Training Camp/Exhibition

[tommy_boy]

Is it just me or has there been little to no info on the Pats being put out by the LeaderPost and CTV?

[denim_dan]

With Brandon looking to go all-in this season and needing a right winger, I can see them going after local boy Nick Henry. What do you pats fans think is a fair return from Brandon? Brandon has a ton of high draft picks to play with. 1st, 2nd, and prospect/roster player (if player waives no trade) for henry?

[Pats7]

Goalie Thoughts
1- Obviously Max Paddock is the number one guy. Nothing more needs to be said here.
2- There cant be any way Kyle Dumba makes this team as a 20 year old backup. The Pats are likely doing him a solid by playing him in a few games in exhibition. I am not sure if he can go back or has to go back to his AJHL team from last year when he is released. The Pats are just giving him a showcase opportunity, I cant imagine that being a showcase for the WHL.
3-Back-up job--- With Pesenti hurt during training camp and Woodside showing some inconsistencies. I wondered if the Pats would try to acquire another goalie. I likely wouldn't, but they cant be overly comfortably with Pesenti/Woodside. After saying that, they both looked decent last night against a young team from Swift. I have not seen enough of Pesenti to say much more. As most young goalies do, Woodside is inconsistent. There were days at training camp and scrimmages that I figured he would land the back up job. Other scrimmages, I was left wondering if the backup tender was going to be an obvious glaring hole for the year. Both will be given every opportunity in the next 3 weeks to make this team. Who does everyone else think will land the job?

[Pats7]

Forward Thoughts
Guarantees- Pratt, Alkhimov, Leschyshyn, Gurney, Henry, Morrisseau, Mahovlich, Nijhoff, Holmes
20 Year Old- Platt.....I keep changing my mind, I am back to keeping 3 20 year old D.
Probable (for me anyways)- Massier, Dubinsky, Pierce
Bubble- Wright, Krane.......one of these could go each way.....maybe both stick if Dubinsky's injury lingers and Platt is released
Not until some older guys get dealt-- Sanders

**I actually thought there were more guys that needed cut before I started doing this.

[Pats7]

Final Roster Prediction- I missed last nights game, but have heard a bit of scuttlebutt recently that allows me to take a stab at the final roster. I heard that Platt is taking classes at the U of R with intentions of playing with the Cougars if things dont work out in the WHL. That tells me the Pats have likely communicated with him, allowing him to come up with a back up plan. Fleury is in Regina, recovering from a minor injury that he suffered in Montreal. Without a contract, he remains a Pat. Prediction....

Goaltenders
Paddock, Pesenti

Defence
Fleury (20)
Hyman (20)
Schioler (20) Pouteau (20) will replace one of the last 2 once he is healthy in October.
Sedov
Creta
Gavlas
Evans
McGinley
**That leaves the odd men out as Harkins, Zonnefeld. Instead of keeping 8 with a young McGinley, they could send him back for a while and keep Harkins. Then call up McGinley if they deal some older D or have injuries. I dont love that idea.

Forwards (in no order)
Leschysyn, Henry, Alkhimov, Nijhoff, Gurney, Morriseau, Mahovlich, Pratt, Homes, Krane, Pierce, Dubinsky, Wright, Massier,
**With Dubinsky still hurt, they dont really need to cut anyone except one (Sanders for me). Keep 14 and cycle the young guys through the order. If vets are traded at the deadline, all of these guys will get tons of playing time.

[witness]

Final Roster Prediction- I missed last nights game, but have heard a bit of scuttlebutt recently that allows me to take a stab at the final roster. I heard that Platt is taking classes at the U of R with intentions of playing with the Cougars if things dont work out in the WHL. That tells me the Pats have likely communicated with him, allowing him to come up with a back up plan. Fleury is in Regina, recovering from a minor injury that he suffered in Montreal. Without a contract, he remains a Pat. Prediction....

Goaltenders
Paddock, Pesenti

Defence
Fleury (20)
Hyman (20)
Schioler (20) Pouteau (20) will replace one of the last 2 once he is healthy in October.
Sedov
Creta
Gavlas
Evans
McGinley
**That leaves the odd men out as Harkins, Zonnefeld. Instead of keeping 8 with a young McGinley, they could send him back for a while and keep Harkins. Then call up McGinley if they deal some older D or have injuries. I dont love that idea.

Forwards (in no order)
Leschysyn, Henry, Alkhimov, Nijhoff, Gurney, Morriseau, Mahovlich, Pratt, Homes, Krane, Pierce, Dubinsky, Wright, Massier,
**With Dubinsky still hurt, they dont really need to cut anyone except one (Sanders for me). Keep 14 and cycle the young guys through the order. If vets are traded at the deadline, all of these guys will get tons of playing time.

Sanders was reassigned today.
I agree that Harkins might be the one to go on the backend. He just seems a step slow to me. I do really like Evans. Moves the puck well, jumps up into the play. Can he be physical enough in his own zone?

[Some_Arrogant_Jerk]

To be honest we are pretty bare up front... and there's no reason to believe any of these young guys will turn into a top 6 forward by Christmas when the play starts to pick up. To me, three OA dmen seems like a bad idea.

I know it's a rebuild year, a mem cup hangover at that, but we should consider bringing in an OA forward in the mould of Thomas Frazee or Boston Leier; an experienced leader type who hustles, could be leaned on during those long stretches(which we should anticipate), provides consistent production, takes the pressure off of hank and Jake(who are both new to lead roles and not really leaders yet), and ultimately can be another asset to move at the deadline at an inflated price.

It would cost a couple picks but we would get them back(with probably more). This whole year is about investing in the youth. They need leaders on and off the ice and should pick up the right kind of habits.

Besides, we need to be economic with our ice time on D. Since we dont plan on competiting for the memorial cup, why should we use up 3/4ths of our top 4 icetime to three overagers, and a guy like Gavlas who most likely won't be a 20 year old next season?

At a bare minimum, we need five D returning for next year. Preferably non OAs.

[Pats7]

I dont disagree with you "Jerk", keeping Platt does nothing for us either. There are teams that need d, so I wondered about a straight exchange of 20 year olds. My roster was just based on the current team.

Witness- I worry about Evans size too, but there is no point keeping a more physical dman (Harkins) that cant move the puck.

[chopper]

There are a lot of good thoughts out there. Any one or combination is likely to happen. This roster will change a lot during the next while and even more so on January 10th. At this point I think it's fairly certain that Platt likely won't get one of the OA spots. He's a good team guy but doesn't bring enough or impactful enough to use an OA spot on. While starting with three d-men as your OA's isn't the optimum way to go, it may have to be that way for a while.

Trying to swap an OA d-man for an impact OA forward could prove very difficult. There aren't many and their respective teams know that the best return for them will come at or near January 10th. Some of these teams also need their guys to be competitive or make a run for it. The few that might be available will be costly; perhaps the likes of Fleury and a high draft pick (but then will Fleury even be here?). From a purely selfish point of view I would love to see Fleury start this season with our team. Being a highly talented d-man would be a massive positive influence on our young d-men, at least until January 10th. I hope the report of him being in Regina with minor injury is accurate. It would be great for us. However the article in the LP today seems to suggest that he's in Montreal's training camp. It would be nice to know. A bit of question mark I guess!

I would agree that our forward group as a whole is bit thin. There are no sure bets (like Steel) and it appears the Pats are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. Outside of Henry and Lescyshyn there are no offensively proven forwards, so if both end up on the #1 line it's going to be a challenge from there on, especially on the road.

While I've never favoured smaller d-men there are many in the league currently, and many have been in the past. Young Harkins really struggles to move the puck so I would rather have a smaller talented puck mover. A lot of people didn't like Creta being smaller but he has proven to be competent blue liner. I think young Evan could be a hell of a player by Xmas if given the chance. Here's what McMullin said about him when they drafted him: D Ryker Evans … Calgary … Calgary Royals … 5’4, 114 … “If this kid gets to be 5’10, he could be special … light on his feet, agile … for his size, plays the game hard and doesn’t give an inch to bigger guys … skating and (hockey sense) as good as it gets … lacks strength for point shots but you have to look at three years out. They don’t have to play today.”. WEll he's grown to 5'10" and now it's time to see if what the scouts assessed is accurate.

I hope we stay competitive but it will be tough. The cupboards were pretty bare and the remaining players simply don't appear good enough. Lets hope a couple emerge as potential stars. Sedov has looked good now perhaps Dubinsky can heal and become what the brass had hoped. There will be many twists and turns before the final p-roduct on Jan 11th.

[Pats7]

I saw a picture of Montreal rookie Camp....I am pretty sure Fleury was in the picture. It was from a distance but it looked like him.
They reassigned McGinley today so as I suggested, they will keep Harkins as 8 instead of a young guy. Get the young guy playing time consistently. I sure hope it isnt because they are going to play Harkins regularly.