The Solar Bears just signed the fourth of their allowed veteran players, meaning that the rest of the roster has to be given to players who have played fewer than 260 professional games by the start of the season. According to the Solar Bears website, the last of these four veterans is Taylor Doherty -- but will he see any time with the Bears? He is a rare right-handed defenseman, and he's currently the only one on the Marlies roster.
Doherty was traded from Rapid City in the middle of the Bears' infamous Brampton road trip, for long-time Bears player Max Nicastro. Doherty remained in Toronto despite the transfer of his ECHL rights. Ask Species how then-president Jason Siegel felt about this trade -- he got to see the emotions in person.
According to the Bears website:
Doherty, 25, was originally acquired by the Solar Bears during the 2015-16 season on March 9 from the Rapid City Rush, where he had logged 24 points (8g-16a) and 32 penalty minutes in 56 games. That same day he also signed a Professional Try-Out Agreement with the Toronto Marlies, where he spent the remainder of the season, notching three assists and 20 penalty minutes in 12 games."Coming into the Toronto system near the end of last season was a big reason for me choosing to join the Solar Bears," Doherty said. "Being in Orlando is the perfect opportunity for me to continue my development as a hockey player. I’m extremely excited to play here and do what I can to help the team."
The other veterans who WILL remain in Orlando are Eric Baier (who has had the C twice in his time here), ECHL/AHL player Paul Crowder, who has seriously put in his time around the league, and defenseman Trevor Ludwig. Staring at Ludwig's accomplishments, I wonder whether he'll be given the Solar Bears C this coming year.
According to the excellent Don $:
"Orlando's four vets have the following number of pro games played: Ludwig, 430 pro games (180 ECHL), Baier, 338 (289 ECHL), Crowder, 411 (279 ECHL), Doherty, 302 (56 ECHL), for a total of 1,481 pro games combined."This definitely addresses a concern that the Bears had heading out of last season, that the team was incredibly young and required more veterans who could teach them how to be professional players.
My favorite player whom I've never gotten to interview, Patrick Watling, is also returning to the Bears! I'm trying my best to hunt down this statistics-loving player for an interview (he played for the Soo while Kyle Dubas was GM), so heeeeey Watling, contact me, ok? We wanna hear about your life with Dubas, and why you like advanced stats so much.
Hockey News
Thunder look to battle back after tough series split in Sydney | PPP
"The game on Saturday saw the Thunder earn a well needed win in what Bears coach Ron Kuprowsky described as a close game, despite the final score."
Look at little James van Riemsdyk wearing a Maple Leafs hat | PPP
"It was fate! It was always fate!"
Let’s "C" What Happens: A Look At Potential New Captains | AIH
Cole speculates that JvR might be a good captain for the leafs. Or maybe Rielly. Or...Lupul? Er.
Coyotes' Chayka already making waves in first 3 months | AP
Mostly posting this for Arvind.
Anaheim Turns to Gibson and Bernier | THW
"The Anaheim Ducks traded Frederik Andersen to Toronto this summer and will turn to John Gibson and Jonathan Bernier in net this season."
Michael Grabner, Dave Bolland, Cam Ward could be leaving their teams for Las Vegas | ESPN
"George McPhee hasn't been on the job long enough to hire a scouting staff. But the general manager for the NHL's Las Vegas expansion franchise is already formulating his strategy for next year's expansion draft."
Sabres' Nicolas Deslauriers makes accidental cameo on NHL Network | Buffalo
"The Sabres forward was accidentally placed in the graphic and credited with winning 16 games in net."
'NHL 17' Beta Impressions, Positives And Negatives | Forbes
"EA Sports released its closed beta demo for NHL 17 on Wednesday and it’s massive. The entire download was 19.2 GB on Xbox One and its one of the larger pre-release demos you’ll find."
Domi eyes playoffs for Coyotes | TSN
"Overall it was a blast," Domi told TSN.ca of his first professional season. "I learned a lot, especially from my teammates and coaches and you realize how long of an 82-game-season grind it is. It’s definitely a mental grind and also a physical grind."
The NHL, Brains and Lawyerly Denial | American Lawyer
"The tobacco episode came to mind as I read two questions addressed to Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the National Hockey League, by Senator Richard Blumenthal. But there's a critical difference: The tobacco executives stood together as one against the onslaught; Bettman and the NHL are all alone."
Senator Who Pushed For Anti-Sports Legislation Says NHL ‘In Denial’ On Concussions | CBS
" Add Richard Blumenthal to the list of people in disbelief over NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s handling of his league’s concussion crisis."
NHL players union says Bettman can't restore defenseman's ban | Reuters
"The National Hockey League's players union on Friday urged a U.S. court not to grant Commissioner Gary Bettman broad power to override arbitrators when deciding how severely to discipline players for improper on-ice conduct."
Did NHL teams suck fun out of 3-on-3 OT? (Trending Topics) | Puck Daddy
In actual practice, the League started out hot and cooled down — as many predicted it would — potentially because teams had "figured out" how to coach against even wide-open 3-on-3 tactics.
Murray Craven returns to NHL spotlight as Las Vegas hockey architect | Puck Daddy
"The 52-year-old Craven is a living, walking embodiment that timing can help in the successes of life. If he hadn’t met Foley while playing golf in Whitefish, Montana in the early part of last decade, he may not have had this opportunity – to help mold and create the first major pro sports team in Las Vegas."
