Hell on Skates to close, but coverage continues at timesunion.com

Hello everyone,

It is with mixed emotions that I make the following announcement: Hell on Skates will be discontinued effective immediately so that I may blog exclusively for Hockey Spoken Here at timesunion.com.

Hell on Skates launched in June, and since that time I have worked tirelessly to bring you up-to-the-minute news on the Albany Devils and former Albany River Rats, enjoying every moment along the way.

A few weeks ago I was chatting with Pete Dougherty of the Times Union about our individual blogs, and he noted that they appeal to the same audience (pro-hockey fans in Albany). It was then that Pete suggested I consider becoming a guest blogger for Hockey Spoken Here, which would allow me to continue blogging about the Devils on the newspaper's website, and (let's face it) reach a significantly larger audience.

Needless to say, I have jumped at the opportunity.

For now, I will leave Hell on Skates intact in case I have to reference transactions from earlier this summer, but moving forward I hope you will join me at Hockey Spoken Here for continued coverage of the Albany Devils, as well as the players that have called Albany home during their professional careers.

Thank you, and I hope to see you at timesunion.com!

Sincerely,
Don Ferlazzo
Editor (retired), Hell on Skates


Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.

Follow Don Ferlazzo at http://blog.timesunion.com/hockey/ or on Twitter @HellOnSkates.

Former Devils d-man Olivier Magnan-Grenier released by KHL team

According to Dmitry Chesnokov of the popular Puck Daddy blog, former Albany Devils defenseman Olivier Magnan-Grenier has been released by the Kontinental Hockey League's Dinamo Minsk. From Chesnokov's Twitter account:

dchesnokov Dmitry Chesnokov

After signing tryout contracts with Olivier Magnan-Grenier and Stephen Dixon, KHL's Dinamo Minsk decided not to make them permanent

Magnan-Grenier, who played 50 games for Albany last season, signed a tryout with Dinamo Minsk last month. He also appeared in 18 games for New Jersey in 2011-12.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.

Follow this blog on Twitter @HellOnSkates.

Devils sign defenseman Peter Harrold

According to Capgeek.com and the New Jersey Devils' official website the team has signed free agent defenseman Peter Harrold to a one-year, two-way contract. Tom Gulitti has more:

The deal has an NHL salary of $550,000 and AHL salary of $105,000.

Harrold, 28, played 19 NHL games for the Kings last season, putting up one goal and three assists and has eight goals and 18 assists in 164 career regular season NHL games. The Kings signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2006 after his four-year career at Boston College, where he was team captain.

Although Harrold was on the Kings’ roster for all of the 2010-11 season, he played in only game after Jan. 6. He was listed as healthy the entire season.

The Devils have announced nothing about signing Harrold (6-0, 184), but he is listed on their team website (as some of you noticed).

Harrold's two-way contract suggests he may be Albany-bound for 2011-12, but his 164 games of NHL experience make him an asset to the organization, should New Jersey require defensive reinforcement this coming season.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.

Follow this blog on Twitter @HellOnSkates.

Sabres sign former Rats all-star Michael Ryan

The Buffalo Sabres have announced the signing of former Albany River Rats forward Michael Ryan to a one-year deal. From the Sabres' Twitter account:

SabresDotCom Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo #Sabres have signed free agent forwards Michael Ryan and Paul Szczechura to 1-yr deals. More details to follow at sabres.com.

This will be Ryan's second stint in the Sabres organization, having played for both the Rochester Americans (2003 to 2007) and the Buffalo Sabres (2007 to 2008) during his professional career.

Ryan, who played for the Adirondack Phantoms last season, appeared in 40 games for the Rats in 2008-09, registering 25 goals and 17 assists for 42 points as an AHL all-star. Ryan went on to play just three games for Albany the following season after sustaining a concussion during the preseason.

Ryan was drafted by the Dallas Stars in 1999 and has 83 games of NHL experience to date.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.

Follow this blog on Twitter @HellOnSkates.

Devils sign goaltending prospect Maxime Clermont

According to Jérôme Bérubé from hockeydraftvideo.com, the New Jersey Devils have signed goaltending prospect Maxime Clermont to an entry-level contract. From Bérubé's Twitter account:

Jay_hdv Jérôme Bérubé

@CalDevil3219 well here some news for ya. Maxime Clermont sign his ECL deal with NJ.

Other than the resulting chatter on Twitter and Devils message boards, there have been no other reports of the signing (UPDATE: signing confirmed), but Clermont himself did express his readiness to turn pro in a July 7 interview with NHL.com (via foxnews.com):

"I want to play in the NHL; that's why I'm here and that's why I wake up every day," Clermont told NHL.com. "It's the job I want to have, but I have to go step by step. Now I feel I'm ready to turn pro. I've played four years of junior and I think it's enough for me. I have to show them what I can do."

If the Devils have indeed signed Clermont the question becomes where he ends up playing in 2011-12. Goaltender Jeff Frazee is expected to play in Albany next season, as is former Union College gatekeeper Keith Kinkaid. 

The Devils no longer have an East Coast Hockey League affiliate, but can loan players under contract to any ECHL team that will take them, which may be the best/only option for Clermont in 2011-12 if he really has turned pro with New Jersey. 

Clermont was selected by the Devils in the 6th round, 174th overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft. He's played the last four seasons with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 

UPDATE: Tom Gulitti has confirmed that Clermont has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Devils, noting that the goaltender would be eligible to return to the QMJHL for another season or play in the minors in 2011-12.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way. 

Follow this blog on Twitter @HellOnSkates.

Former Rats goalie Peter Sidorkiewicz invited to attend Ottawa Senators 20th anniversary home opener

Retired goaltender Peter Sidorkiewicz, who played for the Albany River Rats in the 1990s, is among those players invited to attend the Ottawa Senators' 2011-12 home opener in celebration of the team's 20th anniversary.

Sidorkiewicz was the Sens' goaltender for their inaugural game, a 5-3 victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens on October 8, 1992, and played the majority of the team's games that season. From the Ottawa Sun:

The Senators are celebrating their 20th anniversary in style.

Fans will have to wait to see if roster changes are enough to get the club back into the playoffs. But they won’t have to wait long for a special blast from the past.

All the players from the roster of the franchise’s inaugural game are being invited back to be introduced before the home opener, Oct. 11 against the Minnesota Wild.

Sidorkiewicz played 152 regular season games for the Rats between 1993-94 and 1997-98, putting up a record of 77 wins, 52 losses, and 19 ties (yes, they had ties back then). He retired after the 1997-98 season, and has been coaching with the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters since 1999 (save for 2001-02).

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.

Follow this blog on Twitter @HellOnSkates.

Checkers re-sign former Rats forward Mike McKenzie

Forward Mike McKenzie, who made his professional debut with the Albany River Rats in 2009-10, has been re-signed by the Charlotte Checkers to a one-way, AHL contract. From the Checkers:

Charlotte Checkers head coach and general manager Jeff Daniels announced today the team has agreed to terms with forward Mike McKenzie on a one-way American Hockey League contract.

McKenzie, 25, netted one goal in 14 AHL games with the Checkers in 2010-11 before being sidelined in late March due to injury. He completed his first full professional season between the Checkers and Florida (ECHL), ranking second among Everblades rookies in scoring with 38 points (18g, 20a) in 55 games.

The Whitby, Ontario native was named ECHL Rookie of the Month for December, 2010, after scoring nine goals and eight assists (17 points) in 14 games, including five multi-point efforts and a plus-5 rating.

McKenzie only appeared in three games for the Rats in 2009-10, registering a lone assist after completing his collegiate career with St. Lawrence University earlier in the season.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.

Follow this blog on Twitter @HellOnSkates.