January 2019

[Some_Arrogant_Jerk]

Looks like we are on, maybe, our first winning streak this season*. Thats huge for any team in a mem cup rebuild year, even if it's mainly due to other teams playing backups and perhaps down a few players.

Enjoy it while it lasts. We have 13 games this month. Being .500(or 6-7/7-6) this month would be amazing.



And are we going to be active during the trade deadline? Do we move one of our three top 19 year old contributors? Or one of the OA dmen? Or even paddock if McNabb can hold the fort?

Yes I know it's risky to move a goalie, but his value may not ever be higher. We won't be competing this year nor the next. And it's hard to raise a goaltenders value on a rebuilding squad since there's no real extra PP or inflated ice time for a goalie to pump up statistics,

Guess it depends how much faith they have in McNabb. Personally I'd shop paddock at a lofty price, and if the price is met by some possibly desperate team, then I go for it.

[Reider]

The Pats just beat Brandon x2 and Prince Albert in Prince Albert. The Pats are the only team to beat the Raiders in Prince Albert this year. It's easy to make excuses for Brandon and Prince Albert, that they are missing their starting goaltenders and / or other players, but the reality is that the Pats have the second worst record in the WHL, they've already sold 3 big pieces and they've had their own injuries and suspended players. No matter how you look at it, those last three wins were incredible.

As for the Pats making more trades, it will depend on what offers the Pats receive for their players. When it comes to Max Paddock, we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. The Kelowna Rockets are hosting the Memorial Cup next year. We saw that the prices for players were high for players last year when the Pats hosted the Memorial Cup. Max will be 19 next year. If the Pats are going to trade him away, his highest potential value could / should be next year. Max did not play his best in the first half of this season, so I can't see the Pats getting Max value (pun intended) for him right now. Max needs to have a solid second half of the season this year. The only way the Pats should trade him this year is if some team offers them exactly what they are looking for, but given the circumstances, that is doubtful.

[chopper]

HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL

The team was able to grab three wins back from the break which should help them going forward. It was within the realm of possibility to make it four tonight but not to be. It's tough when your outshot 56-23 to win many games. I don't usually say too much about it, but the officiating tonight was very suspect and hurt the Pats. When you're a lower placed team you usually get the short end of the stick. Nevertheless they were playing against a far superior team. The main difference since the break has been that our goaltending is playing they way it was expected. I think had they got that calibre goaltending in the first half there were probably 4 or 5 wins that could have gone our way. Don't know if it would have made a ton of difference but we would be close to a playoff spot perhaps.

JP is on record as saying that Max isn't available but then again that may just be posturing. He is certainly playing well enough to open some eyes of managers around the league. Like always it boils down to the return the Pats would be happy with. Then as stated there are the two OA d-men but what would they draw in comparison to what they might be worth just keeping on the young team. We have a number of 19 year olds but they may be worth more next year as high producing 20 year olds. Conceivably; Pratt, Joseph, and Holmes could be 20+ goal men next season and be of high value. All being big strong forwards who can produce. Mahovlich and Streu are wildcards I think. Next year with two WHL teams going to the Memorial Cup, these type of players will have an inflated and elevated value.

We should know soon what will happen on the trade front. The one thing we need in addition to draft picks are a couple of really good players. Players who can come in this season and help plus be around for a couple years to help the program grow. We need a couple good players. A name like Henrik Rybinski comes up. He never found his groove in Medicine Hat but a change might bring out the best in him. Much like the Hobbs situation. However Medicine Hat may have an inflated idea of his worth. The Pats couldn't give up picks, so it would need to be a hockey trade. Again the Pats may also choose to standpat if you will, and se what next season brings.

[Pats7]

Pats trade Creta (18-D) for Blake Allan (17-F) with Kootenay Ice. Obviously not a significant deal, but it might give us some insight at where the Pats are headed at the deadline. I am going to assume with Creta being traded that McGinley might be a full time Pat for the rest of the year. In limited ice time, he hasn't looked out of place. As a young dman, he will make mistakes but no different that Creta. I may be reading too much into this, but with limited other options at D....perhaps that is a sign that Pouteau isnt going anywhere. On forward, that adds Allan to an already log jammed forward group. While the Pats are playing four lines, their are already healthy scratches every night. This would lead me to believe that 1 or 2 of the 19 year old forwards could be dealt in the next week. While I think that Pratt, Joseph, and Holmes would make a decent 20 year old group next year.......I totally expect one or two of them to get dealt by next week.

[witness]

Pats trade Creta (18-D) for Blake Allan (17-F) with Kootenay Ice. Obviously not a significant deal, but it might give us some insight at where the Pats are headed at the deadline. I am going to assume with Creta being traded that McGinley might be a full time Pat for the rest of the year. In limited ice time, he hasn't looked out of place. As a young dman, he will make mistakes but no different that Creta. I may be reading too much into this, but with limited other options at D....perhaps that is a sign that Pouteau isnt going anywhere. On forward, that adds Allan to an already log jammed forward group. While the Pats are playing four lines, their are already healthy scratches every night. This would lead me to believe that 1 or 2 of the 19 year old forwards could be dealt in the next week. While I think that Pratt, Joseph, and Holmes would make a decent 20 year old group next year.......I totally expect one or two of them to get dealt by next week.

Pats picked up another 17 year old d-man and have called up Makai. There will be more moves on the backend. Looks like they want to get younger, which I think is the right move.

[Pats7]

Pats picked up another 17 year old d-man and have called up Makai. There will be more moves on the backend. Looks like they want to get younger, which I think is the right move.

Pats acquire 17 year old Tyson Feist and a 10th for a 5th and 8th rounder.

Pats deal Mahovlich and an 8th to the Canes for a 3rd rounder.