September - October 2018 Games

[dsquared]

Well the home opener was kind of a bust. PA has looked good in the silly season and first 2 regular season games. It says a lot about this edition of the Pats, that our #1 line is Holmes - Leschyshyn - Henry. It's going to be a long season. The only player who stood out tonight was Paddock.

A new fund raiser idea - $100 goes to a charity every time Hyman coughs up a puck at the point on the power play. That charity would be rolling in dough! I expect better from a 20 yo.

[chopper]

Well the home opener was kind of a bust. PA has looked good in the silly season and first 2 regular season games. It says a lot about this edition of the Pats, that our #1 line is Holmes - Leschyshyn - Henry. It's going to be a long season. The only player who stood out tonight was Paddock.

A new fund raiser idea - $100 goes to a charity every time Hyman coughs up a puck at the point on the power play. That charity would be rolling in dough! I expect better from a 20 yo.

LOL….the charity idea is funny but gosh we wasn't alone last night. Quite a few guys were trying their best to be benevolent. Strangely he is the goal scoring leader of the team at this juncture….probably this is more telling than anything when it comes to the talent level on this years edition. I think everyone knows there will be some growing pains but just the same, the dearth of talent is concerning. Usually you see someone who is a dangler in the making, but not so this year. I don't think anyone can question the work ethic of the players to date. They skated as hard and played as hard as they could but without some puck skills and play making ability, it doesn't translate into much.

I understand that Henry and Lescyshyn hadn't been back long, but they were not effective in either game. I watched the first game in PA and it was in a singular word "horrendous". Saturday they were better but the betterment difference was marginal. Last night Paddock and Evans may have been two of the better players. Njhoff also tried to create something as did Mahovllich. I have some concerns about the Morriseau experiment. I'm not seeing it but hopefully it changes soon.

That is pretty much the team we are going to have. I don't think we can count on Fleury being back nor should we. If we are lucky and he does, he will most likely be moved right away for a younger talented asset and/or draft picks. Pouteau is still a ways away and Dubinsky has yet to make an appearance. He will be a spark but nobody should be counting on a 15 year old to be a difference maker. Other than those two or possibly three players, that's all we have.

PA is a decent team but not what we were two years ago. They outscored us 10-3 over two games and really handled us quite easily which is a measuring stick of sorts. I hope they get a good week of practice in and find a way for the forwards to start scoring.

[Some_Arrogant_Jerk]

I still think we need an overage left wing. Someone to be a leader for this young group, and a consistent source of production.

Keeping three defensive defenceman, or even worse one of those plus a bottom 6 forward and 20 year old backup, is just dumb. It sucks minutes away from the young defence as well as potential depth to help the young forwards adjust. We don't want to burn as much ice time as possible on 20 year old D's, we need to rebuild properly, with proper leaders in each position.

Paddock needs to get on it. It will guarantee 4th spot in this mediocre division, probably net a better return at the deadline than what we would pay for in an early October deal with a couple draft picks, and take the pressure off two kids in jake and hank who have not really had to carry a team before.

[Pats7]

I am not overly critical of the first weekend. I predicted that PA would be the team to beat in the East, they looked good. The Raiders made playoffs last year without beating Regina once.....now the shoe is on the other foot. Henry and Lesychyn need to be our goal scorers consistently to win games, not so much after the first two games. The Pats will have trouble scoring goals all year, hopefully they can get enough to beat the other bottom dwellers. Rome wasnt built in a day (or weekend 1).

[Reider]

SAJ, the Pats desperately needed a high end (productive) left winger to replace Leedahl last year and they did not acquire one. Wagner (or Jost for that matter) would have fit the bill perfectly, but neither player worked out, which is beside the point. The Pats must have been banking on Wagner returning as they clearly did not have a plan b other than to play musical chairs. If the Pats wouldn't acquire one last year as buyers during a Memorial Cup year, why would they acquire one (a productive LW) this year? I agree with you that they could use one. I don't think anyone will disagree with you on that point. The Pats could use a lot of infused talent this year, but I think it would further expose the ineptitude of the GM last year (for not acquiring an impact LW last year) if they went out and got a quality left winger this year, when they are supposed to be sellers.

I fully expect the Raiders to be a top team in the league this year and I fully expected the Pats to start the season 0-2. No surprises there. The Pats scored first in the home opener, however, they did not do themselves any favours by going 0-8 on the power play. That will have to change if they want to beat a team like P.A. this year.

I expected Pouteau to be a solid veteran presence for the Pats this year and to possibly wear a letter. Also, I expected Dubinsky to not only make the team, but to possibly be a young leader in the work ethic department. We saw how hard he worked and how he played the game last year. He grew a couple of inches and put on weight in the off season, which will help him play his style of game even better this year. However, we also know that missing camp and the first part of the season can really set a player back, so my expectations will have to be tempered for both of these players when they return. I liked how both players played the game last year and I'm sure they'll both be positive assets to the team when they return, even though it'll probably take a while for both of them to get back up to speed.

Aaron Hyman scoring two goals in the first two games is definitely a credit to him taking on more responsibility this year. He seems to be able to put the puck in the net from the slot, so he should keep doing what he's doing. The Pats don't have Hobbs' cannon or Mahura's speed and offensive abilities, so if Hyman can help the team by jumping into the play at key moments, then I say keep doing it. The Pats are going to have to continue finding different ways to score goals if they want to win games and make the playoffs.

[chopper]

Yes indeed we need a leader up front who can score, scrap if required, and generally lead this team. Leschyshyn has never been a dynamic player and will never be a big goal scorer or game changer. He is a solid guy who when playing his best brings a lot of good things. His 17 year old season was his best until he got hurt. He never returned to form last season. With all the depth in front of him last season he was relegated to third line type minutes. Time will tell if he's really ready for prime time. Lets hope he is productive because he's someone they're counting on to help restock the bare cupboards. Henry is a shooter and goal scorer who needs to play with talent beside him in order to produce. Playing with Sam Steel/Leedahl/Hebig for two years did that but now he has to stand on his own merits. Unless they find a forward who can dish off those sweet feeds to him on the PP, getting those type of numbers will be tough. Lets hope they can because he too is an asset they are counting on come Jan 10th.

We need someone with some "true" offensive talents to anchor the PP, and be that consistent source of production. Contrary to what some might think, we simply don't have that. Where this team is at started long before training camp and in fact it started last year and the year before. Struch's Saskatoon team was hard working and should be again this year. However that will only carry you so far. You still need talent, and I hope Paddock doesn't overrate his team like he did last season pre trade deadline. As pointed out failing to obtain an impact LW last year when there was dire need was a huge mis-calculation. I know we need one but how do we get one? We need a PP anchor at least.

The division is very mediocre this year yet the only hope the Pats may have have for a playoff spot is getting 3rd because after that it's wildcard, and getting a wildcard spot will be tough. I've seen enough teams to know that will be extremely tough particularly if they move some top guys at the deadline. Paddock can't do what he did three years ago because we don't have the talent or depth to do that. I wouldn't read too much into PA losing to the Pats last year. All of those games for the most part were razor close one goal games where the Pats were outplayed in many, but escaped with OT wins and other kinds of wins. The Raiders were a far better team last year than the Pats are this year. Not a worthwhile comparison at all. They had an emerging pair of talented young guys and brought in some talented older guys late that nobody understood why. The Raiders have traditionally fallen on their faces by Xmas, however last year they progressed. It will be interesting to see how they do this year in this mediocre east division.

The first weekend doesn't a season make. However we got a pretty good glimpse into the talent (or lack of) that they have on the team this season. The genesis of the next few seasons comes from the previous few, and the mantra of sustained success will be tough to live up to. Some teams coming off a Memorial Cup year do very well while others tank. We will have to wait a while to see where we stack up, but probably not too long. Management dictates how you rebound and the great organizations (Portland/Brandon) don't wait long or miss many beats. It will be interesting to see if we can ever get to that echelon.

[chopper]

I notice today that the Pats have traded for 2000 born (18 yrs) goalie Dean McNabb from Victoria. I think that ends the conditional trade/experiment for Woodside. He had a chance to take the ball and run with it but didn't. I guess it also signals that Pesenti's ascension to the big club will have to wait a while. McNabb has 30 games of WHL experience and he has played well. As tough as this season could be, not having a solid backup should the need arise would be extremely hard to overcome on many levels. The Pats unfortunately for all concerned lost Wassermann. They were not able to get Dylla for whatever reason. They were obviously not convinced with anything else they had except for Dumba who unfortunately is an OA. Teams are built from the net on outwards, so getting McNabb is a good acquisition IMO. It also doesn't hurt that he is an Ex-Pat Canadian. Probably just one of many adjustments they will need to make early on so that they can at least be somewhat competitive. Max will have a heavy workload and will need relief along the way. Also you never know what type of trades JP may be forced to cobble together in order to get some talent back into the cupboards. You just never know.

[Fight Guy]

Dylla is better off playing bigger minutes back in the states rather than be a 16yo back up getting little minutes. No need to sign him yet.

[Sttop]

I notice today that the Pats have traded for 2000 born (18 yrs) goalie Dean McNabb from Victoria. I think that ends the conditional trade/experiment for Woodside. He had a chance to take the ball and run with it but didn't. I guess it also signals that Pesenti's ascension to the big club will have to wait a while. McNabb has 30 games of WHL experience and he has played well. As tough as this season could be, not having a solid backup should the need arise would be extremely hard to overcome on many levels. The Pats unfortunately for all concerned lost Wassermann. They were not able to get Dylla for whatever reason. They were obviously not convinced with anything else they had except for Dumba who unfortunately is an OA. Teams are built from the net on outwards, so getting McNabb is a good acquisition IMO. It also doesn't hurt that he is an Ex-Pat Canadian. Probably just one of many adjustments they will need to make early on so that they can at least be somewhat competitive. Max will have a heavy workload and will need relief along the way. Also you never know what type of trades JP may be forced to cobble together in order to get some talent back into the cupboards. You just never know.

You are the first person I have heard say McNabb has played well

[Reider]

Lethbridge Hurricanes 8
Regina Pats 4

The Pats are now 0-3 to start the season and have 18 goals against (6.00 Goals Against/Game). I was hoping to get a fridge magnet schedule on fridge magnet night, but they were long gone 20 minutes before the game in a half full building. I guess I didn't show up early enough or they didn't hand out very many or some fans took 10. I'm not too sure what happened there. Either way, it's disappointing.

It's going to be a long year for this team. It may be a long many years for this team. Cole Dubinsky dressed for the first time this year. I can't believe he's still only 15. He moves around very well on the ice and isn't afraid to throw his weight around (although we already knew that). He should only get better from here on out, especially if he keeps growing and working hard. I like the way Ryker Evans skates with the puck when he has open ice. He's a very good skater. He just needs to keep growing. Sergei Alkhimov moves around the ice pretty good as well and definitely is not afraid to throw his weight around. Some of the other newer players look okay, but I thought those three looked the best or the ones that seem to have a lot of potential to grow their games over the next few years.

The Pats worked hard at times against the Hurricanes, but they made way too many defensive mistakes and Lethbridge is a team that will capitalize on their chances. Schioler got caught in the zone and Hyman couldn't get back in time. A couple of other defensemen didn't get the puck in the Hurricanes' zone when they should have (Creta and Hyman etc.. if I recall correctly) and got it taken on them. Cozens was left wide open in the slot on one of his goals. Too many penalties, too many men on the ice, the list goes on and on. I felt before the game that the Pats would look a bit thin on defense tonight, so it doesn't surprise me at all that it played out that way. They really missed Fleury, Pouteau and Gavlas tonight. Holmes, Leschyshyn and Henry look okay, but that's not good enough this year now that they are expected to be the #1 line. They need to dominate on the ice if they are going to lead / carry this team and it doesn't appear that they are going to be able to do that. At least, not against the top teams in the league.

As for the goaltending, of course it would have been nice if Max Paddock was able to stop more pucks, but it's difficult to criticize, when the players in front of him gave up so many breakaways / high quality scoring chances.

From a general point of view, the Pats had a lot of younger / smaller players out there, which made it tough because Lethbridge has skill and size. I didn't realize that their team would be that big this year. There's only 3 players on the Hurricanes under 6'ft tall and two of them are Jordy Bellerive and Calen Addison.

There are positives to take out of this game. The Pats did not give up, they played until the end even though they were outmatched. They went 3/5 on the power play and scored a short handed goal. They're going to the net and finding ways to score goals, which is what they want to do. So in a way, they were successful tonight in that respect. The game could have been a lot closer if they didn't make so many mistakes and take so many bad penalties. It's important to work hard, but it's equally as important to play cerebral hockey and not make bad mistakes or take bad / lazy penalties. The Pats cannot afford to beat themselves this year. They don't have the high end skill like they did two years ago to make up for such foolishness.