Originally Posted by
lethbridgefan83
On the Goalie Side add Sacher to the 20 YO list.
If Walters Sticks with Columbus then we have our 3 20 YO. Although IMHO we once again do not have that strong of a 20 YO core. Bell is average, Sacher is also average (and will see lots of rubber again this year I am sure, so even if he played well his stats wont be that great). Sheen could be a bit of an impact player, I could see him get 60-70 pts in a full campaign.
On the Forward Side I would think that Wong/Estephan/Cooper/Duke/Watson/Sheen/Folk are locks. Holub/Alldridge/Amson/Nemeth/White and the 2 Russians are maybes, just because the Russians come here do not mean they will stick, that has happened lots in the past where the imports have not made it out of Training Camp.
On Defense you have Bell or Walters depending on Walters Tryout (I don't see us keeping both and releasing Sheen or Sacher). Foulk/Erkamps/Hackman/Sayers I would think are locks and Jensen probably hangs around as a 6th guy unless a trade is made.
Between the pipes I would say this possibly could be wide open. Sacher has never shouldered a starting positions games in the Dub so its possible that he doesn't this year either. Skinner was decent as a 15 YO facing tough circumstances last year. Hogue as much as I hate to be negative towards a local kid who has lived the "dream" probably either needs a fresh start or needs to be put in a better position to win (facing 50 shots a game with a suspect defense probably was not the situation he needed to be in for further development and being a 18 YO this needs to be a season for him to figure out where he goes in Hockey from here). Myles had alright stats in Kamloops, so maybe a Myles/Hogue situation might be what we are looking at here with an attempt to bring in another 20 YO up top..
All in all I do not see a Playoff Team here... We still do not have a proven impact player up front that can carry this team. Duke/Sheen are probably going to have to carry the load of scoring, Watson might be able to pitch in, but I don't think he is a 60 point guy either. The rest are really a supporting cast of 3rd and 4th liners who will be expected to elevate their games to be top 6 guys. Even at that some of the guys who will play Top 6 minutes probably are not guys who would play Top 6 minutes anywhere else. Our Defense once again looks Suspect and I would see our Keepers getting treated for rubber poisoning a couple times a week. In terms of our Keepers its really tough to say, if my calculations are right our Goalies saw an average of 44 shots per game, the SV% wasnt there either, but I don't imagine many NHL keepers see that kind of action night in and night out either..
With the current squad will we be better 29pts this year, probably.. Will we compete for a playoff spot. I doubt it.
Our GM had a huge opportunity to get some WHL ready kids from other teams when we had all the draft picks, but we proved once again that we are incapable of trying to shake up the roster. We seem to be pretty content with letting kids like Wong/Duke/Watson/Erkamps/Hackman etc drown here.
Nothing has proven this group can get it done, and I really dont see that changing..
I would think that the first order of business should be to get the unsigned draft picks on board? Peter Anholt will get this ship headed straight into the wind, much of the success this year will depend on some decisions that need to be made this summer, i.e. assistant coach, coaching philosophy with a strong commitment to teaching young players and creating a new culture that will allow this team to at least compete? There needs to be a major shake up within the roster and we need to get bigger, stronger and faster! Erkamps (in my opinion) cannot afford to play another season here under the current coach if he has any aspirations of moving his career to the next level, plain and simple, he needs a change. We need a better 20 goalie than Sacher and Skinner needs to Play 20 to 25 games this season! (Sorry Johnny, nothing personal) I can't see both of the new Euro players sticking and there will be a great Euro that will come out of Brandon (Nejcleb) if the NYR don't sign him this summer? He's big, strong and mean, only problem is he will be a 2 spotter as he is a 94. Walters has a great opportunity to get a pro contract done with Columbus as their depth on D is shallow, so it will be interesting to see how that shakes out? If he does get returned it would have to be doubtful that he will still be on the Canes roster come the 20 deadline as Robson would be foolish to not turn him into a couple of younger players or draft picks, he goes to a contender is my predict? All in all, Anholt will provide a big catalyst for change within many of the current ranks and the very future and success of Robson will depend largely on whether he listens to the experience of Peter Anholt, if he chooses not to, could be Robson out with Anholt getting the big chair? LOL Considering that this team is no where remotely close to contending or making the playoffs this season, there is much room to make very meaningful changes to this roster? All things considered, this season will be pivotal for this franchise at all levels, to say the very least!!!
Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not. But, we will all be judged by only one thing, the result. - Vincent Lombardy
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