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Darryl Hunt: Worcester Sharks 2009-10 Report Card

WORCESTER SHARKS GOALTENDER #31 TYSON SEXSMITH - FILE PHOTO

With the AHL season over for the Worcester Sharks, it’s time to update the mid-season report card to reflect the entire 2009-10 season. The grades represent their play though the regular season and playoff run. The player’s contract status is also listed if known, either by type of free agent the player is or by the kind of contract the player is under for next season.

Each player’s grade is based on what was expected of them, how they performed against those expectations, and a general feel of how they have played compared to other players on the team. Players are listed by number, forwards first, then defensemen, and ending with the goaltenders.

7 LW John McCarthy (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 74 games; 15g, 27a = 42; +36; 39 PIM
NHL reg: 4 games; 0g, 0 a = 0; (-4); 0 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 2g, 3a = 5; +1; 10 PIM
NHL play: Recalled, did not play
Starting with his opening professional shift McCarthy fit right in with the WorSharks high energy third line, and helped propel his two line mates to career seasons. His +36 rating set a team record for Worcester, and his offensive numbers in his rookie campaign beat his four year totals at Boston University in most categories. In addition to his offensive numbers McCarthy was also one of Worcester’s better defensive forwards, and was one of the team’s main penalty killers throughout the season. It looks like San Jose has found a diamond in the rough with this seventh round pick.
GRADE: A

 
9 C Logan Couture (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 42 games; 20g, 33a = 53; +16; 12 PIM
NHL reg: 25 games; 5g, 4a = 9; +4; 6 PIM
NHL Play: 15 games; 4g, 0a = 4; +1, 4 PIM
Simply put, Couture is the best forward prospect to ever play in Worcester. Couture has a knack for being in the right spot at the right time, and for finding the open passing lane to give his line mates uncontested scoring opportunities. While not the fastest skater on the ice, Couture’s hockey sense more than makes up for any shortcomings in that area, and his uncanny ability to end up with the puck on his stick for great scoring chances made AHL defensemen look silly in nearly every game he played. It’s a pretty safe bet the WorSharks have seen the last of Couture.
GRADE: A

 
10 C Dwight Helminen (UFA)
AHL reg: 74 games; 12g, 10a = 22; (-20); 16 PIM
NHL reg: 4 games; 1g, 0a = 1; (-1); 0 PIM
AHL play: 2 games; 0g, 0a = 0; E; 0 PIM
NHL play: 7 games; 1g, 0a = 1; E; 4 PIM
Despite playing on a team full of offensive weapons Helminen had his worst offensive season since his rookie campaign, and his (-20) rating was by far the worst on the team. The lack of any type of physical game hurt Helminen’s play as he was thrown around like a rag doll by bigger and stronger players. With so many other players having better seasons many fans openly wondered why San Jose chose to add Helminen to their playoff roster as nothing about his play in Worcester stood out as being worthy of recall.
GRADE: D

 
11 C Cory Quirk (unknown)
AHL reg: 59 games; 8g, 13a = 21; +8; 14 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 2g, 1a = 3; +3; 2 PIM
A free agent signee from UMass-Amherst, Quirk saw time on every line except Worcester’s high energy third line. His lack of size is his biggest downfall, but because he consistently outworks his opponents he is able to have some success at the AHL level. Quirk most likely won’t ever see a game in the NHL, but he is the type of player every AHL team needs to be successful.
GRADE: C

 
14 LW Frazer McLaren (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 52 games; 4g, 11a = 15; +2; 148 PIM
NHL reg: 23 games; 1g, 5a = 6; +6; 54 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 0 g, 0a = 0; (-1); 37 PIM
NHL play: Recalled, did not play
Despite not usually being surrounded by players having good offensive seasons McLaren was still able to double his point total from last season, and also continued his improvement in penalty killing. McLaren’s biggest problem is he occasionally forgets he’s a hockey player and not just a fighter, and that leads to bad play and dumb penalties. Once McLaren gets over that “identity crisis” he should turn out to be a decent NHL forward.
GRADE: C

 
15 C Steven Zalewski (RFA)
AHL reg: 78 games; 22g, 40a = 62; (-13); 20PIM
NHL reg: 3 games; 0g, 0a = 0; (-2); 0 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 1g, 5a = 6; +1; 4 PIM
For the second season in a row conditioning issues seemed to be an issue for Zalewski. In his last 25 regular season games Zalewski collected just 9 points and went (-12), and looked like he was lagging behind on nearly every shift he took. If the NHL is in Zalewski’s future it will not be as a center as his inability to consistently win face-offs causes issues on both ends of the ice. All those negatives overshadow the fact Zalewski was in the AHL’s top 50 in 10 different offensive categories.
GRADE: D

17 C Ryan Vesce (UFA)
AHL reg: 35 games; 14g, 16a = 30; +3; 20 PIM
NHL reg: 9 games; 3g, 2a = 5; (-1); 0 PIM
AHL play: 6 games; 3g, 1a = 4; (-1); 0 PIM
NHL play: Recalled, did not play
Injuries were the big issue for Vesce, who was never really 100% after suffering an early season injury while on recall to San Jose. The WorSharks captain still had a decent season considering the low number of games he played, and was just getting back to full stride when he was injured again during the first playoff series. If he’s not resigned by San Jose he’ll leave some pretty big shoes behind for the WorSharks to fill.
GRADE: B

 
21 C Benn Ferriero (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 58 games; 19g, 31a = 50; (-6); 20 PIM
NHL reg: 24 games; 2g, 3a = 5; +4; 8 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 4g, 2a = 6; (-2); 4 PIM
NHL play: Recalled, did not play
After starting the season in San Jose and then getting used to the cross country trips on the Worcester shuttle, Ferriero settled in nicely to become one of the WorSharks top forwards. Like many former NCAA players, the former Boston College standout had a drop off as the number of games he played quickly passed what he was used to in college. But Ferriero was able to put that behind him and have a good playoff run and tie for the team lead in playoff goals, including back to back game winners against Lowell in round one.
GRADE: B

 
22 C Andrew Desjardins (RFA)
AHL reg: 80 games; 19g, 27a = 46; +29; 126 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 2g, 2a = 4; +1; 32 PIM
NHL play: Recalled, did not play
Last season Desjardins was one of two players to earn a roster spot in Worcester out of training camp. This season he was rewarded for his play by being signed to an NHL contract during the season. A tenacious forechecker, Desjardins anchors the WorSharks energy line with his physical play both in the open ice and along the boards. Desjardins also has the ability to get under his opponent’s skin, which many times resulted in power play chances for Worcester.
GRADE: A

 
23 RW Dan DaSilva (UFA)
AHL reg: 72 games; 21g, 31a = 53; +23; 65 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 2g, 6a = 8; +2; 8 PIM
The third member of Worcester’s energy line, DaSilva set career highs in goals, assists, and points during the regular season, and was the WorSharks point leader for the playoffs. Not a flashy player, DaSilva style of play simply gets the job done and is the perfect complement to his line mates. While his two line mates kill penalties, DaSilva sees his special teams time on the second power play unit. The only member of the “Crazed Rats” line without an NHL deal, San Jose may need to offer him one to keep him within the organization.
GRADE: A

 
24 LW T.J. Trevelyan (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 63 games; 28g, 16a = 44; +2; 16 PIM
AHL play: 8 games; 4g, 2a = 6; +1; 2 PIM
Despite missing over seven weeks with a broken jaw, Trevelyan was able to match his career high for goals. A facial injury caused him to miss three playoff games but he was still able to tie for the team lead in playoff goals. A pure goal scorer, Trevelyan is a threat to light the lamp every time he touches the puck. Signed to an AHL deal last summer, Trevelyan’s play has earned him a two-way NHL deal with San Jose for next season.
GRADE: B

 
28 LW Dennis McCauley (UFA)
AHL reg: 45 games; 10g, 4a = 14; +1; 84 PIM
AHL play: 8 games; 0g, 2a = 2; +1; 2 PIM
While many AHL teams have enforcers that can’t play hockey, the WorSharks were lucky enough to have one that could. McCauley played meaningful minutes, including occasionally being on the ice in the closing minutes of close games. Twice during the season McCauley outraced opponents to iced pucks to bang them home into empty nets to clinch victories. McCauley also registered one of the team’s only hat tricks of the season. No one will confuse McCauley for Wayne Gretzky, but teams that overlooked him often paid the price for doing so.
GRADE: B

 
47 C Kevin Henderson (unknown)
AHL reg: 64 games; 2g, 13a = 15; E; 45 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 0g, 1a = 1; (-3); 4 PIM
The last of the WorSharks regular forwards to score a goal, Henderson never really showed the offensive upside that brought him to Worcester. His usual position was the fourth line center, but after a string of injuries Henderson centered the top line for a handful of games. The change of line mates didn’t help as Henderson continued to be snake bitten in the offensive zone. If there was an award for hardest worker Henderson would certainly have been in the running, but at this level sometimes working hard just isn’t enough.
GRADE: D

 
53 LW Brandon Mashinter (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 79 games; 22g, 15a = 37; +1; 117 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 1g, 5a = 6; +3; 6 PIM
A free agent signee out of the OHL, San Jose is grooming Mashinter to be an NHL level power forward. Based on his play in his rookie season he is well on his way to making their plans a reality. With two Gordie Howe hat tricks, nine multi-point games, and 12 fights Mashinter showed good offensive potential while also being able to play a physical game. Mashinter was also the first player in WorSharks history to have double digit goals and fights in the same season.
GRADE: B

 
3 D Joe Loprieno (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 46 games; 0g, 4a = 4; (-1); 52 PIM
AHL play: Did not play
With a deep line-up at defense for most of the season, one of the odd men out was Loprieno. The lack of playing time he made any sort of development hard, and it showed in the games he did get in to. Loprieno played a physical game in college but his inability to crack the line-up made improving in that area difficult, and because of that forwards had little problem shaking off his checks.
GRADE: D

 
4 D Danny Groulx (signed KHL contract)
AHL reg: 80 games; 14g, 52a = 66; +17; 80 PIM
AHL play: 10 games; 1g, 6 a = 7; +1; 6 PIM
You don’t win the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s outstanding defenseman by accident, and Groulx was certainly a worthy recipient of the award. With a career year in goals, assists, and points Groulx was like a forward playing defense. His laid back defensive style was a source of consternation for fans watching, but it often proved effective and led to many odd man rushes back toward the opponent’s goal. You might not want Groulx playing on your top pairing, but you certainly want him playing on your team somewhere.
GRADE: A

 
8 D Mike Moore (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 64 games; 3g, 19a = 22; +16; 82 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 0g, 0a = 0; +1; 14 PIM
NHL play: Recalled, did not play
Playing on the WorSharks top defensive pairing increased Moore’s playing time, and as a result he played more of a well rounded defensive game as opposed to just trying to drill his opponent into the fourth row. There were some obvious growing pains, but his play was consistent enough for San Jose to sign him to a contract extension during the season. Should the Worcester shuttle start running again next season Moore could be a frequent passenger.
GRADE: B

 
19 D Michael Wilson (UFA)
AHL reg: 54 games; 5g, 10a = 15; +4; 42 PIM
AHL play: 8 games; 0g, 1a = 1; (-2); 4 PIM
With the addition of some muscle mass and a year of pro experience under his belt, Wilson was by far the most improved player on the WorSharks roster from last season. Being the only defenseman on an AHL contract through most of the season Wilson was not always able to crack the line-up, but when he did he showed all the skills of a two-way defenseman that were lacking in his rookie campaign. With San Jose having several defensive prospects lined up Wilson may be the odd man out, but he should have little trouble landing a spot elsewhere next season.
GRADE: B

 
25 D Derek Joslin (RFA)
AHL reg: 55 games; 5g, 27a = 32; +14; 29 PIM
NHL reg: 24 games; 0g, 3a = 3; +1; 12 PIM
AHL play: 11 games; 4g, 1a = 5; +2; 4 PIM
NHL play: Recalled, did not play
After being passed on the depth chart by Jason Demers San Jose was obviously looking to see how Joslin would handle it. Offensively Joslin handled it decently, but on defense he made far too many mistakes that showed how far he really needs to go to be a full time NHL defenseman. One place where he needs to improve dramatically is in getting his shots off faster. No player on Worcester had their shots blocked more often than Joslin, and too often that led to odd man rushes back toward his own net.
GRADE: C

 
26 D Joe Callahan (UFA)
AHL reg: 35 games; 4g, 11a = 15; +5; 19 PIM
NHL reg: 1 game; 0g, 1a = 1; +1; 0 PIM
AHL play: 2 games; 0g, 0a = 0; E; 2 PIM
Injuries limited the veteran defenseman to just 35 games, and unfortunately for Callahan his play in the playoffs showed he probably should have hung it up for the season after neck surgery. When he played it was often like there were two different players wearing his jersey, with some nights Callahan looking like an all-star and others like he’d never played defense before. With the quantity of defensemen in the system odds are Callahan won’t be back next season.
GRADE: C

 
27 D Nick Petrecki (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 65 games; 2g, 12a = 14; (-4); 106 PIM
AHL play: Did not play
The youngest player on the roster, and the majority of nights it showed as Petrecki was constantly outmatched by faster forwards. An incredible physical presence at Boston College, Petrecki was never able to convert his college play to the pro style. He certainly would have benefited from some time in the ECHL, but “hockey politics” kept him on the AHL roster. Hopefully next season Petrecki can improve and recover from what is essentially a wasted season in his development. The only thing keeping him from getting a failing grade is the hard work he’s put in to get better.
GRADE: D

 
29 G Frank Doyle (UFA)
AHL reg: 10 games; 6-3-0; 2.94; .899
AHL play: Did not play
Signed to an NHL deal after Sexsmith went out with a season ending injury, Doyle proved to be a very efficient back-up to budding star Alex Stalock. With the backlog of goaltenders in San Jose’s arsenal for next season there’s little chance he’ll be back, but he was certainly just what was needed at the time he was signed.
GRADE: B

31 G Tyson Sexsmith (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 13 games; 4-6-1; 3.94; .860
AHL play: Injured, did not play
It’s tough going from being the number one guy to being the guy sitting on the bench, and Sexsmith had his issues doing just that. Sexsmith did have a couple of good games, but unfortunately each good game was followed with a terrible one. Because it’s hard to tell how badly his play was affected by the sport’s hernia he suffered from and how much sitting behind Stalock was to blame, we’ll hold off giving Sexsmith a grade for his rookie campaign.
GRADE: Incomplete

32 G Alex Stalock (2 way contract)
AHL reg: 61 games; 39-19-2; 2.63; .908
AHL play: 11 games; 6-5-0; 2.28; .919
NHL play: Recalled, did not play
The rookie phenom is the second best goaltender to ever play for a Worcester AHL team, behind only Dwayne Roloson. What more needs to be said? From the first game of the season Stalock played like a veteran beyond his years and led the AHL in games played and wins, along with being in the top five in four other categories. Stalock looks to be another great mid-round draft pick for San Jose.
GRADE: A

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