The Bears season is over and it pretty much sucks in my opinion. I imagine that I am slightly spoiled after the previous two seasons but so what. I don’t like that the season is over in APRIL!?!? I thought hockey was meant to be played in June.
It was a good season for the Bears considering everything. The roster turnover from last year to this was drastic. There were very few familiar faces in Hershey this season. But the Bears still made the playoffs and competed in the top of the division for most of the season.
Eventually the injuries, call ups, and a brutal road stretch took its toll and the Bears fell slightly. They still made the playoffs and played admirably even in defeat. Game 5 was much closer than the final score of 7-3.
I thought at the beginning of the year that the team was more like the 05-06 team than the 06-07 version. Mainly because of their perceived size and toughness. That 06 Calder Cup run was spectacularly physical and the Bears played it perfectly. Last year’s team was much more finesse and this year’s team seemed headed back to their physical past. Guys like Jason Morgan and Chris McAlister were coming in to hit people. But by the end of the season many of the big bodies were injured or hurting. Ben Clymer missed significant time, Scott Barney missed the playoffs, McAlister spent some time injured, Quentin Laing got his break and remained in Washington (congrats to Q), and maybe most importantly our captain Dean Arsene missed almost the entire season with different injuries. If all those guys are still playing at the end of the season I think it is a completely different outcome.
But they weren’t so it is on to next year. And as I am writing this there is no guarantee that Hershey will be affiliated with Washington next season. Although it is likely that they will be but it is not a sure thing. Some people have heard rumors about a return to the Philly organization but I think the Washington deal will get done sooner than later.
So I will look at off season goals and next years team as though the Bears remain with the Caps.
First a look at the returning players:
Chris Bourque, Alexandre Giroux, Kyle Wilson, Jay Beagle, Ben Clymer, Quintin Laing, Andrew Gordon, Steve Pinnizzotto, Sasha Pokulok, Sean Collins, Francois Bouchard, Andrew Joudrey, Mathieu Perrault, Patrick McNeill, Josh Godfrey, Sami Lepisto, and Daren Machesney are all under contract with Washington or Hershey next season.
That is already a pretty solid lineup, at least offensively. Maxime Lacroix is not on that list but will probably be in Hershey next season. Same can be said for Karl Alzner, although he could potentially make the Caps.
If all of these players start out in Hershey than there are already 12 forwards on the roster which would mean that there wouldn’t be many others brought back. And if you count Alzner than there are 6 defensemen, which would mean not many others, returning.
Now let’s look at the free agents:
Jamie Hunt, Tyler Sloan, Jonathan Paiement, Grant McNeill, Shawn Collymore, Jason Morgan, Matt Beaudoin, Ryan Flinn, Louis Robitaille, Dean Arsene, Chris McAllister, Josef Boumedienne, Scott Barney, Grant Potulny and Frederic Cassivi are all unrestricted free agents. Eric Fehr, Stephen Werner, and Danny Syvret are restricted free agents.
Danny Syvret is actually a RFA for the Edmonton Oilers. He was loaned to the Bears by them but remained under contract with them. I have heard that they are not expected to resign him.
Freddie Cassivi, Eric Fehr, and Grant Potulny have all but definitely played their final games in Hershey uniforms. Fehr, if he is resigned, will surely be a Capital and Cassivi is probably going to Europe as the Caps are expected to assign at least one young goaltender to Hershey to join Machesney.
The most likely roster in my opinion:
In goal would be Daren Machesney and Michael Neuvirth.
On defense would be Josh Godfrey, Sami Lepisto, Patrick McNeill, Karl Alzner, Danny Syrvet, Jonathan Paiement, and Josef Boumedienne. Grant McNeill may take the place of someone due to his toughness. Sasha Pokuluk will probably return to South Carolina until he gets more consistent but could make the team. Things that could change the lineup are Alzner making the Caps and other prospects finishing careers elsewhere. Some possible prospects are Joe Finley (North Dakota Univ.), Keith Seabrook (Calgary Hitmen of WHL), and Andrew Thomas (Univ. of Denver). Finley will be a senior next season and may go back to school. Seabrook was Alzner’s teammate the past couple years and Thomas is a current senior. If any of those three become Bears than Syvret, Paiement, and/or Boumedienne will not be resigned.
Everyone would like to see Dean Arsene come back but due to his injuries that is very unlikely. Everyone in Hershey would love to see him back and if he is healthy he is worth bringing back. But ONLY if he is healthy. Sorry Deano.
At forward would be Chris Bourque, Kyle Wilson, Alexandre Giroux, Jay Beagle, Ben Clymer, Andrew Gordon, Francois Bouchard, Mathieu Perrault, Andrew Joudrey, Steve Pinozzotto, Maxime Lacroix, and Quintin Laing. That is assuming that Laing returns to Hershey and Lacroix is signed. It also is assuming none of the others make the Capitals. Rumors have Bourque and Gordon getting a long look at camp. If all of those players return than that leaves no space for anyone else. If there are openings due to players making the Caps than expect to see Travis Morin in Hershey, and possibly Jason Morgan resigned.
I wouldn’t expect to see anyone else resigned. The only one I would think would be possible would be Louis Robitaille due to his toughness but I think Ryan Flinn is the better fit anyway due to Louis’s random behavior away from the ice and his numerous dumb penalties on it.
So there you have it. Because of how many prospects are ready to make the jump you can expect to see many of this season’s veterans moving on to other teams next season. The only guys I see getting resigned would be Morgan, Boomer, Deano (if healthy), Paiement, Flinn, or McNeill. And those are iffy at best.
It will be an interesting off-season. I will post anything that happens. I will continue to check sources and sites for news. You will know as soon as I know anything. Enjoy the summer, unfortunately it is longer this year, and get ready for a long run next season.
LET’S GO BEARS!! WWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
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