Chirps from Center Ice

The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins passed the halfway mark of the season with Saturday’s 4-2 win in Glens Falls against the Adirondack Phantoms. The hottest team in hockey right now, it looks like nothing can stop them. Time to pass out mid season report cards!

With a record like 32-8 through 40 games I probably could just run down the list and give the grade of “A” to every player and call it a day. But you the reader expect more from me. The Grades usually gets a lot of eyes on it and I want you to return and check out the blog on a regular basis.

Keeping with our First Quarter Grades read nothing into these grades other than what some guy with an iPhone, a Twitter feed and a blog has to think about the players.

All stats are from the American Hockey League’s Daily Report (link) from January 16. No stats from yesterday’s 6-3 loss in Connecticut are included below. That said let’s get started!

Dustin Jeffrey: Named an AHL All-Star last week. Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguin fans need to know that every day he is in Wilkes-Barre is an absolute bonus for us. He has nothing left to prove at the AHL level. Leading scorer, best penalty killer, best in shootouts, the kid does it all. His 15-24-39 right now has him tops among league leaders. Grade: A+

Brett Sterling: Much healthier in the second quarter, The Ticket is heating up. Had a seven game goal-less drought which was uncharacteristic of him. His 13-14-27 thus far is a bit deceiving, but everytime he goes over the boards he is a threat to score. Grade: A-

Tim Wallace: Will soon be tops all-time in games played for Wilkes-Barre / Scranton. With guys like Johnson, Jeffrey, Sterling and Tangradi scoring goals, Wallace isn’t asked as much to score these days. Offers a balanced attack with 11-12-23 in 36 games. Can still surprise you and get 2 goals and an assist on any given night. Grade: A

Joe Vitale: Leads forwards on the team with a +16. No one, I mean no one, works harder than Vitale. Is 8-14-22 through 38 games. His faceoff abilities were greatly missed December 30 in Pittsburgh vs. Hershey, a game he missed due to a foot injury and a game the Penguins lost 1-0. Grade: A

Chris Collins: Fills the depth chart nicely. 8-9-17 in 37 games. A healthy scratch here and there keeps him honest, but is never a liability on the ice. Grade: B+

Nick Johnson: Turned it on in the second quarter and is tied for second on the team in scoring at 14-14-28. May be coming to the realization that his days as a “prospect” are running out. His hat trick vs. Syracuse was his best game and he always seems to score on the Norfolk Admirals. Another threat to score on any given night. Grade A-

Ryan Craig: Is the Captain and the leader on the ice. 10-9-19 brings balance. Grade: B+

Robert Bortuzzo: Is 2-13-15. Defensive defenseman budding into an NHL star. Will probably be around next year. Is a shut down defenseman too. Through games Saturday is tied for the league lead in +/- at +18. Grade: A-

Jesse Boulerice: Currently serving out a 10 game suspension for contact with referee Francis Charron in Norfolk. 4-5-9 for the heavyweight through 35 games. Grade: B

Steve Wagner: I have ragged on Steve both here and over on the Twitter side, yet somehow he is a +10 and is 3-13-16. Sometimes looks like Jekyll and Hyde out there defensively and you never know what you will get out of him but the numbers defy logic. Grade: B-

Brian Strait: Coming off of a concussion but it hasn’t slowed Strait, as he is back in the lineup this past weekend. Paired with Bortuzzo and is 1-5-6 and a +11. Another budding defensive defenseman destined for NHL duty in a few years. Grade: A

Geoff Walker: Another role player. Normally sees fourth line duty. 2-8-10 in 34 games and knows his role. Grade: B-

Eric Tangradi: Knows in the back of his mind that Pittsburgh is watching since his demotion. Leads the team in goals with 16 (16-9-25). “The Big Dog” is used on power plays. Hat trick vs. the Toronto Marlies back on December 8 and a handful of two goal games since. May end up doing another year here on the farm before he is ready for full time NHL work. Grade: A

Zach Sill: Grinding fourth line center. No goals this quarter but isn’t asked to score. 2-8-10 in 40 games. Grade: B

Keven Veilleux: (3-6-9) With every game that passes you can see the confidence growing. Missed a few games recently due to a knee on knee hit with Norfolk’s Radko Gudas. You can see it in his eyes some nights that he wants it. Grade: B

Carl Sneep: The only true rookie on the team. Paired with the veteran Joey Mormina most nights. 1-7-8 in 37 games. In warmups you normally see a second year guy like a Brian Strait helping him out. Makes rookie mistakes some times but is quick to fix them. Grade: B

Bryan Lerg: Gave him a C last quarter. Said grade would be higher if he played in more games. Most improved player in the second quarter, 7-7-14 and is known for the patented backhand shot near the goal with deadly accuracy. Has really gone from anonymous role player to a threat to score out of no where. Grade: B+

Corey Potter: Leading defenseman on the team points wise. Normally paired with Steve Wagner and incurs my wrath on game nights with suspect play, but the numbers, 1-17-18 +13 rating, defy my calls to scratch him or break up the defensive pairing of he and Wagner. Grade: B-

Joey Mormina: After Hutchinson went down with injury, Wilkes-Barre was quick to sign Joey to a standard players contract. With Hutchinson getting closer and closer to returning, he may be a victim of a scratch from here forward. Defensively sound, paired with rookie Carl Sneep, is 0-5-5 +11 rating. Grade: B

Andrew Hutchinson, Jason DeSantis, Ben Street, Joey Haddad: In this group are players hurt or call-ups from Wheeling. Street and Haddad show upside to really be in Wilkes-Barre’s long term plans in the future. Hutchinson is still injured but can be back as early as this Wednesday vs. Syracuse. Grade: Incomplete

Brad Thiessen: Clearly established himself as the #1 goaltender here in Wilkes-Barre and the starting goaltender nomination for the AHL All-Star Team is something really deserved. AHL wins leader at 18-3 with three shutouts thus far. Has a 0.923 SV% and a 1.97 GAA. Credit the team in front of him, but in the end, he can be in the discussion for team MVP. Grade: A+

John Curry: Call-up to Pittsburgh was really more logistic related over the Christmas break because John in Minnesota was closer than Brad in British Columbia. In 19 games is 14-5 with a shutout to his credit and still boasts a 0.911 SV% and a 2.33 GAA. May be a victim to an up and coming younger goaltender and with Patrick Killeen in Wheeling named an ECHL All-Star, Curry’s time in black and gold may be coming to an end. Remains a viable backup who still knows how to win games. Grade: A-

Comments are open, or you can always e-mail me your thoughts. Have at it!

Let’s Go Pens!