Where did last years team go?

At the beginning of each year everyone is asking where is so-and-so.  So ive decided to keep a running tab on last years team members and where they are this year.

2009-2010 team:

• Jamie Fraser-  as of july 6th signed with minnesota again
• Ryan Gunderson-
• Nathan Smith-
• Peter Zingoni-
• J.P. Testwuide-  as of august 25th transfered to the Flyers.
• Jon DiSalvatore- as of july 6th signed with minnesota again
• Colton Gillies- as of september 27th assigned to the aeros
• Danny Irmen-
• Chad Rau-
• Marco Scandela-  as of October 1st he is assigned to the aeros.
• Duncan Milroy-
• Jaime Sifers- as of july 7th signed with Atlanta
• Tony Hrkac-
• Maxim Noreau-as of september 27th assigned to the aeros
• Carson McMillian- as of september 27th assigned to the aeros
• Brandon Rogers-
• Anton Khudobin-  on July 15th signed with Minnesota again.
• Wade Dubielewitz-
• Petr Kalus-as of september 27th assigned to the aeros
• Darcy Kuemper-
• Matt Kassian-
• Justin Falk-
• Ryan Lannon- 
• Jean-Michel Daoust- as of 23rd back on the aeros
• Andy Hilbert-  as of july 18th will be moving to the NY Islanders

This list of players will be updated upon signing of contracts of all free agents.  There are still quite a few free agents in limbo with team signing the year.

Also here is a brief summary of this years newly signed free agents transferring from other teams to the Minnesota/Aeros ranks.

• John Madden- is transferring from the infamous Black hawks which added a third stanley cup ring to his finger this year.  Before playing with the black hawks last year he played 10 seasons with the New Jersey Devils.  Known for Defense and face off capabilities.
• Warren Peters-  Is going to be Transferring from the Dallas/texas stars.  His leadership as the Alternate Captain brought the team to the Calder Cup Finals last year. He plays as a center and his strong leadership will be a great boost among the Aeros this year.
• Drew Bagnall- Is transferring from the Manchester Monarchs where he was the captain.  He has a strong leadership capability and is a strong defenseman, which is badly needed after the well deserved call up of Clayton Stoner.
• Eric Nystrom- Will be Transferring from the Calgary Flames.  He played at the University of Michigan for four seasons before being drafted to Calgary during the 2005-2006 season.  He plays as a Left Wing.
• Matt Cullen-  Will be transferring from Ottawa this season as a seasoned veteran going into his 13th hockey season.  He also has a Stanley Cup ring with the Hurricanes back in 2005-2006 season.  He is known as a excellent penalty killer and is a huge asset to this years team.

Houston Aeros Press Conference

Photo by: Aeros Photographer

Today the Houston aeros held a Press conference at the Maple leaf Pub to introduce the new coaching staff.

     The new head coach this year is Mike Yeo.  A former Aero himself, also taking the team to the Turner cup in 1998, where they came out on top as the champions.  His career as a coach had made him the assistant coach of the Pittsburgh penguins, which he took to the Stanley cup in 2009, and Today the head coach of the Houston Aeros.

     Today at the conference he explained that he has the best coaching staff in the AHL. Naming the assistant coaches being Darryl Sydor and Brian Wiseman. And adding that he has a lot of confidence in his newly assembled team.

     Darryl Sydor is a multiple Stanley cup winner (with Dallas in 1999 and with Tampa bay in 2004) also he was named the NHL all star two years in a row (1998 and 1999).  He played the 2009-2010 season with the St. Louis Blues and has 18 years of Hockey experience in close to 1300 games.  He will be working with the defence to help them bring the puck under control and move it down to the offensive ice.

     Brian Wiseman also a Former Aero (1997-2000) led the team to a victory in the turner cup leading the team with 13 assists in the Tournament set. In 2000 he had a mishap with a concussion and he had to retire from his hockey career.  He also served as the assistant coach to Princeton Universities Hockey Team.

    During the conference Jim mill was asked what new talent he has brought to the table for the Houston Aeros which he replied with a few names such as:

• Warren Peters who last played for the Dallas stars and Texas stars.  He played in 11 NHL games and 61 AHL games last year and made a career best 34 points.  From watching him over the 2009-2010 season i can see he will be a great Asset to the Aeros as we needed a strong center.  Peters is a very aggressive and hard skater and goes after the puck well.
• Drew Bagnall who captained the Monarchs last season and has a great leadership capability which the Aeros struggled with last season.  the Aeros needed one strong Leader in their midst and now i believe they may have found it.  He is a mid aged AHL player at the age of 26 but he still skates like he is fresh out of St Lawrence College.
• Nate Prosser signed as a free agent defenseman.  The aeros last year lagged in my opinion in the defense department after Clayton Stoner(#7) was called up to Minny. Prosser is fresh out of Colorado University Hockey and made his debue in the last three games with the Minnesota Wilds. I don't know much about his style but will post a blog latter on in the season about his progression and skills.

     Those were just to name a few of the New talent that Yeo and Jim mill brought to the AHL/NHL this season.  We also have a few of the "old" players returning which as put by Yeo "we have brought back three of the top scorers on the team last season" talking about J.M. Daust, John Disalvatore; who tied as the top goal scorers last year with 21 goals each; and Maxim Noreau who scores 19 goals in 76 games played.

     On a note by me i would also like to see the young Goalie that played in the last few games named Darcy Kuemper.  He played well when we visited Cedar park (Dallas stars) And in the end brought the team to a overall win making his ending stats two wins and only one loss for the season.  Also if you have any stats that you would like to add to this blog on the players listed above please post as I would love to know more about these players.