A Trip to Scotland Remembered, Allen Qualifies Six Players, Details on What it All Means for the 2023-24 Roster and More

 

It has been far too long since I did an update on the Allen Americans. My wife and I have just returned from a tour of Scotland with a few days in London before our tour started. Dyson Stevenson, who has played for the Glasgow Clan the last two seasons and his fiance, Taylor, were kind enough to give us some tips on where to go and what to see on our free time in Scotland. FYI, Dyson and Taylor will be getting married on July 22 and be heading back to Scotland for the 2023-24 season. Dyson has just re-signed with Glasgow. Jack Comb's younger brother, Charlie, has also just signed with Glasgow.

 

- The trip to Scotland was amazing with its rich history that included everything from castles to cathedrals to museums to boat rides on Loch Ness (we didn't see "Nessie the Monster) and Loch Lomond. We visit the old course at St. Andrews (did not play), the home of golf established in the early 15th century. Ate a lot of fish (mostly fish and chips), tried haggis (it was surprisingly tasty) and did some whiskey tastings. With all of the history here are two photos that will always remind me of Scotland. It has to be the greenest place on earth, likely helped by the fact it rained (mostly light rain/mist) every day of our trip. This photo is up in the highlands. The second photo is from a day we spent on a cattle farm (called a fold) that raised Highland Cows or as the Scots would pronounce, "Heeland Coos" which are a hearty breed that originated in the Scottish Highlands and have long horns and long shaggy hair. We traveled around the "fold" by tractor learning all about this breed.

 

The gorgeous Scottish Highlands

 

 

  

A view from the home of the farm we visited

 
- Before I talk about the roster, players signed and qualifying offers there is some old news worth mentioning. Here is the list I kept while in Scotland.

 

- The PHPA (Professional Hockey Players Association) has awards in several categories that are voted on by the players at the end of the season. Players recognizing players is much different than the league awards that are voted on by the media, the PR department and other front office personnel and coaches. There is one player selected from each conference for each award. Allen had two players selected for these awards: 

Kris Myllari was selected by his peers as the best defensive defenseman in the Western Conference. Kris contributed to the team offensively (31 points, 8G, 23A), but his defensive contribution was a big part of the team's success. He led the Americans in plus/minus (+10). Here is the PHPA press release on Myllari's Best Defensive Defenseman Award: https://phpa.com/news/2704   

Captain Colton Hargrove was selected by his peers for the Veteran Presence Award given to the player who qualifies as a league veteran and continuously demonstrates the ability to motivate and lead their fellow teammates. Providing leadership both on and off the ice. Here is the press release:  https://phpa.com/news/2703     

 

- The ECHL Board of Governors made several rule changes at the summer meeting in Las Vegas. The most significant was adding automatic game misconduct penalties for a player that fights twice in a game or has a fight prior to, at the drop of the puck or immediately following any face-off during the game. As I wrote while in Scotland, if Derek Mathers played under the current rules when he set the all time Allen record for fights in a single season (29) in 2016-17, he would have been suspended 35-40 games.Here is the ECHL press release with all of the rule changes in case you haven't seen it. https://www.echl.com/en/news/2023/7/annual-echl-board-of-governors-meeting-concludes

 

- I had a chance to look at some stats comparing the Allen Americans with the Kelly Cup finalists (Florida & Idaho). Here is what I found:

• Allen had four players in the top 20 in points. The finalists had none.
• Allen had five 10+ goal scorers, Florida had 10 and Idaho had 15.
• Allen's top four scorers were 1st, 2nd, 5th and 18th in points.
• Idaho's top four scorers were 20th, 43rd, 50th and 50th in points.
• Florida's top four scorers were 28th, 116th, 123rd and 155th in points. 
• Allen was ranked #23 in goals allowed per game (3.65).
• Florida was ranked #8 in goals allowed per game (2.96).
• Idaho was ranked #1 in goals allowed per game (2.13).
• Based on these stats, Allen will need more balanced scoring and allow fewer goals to be successful in 2023-24.
  

 

 

ALLEN AMERICANS 2023-24 ROSTER

- The Americans have announced the signing of two players for 2023-24. Captain Colton Hargrove will return for his second season with Allen. Defenseman Matt Brassard, who was acquired as the future consideration in the trade that sent Darian Skeoch's ECHL rights to Savannah at the beginning of the 2022-23 season. 

 

- Allen's has issued qualifying offers to six players; Nick Albano, Aidan Brown, Chad Butcher, Hank Crone, Mikael Robidoux and Stephen Baylis. What this means is a lot of players have already signed because it is not necessary to qualify players that have already signed. 

 

- Let's start with the players that have been qualified as that is the way Allen can retain their rights for all of next season. Here is my take on each of the six qualified players:

• Nick Albano - Nick played in Europe last season after signing an AHL deal with Bellevile. He hasn't signed yet for 2023-24 so assume he is looking at the AHL or Europe. Unlikely he will sign in Allen.
• Aidan Brown - Aidan has already signed in Europe (Romania) so will not be signing with Allen (at least initially).
• Chad Butcher - Chad is likely looking for a job in Europe so his future is yet to be decided.
• Hank Crone - Hank has signed an AHL deal (Chicago Wolves) so hopefully he will be playing in the AHL in 2023-24. Allen has Hank's ECHL rights so if he is sent to the ECHL it will be to Allen.
• Mikael Robidoux - Mikael is likely looking at Europe so his future is still undecided.
• Stephen Baylis - Stephen missed the entire 2022-23 season with an injury and it is unsure what his plans are for 2023-24. 
  

 

- Veterans are the hardest group to figure out because they are usually not qualified as they can become free agents even if they are qualified. Whether the veterans (Asuchak, Combs, Saucerman, Fournier) will re-sign, retire or move on will likely not be known until later in the summer.

 

- That leaves the group of younger players that were not qualified so have likely already signed with Allen and will be announced over the course of the summer. It would make no sense to not qualify these players unless they have already signed because if they haven't signed they are now unrestricted free agents. Here is the list of skaters that are non-vets, weren't qualified and were on Allen's season ending roster. You have to assume most (but not all) of these players have signed for 2023-24:

• Liam Finlay
• Colby McAuley
• Kris Myllari
  
• Grant Hebert
• Eric Williams
  
• Ryan Gagnon
• Ty Farmer
• Dalton Skelly

Here is the ECHL press release with the qualifying offers for all 28 teams: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2023/7/echl-announces-players-with-qualifying-offers