If you are unsure about why the New York Rangers have signed Left winger Aaron Voros to a Professional Try-Out contract with the Connecticut Whale, you’re not alone.
There are any number of questions you could fairly raise. Here are four right off the top of the head.
1) Is this signing a favor to Marian Gaborik? Could he and Voros been pals when they were both with the Minnesota Wild? (Update: It actually turns out that it might have something more to do with his best buddies Sean Avery and Henrik Lundqvist)
2) Is this just an insurance policy on one of the fourth line guys in New York?
3) Which current roster player in Hartford does this affect most? Remember they just traded for Francois Bouchard, a solid AHL veteran also.
4) Maybe the Mike Rupp injury/surgery will keep him out longer than expected and Voros might be brought up to NY to add some toughness and someone who can go with the heavyweights, or perhaps he’s being auditioned for that role with the Whale?
The ones who stand the most chance of seeing their TOI or even a position on the team in danger would seem to be Tommy Grant and Chris McKelvie as they are both left-wingers like Voros, or maybe even Scott Tanski.
One other concern might be Ryan Bourque. He did have an injury earlier this season, came back from it and played pretty well but was a healthy scratch in the last game. He has been playing left-wing on this team as well.
One other concern is the number of experienced veterans on the roster. The AHL limits the number of players that have this kind of experience that can be on the ice.
Answers will come on Friday when we return to the XL Center and have the opportunity to speak with Whale head coach Ken Gernander.
Thoughts?
Here’s the official release:
WHALE SIGN FORWARD AARON VOROS TO PTO
* * * *
Eighth-year Pro Brings 162 Games of NHL Experience
Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Whale has signed forward Aaron Voros to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement.
Voros, a 6-4, 210-pound eighth-year pro, skated in 12 NHL games with the Anaheim Ducks last season, going scoreless with 43 penalty minutes. The 30-year-old Vancouver, B.C. native also played two AHL games with the Syracuse Crunch (no points, five penalty minutes) and appeared in 26 AHL contests with the Toronto Marlies (3-4-7, 61 PIM).
Prior to last season, Voros spent two years with the Whale’s parent club, the New York Rangers, logging a total of 95 games, with 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points, plus 211 PIM.
Originally an eighth-round selection (229th overall) by the New Jersey Devils in the 2001 NHL Draft, Voros has seen action in a total of 162 NHL games in his career, with the Devils, Rangers, Ducks and Minnesota Wild. His NHL career numbers are 18 goals, 19 assists, 37 points and 395 PIM. In 251 career AHL games with the Crunch, Marlies, Albany River Rats, Lowell Devils and Houston Aeros, the former University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanook has amassed totals of 47 goals and 51 assists for 98 points, along with 695 penalty minutes.
AARON VOROS’ AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL RECORD
(Stats courtesy of hockeydb.com)
The Whale are back on home ice at the XL Center this Friday night, November 18, taking on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a GEICO Connecticut Cup game at 7:00 PM. In celebration of Veterans Day, the Whale is proud to offer a buy-one-get-one-free discount on Lower Level tickets for this game to any military personnel who present a military/veteran ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center.
Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.
The AHL’s Connecticut Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm founded by Howard Baldwin and Howard Baldwin, Jr.. The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.
Since 1972, the CT Lottery has generated nearly $21.4 billion in sales and has transferred more than $7.2 billion to the state’s General Fund. Prizes have exceeded $12.3 billion. Purchasers must be 18 years or older. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-346-6238. For more information about the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, visit ctlottery.org.
(Photo courtesy of ESPN)
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…