Millers Musings

 Millers Musings

December 15, 2024

Millers make 2 more trades, as they plan for the stretch run and keep on eye on the future. 

Trade #1:

CHP trades Adam Henrique & David Goyette-p to GEO for J. McCabe & A. Athanasiou…

Outgoing: McCabe has been a staple in the Miller’s top 4, but never really found much chemistry with any of his partners. He also had drawn 40 minor penalties in the same number of games. Discipline is a bedrock foundation of the Millers’ philosophy, and constantly being on the PK was wearing on team management. McCabe had been a major offensive contributor, but the club is confident that Theodore, Gostisbehere ad Walker can pick up the slack. Athanasiou went from 20 goal scorer to 4th line option in the past season. GEO loved his strong skating, but the lack of finish and his style being unsuitable for a checking line led to being a healthy scratch more often than not. 

Incoming: Henrique improves the Millers 3rd line and gives them a reasonable replacement to move up to a top 6 role if one of Larkin or Malkin misses time. He can also play on both special teams units and the club is hoping to get a solid 15-16 minutes a night from him. The contract is problematic after this season but that’s a concern for the following 3 seasons. Right now Georgetown will enjoy his good offense and defense and versatility. Goyette is a former 2nd round pick in his 1st pro season. He led the OHL In points last season. He’s on the small side and projects as a winger in the NHL. If  his offense translates to the pros he’s a top 6 winger. 

Trade #2:

CHC trades Ryan Greene-p, Cam Talbot, V. Hinestroza & FOR 1st-25 to GEO for J. Neighbours, V. Vanecek, & Igor Chernyshov-p…

Outgoing: Neighbours was acquired earlier in the season in the “reset” trade involving Amos. The Millers had tried him up and down the lineup but he never really found a fit, and the Necas acquisition bumped him from the top 6, which is Neighbours only real lineup option as a sniper with poor defense. There wasn’t a path for a top 6 role next season either, with Maxim Tsyplakov’s physical play and better well-rounded game pencilled in to join Guenther, Necas and Moore as top 6 wingers for the 25-26 season. Neighbours should be a steady 35 goal scorer if he hits so it is a risk. Vanacek was the 4th goaltender, dressing once as a backup but seeing no ice time. Picked up as a flyer in case he bounced back this NHL season and potentially re-signed as a RFA, his NHL performance has not been inspiring. Chernysov was a 2024 draft pick, taken early in the 2nd round after the Millers dealt a couple of picks to move up and take him. He’s missed his first North American pro-season after undergoing shoulder surgery, but profiles as a playmaking top 6 winger. In return for moving 2 young, probable top 6 forwards, the Millers picked up…

Incoming: …Fort Erie’s 1st round pick in the 2025 draft. It’s likely to be the last or next to last 1st rounder of the CCHL draft. The Millers own 2025 first rounder will likely fall in the 12 to 15 range. Cam Talbot improves Georgetown’s goalie depth, and a good run could see him take over down the stretch. The club has been playing the hot hand between Conor Ingram and Jake Allen, so Talbot can step in if one of them should stumble. Hinostroza was included for roster limit purposes, and was promptly waived. Ryan Greene is a Boston College center, lauded for his 2 way play. With good size and skating and decent skill, he projects as a bottom 6 NHL center. 

Notes:

The McCabe trade returns Mario Ferraro to the lineup, playing with Shea Theodore on the 1st pair in an attempt to balance out Theodore’s defensive deficiencies. Jake Walman is the 7th D-man, and if the club has to go further down the depth chart, recent acquisition Jackson LeCombe could be activated from his minors designation. 

After breaking in on the 3rd line, Necas has joined Larkin and Armia on the top line and done well. His promotion dropped Trevor Moore to the 3rd line, and the club hopes Moore finds chemistry with Henrique and Copp to form a true 2 way unit with strong defense and better than average offense. Moore remains on the power play, with Henrique replacing the departed McCabe on the 2nd unit. 

As mentioned earlier, the Millers are riding the hot hand in net, and right now no one is hotter than Jake Allen (5-1, .915 save %). 

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