Adams wastes no time

CARDIFF,U.K- Just three weeks after the final four weekend, it’s already clear what much of the Cardiff Devils’ class of 2009-10 will look like. That’s because Head Coach Gerad Adams has signed nine players in his most aggressive off-season in his short coaching career. This statement of intent was made clear when captain and influential power-forward Brad Voth agreed to return for a fifth year, before the season was out.

That was followed by news that key import defensemen Mike Hartwick and Wes Jarvis would be completing their final year of a business masters at Cardiff University, thus fulfilling the second year of their respective contracts with the Devils. Hartwick provided the key defensive backbone alongside departing goaltender Peter Aubry last season, while Jarvis showed why he was drafted 46th overall in the 1997 NHL draft.
The Devils lacked a goalscoring spark at times last season, so Adams will no doubt be looking to add to his team’s offensive arsenal. He will however, be delighted to have retained the services of his top goalscorers from last season.
Jay Latulippe (69 points, 26 goals) will be re-united with Voth on the Devils second line, and Mike Prpich will pose a threat on the top line and powerplay. Prpich recorded 35 goals (69 points) including 15 on the powerplay last season to become the league’s second most clinical shooter with the man advantage.
Adams himself will step back on to the ice full time after playing the back end of last season and is likely to join Matt Towe on the third line, who has signed for a third straight year. While Adams has focused on keeping a core of players from last years’ roster, he’s also delivered on his promise to strengthen the Devils contingent of UK trained players. Each team will be allowed to ice a maximum of 10 non-UK trained players in any given match, making the signing of high quality home-grown players a premium.
He achieved a coup in capturing the signature of highly-rated defenseman Mark Richardson from the Nottingham Panthers. Richardson has played most of his career as a forward, but stepped back on defense last season proving a revelation, already establishing himself as a key component on Team GB’s blue line.
That signing was arguably topped, by the news that goaltender Stevie Lyle had signed a three-year deal to return to his home-town club. A proven winner, Lyle will return to Cardiff for his eighth season having last played there in 2003. Lyle helped the Devils Elite League rivals; Belfast Giants win two cup competitions last season and will be looking to carry that form with him to Cardiff in what is sure to be an emotional return to the club where he made his professional debut at just 14.
This flurry of announcements contrasts the previous off-season when Adams had to re-build the team. The readiness of key players to return suggests that the new ownership (which took over in the 2008 off-season) has largely achieved its goal of restoring confidence in the Devils brand amongst players.
Fans will be hoping that Adams can retain the services of a number of other players from the previous season including inspirational former NHLer Matt Elich and home-town favourite Phil Hill. Look out for a more in-depth look at the key signings from the Cardiff Devils over the summer months. Contact the author at Aled.Lloyd@prohockeynews.com