Training Camp/Exhibition

[chopper]

Well folks the exhibition season is over; what does everyone think? For me personally I feel most of the various previous comments still are a pretty accurate reflection of where we are and what we are. The commentary on the various players is pretty much accurate and little has changed. Regarding rookies outside of Sedov nobody really emerged as a special player out of this pre-season. Of the vets Pratt had a pretty good pre-season but as a 19 year old that was pretty much expected and needed. Nijhoff seemed to get better with each game. Of course without Henry, Lescyshyn, Paddock, Homes and Fleury the complete package is hard to guess, however the supporting crew is thinner than I had hoped. Young Morriseau who was supposed to start his emergence really hasn't done anything with 0 points. I do believe that Dubinsky would have factored in a bit of scoring had he been able to play. It will be much harder for him to catch up without a training camp. Henry and Lescyshyn found that out last year.

The OA's are looking like it will be three d-men. Fleury remains at Montreal's camp and his contract status at this moment is an open question. Platt is reported to possibly be headed towards the Cougars.

Paddock is our obvious #1 goalie but the #2 job is still in the air in my mind. Woodside and Pesenti have both had some moments but have also been very "leaky" and neither has been really impressive. Dumba has probably been the best of the bunch but his birth certificate is going to work against him.

The forwards after Jake and Nick are very intriguing. The group we have now will likley be what's left and has to carry the team past the finish line after Jan 10th. Albeit they will have more experience by mid season.

A veteran d-corps and quality goalie can carry you a long way however as was pointed out; keeping too many older d-men at this juncture of the (rebuild aka reload) could definitely hamper the development of the quality young d-men we have coming on-stream.

NOTE: Gavlas gets 6 games for a head shot. Not defending him but it seems excessive considering he's had no trouble with league and isn't a known head-hunter. Unless the hit was extremely egregious against Patterson to where he's out a very long time, I question the penalty. I've seen guys near decapitate our kids and not even a penalty called or at worst 2 or 3 games results from it. We all remember the 1 game suspension Ottenbriet gets for his head shot on Wagner two years ago in the league final. Knowing the leagues history of gratuitous punishment against the Pats, it doesn't surprise me. I've seen this BS for many decades now under Deorksen and crew.

[witness]

Well folks the exhibition season is over; what does everyone think? For me personally I feel most of the various previous comments still are a pretty accurate reflection of where we are and what we are. The commentary on the various players is pretty much accurate and little has changed. Regarding rookies outside of Sedov nobody really emerged as a special player out of this pre-season. Of the vets Pratt had a pretty good pre-season but as a 19 year old that was pretty much expected and needed. Nijhoff seemed to get better with each game. Of course without Henry, Lescyshyn, Paddock, Homes and Fleury the complete package is hard to guess, however the supporting crew is thinner than I had hoped. Young Morriseau who was supposed to start his emergence really hasn't done anything with 0 points. I do believe that Dubinsky would have factored in a bit of scoring had he been able to play. It will be much harder for him to catch up without a training camp. Henry and Lescyshyn found that out last year.

The OA's are looking like it will be three d-men. Fleury remains at Montreal's camp and his contract status at this moment is an open question. Platt is reported to possibly be headed towards the Cougars.

Paddock is our obvious #1 goalie but the #2 job is still in the air in my mind. Woodside and Pesenti have both had some moments but have also been very "leaky" and neither has been really impressive. Dumba has probably been the best of the bunch but his birth certificate is going to work against him.

The forwards after Jake and Nick are very intriguing. The group we have now will likley be what's left and has to carry the team past the finish line after Jan 10th. Albeit they will have more experience by mid season.

A veteran d-corps and quality goalie can carry you a long way however as was pointed out; keeping too many older d-men at this juncture of the (rebuild aka reload) could definitely hamper the development of the quality young d-men we have coming on-stream.

NOTE: Gavlas gets 6 games for a head shot. Not defending him but it seems excessive considering he's had no trouble with league and isn't a known head-hunter. Unless the hit was extremely egregious against Patterson to where he's out a very long time, I question the penalty. I've seen guys near decapitate our kids and not even a penalty called or at worst 2 or 3 games results from it. We all remember the 1 game suspension Ottenbriet gets for his head shot on Wagner two years ago in the league final. Knowing the leagues history of gratuitous punishment against the Pats, it doesn't surprise me. I've seen this BS for many decades now under Deorksen and crew.

Nick and Jake (and to some extent, Holmes) are going to have to carry this team. People forget that a healthy Henry had 30+ goals as a 17 year old. He needs to re establish that scoring touch. Jake needs to be more productive in the offensive end. Can Holmes score 20?

Paddock is no longer on the Sharks roster. Does that mean he is back in Regina? He was impressive enough to get an invite to the main camp and has lasted longer than some of the drafted players. Good for him, but the adjustment back to the WHL is more difficult for goalies than skaters.

If Fluery comes back, that is great. He is by far the best 20 that the Pats will have available to them.

I have no problem with the Gavlas suspension. Head shots should not be tolerated under any circumstance. That bar has been set, now let’s see if the league can be consistent.

[Reider]

People forget that a healthy Henry had 30+ goals as a 17 year old. He needs to re establish that scoring touch. Jake needs to be more productive in the offensive end. Can Holmes score 20?

People forgot a lot of things.

1. That Henry was on a line with Steel and Leedahl that year.
2. The Pats had another dynamite line of Wagner-Brooks-Ahl that year.
3. The Pats had really good depth that year. Especially before the trade deadline. Teams couldn't focus all of their attention on one line.

With Holmes-Leschyshyn-Henry being the top line this year without another strong line behind them, they're going to have to produce and it'll be interesting to see how well they do now that they are in this position. Leschyshyn is not a 50+ goal scorer, but he is a good skater and a really good player otherwise. Henry is Henry. His line was outstanding in a couple of games at the Memorial Cup last year and he can score. We learned last year that Holmes is no Dawson Leedahl, but now that he's another year older, he needs to take another step forward. I can see their line having a decent to good first half of the season if all three of them come out flying and their line has good chemistry. Each of those three players bring their own unique skill set, which has the potential to be a recipe for success. The unfortunate part about this season is that the Pats will be sellers so Leschyshyn, Henry and Fleury etc.. should not be wearing a Pats uniform after Jan 10th, 2019.