This year they have had some legitimate talent in camp to push the incumbents and I am afraid that they will let that young talent slip through their fingers by staying with what's 'comfy' (so to speak...).
Blake Sebring
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:10pm
Like I said, I don't think they are done adding to the roster. I think they are going to keep looking over the next couple of weeks/month. Just because somebody may have the team made this week doesn't mean he'll have it made next week.
Well, we're what, three days away from the season and we're still not sure who's staying or going and there is legitimate discussion/debate about it? I'd say that a fantastic training camp. Who knew about Rizk, Molle 2, Tom Mele, Thorne, Llewellyn, Chaumont, Auger, Starenky? Do you want the best players or do you just want the ones you don't like to be gone? I think that answer is obvious. Well, you can't afford to run a team that way.
I don't think the fans/bloggers or even I have anything to say about it. They could care less what we think. They have to be above that stuff.
Again, in the big picture we're all irrelevant. Even if they don't get rid of whoever, you'll still go to games. Until you don't, there's not much to say. You can't run a business reacting to everything the customers saying or you'd never get anything done. Sorry, but that's the truth.
I. DON'T. KNOW. WHAT. THEY. ARE. GOING. TO. DO. I'm as interested as everyone to see what happens.
Blake Sebring
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:12pm
You had larger rosters then, Snuff. Now you have a 19-man roster and with this schedule, you can't afford those type of players. Projects won't cut it any more.
JR1
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:18pm
Who are the best players?
Some of these established guys sure as heck didnt play like the best players out there and except for talk, there is nothing to prove that they will be the better players this season...
I think the book is out on the bubble vets just as much as they are with the rookies this season...
One guy will be playing Saturday who didnt make the post season roster and another guy who was on the playoff roster bubble last season will probably be joining him... And by all accounts, this seasons roster is much more talented than last seasons (on paper)....
I guess some of us are just more eager for change than others...
Blake Sebring
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:18pm
For one thing, it would have to be a forward playing in that 10th spot. Then you'd have a bunch of people screaming because you don't have the designated thug there.
Blake Sebring
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:21pm
Exactly, JR. I agree completely, which is why I wrote that Monday. Until they get into real games, you're just guessing on the rookies, and you better guess right because if they don't play well, you'll have a bunch of people on here second-guessing whichever decisions you made. It's a great discussion to have right now since we don't actually have to make the decisions. Definitely the most interesting training camp in a long time.
Blake Sebring
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:23pm
If you had to go one-on-one in drills with the vets vs. rookies, my money's on the vets. Then you have to ask if the rookies can be better by the end of the season or if their enthusiasm and energy now can help you win. Or is it the vets' poise and experience?
You probably want a mixture, but what's the right mix? You can look at this so many different ways.
Hit Somebody!!!
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:24pm
Keep one, let one go.
Blake Sebring
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:27pm
It's funny that sometimes you can get different vibes depending on whom you talk to on the team. One person might give the impression they want to go one way, and another the other. All I can tell you is they are talking about these decisions a lot more than they have in a long time. There's a lot of talks going on in the front office, too, not just here. This isn't just a thing where they are trying to drag it out to increase the tension. They desperately want to get it right.
JR1
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:27pm
Well, you already have experienced guys who are 'shoe ins' like Chaulk, Bennefield, Smith, Milam, DeAngelis, Chaumont, Shcrock, etc... and you mix in those young guys and that looks like a good recipe for wins to me...
Add too many vets in and it can be like too mauch salt, in that it can kill the recipe and you have to start all over...
Can the Komets afford to start all over come January i they add too much salt now?
JR1
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:30pm
I keep LaPointe (defense, yes you have to play that too...lol), cut Leo and Drouin...find a replacement for Warner by November....
I think DeAngelis could be so much better if he werent covering for his D-partner all the time...
Blake Sebring
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:32pm
After last year's start? No.
Again, if you go all rookies, you are hoping they produce based on what? Potential and maybe your gut feeling. If you go with veterans, they actually have produced in the past. and they won championships for you. They did not always produce last year, though, and you have to ask if they are done, then. The way they look in practice...
All that has to be considered. It's a great problem to have. It really is. That's why they get paid the big bucks.
Blake Sebring
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:33pm
Well, it's time for me to write another story and start heading to bed. Thanks for all the great questions. Don't know if we solved anything, but this was a lot of fun.
JR1
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:37pm
Well, I guess if these young guys have been burying thier chances in practice, as you have reported, then they should be able to bury them in the regular season...
We shall see (or not maybe...) I guess....
Mr Snufflupugus
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 9:54pm
Blake thanks for taking some of your very busy time to do this. Get some rest sir!
orange_koolaid
Tue, 10/18/2011 - 11:18pm
Just think how nasty this blog would have been if it were up in the mid to late 90's. I liked the team last year and now this team is much improved this year. Were very fortunate to have the draw for good teams and talent year in and year out. The 3 gentleman on your roster wouldnt be here at all if we didnt have a franchise at all. But then again, how boring would discussion be if all we talked about was puppies and kitties? I appreciate Hit and mightbite too. Without them, we wouldnt know our weaknesses.
Hit Somebody!!!
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 1:30am
I actually feel alot stupider for reading that last post. Thanks O_K. You sure know how to dumb things down.
Boone
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 5:46am
From what i remember of Later, he skates just fine. moves the puck very well for a big guy. and i wouldnt be so fast at saying warner is better at moving the puck then Later. just IMO...
Frowdawg
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 7:42am
Blake,
Do you have any thoughts on who will win the CHL this year ?
RunningKomet
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 8:58am
The Komets. Next question?
Blake Sebring
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 9:04am
I really don't, Frowdawg. Everything changes so much so early with rosters you can't get a real feel for things until New Year's Eve at the earliest. I do think the number of established, recognizeable names across the league is down this year. Does that mean the talent level is down? I don't know.
Because of all my other duties, a lot of the fans are much more up on things around the league than I am. They might be a better idea.
Frowdawg
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 9:06am
Some how I knew that would be the answer. The league seems to have a lot of talent this year. I think there will be several teams that will compete for the cup. Next question would be " Who will be in the finals" ?
Mr Snufflupugus
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 10:21am
So hard to predict. I may be wrong (rarely rarely happens) but it seemed like roster turnover across this league last year was higher than I remember in both the IHL and UHL. If I had time I'd research total number of players used by each team last year and average them out against prior seasons. And with fewer teams and more players out there now you have to wonder how quickly teams will pull the trigger on a roster move rather than try and ride things out with what they have.
Frowdawg
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 10:34am
It is hard to predict. It looks to me like Missouri will be loaded with offensive power. Of course Ft. Wayne looks strong as always. Rapid City seems to have put together a nice looking team. Allen will be strong as they usually are. The season looks very interesting.
Blake Sebring
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 11:12am
I would say it's going to be the two teams that win the semifinals. Ba da bump! I'll be here all week!
Allen against either RC or FW. Wouldn't that be a fun series?
Frowdawg
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 1:01pm
That would be a fun series to watch. I'm not counting out Missouri though,they could be a sleeper in all of this.
kyle hunt
Thu, 10/20/2011 - 5:28am
pickin winners brfore a game has even been played? crazy talk.
Comments
This year they have had some legitimate talent in camp to push the incumbents and I am afraid that they will let that young talent slip through their fingers by staying with what's 'comfy' (so to speak...).
Like I said, I don't think they are done adding to the roster. I think they are going to keep looking over the next couple of weeks/month. Just because somebody may have the team made this week doesn't mean he'll have it made next week.
Well, we're what, three days away from the season and we're still not sure who's staying or going and there is legitimate discussion/debate about it? I'd say that a fantastic training camp. Who knew about Rizk, Molle 2, Tom Mele, Thorne, Llewellyn, Chaumont, Auger, Starenky? Do you want the best players or do you just want the ones you don't like to be gone? I think that answer is obvious. Well, you can't afford to run a team that way.
I don't think the fans/bloggers or even I have anything to say about it. They could care less what we think. They have to be above that stuff.
Again, in the big picture we're all irrelevant. Even if they don't get rid of whoever, you'll still go to games. Until you don't, there's not much to say. You can't run a business reacting to everything the customers saying or you'd never get anything done. Sorry, but that's the truth.
I. DON'T. KNOW. WHAT. THEY. ARE. GOING. TO. DO. I'm as interested as everyone to see what happens.
You had larger rosters then, Snuff. Now you have a 19-man roster and with this schedule, you can't afford those type of players. Projects won't cut it any more.
Who are the best players?
Some of these established guys sure as heck didnt play like the best players out there and except for talk, there is nothing to prove that they will be the better players this season...
I think the book is out on the bubble vets just as much as they are with the rookies this season...
One guy will be playing Saturday who didnt make the post season roster and another guy who was on the playoff roster bubble last season will probably be joining him... And by all accounts, this seasons roster is much more talented than last seasons (on paper)....
I guess some of us are just more eager for change than others...
For one thing, it would have to be a forward playing in that 10th spot. Then you'd have a bunch of people screaming because you don't have the designated thug there.
Exactly, JR. I agree completely, which is why I wrote that Monday. Until they get into real games, you're just guessing on the rookies, and you better guess right because if they don't play well, you'll have a bunch of people on here second-guessing whichever decisions you made. It's a great discussion to have right now since we don't actually have to make the decisions. Definitely the most interesting training camp in a long time.
If you had to go one-on-one in drills with the vets vs. rookies, my money's on the vets. Then you have to ask if the rookies can be better by the end of the season or if their enthusiasm and energy now can help you win. Or is it the vets' poise and experience?
You probably want a mixture, but what's the right mix? You can look at this so many different ways.
Keep one, let one go.
It's funny that sometimes you can get different vibes depending on whom you talk to on the team. One person might give the impression they want to go one way, and another the other. All I can tell you is they are talking about these decisions a lot more than they have in a long time. There's a lot of talks going on in the front office, too, not just here. This isn't just a thing where they are trying to drag it out to increase the tension. They desperately want to get it right.
Well, you already have experienced guys who are 'shoe ins' like Chaulk, Bennefield, Smith, Milam, DeAngelis, Chaumont, Shcrock, etc... and you mix in those young guys and that looks like a good recipe for wins to me...
Add too many vets in and it can be like too mauch salt, in that it can kill the recipe and you have to start all over...
Can the Komets afford to start all over come January i they add too much salt now?
I keep LaPointe (defense, yes you have to play that too...lol), cut Leo and Drouin...find a replacement for Warner by November....
I think DeAngelis could be so much better if he werent covering for his D-partner all the time...
After last year's start? No.
Again, if you go all rookies, you are hoping they produce based on what? Potential and maybe your gut feeling. If you go with veterans, they actually have produced in the past. and they won championships for you. They did not always produce last year, though, and you have to ask if they are done, then. The way they look in practice...
All that has to be considered. It's a great problem to have. It really is. That's why they get paid the big bucks.
Well, it's time for me to write another story and start heading to bed. Thanks for all the great questions. Don't know if we solved anything, but this was a lot of fun.
Well, I guess if these young guys have been burying thier chances in practice, as you have reported, then they should be able to bury them in the regular season...
We shall see (or not maybe...) I guess....
Blake thanks for taking some of your very busy time to do this. Get some rest sir!
Just think how nasty this blog would have been if it were up in the mid to late 90's. I liked the team last year and now this team is much improved this year. Were very fortunate to have the draw for good teams and talent year in and year out. The 3 gentleman on your roster wouldnt be here at all if we didnt have a franchise at all. But then again, how boring would discussion be if all we talked about was puppies and kitties? I appreciate Hit and mightbite too. Without them, we wouldnt know our weaknesses.
I actually feel alot stupider for reading that last post. Thanks O_K. You sure know how to dumb things down.
From what i remember of Later, he skates just fine. moves the puck very well for a big guy. and i wouldnt be so fast at saying warner is better at moving the puck then Later. just IMO...
Blake,
Do you have any thoughts on who will win the CHL this year ?
The Komets. Next question?
I really don't, Frowdawg. Everything changes so much so early with rosters you can't get a real feel for things until New Year's Eve at the earliest. I do think the number of established, recognizeable names across the league is down this year. Does that mean the talent level is down? I don't know.
Because of all my other duties, a lot of the fans are much more up on things around the league than I am. They might be a better idea.
Some how I knew that would be the answer. The league seems to have a lot of talent this year. I think there will be several teams that will compete for the cup. Next question would be " Who will be in the finals" ?
So hard to predict. I may be wrong (rarely rarely happens) but it seemed like roster turnover across this league last year was higher than I remember in both the IHL and UHL. If I had time I'd research total number of players used by each team last year and average them out against prior seasons. And with fewer teams and more players out there now you have to wonder how quickly teams will pull the trigger on a roster move rather than try and ride things out with what they have.
It is hard to predict. It looks to me like Missouri will be loaded with offensive power. Of course Ft. Wayne looks strong as always. Rapid City seems to have put together a nice looking team. Allen will be strong as they usually are. The season looks very interesting.
I would say it's going to be the two teams that win the semifinals. Ba da bump! I'll be here all week!
Allen against either RC or FW. Wouldn't that be a fun series?
That would be a fun series to watch. I'm not counting out Missouri though,they could be a sleeper in all of this.
pickin winners brfore a game has even been played? crazy talk.