Who Are These Guys?
So you've played hockey your whole short life, and even though you had a bit of success in the junior ranks, you hit the age of eligibility but not a single NHL team gave you a phone call during your first entry draft. Or any draft after that, either.
But you kept putting in the ice time, kept practicing, kept training, kept playing in juniors or for your college team, hoping you'd get another shot to prove yourself and score a professional contract.
If the above words mean something to you, there are four guys headed to Denver at the end of this week that can totally relate.
When Avalanche rookie camp begins on Sunday, September 14th, four young players who never got that draft day call will get a chance to make a name for themselves and make a living playing the game they love.
Two currently play in major junior leagues, and two play in the US college ranks. All four are centers. Jack Combs of the Saginaw Spirit (OHL), Dustin Sylvester of the Kootenay Ice (WHL), Chris Mueller of Michigan State University and Bryan Marshall of the University of Nebraska-Omaha are those four young players with a chance to join the Colorado Avalanche franchise, having been invited to participate in this season's rookie camp.
The main attraction, of course, is Combs. By far the best player for Stephen Colbert's favorite team, Combs scored 100 points (42 goals) in just 67 games with the Spirit. At 20 years old, he appears to have been somewhat of a late bloomer, having increased his scoring by 67 points from 2006-07 to 2007-08. I suppose that's why he received the "Most Improved Player" award in the OHL Coaches Poll earlier this year.
The other three centers vying for contracts---Marshall, Mueller and Sylvester---are all decent point-producers, though not as impressive as Combs. The only Canadian of the four is Sylvester, interestingly. He's also the youngest, having been born in 1989. The oldest is Marshall at 25.
Their career stats are below (choose the Wide view option in the left sidebar if the stats are partially obscured):
Working against all of these guys is the fact that the Avalanche already have a lot of centers (though their talent levels vary). I have a feeling that anything short of stellar performances are going to be bad news for Sylvester, Marshall and Mueller. Combs will probably get a little more leeway, considering his dominance in the OHL last season. But none of these guys will likely be pulling Avalanche jerseys over their heads this season, even though I'd take Jack Combs over Tyler Arnason any day of the week.
Anyway, good luck to all four of them!
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Combs
“I don’t have and and I want to keep it that way,” Combs said with a smile Tuesday afternoon.
As in, a plane ticket back from Denver to Saginaw. I like him already.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on
Sep 8, 2008 9:53 AM MDT
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He’ll be ready on DAY ONE.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
by Joe @ MHH on
Sep 8, 2008 9:57 AM MDT
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please god
have this guy make tyler arnason expendable. please.
by thedoctor on
Sep 8, 2008 11:23 AM MDT
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Arny already is expendable.
Expend his arse, Granato and FG should know he is a ‘sunk cost’ by now so why is he still here? He filled a roll for one season as a stop-gap and yet here he is. *($#!
Never trust the lunch lady.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on
Sep 8, 2008 11:32 AM MDT
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The thing I like
Looking at combs’ numbers is that his assist level also rose. That to me suggests a more well rounded advancement, and its something (at the risk of blasphemy) I wish Svatos could do. Of course, passing to Tyler arnason in any game not including the oilers is not a good way to increase your assist total, and svatos has proven ability to score goals at the nhl level. However, I’d take a bag of pucks and maybe a few rolls of tape (ah, who am I kidding, I’ll be happy with the tape) for arnason, and am not willing to see svatos go. Here’s hoping combs’ pushes everybody, as its not like we haven’t had centers playing wing before.
by TheRed on
Sep 8, 2008 12:44 PM MDT
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Here’s hoping combs’ pushes everybody, as its not like we haven’t had centers playing wing before.
OR vice-versa, remember, Wolski played center in Brampton and was rumored to be the possible 2nd line center this season if Sakic had not returned. Hopefully Lumpy (Gravy) will find himself in the press box next to the Sheriff most of the season, not that I wish the press box on the Sheriff. To bad Lumpy doesn’t have a 2-way, though if we wanted to send him to LE he’d probably get there on waivers.
Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-
by Americanario on
Sep 8, 2008 2:00 PM MDT
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Should be an interesting camp
Other then Combs, I’d be surprised if any of the other ATOs sticks and I even have doubts about Combs.
However, I’m looking forward to seeing a healthy Galiardi at camp.
by Angélique C. Murray on
Sep 8, 2008 4:10 PM MDT
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I’d at least like to see Combs in a Monsters jersey if at all possible. Can’t have too much depth…
by Mike @ MHH on
Sep 8, 2008 4:21 PM MDT
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Also
Comb’s big jump in what I assume is his 20 yr old season in the CHL is not unusual. It’s men against boys at that age and there are a lot of examples of higher draft picks based on that year that don’t work out.
To me, Marshall’s numbers are more impressive of the two if I had to compare. But, at 170 lbs Marshall is damn light for six foot. On the other hand Combs is Arnason-like buid (FAT!) at 5’11’’ and 193.
Camp ALWAYS has at least one surprise so I’d rule nothing out.
by Dario on
Sep 8, 2008 7:15 PM MDT
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Plus, we could add “P-Diddy” to our pantheon of nicknames if he somehow made the cut…
by Mike @ MHH on
Sep 9, 2008 8:14 AM MDT
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