Sean Shapiro Archives - Todays SlapShot

What’s next for Allen Americans’ Steve Martinson?

Hockey dynasties are a thing of the past. While certain teams will have strong runs and stretches of five years, the salary...

Dallas Stars

Stars have development options with Nemeth and Oleksiak

During the second round of the playoffs Patrik Nemeth and Jamie Oleksiak sat in the locker room at the Dallas Stars practice...

30 January 2016: Texas Stars G Maxime Lagace (33) during the second period of the AHL hockey game between the Texas Stars and Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Texas defeated Lake Erie 3-2. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Dallas Stars

Stars’ goaltending issues run deep

The Dallas Stars have a goaltending problem that doesn’t have anything to do with Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi. Yes, the pair...

26 December 2015: Texas Stars forward Justin Dowling (10)is chased by Nikita Zadorov (6) during 5 - 4 loss to the San Antonio Rampage at the Cedar Park Center in Cedar Park, TX.(Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire)

NHL Prospects

AHL players eyeing future opportunities via NHL expansion

The Las Vegas expansion may be the worst-kept secret in the NHL. The arena is built, the owner is in place, and...

31 October 2015: Charlotte Checkers C Patrick Brown (24), Charlotte Checkers LW Brendan Woods (21), and Charlotte Checkers G Drew MacIntyre (22) celebrate following the AHL hockey game between the Charlotte Checkers and Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Charlotte defeated Lake Erie 6-5 in a shootout. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Carolina Hurricanes

Ulf Samuelsson bringing competitive attitude to Charlotte Checkers

Believe it or not, Ulf Samuelsson was the perfect candidate to go into coaching after he finished his 16-year NHL career. Yes,...

Pittsburgh Penguins

How Jeff Zatkoff can win you a bar bet

The 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs have redefined the role of the playoff goaltender in the National Hockey League. Forced by injury or by...

26 May 2016: Lake Erie Monsters C Lukas Sedlak (28) crosses another game off on the march to the Calder Cup following the AHL Calder Cup Western Conference Finals Game 4 hockey game between the Ontario Reign and Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. The Lake Erie defeated Ontario 2-1 in double overtime to win the Western Conference Championship and advance to the Calder Cup Championship series. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

NHL Prospects

Monsters and Bears set to meet in a classic Calder Cup Final

From a marketing perspective, you couldn’t have scripted a better match for the Calder Cup Final. Closing out the American Hockey League’s...

26 May 2016: Lake Erie Monsters D Justin Falk (44), Lake Erie Monsters G Anton Forsberg (31) and Lake Erie Monsters D Michael Paliotta (6) celebrate following the AHL Calder Cup Western Conference Finals Game 4 hockey game between the Ontario Reign and Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. The Lake Erie defeated Ontario 2-1 in double overtime to win the Western Conference Championship and advance to the Calder Cup Championship series. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

NHL Prospects

Forsberg goes from bench warmer to playoff savior for Lake Erie

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — There is a hockey cliché that the backup goalie has to prepare like he’s starting. Even if he’s scheduled...

Dallas Stars

Stars have big decision looming with Alex Goligoski

There are very few neutral opinions on Alex Goligoski amongst the Dallas Stars fanbase. The 30-year-old defenseman is one of the most...

10 April 2016: Lake Erie Monsters D Zach Werenski (8) during the third period of the AHL hockey game between the Rochester Americans and Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Rochester defeated Lake Erie 2-0. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus’ top prospect Zach Werenksi making waves for Lake Erie

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — Life is pretty slow right now for Zach Werenski. Sure, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 18-year-old top-rated prospect is focused...

14 May 2016: Lake Erie Monsters LW Kerby Rychel (16) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of the AHL Calder Cup Central Division Finals Game 5 hockey game between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

NHL Prospects

Monsters-Blue Jackets affiliation paying off in Ohio

California is the face of the American Hockey League’s western migration. With five new California franchises installed before this season, the AHL has...

May 22, 2016 - Moscow, Russia - IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Canada v Finland, Team Finland is disappointed. (Photo by Melanie Duchene/EQ Images/Icon Sportswire)

One Timers

Finns fell in final, but continue to prove status as hockey power

Finland fell to Canada in the championship game of the IIHF World Championships on Sunday. It was a hard-fought, 2-0 victory for...

NHL Prospects

Unfamiliar foes set to meet in AHL Conference Final

The AHL Conference Final feels like a new beginning for the four remaining teams. It’s a fresh start after a hard-fought second round,...

NHL Prospects

World Championships give prospects chance to shine

The IIHF World Championships often get a bad rap. The tournament goes head-to-head with the Stanley Cup Playoffs and isn’t a true...

$St. Louis Blues center David Backes (42) celebrates a goal with his teammates during the game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. St. Louis defeats Dallas 6-1 to clinch the series 4-3. (Photo by Matthew Pearce\Icon Sportswire)$ $St. Louis Blues center David Backes (42) celebrates a goal with his teammates during the game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. St. Louis defeats Dallas 6-1 to clinch the series 4-3. (Photo by Matthew Pearce\Icon Sportswire)$

St Louis Blues

Blues prove old playoff model still works

DALLAS — After his team’s Game 7 victory, St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock said the Dallas Stars and their high-flying...

Dallas Stars

Lehtonen has chance to prove he’s a ‘big game’ goalie

DALLAS — The playoffs turn an NHL locker room into a bit of a rare circus, especially in a “non-traditional” hockey market...

August 9, 2014: USA Hockey forward, Auston Matthews (19), awaits face-off during exhibition win over Czech Republic during USA Hockey Junior Evaluation Camp at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY.

NHL Prospects

Top prospects Laine and Matthews impress at World Championships

Their NHL debuts are still at least six months away, but Auston Matthews and Patrick Laine look like they’re ready to step...

$07 MAY 2016: Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32), right wing Brett Ritchie (25) and defenseman Johnny Oduya (47) watch the puck go into the net as St. Louis Blues center Paul Stastny (26) celebrates a goal during the game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. St. Louis beats Dallas 4-1 to lead the series 3-2. (Photo by Matthew Pearce\Icon Sportswire)$ $07 MAY 2016: Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32), right wing Brett Ritchie (25) and defenseman Johnny Oduya (47) watch the puck go into the net as St. Louis Blues center Paul Stastny (26) celebrates a goal during the game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. St. Louis beats Dallas 4-1 to lead the series 3-2. (Photo by Matthew Pearce\Icon Sportswire)$