Clowe only counting on the status quo
Lots is going on above the Growlers, but the team’s head coach is basing his decisions on what he has, not what might happen
Early Tuesday afternoon, Newfoundland Growlers head coach Ryane Clowe spoke about the constant change” that can be expected in the ECHL, most of created by forces beyond a team’s control.
“You’ve got injuries of course … they’re yours,” he said after the Growlers second-ever practice session at the Glacier in Mount Pearl. “That’s one thing, but pretty much everything else that could happen depends on what’s happening above you.”
There was plenty happening above the Growlers Tuesday.
To begin with, the patent Toronto Maple Leafs’ took a double hit to their goaltending depth, when they lost Curtis Mcelhinney and Calvin Pickard to the waiver wire.
Mcelhinney was claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes and Pickard by the Philadelphia Flyers a day after they were placed on waivers by the Maple Leafs, who are going with Garret Sparks as the backup to No. 1 Frederik Andersen.
Had they cleared, it’s likely Mcelhenny and/or Pickard would have ended up with the AHL’S Toronto Marlies, which in turn, might have bumped a netminder to Newfoundland.
As it is, Kasimir Kaskisuo is now the only Marlies goaltender with an effective contract. Former Nhler Justin Peters is attending the AHL camp on a tryout, but if Toronto doesn’t sign him or acquire another netminder, Eamon Mcadam, currently with the Growlers, might be in line for a call-up.
There was more happening on the Marlies front Tuesday as they announced they had acquired forward Sam Gagner on loan from the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks.
The move comes after the veteran forward cleared NHL waivers.
Gagner, 29, signed with Vancouver as an unrestricted free agent last year, agreeing to a three-year, Us$9.45-million contract, but was cut by Vancouver after managing just 10 goals and 21 assists in 2017-18.
A native of London, Ont., Gagner was reportedly looking to join an AHL team based close to his family. However, while he will play with Maple Leafs’ top affiliate, the Canucks retains the right to recall the veteran winger at any time.
The addition of Gagner and the signing of defenceman Ryan Sproul to a tryout contract Tuesday means the Marlies’ camp remains pretty crowded, except for goaltenders,
However, that includes three other players attending on a tryout basis, as well as defenceman Sam Jardine, who is signed to an AHL contract with Toronto, but who would go to the Orlando Solar Bears if he was demoted to the ECHL. Jardine spent most of last season with the Solar Bears, who retained his ECHL playing rights over the summer.
Jardine could end up in Newfoundland, but the Growlers would have to make a deal with the Solar Bears in order to acquire his ECHL rights.
All of those possibilities and others mean Clowe is not contemplating a Growlers’ roster that will include many players other than the 23 currently in training camp.
“To be honest, not really,” answered Clowe when asked if he thought he’d be getting any more assignments from the Marlies over the next few days. “It could happen, but I’m not counting on it.
“As ECHL training camps on, well keep a close eye on (this league’s) waiver wire. We have the first pick on waivers, so we could get a player or two there. But like I said, I’m not counting on anything from the Marlies right now.”
The Growlers hold their third practice session at the Glacier this morning before boarding a bus and travelling to the province’s west coast, where they will play exhibition games against the Brampton Beast Thursday night in Stephenville and Friday night in Deer Lake. The expansion team’s preseason schedule concludes Sunday afternoon with a matchup against the Beast in Clarenville.
The Growlers’ first-ever regular season game is Oct. 12 at Mile One Centre, where they will play host to the Florida Everblades.
“As ECHL training camps on, well keep a close eye on (this league’s) waiver wire. We have the first pick on waivers, so we could get a player or two there. But like I said, I’m not counting on anything from the Marlies right now.”
Ryane Clowe