Rovers enter busy off-season

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

After coming up short in the Kings Cup final against the Kitchener Mounties, the Rovers hit the off-season with more than a few questions; chiefly how long to stay with a core of players that have been to three finals but haven’t won a championship since RHL13.  Despite signing Pavol Demitra to a contract extension at the trade deadline, the Rovers still have a number of free agents to deal with, especially among their forwards.  Longtime Rovers Glen Murray, David Legwand, and Kris Draper are all unrestricted, as are Cory Stillman, Antti Laaksonen, Gary Roberts, and Wes Walz.  The back end is much clearer with only Keith Carney, Danny Markov, and third-string goalie Jocelyn Thibault set to test the free agent waters, but the forward corps could undergo a major change.  “We’ve got a lot of FAs up front, that’s for sure”, GM Stringer said.  “I’d like to have as many back as I can get… I believe in this group of guys and with the right additions we can get back to where we want to be”.

Talking to the players, most appear to want to return.  “I love it here.. we’ve got a great group of guys”, said Murray. “I know we can get the job done”.

“I remember being traded here before the team ever played a game and wondered what I’d find when I got here”, Legwand said reminiscing about his arrival in Iqaluit.   “But we grew as a group and won a championship together.  I know we can continue to have success.  I hope it works out”.

The patient drafting and trading that the Rovers have used to build their farm system will kick into full gear in RHL17.  Youngsters Patrice Bergeron and Nathan Horton figure to emerge from the bottom of the roster to play a big role in the top six, and rookie Christopher Higgins, acquired from the StrapHangers in the Chris Pronger trade, will be pushing hard for a spot after a 43 goal campaign in the minor leagues this past season.  On the blueline John-Michael Liles will be expected to get regular minutes after ending his rookie season in the pressbox, while rookies Dion Phaneuf and Zybnek Michalek will also be fighting for jobs.  Phaneuf may just be a monster in his rookie campaign.  He nearly made the team last year and rather than sulk about his demotion to the minors, he dominated the circuit leading the league in scoring among blueliners as a rookie and punishing opponents with his brand of ferocious hits and physical play.  “He’s the complete package”, Stringer said of Phaneuf, who was acquired in RHL14 from the Wildcats for Mike Modano.  “He scores, he hits, he does it all.  We can’t wait to see him in camp this year”.

Also looking for work will be rookie netminder Ray Emery.  Drafted by the club during their initial draft in RHL11, he will battle returning incumbents Chris Mason and Martin Gerber for icetime.  “We were very very pleased with our goaltending last season, but this is a new year”, Stringer said of his netminders.  “Chris and Marty will be back, but there’s nothing to say that Ray can’t come in and and win a job.  Even if he is the third-string guy, he can gain valuable experience”.

In other Rover news, prospect Igor Grigorenko signed an entry-level contract with the club.  Grigorenko, originally drafted in RHL11 by the Rovers, traded away and then re-acquired, will leave Russia to attempt to make the Rovers while learning the North American game.  While Grigorenko is crossing the pond, the team’s top prospect is not.  Forward Evgeny Malkin has informed the club that he will spend one more season in Russia improving his game before attempting to make the Rovers next year.  Acquired in RHL15 from the Reapers for Rob Blake, the Rovers had hoped to sign Malkin this season, but are happy enough with his development at home and will continue to monitor him closely.