The Toledo Walleye didn’t participate in the 2020-2021 ECHL season, but they retained the rights to almost a dozen players, including star goaltender Billy Christopoulos (who played with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel this past season). The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe reports that the Walleye brought Christopoulos back into the fold on Thursday:
Goaltender Billy Christopoulos, who was named to the All-ECHL rookie team in 2019-20, has re-signed with the Toledo Walleye.
Christopoulos, 27, made his pro debut with the Walleye and posted a 23-3-3 record in 2019-20.
In his first pro season, the Air Force Academy graduate led the ECHL with a .932 save percentage, ranked third with 24 wins, and was sixth with a 2.29 goals-against average. He was named the ECHL goaltender of the month in February of that year.
The native of Raleigh had re-signed with Toledo last summer. But the Walleye organization opted to sit out the 2020-21 ECHL season due to the uncertainties created by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m pumped to be there,” Christopoulos said. “I know everybody feels like we have a little bit of unfinished business when we got shut down. We’re all excited to get back to the Huntington Center and listen to [the fans] rock that place.”
Christopoulos said it was the organization as a whole that swayed him to return.
“It really is a first class operation,” he said. “From the top down, management, coaching staff, facilities, and everything in between, it’s a great place to be. And then when you add the fans and atmosphere at the Huntington Center on top of that, it’s hard to beat. We’re really looking forward to getting the season going and picking up where we left off two years ago.”
I was going to say Billy who? His numbers are pretty good aside from 5 Games in the AHL. 5 games not really a stat worth looking at. I do assume the AHL is a fairly big jump from the ECHL.
Always good to see a Goalie (sort of in the Wings system) doing well.
Which makes me wonder, were on earth are all the goalies going to play in the Wings system. Hope Alex Ned grabs the raines and puts in quality games. THEN…prospects either fade away, traded or push for an NHL spot.
Pickard (29) and Greiss (35) might be ending their careers soon.
Funny Pickard was really a good goalie prospect in WHL, ran a great hockey school (My Son actually listened. Good Guy!!
This is an ECHL contract. You have nothing to worry about in terms of space for Red Wings goalies, because he’s the designated starter in Toledo…
As for the rest, the Wings have Nedeljkovic, Greiss, Pickard and then, from what I understand, Brattstrom might come over, but Larsson is staying in Sweden this year, Eliasson is staying in Sweden this year, Cossa is still a junior-aged goalie who has to play in the WHL unless he makes the NHL, and Petruzzelli chose not to sign with the Wings and is actually attending the Bruins’ development camp. Nagle hasn’t been re-signed, and his future is murky, but he’s over 30 as well.
Well it seems like we have another year until things get a little more active. StevieY and his crew sure have a lot of pieces moving around.
Holland was more based on personality, gave players what they wanted but it was never a rebuild.
The current crew are earning their money, for sure.
I really don’t think it will get easy, Hollands downfall was the roster was basically set by long term contracts and it seemed like all had No Move, No Trade, or something making them unmovable.
StevieY is going to get trapped with much inability to make moves.
The fans are going to be busy looking forward to every new season.
Anyway, seems like a great direction to this really long term fan!
StevieY is ** NOT**going to get trapped with *** No Ability**** to make moves.
Bed Time,LOL