Acquired: Signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings on October 15, 2002.

Player No. 46 Profile: Name: Nathan Robinson Team: Grand Rapids Griffins League: AHL Position: Center/Left Wing Hometown: Milton, Ontario Height: 5'9" Weight: 175 lbs. Birth Date: 12/31/81

Insider's Edge:

Nathan Robinson proved to be a scoring machine in junior hockey, leading the OHL in scoring two years ago, putting up a huge 110 points in 67 games.

Robinson “has awesome speed, great playmaking ability and a wonderful vision of the ice,” states one source.

He was one of the last cuts in Detroit’s 2003 camp, and could see spot action in there this year.

 

Drafted: Nashville Predators, 9th-round selection (248th overall) in 1999

Player No. 47 Profile: Name: Darren Haydar Team: Milwaukee Admirals League: AHL Position: Right Wing Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario Height: 5'9" Weight: 180 lbs. Birth Date: 10/22/79

 

Insider's Edge:

The Milwaukee Admirals' Darren Haydar started last season, his first in the AHL, on a seven game scoring streak. He never looked back, earning the league’s 2003 Rookie of the Year award.

“He’s quick as a cat,” says one source. “He’s a small guy so a lot of times he can dig the pucks out of the corner and people don’t notice him.”

That’s also his biggest weakness, the fact that he is a small guy.

“He’s heard this his whole life. He keeps proving everyone wrong at every level. It’s a crapshoot, but I wouldn’t bet against him.”

“He has great instincts for the game,” states one source. “He has a knack for getting the puck where it needs to be. Not everyone has that, and that’s not something you can teach, you either have it or you don’t.”

To break the ice ceiling of the NHL, his production will have to be at levels that overcompensate where his physical numbers keep him in the shadows of taller, bigger players.

 

Drafted: Phoenix Coyotes, 8th-round selection (160th overall) in 1998. Acquired: Signed as a free agent by St. Louis on 5/7/02

Player No. 48 Profile: Name: Jeff Panzer Team: Worcester Ice Cats League: AHL Position: Center Hometown: Grand Forks, North Dakota Height: 5'7" Weight: 170 lbs. Birth Date: 04/07/78

 

Insider's Edge:

Jeff Panzer is described as an excellent all around player, who sees a lot of ice time on penalty kills.

“He has great leadership skills,” states on source. “ He digs in the corners and works for his goals.”

Panzer obviously has the respect of his teammates, as they named him captain of the Ice Cats this year.

Despite his small size, Jeff has proved to be durable, and was the only Ice Cat to appear in all 80 games in 02-03, earning team MVP honors.

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