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| (above) Scott Mayfield will play in the AHL |
The New York Islanders announced today that University of Denver defenseman Scott Mayfield has agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level deal.
Mayfield will join the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League on an Amateur Tryout Contract.
Mayfield, 20, scored 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) and recorded 114 penalty minutes with a plus-8 rating this season at DU.
The Islanders selected Mayfield in the second round (34th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.
31 comments:
Congrats to Scott.
flood gates are now officially open
Mayfield was gone no matter what happened with the DU coaching staff.
Ha ha, floodgates open for a player who had zero chance of staying, with our without Gwoz.
Congrats to Scotty. Obviuosly had the issue with penalties. But, I thought he developed into a really nice defender this year. It should be fun to watch his career develop.
Yeah, I think Scott will be a good pro. Just wish these kids could leave a better legacy at DU before they leave. "Hi, I crapped out of the NCAA tournament in the first round--now I'm going to Disneyland!"
Can't blame this on the Gwoz ouster. We would have been extremely lucky to have Scott for 3 years. He definitely has the most pro upside of anyone from this past season's roster.
Does anyone else on the roster have a realistic shot to play in the NHL? Maybe Nick Shore in a couple years? Just not a very dynamic player, but Paul Stastny didn't exactly skate circles around everyone, either. I like Paul Phillips' style of play, but don't know how his pro prospects are looking. Makowski, LaLeggia--good players, good offensive talent, but I just can't see them rising above the AHL level. Maybe Nolan Zajac someday.
The "King of OCD" can blame it on the Gwoz situation. Seemed to me Scott also showed a heavier and more accurate shot from the point this year. A major plus.
The guy who staffs the penalty box probably just breathed a big sigh of relief. His job just got alot easier. lol. Scott has the physical aspect, but still has room to grow with his brain in my opinion. The Tigers will help him with that though. Best of luck to him!
Mayfield's sandpaper style of in-your-face game does not translate well to the college game. This was probably a good move for him, and not at all unexpected.
He's probably a year or two from being NHL ready, but on team like the Islanders, it may be possible to play in the NHL sooner.
Would also expect Nick Shore and Laleggia to sign, although they are probably AHL leve right now at best.
The ATO contract just means his real contract will start next season.
I like LaLeggia--very skilled, and a great accomplishment in his freshman year to get rookie of the year. But isn't he the epitome of someone who would GREATLY benefit from another year of college--to work on his size and defensive responsibilities. He could score some points in a lower level professional league, but I fear that it would be an awful move in his career to go pro at any level until his defensive skills improve.
No surprise here, congrats Mayfield!
Scott used to fight when he played at Youngstown; he did just about everything BUT that at Denver. I bet he's looking forward to dropping the gloves again. Can't wait for the reports from Isles camp. He'll be with Donovan on the ice
Best of luck to Scott. His upside is significant--he should be a solid NHL player.
He brought a physical presence to the lineup and always stuck up for his teammates. I thought his puck handling skills improved quite a bit between years 1 and 2, and he proved to be a versatile player. I wish we had him one more year, but I'm glad we had him for two.
Adrian Dater posted this in his Denver Post Blog when referring the to MAyfield signing.
"DU athletic director Peg Bradley-Doppes has declined to speak to our paper or anyone else about the firing of Gwozdecky earlier this week."
While this isn't news to anyone reading this blog, it does show a testiness between the media and the Athletic Department that's been building since the Gwozdecky firing.
DU is working frantically to have a coach selected by next week.
Next week? Seriously? Seems awful quick
No one else should leave. Nobody is close to being N.H.L. ready. They can most benefit by another year of both physucal and maturity growth by staying at D.U., with the coaching change not being a factor.
This whole episode around Gwoz's firing has gone from anger-inducing to completely bizarre. I'm no media relations/PR expert, but isn't it in DU's best interest to hold some type of press conference to discuss the firing and answer questions?? Seems like common sense to me. Answer what questions they can; otherwise say "no comment" or "I can't answer that." This whole "code of silence" is not only absurd, it seriously compromises the integrity of the athetic dept and the school as a whole.
To be honest...I think the quicker they make a quality hiring, the better. The new coach needs to build rapport with the current players and work on retaining the current recruits or getting in other guys if some back out. Letting it drag on is not the best option.
The Winnipeg Jets signed goaltender Juho Olkinuora to an entry-level contract on Saturday.
The 22-year-old spent the past two seasons with the University of Denver
Congratulations to Scott.
But, this is yet another example of the balance we need to have when recruiting players. Mayfield is not ready for the NHL and off he goes. How much time did we spend spend recruiting, coaching and developing him? While he showed improvement, he could have used another year or two.
This helps explain why Yale, Quinnipiac, and UMass Lowell are at the Frozen Four and Minnesota, ND, and Denver are sitting at home. Do we want to train and develop pro players for the hockey minors or win championships? We need to look at our model. Seems that every player we have recruited with 'pro potential' bolts the first chance they get. At what cost to DU? Is Mayfield going to improve more in the minors with more playing and less coaching and training? Time will tell but I think it would have benefitted him and DU to stay.
I am waiting for Joey Legs to jump, too. He is another example of a player that would benefit with more time at the college level. But I am not counting on it based on the recent past.
Too funny ... the job was posted April 3. Two days after Gwoz was let go ... the DU board has no plan.
I'd apply, but not sure I want to deal with the DU bearuos.
http://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/5300283/head-men-s-hockey-coach
Per TSN:
The Winnipeg Jets signed goaltender Juho Olkinuora to an entry-level contract on Saturday.
The 22-year-old spent the past two seasons with the University of Denver, posting a 13-6-5 record in 24 games this season and finishing with a 2.35 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.
Prior to Denver University, the native of Helsinki, Finland, played in Sioux Falls of the United States Hockey League where he posted a 14-13-0 record with a 2.78 GAA and .900 save percentage in 2010-11.
timt89,
I heard you say the same thing about Shore, Bennet and Zucker last year. Hopefully you are as incorrect about Mayfield's progress as you were about them.
So Tim, with an unknown coach, an unknown coaching staff and an unknown dedication to the hockey program and athletes, would you stay given the opportunities presented to these young men? Would you put your faith in Peg? That she would do what's best for you? Could you trust her? Could you trust her after what she did to Gwoz?
I wish Mayfield the best. I wish Peg and the hockey program good luck, they are going to need it.
I would suspect we post all jobs due to EEOC or Uiversity policy. That being said, maybe we get Grat Fuhr!
It is always a mix with some players going pro early and some going the full four years. Going pro for elite players makes sense. It is the others that should stay. I happen to put Mayfield and Olkinura in that latter camp. They are not 'elite'.
Other than developing talent for the pro's, how are we ever going to compete for a national championship when anyone with a whiff of talent takes off?
It just seems that some programs are able to retail some of their stars for four years and we do not. When this started happening, I remember Gwoz was frustrated and over the last few years it turned to resignation. With star freshman and sophmores you can win two thirds of your games but you will never be a national champion.
What is the goal?
Not to worry Tim, under Peg's new plan DU won't be able to recruit anthythiing but mediocre players.
Unfortunately, players were bailing on George, too-- well before the poor decision to fire Gwoz. This is nothing new. Who is to say that Shore, Bennet, and Zucker wouldn't have been benefitted with another year? One thing for sure, DU was not better without them. We will not be improved with Olkinura and Mayfield gone, either. And, whoever else leaves..
We are not going anywhere with our upper class devoid of solid talent and re-loading every year. I do understand and appreciate your point and, like I said, it is a balance.
I think a lot of the anger at Peg is misplaced. She is not the primary villian.
Peg got the execution order from the Board of Trustees.
They make the big decisions on terminating a high profile coach.
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