Consider this part 2 of my earlier entry. Few more things to catch up on:
-Belated congrats go out to the Norfolk Admirals, who finished off an amazing season by sweeping Toronto in 4 games en route to the franchise’s first Calder Cup. Very happy for my old friend (and former Rat) Mike Angelidis, the captain of the Ads, who I’ve known since he first started in the ’06-’07 season. All this despite rumors that Norfolk’s parent club, Tampa Bay, is about to switch to Syracuse starting next year (the Crunch did not renew their affiliation with Anaheim, and it appears the only other team available was the Lightning, who was in the final year of their affiliation agreement with the Admirals. Put two and two together and there you go, instant rumors). The Admirals closed out the season with a remarkable 43-3 run, including the record 28 game winning streak in the regular season, then a 10 game streak to finish off the playoff run, sweeping St. John’s and Toronto in the process. Forward Alex Picard was named the playoff MVP and recipient of the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy (the AHL’s Conn Smythe, if you will), after leading all playoff scorers with 16 points in 18 games.
-It’s not even officially free agency time yet, but two A-Devils are already headed overseas. Good luck to third goalie Timo Pielmeier, going home to his native Germany (that should help clear up the goaltending situation just a little) and forward Nathan Perkovich, off to Croatia. Team Perky has sadly been broken up.
Thoughts Inside The Box 