Bingo Bites: Tangradi Suspensions, McLeod Profile & Updates From Adirondack

Thanks for checking in and let’s get right to it in the latest edition of the Bites.

Eric Tangradi Suspension(s)

Binghamton Devils’ forward Eric Tangradi will not be in the line-up tonight in Toronto as well this weekend with two games scheduled as he is currently serving his second suspension in less than a week in the AHL.

Both came at the hands of the rival Utica Comets in less than a week.

It all started on Saturday, Dec 8 for the first infraction on Tangradi in Binghamton against Utica with a hit on defenseman Ashton Sautner and as a result causing him to fall into the boards. Tangradi was given a five minute major for boarding, which in turn should have been a 10-minute misconduct, and automatic game misconduct (not a suspension), but it didn’t come close.

Referee Brandon Schrader had his back to the initial hit of the face and called the boarding penalty in haste after seeing Sautner fall into the wall. Tangradi was then allowed to play after serving his initial five minutes in the box.

Either way, it should have been a match penalty even though I don’t believe it was Tangradi’s intention to hurt Saunter, as he followed up with an apology afterward;

The league handed down a one-game suspension on Tuesday, Dec 11 which was served at Wednesday’s game in Rochester, Dec 12.

The next incident took place on Friday, Dec 14 with the Devils’ turn in Utica territory.

Tangradi leveled out Jonathan Dahlen into the corner boards and down went the rookie forward, as play was whistled shortly after. No penalty was assessed and he was allowed to continue on without any sort of retaliatory efforts (shocking) on behalf of the Comets.

Let’s remember that Tangradi is 29 years old and is listed at 6’4”, 226 lbs against the much smaller 20 year-old Dahlen, who is 5’11”, 176 lbs. No doubt, this was a train wreck waiting to happen with the height/weight differential between the two players. But wow, it appears to be a simple check on behalf of the BDevils’ veteran.

On Sunday, Dec 16, the league once again handed out a suspension, but this time the amount was three games. Dahlen is out with a concussion as it appeared Tangradi left his feet during the collision into the corner boards according to sources.

When looking back on Tangradi, the only other blemish I came across was playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins against the Manitoba Moose during the first round of the playoffs last season. The AHL suspended Tangradi for Game 5, although no penalty was called on the play for a cross-checking incident.

The two clubs will meet again this Saturday, Dec 22 in Utica however, Tango will not be involved with his third game being served in the latest suspension.

Michael McLeod

• Round 1 draft pick, #12th overall in 2016 by New Jersey
• Center -- shoots Right
• Born Feb 03, 1998 -- Mississauga, ON, CAN
• Signed through the 2020-’21 season on an ELC
• 5 goals*, 10 assists, +2 in 28 games in his first full pro season
• 1st Quarter Grades report McLeod - 84.8 / B

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

McLeod has been making waves this season in his first professional onset for Binghamton, and for good reason. Very quick legs and his puck handling skills is right up there as one of the best I’ve seen in years out of many prospects. However, despite the hype surrounding his first round status in comparisons, it’s going to take time.

And here’s why.

On Oct 12, after two consecutive victory’s to open up the Binghamton Devils’ 2018-’19 campaign, new head coach Mark Dennehy sent out a message. If you don’t compete, you’re gonna sit as the rally cry. Although, that wasn't necessarily his exact words, the message was clearly defined in the next sequence of events.

Michael McLeod was benched for a game earlier this season by Coach MD (Oct 12) for what appeared to be a lack of effort. It looked like he was just going through the motions and while, being that ultimate 1st rounder, perhaps his entitlement would necessary fit in his mindset as his next step (without much thought of contributing at the AHL level) would be the ticket for the NHL.

Message sent.

Ever since that moment of clarity, McLeod has developed to become what has been a slow maturing process that will require more time to come to fruition, but ultimately tap into his potential.

At 6’ 2 and 187 lbs he has the size and his competitiveness is clearly evident with his celebratory goal events that are clearly fun to witness, with overall happiness that ranks right up there with Nick Lappin.

So far so good, just give it some time.

Adirondack Updates by Tracey

After a quick start in October, the Adirondack Thunder have come back to earth in December.

As of today, the Thunder are 1-2-2-1 for the month, and carry a 4-game winless streak into their pre-Christmas weekend slate, visiting the Worcester Railers on Friday before returning home on Saturday to face the Brampton Beast.

Photo Courtesy of Tracey Lake

Despite the recent slump, the Thunder’s record sits at 13-9-2-2, good for third place in the ECHL’s North Division, nine points behind first place Newfoundland.

Here are the latest updates from Glens Falls

• In the Thunder’s last game on Saturday, a 2-1 overtime loss to the Manchester Monarchs in Glens Falls, lone referee Mike Sheehan did not call a single penalty on either side. It marked the 11th time in the history of the ECHL that a penalty-free game was played.
• Adirondack’s power play currently ranks 3rd in the ECHL at an even 20 percent and have only allowed one shorthanded goal all season.
• Despite having not appeared in a game for Adirondack since November 24th, Cam Johnson ranks 10th among ECHL goaltenders with 2.49 goals against average.
• John Edwardh, who was recalled to Binghamton on Monday, remained red-hot while playing in Maine, picking up his second two-goal game of the season against the Mariners in a 5-4 shootout loss on December 7th. For the season, he has appeared in 19 games, with 7 goals and 8 assists. He currently ranks third among all ECHL skaters in shooting percentage with a 26.9 percent success rate.
• Also staying hot is camp invite and rookie forward Mike Szmatula, who has the honor of scoring this year’s Thunder Teddy Bear Toss goal on Saturday, his 11th goal of the season. He continues to lead all Thunder rookies—and is tied for 9th among ECHL rookies--in points with 20 in 25 games.
• Before his recall to Binghamton on December 12th, Brian Ward returned to the Thunder lineup four days earlier after serving a five-game suspension for leaving the bench in Reading on November 23rd and had a goal in the Thunder’s 5-4 loss to Brampton. In 19 games, Ward has 5 goals and 4 assists and continues to lead the team in penalty minutes with 51.
• Finally, it appears rookie defenseman Jake Linhart, who signed a PTO with Hershey on November 30th, may be sticking with the Bears for at least another couple of weeks, per Thunder head coach Alex Loh. Linhart has appeared in four games for Hershey in a seventh defenseman role, with one assist.

Non-Devil You Should Know

This time, we’ll introduce you to a player who currently leads Adirondack in scoring, serves as team captain, and is becoming the face of the Thunder franchise—forward James Henry.

Photo Courtesy of Tracey Lake

Henry is in his sixth professional season, spending his full pro career as a member of the Thunder franchise, beginning in Stockton in the 2013-14 season. The Winnipeg native has been a constant in the lineup, appearing in at least 65 games each season except one (injuries limited him to 44 appearances in 2015-16). Last season, he became the franchise’s all-time leader in scoring and in games played, entering this season with 148 points in 216 games.

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Thanks, Tracey, and thanks to you Devils’ fans for taking the time to check out the latest edition of the Bites!

*scored his 1st professional goal Oct, 26 against the Charlotte Checkers