PR - Wheat Kings

WHEAT KINGS LANGUISH IN BASEMENT

The Wheat Kings over the last month have sold-off much of their roster and are
very much in a 'next year' mentality.  The most sudden and definate of these
moves was the (re-re-re-)dealing of All-Star/Vezina winner Roberto Luongo to the
Bobcats last week in return for prospect Dennis Seidenburg (drafted 8th overall
last year by the Maurauders).

The jetisoning of Luongo should have  triggered a downward spiral, but it
actually started a mini winning spree and .500 overall hockey since, keeping the
Wheaties close to the playoffs - especially with the spiraling Blades heading
downwards.  Nevetheless, the resurgent Ice are nipping at the Wheaties' heels in
the always exciting Western Conference.

Overall the results from the selling spree have been mixed: Duncan Keith has
been generally solid and at times spectucalar since coming over from the Cats,
but Yuri Artemenkov has been a sound disappointment (although his play is picking
up - four points last two games).  Seidenburg played so well that he earned a
brief pro try-out before being dispatched to the farm, meanwhile Jamie Howard
who came up to play goal on the pro was solid in his first three outings,
questionable in the next two - the boy is a sponge though, he has incredible rebound
control, and although he has long been slated as the Kings back-up of the
future, he is demonstrating that he may have the stuff of a #1 in him, or at least a
solid #1b.

The best and most comforting outcome of the selling spree has been that the
core group of Steve Bernier, Josh Hennessy, and Dimitri Kazionov have stepped it
up slightly, and have been at times indomitable.



FUTURE WATCH
Players ranked are players deemed not to be full-time pros yet.

1. Niklas Bergfors (Acquired: Draft TFHL15, 13th overall)
Slick Nik could have played on the pro this year, and likely should have.  He's
sniper's dream: feathering light passes to gawking stick.  He's big and tough,
which helps clear room for smaller players like Stever Bernier.  If he could
improve his defensive awareness slightly he'd be a true #1.

2. Darren Machesney (Acquired: Trade TFHL16, Misconduct)
Although his stats this year on the farm don't show it, Machesney has all the
tools to be a solid #1 in the league.  He still needs some grooming and it was
hoped he would learn something while playing on the farm this year, but he will
likely have to now learn on the job next year.

3. Byron Bitz (Acquired: Trade TFHL15, Flames)
Bitz-krieg is another player who likely would have been better off playing on
the pro this year.  He can do it all, score, pass, back-check, skate.  He is
more of finesse-first player and rarely takes the body.  He also has a tendency to
tire fast and so likely will never be a true #1 line man.

4. Erkka Leppanen (Acquired: Draft TFHL15, 65th overall)
Don't expect him to rack up many points or do anything to catch your attention
most nights.  Defensively solid, Leppanen is the model for the unnoticeable but
invaluable players which the Kings hope to keep adding.

5. Jimmy Howard  (Acquired: Trade TFHL15, Saints)
His puck control is nearly perfect, he's big, and moves well for a big guy -
now only if he could keep his head in the game.  Acquired as part of a package
which saw Tuuka Rask go to the Saints, Howard needs to play well in order to
redeem the Kings for the loss of Rask.

6. Dennis Seidenburg (Acquired: Trade TFHL16, Bobcats)
Recently acquired Seidenburg has instantly attacted notice.  He's offensively
gifted, fast, and good on the defensive play - everything that could make him
into a solid top four man on the Wheaties d-core.

7. Kyle Chipchura (Acquired: Trade TFHL16, Misconduct)
Chipchura is a prairie boy, a commidity of which the Kings should have more. 
He's solid all-around and could end-up being a decent third liner for years to
come.

8. Mark Fistric (Acquired: Trade TFHL16, Misconduct)
Fistric is another of a seemingly infinite number of young d-men in the system. 
He's all-around solid and as an 18 year old still has a lot of time to develop.

9. Danny Roussin (Acquired: Draft TFHL16, 37th overall)
Roussin is likely three or four years aways from the pros, at best.  He is a
solid sniping winger, who given time has an outside change of developing into a
regular top sixer.

10. Andy Alberts (Acquired: Draft TFHL16, 38th overall)
Leppanen Jr.  Alberts is two to three years away from making the pro.  A solid
defensive defenseman.

Others:
Jason Pominville, C; Raymond Macias, D; Constantine Augustus, RW