Millers Musings

 Recapping Free Agency

Entering the UFA signing period with a payroll of just over $70,000,000 and having several

roster holes to fill, the Millers got to work on improving the team.

Signings:

Jordan Staal, 2 years, $15,000,0000

The richest contract ever given out by the franchise. Staal fills 2 immediate voids: a 3rd line

Center and leadership. He will be the team’s Captain.

Coach Brind’Amour had asked the front office to secure Staal’s services at any price and is

delighted with the signing.

Andrew Copp, 1 year, $6,000,000

Copp returns to the Millers after being dealt away last year. It’s a vastly different team now, with

old line mates Larkin and Necas having moved on. Copp will play somewhere in the top 6 and

on special teams.

Tristan Jarry, 2 years, $4,500,000

The Millers annual tradition of taking a flyer on a down on his luck Goalie continues. Philip

Grubauer had a nice bounce back season and the club hopes that continues with Jarry. Right

now he’s 3rd on the depth chart behind Dostal and Grubauer; a good season could see him

become the backup in 27-28.

Georgetown struck out on a couple of targets, namely an additional top 6 forward and a bottom

pair Dman with some snarl.

The 3 signings still have the payroll below $100,000,000, although rookie contract signings will

likely edge the number over that line.

The team has been authorized to go as high as $125,000,000 in salary so more moves could be

done.

State of the Loons; the Captain returns

After 351 games with the Loons, Kreider left Czepiel’s office shaking hands and saying goodbye. At 35 years old Kreider and Czepiel were unable to reach an extension thus making the Loons captain an unrestricted free agent. In 351 games Kreider was leaving the Loons with 141 goals , 168 assists and a +50. Czepiel surely wanted captain Kreider back but Kreiders best days were behind him and Will Smith is ready to be a full timer leaving Kreider the odd man out. After years of playing on team friendly $4m contracts Kreider wanted to be paid for his past production but in Czepiel’s eyes that is a losing philosophy.

The night before the UFA deadline Czepiel informed Kreider that they were going to go in a different direction and were trading their 1 UFA resign to the Falcons for a prospect and thanked Chris for all he has done for the organization.

What made Chris such an integral part of the organization is he is a local guy born in Boxford, MA and was always around the team, even in the off season. This year was no different. Out of mutual respect Chris continued to use the team facilities as a UFA and the two continued talking about next years roster and how on paper this was the best Loons team of all time, except it was missing a captain.

Last year John Carlson, also at his age 35 season, was given the largest contract in Capeside history : 4yrs $43.1. Originally Kreider was looking for a similar deal but on day 1 of the UFA signing period Czepiel and Kreider shockingly compromised on 4 years $34.8 with a $1.5m signing bonus. First signing bonus in organization history. At the press conference yesterday Kreider cited the growing excitement over the team’s roster and chances next season along with wanting to finish what he started .

Kreider will be given every opportunity to play in the top 6 and his ability to play both wings makes a combination of Kreider Larkin Robertson an intriguing and likely option.

Kreider was definitely the headliner but the Loons signed 4 other players during UFA.

Trevor Moore (4/$14.8) brings top end skating , above average defense and solid offense . Moore likely plays the left wing on the 4th line and pk. Trevor signed after being assured that the 4th line will get more time on ice this season than how the team has usually been run.

Brett Pesce (4/$18.8) is coming off of a year full of injuries and the Loons are getting this top end defensive dman at a discount because of it. Brett will likely be the 7th dman this upcoming year with a bigger role in 27/28.

Connor Clifton (3/$2.7) comes back to the Loons after a few years away. Like Pesce , Connor is coming off an injury filled season and will compete with Pesce for playing time as the 8th dman. Clifton was signed to fill a specific hole amongst the defensemen - a physical first dman.

Anthony Stolarz (4/$7m) is coming off his worst year as a pro and the Loons bought low with the hope of turning his career around. Stolarz will be the 3rd goalie rarely seeing playing time if any at all this year.

Under new ownership the Loons are determined to slow down roster turnover even more then it already has and early line projections are

Laferriere   Eichel   Boldy
Kreider       Larkin   Robertson
Tkachuk     Coyle    Smith
Moore        Acciari   Kastelic

Werenski   McAvoy
Faber   Carlson
York   Hanifin

Otter
Daccord

Scratches: Beniers, Dowd, Leonard, Pesce, Clifton, Stolar

The Falls Went Silent, and Beartown Listened

 There are places where hockey is a pastime, and there are places where it is a lifeforce. Beartown

has long been the latter; a kind of place that doesn’t just play hockey—it has built its identity

around it. So, when the Niagara Falls Thunder folded—quietly, almost politely, no one expected

their ghost to reappear hundreds of miles north in a town that barely existed on most maps. But

Beartown isn’t most places.

Niagara Falls had spectacle. Water crashing endlessly, tourists craning their necks, neon lights

fighting against the mist. The Thunder were part of that noise—flashy jerseys, inconsistent

seasons, ownership that cared more about ticket prices than player development. When the arena

started echoing more than cheering, it wasn’t shocking. It was inevitable. What was shocking

was what happened next.

A quiet sale. No press conference. No farewell game. Just a line in a regional paper: “Franchise

relocated. Details forthcoming.” The details led to Beartown. They didn’t keep

the Thunder name. That belonged to waterfalls and postcards and a city that had already let them

go. In Beartown, names matter. They became the Beartown Bears. It sounded obvious. Almost

too obvious. But the town didn’t care about clever branding. It cared about truth. And Bears—

fierce, powerful, territorial—felt honest.

The Thunder roster arrived with baggage. Bloated salaries of aging players and bad habits

cultivated by years of mismanagement from a system built on individual flash made for a tough

start. Deep cuts were made. Seasoned players traded for promising prospects hungry for

domination. And as the new team came together, the message was clear; winning was secondary.

Always. Teamwork, character, and respect became paramount.

For Niagara Falls, the Thunder were entertainment. For Beartown, the Bears are

infrastructure. The relocation wasn’t just a business decision. It was a transfer of purpose—from

a place that didn’t need hockey to define itself to one that can’t survive without it. People like to

think teams build cities. That championships create pride. But Beartown has always known

better. It’s the other way around.

See you at The Den.

A different type of season for WIS

 WIS ended last year on a sour note going out way to early in the playoffs, in my mind. So the 25-26 season started with doubt if the team was good enough to really go all the way, since the payroll was now way too high as well. A dismal start to the season set the ball moving to be a seller. So not a complete fire sale, but rather cost reducing trades while keeping an competitive team, at least for the long term.

So a review of the record breaking amount of trades for WIS for the season.

(06/20/25) FOR trades Victor Eklund-p to WIS for Konstan Helenius-p…

This trade was a preseason prospect swap, a swede for a finn goes any day.

(08/06/25) CHP trades CHP 1st-27 & CHP 3rd-27 to WIS for R. Rakell..

Rakell can be brilliant but also have his down seasons. This was a too good offer to pass up even though the sell out was not decided on yet.

(10/11/25) AMO trades I. Shesterkin, T. Stutzle, Sacha Boumedienne-p, AMO 5th-27 & FOR 5th-27 to WIS for K. Kaprizov & L. Ullmark…

When Kirill signed the crazy contract on an already too costly squad his future with the Donuts was counted in days. AMO passed by and made a good offer, where Stutzle was the price. Stutzle really took the trade in stride and produced excellent numbers both in CCHL and in the NHL.

(10/27/25) CHP trades Will Skahan-p & Michael Hrabal-p to WIS for B. Carlo…

There wasn't a plan to sell Brandon but it made sense in a sell mode. Hrabal hopefully will be the goalie of the future to make it worth it.

(11/01/25) FOR trades A. Mangiapane, David Edstrom-p & HFX 3rd-26 to WIS for T. Toffoli…

Toffoli was a high price reserve all of last season so this was a cost reducing move.

(11/11/25) CHP trades U. Luukkonen, L. Reichel, K. Stenlund, Max Psenicka-p & AMO 4th-26 to WIS for R. Pulock & I. Shesterkin…

Igor was good return but the salary was too high for a non-contending team and the team already had good goaltending in Gustafsson and youngster Wallstedt in the waiting. Ukko-Pekka is such a great name and he had a bad season in NHL at that point but I was convinced he could do a lot better. He turned his NHL season around and since Wallstedt continued to do well there now is a three way battle in the net for next season.

As it turned out, WIS kept their place in the standings all season and really came out big in the playoff going to the finals. That is pretty good for a sell out team and the playoff bonus will be most welcome.

A few number to sum it up.

• Rakell, Karpizov, Ullmark, Carlo, Toffoli, Pulock all left the original team (a pretty good starting line up on it own), while also Shesterkin was flipped further.
  
• 5 prospects coming to WIS not counting the early prospect flip, where probably Sacha and Hrabal are the most certain at this point.
  
• 6 picks to WIS in 26 and 27, one 1st rounder while the rest 3-5 rounders

CCHL Expands Schedule to 164 Days: A Smarter, Healthier Season Ahead

 Under seven days away from its schedule realease for the 2026-27 season, the CCHL is making a subtle but important change heading into the 2026–27 season—stretching the schedule from 156 days to 164 days. On paper, it’s just eight extra days. In reality, it could make a massive difference in the quality of play, player health, and overall experience for everyone involved.

Let’s break down why this move matters.

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Less Grind, Better Hockey

One of the biggest issues with a compressed schedule is the dreaded “three games in three nights” stretch. It’s brutal. Players are exhausted, recovery is rushed, and the product on the ice suffers.

By spreading the schedule over 164 days, the CCHL is clearly trying to reduce—or outright eliminate—those situations. That means:

• More rest between games
• Better pace and energy
• Higher-quality hockey night after night

And let’s be honest—fans notice the difference when teams aren’t running on fumes.

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Learning from the NHL

If you want a real-world example of what happens when schedules get too tight, just look at the NHL over the past few seasons. Condensed schedules have led to a noticeable spike in injuries, especially soft-tissue issues and fatigue-related problems.

That matters for the CCHL.

Even though it’s a different league, the principle is the same: hockey is demanding. When you stack games too close together, you increase the risk of wear-and-tear injuries and long-term durability concerns.

By adding those extra eight days, the CCHL is getting ahead of the problem instead of reacting to it later. That’s smart league management.

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Player Development Gets a Boost

This isn’t just about avoiding injuries—it’s about helping players actually improve.

With more time between games:

• Teams can run more effective practices
• Coaches can focus on systems and development
• Players have time to recover, review, and adjust

That’s huge, especially in a league where development and progression matter as much as winning.

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And Honestly… More Hockey Isn’t a Bad Thing

Let’s not overcomplicate this.

The season is eight days longer. That’s eight more days where the CCHL is part of your routine—checking scores, following storylines, watching your team push for playoffs.

Who’s complaining about that?

A longer schedule doesn’t dilute the game—it stretches the experience. It keeps fans engaged longer and gives the season a more natural rhythm instead of feeling rushed.

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The Bottom Line

This change isn’t flashy, but it’s impactful.

The CCHL moving to a 164-day schedule shows a league that’s paying attention:

• Protecting its players
• Improving the on-ice product
• And giving fans more of what they enjoy

Sometimes the best changes aren’t the loud ones—they’re the ones that quietly make everything better.

And this feels like one of those moves.

Millers Musings: Offseason

 Coming off a disastrous regular season and a not quite as disastrous yet still disappointing

lottery that saw them land the 6th overall pick, the Millers head into the offseason with a

surprisingly settled roster.

The club currently has 13 forwards and 6 Defensemen plus 2 goalies currently under contract or

RFA’s. The top 2 UFAs are Defensemen Devon Toews and Shea Theodore and it’s unknown if

one will be re-signed, of if they would both be traded to any teams interested in extending them.

Other UFAs include acting Captain Jordan Martinook, top 6 forward Jaden Schwartz, bottom 6

forward and assistant Captain James van Riemsdyk and 3rd string G Ville Husso. Although the

club appreciated the leadership of Martinook and van Riemsdyk they are willing to let them look

at other opportunities and would re-sign them if a forward spot opened up. There is also some

interest in resigning Husso but only after he hits the open market.

Georgetown also has a slew of rookies with an opportunity to hit the roster: forwards Matthew

Wood, Emmitt Finnie, Ryan Greene, and Berkley Catton, plus Dman Axel Sandin-Pellika. At

best only a couple of the forwards would have a chance of seeing consistent playing time, the

rest are likely to start the season in the minors.

The first order of business is deciding on who, if anyone, will be the UFA resigning. If clubs

currently in their contention window should come calling for either of Toews or Theodore it’s

likely they could be traded, depending on the return.

Millers management also has to decide what they will do with the 6th overall pick; the club was

hoping to jump into the top 5, so the decision is to stay where they are and see if anyone they

prefer falls to them, trade back, preferably staying within the top dozen picks and add another

high pick or top prospect as part of the return, or to trade it for a package of futures in prospects

and/or picks.

The team is not interested in any short term moves; they believe that with the maturation of the

existing players, some better health for players like Cooley and Dubois and the development of

some prospects that they could be in a good spot to return to the playoffs wishing a couple of

seasons.

Loons’ Promising Season Ends in Heartbreak, But a New Era Begins in Capeside

 The season that began with championship aspirations for the Capeside Loons ultimately ended in disappointment — but not without moments that suggest the foundation for future success is firmly in place.

After leading the Patrick Division for much of the regular season, Capeside saw its campaign end with a dramatic seven-game first-round loss to the Calgary Chinook in the CCHL playoffs. The defeat capped a turbulent second half of the season that saw the Loons slide to the sixth seed after a series of roster changes following the trade deadline.

Yet despite the early playoff exit, the season will be remembered for its standout performances, emotional moments, and the beginning of a new chapter for the franchise.

Eichel Delivers MVP Season

No player meant more to the Loons this year than Jack Eichel, who delivered a spectacular campaign and earned team MVP honors.

Eichel finished the season with:

• 47 goals
• 77 assists
• 124 points

His 124-point season placed him third in scoring across the entire CCHL, cementing his status as one of the league’s elite offensive forces. Night after night, Eichel drove the Loons’ offense, leading a team that finished among the league’s more productive attacks.

Supporting him offensively were several key contributors:

• Matt Boldy — 41 goals, 101 points
• Jason Robertson — 75 points overall, including 19 points in 21 games with Capeside after arriving mid-season
• Dylan Larkin — 72 points, including 25 in 26 games with the Loons
• Chris Kreider — 32 goals and 71 points while serving as team captain

On the blue line, Zach Werenski delivered an outstanding two-way season with 81 points, while John Carlson added 63 points from the back end.

For much of the season, that offensive firepower kept Capeside atop the Patrick Division standings.

Trade Deadline Changes Shift the Season

The Loons’ trajectory changed dramatically after the trade deadline.

A series of roster moves brought in new talent but also disrupted the chemistry that had carried the team through the first half of the season. While additions like Robertson and Larkin provided scoring punch, the lineup never fully settled into consistent combinations.

Capeside slid down the standings late in the year and ultimately entered the playoffs as the sixth seed.

That set up a difficult opening series against the Calgary Chinook, a team that had dominated the season series between the clubs.

Seven Games, but the Chinook Advance

The playoff matchup proved to be as dramatic as expected.

Despite entering the series as underdogs, the Loons pushed Calgary to the limit. The series went the full seven games before the Chinook finally advanced, ending Capeside’s postseason run in the opening round.

For a team that had once led its division, the early exit left a lingering feeling of what might have been.

Loss of an Owner, Loss for the Community

Beyond the wins and losses, the most emotional moment of the season came off the ice.

Late in the year, the Capeside community mourned the passing of team owner James Van Der Beek, who had become deeply tied to the identity of the franchise and the town.

Van Der Beek had brought the team to Capeside and built the culture that turned the Loons into one of the league’s most recognizable organizations. His death cast a shadow over the final weeks of the season.

Shortly after, fellow Katie Holmes stepped forward to purchase the franchise. Holmes has pledged to preserve the traditions Van Der Beek established while guiding the Loons into the future.

For the city of Capeside, it marked both a farewell and a new beginning.

An Uncertain Offseason

Now the focus shifts to the offseason — and several major questions facing the franchise.

The biggest revolves around captain Chris Kreider. The veteran forward will turn 35 next month and is set to become an unrestricted free agent. If Kreider moves on, the Loons may face the possibility of naming a new captain for the first time in years.

Roster construction will also be under the microscope as the organization looks to regain the chemistry it had earlier in the season.

And perhaps most intriguing is the youth movement that could be arriving.

Three highly regarded prospects are pushing for roster spots next year:

• Ryan Leonard
• James Hagens
• Ian Moore

If even one or two of them make the jump, the Loons could add speed, skill, and energy to a lineup already built around elite offensive talent.