A Quick Chat With Mikael Granlund

Thanks to the NHL lockout, there are a bunch of guys who just showed up in Sugar Land today who would normally not have come anywhere near the place. One of those guys is Mikael Granlund from Finland. So we took the chance to chat with Granlund for a bit earlier this afternoon at SLICE.

He's close to fulfilling a dream, the dream of playing in the NHL, which has been his dream since he was a kid. And he's really looking forward to playing some actual hockey in a competitive situation tomorrow night, even if the competitive situation is merely an exhibition game.

"It’s always been a dream since I was a kid to play here in North American, and maybe someday in the NHL. I am so excited," he said. "Now I’m here and just waiting for games.

He thinks his biggest challenge will basically be dealing with the smaller ice surface here in North America: "That’s maybe the biggest thing. You don’t have that much time and space on the ice. But still, it’s the same game and everything’s the same."

But basically, all that he's got to do, he believes, is just his play his game.

And in a short amount of time, we'll see just how easily he makes the adjustments. 

Say Hello To The Twins

Say hello to Kristen and Kirsten, or is it Kirsten and Kristen. These young ladies, along with being twins, are members of the Aerodynamics. I did a quick interview with them before last Sunday's 6-3 win over Manitoba, and if you click over to the mothership, you can see the story.

Just a couple of quick notes. The Dynamics actually have two sets of twins, I prefer the term twin twins, but I didn't get the chance to talk to them. Also, this isn't in the story, but if you're wondering how they do the dance routines on the ice, well, it's a bit of a cheat. They're not wearing ordinary sneakers, but are instead wearing special sneakers that have a special grip on the soles.

Sure it's a trifle, but hey, I thought it would be nice to break up the tension of the playoff race. See you all tomorrow night.

Meet Your Aeros: Jeff Penner and Mikko Lehtonen

Huge thanks to Sarah Connors of Something's Bruin for giving us the low-down on the new boys in the system. While we almost certainly won't see Lehtonen this season, the potential is there next season.

Congratulations, Aeros fans! You have just become the proud owners of two former Providence Bruins - Jeff Penner, a five-foot-ten 23-year-old offensive defenseman from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Mikko Lehtonen, a six-foot-three, 23-year-old right wing from Espoo, Finland.

Penner shakes off a Springfield Falcon. Photo courtesy of SomethingsBruin.Net

As a Providence fan, where do I begin with these two?

Back in 2008-2009, great things were a-brewin' (har har) in Providence. It was Penner and Lehtonen's first full seasons with the team - Lehtonen was drafted 83rd overall by the Bruins in 2005 and had played four seasons in the SM-Liiga team in his hometown (the Espoo Blues) before coming to North America, and Penner had signed as an undrafted free agent in February of the year prior, after a solid season at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he received an honorable mention for the CCHA's 2007-08 All-Rookie team.

This wasn't your run of the mill Providence team, either - backstopped by Tuukka Rask, and including such future NHLers as Vladimir Sobotka, Johnny Boychuk, Brad Marchand, Adam McQuaid, Byron Bitz, and Matt Hunwick, the team went 43-29-0-8 into the postseason. They made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, before finally losing to the Hershey Bears, the eventual cup champs. Through this run, Lehtonen lead the team in goals scored, and was fourth in assists. Penner lead the team's defensemen in points scored, proving his offensive prowess, and scored 11 points in the postseason.

2009-2010 went differently, and although Lehtonen headed to Sweden to play for Skelleftea for the 2010-2011 season, Providence's woes remain the same - inconsistent goaltending and lack of chemistry leading to numerous losses. Although Penner's points total actually went up between 08-09 and 09-10, they've dropped off considerably this year, primarily because he doesn't have much to work with as far as the team goes.

He found some success working with Steven Kampfer as a d-pair, which was fun to watch - Penner is not a big guy at 5'10, 191 lbs, and neither is Kampfer. Somehow having two little, speedy defensemen worked, though, which unfortunately ceased when Kampfer was called up to Boston. Although he hasn't been on the scoresheet as much, he and Kampfer are tied for the team lead in plus/minus, at +10.

Lehtonen is having considerably more luck scoring this year with Skelleftea; he actually leads the entire Swedish League in goals scored, and is second overall in total points scored. Coming from Providence, and before that Espoo, he was considered somewhat of a nobody when he arrived in Sweden, but has quickly won fans over with his skill. Despite having 56 points in 52 games, he's still only managed a +4 in the plus/minus category; last year with Providence, his defense (or lack thereof) was his downfall, as he lead the team in points but also in craptacular plus/minus, at -19.

Essentially - while there's no guarantee Lehtonen will leave his good experience in the SEL behind, in Penner, you're getting a fast, small puck-moving defenseman who just needs a good partner to work with. He's good on the power play and has been used on the penalty kill as well. He's appeared in two games for Boston, both in 2009-2010. About his skill and playing ability, GM Peter Chiarelli has said that Penner "needs to continue to get stronger and play more consistently."

He's a Minnesota Twins fan, is actually himself an identical twin, and is big on community service - he earned the P-Bruins' "Man of the Year" award last year for his contributions to the community in Providence. I'm sad to see him go, but there's a glut of small puck-moving defensemen in the Bruins' system right now - here's hoping he'll get an even bigger and better role on the Houston blueline.

Meet your 2010-11 Aeros: Jon DiSalvatore

Jon DiSalvatore
Right Wing

Born: 3/30/81 (29)
Bangor, ME
6'1" - 200

Shoots: Right

(Photo by Chris Jerina)

This will be DiSalvatore's second season in Houston, where he was captain last season. That honor hasn't been assigned yet (rotating three alternates for now), so it remains to be seen if the C lands on him again. What I would expect is another 50-ish point season with 20-ish goals.

You can pretty much set your watch to his point totals, so there's no secret about what you're getting when you sign him. Add in the veteran presence and leadership and he's a good guy to have around this young bunch. And it does seem like he's clicking in Yeo's system as he's already got 2 points in 2 games.

This is another 2 year deal, like I praised in Senator Peters' profile, and I like that move just as much with DiSalvatore. He's been in a new city nearly every year for the last 7 years (2 years in Peoria), so the ability to keep some momentum and chemistry in an organization for 3 straight years has to benefit his game, not to mention his life.

Meet your 2010-11 Aeros: Warren Peters

Warren Peters 
Center/Senator

Born: 7/10/1982 (28)
Saskatoon, SK
6'0" - 201

Shoots: Left

During the skills competition, I misheard Joe O'Donnell over the speakers when he introduced Peters. I heard "Senator Warren Peters." Andrew corrected me. "Center." Oh. Right. Of course.

Alas, I still call him "The Senator" in my head. Senator Peters mopped up the floor with that guy. Senator Peters vetoed that scoring attempt. Great, isn't it?

Anyway, Senator Peters comes to the Aeros from the Texas Stars, and may I just take a moment to commend Mr. Mill for signing him for 2 years? I still feel like one of the harbingers of doom last season was the number of guys who were set to be UFAs on July 1. Two years says, You've proven yourself and we believe in you and we want you to help us build something. Or, given the small salary budget, maybe it says, We'll give you 2 years if you'll take less money. Whatever. I still like it.

Peters is what I call a "glue guy." Gritty, plays with an edge, and has decent skill with the puck. He was the captain of the Quad Cities team a few years back, so he's got some leadership cred and a veteran who's been around this league, been up in a show a few times, and knows how to be a professional.

He's coming off a career year with Texas, but I don't know that I would expect 20 goals from him every season. If he can bring those other intangibles and create some chances and play a good defensive game, he'll be golden.

(And yes, I know the picture is from a video game.)

Meet your 2010-11 Aeros: Kris Fredheim

Kris Fredheim
Defense

Born: 2/23/1987
Campbell River, BC
6'2" - 192

Shoots: Right

It's pronounced FRED-haym. Rhymes with Dead Aim. Fredheim's a stay at home defenseman who earned an AHL deal out of camp after finishing up his college career at Colorado College (Wild must have a scout who lives in Colorado Springs... ).

He was originally a 6th round draft pick in 2005 for Vancouver but they ultimately passed, so I'm sure he'll have a little something extra when the Aeros face Manitoba.

I've never seen him play so I can't comment at all, but here's what Hockey's Future had to say about him.

Fredheim is a tall, lanky defensive defenseman who is noted for his big, powerful slapshot. He’s a smart player who keeps things pretty simple and is very solid positionally. He makes great use of his large frame and long reach, but still needs to add strength. Despite his need for more physical strength, Fredheim is strong on his skates and has shown that he can be difficult to move off of the puck. He is a fierce competitor who isn’t afraid to play the body is quite good in his play along the boards and in the corners. Fredheim possesses good puck skills and can make nice outlet passes, though he could stand to be a bit more patient with the puck. He is defensively sound, effectively taking away passing/shooting lanes and has shown a willingness to block shots. Some added size and strength would go a long way to help improve many of Fredheim’s weaknesses as his collegiate career goes along.

So, there's that. Judging solely by his stats (it's all I've got) and knowing these profiles tend to be a little outdated, I'm guessing his patience with the puck has probably seen some improvement. In his final season at CC, he doubled his point totals, assists mostly, but that could be an indication of more comfort with the puck.

Meet Your 2010-11 Aeros: Brandon Rogers

BRANDON ROGERS
Born: February 27, 1982 (age 28)
Rochester, NH

6 ft 1
198 lb
Defenseman
Shoots: Left

(Photo courtesy of Fred Trask)

Career Transactions: Is currently signed to a AHL contract with the Aeros....Signed as a free agent by Minnesota, July 15, 2008....Signed by Houston (AHL), August 23, 2007....Originally selected by Anaheim in the fourth round (118th overall) in 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

What is there to say about Brandon Rogers? I think it's become obvious over the years that I'm a fan of the guy as a player, and as a person. After all, how can you not like a guy who was the AHL Man of the Year, and yet thought nothing of it because going out into the community was just a regular part of being a hockey player?

Rogers didn't have the best of seasons, points-wise, last year, getting only eight points (3+5=8) in 60 games after having scored 32 and 28 in the previous two seasons. Yet the lack of scoring last season is probably, one of the reasons I'm a fan as Rogers sacrificed his scoring to help the team, moving from defense to take over as the checking line center because injuries and call-ups kept the team decimated throughout the season. That shouldn't be a problem this year -- one can hope -- as the team seemed determined to be bring in forwards this off-season.

I don't see Rogers as a flashy guy. I think he's more of a steady presence who's not going to make stupid plays and who will find some way to make a contribution. He's also, for me, somebody I can always go to in the locker room and who give me a quote despite the night he or the team just had.

Meet Your 2010-11 Aeros: Jared Spurgeon

Jared Spurgeon
Defense

Born: 11/29/1989 (20)
Edmonton, Alberta
5'8" - 175

Shoots: Right

(WHL Championship Trophy Photo by Regan Bartel - http://reganbartel.blogspot.com/)


When I went to training camp during the first week of camp here, there was this small defenseman on the ice, #28, who caught my eye during one of the drills. It was some kind of backchecking drill and this 28 just looked like he was working his can off. He didn't always catch his guy but, my god, did he appear to be busting a gut trying to and that impressed me.

Now, sometimes a guy can look like he's working hard, but really he's just working inefficiently. So, I'm not sure what I was seeing exactly, but apparently the team saw enough in Spurgeon to sign him off of a tryout. He'd originally been a 6th round pick of the Islanders in the 2008 draft, but they didn't sign him.

I'm told he was quite the PP quarterback for the Spokane Chiefs and he definitely racked up some points (almost a point per game his final WHL season) to back that up. I think at the AHL level, sometimes smaller guys can pull off some slippery moves. They can hide in the weeds a little bit. We'll see what he can do. If his energy at camp is any indication, he'll be a fun guy to watch.

I asked a Spokane Chiefs fan I know on Twitter to gimme Spurgeon in 140 char: "Incredibly effective defenseman for his size, great leadership, exceptional hair." My Twitter friends know what's important.

Here's some good scouting video of him put together by his agent:

Meet Your 2010-11 Aeros: Nate Prosser

Nate Prosser
Defense

Born: 5/7/1986 (24)
Elk River, MN
6'2" 210

Shoots: Right

Prosser is another in the handful of college free agents the Wild picked up earlier in the year as he just finished his senior year at Colorado College.

He's a big fella and has a decent touch for setting up goals, having put up solid assist numbers throughout his career. According to this article from the Wild, he's a mean cuss gritty player who can provide that all-important physical spark.

One of the things the Aeros really lacked in last year's roster was that spark, so he if can provide that while playing a solid defensive game, he's going to be a grand addition to the team.

As I recall, he had a solid pro debut with the Wild at the end of last season, and being a Minnesota boy, he's fired up to play for the local club. But I don't think he's at the top of the depth chart. He's almost surely behind Scandella at the moment, but there's loads of opportunity for that to change. My point being, I would expect him to be sporting the bomber instead of the... "wild thing"... most of the season. Go ahead and get attached.

And if he regularly comes to the defense of his goalie like this, I know I will:

Also, according to Russo, Wild d-man Brent Burns nicknamed him 'Stiflemeister' thanks to his uncanny resemblance to actor Seann William Scott who played Stifler in the American Pie movies (and is also a Minnesotan, for what that's worth). Thanks to http://gocctigers.blogspot.com for the side-by-side comparison.

Meet Your 2010-11 Aeros: Casey Wellman

Casey Wellman
Center

Born: 10/18/1987 (22)
Brentwood, CA
6'0" 173

Shoots: Right

We kept putting off writing about Wellman because, gosh, the Wild just love this guy. They want him up in Minnesota, but they also want him playing meaningful minutes, and if there's not room for him to do that in MN, then they said he's going to be in Houston where he can.

Soooo, don't get too attached because I suspect if there's an injury among the top 6 in Minnesota, he's headed north. Plus, the Wild are in a cap pinch and he's able to be moved up and down without waivers, so they may be doing that a lot to manage the numbers.

Wellman was one of the first college kids picked up by the "new" Wild, just finishing up his sophomore year at UMass-Amherst, and was one of the most highly sought after undrafted college players this off-season. And he's lived up to the hype having played very well in his jump to the pro ranks.

Of all the guys that were on the bubble, he's the one I'm most excited to see drop to Houston. While he's here, he should be able to Make Shit Happen and that's exactly what the Aeros need.

Also, he's just looks like a nice boy, doesn't he? I'm warm to him already.

Meet your 2010-11 Aeros: Marco Scandella

Marco Scandella
Defense

Born: 2/23/1990 (20)
Montreal, Quebec
6'2" - 190

Shoots: Left

Scandella is the Wild's 2nd round pick from 2008 and we've seen him here a bit after his junior seasons have finished the last two seasons. Expectations are high for Marco and he seems to have fulfilled them thus far in the eyes of the Wild. I've heard nothing but good things about him coming from prospect camps and tournaments.

I've been somewhat skeptical, because he seemed lost at times during his stints with the Aeros, but maybe that's just me being a jerk. No matter how good you are, it's a jump to the pros, and especially at defense where mistakes show up on the scoreboard almost as glaringly as for goalies. So now he'll get his chance to jump into a fresh batch of players, and not a team that's been gelling (or, like last year, NOT gelling) all season.

Couple of things on Marco:

• He got a little break last season to the tune of 15 games for just about taking some poor kid's head off in an open ice hit. No big deal.
• He played on the Canadian team in the World Juniors Championship in January that took home the silver. 
• He's a shutdown defenseman, but can put up a few points.
• He won both the fastest skater and hardest shot (95 mph) at the Aeros skill competition.

I'm eager to see him play now that he's all ours and not just visiting at the end of the season. I think he's been in enough pressure situations and had enough tastes of the pro game to come in with a knowledge of where he needs to be and what he needs to do to succeed. He's progressed his game every year and is pretty sturdy, so I think he can be a great asset as long as Minnesota lets us keep him. 

Also, I promise not to call him the Italian Stallion all season. Maybe.

Meet Your 2010-11 Aeros: Jamie Fraser

Jamie Fraser

Defense

Born Nov 17 1985 -- Sarnia, ONT
Height 6.01 -- Weight 200 -- Shoots L

Sixth year pro, second with the Aeros

Jamie got off to a bit of a slow start in 2009-10. I never claim to be a hockey expert, but even I could tell that Fraser struggled a bit out of the gate. The good news? He finished with 22 points, which is just about what he averaged in his previous two AHL seasons in Bridgeport. In the first three months of the season, he played 19 games and scored just one point. In November and December, he recorded ZERO points. As far as I know, that is how many points Barry Brust recorded in the AHL over that same time frame.

Then something clicked.

He got in more games, got more ice time and started putting up some pretty decent numbers.

January? Two goals, four assists. February? Same; two goals, four assists. In March and the few April games, Fraser tacked on 2 more goals and seven assists and was right up there with the team lead in scoring by defensemen. He was fairly steady on the blueline, too, and only played in two games where he was a horrific -3.

If Jamie stays healthy this year, he and Max Noreau could make a very formidable offensive threat on the blue line. Come on Jamie, how about we go for 30-35 points this year?

Meet Your 2010-11 Aeros: Brandon Buck

BRANDON BUCK

Forward

Born Aug 16 1988 -- Delaware, ONT
Height 6.01 -- Weight 191 -- Shoots L

Third-Year Pro, Second season with Aeros

Brandon Buck (pictured here on the right celebrating a goal) signed a two-way AHL deal with the Aeros right before the season started last year. His role was fairly simple: play your tail off down in the ECHL and when you are need in Houston, don't embarrass yourself. Last year, Brandon did both of those things very well. He finished with 39 points in the ECHL (21 goals) and even contributed with three helpers in his 21 games with Kevin Constantine's Aeros.

Buck is fast and has decent hands, but he's probably not going to be on any top lines unless the Aeros and Wild just get devastated with injuries. He is a good candidate to spend some time down in the ECHL again, this time with the teams' affiliate in Bakersfield.

He is one of the guys that I did not get a chance to talk too much to last year, but based on what I have heard about him ... he seems to be a nice kid and one that is just ready for the chance to contribute. This guy averaged 62 points in his last two years of junior hockey, so he can put the puck in the net.

I don't know that he will make the team out of camp this yea, but he should be among one of the first called up when needed.

Meet Your 2010-11 Aeros: Peter Zingoni

PETER ZINGONI
Born: April 28, 1981 (age 29)
Bridgeport, CT

5 ft 10
190 lb
Center
Shoots: Left

Career Transactions: Selected by Columbus in the eighth round (231st overall) in 2000 NHL entry draft…Joined the Aeros as a free agent last season…Returns to the Aeros on a AHL contract this season.

I remember speaking to Peter Zingoni in training camp last season. The Aeros were going to be a chance for him to set right some misconceptions that had arisen about him as a result on an injury-plagued 2008-09 season with the Norfolk Admirals in which he had only 14 points (7-7=14). The primary misconceptions being that he could no longer score and that he could no longer stay healthy.

Unfortunately for Zingoni, his 2009-10 season with the Aeros was much like his previous season with the Admirals as he suffered through a series of injuries that allowed him to hit the ice in 47 games and limited his scoring once again (8-6=14). I spoke to him again later in the season, when he was once again sitting out a game because of injury, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more frustrated player – no, Heather, not even Barry when he was dealing with his multiple injuries.

Zingoni was frustrated because of the injuries. He was frustrated because he wanted to be playing hockey. He was frustrated because he felt he was letting everybody down. He was frustrated because he knew that the team, which was battered by injuries all season, would be better if he were on the ice.

Zingoni comes into this season off of two injury-plagued seasons that have worn on him, without a doubt. And he’s having to learn another new system and he’s having to deal with another new coach. But he still has talent, he still has skill, and if he can stay healthy, he should be able to help this Aeros team.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Jerina

Meet Your 2010-11 Aeros: Matt Kassian

MATT KASSIAN
Born: October 28, 1986 (age 23)
Edmonton, AB

6 ft 05
245 lb
Left Wing
Shoots: Left

Career Transactions: Selected by Minnesota in the second round (57th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Signed a 2-year contract to stay in the Wild system this off-season.

I don’t think it’s fair to say that Kevin Constantine had a favorite player. He appreciated some players more than others, but as long as the guys worked their asses off, as long as they worked on their games, did everything they could make their games better, did everything they could to make the team better, then Constantine liked them.

Matt Kassian fits that definition to a key. Kassian set career highs last year with 6 points (2+4=6) last season, and probably nobody was happier than Constantine because this was proof of Kassian’s work ethic. The guy was willing himself to be a better hockey player, to be something besides the team bruiser.

Mike Yeo is going to like Matt Kassian, just like Constantine liked Kassian, just like his teammates like him, and just like those of in the press box like him. Kassian’s a friendly guy, but he’s a worker. He’s not the most graceful guy, nor the most gifted of skaters. But it’s doubtful that anyone on the team’s going to work harder. And if anybody starts messing around with one of his teammates, then they're going to have to deal with Kassian because while he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, Kassian's not afraid or shy about playing the protector/enforcer when the need arises.

And not that it matters, but in my opinion, Yeo’s not going to have a nicer guy on the team. Kassian’s always ready to a joke or a friendly greeting. He’s a great guy to know, and from what I can tell, he’s a hell of a teammate.

Meet Your 2010-11 Aeros: Matt Hackett

Matt Hackett
Born: March 7, 1990 (20)
London, ON
6'2" - 170 lbs

Goalie
Catches: Left

Hackett robbing some guy - Photo by Rena Laverty

Matt was one of the top-rated North American goalies in the 2009 draft, and the Wild were in desperate need of a top goalie they might develop into Backstrom's successor. I haven't seen him enough to give much of an assessment, but he's a tall kid and should take up a good amount of space in the net. But he isn't so big/heavy that speed should be an issue for him.

My understanding is that he's not a flashy goaliel, but he's extremely solid technically, so he doesn't have to be flashy. As I type this, he's getting tested big time in St. Louis as Josh Harding has gone down with a knee injury and that little third period Hackett was supposed to play has turned into almost the entire game.

Hack and Joe O'Donnell will share hair tips, no doubt.

I'd give you his stats in juniors, but I don't put a lot of stock in goalie stats when looking at a big jump like junior to pros. A goalie's numbers exist in the context of his team and you just have to see 'em play. But he knocked it out of the park according to reports from the Traverse City Prospect Tournament a few weeks ago and the Wild brass are really impressed.

So, we'll see two things: How his game holds up against men rather than boys and how the Wild decide to manage his ice time. With a solid 5th guy like Tordjman, they can afford to send either one of them to Bakersfield to make sure they're seeing enough starts to stay fresh. KC was a coach who liked to ride the hot goalie (heh), but I don't know what Yeo's take will be. Have a definitive #1 in Anton? Or play the guy who's getting wins? That might be the tipping point on those "who goes where" decisions.

Here's some video of Matt at a goalie camp last summer:

Matt Hackett - 2009 Bandits Elite Camp from Bandits Goalie School on Vimeo.

Meet your 2010-11 Aeros: Anton Khudobin

Anton Khudobin
Born: May 7, 1986 (24)
Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan

5'11" - 203

Goalie
Catches: Left

Photo by Fred Trask

I was typing his birthdate up above and was reminded fondly of the incredible playoff game he played in 08-09, after which Aeros fans sang happy birthday to him. Easily one of my nicest memories of an Aeros game, and for those of you who rag on Steve, recall that he instigated that. Even I thought it was a little cheesy at first, but what a warm memory it turned out to be.

Anton is easy to have a soft spot for. He's a tremendous goalie when he's on. His acrobatic style and amazing flexibility are really something special. Those dimples. That accent and sort of "funny without knowing how funny he is" thing. I mean, come on.

He was fantastic enough last November to earn a spot in the AHL All Star game, but had a nasty slump after that and never really got back that success in the AHL. But he was terrific in his games with Minnesota, so how much of that was a leaky defense in Houston?

Anton hit a crossroads with the organization this summer when the Wild signed Dennis Endras and said he would not play in Houston (at least this season). They essentially put him ahead of Khudobin in the ladder to Minnesota and, as I wrote in my blog as Anton's deadline to re-sign with the Wild approached, I wouldn't have blamed him a bit if he headed to Europe for bigger money.

But he stuck with his shot at the NHL and I think Houston is fortunate for that. He's improved every season, and I don't think he's hit his potential ceiling. It will be fun to see what unfolds for him this year and I think having Tordjman and Hackett nipping at his heels will be good for him.

Meet your 2010-11 Aeros: Petr Kalus

Petr Kalus

Born: June 29, 1987 (23)
Ostrava, TCH
6'1" - 212

Right Wing
Shoots: Left

Kalus used to be a source of much frustration, both for Aeros fans and Wild fans who hoped to see him move up and help in Minnesota. His first season with Houston in 07-08, while high energy and gritty, was unfocused and ineffective. He was a ball of chaos.

Then, after not making the Wild in 08-09, he bailed for Russia where he played a mere 17 games and maybe gained some perspective and maturity. He definitely came back last season with a more mature attitude and with the same energy but more ... tame?

Either way, he turned his energy and grit into an asset and was fun to watch. I even missed him when he was up with Minnesota, and that surprised me. I'm eager to see continued growth this season, hopefully some more pucks in the net (23 points last season), but even if he's destined for a energy/checking role, he's got the temperament for it and that's okay.

He's only 23 and I think we've seen distinct growth in the last 3 years. Plenty of time for Petr to find his stride. Looking forward to continued progress from him this season.

Meet your 2010-11 Aeros: Josh Tordjman

JOSH TORDJMAN

Born: January 11, 1985
Montreal, Quebec
6'1" -- 155 lbs

Goalie
Catches Left

Other side...

The rule when writing about goalies is that they're going to make you look like an idiot as soon as you publish a piece on them. If they're playing well and you write about it, they'll start sieving it up. If they're playing poorly and you write about it, suddenly they're Patrick Roy.

Apparently this holds up in the off-season as no sooner had I written a piece for a goalie scouting report about how Tordjman hadn't been picked up this off-season and how bizarre that is, the Aeros signed him.

But the benefits of the move for the team and organization outweigh the annoyance at making me look painfully out of the loop. Mostly. Kinda. Hmph.

Anyway, we all know Tordjman from his seasons in the Phoenix system with San Antonio. He's a solid tender you can count on to put up a good fight. He's reliable, steady, and kabob skewer skinny, so I'm in constant fear of him snapping like a twig, but I guess he's held up better than a lot of other goalies having played significant minutes throughout his pro career.

I think a lot of folks were a little puzzled by the move. With Khudobin and Hackett already slated for Houston, why do they need another one? Essentially, he provides insurance and competition. The team could still look to trade Harding, which would pull Khudobin up to the Wild, and you can't leave an AHL team with a rookie tender and an emergency backup between the pipes.

So for a spell, either Hackett or Tordjman will be in the ECHL until someone gets hurt, traded, etc.It's a lot like Brusty's situation last season, except I think this time, it's a more calculated abundance of tendies where guys are coming into the season with expectations appropriately set. But even better is the competition he provides. It's good to have two goalies pushing each other. It's great to have 3 trying desperately to earn their spot in the AHL. We will see their very best and I think the Aeros are going to need that this season.

Meet your 2010-11 Aeros: Joel Broda

JOEL BRODA

Born: November 24, 1989 (age 20)
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

6 ft
203 lbs
Center

Shoots: Left

Some guys just have that gift for putting the puck in the space around the goalie and some guys have the gift for putting the puck right in the goalie's stomach (or in the space around the goalie but outside the net). Apart from one year in recent memory, most Aeros forwards have been of the latter persuasion. So on that front, Broda has the potential to be a stand-out, as he was a point-per-game guy his last two seasons in junior (and is currently tearing it up in the Wild's rookie tournament in Traverse City).

But he comes with some red flags, the biggest of which is that the Caps, who drafted him in the 5th round in 2008, decided to let him walk rather than signing him. Sure, that organization has crazy depth, but who lets a point per game center go for nothing if there's not something else going on?

The Wild took a flyer on him anyway because, why not? Let's see what the kid can do. The scuttlebutt I'd heard on him was that maaaaybe there's a lack of hustle in his game, so I went to a couple of friends (Scotty Wazz and I Mean, We Got Guys -- thanks y'all!) who have seen him in juniors and asked for the low down.

Here's the gist: There is something to the "lazy" reputation, but that could be attributable to his poor skating skills. Apparently Caps scouts have said he's got an NHL shot and hands with ECHL skating. They haven't said that to ME though, so I can't vouch for it, but it's something to look for.

Scott says he's got a beefy frame (ahem) and will take a hit to make a play, but isn't good in 1 on 1 situations and rarely wins those battles. And chemistry may be an issue for him as well, as he did fine throughout his junior career but really blew up when paired with Brandon Kozun (108 and 107 points the last 2 seasons for the Calgary Hitmen).

So he's a guy clearly with a lot of potential in his hands, but we've seen guys with sick hands (but lacking the full package in one way or another) be tremendous disappointments and we've seen them have tremendous success. Which way will Broda go?