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CBJ — October Franchise Update |
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With a few days of rest for the main roster before they hit the road to Tennessee on Saturday, what better time than now to check in on the rest of the franchise.
Cleveland Monsters
The Monsters split their first two games of the season in Hershey against the defending Calder Cup champions in a 2024 Eastern Conference Finals rematch.
In the season opener, the Bears embarrassed the Monsters by the score of 7-3.
Hershey got their goals from Vincent Iorio, Ethan Frank (3), Bodgan Trineyev, Ethan Bear, and Luke Philp. Hunter Sheppard had 30 saves on 33 shots.
Cleveland got their goals from Rocco Grimaldi; Roman Achan; and Denton Mateychuk. Jet Greaves had 28 saves on 35 shots.
In the next day rematch, the Monsters got their first win of the season in a 6-3 victory over Hershey.
The Bears only goal scorer was Ivan Miroschnichenko. Back to back games of hat-tricks for the Bears. Clay Stevenson had 21 saves on 27 shots faced.
The Monsters had their goals from Roman Achan, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Luca Del Bel Belluz (3), and James Malatesta. Zachary Sawchenko had 20 saves on 23 shots against in his Monsters’ debut.
Last weekend, the Monsters split their next series in Charlotte against the Checkers, the affiliate of the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
The Saturday game was a 5-2 loss at Bojangles Stadium.
Charlotte got goals from William Lockwood, Aidan McDonough (2), Oliver Okuliar, and Sandis Vilmanis. Chris Driedger made 22 saves on 24 shots allowed.
Cleveland got their goals from Joseph LaBate and James Malatesta. Zach Sawchenko had 26 saves on 32 shots faced.
Sunday was a 4-2 win for Cleveland to get back to 0.500.
The Checkers got their goals from John Leonard and Matt Luff. Ken Appleby allowed 3 goals on 29 shots faced.
The Monsters got their four goals from Owen Sillinger, Roman Achan (2), and Trey Fix-Wolansky. Pavel Cajan saved 23 of 25 shots in his season debut.
Last night, was the first matchup against the Rochester Americans in their fifth and final game on the road, suffering a 6-1 loss in New York.
Rochester got their goals from Graham Slaggert, Mason Jobst, Tyson Kozak, Isak Rosen, Zach Metaa, and Nob Ostlund. Michael Houser only allowed one goal on 26 shots faced.
Cleveland only got a goal from Chris Wilkie. Luca De Bel Belluz and Trey Fix-Wolansky had the helpers. Jet Greaves allowed 4 goals on 31 shots faced. Zachary Sawchenko allowed 2 goals on 18 shots.
This Saturday, they have a rematch against Rochester in their home opener in the deep.
16 of 21 skaters have earned at least one point or more in the five games played in the 2024-25 AHL regular season.
The only newcomer that has yet to score is D Madison Bowey. F Dylan Gambrell and Rocco Grimaldi have points.
Prospect Pool
Winger Martin Rysavy had 2 goals in 12 games in the Czech league. He needs to sign before June 1 with the Jackets before becoming an unrestricted free agent. He is signed in the Czech league through 25-26.
Winger Kirill Dolzhenkov has 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) in 10 VHL games; however, he is pointless in 6 KHL games.
Winger James Fisher is pointless in three games with Northeastern University in his freshman year. He has until 2028 to sign with the Jackets.
Winger William Whitelaw has a goal and assist in 5 games of his sophomore campaign with Michigan. Whitelaw was with Gavin Brindley last season. The 19 year old has until 2027 to sign in Columbus.
After winning the Finnish league title, center Oiva Keskinen has 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in 14 games this season with the defending Tappara. Keskinen has until 2027 to sign before becoming unrestricted.
Winger Tyler Peddle has 10 points (6 goals, 4 assists) in 9 games in his first full season with Saint John’s. The last pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has until this summer to sign with the Jackets before being considered eligible for re-entry into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft as an overager.
The top prospect, Cayden Lindstrom, is still dealing with his back injury suffered last December. The 18 year old’s last WHL game was Dec. 16. He is around the team in Columbus and continuing to rehab here. He has until June of 2026 to sign.
Center Luca Pinelli was sent to Ottawa of the OHL to continue his development. With the 67s, he has 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) in 8 games. Pinelli, unlike the other prospects mentioned, is already under contract with the Blue Jackets. The fourth rounder was at the opening days of training camp.
Defenseman Aidan Hreschuk is pointless in three games for Boston College. Hreschuk was the blue chip dealt in the Max Domi swap a few years ago at the deadline from Carolina. The defender has until August 15th to sign.
Defender Guillaume Richard is pointless in three games with Providence College. The seventh rounder from 2021 has until August 15th to sign a contract.
Russian defender Nikolai Makarov has recorded a goal and three assists in 10 games in the VHL; and pointless in 5 games in the KHL.
Left handed defenseman Andrew Strathmann has one apple on three games at the University of North Dakota. The Illinois native has until August 15, 2028 to sign with the Blue Jackets.
Tough guy Charlie Elick has one assist in 8 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. Elick had a big tournament fight at the Prospect Challenge against Boston. Elick has until June 1, 2026 to sign.
Right handed defenseman Luca Marrelli has 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 11 games with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. The 19 year old has until June 1, 2026 to sign.
Defender Tanner Henricks has only one assist in 8 games with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. He has until August 15 of 2029 to sign a deal.
Canadian d-man Luke Ashton has a goal and two helpers in 6 games with the University of Minnesota - Mankato campus. Ashton has until August 15, 2028 to ink an NHL contract.
Goalie Sergei Ivanov is 2-7-3 with a 2.68GAA and 0.913 save percentage in the KHL.
Goaltender Melvin Strahl is 3-2-0 with a 2.52GAA and a 0.910 save percentage with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. This is his first season in North America. Strahl has until June 1, 2027 to sign a contract with Columbus.
Netminder Evan Gardner is 4-2-1 with a 2.16GAA and a 0.916 save percentage. Gardner has until June 1, 2026 to sign his contract with the Blue Jackets.
More is coming…
Obituaries
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/john-michael-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYM9fikwQbNkPlcwmTBaP2udJZw1oMBCmyXjp-GyttBpDhIoWnqY8lxQSQ_aem_zW3gpaArqsSO7D5ZI-Pdog
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/matthew-ryan-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ33XNOJYMaSDfXxs3NcH7AY99EWfo9ObneKgMrpds4HwrC3U6Gkj0igr0_aem_qqWUcGWcBFf0sebC0an4RQ
Want to support the Gaudreau family? Here’s several ways how:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-madeline-and-baby-tripp-after-tragedy - Donate to Gaudreau Family Fund. At the time of writing it is at $691K
https://youtu.be/7ax8zyd8nk0?si=xoI63iohdyn2vVvD - View Johnny B Goode Tribute - personal touch. Loved this slowed down clip by the voice of Calgary. Skip to the 25 second mark.
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving - Nationwide Children's Hospital (Johnny's widow, Meredith's workplace) support the children today.
https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/ - Ohio Health Foundation (where donations from a joint mental health charity drive from Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine went) Johnny joined the mission after Laine attended the NHLPA assistance club last season
https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/ways-to-help/donate/ - Alberta Children's Hospital for those in need and touched by the loss
https://kidsportcanada.ca/donate/ - Donate to the Youth Sporting Charity in Canada (Johnny Gaudreau donated for money each goal he scored to the Calgary chapter)
https://sniderhockey.org/support-snider/ - the Philadelphia Youth Hockey Charity (where Johnny and Matthew are from and started their youth hockey)
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