Justin Young Placed on IR, Team Now Shorthanded, Ottawa Senators for Sale Soon, ECHL Save Percentage Leaders and More

ECHL roster sizes currently range from a low of 22 (Allen and Indy) to a high of 28 (Orlando). What accounts for the difference? The ECHL salary cap is the primary driver of how many players a team can have on its roster. Players on injured reserve (IR) do not count against the salary cap which means teams with high roster numbers have more players on IR. Another factor is how teams use their salary cap money. For the first month of the season, teams can have 21 players on the active roster as long as the total salary fits under the salary cap ($14,610). In addition, teams can have two players on reserve. That means the maximum number of players a team could have on its roster the first 30 days of the season would be 21 (active roster) plus 2 (reserve) plus players on IR.

– Allen started the season with 22 players on the opening day roster. Only 20 players fit under the salary cap plus two on reserve. The Americans had no players on injures reserve. Things can change quickly and that is what has happened to Allen in the last week. Here is where the roster stands today:

• Mikael Robidoux suspended 14 games
• Spencer Asuchak placed on injured reserve
• Justin Young placed on injured reserve
• Stephen Baylis not practicing

– If Allen doesn’t add any players, the Americans will head to Wichita on Thursday afternoon with just 18 (nine forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies). Remember, this season 19 players can can be in the lineup for each game.

– There is no doubt general manager Costello is working his contacts, trying to find a free agent, a trade, a player returning from Europe or a player sitting at home to help improve the roster situation. What is clear is Allen will have to add a player or two with so many players gone for an extended period of time.

– Friday night Allen will play Wichita for the fourth consecutive time. I will have a complete game preview on Friday, but here are the cumulative stats from the first three games.

• Allen won the two games when they scored first, lost the game Wichita scored first.
• Goals: Allen outscored Wichita 8-6
• Shots: Allen out shot Wichita 93-74
• Power Play: Allen was 2-9 (22.2%), Wichita was 4-18 (22.2%)
• Penalties: Allen took 27 penalties for 81 minutes; Wichita took 18 for 41 minutes

– Allen’s NHL affiliate, the Ottawa Senators, are going up for sale soon according to several reports yesterday. The Ottawa owner, Eugene Melnyk, died in March and left the team to his daughters. Melnyk purchased the Senators in 2003 for $130 million dollars. It’s valuation today is estimated to be $655 million. It is expected if the team is sold it will remain in Ottawa. Here are the details from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun:  https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/garrioch-report-indicates-the-ottawa-senators-may-be-putting-up-a-for-sale-sign-soon

– Here are the top eight ECHL teams in points percentage:

• 1.000 – Newfoundland
• 1.000 – Worcester
• 1.000 – Savannah
• .900 – Cincinnati
• .750 – Idaho
• .750 – South Carolina
• .750 – Indy
• .750 – Kansas City

– Goal differential (goals for minus goals against) is a great indicator of team success. Here are the top five ECHL teams in goal differential:

• +14: Worcester
• +12: Newfoundland
• +12: Cincinnati
• +8: Maine
• +7: South Carolina

DID YOU KNOW: Talk about great starts. Five ECHL goalies have save percentages above .950 (minimum two games played). Even more impressive is three of the five are rookies:.957 – Evan Cormier, Kalamazoo.954 – *Henrik Tikkanen, Worcester.954 – Parker Gahagen, Jacksonville.953 – *Darion Hanson, Savannah.951 – *Strauss Mann, Wichita*Rookie