in the last two days as the NHL takes AHL players to establish taxi squads. Many more ECHL players will be headed to the AHL in the next week.
- If anyone is interested in two glass seats ($25 each) for these
Allen home games in January (1,2,12,26,28,29) let me know. Email me
(janssenfamily@msn.com) if interested or with questions.
DID YOU KNOW: Allen is in the top 10 in the ECHL in road points percentage, tied for #9 at .591. Newfoundland is #1 with a perfect 9-0 road record. It is at home that Allen needs to make big strides. The Americans are ranked #27 in home points percentage at .333. The #1 team in home points percentage is Toledo at .750.
I thought all these players were vaccinated against Covid?
ReplyDeleteTesting players who don't show symptoms is stupid. If you test, you will find something. It is also going to ruin the World Junior Championships.
ReplyDeleteNFL found Asymptomatic people don't spread covid, symptomatic people do.
Omicron is like a friggin cold. I hope we all get it and then we hit herd immunity. Quit testing players who don't show signs of covid.
I thought maybe Allen wouldn't be much impacted by taxi squads, but hadn't thought about unaffiliated teams raiding our roster. Sure am seeing a lot of SPHL transfers to teams like KC, as their contract players get called back. Maybe this creates some parity so Allen can gain some traction and pick up some points?
ReplyDelete