Welcome to our Central Division Preview, where one-by-one we will take a look at each of the Checkers' division rivals. Today's focus is on the Manitoba Moose, affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets.
Forwards
The Checkers will face several new teams this season, including the reincarnation of the Manitoba Moose, who are the new top affiliate for the Winnipeg Jets. Last season, as the St. John’s IceCaps, the team struggled offensively, turning in the fourth-worst goals per game average. Rookie Chase Balisy led the group of forwards with a stellar 44 points in his first season out of college, but is now gone after signing an entry-level deal with the Florida Panthers this offseason. Mainstays Jason Jaffary and Eric O’Dell are both no longer with the team, and while both player’s production dipped last season, their absence could be quite a blow for the team. Former Atlanta draft pick John Albert, entering his fifth pro season, turned in a 40-point season in 2014-15 and could be an option to fill that role for Manitoba. Joel Armia, a first-round pick acquired last season from Buffalo in the Evander Kane trade, as well as recent signee Matt Fraser, a two-time 30-goal scorer in the AHL, could also help turn the offense around, should they spend time in Manitoba.
Defense
2014-15 Season
- • First season in AHL
- • Checkers 2014-15 Head-To-Head Record: 0-0-0-0
- • Three Stars:
D Will O’Neill – 48 points (10g, 38a)
LW Chase Balisy – 44 points (21g, 23a)
C John Albert – 42 points (16g, 26a)
- • Key Additions:
D Andrew MacWilliam – Signed 2-way contract with Winnipeg
F Matt Fraser – Signed 2-way contract with Winnipeg
- • Key Departures:
D Will O’Neill – Signed 2-way contract with Pittsburgh
LW Chase Balisy - Signed entry-level contract with Florida
C Eric O’Dell – Signed 2-way contract with Ottawa
LW Jason Jaffary – Signed with EHC Red Bull Munchen in Germany
The team finished the 2014-15 season ranked 23rd in the AHL in terms of goals allowed per game, but perhaps even more discouraging is the loss of their most dynamic player. Will O’Neil broke out last season, leading the IceCaps in scoring with 48 points, but signed with Pittsburgh in the offseason. Two strong veteran blue liners in Keaton Ellerby and Julien Brouillete are also gone, having elected to sign in Europe. Brendan Kichton, whose numbers regressed last season after a 48-point rookie campaign in 2013-14, is the top returning defenseman for the Moose, and could be a standout player if he can prove that last season was nothing more than a sophomore slump. The Jets have some intriguing prospects waiting in the wings that could see time in Manitoba this year, but as it stands their back end could be their weakness.
Goalie
Lucky for the Moose, their subpar defense could be saved by some top notch goaltending, and Connor Hellebuyck will look to deliver that. In just his rookie season, Hellebuyck handled a substantial workload in net, leading the league in minutes and saves and ranking second in wins. With the Jets’ goalie situation looking fairly locked up with Michael Hutchinson and Ondrej Pavelec, Hellebuyck could be looking at another season as the go-to guy, this time for the Moose.
Outlook
As is the nature of the league, the Moose lost several important pieces during the offseason, and could be looking at a downturn in their production for 2015-16. But the key thing to watch will be the play of Hellebuyck. If he can establish himself as one of the league’s top goalies in his second pro year, he could end up carrying the Moose.
