Hopefully not! Unfortunately, I won't get a chance to assess the new-look Pats in person this weekend. Instead, I'll be taking Yoda to my staff Christmas party on Saturday night. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. But I guess I'll have to wait until the matchup with the Blades on December 29th to check out the new players, and the (hopefully) revitalized Pats.
In the meantime, the boys are being put through their paces this week by interim Head Coach Terry Perkins. He's filling in for Curtis Hunt, who is working with our national junior team. A four-day break from game action may be just what the doctor ordered, giving all the players a chance to adjust to new teammates, line combinations, etc.
In the meantime, we await word of a trade bringing an experienced, physical defenceman to town. I wonder if Portland would part with 6'5" blueliner Scott Gabriel, or maybe somebody like Ryan Funk from Saskatoon, who is an impressive +6 on a struggling Blades team?
10 comments:
Whoa....now I'm confused! Last night on your show Rod said that the Pats were going for something this year. That generally seemed to be the philosphy in most of the comments.
BUT..in the LP article today it kinda sounded like Parker was hedging his bets, saying it may may not be this year but more likely next. That is friggin bs. It is sounding like the Riders of late. They are blaming all of their problems on the 2002 draft which is horse poop!
Here are a few hard facts!!
Since the 2002-03 season up to and including today the Vancouver Giants have a .601 winning pct., the Pats have a .430 winning pct. They both had to draft out of the same draft right? The Silvertips didn't even exist that year. They came into the league in the 2003-04 season. Since then they have had a .634 winning pct, the Pats have had a .419 pct. They didn't even participate until the 2003 draft! In 4 yrs the Tips have won their division twice and soon three times. Been to the League Championship once, soon twice. ALL IN 4 YRS. Here is another fact. The Moose Jaw Warriors actually have a better winning pct than the Pats over the Past nine seasons.!!! We seem to hear a lot of reasons why we are not winning as opposed to hearing the dates the League Championship tickets go on sale! If they want to keep blaming it on bad drafts maybe they should bring Graham Tuer back. He has done well for Kelowna. Make the trades, do what you gotta do, but stop with the excuses.
Its time for this organization to put up or shut up. The stars might lie but the numbers never do.!!!!
You do a very nice job on your show and I watch it whenever I get the chance. You might get a chance to watch alittle of the game on Saturday night if you can get to a TV....CH7
CH7? There's never anything good on there! Kidding...
Thanks for the kind words. I'm sticking with Rod's analysis, that the Pats are commited to taking the necessary steps to make a run.
I don't see a lot of value in looking in the rear-view mirror, as a way of justifying present performance. If the 2002 draft stunk, whose fault is that? Graham Tuer certainly did provide the Pats with a lot of good players. Not saying Todd Ripplinger hasn't, but your comparative winning percentages are certainly.......interesting.
I got some commitments Saturday night as well, but I will try to be there cheering the boys on.
To me its never been about the Pinders, Hicke or Parker organizations, its about the pride of the Logo. Pride comes with winning and sure hope pride returns.
Talk about MJ making some noises, geez another trade. They are going for a playoff spot for sure but these guys are going to be a help next year as well. Lang has been real busy.
Have you heard some noises about the d-men you mentioned? You get the feeling that if another major trade occurs, it would probably have to be a lower team because all the rest are feeling competative. Although Red Deer did trade with MJ, so who knows.....
Also Pete, have you heard anything regarding Deck? If he can get healthy it would be great to get him back on the PP. If he can't it leaves a 20 yr old spot open...
I was hoping to get more info on Kyle Deck this weekend, but that's not gonna happen. I guess I should place a couple of calls, to see what's what.
I didn't hear anything definite about Gabriel or Funk. Just wishful thinking, combined with a bit of logic.
I have to admit I am feeling a little sorry for the Pats tonite.
- two of the four guys they traded for are not in the line-up
- kept Brandon scoreless for two periods, and still lost
- can't seem to get Rowatt going
- can't buy a road win
- Head coach is gone for a month
tonight Rowatt gave up a stinker, the boys deflated for a three minute span. By the time they recovered they were down 3-1 and they never recovered.
They had 8 power plays and scored only once. It has got to do better than that. They did improve on the kill however.
I don't know about you but I think this media stuff about going for 1st place should stop. I think it may be putting additional pressure on these guys that they don't need. The way this team is positioned right now, it WILL NOT finish first. They have to just try to play better and claw back to .500. It starts perhaps with a home win, and maybe a couple of road wins, and get a little streak going. They have to look at the season as the first 36 and the last 36. Their goal should be to be the best team in the division in the seconed half and finish where they finish. They have gotten too far behind Brandon and have to jump three teams to get first. That is too loft a goal when they can't even win a game lately. They just have to play good hockey and let the chips fall where they may.
I see they brought Fraipont back. While I have no problem with him being back, but I don't think he is what they need now. He won't really contribute until next year. I still think before the Jan 10 deadline that there may still be a jaw-dropper!! Any thoughts on that.
I fully expect a significant deal to bolster the blueline before Jan 10th. I'm also starting to wonder if the Pats are re-thinking their decision to give the starter's job to a 17-year old netminder. Hey! Dustin Slade is available! Kidding. Really, really kidding.
As for the first-place stuff: the media won't report it if the Pats won't talk about it. As long as they make it a public (ie: talking about it in interviews, on the street, etc.) goal, the media will convey the message to the fans on their behalf. Is it a realistic goal at this point? Probably not. But if the Pats want to keep believing it, who am I to burst their bubble?
You have a point! Not many 17 yr old tenders have taken their teams all the way. It is a heavy load, and yes goaltending of late has failed them miserably. Just think if the team had won 3 more games in the last series of road games they would be one game over .500. Thanks to mathematics had they won 4 more games or 6 of 14 games on the road they would be 4 games over .500 going into tonights game. I know all about woulda, coulda, shoulda BUT if they had played about .400 hockey on the road they would be in a good place right now. Goaltending makes or breaks a team, any team. Right now the Pats goaltending is not good enough to go anywhere.
Reekie is the 4th rated tender in the league, Rowatt is the 24th. That tells you all you need to know. I don't know if the early season ratings went to his head but he has not been very consistent this season. I think his stock may be falling. The Rebels traded Knacksted, a highly rated forward in the upcoming draft so you never know........
oh ya Pete about Slade. I would not be surprised is some team picks him up for a stretch run. He is still the #2 rated tender in the league. I know Lethbridge really wants to make the playoffs!!
....and the Pats may have a 20 yr old spot..LOL
I still think some team may take him for the last few months.
Go Pats Go!
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