AHL Goalies Continue to Move

Ten days ago, we rounded up the first batch of free agency moves affecting AHL goalies around the land, and as teams develop their goaltending strategies, things just keep getting more interesting. Here are the latest roster moves and continued AHL goalie news.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NY Islanders)

• Though the Islanders signing Marty Biron is an NHL-level move, it seems to shut the door on opportunity for one of their three minor league tenders to get some time with the big club.
• Former Islander prospect-turned witty blogger, Justin Bourne, makes a case for Nathan Lawson, who has one year left on his contract with the team.  He had me at “plays the puck like Marty Turco.”
• From Greg Logan at Newsday:  “That means the Islanders have three goaltenders (DiPietro, Roloson and Biron), the Sound Tigers have three (Munroe, Koskinen and Lawson) and the Isles have at least three prospects in the system (Nilsson, Kevin Poulin and Stefan Ridderwall). Their better-safe-than-sorry approach is a direct reaction to what happened last season when DiPietro pushed to be on the Opening Night roster before he really was ready to play.”

Binghamton Senators (Ottawa)

• Signs point to the Sens organization signing Andy Chiodo. Penguins Insider wonders what the reaction will be when he shows up in Wilkes-Barre in Bingo colors after being a beloved piece of the 2004 and 2005 Baby Pens teams.

Toronto Marlies (Toronto)

• Michael Traikos of the National Post takes a hard look at Justin Pogge, with lots of great quotes from former goalie coach Steve McKichan, who compares Pogge’s stuggles to those of child actors.

Manitoba Moose (Vancouver)

• The Moose have signed Daren Machesney and  John Murray to AHL contracts. One or the other will back up either Cory Schneider or Andrew Raycroft (whoever doesn’t get the #2 job in Vancouver).

Hershey Bears (Washington)

• Braden Holtby is back to work and learned a lot from participating in the Bears Calder Cup-winning playoff run. (Patriot-News.com)
• And the buzz around the many blessings in the Caps goalie depth continues with this Washington Times piece on Holtby.
• I’m not a Caps fan, but I find it hard to not be excited by the assets they’ve accumulated between the pipes.




Braden Holtby Photo by CapsinPictures

Springfield Falcons (Edmonton)

• The Oilers signed Devan Dubnyk to a one year deal.

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit)

• The Detroit Free Press takes a look at the three goalies who will compete for minor league roster spots in September.

Houston Aeros (Minnesota)

• The Wild have been shopping Josh Harding, their best expendable asset, all summer with no takers as yet. But to maintain continuity if he does get traded, they signed Wade Dubielewicz to a two-way contract.
• If Harding remains unsigned into the season, incumbent Houston goalies Barry Brust and Anton Khudobin will push down the depth chart, likely sending Khudobin to the ECHL until a spot opens above him. (The Third Intermission)

Syracuse Crunch (Columbus)

• Karl Goehring, who set the Crunch’s career franchise record for goalie wins,  is rejoining the team as an assistant coach. (Crunch Hockey)