nivek_wahs
03-20-2007, 03:21 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=28bb2a94-1bf3-482a-b6e9-697d1fa522bc
Young Blades must show improvement
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades were the youngest club in the WHL this season. They purposely went with a youth movement as a stepping stone to what they hope will be a top echelon club as early as the 2008-09 season.
The plan, when head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken cleaned house last summer -- trading veterans for youth and experience for draft picks -- was to completely rebuild.
For that, they paid the price.
Rebuilding teams have to muster everything they're capable of, and get some luck, to make the playoffs. The Blades came close, closer than a lot of people expected, but not close enough.
That's in the past. Time to look ahead.
Expectations are not only for the club to show significant improvement next season and win upward of half of its games, but certainly to be competitive.
Next season, the Blades must make the playoffs and battle to the bitter end, however deep into the playoffs that might be.
Still, there are super-sized questions about the lineup and whether there is the right mix of talent to lift the team to the next level.
The Blades have 20 returning players, but not one who will be a 20-year-old. Eight players are 19, including seven forwards. None have shown themselves to be a proven scorer. Of that group, only Justin McCrae scored more than 10 goals.
With the loss of 20-year-olds Brad Cole and Joe Logan on defence, the club is going to be even younger on the blueline.
They could have two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds on defence. Of their two 18-year-olds, Ryan Funk remains a question mark after missing two-thirds of the season with a groin injury that might not heal for another year or two. That leaves Brett Ward, 19, as the veteran.
Their strength could be in their 18-year-olds, particularly left-winger Derek Hulak and centre Colton Gillies, who is going into his third year. The hitting game suits Gillies to a T, but with his size and strength, the Blades have to get considerably more points out of him.
Goaltending has the makings of being solid, perhaps even spectacular, with 18-year-olds Braden Holtby and Garrett Zemlak. Holtby shows flashes, but as a 17-year-old there were games he fought the puck. A bad goal seemed to unsettle him. While Zemlak got better and better after joining the team midway through the season, the Blades are still banking on Holtby to be their main man.
In net is where the first major battle of 2007-08 begins.
The Blades believe they have two outstanding 16-year-old goalies in the wings. Adam Morrison of Surrey, B.C., was impressive as a 15-year-old at training camp last fall. The club also likes Winnipeg's Matthew Krahn, who they added to their protected list. If either can show enough, a backup spot is there for the taking.
Defensively, the club has high hopes that rookie Steven Elliott can crack the lineup. The 16-year-old was obtained from Prince George when the Blades sent Devin Setoguchi to B.C. Elliott had a good AAA midget season in Vancouver this year and was chosen B.C. minor hockey player of the year two seasons back. In some circles, he was regarded as the best player in last year's draft.
Saskatoon's Mitch Berg ended up playing nine games as a 15-year-old. The Blades hope Big Berg -- he is 6-foot-3 -- improves his skating during the summer to the point where he can stick with the team to go along with Teigan Zahn, 17, whose broken jaw cost him a third of the 2006-07 season.
There is room for at least a couple of more 17-year-olds on defence, possibly Jared Friesen or Cameron Canart, who both played AAA midget in Manitoba. Mike Clements made the Blades squad coming out of training camp last fall, but was sent home before Christmas due to a shoulder injury.
Saskatoon's Colton MacPherson, who played with the Estevan Bruins of the SJHL, could make the squad as an 18- year-old. It's unlikely Czech import Bohdan Visnak will be invited back, so the Blades will look to the European market in hopes of finding a rearguard.
Up front, Curtis Hamilton, 16, had a great training camp last fall and a strong midget AAA showing this season, finishing with more than a point a game. He's about as sure a bet for a spot as any rookie. Travis Toomey, 6-foot-4, and Kevin Philp, 6-foot-7 -- both 17-year-olds -- will have serious shots at making the roster. Jordan Braid and Kirk Belyk, Saskatoon AAA midget graduates, have a chance to stick as 18-year-olds after getting call-up opportunities for five games this season.
The Blades are still going to be young. They're still going to have a nucleus of unproven faces. But youth will no longer be a reason for losing. Molleken may have to engineer a trade or two to find a solid, proven defenceman to anchor the team, as Brad Cole did this season. Still, it's expected the Blades will battle for top three in the East Division, possibly even top two.
Wherever they finish, a token run in the playoffs isn't palatable. If and when they get beat, it will have to be to a much better club. Fans have every right to expect a lot more -- consistently more -- than at any time in the past decade.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007
Young Blades must show improvement
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades were the youngest club in the WHL this season. They purposely went with a youth movement as a stepping stone to what they hope will be a top echelon club as early as the 2008-09 season.
The plan, when head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken cleaned house last summer -- trading veterans for youth and experience for draft picks -- was to completely rebuild.
For that, they paid the price.
Rebuilding teams have to muster everything they're capable of, and get some luck, to make the playoffs. The Blades came close, closer than a lot of people expected, but not close enough.
That's in the past. Time to look ahead.
Expectations are not only for the club to show significant improvement next season and win upward of half of its games, but certainly to be competitive.
Next season, the Blades must make the playoffs and battle to the bitter end, however deep into the playoffs that might be.
Still, there are super-sized questions about the lineup and whether there is the right mix of talent to lift the team to the next level.
The Blades have 20 returning players, but not one who will be a 20-year-old. Eight players are 19, including seven forwards. None have shown themselves to be a proven scorer. Of that group, only Justin McCrae scored more than 10 goals.
With the loss of 20-year-olds Brad Cole and Joe Logan on defence, the club is going to be even younger on the blueline.
They could have two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds on defence. Of their two 18-year-olds, Ryan Funk remains a question mark after missing two-thirds of the season with a groin injury that might not heal for another year or two. That leaves Brett Ward, 19, as the veteran.
Their strength could be in their 18-year-olds, particularly left-winger Derek Hulak and centre Colton Gillies, who is going into his third year. The hitting game suits Gillies to a T, but with his size and strength, the Blades have to get considerably more points out of him.
Goaltending has the makings of being solid, perhaps even spectacular, with 18-year-olds Braden Holtby and Garrett Zemlak. Holtby shows flashes, but as a 17-year-old there were games he fought the puck. A bad goal seemed to unsettle him. While Zemlak got better and better after joining the team midway through the season, the Blades are still banking on Holtby to be their main man.
In net is where the first major battle of 2007-08 begins.
The Blades believe they have two outstanding 16-year-old goalies in the wings. Adam Morrison of Surrey, B.C., was impressive as a 15-year-old at training camp last fall. The club also likes Winnipeg's Matthew Krahn, who they added to their protected list. If either can show enough, a backup spot is there for the taking.
Defensively, the club has high hopes that rookie Steven Elliott can crack the lineup. The 16-year-old was obtained from Prince George when the Blades sent Devin Setoguchi to B.C. Elliott had a good AAA midget season in Vancouver this year and was chosen B.C. minor hockey player of the year two seasons back. In some circles, he was regarded as the best player in last year's draft.
Saskatoon's Mitch Berg ended up playing nine games as a 15-year-old. The Blades hope Big Berg -- he is 6-foot-3 -- improves his skating during the summer to the point where he can stick with the team to go along with Teigan Zahn, 17, whose broken jaw cost him a third of the 2006-07 season.
There is room for at least a couple of more 17-year-olds on defence, possibly Jared Friesen or Cameron Canart, who both played AAA midget in Manitoba. Mike Clements made the Blades squad coming out of training camp last fall, but was sent home before Christmas due to a shoulder injury.
Saskatoon's Colton MacPherson, who played with the Estevan Bruins of the SJHL, could make the squad as an 18- year-old. It's unlikely Czech import Bohdan Visnak will be invited back, so the Blades will look to the European market in hopes of finding a rearguard.
Up front, Curtis Hamilton, 16, had a great training camp last fall and a strong midget AAA showing this season, finishing with more than a point a game. He's about as sure a bet for a spot as any rookie. Travis Toomey, 6-foot-4, and Kevin Philp, 6-foot-7 -- both 17-year-olds -- will have serious shots at making the roster. Jordan Braid and Kirk Belyk, Saskatoon AAA midget graduates, have a chance to stick as 18-year-olds after getting call-up opportunities for five games this season.
The Blades are still going to be young. They're still going to have a nucleus of unproven faces. But youth will no longer be a reason for losing. Molleken may have to engineer a trade or two to find a solid, proven defenceman to anchor the team, as Brad Cole did this season. Still, it's expected the Blades will battle for top three in the East Division, possibly even top two.
Wherever they finish, a token run in the playoffs isn't palatable. If and when they get beat, it will have to be to a much better club. Fans have every right to expect a lot more -- consistently more -- than at any time in the past decade.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007