The Monsters, top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, open their fourth AHL season Friday against, and Quinn says his steam's stellar training camp has elevated his expectations.
View full sizeAfter spending last season with the AHL's Hershey Bears, goalie Jason Bacashihua is back with the Monsters. Bacashihua played in 58 games for Lake Erie from 2007 to '09.By the conclusion of camp Thursday afternoon, Quinn had removed the qualifier.
"What I've seen not only has validated what I felt, it has elevated my expectations," he said from Hoover Arena in Strongsville. "From a work ethic standpoint and an attitude standpoint, I love where we are. I love the approach to practice, the attention to detail, the skill level. Bottom line: We have a group of professionals."
The Monsters, top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, open their fourth AHL season Friday against Syracuse. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:30 at The Q.
No question the players and coaches want to graduate to the NHL as soon as possible. But while they are here, the goal is to make the Calder Cup playoffs, which would be a first for the franchise. Lake Erie finished with a sub-.500 record in each of the previous three seasons.
"In the American Hockey League, it's tough to project what you're going to look like, standings-wise, because of the variables," Monsters General Manager David Oliver said. "And you don't really know what you have until you begin playing the games. But I really like what I've seen from these guys.
"Our work ethic, the speed of our practices, is NHL-caliber. These players hustle like NHLers."
Upgrading team speed and putting more pucks in the net were two of Oliver's objectives in the off-season. Adding players such as right winger Greg Mauldin figure to help on both fronts. In 77 games for the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season, Mauldin had 25 goals and 29 assists.
"Greg's very elusive one-on-one," Quinn said. "Everything's full throttle with him. He's very purposeful with everything he does."
Other imports from AHL opponents include left winger David van der Gulik (16 goals and 24 assists in 64 games for Abbotsford); center Ben Walter (22 goals and 36 assists in 78 games for Lowell); and center Julian Talbot (17 goals and 15 assists in 76 games for Peoria).
Oliver and Quinn think the consistency of Mauldin/van der Gulik/Walter/Talbot will compensate for the loss of Lake Erie's top two scorers, T.J. Hensick and Darren Haydar.
"Obviously, Haydar and Hensick are quality players, but -- and this is not their fault -- we didn't win last year with those guys," Quinn said.
Quinn wouldn't say it, but the fact is, when the Monsters needed Haydar most last season, the AHL player of the decade fizzled. Hensick continued to cause evaluators to scratch their heads by not maximizing his physical skills.
In games when the Monsters struggle to score, they figure to have a chance because of the veteran goaltending duo of John Grahame and Jason Bacashihua. Bacashihua rejoins the Monsters after playing for the AHL's Hershey Bears last season.
Quinn said he will decide by this morning who will start against Syracuse.