SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS - CHARLOTTE CHECKERS
Sep 29, 2016Over the Course of the next few weeks, IowaWild.com will preview each team on the 76-game regular-season schedule. Please keep in mind with training camps in full swing, players could change their final destination by playing well in camp and perhaps make the NHL club.
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Charlotte Checkers
NHL Affiliate: Carolina Hurricanes
2015-16 Record: 36-32-3-5, 80 Points
Iowa vs. CHA in 15-16/All Time: 3-3-0-2/7-11-0-2
CHA vs. Iowa in 15-16/All Time: 6-3-1-0/13-5-2-0
Place: 5th Central Division / 9th Western Conference
Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
Biggest Changes:
The most notable change for Charlotte comes behind the bench with newly appointed Head Coach Ulf Samuelson, who replaces Mark Morris. The aforementioned Morris departed to become the head coach at St. Lawrence University. Samuelsson was a longtime NHL defensemen who won multiple Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh in the 1990s. He spent the last three years as the Assistant of the NHL’s New York Rangers. He also served as an assistant in Phoenix with the Coyotes from (2006-11) and with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack in 2005-06. This marks Samuelsson’s first season as an AHL Head Coach.
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The biggest offseason signing comes in net with the addition of Michael Leighton. The four-time AHL All-Star was 28-8-8 with a 2.44 GAA and a .918 SV % in 46 games with Rockford last season. He will be critical in the development of young prospects Daniel Altshuller and Alex Nedeljkovic. Altshuller, a third-round pick in 2012, was 10-10-5 with a 2.81 GAA and a .905 SV% in 28 games with the Checkers last season. Nedeljkovic was a second-round pick of Carolina in 2014 (#37th overall). Last year, he was 24-20-4 between Flint and Niagara of the OHL.
The team saw some big departures, starting with forward Zach Boychuk signing with Arizona. Boychuk was among the franchise’s all-time leaders having spent seven seasons in Charlotte. Center T.J. Hensick was signed by Ontario and will take his scoring touch to the West Division. Hensick posted 40 points in 65 games played between Charlotte and Utica in 2015-16. Fellow forward Justin Shugg, a five-year vet with the Checkers, departed for Dinamo Riga of the KHL this summer. He had 35 points (13g-22a) in 59 games played in 2015-16. After five years in Charlotte, defenseman Rasmus Rissanen departs for Jokerit of the KHL.
TOP OFFSEASON PLAYER SIGNING(S):
G - Michael Leighton - (from RCK) see above
C - Derek Ryan - (resigned) 70 GP – 23g-32a= 55 pts (led Charlotte in scoring)
C - Andrew Miller - (resigned) 55 GP – 18g-27a= 45 pts (Between Bakersfield and Charlotte)
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS:
F Derek Ryan - Led Team with 55 points and wore the “C”
F Brock McGinn - Among team leaders in points, despite missing significant time due to NHL callup
D Trevor Carrick - Second on Checkers in points, among top AHL defenders in points
TOP NEW PROSPECTS:
D Haydn Fleury - (1st rd, 7th overall in 2014) – 41 points in 56 GP with Red Deer (WHL)
G Alex Nedeljkovic - (2nd rd. 37th overall in 2014) 24-20-4 record in 2015-16 between Flint/Niagara (OHL)
D Roland McKeown - (2nd rd, 50th overall in 2014- LA Kings) 42 points in 59 GP with Kingston (OHL)
Special Thanks to the Charlotte Checkers PR Department for assistance with information.