Visors and Risers

Credit Hockeysfuture.com Near the end of the 2015-2016 NHL season the Pittsburgh Penguins were rolling into the playoffs when suddenly their star goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury went out with injury. The penguins were left with a glaring opening in one of their most important positions in the game with playoffs quickly approaching. Enter Matt Murray … This 20 year old goaltender had played his last 41 games in the American Hockey League, posting a record of 25-11-3 including a goals against average of 1.54 and a .940 save % including a rookie record 12 shutouts that season. Before his jump to the pro ranks this relatively unknown goaltender played four seasons in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and was drafted by the penguins in the second round of the 2012 NHL entry draft. Murray came onto the scene and absolutely tore it up, helping to lead the penguins to their fourth Stanley Cup in team history. This season, Murray has been bet...

Once a player has been drafted by an NHL team they usually take one of two different routes, either go play in one of the Junior Hockey Leagues such as the OHL or take the NCAA route and get an education while playing for their schools team. The majority of American born players tend to take the NCAA route as they are usually offered a full-ride to come and play in the very competitive atmosphere of Men's Division 1 College Hockey. However, the thing that confuses me the most is why some of these more talented players decide to leave college after only a year or two to turn pro, just as how Boston University star and Arizona Coyotes Draft pick Clayton Keller left after one year to sign with the Coyotes following the Terriers loss in the 2017 NCAA tournament . Credit Hockey Futures  How could someone who is being given four free years of higher education ever want to turn that down just for the chance to play in the NHL three years sooner? I understand that there are many fac...

Ryan Mantha Finally Gets His Shot  Credit Harry Scull Jr. It has been a long time coming for Niagara Ice Dogs defenseman Ryan Mantha , but he has finally signed a 3 year entry level contract with an NHL team earlier today. After being drafted by the New York Rangers in the 4th round of the 2014 Entry Draft (#104 overall) Mantha continued to play for the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL, but was deemed to not be a part of the Rangers long term future and was never offered a contract. After becoming a free agent in June of this year, Mantha was invited to the Buffalo Sabres pre-season camp but was let go soon after. Mantha was soon after named the 2016/2017 captain of the Ice dogs and has been a solid offensive contributor to the team, producing 51 points (14 goals, 37 assists) in 58 games this season. Just following the NHL Trade Deadline today, the Edmonton Oilers announced that they had signed Mantha to a 3-year entry level deal.  In an Interview with The Buffal...

OHL in Primetime: LA Kings Prospect Erik Cernak traded to Tampa Bay  Credit NHL.com Just four days before the NHL trade deadline the LA Kings and Tampa Bay Lighting have completed a trade sending goaltender Ben Bishop and a 2017 5th round pick in the draft to Los Angeles and in return Tampa Bay receives Erie Otters Defensemen Erik Cernak, Goaltender Peter Budaj, and a 2017 7th round draft pick. Erik Cernak  Credit Hockeyfutures.com Cernak , a six foot tall 19 year old defenseman, is currently playing in his second season in the OHL for the Erie Otters. He was drafted by the otters in the first round of the 2015 OHL import draft, #54 overall, and in the second round of the 2015 NHL draft by the LA Kings, #43 overall.  In 82 total games Cernak has 32 points (7 goals, 25 assists) and a  +34 rating helping to lead the Otters to the playoffs in consecutive seasons. Cernak is now one of three Otters players who's rights are owned by Tampa...