Western Conference Finals
Minnesota 4 Nashville 3
Minnesota 4 Nashville 3
Nashville 1 Minnesota 2
Nashville 4 Minnesota 1

GM Interview
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
GM Name: Brandon Moore
Birthday: September 17, 1996
Hometown: Welland, Ontario

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Brandon how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: I’m pretty sure this is my third year in the league.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting in 9 Conference.

GM: Hopefully a solid playoff spot. I don’t want to have to face a giant in the first round (like Winnipeg).

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? I’m sure you are gunning for a playoff spot. I hear a lot of trade rumors about Jake Gardiner

GM: I just dealt for Chara, and traded Gardiner in the process. That was a pretty major deal, and I’m excited to see the results of it. It seems like everything I trade to Winnipeg turns to gold (see Claude Giroux), so hopefully Jake will do better.

Darren: I’m been hearing a lot of trade rumors and talks about Jake Gardiner and Henrik Lundqvist, How have these players holding up knowing that any minute you are planning on pulling the trigger on them?

GM: They are holding on really well. Jake was a team player right until the end, and Lundqvist is playing really well as of print time (May 1, 2014), so hopefully his form continues.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Malkin will definitely be a franchise player for a long time. As for others, Landeskog hopefully, Yakupov and Skinner.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Ryder is not having the huge season I expected out of him.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Definitely Jonathan Quick. I would love the confidence that having the best goalie in the league would bring. If not him, then Taylor Hall.

Darren: Your team has a lot of room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on getting some big names to join the team.

GM: I’m hoping I can sign some this off season. I didn’t get any this year, because I wasn’t paying the outrageous prices they were going for.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under­rated & most over­rated?

GM: I would have to say that New Jersey is pretty under­rated. He always puts up a fight whenever we face them. As for over­rated, Nashville. His team always chokes in the playoffs. However, he did get a big name center, so it’ll be cool to see what will come of his chance now.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)? GM: New Jersey, Buffalo and Carolina, as they are currently challenging me for a playoff position.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: The Leafs are my favourite team, as the rest of my family. Favourite players are: Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Toews, and Steven Stamkos.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Both of the teams I chose to win are out in the first round (Colorado and St. Louis)! Kind of annoying, but it doesn’t bother me who wins, as long as the Habs don’t!

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Soccer, playing video games, and other sports in general.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview Team: Columbus
GM Name: Bryce Cresswell
Birthday: Sept 3rd 1987
Hometown: Toronto Ont Canada

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Bryce how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: This season is my 6th season as GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 6th in the West Conference.

GM: Im extremely excited with how much my team has grown , it has taken me 6 years to put my imprint on this team and make them a respectful opponent and they are finally playing with a winning attitude.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be thinking of trying to secure home ice advantage.

GM: To be honest , unless a major steal comes my way for a big time dman , i will most likely be heading into the playoffs with the team i have now. they deserve to show me what they can do in the playoffs. after the playoffs are done i will re-evaluate and then move forward with the growth of my team.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Hands down Stamkos, he is one of the best players in the game and is only getting better. He will be a star for many years to come.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Biron is a goalie i picked up to solidify my needs in net , i got him for a good price but so far he has not panned out as i expected.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Ilya Kovalchuck, i could only imagine the points him and Stamkos could do together.

Darren: Your team has a lot of room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on securing some big names to join the club?

GM: I dont want to give any ideas away here , but consider me to be a front runner in many big names this off season.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Most underrated - Columbus, nobody takes us serious as of yet , but we will prove them wrong in the playoffs. Most overrated - Nashville, i believe that they have a solid group but there reign at the top is slowly coming to an end.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: Nashville, Evan Carter is a close friend of mine so we are always fighting for position , in a friendly way.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: Toronto Maple Leafs , Wendel Clark

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: As if now Chicago , i hate Montreal.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Hockey , Dirtbikes and anything with an engine.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: San Jose Sharks
GM Name: Coady Murphy
Birthday: March 8/1995
Hometown: Souris, P.E.I.

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Coady how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: I was just recently taken in by Mike - St.louis GM about 1 month ago.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 13th in the West Conference.

GM: I doesn’t look like I will be making the playoffs, that’s for sure.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? Is there going to be a playoff push?

GM: There won’t be a playoff push that’s for sure, and I can’t see any big moves besides a few trades for the future.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Keith Ballard will be my franchise player.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Braydon Coburn is an 80OV and has 3 points in 48 games,he has to pick up the slack.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: I would like to get my hands on Joe Thornton

Darren: Your team has a lot of room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on securing some big names to join the club?

GM: Yeah expect me to scout the free agent market and/or make a big trade.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Florida is underated and Montreal will be a strong contender in the next couple years

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: Vancouver, Dallas

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: Favorite team would be Calgary, Players - Crosby,Nash,Stepan

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: San Jose but that didnt work so let’s go Rangers

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Off Roading, Working on vehicles

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: New York Islanders
GM Name: Jason Smellie
Birthday: April 12,
Hometown: Stratford

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Jason how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: Well Conrad from the Chicago Blackhawks got me hook on this league since ECHL 5.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting in 2nd in the East Conference.

GM: The team came out with a bang, at the start on the season, and since the ECHL islanders have been watching the NHL Leafs tapes this year, panic is starting to set in, we will be in the playoffs this year, then it is an all new game.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? I’m sure you are gunning for top seed in the East. Do you think you can catch Winnipeg?

GM: I don't think big moves this year, maybe a few minor tweeks, but it will be hard as we are so close to the cap

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Mikko Koivu is the franchise, and has been for some time, his leadership, and consistent play is a model you’re the younger players.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: There are 2 players that are struggling, Petr Sykora, and Carl Gunnarsson. Sykora was aquired last year for his scoring ability, and so far this year he has not hit the 20 goal mark, and his shooting percentage continues to drop. Carl was the best pick up last year and really helped the team, but that was last year and he has really struggled to make the big team this year.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: I have been trying to get Pavol Demetra back to the Islanders, I think that is the worst thing I have ever done to the team, he was the heart and sole, and could improve others around him.

Darren: Your team has some room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on bringing in some more big names? GM: This off season looks to be very interesting, there are tons of RFAs and UFAs and with salarys increasing there are some big teams going to lose some really good players. With the UFA process the Islanders will be very active to bring in some talent at reasonable prices

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Nashville is the most over-rated, they always have a good season, but really suck it in the playoffs. The most under-rate is Toronto, they have been the biggest surprise for me in the east

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: Winnipeg is our biggest rival, with them as the team to beat again this year, and our lack of playoff performance against them, is frustrating

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: before anyone says anything, yes I am a Leaf fan, yes they are a big let down, but got to love them. I really don't have a favourite player, atleast not like I used to, Doug Gilmour, Al Iafrate, Mike Palmateer, top my list of entertaining players, back in the day.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: cheering for the Ducks, but also have a soft spot for Thornton and the Sharks.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Having 3 girls I don't have time for hobbies, but I do play ball hockey in Barrie, and enjoy gardening

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Los Angeles Kings
GM Name: Dustin Johnstone
Birthday: October 7
Hometown: Alliston, Ontario

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Dustin how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: I’ve been in the ECHL since the beginning of season 3.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting for 10th in the West Conference, 3 points out of a playoff spot?

GM: I expect that my team will make the playoffs this year.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be thinking of pushing for a playoff berth.

GM: I don’t think there will be any big moves in LA, but if the right player is available I will do what it takes to secure a playoff spot.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: We don’t really have one yet, but I expect Marchand to be a King for many years to come. I’m also excited to see what our top prospects like Svedberg and Strome will do in the next few years.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Devan Dubnyk was playing awfully, but he seems to be turning it around now. Martin Spanhel has probably been the biggest letdown for me this year.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Joe Thornton. You can’t deny the way he’s dominating the league this season.

Darren: Your team has a good amount of room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on getting some big names to sign with the team?

GM: I will definitely be making a push for free agents, but we have a lot of RFAs to sign so we will have to wait and see.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: I can’t believe how well Edmonton and Columbus are doing. Their goalies are really making the difference for them. Nashville I think is the most overrated, they always lead the west and still have nothing to show for it.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: Well I know the whole Pacific personally, aside from San Jose, but the rivalry is strongest with Anaheim and Phoenix as they brought me into the league.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: I like Toronto and Calgary. I don’t watch the NHL as much as I used to, but Derek Roy and Paul Stastny are a few players I like that aren’t retired or crap now.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Like I said, Toronto and Calgary, so I’m just cheering for Montreal to lose.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: I play Xbox and party with Anaheim, Phoenix, Nashville, Buffalo, Boston and Dallas most weekends. I also used to play ball hockey with Anaheim, Phoenix, Columbus and Nashville.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Montreal Canadiens
GM Name: Emily Kiezebrink
Birthday: October 7, 1985
Hometown: Barrie, Ontario (living in Port Williams NS)

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Emily what brings you back to the ECHL?

GM: I missed being part of the league. Plus, watching all the drama in the league, I figured I could help bring some normal GM activity.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting in 13th in the East Conference.

GM: Trying to climb the ladder...with 24 games left, we're hoping to make a playoff push. Can't guarantee it, but we inherited a mess and we're hopefully doing the right things to right the ship.

Darren: Can we expect to see any more big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You’ve been pretty active since you’ve taken over as GM.

GM: Maybe, maybe not. We evaluate every offer and other players, and try to make it work. We had a lot of work to do when we got here, so sitting pat wasn't an option.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: We're refusing to move JT Miller, so we're hoping he evolves into that franchise player. The skill-set he has at only 19 years of age...we'd be stupid to move him. Brad Richards has become our captain and he'll nurture the younger players.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Not really his fault, but Adam Deadmarsh is taking up cap space with his injuries. He's on the cusp of being bought out, but we'll see...if he gets healthy in time, he can still help us.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Alex Tanguay. Hands down.

Darren: Your team has some room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on getting some big names to join the team.

GM: Ask me in the offseason.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Winnipeg is overrated. Big time. I wouldn't want to play Philadelphia...young team with some leadership. They'll be heard from if they make the playoffs.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)? Any rivalry with Justin from Winnipeg?

GM: A bit. Started too late in the season to really build a good rivalry with Winnipeg, but my biggest rivals are the teams between me and eighth in the East.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: I am a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. My favorite player is James van Riemsdyk and Jonathan Bernier. Very glad he's a Leaf; was a fan of him since his days with the Kings.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: I'm hoping the Ducks win it all, if it's Selanne's last season.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: I run my own business for kids, www.ekstufflelies.com.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Phoenix Coyotes
GM Name: Shawn Trumble
Birthday: June 3rd, 1987
Hometown: Bolton, Ontario

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Shawn how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: I’ve been in since ECHL 2, it has been along time.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are tied for 1st in the West Conference. Are you hoping for an overall 1st place finish?

GM: I believe my team will battle Nashville till the end, I held for a while until Nashville’s 13 game win streak.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be thinking of trying to secure home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

GM: My team is where I want it to be, might try to pick up a third line veteran.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: To be honest I have too many. Crosby, Doughty, Quick? Who do I choose? But Telegin looks very promising, leading all rookies and he is only 20 years old!

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Marc Staal.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Marian Gaborik. He has carried Chicago for many seasons.

Darren: Your team has no room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on offloading some big names to make room for re-signing?

GM: I plan to keep my core guys, I will work out the rest.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Under-rated I have to say Carolina, they will be a team to watch out for. Over-rated has to be Boston, you shutdown Thornton and they’re nothing.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)? Any rivalry with Brandon of Carolina?

GM: I do have a sibling arrival with Brandon, which is coming up shortly! Other than that, Nashville, Anaheim, Los Angeles and Dallas are my rivals.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick, Jonathan Bernier Drew Doughty, Evgeni Malkin and Joffery Lupul

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Los Angeles. GO KINGS GO!

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Traveling, being active, coaching and playing hockey.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Nashville Predators
GM Name : Evan Carter
Birthday : June 23 1987
Hometown: Bolton Ontario

? Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. SoEvan how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: since ECHL 2. Maybe 9-10 years

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 1st in the WestConference.

GM: well I just sat giggy for the rest of the season, so hopefully still in the top 8

Darren: You call yourself the ‘trade king’ can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? you have been pretty quiet throughout the season and I’m sure you must be thinking of trying to secure home ice advantagethroughout the playoffs.

GM:I made my main splash before the season getting vinny, I am taking the Rick Jessup approach this season

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Ilya kovalchuk still and always will be the main man in Nashville. Although Gudbranson and Hickey are coming up quite nicely

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Heatly, he has been a disapointment( no philly, this doesn't mean ill trade him to you;)

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM:Steven Stamkos.. Watch yourself Bryce, im coming for him in the offseason

Darren: Your team has very little room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on offloading some big names to make room for re-signing?

GM: Ill never tell my secets... succcckkkeeersss

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM:most under rated is columus.. Over rated... hmmmm... its a toss up between phoenix and minny :)

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)? GM:Anaheim, Chicago , Phoenix , and Winnipeg

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM:Huge Toronto Maple leaf fan... Huge fan of mike richards, Toews, and Rick Nash

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM:None really, lost interest when the leafs got eliminated

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM:Nothing, Echl is my one and only!!! Long live the Preds!!!!!...

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Chicago
GM Name: Conrad Rosario
Birthday: March 31, 1973
Hometown: Markham Ontario

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Conrad how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: I’ve been in the league since season 1, was invite by my friend Eric, who at the time was the GM of Calgary and the ‘E’ of the ECHL.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting for 9th in the West Conference, 1 point out of a playoff spot?

GM: We’re gunning for a playoff spot, and do not want to just get in. It has been an up and down ride of a season so far. The team has not been able to put together any consistency in winning and we are hoping that is going to start changing really soon.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be thinking of pushing for a playoff berth.

GM: We could have a few more moves to go before the trade deadline. I’m always open to improving my team and work with other GMs to find a fair ground where we will both be happy.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Right now Marian Gaborik is a machine for us and has been for the past few seasons. He started off slow this year but by mid-season he picked it up big time. We have a couple of young players that have impressed me this season, Riley Sheahna and Petr Straka are both doing well in their rookie season.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: I was expecting a lot more from Tuukka Rask. He has had a tough season but has shown signs of greatness as well.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Patrick Kane from Dallas, he would look great in a Hawks uniform.

Darren: Your team has some room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on getting some big names to sign with the team?

GM: We have a few RFA and UFA players that we would like to re-sign. We’ll see what players are in the market and if it makes sense we will be active in the off season.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Under-rated definitely Columbus and Florida, both teams are having great seasons. I don’t see any team as being over-rated.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: All the teams in my division, then my conference then the ECHL. I also try to make sure we are well prepared to beat both the NYI and Colorado every chance we get.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players? GM: Sigh… the Leafs! My favorite players would be Crosby, Toews, Price and Kessel.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Anyone but Montreal and Boston, I can’t stand either of them. It would be nice to see a Chicago vs Pittsburgh final.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: I enjoy spending a lot of time with my family. Love every minute I get to spend with my kids and wife. My kids are in a few activities and I enjoy watching them participate in. For myself I still play ice hockey which keeps me active and working on my honey dew list, which is mostly home projects.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
GM Name: Sam Steggles
Birthday: March 28, 1983
Hometown: Guelph Ontario

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Sam how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: I think I came into the league around ECHL 3 or 4.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 5th in the East Conference.

GM: Considering the amount of injuries my team has and continued to face this season I think we are doing reasonably well. It has been tough watching a new player get hurt every other game. If we can get healthy then we are looking for home ice in the first round of the playoffs.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be looking to secure home ice advantage in the playoffs.

GM: Not likely. I made some offers to upgrade on RW but no bites. Trading has been difficult for our club this season.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: The best thing about our team is that we have great young core getting stronger every year. This includes Ryan, Stepan, Enroth, Lee, Carlson, Clifford, Bathgate, Voracek and Maclean. All 25 and younger. I'm excited for this team in the next few years.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Before the season I felt I had upgraded the backend so we would be better defensively. We are still giving up to many shots per game. This could be partially attributed to offensive players in the league getting better every year. One player I wish was playing better was Andy Bathgate. My expectations might be a little high for the 21 year old.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Maybe Joni Pitkanen. Defensively responsible and great offensive ability.

Darren: Your team has some room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? You have a lot of young RFA on your team and a couple of UFAs.

GM: I do have a lot of important RFA's to sign during the offseason. That is priority number one. If I can upgrade through free agency then we will look at it.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: That’s a hard question. I think St. Louis is over-rated at this time. They need some help on defense. The most under-rated team is Detroit. Unfortunately they are in the west.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: Boston has consistently been our biggest rival.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: Toronto Maple Leafs! My favorite current players are Getzlaf, Toews and Doughty.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: I tend to cheer for the underdog. Minnesota!

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Just finished school for Human Resources so I am looking for a job. Still working in social services to get me through. Love going to see live music and hang out with friends. I'm going to see Queens of the Stone Age this summer.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Florida Panthers
GM Name: Andre Drouillard
Birthday: Sept 03 ,1974
Hometown: Calgary (now)

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Andre how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: Since inception: I was asked by a co – worker to join…. All that was left was florida

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 5th in the East Conference.

GM: My team is starting to gel hope we can carry that on into the playoffs. And see where that takes us

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be looking to secure home ice advantage in the playoffs.

GM: I don’t think there is much more I am going to do – If I could get one more big guy I will but those are hard to come by.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: We have a lot of great leaders – but Weber has to be the go to guy…

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Ryan Clowe – I brought him in to put up a few points and keep the puck out of our net. A minus player

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: I have tried several times to get Rick Nash from pretty much every team that has him over the years.

Darren: Your team has some room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? With Zetterburg becoming an UFA I’m sure everyone in the league has their eye on him.

GM: I think I have a team that can compete for the cup so maybe a few minor changes but nothing too drastic – resigning the big Z is a priority

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Nashville… D-fence wins championships – without pronger they are weak.. I like the changes that Montreal is doing – they will be a contender in the future

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: I’ve kept fairly quiet in the last couple years- but I liked playing against Tampa Bay

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: Unfortunately the leafs (why does Phaneuf have to be the Capitan) Ryan Getzlaf and S Weber

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Anaheim… Chicago is pretty fun to watch as well.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Boston
GM Name: Travis Johnstone
Birthday: April 19, 1991
Hometown: Bolton, ON

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Travis how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: Since the beginning of this season

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 5th in the East Conference.

GM: I think my team will surprise some GM's in the playoffs

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be looking to secure home ice advantage in the playoffs.

GM: Not likely to make any big moves, just some small ones to secure my team's future.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Is that even a question? Mark Smith of course!

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Definitely wish that Logan Stephenson could plug the holes in my 2nd line D.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Ilya Kovalchuck would cause a bonanza with Thornton,

Darren: Your team is currently tight to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? With Thornton becoming an UFA I’m sure everyone in the league has their eye on him.

GM: Mark my words. Thornton will stay on Boston for the duration of his career. Just cleared up room for another star by cutting ties with Alexei Yashin.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Nashville is definitely over-rated. Under-rated I would have to say Los Angeles...They just can't seem to find any consistancy.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: Toronto.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: I've grown up unsure of my favorite team as my friends are all Leaf's fans and they've never impressed me. I watch any team (except for the Habs and Philadelphia) as long as it's good competitive hockey. My favorite players would be Nazim Kadri, T.J Oshie, and Kane and Toews.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Chicago, San Jose.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: I'm an avid gamer. I enjoy karaoke and music as well.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Vancouver
GM Name: George Robinson
Birthday: October 12th 1988
Hometown: Hockley, Ontario (Currently Brampton, Ontario)

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So George how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: I have been the Vancouver GM for 2 seasons now.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 15th in the West Conference.

GM: Our team will compete hard each and every night and ice our best possible line up. That being said we are in a rebuild and have a team full of youth. So we don’t expect anything higher then we currently are sitting.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? Is there going to be a playoff push?

GM: I am of the belief that every piece has their price. But I did a majority of my moves last year setting up our rebuild. We don’t have many veteran pieces left to move. But some could be moved for playoff bound teams. No we will not be selling the farm for a 1st round exit.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Our current Franchise player is John Lammers. But in the future it will be Ludvig Rensfeldt and Jaden Schwartz.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Currently Matthew Duchene has been struggling. We have yet to find the right Chemistry for him. But we are confident he will rebound.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: That would be Mika Zibanejad or Oscar Klefbom.

Darren: Your team has a lot of room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on securing some big names to join the club?

GM: We will be active in free agency. However we are not quite in the prime to push and take ice time away from our younger players.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: San-Jose and Montreal respectively.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: San-Jose

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: Toronto along with any Canadian team. Mike Richards, Cody Franson, Mason Raymond.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: St. Louis.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Paintball, Hockey, Nascar, Canada’s Wonderland, Concerts, Broads, Other FHL leagues.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Calgary Flames
GM Name:Daniel Kitson
Birthday:Dec 05 1990
Hometown: Toronto Ontario

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Daniel how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: Since the middle of last season.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 11th in the West Conference.

GM: I dont think were going to make the playoffs but next year looks promising.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? Are you planning on making a run for the playoffs?

GM: Not planning to make a run but yes i have a big deal in the works hoping all goes well

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: i have so many i could pick from but right now i have 3.

michael parks

mikael granlund

jonathan huberdeau

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: chris kreider could have done better i think

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: sidney crosby hes good

Darren: Your team has a lot of room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on securing some big names to join the club?

GM: yes i am and also making sure we keep everyone that we want for this clubs future

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: florida is under rated

phoenix is over rated

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: i love the alberta games so edmonton for sure

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: leafs are and always will be born and raised here so i just love them lol even tho they enjoy making my life a living hell

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: not montreal ill tell ya that haha but san jose looks good so them

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: i work alot but other then that baseball and hockey i love all my sports thats all i really do

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Carolina Hurricanes
GM Name: Brandon Trumble
Birthday: May 13th, 1981
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Brandon how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: Going on 5 years now Darren! Wow 5 years where does the time go!

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting in 7th in the East Conference.

GM: If we keep working hard and compete to the standard we know we can, hopefully we can keep a playoff position. It seems that we always get up for the big games against the better teams and lay an egg versus the basement teams in the league. We do have to improve in some areas.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be looking to secure a spot in the playoffs, you are only 2 points ahead of Buffalo and Philly.

GM: If the right trade comes across my plate and makes sense for the team moving forward I will make a trade but seems like most of the GM’s in the league are looking to get the better deal out of trades and offering not the fairest deals. But I will do my best to see if I can get anything done before the deadline.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Well we have a lot of young talent on the team right now and its really hard to say but I would have to go with Johnny T right now, he is developing in to a star in this league and were very excited to see what he is capable of becoming in the future. Like I said our team is full of young talent like Bernier, JVR, Myers, Voynov, Brodin, Schenn. The future looks bright here in Carolina for sure Darren.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: I wished that our young defenseman Tyler was doing better, he has all the talent in he world do many things in this league but we haven’t seen it yet from him but I’m sure that he will get the confidence back and turn it around and he still is young so I’m pretty sure the best is yet to come from him.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Well I’m pretty sure every GM’s answer to this question is Kovalchuk. The best player in the league basically. As well as Marian Gaborik or Jumbo Joe who we tried to acquire from Boston earlier in the year but the deal fell through and a deal couldn’t be reached. I would have to say either of those 3 would be my choices.

Darren: Your team is very tight to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? You have some RFA and UFA players I’m sure you’d want to resign.

GM: Not sure yet hard to say at this time, were going to worry about this season first and we will see our situation heading into next year when our season is complete, to early to say.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: I believe the most under-rated team is my hurricanes to be honest, we have the talent here to be a team that is hard to play against night in and night out but we have to come together as a team and play like we can, which we haven’t shown to much this year. Over-rated hard to say but NY Islanders I would have to say because our teams are similar in ways but I believe our team is better yet they sit 3rd in the conference but I guess reason for it is they lead a weak division.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)? Any sibling rivalry with your brother Shawn?

GM: Any rivals would be any team in the east basically right now because we need to win games and gain ground on teams, maybe couple west teams that I am familiar with like Kings, Ducks, Yotes and Preds. They all get nervous when they gotta play the canes. That rivalry is always their in the back of your head, we don’t see much of each other because he’s in the west but when we do meet in the season of course you want to win that game for sure.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: The Toronto Maple Leafs no doubt, I know its been rough of late with them but no other teams I would have to say then them, you stick with your team through the ups and downs, it will get better. Not really any favourite players in the league, just enjoy watching the game and cheering for the leafs pretty much that’s about it.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Honestly I couldn’t careless what team wins the cup in the NHL this year but if I had to choose one I would want Colorado to win. No way in hell I would cheer for Montréal, I don’t give a beavers ass if they are the only Canadian team in the playoffs, I hate that team with a passion and would never cheer for them unless I had a wager on them to win a game. The team to bring the cup back to Canada should be the leafs and not any other team in Canada. Who ever heard of a leaf fan cheering for Montréal to win the cup, that’s just insane, crazy and stupid.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: I mostly enjoy watching sports, playing sports, watching TV shows like The Walking Dead awesome show, hanging out with friends and playing video games with my younger brothers, betting on sports and having fun.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Winnipeg Jets
GM Name: Justin Halbersma
Birthday: June 1, 1977
Hometown: Port Williams, Nova Scotia

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Justin how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: Started with the Atlanta Thrashers in ECHL3, and remained with them when they relocated to Winnipeg for ECHL8. I've been here for six seasons.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting in 1st in the East Conference.

GM: We're shooting for home ice advantage in the playoffs. We're very fortunate to be sitting in first with the way the Islanders and Bruins have come on. First would be nice, but not a priority.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? I’m sure you are gunning for top seed in the East. Is the President trophy in your thoughts?

GM: We have some irons in the fire, but it remains to be seen if we make any big trades. If it makes sense, we'll make the deal.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Claude Giroux. He's done more than we asked this season. He's taken this team on his shoulders and has been phenomenal. He really likes Winnipeg, and it shows.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: By his standards, Alex Tanguay needs to be better.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: That's a hard one...there are so many players out there. If I could get my hands on one player, it would have to be Shea Weber.

Darren: Your team has little room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on offloading some big names so you can free up some room for re-signing?

GM: Like I said before, if the trade makes sense, we'll make it.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: I'm keeping an eye on Florida. They've made some moves and they've crept up the standings with very little fanfare. I'll also have to say that Phoenix is a bit inflated. Any team riding just a goaltender is one injury away from disaster

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: The Islanders. They've seemed to make it their mission to knock me out of the playoffs.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: My favorite team is the Pittsburgh Penguins. I'm a fan of Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux, and Nathan MacKinnon.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Pittsburgh of course. I'd also love to see Colorado do something.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: I'm a preacher. I also coach soccer and am an assistant coach in the local Major Midget hockey league.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Edmonton
GM Name: Richard Moore
Birthday: September 20, 1974
Hometown: Toronto, ON

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Richard how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: I took a 1 year sabbatical since ECHL 2 and changed teams, so 6 or 7 years in total.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 8th in the West Conference, with Chicago and LA not far behind.

GM: I’m pushing for a top 6 finish. I would be ecstatic if I could overtake Minnesota for the 3rd seed.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? I’m sure you are planning on securing a playoff spot, what key player or players are you missing?

GM: All my big moves are done. I’m only interested from here on in to make minor moves acquiring picks and prospects.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Joe Colborne has proven himself, and keeps getting better game after game, year after year.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: JP Dumont. He has had some struggles but has shown a few signs of breaking out.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Its not 1 player in particular. I do have a wish list and at the top of that is Cam Barker.

Darren: Your team has a lot of room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on securing some big names to join the club?

GM: I do have quite a few RFA’s that I will be matching. I will only make a signing for a strong DF rating dman if they are available.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: I keep looking at that St. Louis team, and they are well built. A few more tweaks by Mike Lebar and they could be good for a few years. Probably the most over rated team is of course Minnesota. But I’m biased as I am hunting them, down for the division lead. Ha Ha Ha.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: Geographically it is definitely Calgary, but right now it is Minnesota.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: My favourite NHL team is of course The Leafs. I am born and raised in Toronto. My favourite players of all time are Darryl Sittler and Doug Gilmour. Among active players I must say Phil Kessel is a beast.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: I’m pretty much a homer so since The Leafs are not a part of the playoffs this year I don’t have a dog in the fight, But that St. Louis team and Chicago teams look awesome.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Work keeps me pretty busy, but family is big with me. Spending time with the nieces, nephews, cousins, they take up most of my free time.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: MINNESOTA
GM Name: BILL READ
Birthday: MAY 30, 1980
Hometown: TORONTO

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Mike how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: Who's Mike? Worst interview ever. This is my 7th season at the helm of the Minnesota Wild franchise.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 5th in the West Conference.

GM: We've got the best team we've ever assembled on paper, now it is time for them to gel and go on a deep playoff run.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be thinking of trying to secure home ice advantage.

GM: We may need to make a couple minor, salary cap moves to put us in better position for next season as we have a lot of RFA's to sign in the off season.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Up until this point it has been Marty Turco but this season Taylor Hall has shown he is capable of the title. Ovechkin isn't too far behind but needs to work on his defensive game and his leadership in the dressing room.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: I wouldn't say he's struggling but we had slightly higher expectations for our rookie Tarasenko - he's been getting plenty of top line minutes with star players and is still looking to notch his 10th goal of the season. Also, our top prospect goalie Pickard is having a tough sophmore campaign.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Joe Thornton

Darren: Your team has some room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on securing some big names to join the club?

GM: No, quite the opposite actually. We are going to be right up against the cap next season after I sign all my RFA's so we may even have to ship out a contract or two to make room.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Underrated: NY Islanders. Overrated: Nashville.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: Nashville always seems to have our number (especially in the conference finals).

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: Toronto Maple Leafs. Fav players: Toews, Weber and Mackinnon.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Chicago

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Golf, travelling.....music is a big part of my life as I go to a lot of concerts and dj events

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Ottawa
GM Name: Gary Kozai
Birthday: Dec 11 1977
Hometown: Whitby

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Gary how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: Since day 1. I was thinking that was only a few years but I think it has already been about 9-10 years? Crazy.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting in 10th in the East Conference.

GM: I was hopeful that we would build on from last season. Our team has improved little by little each year and last year was our most successful. We got off to a great start this year and have since faltered. Hovering around the playoff cut line is not what I envisioned.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? I’m sure you are gunning for a playoff spot.

GM: need to make the playoffs. I will do what it takes at the deadline if we are on the cusp of that mark.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: I've never had one star player and have always tried to have balance throughout the team. We are building around a core group that includes Byufglien, Hodgson and our best young defenceman Joe Morrow. We have good young goaltending as well in Conz.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: there are a handful but maybe it's too much to ask for Arnott to lead us again with strong numbers. He's a seasoned vet that we need to draw from and was hoping that we would rally around him more than we have.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Crosby. Hands down. But at the same time I am more than content without him too.

Darren: Your team has a lot of room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on getting some big names to join the team.

GM: we will see at the end of the season. How we finish will map out our off season plans. I have some flexibility with my cap space.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: I don't think anyone is over rated. I would say Philly is under rated. Great talent on that team and should be better than where they are. They are on the verge of greatness I think.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: all my division rivals. Toronto for sure. Always a close game with them.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: Toronto maple leafs - Crosby, Kessel, Lucic, getzlaf

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Detroit seems to be the team I have naturally started cheering for. Perhaps because they have such a tough task to get by Boston.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: hardcore golfer, big time cigar aficionado. Love my cigars and to totally counteract that I work out regularly and eat very healthy.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: St.Louis
GM Name: Mike Lebar
Birthday: August 5 1990
Hometown: Mississauga. Toronto. Ontario.

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I'm Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let's get this interview started. So Mike how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM:2 months or so

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 5th in the West Conference.

GM: hoping to make it at least till the semi-finals.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You must be thinking of trying to secure home ice advantage.

GM: of course got some players I am looking into and have players looking to trade.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: definitely spooner unless I come across someone I would rather have.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Jaromir Jagr

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Landeskog

Darren: Your team has some room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on securing some big names to join the club?

GM:not to sure have to wait to see who becomes available.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM:Nashville is so over rated and I think I am under rated to be honest.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM:Chicago and Calgary

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM:Colorado and Toronto are my favorite teams and Duchenne and Kessel and james van riemsdyk

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year's playoffs?

GM:Colorado

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM:work a lot sports and just staying active mostly outside.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Pittsburgh
GM Name: Rick Ambrozic
Birthday: April 4
Hometown: Toronto

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Rick how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: Since Day 1. I was invited into it by my cousin Chris.

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting in 15th in the East Conference.

GM: Not too well. We made some bad trades and drafted poorly. If we cannot finish last, that would be an accomplishment.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? You’ve made a few moves already this season.

GM: I love trades….so stay tuned!

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Joe Pavelski

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Matt Cooke

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Sidney Crosby

Darren: Your team has a lot of room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on getting some big names to join the team.

GM: Hopefully be able to pick up some big names from teams who are at or near the cap.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Nashville is very overrated and will no doubt disappear once the playoffs start. I think Philadelphia is a team to look out for.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)? Any rivalry with Chris from New Jersey?

GM: I used to have good rivalries with Detroit and NY Rangers but their GMs resigned.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: Pittsburgh is my team. Borje Salming and Ron Francis are my favourites.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: Pittsburgh of course. Teams I am not cheering for are: Montreal, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: House hunting.

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

GM Interview
Team: Colorado Avalanche
GM Name: Taylor McLean
Birthday: Aug.6/1979
Hometown: Barrie, Ontario

Reporting from the Annual General Managers meetings in Toronto, Ontario, I’m Darren Dreger of TSN

Darren: Alright, let’s get this interview started. So Taylor how long have you been a GM in the ECHL?

GM: This is my first season as a GM

Darren: How do you think your team will do this year? Currently you are sitting 14th in the West Conference.

GM: We are looking to rebuild our team and I am guessing we will sit around 12th-14th at the end of the season.

Darren: Can we expect to see any big moves from your club before the trade deadline? Are you planning on making a run for the playoffs?

GM: Not looking to sacrifice the teams future, but anything is possible if it means improving the club.

Darren: Who do you believe is or will be your franchise player?

GM: Henrique, Lindberg and Lander are all up and coming players with a bright future.

Darren: Which player on your team do you think is struggling or you wished was doing better?

GM: Steve Bernier has seen better days.

Darren: If you could trade for one ECHL player not currently on your team, who would it be?

GM: Claude Giroux is having a great year and would be someone who would fit in nicely here.

Darren: Your team has some room to the salary cap, what are your plans during the off season? Are you planning on securing some big names to join the club?

GM: Anything is possible. We will look at bringing in some veteran experience to help our young guys advance.

Darren: Which team(s) in the league do you think are the most under-rated & most over-rated?

GM: Still feeling out all the teams. I can’t quite get a feel for all the teams in a matter of a couple months especially since we haven’t played against everyone yet.

Darren: Which club(s) are your biggest rival(s)?

GM: Not a big fan of Chicago. They play dirty.

Darren: Who is your favourite NHL team? Who are your favourite NHL players?

GM: LOL……Toronto. Yikes! I really like Getzlaf and the Canadian Image he represents. Patrice Bergeron is another great Canadian who represents the game well.

Darren: Which NHL team are you cheering for in this year’s playoffs?

GM: I am actually cheering for Colorado Avalanche. Love the speed and talent of their young team. Patrick Roy has performed a miracle by taking that team from 30th to 2nd in one season. That team really respects and plays hard for him as a coach.

Darren: What are some of your hobbies outside of the ECHL?

GM: Camping, exercise, live music, sports (hockey/lacrosse/football)

Darren: Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of this season.

ECHL Accuracy Shooting

Team Kovalchuk
Steven Stamkos 20.989 seconds
Alexander Ovechkin 30.092
Anthony Stewart 13.583
Patrick Kane 15.846

Team Thornton
Matt Read 14.011 seconds
Claude Giroux 18.639
Danius Zubrus 44.684
Mike Cammalleri 21.459

Final: Matt Read (Thornton) 10.204 vs Anthony Stewart (Kovalchuk) 16.361

Winner: Matt Read (Thornton) 10.204 seconds

Score after this event: Thornton 2, Kovalchuk 1

ECHL Hardest Shot

Team Kovalchuk
Ilya Kovalchuk 98.3 MPH*
Wade Redden 95.3
Drew Doughty 97.9
Cameron Barker 106.8*

Team Thornton
Bobby Ryan 95.9 MPH
Milan Lucic 101.3
Brian Lee 100.5
Shea Weber 104.9*

Final Round

Cameron Barker (Kovalchuk) 107.0 vs Shea Weber (Thornton) 106.0

Winner: Cameron Barker 107.0

* - Heat Winner

Score after this event: Team Thornton 5, Team Kovalchuk 3

ECHL Elimination Shootout

Round 1

Team Kovalchuk
Derrick Brassard Save
Scott Hartnell Save
Nathan Horton Goal
Martin Grenier Save
vs goalie Justin Pogge

Vincent Lecavalier Save
Drew Stafford Save
Sidney Crosby Goal
T.J Brodie Save
vs goalie Jocelyn Thibault

Team Thornton
Evgeni Malkin Save
Martin Hanzal Goal
Greg Nemisz Goal
Daniel Alfredsson Goal
vs goalie Marty Turco

Claude Giroux Save
Sergei Gonchar Goal
Marek Zidlicky Save
Tom Gilbert Save
vs goalie Jonathan Quick

Round 2

Team Kovalchuk
Steven Stamkos Goal
Bryan McCabe Save
Ilya Kovalchuk Save
Marian Gaborik Goal
Joni Pitkanen Save
Sami Lepitso Save
vs goalie Justin Pogge

Team Thornton
Mike Cammalleri Goal
Joe Thornton Goal
Andre Mezaros Save
Roman Tesliuk Save
Kris Letang Goal
Brenden Morrow Goal
vs goalie Marty Turco

Winner: Brenden Morrow (Team Thornton)

Final Score: Team Thornton 11, Team Kovalchuk 10

Western Allstars Line Up.
Coach: Conrad Rosario

Centers
Steven Stamkos (Columbus)
Vincent Lecavalier (Nashville)
Sidney Crosby (Phoenix)
Derrick Brassard (San Jose)

Left Wing
Ilya Kovlachuk (Nashville)
Marian Gaborik (Chicago)
Alexander Ovechkin (Minnesota)
Scott Hartnell (Los Angeles)

Right Wing
Nathan Horton (Detroit)
Patrick Kane (Dallas)
Drew Stafford (Calgary)
Anthony Stewart (Colorado)

Defense
Joni Pitkanen (Nashville)
Matin Grenier (Anaheim)
Drew Doughty (Phoenix)
Wade Redden (Anaheim)
Bryan McCabe (Minnesota)
Cameron Barker (St.Louis)
T.J Brodie (Edmonton)
Sami Lepisto (Vancouver)

Goalies
Marty Turco (Minnesota)
Jonathan Quick (Phoenix)

Eastern Allstars Line Up.
Coach: Jason Smellie

Centers
Claude Giroux (Winnipeg)
Evgeni Malkin (Philadelphia)
Martin Hanzal (Tampa Bay)
Joe Thornton (Boston)

Left Wing
Bobby Ryan (Toronto)
Milan Lucic (Washington)
Brenden Morrow (Ottawa)
Greg Nemisz (NY Islanders)

Right Wing
Daniel Alfredsson (Winnipeg)
Danius Zubrus (Montreal)
Mike Cammalleri (Carolina)
Matt Read (NY Rangers)

Defense
Andre Mezaros (Toronto)
Sergei Gonchar (Winnipeg)
Brian Lee (Toronto)
TOm Gilbert (Pittsburgh)
Marek Zidlicky (NY Islanders)
Shea Weber (Florida)
Roman Tesliuk (Buffalo)
Kris Letang (Boston)

Goalies
Justin Pogge (New Jersey)
Jocelyn Thibault (NY Islanders)

The Predators beat the St.Louis Blues to get their 11th straight win (Season High) Ilya Kovalchuk buried 2 goals in the 1st period and St.Louis couldn't keep up with the physical play of the Predators. With veteran Glen Murray leading the way, the Nashville Predators are quickly on the hunt to become the top team in the Western Conference.
Currently the team to chase is the Phoenix Coyotes who hold a 2 point lead over the surging Nashville Predators, but thing's can change very quickly in the ECHL.

1. Anaheim needs to invest in some nappy time for their goalies. They seem tired. Come to think of it, every team seems to be in the same boat.

2. The Boston Bruins are driving their fans nuts. Some days they are hot, some days they are cold. The addition of Tomas Vokoun should settle them down a bit.

3. Buffalo's GM seems very quiet for a team currently out of the playoff picture. The Sabres need to shore up some areas in the worst way, and nothing is being done. How long before the fans rebel?

4. The GM of the Calgary Flames has been very active in rebuilding his club, but still languishes near the bottom of the conference. No one in Calgary should be getting comfortable. Lots of work left to do, and no one should be deemed untouchable.

5. The Carolina Hurricanes started the season on a hot streak, but have since fizzled. Was their early start a fluke? Their GM still needs to patch some holes.

6. The Chicago Blackhawks are a team on the cusp of greatness, but are still lacking something. Their defense is too soft. A few hard-nosed defenders would make a whole lot of difference. They have the forwards...just need to toughen up on defense.

7. The Colorado Avalanche have long been managed by a GM who thought it was great to run them into the ground. Now they have a new GM, and hope abounds for the fans of this long suffering franchise. Let's hope this GM is proactive in improving his team!

8. The Columbus Blue Jackets are another team that have the pundits puzzled. They are finally contending for a playoff spot, but have also been known to plummet when it counts the most. This season will be a telling season for this team's GM.

9. The Dallas Stars have loads of potential but sit way back of the playoffs. A team boasting the likes of Tyler Seguin and Patrick Kane cannot be discounted; however, they need a goalie. The current tandem isn't cutting it.

10. The Detroit Red Wings are currently seeking a new GM. The roster should have any potential candidate drooling at the possibilities. They get off easy since they are GM-less at the moment.

11. The Edmonton Oilers wanted to make a splash. So they did. Their GM swung a ten player deal to bring elite goaltender Roberto Luongo to Edmonton. Now it's up the GM to provide Luongo with a solid supporting cast.

12. What is wrong with the Florida Panthers? They should be a yearly contender; however they are missing the mark this season. Not sure why they traded away Vokoun; but their defense is solid. Time will tell.

13. The Los Angeles Kings are on the bubble of the playoff circle. But their big guns have fallen silent. Now is not the time for their snipers to lose their touch. Their defense needs a bit more sandpaper; it's up to their GM to go get it.

14. The Minnesota Wild keep humming along near the top of the Western Conference. There are few weaknesses in this lineup; maybe a little more grit on the blue line will push them over the hump.

15. The Montreal Canadiens have been GM-less for most of the season, so there's not much to say...much like a pilot-less plane, this team is headed for a disaster unless someone can be found to right the ship.

16. The Nashville Predators have their center, their defense, and their goalie. Is this the year for them? Two trips to the Finals and no championships have Nashville fans a little sore at their GM. He needs a Cup in the worst way, especially with that star-laden lineup.

17. The New Jersey Devils look like they might make the playoffs this year, due to the improvements made by their GM and the development of their draft picks. They should be a threat to join the postseason dance this year.

18. The New York Islanders' GM was getting tired of being beat up by the rest of the East, so he made some changes that now have them at the top of the Eastern Conference. They are the pleasant surprise of the East in ECHL9. Some smart roster moves have the league sitting up and taking notice.

19. The New York Rangers have been quietly good all season long. Their GM quietly goes about his business and flies under the radar, yet no one wants to play his team. The only additions could be a little more muscle on the blueline.

20. The Ottawa Senators have been consistently inconsistent all season long. Winners of seven in a row, this streak comes after a winless stretch of games. Their GM has made adjustments the best he can, but will the real Ottawa roster please stand up?

21. The Philadelphia Flyers' GM has done his best to improve his roster, but the inconsistencies remain. What is needed to push this team into contention? The answer isn't clear.

22. The Phoenix Coyotes are the darlings of the Western Conference right now, riding Jonathan Quick's goaltending. Their GM better hope he never gets hurt. In fact, their GM better name Quick the owner of the team...as Quick goes, so go the Coyotes.

23. The Pittsburgh Penguins need an overhaul in the worst way. They are consistently in the bottom half of the league. This year has their GM wringing his hands as they have won six games out of 29. Changes need to be made, and fast.

24. The St. Louis Blues have a roster that is the envy of most other GMs. Their GM has made some changes, yet they remain frustratingly inconsistent. This team is built for the playoffs...if they reach the postseason.

25. The San Jose Sharks must have their GM fit to be tied. They have the goaltending and offense, yet remain near the bottom of the league. A case would be made for some much more gritty defense.

26. The Tampa Bay Lightning are another team that quietly goes about its business. Currently in the playoff picture, their GM needs to add some defensive defensemen to this roster for them to go far.

27. The Toronto Maple Leafs were among the most active in free agency, but their GM could not have foreseen the disaster their goaltending has been. Both their starter and backup have been sidelined with injuries, leaving their rookies to mop up. They need an goaltending upgrade in the worst way.

28. The Vancouver Canucks are shaping up to be a disaster this year. The rebuild is on; but these young players aren't equipped to handle the more skilled teams in the league yet. Their GM needs to get them some veteran presence to calm the youngsters down.

29. The Washington Capitals quietly show up to play...but their GM must have permanent cranial keyboard-embedment syndrome. Frustratingly inconsistent this season, the Caps need to cap the bleeding, and fast.

30. The Winnipeg Jets have been a revolving door this season, but it's worked. The defending champions have no problem shipping anyone out the door; their GM must have a deal on airline tickets. The Jets continue to contend in the East.

Marek Malik signs a $3,500,000, 2 year contract with Nashville

Pasi Nurminen signs a $2,000,000, 1 year contract with Anaheim

Adam Deadmarsh signs a 6,500,000, 2 year contract with Montreal

Tom Poti signs a $3,500,000, 2 year contract with NY Islanders

Mats Sundin signs a $5,000,000, 1 year contract with Montreal

Brian Rolston signs a $4,000,000 1 year contract with Toronto

Jochen Hecht resigns a $3,000,000, 3 year contract with Pittsburgh

Branislav Mezei signs a $6,500,000, 3 year contract with Anaheim

Kyle Mclaren resigns a $3,000,000, 2 year contract with New Jersey

Barrett Jackman signs a $8,000,000, 5 year contract with Carolina

Karel Rachunek resigns a $4,000,000, 3 year contract with NY Rangers

Johnny Oduya signs a $5,000,000, 4 year contract with Phoenix

Nicholas Boynton signs a $3,500,000, 2 year contract with Phoenix

Oleg Saprykin resigns a $2,500,000, 2 year contract with Detroit

Michael Handzus resigns a $5,000,000, 2 year contract with Minnesota

Martin Havalt resigns a $7,500,000, 4 year contract with Buffalo

Mike Johnson resigns a $5,000,000, 2 year contract with Tampa Bay

Tomas Kaberle signs a $8,000,000, 3 year contract with Los Angeles

Vaclav Prospal resigns a $3,000,000, 4 year contract with Winnipeg

Matthew Lombardi signs a $5,500,000, 5 year contract with Los Angeles

Brendan Morrison resigns a $2,000,000, 3 year contract with Los Angeles

Jean-Pierre Dumont signs a $3,000,000, 2 year contract with Edmonton

Eric Brewer resigns a $4,750,000, 2 year contract with New Jersey

Marek Malik still available

Janne Niinimaa signs a $8,000,000, 2 year contract with Carolina

Pasi Nurminen still available

Michael Leighton signs a $4,000,000, 1 year contract with Vancouver

Olli Jokinen signs a $8,000,000, 3 year contract with Detroit

Milan Hejduk resigns a $8,000,000, 5 year contract with St.Louis

Bryan McCabe resigns a $8,000,000, 2 year contract with Minnesota

Jason Arnott resigns a $8,000,000, 3 year contract with Ottawa

Dominic Moore signs a $8,000,000, 5 year contract with Toronto

Patrick Elias signs a $8,000,000, 4 year contract with Toronto

Jaromir Jagr signs a $4,500,000, 4 year contract with St.Louis

Paul Mara resigns a $8,000,000, 3 year contract with Chicago

Miroslav Satan signs a $6,500,000, 2 year contract with Anaheim

Marc Denis signs a $3,000,000, 2 year contract with Washington

Rick Dipietro signs a $5,125,000, 3 year contract with Montreal

1. Carolina - Philadelphia – Nail Yakupov
2. Colorado - Colorado - Cody Ceci
3. Dallas - Dallas - Malcom Subban
4. San Jose - Tampa Bay - Matthew Dumba
5. New Jersey - New Jersey - Radek Faksa
6. Vancouver - Vancouver - Jacob Trouba
7. Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh - Mark Jankowski
8. Philadelphia - Philadelphia - Griffin Reinhart
9. Columbus - Nashville - Ryan Murray
10. Washington - Washington - Teuvo Teravainen
11. Chicago - Chicago - Alex Galchenyuk
12. Montreal - Montreal - Tomas Hertl
13. Buffalo - Philadelphia - Oscar Dansk
14. NY Rangers - NY Rangers - Slater Koekkoek
15. Florida - Calgary - Tom Wilson
16. Edmonton - Edmonton - Henrik Samuelsson
17. Tampa Bay - Montreal - Andrey Vasilevsky
18. Los Angeles - Dallas - Olli Maatta
19. Toronto - Montreal - Hampus Lindholm
20. Calgary - Calgary - Tanner Pearson
21. St. Louis - Calgary - Mikhail Grigorenko
22. Ottawa - Philadelphia - Stefan Matteau
23. NY Islanders - Winnipeg - Brandon Whitney
24. Phoenix - Vancouver - Morgan Reilly
25. Boston - Montreal - Filip Forsberg
26. Detroit - Detroit - Anthony Stolarz
27. Anaheim - Vancouver - Michael Matheson
28. Minnesota - Philadelphia -Nicolas Kerdiles
29. Nashville - Tampa Bay - Jon Gillies
30. Winnipeg - Edmonton - Brian Hart

Round 2

31. Winnipeg San Jose - Martin Frk
32. Nashville Toronto - Jordan Schmaltz
33. Minnesota Minnesota - Brady Skjei
34, Anaheim Calgary - Mitchell Moroz
35. Detroit Calgary - Sebastian Collberg
36. Boston Montreal - Scott Kosmachuk
37. Phoenix Calgary - Brenden Gaunce
38. NY Islanders Chicago - Joonas Korpisalo
39. Ottawa NY Islanders - Pontus Aberg
40. St. Louis Calgary - Matthew Finn
41. Calgary Calgary - Lukas Sutter
42. Toronto Toronto - Sean Maguire
43. Los Angeles Tampa Bay - Samuel Kurker
44. Tampa Bay Tampa Bay - Ville Pokka
45. Edmonton Colorado - Chris Driedger
46. Florida Tampa Bay - Andreas Athanasiou
47. NY Rangers NY Rangers - Dylan Blujus
48. Buffalo Buffalo - Jordan Martinook
49. Montreal Toronto - Clark Seymour
50. Chicago Chicago - Connor Hellebuyck
51. Washington Washington - Henri Kiviaho
52. Columbus Nashville - Chris Calnan
53. Philadelphia Philadelphia - Connor Carrick
54. Pittsburgh Pittsburgh - Mitchell Heard
55. Vancouver Buffalo - Matia Marcantuoni
56. Carolina Montreal - Patrick Sieloff
57. New Jersey New Jersey - Ludwig Bystrom
58. San Jose Philadelphia - Jake Paterson
59. Dallas Boston – Jake McCabe
60. Colorado Colorado - Matthew Murray

Round 3

61. Colorado Chicago - Jarrod Maidens
62. Dallas Colorado - Brock McGinn
63. San Jose San Jose - Josh Anderson
64. New Jersey New Jersey - Adam Gilmour
65. Carolina Carolina - Colton Parayko
66. Vancouver - Toronto - Joey Baker
67. Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh - Cedric Paquette
68. Philadelphia - Chicago - Dillon Fournier
69. Columbus - Nashville - Dalton Thrower
70. Washington - Washington - Esa Lindell
71. Chicago - Chicago - Daniil Zharkov
72. Montreal - Toronto - Alexander Delnov
73. Buffalo - Buffalo - Zach Saar
74. NY Rangers - NY Rangers - Kyle Rau
75. Florida - Tampa Bay - Derrick Pouliet
76. Edmonton - Edmonton - Filip Mezovsky
77. Tampa Bay - Toronto - Taylor Leier
78. Los Angeles - Los Angeles - Matej Stransky
79. Toronto - Phoenix - Erik Karlsson
80. Calgary - Calgary - Christian Marti
81. St. Louis - Detroit - Sam Warning
82. Ottawa - Phoenix - Vojtech Zadrazil
83. NY Islanders - Chicago - Alexei Vasilevsky
84. Phoenix - Los Angeles - Sean Kuraly
85. Boston - Boston - Adam Wilcox
86. Detroit - Los Angeles - Yefim Gurkin
87. Anaheim - Phoenix - Linus Hultstrom
88. Minnesota - Minnesota - Samuel Guerra
89. Nashville - Vancouver - Xavier Ouellet
90. Winnipeg - Philadelphia - Jay Williams

Colorado: Adam Henrique

Dallas: Patric Hornqvist

San Jose: Sergei Bobrovsky

New Jersey: Robert Scuderi

Carolina: Slava Voynov

Vancouver: James Reimer

Pittsburgh: Michal Neuvirth

Philadelphia: Jason Garrison

Columbus: David Desharnais

Washington: Roman Josi

Chicago: Niklas Hjalmarsson

Montreal: Travis Hamonic

Buffalo: Anders Lindback

NY Rangers: Matt Read

Florida: Kevin Klein

Edmonton: Braden Holtby

Tampa Bay: Jannik Hansen

Los Angeles: Nikita Nikitin

Toronto: Alec Martinez

Calgary: Craig Smith

St.Louis: Matt Gilroy

Ottawa: Jay Harrison

NY Islanders: Jared Spurgeon

Phoenix: Gabriel Bourque

Boston: Ryan Wilson

Detroit: Drew Miller

Anaheim: Andrew Shaw

Minnesota: Matt Frattin

Nashville: Viktor Stalberg

Winnipeg: Mark Letestu

The following players will be submitted to UFA.

Yannick Weber
Richard Bachman
Carl Hagelin
Colin Greening
Nate Thompson
Ben Bishop
Ben Scrivens
Nick Spaling
Jamie McGinn
Teemi Hartikainen
Allen York
Paul Bissonnette
Tim Stapleton

"We were sad to part with Vinnie Lecavalier, but it became apparent that with impeding free agency his salary demands were more than we were willing to take on. We looked for some willing partners for a Lecavalier trade, but the discussions with Nashville snowballed and we were very happy with the end results. Giguere was also a free agent at the end of this season. We reluctantly made the trade that sent two loved Jets to Nashville and we wish them the best.

"We were happy when Phoenix made Brad Richards available, as he was a player we had planned on making a pitch for him as well. In parting with Iginla, that came about as part of the deal to bring Richards to Winnipeg. I do know Jarome is excited to be playing with a talent like Sidney Crosby. We are happy to welcome Brad Richards, Mike Ryder, Dan Boyle, Roberto Luongo, Jesse Blacker, and Cody Hodgson to the Jets.

"Trade king? Nashville needs to win a Cup first. ;) "

BLOCKBUSTER!!! Evan Carter and Justin Halbersma make a huge impact trade with Luongo, Bergeron, Hodgson and Blacker heading up north to Winnipeg. Heading to Music City is Giguere, Rakell and Lecavalier. With Justin Halbersma sending last year’s leading scorer Vincent Lecavaliver to Nashville is a shock to us all!

Media got a chance to interview Evan Carter about the trade. He had some harsh comments about Roberto Luongo saying "He's been a choke artist for 4 straight years, I need a shakeup" Evan Carter ended the interview with these words "The Trade King reclaims his throne"

Evan Carter seems very confident about the trade and he has made a statement that he is making a hard push for Lord Stanley. We have received no comments from Justin Halbersma on why he decided to trade away the league leading scorer, but one thing is for sure... Justin Halbersma always has something up his sleeve.

ECHL Scout Reporting

Are you ready? Well you better be! ECHL is set to return in January of 2014.

On behalf of all the GM's in the ECHL, I would like to say thank you to Justin Halbersma for his great dedication, desire and passion towards the league and putting up with us for many memorable seasons.

All the GM's will be notified very soon with their updated rosters, entry draft date, RFA/UFA signings and a official season start date.

Be prepared...ECHL 9 is about to begin!

Bill Read and the Minnesota Wild may not have captured their main goal in the Stanley Cup, but they certainly saw their share of silverware at the ECHL8 Awards.

Read took home the Jack Adams award as GM of the Year, while goalie Marty Turco took home the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Defenseman Bryan McCabe was voted as the Norris Trophy winner as the league's best defender.

Turco also took home the William Jennings Trophy as the goalie who allowed the fewest goals against.

Vincent Lecavalier of the Winnipeg Jets took home multiple honors as well, winning the Art Ross Trophy as leading scorer, the Lester Pearson Award as MVP as voted by the players. He also took home the Selke Trophy.

Jarome Iginla of the Jets took home the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Other award winners included Alex Tanguay of the St. Louis Blues as winner of the Lady Byng Trophy, Richard Moore of the Edmonton Oilers as the Sarah Alders Memorial Trophy winner as most improved GM, Martin Biron of the Anaheim Ducks as the Vezina Trophy winner, John Carlson of the Toronto Maple Leafs as the Calder Trophy winner, and Ilya Kovalchuk of the Nashville Predators as the Maurice Richard Trophy winner.

The only other remaining ECHL8 is the ECHL Entry Draft. Stay tuned for the date!

The ECHL8 season has drawn to a close!

The exciting ECHL8 playoffs came to a close this past week with the Winnipeg Jets (formerly the Atlanta Thrashers) defeating the Nashville Predators in the Finals four games to two. The Jets rode series wins over the New York Rangers (4-0), Florida Panthers (4-3), and the Tampa Bay Lightning (4-1) to reach the Finals. Nashville went through Los Angeles (4-1), St. Louis (4-2), and Minnesota (4-2) to punch their ticket to the Finals.

The Jets jumped out to a 2-0 series lead over the Predators, sparking speculation that another sweep would be in order for the relocated franchise in Winnipeg. But Nashville showed why they are Western Conference champs, evening the series before Jarome Iginla's super human effort in Game 5. Iginla scored six times in a 7-2 romp, cementing his name in ECHL history. The Jets then walked away with the series, sealing their second championship (and first as the Jets) with a 3-1 win in Game 6.

Jarome Iginla, not surprisingly, was named the ECHL8 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP.

Jets general manager Justin Halbersma became the first GM in the ECHL to win back to back Stanley Cups, albeit with two different franchises.

"It's an honor," Halbersma commented upon hearing the news. "We had our great run in Atlanta, but unfortunately ownership there couldn't find common ground, and we moved to Winnipeg. The move has been fantastic, but I do feel for the fans in Atlanta. We dedicate this Cup to them as well as our fans in Winnipeg.

"I also want to extend congratulations to the Predators...they had a heck of a run this year...wouldn't be surprised to see them in the Finals again next year...hopefully against us again. Evan did a great job with his team."

There is no timeline set yet for off season activities, although speculation has the draft taking place within the next few weeks.

Are there hints of discord coming from the Nashville Predators camp?

According to a Russian newspaper, it has been reported that Nashville star Ilya Kovalchuk has hinted he wants out of the Music City. While it remains to be seen if this is just a matter of mis-translation, the report has the ECHL buzzing. Could the league's most prolific scorer really want out of Nashville?

While it's important for GMs and fans not to jump the gun, the scenario presents a unique situation for the Predators' organization, if the rumours are true. GM Evan Carter could conceivably bring back a large package to his club, designed to push him over the hump that has plagued his club in recent playoffs. But the flip side is also true...if he were brave enough to pull the trigger on such a deal, he runs the risk of facing a motivated Kovalchuk sometime in the playoffs. However, so far the rumours coming out of Russia haven't been confirmed by the Predators or Kovalchuk himself.

So for now, Kovalchuk remains a Predator, and it doesn't appear as though that will change any time soon. Many experts in the hockey world have this as a ploy for a Russian team to lure Kovalchuk back to his homeland. With no confirmation from either party, one can simply chalk this up to a crazy rumour.

But, given Carter's reputation for making trades when is least expected...could there be a hint of truth to all this?

Two powerhouse teams in the West appear to be on a collision course.

The Minnesota Wild are the toast of the ECHL, seeing the rewards of the rebuilding phase the club had undertaken the last few seasons. They are a remarkable 16-1-0 to start the ECHL8 season, their only loss coming at the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Nashville Predators, the perennial ECHL Western Conference champions, started the season on a slow note...at one point, lingering near the bottom half of the league. But the Preds have caught fire of late, vaulting into second place in the West...yet still ten points behind the Wild.

Minnesota general manager Bill Read has made it no secret...his goal is the Stanley Cup. During a successful rebuild, he has seen the Predators reach the finals once, falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. He watched the St. Louis Blues rebuild their roster, and led by Tomas Vokoun, reach the finals last season, falling to the Thrashers in five games.

Now he figures it's his turn.

But Nashville GM Evan Carter has championship aspirations of his own. Having reached the finals in ECHL6 has only whetted his appetite for more playoff success, having landed star forward Glen Murray from the Tampa Bay Lightning. His goal too, is nothing short of a Stanley Cup ring.

In fact, both teams are seeking to be the first champion from the Western Conference since ECHL5, when the Calgary Flames claimed the title. In fact, in the history of the league, only the Flames and Chicago Blackhawks can claim to be Stanley Cup champions. The rest of the winners have come from the East.

If there is any justice, we will see these two teams battle it out in the Western Conference Finals. However, teams like the Blues and the Coyotes also have designs on the Stanley Cup final series.

The West is heating up, and it can only come to a boil. Both Read and Carter are extremely competitive individuals, and something has to give. Fans are waiting with baited breath for the next meeting between these two teams.

History will be made.

Perhaps it's time to turn the ECHL logo into a red cross.

Injuries have plagued teams early in ECHL8, with several players going on injured reserve. Below is the list of notable injuries:

Anaheim:
D Luke Schenn (post-concussion syndrome)
RW Chris Higgins (back spasms)

Winnipeg:
LW Lee Stempniak (lacerated hand)

New Jersey:
C Mike Richards (sprained ankle)

Buffalo:
LW Igor Radulov (bruised shoulder)
G Henrik Lundqvist (strained groin)

Toronto:
RW Jakub Voracek (strained knee)
D Lukas Krajicek (broken hand)

NY Islanders:
LW Denis Parshin (back spasms)

Chicago:
C Matthew Lombardi (sprained elbow)

Detroit:
LW Curtis Glencross (broken wrist)

Calgary:
C Zach Hamill (broken collarbone)
C Anton Gustafsson (concussion)

Colorado:
LW Riley Cote (broken hand)

Edmonton:
D Andrew Alberts (concussion)
D Matt Corrente (sprained wrist)

Minnesota:
C Tomas Plekanec (vertigo)

Phoenix:
LW Pavol Demitra (sprained shoulder)
D AJ Thelen (broken foot)

The Winnipeg Jets announced Saturday that they have sent veteran center Joe Sakic to the minors, while indicating rookie Mark Scheifele will spend a few more games with the Jets.

"Joe, by his own admission, hasn't been playing the way we...or he...are used to seeing him play," general manager Justin Halbersma said at the press conference. "Mark came up to replace Lee (Stempniak) during Lee's injury, and has played beyond his years. We want to give Mark a chance to show his poise isn't a fluke, and at the same time, we want to give Joe a chance to find his game again."

Sakic was a key part of the Stanley Cup win in ECHL7 by this franchise, winning it as the Atlanta Thrashers. The veteran seemed to take it all in stride.

"They have to do what's best for the team," Sakic said at the Wildcats' practice facility. "I was a minus player with no points in Winnipeg...Mark has four points in three games. Hopefully the time here will enable me to regain my form, and I can contribute to the Jets in the very near future."

If Scheifele continues to perform at his current pace, it may be hard for anyone to dislodge the rookie from the pro lineup. He has four assists in three games, is among the league leaders in assists and in points. He is currently tied with Jarome Iginla for the Jets' scoring lead.

"If Mark continues to trend upwards, we'll have to make a decision on some things," Halbersma said. "If Joe regains his form, and Mark continues to excel, we'll look at a trade that could move Joe to a team where he can play a bigger role. It's tough...Joe has served us well for several seasons, we won a Cup with him...never easy to have to demote a player of his calibre."

For now, Sakic will act as a mentor and a leader to the Wildcats. Upon his arrival, he was awarded the captaincy by his teammates, Mike Knuble gladly relinquishing it for the Stanley Cup champion.

"He makes us better," Knuble said. "He's been through the grind, he's won a Cup, he was among the assist leaders in the ECHL for years. He'll show us a thing or two."

We've lost a hockey friend, a unique personality...and while nothing in death is comforting, a smile breaks forth at every recollection.

Jordan Flinn was first introduced to the league after she sent an email to the Commissioners' email, asking to know more about the league. While unknown to all of us at first, she quickly had a penchant of mixing things up, making roster moves, and saying things that made most of us sit up and take notice.

She was the Calgary Flames' GM, and wasn't afraid to get involved, as she quickly became known for being one of the more active GMs in the league. Always ready to make a splash, always ready with a quick comeback or retort, she left a lot of us with fond memories of zonkboard exchanges, random email comments, and being a regular contributer to trash talk at any level.

But as we have since, and sadly, found out...Jordan fought demons that none of us could see. With the news of her untimely passing came the news that she struggled with depression and had other demons that attacked her on a regular basis. Hockey was her refuge, and quoting her sister who broke the news and was kind enough to okay this tribute, the ECHL crew became her second family...a place where she would cause trouble, but always found an inclusion that she lacked elsewhere in her life. Without the ECHL sim league, her sister said, they feared she would have taken her life years before this.

Sadly, events transpired in her life in the last two weeks that left her unable to cope properly. For reasons that we will never know, and can't begin to comprehend, she saw death as the only way out of her situation. We can't judge her, nor would we...until we walk in her shoes, we can never begin to understand the depths of pain and mental anguish she must have dealt with to come to the conclusion that suicide was her only resort.

Questions may abound within us, for although no one knew her personally, she touched 29 other people through our sim league. Questions are normal.

Let us remember Jordan with good memories...a hockey fan, like us, united with us through our common love of the game. Let us take a moment to remember her, and to think of her family and friends, who are struggling with something we cannot imagine right now. How a vibrant, 22 year old woman, could cut herself down in the prime of her life will forever haunt them.

May we also learn from this. May we never feel the need to view another's pain as weakness. We are all human, and as a result, we all hurt in some fashion. Let's honor Jordan's memory by working to remove the stigma of mental illness from our circle of influence, and by working to be available to our closest friends and family.

Jordan's life is a story of courage and exhaustion, victory and heartbreak. May she rest in peace.

The ECHL8 season is dedicated to the memory of Jordan Flinn, 1990-2012.

The Colorado Avalanche turned out to be the big winner in the free agent lottery, held to speed up the preparation from the league.

KP Wee, general manager of the Avalanche, was unavailable for comment after he saw his roster bolstered by the additions of left winger Mike York, goaltender Hannu Toivonen, and center Mike Peca. After several seasons of being unable to attract big name free agents, the signings indicate a change in the wind.

The rest of the notable signings are below:

G-Patrick Lalime, Philadelphia

G-Kevin weekes, Vancouver

RW-Radim Vrbata, St. Louis

C-Jason Allison, Ottawa

C-Nik Antropov, Toronto

D-Matt Pelech, Columbus

LW-Eric Daze, Pittsburgh

RW-David Clarkson, Washington

D-Tom Preissing, Philadelphia

LW-Brooks Laich, Phoenix

LW-Lukas Kaspar, Columbus

C-R.J. Umberger, Dallas

D-Matt Niskanen, New Jersey

C-Mike Ribeiro, Nashville

RW-Adam Berti, Los Angeles

In other news, the Calgary Flames pulled the trigger on two trades today, sending center Steve Sullivan to the Anaheim Ducks for center Zach Hamill and a second round pick. The Flames also sent defenseman Pavel Kubina to the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Roman Hamrlik, center Jori Lehtera, and a second round pick.

Trade action should be heating up, as GMs make moves to become cap compliant and set rosters for opening night of the ECHL8 season.

After several months of inactivity, general managers across the ECHL were spurred back to work as life was seen in the league offices for the first time in several months.

With news that the draft is coming up, GMs all around the league have cut short their vacations in order to prepare for the upcoming season.

The biggest change in the league took place in the Southeast Division, as the Atlanta Thrashers were moved to the province of Manitoba to become the Winnipeg Jets.

Now the league awaits news on the opening of the trading period and the structure of the draft.