Saskatoon Blades goaltender Andrey Makarov (BUF) is the Hockey’s Future Prospect of the Month for February. The undrafted Russian goaltender rocked the WHL last month, posting a 15-0 record, a 1.72 goals-against average, a .948 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Signed by the Buffalo Sabres this past September, Makarov has been excellent most of the season but recently seems to have taken his game to another level. In his 15 starts in February, he allowed more than two goals on only four occasions while seeing an average of over 33 shots per game. Makarov’s success also allowed the Saskatoon Blades to clinch a playoff spot and puts them in a favorable position to clinch the WHL’s East Division as well.
On the season, Makarov has a 35-16-1-3 record, a 2.42 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage, and seven shutouts, all of which rank in the top five in the WHL.
Honorable Mentions
Morgan Rielly (TOR)
Moose Jaw Warriors – WHL
The Vancouver native has been a bright spot in an otherwise down year for the Moose Jaw Warriors. Playing for a team that, on average, allows more than a goal per game than they score, Rielly has been exceptionally consistent. In February he managed five goals and nine assists through 11 games, including three power-play markers and a game-winner.
Rielly currently has 49 points (12 goals and 37 assists) and a minus-eight through 54 regular season games. He is tied for third in the WHL in points from a defenseman.
Kevin Roy (ANA)
Northeastern Huskies – Hockey East
Since returning from winter break, Roy has been among the most productive forwards in the nation, so it is no surprise he has closed out his freshman campaign with Northeastern in a productive fashion. Having shown a knack for scoring decisive goals, Roy saved some of his best of the season for the 2013 Beanpot, where he scored five of the six goals Northeastern generated in the two games, including a game-winning hat trick against Boston University. Though Northeastern would lose the Championship game against Boston College, Roy was still named as the most outstanding player of the tournament.
On the season, Roy has 17 goals and 17 assists through 29 games, which is second in the nation behind Riley Barber (WSH) in scoring by a freshman.
Paul Carey (COL)
Lake Erie Monsters – AHL
The first year pro showed a level of consistency during the month of February he has not previously shown during the 2012-13 season. Through 12 games he managed six goals and five assists, including two powerplay markers. Most of the production came from an eight-game, 10-point streak during the month that ran from February 12th to the 26th.
An offensive-minded winger, Carey has a knack for scoring timely goals, and was a key contributor to Boston College’s 2012 Frozen Four victory. If he continues to play this way for Lake Erie down the stretch, a late-season call-up would not be out of the question.