Another Ducks goalie prospect lands in camp
| Wednesday, Oct 07 2009 04:33 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Oct 07 2009 10:13 PM
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Justin Pogge
Stu Bickel
The Condors just might have too much of a good thing going when it comes to goaltending.
The Anaheim Ducks have sent Justin Pogge, the No. 3 goalie on their depth chart, to the Condors, giving the ECHL team all three of Anaheim's top goaltending prospects.
In addition, Anaheim defenseman Stu Bickel was due to arrive in Bakersfield Wednesday night.
That will leave the Condors with 11 players assigned to them by Anaheim -- five forwards, three defensemen and three goaltenders.
Pogge arrived in Bakersfield late Tuesday and practiced with the team on Wednesday morning.
The Ducks have already assigned highly touted rookie goalie Timo Pielmeier to the Condors as well as third-year pro J.P. Levasseur.
Condors coach Marty Raymond said Pielmeier would play tonight at Stockton in a preseason game against the Thunder and Levasseur would be the back-up.
The lack of their own AHL affiliate is clearly affecting the Ducks, which in turn is affecting the Condors.
The Ducks had assigned Pogge to San Antonio in the AHL, the affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes, which is taking several Ducks prospects. But the Rampage has two goaltenders of their own and there was no room for Pogge, who was not on their 28-man roster when the team started AHL play on Friday.
"It's a tough situation right now," said David McNab, vice president of hockey operation for the Ducks. "We don't have the ability to place all the players we want in the American League. Especially in goal. That's our biggest burden."
The Condors do not open ECHL regular season play until Oct. 16 so that leaves a small window to figure out the goaltending situation. Season-opening rosters are due to the league on Oct. 14 and teams seldom have the luxury of carrying three goaltenders.
Pogge, 23, was considered the top goaltending prospect for the Toronto Maple Leafs a year ago but but went 1-4-1 with a 4.36 goals-against average and .844 save percentage in seven NHL games last season and in August the Maple Leafs traded Pogge to Anaheim.
The fourth-year pro, drafted in the third round in 2004, has never played below the AHL level.
"We thought when we got Justin we'd have a chance to put him somewhere (in the AHL) but that hasn't happened," McNab said.
McNab said he'd like to get Pogge into a position in the AHL where he'll play, but if that doesn't happen he'll be playing in Bakersfield.
"He obviously has to play because he is the guy who would come up if we have injuries here," he said.
McNab said he realizes that trying to keep three goaltenders in Bakersfield creates a difficult situation as the ECHL allows only 20 players on the active roster.
"We're trying to figure this out as we go," McNab said of the goaltending situation.
"We know it's difficult to place goaltenders in a place they can play right now. Everybody has goaltenders they want to play."
As for tonight's game in Stockton, Raymond said both teams would dress 20 players, two more than usual, so coaches could make assessments.
"We'll go with four (forward) lines and six defensemen and see what we've got," Raymond said. "Some guys are trying out and some need to play. This gives everybody a chance to be seen, a chance to shine.
"(Stockton coach Matt Thomas) has a lot of guys he's got to look at and I've got a lot of guys I've got to look at."
