nivek_wahs
03-19-2007, 06:51 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=530f3fbe-ae67-485e-a438-11235a85d514
Foundation for Blades' future laid
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, March 19, 2007
For the fifth time in 11 years, the Saskatoon Blades have failed to make the playoffs. In four of the six years they qualified, they were eliminated in the first round. Twice, including last year, they got to the second round only to be blown out in four straight games.
For a club that is a cornerstone of the Western Hockey League, that is downright dismal. With few exceptions, the club's 40-year history is one of huge disappointment when it comes to playoff hockey. The Blades are usually pretenders, seldom contenders.
In terms of wins and losses, this was another season of frustration and disappointment. They had only 27 victories.
But for the first time in years, the Blades got it right.
General manager and coach Lorne Molleken got the effort and results he could reasonably expect from a youthful and largely untested group. The fact they didn't get to the playoffs is not surprising. What is surprising is that the Blades weren't eliminated until the 71st game of the 72-game schedule.
Three seasons back, Molleken knew it would come to a year like this. Owner Jack Brodsky had signed him to a five-year deal to right the wrongs. It took until this season to implement the plan.
When Molleken arrived at the start of the 2004-05 season, he played the cards he was dealt. Returning to the WHL after coaching in the NHL, he had to get a feel for the team and assess Saskatoon's scouting system, which seemingly missed the boat when it came to putting talent and heart together.
A year ago, he expected the veterans -- Devin Setoguchi, Wacey Rabbit and Joe Barnes in particular -- would be the sparkplugs to ignite a playoff run. He gave them a supporting cast in a whopping seven-player deal at the WHL trade deadline.
But after an expected playoff series win against Regina, the Blades were demolished by Medicine Hat. They competed like they were beaten even before the puck was dropped in Game 1. Molleken knew then the Blades had to regroup, from the bottom up.
He traded Setoguchi and Rabbit for futures and fashioned one of the youngest teams in the 21-team league. This season, he went with three 20-year-olds and not one 19-year-old. He started the season with four 16-year-olds, the maximum allowed, and made them building blocks for the future.
He said the goal was to make the playoffs and the team battled hard to reach that goal.
The club received solid efforts most nights. The kids played with pride and determination. They didn't always play great hockey, or give a consistent effort, but they never quit.
Look at where the Blades started on Sept. 22 and where they ended up. The results suggest Molleken is on the right path.
Despite just eight wins in their first 30 games, Molleken stuck with the core of the team. There were no wholesale trades, no panic button being pushed.
During the next 30 games, the Blades won 15. While nobody in the league ran away from them in the standings, Saskatoon couldn't gain ground on any team.
Injuries on defence hurt. Rookie Teigan Zahn missed half a season with a broken jaw. Czech import Bohdan Visnak missed the last third of the season with a shoulder separation. Ryan Funk, 17, played just the first third of the schedule before being sidelined. Mike Clements, 16, was sent home at Christmas. Despite Clements's obvious desire, the physical play was too demanding.
The Blades were so depleted on the blue-line they called up virtually anyone on their list to fill in. Even that wasn't enough. They played some games with just three regular defencemen. To expect them to win against veteran opponents was asking too much.
While most fans appeared to be pleased with what they saw, there is a caveat. Next season has to be better. Two years from now, this has to be a team to be feared.
In two years, Molleken's five-year contract is up. By that time, the fortunes of the Blades should be noticeably on the upswing. If the program unfolds according to plan, Saskatoon players won't be watching playoffs from afar come April.
The changes Molleken implemented this season give reason to believe the groundwork has been done.
Tomorrow: A look at what's shaping up for the Blades in 2007-08.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007
Foundation for Blades' future laid
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, March 19, 2007
For the fifth time in 11 years, the Saskatoon Blades have failed to make the playoffs. In four of the six years they qualified, they were eliminated in the first round. Twice, including last year, they got to the second round only to be blown out in four straight games.
For a club that is a cornerstone of the Western Hockey League, that is downright dismal. With few exceptions, the club's 40-year history is one of huge disappointment when it comes to playoff hockey. The Blades are usually pretenders, seldom contenders.
In terms of wins and losses, this was another season of frustration and disappointment. They had only 27 victories.
But for the first time in years, the Blades got it right.
General manager and coach Lorne Molleken got the effort and results he could reasonably expect from a youthful and largely untested group. The fact they didn't get to the playoffs is not surprising. What is surprising is that the Blades weren't eliminated until the 71st game of the 72-game schedule.
Three seasons back, Molleken knew it would come to a year like this. Owner Jack Brodsky had signed him to a five-year deal to right the wrongs. It took until this season to implement the plan.
When Molleken arrived at the start of the 2004-05 season, he played the cards he was dealt. Returning to the WHL after coaching in the NHL, he had to get a feel for the team and assess Saskatoon's scouting system, which seemingly missed the boat when it came to putting talent and heart together.
A year ago, he expected the veterans -- Devin Setoguchi, Wacey Rabbit and Joe Barnes in particular -- would be the sparkplugs to ignite a playoff run. He gave them a supporting cast in a whopping seven-player deal at the WHL trade deadline.
But after an expected playoff series win against Regina, the Blades were demolished by Medicine Hat. They competed like they were beaten even before the puck was dropped in Game 1. Molleken knew then the Blades had to regroup, from the bottom up.
He traded Setoguchi and Rabbit for futures and fashioned one of the youngest teams in the 21-team league. This season, he went with three 20-year-olds and not one 19-year-old. He started the season with four 16-year-olds, the maximum allowed, and made them building blocks for the future.
He said the goal was to make the playoffs and the team battled hard to reach that goal.
The club received solid efforts most nights. The kids played with pride and determination. They didn't always play great hockey, or give a consistent effort, but they never quit.
Look at where the Blades started on Sept. 22 and where they ended up. The results suggest Molleken is on the right path.
Despite just eight wins in their first 30 games, Molleken stuck with the core of the team. There were no wholesale trades, no panic button being pushed.
During the next 30 games, the Blades won 15. While nobody in the league ran away from them in the standings, Saskatoon couldn't gain ground on any team.
Injuries on defence hurt. Rookie Teigan Zahn missed half a season with a broken jaw. Czech import Bohdan Visnak missed the last third of the season with a shoulder separation. Ryan Funk, 17, played just the first third of the schedule before being sidelined. Mike Clements, 16, was sent home at Christmas. Despite Clements's obvious desire, the physical play was too demanding.
The Blades were so depleted on the blue-line they called up virtually anyone on their list to fill in. Even that wasn't enough. They played some games with just three regular defencemen. To expect them to win against veteran opponents was asking too much.
While most fans appeared to be pleased with what they saw, there is a caveat. Next season has to be better. Two years from now, this has to be a team to be feared.
In two years, Molleken's five-year contract is up. By that time, the fortunes of the Blades should be noticeably on the upswing. If the program unfolds according to plan, Saskatoon players won't be watching playoffs from afar come April.
The changes Molleken implemented this season give reason to believe the groundwork has been done.
Tomorrow: A look at what's shaping up for the Blades in 2007-08.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007