Season Preview: Trevor Frischmon

Bloggers note: Apologies for the absence the past few days. Obviously, Long Island was hit by Hurricane Irene which left me without cable/internet until about an hour ago. Back full time now and I hope all of our readers are safe and sound as well.

Trevor Frischmon 

Position: C

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 203
Birthdate: August 5th, 1981(30 years old)
Birthplace: Ham Lake, Minnesota, United States
Acquired: Signed Free Agent

2010-2011 Team: Springfield Falcons
2010-2011 Stats: 80 GP - 4 G - 29 A - 39 PIM
2011-2012 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Team Role: Bottom 6 Forward

Last year: Frischmon spent most of last year with the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. A veteran presence on a very young Springfield team, Frischmon's role was mostly a lower line set up man, and he racked up nearly 30 assists in doing so. Frishmon provided leadership and a great learning presence to the many young prospects that have been racked up in the Columbus system.

Expectations: Frischmon is another great addition (and ANOTHER center in the system) to the Bridgeport core. He's not a prospect and will probably not see any time in the NHL, but players like him are completely invaluable to gaining a proper AHL team that can compete for the Calder cup and bring in that winning culture that this organization so desperately needs. He will most likely replace the role that Rob Hisey filled last year.

Projections: GP - 78 - 6 G - 29 A - 35 P

Thoughts:

AT: While some laugh and mock signings like these, they are completely essential to the organization in the long run. Having leadership material in the AHL is just as important to the organization as having leadership in the NHL, because if players like Calvin De Haan and Matt Donovan have nobody to guide them along in their path to the NHL, who can they look to? Frischmon was a solid AHL depth signing and we hope he fills the role he was designed to fill exceptionally.

CH: Very solid depth signing here. It creates competition within the Bridgeport system, which is a lot better than just throwing kids into roles. That doesn't work at the NHL level, and it doesn't work in the minors either. Frischmon certainly won't light the lamp a ton, but he is a solid defensive center that has a good head on his shoulders. Certainly not a core player, but the type of player that is good to have around. And comparatively, he's much better than the ATO's and ECHLers being called to the the Tigers time after time. Hopefully, the Isles don't penny pinch at the AHL level and use the Hershey Bears model of replenishment. The upbringing up prospects is essential to a winning atmosphere. Hopefully, Frischmon can be part of that.

News: Islanders Sign F Trevor Frischmon

The New York Islanders have signed forward Trevor Frischmon to a one year, two-way contract, which was announced by the Isles AHL affiliate Bridgeport.

Frischmon, 29, has spent his entire professional career in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, playing at for both Syracuse and Springfield of the AHL. He had a career year in Springfield last year, as he notched 29 points (4 goals) with a +6 in 80 games. The playmaking center has 102 points in 327 career AHL games. 

The center, who is 6'0" and 200 lbs., played three games with the Blue Jackets in 2009-10, going scoreless.

CH: The Islanders let Rob Hisey go, so this is the guy that will probably replace him in Bridgeport. Frischmon, who is a checking line center, adds veteran stability to the Sound Tigers, which is something they sorely needed over the past few years. He will round out the Sound Tigers centers, most likely, joining David Ullstrom, Casey Cizikas, Tony Romano, and Tomas Marcinko. The Tigers still need more forward help on the wings, as Rhett Rakhshani, Tyler McNeely, and Justin DiBenedetto are the only signed players down there. From that perspective, look for a bunch more depth signings in the coming weeks. Solid signing, and addressed a need that the organization needed.

AT: There's definitely a lot more depth in Bridgeport nowadays. With the influx of young players, re-signing of Marcinko, and with some more moves to come, I think Bridgeport is pretty well off next season. Let's just hope Poulin can stay healthy and perform at the level he had before he was called up. Let's also hope he doesn't need to be called up.