Antler Analysis: Chisholm, Gawanke Are Driving Moose

Chisholm, a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, has five points in three games. He’s evolved into one of the AHL’s best defenceman during his sophomore campaign.

“He’s moving the puck well. He’s finding [passing] lanes. I think the biggest part is just [that] he sees plays so well,” Gawanke told Full Press Coverage after Game Three.

Gawanke, drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, has four points in as many games, including the game-winning goal in Game Three.

Morgan Barron

After closing out the regular season with an impressionable 14-game stint in the NHL, Morgan Barron has been a go-to guy for the Moose.

“I give him a lot of credit. He’s come down from the Jets and he’s played the exact same way I watched him play when he was with the Jets,” Morrison said.

Barron, acquired via the Andrew Copp deal, fared well in the Jets’ bottom six. Towards the end of his stint, he earned himself an audition in the top six. The 6’4″ forward is an imposing figure, boasting a coveted combination of size and skill.

“He’s definitely a guy who kind of has it all,” Kovacevic said. “I’m lucky I don’t have to defend him much; this time of year we don’t have a ton of practices. But yeah, he’s a horse.”

His strength is eye-catching.

“You don’t see him losing too many puck battles out there,” said Luke Johnson.

Once he wins a battle, he’s got the skill, speed, and smarts to drive the play forward almost seamlessly.

Those little things are a big reason why he was able to do more than just hold his own in the NHL. But his offensive output with the Moose — notably his two power play goals thus far into the series — provides a glimpse into some untapped offensive potential.

We saw flashes of it when he was with the Jets, with Barron posting four points in 14 games. But, while playing on both the Moose’s top line and their top power play unit, his offensive abilities have flourished. A sixth-round pick of the New York Rangers in 2017, Barron averaged a point-per-game through 21 AHL contests last year. Before turning pro last season, Barron finished his three-year tenure at Cornell with a strong junior campaign, recording the 14th most primary points of any NCAA player (0.90/game).

Connor Ingram Arrives for Admirals

While the Manitoba Moose may have cracked the code of Devin Cooley last game, Connor Ingram has returned from the Nashville Predators and boy, will that ever be a game-changer for the Admirals.

Ingram, who just recorded a .913 SV% through four playoff games with the Nashville Predators, is one of the AHL’s best goalies by far. The 25-year-old has amassed a combined .920 SV% over parts of four AHL seasons.

Data via InStat