Seattle gets one final shot at Portland tonight and they'll have Brandon Glover and Evan Wardley back in the lineup after serving their two game suspensions.
I don't have much to offer about last night's game. I thought Seattle played pretty well and the shorthanded goal by Portland to start the 3rd period just kind of broke things open. I would suggest going HERE and getting Andy's recap of the game for more details.
I was happy with the added fight that Seattle showed to end the game. Obviously, you don't ever "want" to lose but you want to lose like they have been doing lately with some grit and toughness. That doesn't mean you have to start a dozen fights just for the sake of fighting but if other teams are running up the score on you and doing things you don't like... you're supposed to fight back. They're going to have to play that way to have any chance in the playoffs. They can't let teams do whatever they want without an answer.
The game tonight should be interesting but I have a feeling that both teams will tone down the fighting to a certain degree. Nobody wants to get any kind of suspensions going into the playoffs. So while I might expect fireworks... I'm actually thinking things will be a bit toned down.
Danny Mumaugh has improved a ton and while I thought the 5th goal he gave up was a bit soft, I'm far more confident in his ability to be the backup next season than I was in December. If he can continue this learning curve, he should eventually be a fine WHL goaltender.
This might not actually be the final shot at Portland this season but we're all kind of hoping that Seattle can sew up the 7th seed and face Kelowna instead of Portland. Funny to me that the announcers (Ian and Kevin) seems to dance around the subject without actually saying it... but I think it should be pretty clear that Seattle wants to avoid Portland in the first round. By no means is that a shot at Kelowna... the Rockets are an excellent team and Seattle will have plenty of trouble playing against them... but let's be real here... you're always going to try to avoid the team with the best record in the entire league.
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37 comments :
You're right Tyler, Mumaugh will make a good back up next season as a 17 yr old. So, who's #1? The always injured Myles? I'm guessing they once again need to trade for a 20 yr old goalie. Any options? And then who are the other 20 yr olds next season? Forsberg and Swenson? Sanvido? With all the d-men coming back a year older next year, would you trade Forsberg for a goalie?
When I watch this team, one thing that is pretty obvious to me is that they lack leadership. I think they were hoping that Forsberg would step into that role (and also that Kambeitz would). But Forsberg has been here all year and I don't see him as providing enough leadership to keep him as a 20 as the captain. Unfortunately, I don't see anyone else stepping up yet. So if I had a clear Captain waiting, I would trade Forsberg. Since we don't, I think they will keep him - even though he isn't necessary the leader they need.
Please clarify what you mean by a "pretty obvious" lack of leadership? Just that it's a failry vague statement with no specifics. Don't equate lack of talent for lack of leadership. Unless you're around the team 24/7 I don't think you can make that claim. Robert E Lee was considered a great leader but he still lost the war because the other side had too many resources. Pretty easy to be a good leader when you have all the ammo.
I do think the team will need to go out and get a goalie who is more ready to carry the load for 50+ games. Corbin Boes in Brandon comes to mind. I imagine they will turn the keys over to Curtis Honey. Cole Cheveldave in Kamloops is another. They may elect to turn things over to Taran Kozun. Luke Lee-Knight maybe... but he isn't someone I'd really want here very badly.
There are a few other '93 goalies but I suspect they will stick with their teams next year.
I'll talk more about the 20 situation later but I no longer think Forsberg is a lock. He hasn't played well in the second half and the defensive core is getting awfully crowded.
Its difficult to be specific about an absence of something. I'm not talking about the talent level. I look for and do not see much reinforcement of positive acts or calling out of negative acts on the ice. I'm reasonably tapped into the team and I don't see much evidence of pulling the team together off the ice. I would also refer to some of the announcer comments last night about the lack of identity. That is a fairly common problem when an organization lacks leadership. Btw none of these comments are intended as criticism of Jesse or other players, just comments on what I perceive as one of the biggest problems faced by the birds.
Only one suspension from last nights game:
Mitch Elliot - 1 game for 3rd misconduct of the season
The goaltending situation the T-Birds find themselves in going into next year is ridiculous!
After the winter meeting they came up with a new rule. A team is no longer allowed to trade import picks and if a team does make a selection in the import draft they may not trade that player unless they stay with the drafting team for a year.
I bring this up because there is no guarantee that one or both of our imports come back by choice or we trade one.
If that happens I could see us drafting a goaltender in the upcoming import draft.
Very exciting game tonight. It was nice to see the T-birds battle back and get the game to a shootout. T-birds have a lot they can clean up in their own zone, but it is nice to see them scoring some goals to finish out the season. 17 goals in the three games this week! I thought Mumaugh was very good tonight and I thought he was good enough in the shootout to win. T-birds didn't do a very good job in the SO of making Burke come through for his team. Too many pucks rolling off sticks before the shot was taken.
I think the defense situation will probably be addressed in the offseason. 5 defensemen in the same class seems like too many and I'm thinking that the T-birds will want to have a spot for Bear next year. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the '95 defensemen are traded for forwards or a goalie if they want one. They could also trade Forsberg and Wardley and keep the '95 group together and open up some room that way.
We are in the goalie spot we are in because we didn't play any younger goalies the last few years. I'm not sure how injury prone Myles is, I thought he was injured because of a car accident. If you think your defense will be solid I could see taking a chance on a younger goalie. Cheveldave looks like he would be a nice goalie to have. I can't say Boes' numbers impress me much, looks like Glover 2.0. At least Cheveldave would be more familiar with the western conference. I do like the idea of maybe getting an goalie through the import draft if we don't have both Lipsbergs and Delnov returning next year (does anyone know the likelihood that one or both are not back next year, I believe they are both 18s this year).
Hopefully they can keep the goals flowing next weekend when they start the playoffs.
My guess is that they will trade Taylor Green for a pick(unless they convert him into a fulltime forward). They have WAY too many d-men at that age group and I think he would be the odd man out. Possibly also trade away Wardley. They will keep Forsberg, Theo, Hauf, Smith, Foulk, Wolf, Bear.
this'll be a huge training camp for Austin Douglas too. If he comes ready and has improved, he could possibly steal a job away. Not sure if Seattle would do this, but I wonder if they would trade Jared Hauf(and possibly a pick) for a good young forward??? I really think this will be an entertaining offseason and competitive Training Camp in August
Some big bucks spent last night on the jersey auction. Anyone have a list?
I heard Austin Douglas signed, so put him the mix for the D next season. I'd rather not trade Forsberg but he could probably get you a vet goalie without having to burn another 3rd or 4th rd draft pick. You may have to keep Wardley for his toughness because I don't see a spot for Elliot on this team next season, especially with (fingers crossed) Barzal and Kolesar both here and (toes crossed) maybe Gropp. Maybe I had too much to drink at the game last night but this team could actually be pretty good next season with the right goalie. Then in a couple of years, when Mumaugh is more seasoned, wow!
I have to send this question out to the masses, because it's been bugging me since Saturday. Either my memory is poor, or the mayor's speech last Saturday had a few factual errors in it.. I'm thinking that Lockhart has been the captain of the team for the last 3 years, not 2, and that it has been 4 years since the last T-Birds playoff appearance. Anyone care to verify that? It was a very nice pre-game event and a great gesture from the city, but my inner fact-checker instincts were going crazy.
Your 2010-11 Captain was current Dallas Star... Brenden Dillon. There have been 3 seasons where Seattle missed the playoffs... but I suppose if you include the playing of this season it has been "4" seasons since we were in the playoffs.
Last playoff games Seattle played in were in the spring of 2009.
Dillon was captain for one season, then Lockhart for the past two. T-birds missed the playoffs after the 09-10 season, 10-11 season and 11-12 season. So it has been since spring of 2009 when they last were in the playoffs.
Actually Dillon wasn't the sole captain that year. They had a revolving system that saw Toomey and I think maybe someone else as captains as well.
That's correct. I forgot about that... but that is absolutely true.
Kelowna has lost Scott Sissons for the playoffs.
Colton, not Scott
2010-11 Actually Dillon wasn't the sole captain that year. They had a revolving system between three players Dillon, Toomey and Lockhart. Dillon and Toomey were the both in their 20 yr old seasons and Lockhart was in his 18yr old season. For most of the season the "C" was rotated evenly between those three players with each wearing the "C" one game at a time. Then in the last month and half of the the season the "C" stayed on Dillon's jersey.
Anybody heard anything new about Barzal? I understand he was practicing with the team a week or two ago. Maybe he signs and plays in the playoffs with the Birds?
Maybe I will win the Powerball Lottery.
Or Maybe Farwell will realize he isn't doing a good job as GM and hire someone else.
Good luck.
Maybe that horse you're beating will wake up, but I doubt it.
Douglas and Bear have had practice stints with the team in the last month. Not Barzal.
Barzal will be traded on or before draft day. Count on it! His agent will not allow him to come to Seattle.
It's common knowledge that Barzal wants to play in the WHL but not in Seattle. It's also common knowledge that his dad has become a problem. Psycho dad that thinks his kid can demand whatever he wants. GMs are getting skeptical of his character but of course many GMs will line up to make a trade with Farwell but can Farwell make a trade???
Stop obsessing about Gropp. He is long gone! His parents have made a very wise decision and set him on a path to the NCAA. Very wise. Any top prospect drafted to Seattle should seriously consider the same until Farwell moves on.
I'd love to know how you know this inside information about Barzal's relationship with his family and his agent and their views on coming to Seattle. Even "common knowledge" has a source. How do you know GMs are becoming skeptical of Barzal's character?
@10:42.. I read the last 7 comments back. And then I read them again. And again. And nowhere could I find any mention of Ryan Gropp. Who is obsessing about Gropp? You are having a fine conversation with yourself. t
I'm not seeing any mention of Gropp in this thread as well. Must have been a tough day for anon@10:42. Been there and done that.
March 17, 11:13am. He gets mentioned in passing, and acknowledged as a long-shot to sign now. That's it.
I'm sure the keywords 'Gropp', 'NCAA', 'Barzal', and 'Pickard trade' are banned from use in the front office when Russ is within earshot. Probably none of them are topics that he cares to discuss, as they are slowly defining his tenure.
Gropp is from Kamloops, trade his rights to them for something, anything.
What a fan blog?? Seattle is about to play it's first playoff game in 3 years and all thats posted is "Gropp" and "Barzal" 2 kids that have not played one shift in the WHL. But I am sure if Seattle loses tonight we will see plenty more of the same.
Ah, yes, constructive tips on how to be a fan from Anon@7:02. So glad he clarified that a fan can't dwell on the mistakes that his team has made when that team has been mediocre to bad for most of a decade.
Yes, they Birds are playing in a playoff series for the first time in four years, and I'm thrilled, and I'll be streaming the game online, and I'll be at games 3 and 4. Its awesome. I'm really excited. But that doesn't blind me to the fact that they're a seventh-seeded team with a record well below .500, and that they've not had a winning record since, what, 2008-2009?
Guys... seriously. Chill out. I have no problem with either side of this "debate".
Taking shots at each other on a "fan blog" is pathetic. Seriously... chill out.
Can we not find something more interesting to take about (maybe the game perhaps) than whether or not you dislike Russ Farwell?
Russ isn't going anywhere. You don't have to like it but you also don't HAVE to talk about it. It's pointless. It's like complaining about the rain in Seattle.
I'm having mixed feelings about this series. If I'm honest with myself, we're going to go down in four, maybe five games. But we've shown a bit of grit and heart in the last few weeks, and I really want to believe we can drag this out to six or seven, or maybe even pull the upset.
Statistics are on the side of four or five games. My heart is not. Either way, at least we're back in the playoffs.
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