The Toledo Walleye took a significant hit with the departure of forwards Trenton Bliss and Tyler Spezia, both heading to overseas teams. The blow was made even more critical by the announcement that standout goaltender Jan Bednar will also continue his career abroad with the HC Ässät Pori, in the Finnish Liiga.
The Cincinnati Cyclones took on the Toledo Walleye on Saturday in the annual Teddy Bear Toss game at Heritage Bank Center, packed out with 9,550 fans, who were awaiting the first Cyclones goal.
The Detroit Red Wings didn’t opt to sign goaltender Jan Bednar to an NHL contract. He’ll still be remaining part of the organization, though. Monday, the Grand Rapids Griffins were announcing that they were signing the Czech netminder to a one-year AHL contract.
Today is the last chance for three Detroit Red Wings draft picks to be offered NHL contracts by the team. The club must tender NHL pacts to draftees Theodor Niederbach, Tnias Mathurin and Jan Bednar by 5 p.m.
NHL head coaches have to hire good assistants. They have to set an overarching philosophy, juggle lineup configurations, and do the kind of “man management” that is impossible to track statistically.
After winning game one of the Central Division Finals Friday night, the Toledo Walleye hosted the Wheeling Nailers for game two of the Central Division Finals, with the Walleyes taking a 2-0 series lead after a 5-3 win Saturday night at Huntington Center in Toledo, OH.
Sebastian Cossa isn’t the only Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospect turning heads in the minor pro ranks. Save some props for Jan Bednar. The 21-year-old rookie pro with the Toledo Walleye is the ECHL goaltender of the month for March.