Well, the Hurricanes 2010-2011 season is in the books and it most certainly wasn't what this organization had hoped for.The hockey club has now missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. The Canes' have a combined win total over the last two seasons of 43 and as Fred mentioned on the broadcast on Friday night, these last two seasons will go down as the two toughest for this team in back-to-back years. The first time the Hurricanes managed only 20 wins, they followed that up the next year with 27 victories.
It'll be interesting to see just what the off-season holds for the Hurricanes. Will there be any trades made? What does the team do when it comes to Euros next season? What will happen at the 2011 Bantam draft? How many rookies will be on this team in the fall? Will they be a younger team? Lots of questions no doubt. Rich Preston and his hockey management staff will no question have to look at things closely as they prepare for training camp in September. Not making the post-season again is clearly a disappointment.
No question discipline was a big issue for the Hurricanes this season. It was much better in the last quarter of the year, but cutting back on the penalties must be a priority. For the most part, the team's penalty kill was consistently in the middle of the pack for most the season, but the power play struggled from the get-go. Most hockey games nowadays are decided on specialty teams. That must be better when the puck drops on the 2011-2012 campaign in six months.
On a positive note, some players are coming off career years. There were a few very good individual performances I think. Cam Braes, Austin Fyten, and Brody Sutter all had excellent seasons. Braes lead the team in scoring while Fyten averaged over a point per game even though he missed more than six weeks with injury. Sutter only played 46 games and missed a good portion of the season with injury too, but put up some very good numbers. Russ Maxwell was quite good I thought too as the only 16 year old to make this team. Jacob Berglund was very consistent down the stretch as well. I liked Michael Sofillas too. He didn't put up big numbers, but he was good in the face off circle and played a regular shift each game. Those are just six players that come to mind as having standout seasons.
On our last Hurricanes This Week program of the season tonight we will go over this past season for the Hurricanes and try and answer some of those questions with the Media Roundtable. Paul Kingsmith from Global TV and Dylan Purcell from the Lethbridge Herald with join Fred and I in-studio to discuss the season. The show starts at 6:00 pm (MDT) on 94.1, CJOC.
Thanks,
Pat
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Great job this year Pat thanks for all your insight....another standout I thought was Dan Johnston on Defence especially in the second half of the year. I thought he was clearly the best D man. It will be interesting to see if he gets drafted. If Braes, Fyten and Sutter all come back we could have the best 20 year olds in the league next year and with some of the prospects we have coming up, plus maybe a trade or two for a 5/6 forward we could have a very interesting team. Probably a younger, smaller but a more skilled team up front which is the way the league is going.
ReplyDeleteIt will be an exciting year next year with the arena renovations being completed...this year was kind of like the arena...under construction.....TD
Great job this year Pat. You and Fred make an excellent team. I am looking forward to next year. J & J should anchor the defence quite well with another year under their belts. Sutter, Braes and Fyten will be a dynamic first line if they are healthy.
ReplyDeleteTD is right this was a year of construction. Go Canes Go.
I can't wait to see you work your magic again tonight, Pat.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Dylan
PS, make sure to wear your wedding band tonight, Pat. :)
That last post didn't actually come from me. Although it's funny, it is someone trying to appropriate my identity
ReplyDelete-- Dylan (who hitched a ride to the station with Paul and was wearing a purple shirt, in case you need confirmation)
re: Hurricanes This Week
ReplyDeleteThe media men discussed the problems that resulted in the Hurricane demise this season. The question is, WHY did the team struggle with these issues? As Kingsmith said, why were these problems not addressed and changed.....ALL BOILS DOWN TO POOR COACHING---plain and simple.....
In a comment Dylan writes that it is only the 2nd year of Preston's position with the team and next year is the time to judge.......disagree.....the team cannot have another year like the past 2......besides, what points to improvement next season? It is not only the Canes' final standing; the issue is the way the team has played and the dismal showing that has resulted.
Pat's interview with Preston: very disappointing comments by Preston.....doesn't give the impression that he thinks it was a bad season for his team....what standards and expectations does he have?
I disagree somewhat with Anon comment as the issue was not all coaching this year but I agree with some comments I read about needing a new assistant coach. This team could not score goals and had a big drop in skill level from their top 6 forwards to their bottom 6 forwards and their top 3 D men to their bottom 3 D men. In addition two out of their 3 20 year olds probably wouldn't have made any other team in the league. I think the issue was the strategy from the beginning of wanting to make the playoffs so badly this year. Which meant he relied on older less skilled guys instead of throwing some of their 16 year old prospects in the mix and giving them a year of development under their belt. The staff thinks 16 year olds will develop in Midget AAA ...I disagree for top end kids. It will take the first 3 months of next season to undo all the bad defensive habits they learned in Midget AAA. Teams like Saskatoon and Portland had more than 2 rough years before they got good again and with the prospects the Canes have the future is positive...but they need to change out the assistant coaches and get guys who can work with young players.
ReplyDelete8:30 am, You are dead on with your comments ,you my friend could be a better gm and the team should consider hiring you! ( and that is not me being sarcastic) the biggest mistake this team made this year was keeping alot off the older guys on the team and a few guys who clearly in there second year still arent putting up numbers ie: 2-3 or 4 goals being second years,clearly preston is old school and he should have got his skilled 16 year olds in the lineup this year to be groomed, if you lookedaround the leauge most teams had aot more than 1 16 year old in there lineup! hopefully this hasnt soured some off these young guns to want trades ect, or go a different route, i sure hope someone gets it right next year!
ReplyDeleteIn reading a post on a fan forum by the poster Hurricane Rock, I tend to agree with him. Rich and Matt have to go as coaches. They have had basically the same team the last 2 years and have shown very little or no improvement or developement. As for the top post, Braes, Fyten and Sutter will be hoping for opportunities so they don't have to come back. I think we will be lucky to get one of them back.
ReplyDeleteOne thing is clear, and it was agreed to by the panel last night. I said via email, that the WHL is a development league and with Preston talking about 6-8 new faces in the lineup that means the club will be younger and the new young players will need to be played a lot in order to develop. Coaching will have to allow for the players to play a lot and learn from their mistakes. If they don't get to play a lot, and ride the pine like Ramsay, Tarnasky, and Moser; then viola, no development. Based on what we have witnessed over the course of the past season, Preston will have to have a change in coaching philosophy.
ReplyDeleteA younger,more in-tune coach likely from the assistant ranks of the WHL that has worked for a top franchise and coach, would be the way to go.
This will be Preston's third season, it will make or break him as a GM/Coach. Saving his job will likely mean giving up one of his jobs.
RJS
Hey Pat....any chance you let the posters make their predictions for the WHL playoffs?
You bet RJS. On Thursday the posters can have at it. I'll post a playoff preview Thursday morning and whoever wants can comment.
ReplyDeletePat, i have never heard you make a prediction before or get off the fence on an issue. you protect the hockey club at every opportunity. Last year fred posted predictions before each playoff round and that was good, cause it gave us something to banter about. how come pat you never took a stance on this teams year last night? why always the safe road. at least dylan and fred along with paul to a lesser degree offered opinions and took positions. try it some time pat, it will help you out in the hockey community.
ReplyDeleteTo Anon at 6:04. Pat is in a difficult position when it comes to making negative remarks about the Canes. He literally has to eat sleep and breath with the coaches and the players on all the road trips. Think about it and put yourself in Pat's shoes. Would you tell Preston he sucks as a coach and then want sit with him on the bus to Brandon for 10 hours? I don't think so. It's called diplomacy. To do elsewise would be idiocy.
ReplyDeleteI think Pat does the smart thing by keeping his comments to himself. The other 3 guys have a hell of a lot more freedom to express their opinions.