Rumor: Rats Sign Jacob Micflikier

Keith Wozniak, who covers the Rochester Americans, has heard through the grapevine that the Rats' have signed forward Jacob Micflikier.

Last season Micflikier spent time with the Amerks and the Florida Everblades. Rochester shares their ECHL affiliate with the Rats.

A couple of weeks ago, Malcolm Cameron, coach of the Blades, told the Naples Daily News that Micflikier had "received interest from a few AHL teams, as well as a couple of options in Europe."

Wozniak writes: "Supposedly Jacob Micflikier has/is signing with the Albany River Rats but I have not been able to confirm it."

If we hear anything official, we'll let you know.

Rats Add Depth in Net

Goaltender Mike Morrison
(Photo by Bill Manley)

The River Rats have picked up veteran netminder Mike Morrison on a two-way AHL/ECHL deal.

With seven professional seasons under his belt, Morrison, a 30-year-old native of Medford, Massachusetts, will bring experience and depth in net.

Morrison will start the 2009-10 season with Albany's affiliate in the ECHL, the Florida Everblades. He may become Justin Peters' back-up should rookie Mike Murphy need additional conditioning. Morrison will also be prepared to step up in the event of an injury.

The 6-foot-3 netminder has spent most of his days as a back-up.

Morrison began his professional career in 2002 after finishing four years at the University of Maine. He served as the Black Bears back-up until his senior year, when he played 30 games and registered a 2.19 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

Morrison was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round in 1998. He has played professional hockey in every corner of North America, from Ottawa, to Edmonton, to Phoenix, to South Carolina. But despite playing at a variety of levels, Morrison has had trouble finding a job as a go-to starter.

Morrison has notched 86 AHL games and another 77 in the ECHL. He saw time in 29 NHL contests with the Oilers, Senators and Coyotes. Last season, Morrison played in Austria and Sweden.

Morrison spent 2007-08 with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, playing a career high 43 games. He finished the season with five shut outs, a GAA of 2.80 and a .911 save percentage.

In 2005-06, Morrison played in 21 games with the Edmonton Oilers, ending his longest NHL stint with a record of 10 wins, 4 losses and 2 ties. He finished with a 2.83 GAA and a .884 SV%.

"He may never be a No. 1 in the NHL," said Oilers scout Chris McCarthy, "but I wouldn't count him out to be a backup someday with someone. He's got heart, and he's a competitor."

"He's got good size, and moves well for a big guy," McCarthy said of Morrison. "He has good quickness, and challenges shooters, but he needs work with controlling rebounds, and staying focused with the task at hand, but he's learning that now and is giving it his best effort to be a good pro."

“(Albany) jumped on (Morrison) right away,” said Malcolm Cameron, coach of the Florida Everblades, to the Naples Daily News. “They wanted to have a good goaltender in the system, and with the experience that Mike has it works really well for them. ... If you’re going to pull a goaltender up from the ECHL, it helps to have a good veteran in the organization."

Now that Morrison has signed a two-way deal with Albany, he his set to start next season with the Florida Everblades. According to the Blades' press release, he will attend training camp in Albany and then be assigned to the ECHL.

Albany Inks D-Man Jonathan Paiement

Jonathan Paiement
(Photo by Jennifer Bock)

Add another defenseman to your list. Jonathan Paiement is on his way back to Albany.

The 24-year-old Montreal-native has reportedly signed an AHL contract with the Rats, meaning he will be back for a second season with the club in 2009-10.

Malcolm Cameron, coach of the Rats' ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, broke the news during an interview with the Naples Daily. “His days in the ECHL are over,” Cameron said of Paiement, revealing that the well-rounded blueliner had inked the AHL deal.

Paiement, last listed at 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, played 45 games with Albany last year, tallying a goal, 11 assists and 38 penalty minutes. Prior to earning a full-time spot on the Rats' roster, he skated in nine contests with the Blades, netting three goals and six assists.

Unfortunately Paiement was injured in the team's February bus crash in the Berkshires. He did not return to action until April. After recuperating, he played one game with the Rats and joined the Everblades for the playoffs.

Paiement, who spent five solid years in the QMJHL as a youngster, was drafted by the New York Rangers in the eighth round in 2004. He played his first professional season in 2006-07 with the ECHL's Texas Wildcatters, earning seven goals and 39 assists in 82 total games. In 2007-08, he played 42 AHL games with the Hershey Bears, scoring three goals and 11 assists.

With Albany last season, Paiement proved to be competent in every sector of the ice. Whether battling along the boards, clearing the front of the net, or patrolling the blue line, he took control of his territory. He played on both special teams and at one point was even assigned shootout duties.

"We have a lot of confidence in him, no matter if it’s five-on-five, power play or penalty kill," said Rats' coach Jeff Daniels to the Schenectady Daily Gazette in January. “He’s played well enough that his spot in the lineup, game in and game out, it’s there."

“Jon’s in a case where he has to bring it every day, and he knows that," Daniels said. "The way he’s doing it right now, he’s here to stay, and he deserves it.”