Here's 5 more Aviators players
Matt Puntureri
Stats: 25 y/o Right Wing; 46 GP, 27 G, 40 A, 67 Pts, +29
Thoughts: Safe to say, Puntureri is one of the league's superstar players. At more than a point per game with 18 points gained on the powerplay through the season, he's lethal as a scoring threat and arguably one of, if not the league's top winger. Moving into the playoffs, he posted 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points in 9 games, 8 of which were on the powerplay. I can't really recall a single defenseman who was able to shut him down at any point in the season. A player of this skill level is quite the commodity.
Verdict: Puntureri is a player capable of deciding entire games; curiously enough, he was traded to New Jersey this past week for cash.
KC Timmons
Stats: 31 y/o Defenseman; 39 GP, 11 G, 14 A, 25 Pts, +3
Thoughts: Timmons is what many would considered a grizzled veteran in this kind of league. With well over 300 professional games in his career, he brings that knowledge and experience to the Aviators' defensive corps. Was also an NHL draft pick of the Colorado Avs in the late 90s. Biggest assets are his size and booming shot from the blue line. 12 points out of 42 on the powerplay and 25 points in 39 games not bad at all for a defenseman.
Verdict: Stays. Crushing blue line hits, massive 230 pound frame, great powerplay point shot.
Stephen Obelnicki
Stats: 24 y/o Right Wing; 46 GP, 4 G, 12 A, 16 Pts, +10
Thoughts: With 16 points in 46 games as a forward, one might be able to guess that Obelnicki isn't exactly on the team to score goals. In reality, he's one of the league's enforcers, competing directly with the likes of Danbury's Corey Fulton in the “Who can get more penalty minutes?” game. 118 minutes in 46 games; the scraps were always fun to see. Highlight of the season? Watching him take his helmet off to scrap with Fulton after his Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance and the ensuing poofy whirlwind of perm.
Verdict: Obelnicki stays; the perm, however, has GOT to go.
Andrew Scampoli
Stats: 26 y/o Right Wing; 47 GP, 20 G, 32 A, 52 Pts, +17
Thoughts: Scampoli has some frequent flyer miles under his belt, having competed in no less than 7 different leagues by the close of the 2010-2011 season. He's one of the Aviators more talented wingers and is capable of producing in all situations. More than a point per game, with 15 of his 52 coming on the powerplay. Potted one shorty before the close of the Aviators' rookie campaign, and also boasts a very impressive 4 game winning goals. Continued his high caliber of play well into the playoffs, where in 9 games he was responsible for 6 goals and 4 assists, 2 of which were on the powerplay.
Verdict: Because of his production, no reason not to lock him down as well. Keeping so many core guys together is going to ensure that much of the chemistry that found them a 21 game win streak last year stays intact for the second season. It's guys like these that will keep the Aviators in contention.
Casey Mignone
Stats: 23 y/o Right Wing; 44 GP, 20 G, 26 A, 46 Pts, +17
Thoughts: Mignone was another FHL played to join the proud company of 100+ professional career games this season. He's a very capable point-per-game player who earned 13 of his 45 points on the powerplay, and also had 4 game winners. Mignone rounds out New York's very deep core of talented right wingers, which gives them a lot of potential to wiggle around before the Fall. Not that New York has any lack of talent it needs to make up for, but finding a right winger capable of switching to the left side without losing his mojo, or simply trading for a good left winger would make the team more frightening than it already is.
Verdict: Again, chemistry. No reason to get rid of him.
We've got one New York player left on Monday, and then we'll start with Rome.
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