It looks like the quality of talent on AHL rosters could be diluted for the next little bit.
With Omicron cases on the rise, the NHL is bringing back taxi squads until the February All-Star break. Each NHL team can have up to six players on the taxi squad. However, there is not a minimum amount of players required to be on this unique reserve list at all times. Now, AHL teams are going to have to be prepared to lose their best players at a moment’s notice, even more than usual.
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Ep 57: Conference Finals, Dubas Out, Coyotes Wandering
by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 11:38 am
Jim and Chris discuss the Conference Finals, the departure of Kyle Dubas […]
The Manitoba Moose are as prepared as an AHL team can be at a time like this. You could argue they’re one of the deepest teams in the AHL. No, really.
Defence Wins Championships
The foundation of the Moose is their defence core, which has no shortage of insurance policies.
Their three-pairing deep defence — filled with promising Jets prospects — is the driver of the teams’ offense. Ville Heinola, Jonathan Kovacevic, Declan Chisholm, Dylan Samberg and Leon Gawanke are the straw that mixes the Jets’ AHL affiliate’s drink.
#AHL defenceman 5v5 Leaderboard:
Goals, Primary Assists, Scoring Chances
Data via @InStatHockey pic.twitter.com/LWino8Ob63
— Jacob Stoller (@JLStoller) December 24, 2021
Even if the Jets bring up a defenceman (or two) to sit idle on the taxi squad, it probably won’t affect the Moose. Nelson Nogier, who is on an NHL two-way deal, has struggled to crack the Jets roster. He’s a viable candidate to either be a temporary taxi squad player or fill a void left by a departure of a defenceman.
Plus, they’ve got Trent Bourque and Hayden Shaw in the bullpen, too. Each has played in AHL games with the Moose before.
Four+ Lines of Forwards
Even before the taxi squad, the Moose were a bit shorthanded, as injuries to the Jets saw Winnipeg recall David Gustafsson, CJ Suess, and Kristian Reichel. Once Kristian Vesalainen and Andrew Copp return to full-time duty, the aforementioned players would probably slide down to the taxi squad.
If that were the case, this is what the Moose’s roster would look like:
Luke Johnson-Cole Perfetti-Austin Poganski
Mikey Eyssimont- Cole Maier – Jeff Malott
Evan Polei-Greg Meirelsis-Thomas Caron
Haralds Egle-Bobby Lynch- Todd Burgess
Ville Heinola-Jimmy Oligny
Declan Chisholm-Leon Gawanke
Dylan Samberg-Jonathan Kovacevic
A lower-body injury has kept Luke Johnson out since the fifth game of the season, but he’s a bona fide top-six piece (whose one-timer will help on the power play). Manitoba Head Coach Mark Morrison estimated earlier this month that Johnson would be back into game action around late December. Nicholas Jones has been battling injuries all year — his status is unknown — but when he’s healthy, the rugged forechecker (who plays very well with Cole Maier) has a palpable presence out there. He’s a good penalty killer, too.
Maier is one of the most underrated players on the Moose. With 14 points in 25 games this season, he is a sound defensive player who is strong on the forecheck and makes up for his lack of footspeed with solid instincts and awareness.
Got Goalies?
Mikhail Berdin and Arvid Holm have been holding down the fort all year (sort of), and losing one of them may seem like deflation to the team’s season. But not quite. The club also has Philippe Desrosiers under contract, who has a .918 SV% in the ECHL through 15 games this season (12-3-0). He spent last year on the Florida Panthers taxi squad.
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Ep 57: Conference Finals, Dubas Out, Coyotes Wandering
by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 11:38 am
Jim and Chris discuss the Conference Finals, the departure of Kyle Dubas […]
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Ep 56: Leafs, Oilers, Eastern Conference Preview
by Full Press Coverage on May 16, 2023 at 12:21 am
Jim and Producer Ian discuss the Leafs and Oilers early exits and they […]
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by Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Full Press NHL Podcast with Jim Biringer and Vox Media AM/FM NHL Analyst […]
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Ep 83: Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Here; Can Bruins Keep Up Pace?
by Full Press Coverage on April 17, 2023 at 4:06 pm
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by Full Press Coverage on April 10, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Ian and Chris react to the Bruins 63rd win of the season, David Pastrnak's […]
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The Hockey World Revolves Around Toronto
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Jim is back for a fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey as he is […]
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S4Ep28 - Stanley Cup Playoffs - Conference Final Preview
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Jim is back for the fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey previewing […]
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by Broken Controller Media on May 27, 2023 at 4:05 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
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Golden Knights at Stars
by Broken Controller Media on May 23, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
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Episode #141: Tend The Goal
by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 2:24 pm
The 2023 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs have reached its final four teams, and […]
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Episode #140: Stone Cold's 4th Line
by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 1:41 pm
And then, there were four. The 2023 AHL Division Finals have concluded, […]
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by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 4:00 pm
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by Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 2:12 pm
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