Can you here that?The clock is ticking.
No one can hear it more clearly than Kelowna Rockets goaltender Kristofer Westblom.
Westblom realizes time is ticking down before, or if the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild sign him to a contract.
The Wild drafted Westblom in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft meaning they must sign him by June 1st or the Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan resident becomes a free agent.
I spoke to Wild Director of Player Personnel Tom Thompson about the potential of signing 'Westy'.
"What we do with all of our players that need to be signed is we make them as soon as they are practical for us to make them. We are being quite open with this that a few other things have to come into place before we make decisions on Westy and a number of players like him".
Part of the process is being fiscally responsible.
"It's not like the old days when you could say...it's not like being at a buffet and say you'll take some of everything, you have to make choices when you order here so alot of that is determined with what the finances are."
Where does Westblom fit on the Wilds depth chart?
.
"Clearly we have Manny Fernandez and Nicholas Backstrom and then Josh Harding so which ever way you shuffle the deck they are the top three and after that it's wide open", Thompson added.
One last thing about my conversation with Thompson...he asked me about Cody Almond.
I told him the truth.
When Almond wants to play, and does with passion he can be a very good player.
When Cody fought Giants tough guy Garet Hunt this season in Vancouver I saw a side of the Calgary resident NHL scouts want to see more often.
If he plays with heart, takes the go-to-guy label and runs with it Cody Almond can be a very good junior, and who knows maybe a good pro?
Thompson and the Wild are obviously interested. We'll see if his name is called at the NHL draft table.
Remember Almond led his team in scoring in just his second season in the WHL. He could have been considered a rookie last year had he played in two fewer games.
________________________________
I found this on the website of Michael Remmerde who is a scout and contributor to Red Line Report. Remmerde is based out of Vancouver Washington. This is his thoughts on Kelowna Rockets eligible for the NHL draft:
Cody Almond - Big time late riser. Was a big beneficiary (in terms of ice time) of Ofukany, Saulietis, and Hill being traded. Size, a bit of skill, not a bad skater. Big wild card. Feels like a 4th/5th round guy to me, but could go way higher than I think.
Torrie Jung - Another wild card. Did not play well for me in the two games I saw him, but I know some NHL guys who like him. I don't believe he's a top 3 round guy, but otherwise I have no idea where he could go.
Colin Long - I like his speed and elusiveness, but beyond that I don't think much of him. Could be a late pick, just on his speed.
Lucas Bloodoff - Did not get a real good read on him, but I thought there was some skill there. This Kelowna roster is full of some late round wild cards, and he's another one.
Brett Breitkreuz - He can skate and he works hard. I don't think he goes, however.
And for you Swift Current readers:
Eric Doyle - Hard to figure for me. I like his aggressive style and the way he rushes the puck. But I think there's a lack of hockey sense there that is a problem. I know some think of him as a first rounder, but I'd be surprised at that. I think he's a late 2nd round guy.
Paul Postma - Lots of puck skill and good size, but I don't like his skating. Not real good in the defensive zone and chases a lot. I'm guessing he'll go in the middle or late rounds.
Derek Claffey - Good skater and might have enough skill to draw late round interest.
Kyle Bortis - Should have been a 7th round gamble pick last year. Maybe still only worth a 7th this year. Way too much skill to not roll the dice with a late pick on a player like this.
Daniel Rakos - Yes, he's an 87. But this guy has size, quickness, and he put up a few points this year. Worth a late pick.
__________________________
I watched the 3rd period of game three of the Western Hockey League final Tuesday night.
Is it just me or does the game look a little more professional at Pacific Coliseum?
It appears the centre ice camera is situated in a better location and appears further from the ice and slightly higher.
I don't know that for a fact but it looks that way. Obviously Pacific Coliseum is a former NHL rink so camera location availability would be better than what we saw in game one and two in the Hat.
Dan Russell has done a great job on the play-by-play. Russell is a radio guy but describes the play well considering it is on television - a visual medium.
He doesn't get over descriptive which is often the tendency of someone who's background is radio.
For the record Dan Russell is as smart as a whip when it comes to sports, and love him or hate him for his radio call-in-show he has a passion for radio, sports and hockey in general.
What's not to like about the guy?
________________________________
You would think Swift Current hockey fans would be cheering for the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Why?
Don't you cheer for one of your own?
The General Manager of the Sabres is Darcy Regier. Darcy John Regier was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan November 27, 1957.
While he was born in Swifty he was raised in nearby Herbert. I wonder if Darcy ever had one of those world famous (ok Southwest Saskatchewan famous) cheese burgers they would
sell at the rink?
They were just slightly behind the ones they sold at the Stewart Valley Arena.
Oh by the way...Regier is the longest standing GM in Sabres history.
____________________________
I wonder what the take is from the organizing committee for the 2007 Royal Bank Cup in Prince George when it comes to attendance?
Tuesday night's game involving the home town Spruce Kings and Aurora saw a crowd of just over 3 thousand which essentially leaves the CN Centre half empty.
Other games at the tournament have been around the 2 thousand mark.
Who's to blame for the poor attendance?
TSN will be showing Sunday's final. The way things have gone during the preliminary round it's best that the producers ask the camera crew to keep to the action on the ice and avoid taking shots of the lackluster crowd in the stands.
No one can hear it more clearly than Kelowna Rockets goaltender Kristofer Westblom.
Westblom realizes time is ticking down before, or if the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild sign him to a contract.
The Wild drafted Westblom in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft meaning they must sign him by June 1st or the Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan resident becomes a free agent.
I spoke to Wild Director of Player Personnel Tom Thompson about the potential of signing 'Westy'.
"What we do with all of our players that need to be signed is we make them as soon as they are practical for us to make them. We are being quite open with this that a few other things have to come into place before we make decisions on Westy and a number of players like him".
Part of the process is being fiscally responsible.
"It's not like the old days when you could say...it's not like being at a buffet and say you'll take some of everything, you have to make choices when you order here so alot of that is determined with what the finances are."
Where does Westblom fit on the Wilds depth chart?
.
"Clearly we have Manny Fernandez and Nicholas Backstrom and then Josh Harding so which ever way you shuffle the deck they are the top three and after that it's wide open", Thompson added.
One last thing about my conversation with Thompson...he asked me about Cody Almond.
I told him the truth.
When Almond wants to play, and does with passion he can be a very good player.
When Cody fought Giants tough guy Garet Hunt this season in Vancouver I saw a side of the Calgary resident NHL scouts want to see more often.
If he plays with heart, takes the go-to-guy label and runs with it Cody Almond can be a very good junior, and who knows maybe a good pro?
Thompson and the Wild are obviously interested. We'll see if his name is called at the NHL draft table.
Remember Almond led his team in scoring in just his second season in the WHL. He could have been considered a rookie last year had he played in two fewer games.
________________________________
I found this on the website of Michael Remmerde who is a scout and contributor to Red Line Report. Remmerde is based out of Vancouver Washington. This is his thoughts on Kelowna Rockets eligible for the NHL draft:
Cody Almond - Big time late riser. Was a big beneficiary (in terms of ice time) of Ofukany, Saulietis, and Hill being traded. Size, a bit of skill, not a bad skater. Big wild card. Feels like a 4th/5th round guy to me, but could go way higher than I think.
Torrie Jung - Another wild card. Did not play well for me in the two games I saw him, but I know some NHL guys who like him. I don't believe he's a top 3 round guy, but otherwise I have no idea where he could go.
Colin Long - I like his speed and elusiveness, but beyond that I don't think much of him. Could be a late pick, just on his speed.
Lucas Bloodoff - Did not get a real good read on him, but I thought there was some skill there. This Kelowna roster is full of some late round wild cards, and he's another one.
Brett Breitkreuz - He can skate and he works hard. I don't think he goes, however.
And for you Swift Current readers:
Eric Doyle - Hard to figure for me. I like his aggressive style and the way he rushes the puck. But I think there's a lack of hockey sense there that is a problem. I know some think of him as a first rounder, but I'd be surprised at that. I think he's a late 2nd round guy.
Paul Postma - Lots of puck skill and good size, but I don't like his skating. Not real good in the defensive zone and chases a lot. I'm guessing he'll go in the middle or late rounds.
Derek Claffey - Good skater and might have enough skill to draw late round interest.
Kyle Bortis - Should have been a 7th round gamble pick last year. Maybe still only worth a 7th this year. Way too much skill to not roll the dice with a late pick on a player like this.
Daniel Rakos - Yes, he's an 87. But this guy has size, quickness, and he put up a few points this year. Worth a late pick.
__________________________
I watched the 3rd period of game three of the Western Hockey League final Tuesday night.
Is it just me or does the game look a little more professional at Pacific Coliseum?
It appears the centre ice camera is situated in a better location and appears further from the ice and slightly higher.
I don't know that for a fact but it looks that way. Obviously Pacific Coliseum is a former NHL rink so camera location availability would be better than what we saw in game one and two in the Hat.
Dan Russell has done a great job on the play-by-play. Russell is a radio guy but describes the play well considering it is on television - a visual medium.
He doesn't get over descriptive which is often the tendency of someone who's background is radio.
For the record Dan Russell is as smart as a whip when it comes to sports, and love him or hate him for his radio call-in-show he has a passion for radio, sports and hockey in general.
What's not to like about the guy?
________________________________
You would think Swift Current hockey fans would be cheering for the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup playoffs.Why?
Don't you cheer for one of your own?
The General Manager of the Sabres is Darcy Regier. Darcy John Regier was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan November 27, 1957.
While he was born in Swifty he was raised in nearby Herbert. I wonder if Darcy ever had one of those world famous (ok Southwest Saskatchewan famous) cheese burgers they would
sell at the rink?
They were just slightly behind the ones they sold at the Stewart Valley Arena.
Oh by the way...Regier is the longest standing GM in Sabres history.
____________________________
I wonder what the take is from the organizing committee for the 2007 Royal Bank Cup in Prince George when it comes to attendance?
Tuesday night's game involving the home town Spruce Kings and Aurora saw a crowd of just over 3 thousand which essentially leaves the CN Centre half empty.
Other games at the tournament have been around the 2 thousand mark.
Who's to blame for the poor attendance?
TSN will be showing Sunday's final. The way things have gone during the preliminary round it's best that the producers ask the camera crew to keep to the action on the ice and avoid taking shots of the lackluster crowd in the stands.
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