Thursday, April 28, 2011

Coaching thoughts and stuff

Well I guess that I didn't get back online last night as I watched the end of the NHL game sevens and then crashed for the night. I did do some thinking about the last year and some of the players and I do have some things that I will write about over the next couple of days as I'm not totally sure how I want to go about it bit will come up with something.

What really got me thinking about this season was the "firing" of Shaun Sutter and Ryan Cyr.... I am fully aware of their contract status' and the fact that their contracts were done in June. I really don't get the move. I understand that change is/was needed but the timing of it smells a bit fishy to me. I can understand that the Pats are in a "total" rebuild (I remember hearing this a few times last year) but in a rebuild year wouldn't it make sense that the brooms were out to clean right from the top down? Chad came in and has done some massive changes and from what I've seen I like most of the deals and I think the team is going in the right direction. That brings me back to the clean sweep idea.... If the assistant coaches aren't 'good enough' and they get removed why does the head coach not get removed as well.... This is in no means a knock to Curtis, I do believe he is a good man but seemed to be at his wits end this past year. I know Curtis is under contract for one more year but if you are looking to build fresh I think it should be an 'all or nothing' approach. I've been a Pats fan as long as I remember and a season ticket holder longer than that and it would be nice to know what is going on with the hockey operations aspect of the team. Many fans are wanting to know what is going on with regards to the coaching and scouting for the Pats.... I honestly don't know the whole dynamic of the hockey operations, as in who is buds with who.... All I have with this regard is what I've heard from people around the rink and reading numerous comments on blogs and some blogs themselves. So I'm going to leave that one.

I just re-read what I just typed and I kind of rambled on.... But hey I have mixed emotions on this topic..... One part of me wants to see Curtis stay and get a shot at turning this ship around but with a short leash to start the season..... Another part of me is still wondering why Dale Derkatch was given the boot so quickly and Curtis was brought back..... Another part of me feels almost sorry for Curtis with some of the player personnel decisions that were made or not made over the previous seasons. The chance to actually bring some kids up in his system were almost all but eliminated over the past few seasons. Would the kids have developed? We will never know. I see lots of them developing on other WHL teams.... And another part of me wants to see some new blood at head coach, assistants and goalie coach. I dunno but thats what I've been thinking.

I think that the Pats are in desperate need of a culture change..... We need someone with a winning track record in the organization..... Whether its as head coach or what but a culture change is needed. Too much of the mediocrity..... I would love to see this team win and make the playoffs and maybe win a couple of rounds and get the franchise back to being one of the elite teams in the WHL.

Sorry for rambling.... Player thoughts to come.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

I have changed my mind....

After reading some other blogs and stories I've decided to do some write ups for the 2010/11 season. I don't know how in depth I will go but I will do something on each player.... I saw someone post player grades and I'm not comfortable giving players a grade after the last few seasons the grades just wouldn't be fair.

I'm going to do some thinking while watching the NHL game sevens and get back to the Pats.

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The off season is killing me. Always waaaaaaaay toooooooo looooooonnnnng and its really getting old. I'm not one to jump ship and not renew my tickets or despise the owners or anything like that. I can honestly I'm a Pats fan no matter how they do.... win or lose..... or who they are owned by. I've been going to the games my whole life and no matter what people say I'm not planning on changing things up any time soon. End of my mini rant.
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Back to OT in Boston.

Sutter and Cyr not returning to the Pats

From the Regina Pats website:

Regina, Saskatchewan – Regina Pats General Manager, Chad Lang announced today that the Pats will not renew the contracts of Assistant Coach Shaun Sutter and Goaltending Coach, Ryan Cyr for the upcoming season. The Pats missed the playoffs this season after finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 23-39-7-3 mark in 2010-11.

"These decisions are always tough to make, with a number of factors to take into consideration, however after a lengthy review process we felt it was time to make a change.” Regina Pats General Manager Chad Lang continues, “I would like to thank Shaun and Ryan for the hard work they have provided the Regina Pats organization during their time with the team and wish the two of them the best in the future.”
The search to fill both of these positions will begin immediately.

Chad Lang will be made available to the media at 1:30 in front of the Pats office located in the west entrance of the Brandt Centre.

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So does this mean we have Curtis Hunt as head coach for at least one more year? That's my guess.

Hmmm.....

I was planning on posting more thoughts on the 2010-11 season but after pondering on it for the last while I have decided to not beat the dead horse any more. I still have more questions than answers from last year and I may interject here and there troughout the next little but for now lets look towards the future.

GO PATS GO!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Weal signs entry level deal with Kings

http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=560176

Sent from my BlackBerry® Torch on the SaskTel Network.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

I think I may have opened....

a proverbial can of worms with one of my last posts.

I have been struggling to come up with answers for many of the questions I brought up. It's tough to answer most of the questions but I guess I said that I would have more to say and I will have it right now.

This wasn't one of my original questions but I thought that I would address this now.

What do I think Curtis Hunt's status will be for next year?

In all honesty I don't have a real opinion on this matter as I guess I've come to accept the status quo with the Pats. Three seasons in a row not making the playoffs is unacceptable (2 with Hunt at the helm)... and the first time it has happened in the HISTORY of the Pats. I have to say that I think Curtis is a real stand up guy and seems to try to deflect the criticism of the players to himself but at times last season listening to him on the radio during pre-game shows and post gamers it felt like he had ran out of options as to how to guide the players. I'm wondering if he maybe got a bit burnt out during the last two seasons. Shaun Sutter sounded like a player that has just become a coach as many of his post game talks were cliche filled ('chipping pucks'), he still sounded like a player. Give him some time and I believe he will be a really good coach.

I heard on the radio the other day that Hunt has one more year on his contract and Sutter's contract is up in the next couple of months.

I may sound foolish but why not give Hunt another crack at the team and if it doesn't work out make the change. He still has another year left and the team is still going to be in re-build mode.

The popular opinion seems to be that the Pats need to make a coaching change and I see why. There are a lot of talented coaches out there that deserve a chance.

To be honest.... I'm a little but apathetic about the coaches. I guess I've been a bit brain-washed and whatever happens..... happens. Just make the decision soon so we can move on to 2011/12.

I hope that made sense.... my thoughts are a little over the place.

Happy Birthday to former Pats:
Jim McGeough, Craig Endean and Killian Hutt

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Happy Birthday

Robin Big Snake. Born this day in 1984.

Played 8 games in the 2000/01 season for the Pats collecting 1 goal and 26 penalty minutes.

Questions.... Answers.... Some Post 2010/11 Contemplation

I’ve been contemplating the 2010/11 season over the last few weeks and I have found that I have as many questions as I do answers; if not more.

Some of the biggest question marks for the season (and I would have to say the previous season as well) were: What is wrong with the goaltending? I know I have thought about that a lot myself and I do have questions about it but have come to a couple of conclusions. I will get to that later. What the heck happened to the defence? Isn’t Curtis Hunt a defensive coach? Man this is going to take me more than a post or 3 or 4 to cover all of my questions (with some answers and some left open). Are the Pats really that thin (talent-wise) to not have any scoring other than Weal? Why does Hunt always switch up the pieces of the lines? Isn’t consistency a factor? Does Chad Lang have full control of the team? Why did the Pats quit wearing the beige vintage sweaters later in the season? I’m sure I will have more questions as I go along and I will include them.

I will bring up more thoughts and questions as I think on them but this will be a process and I won’t have it done any time soon. I have all summer to contemplate for the season and look forward to an improved Pats team in 2011/12.

I was thinking about writing a summary about the positions.... I might just add something by position and then do a quick write-up for each player as I saw during the season. This will come as I have time.

I do appreciate comments and emails so please if you don’t agree with something please feel free to write. Or if you have your own opinion on things please feel free to share.

More thoughts tomorrow.... maybe I’ll be a little more organized.

Saturday, April 09, 2011

I found this....

on http://www.reginapatsphotos.com/ (GJ Photo)


Here's picture of me from after the last home game of the season as I was just going to get Tyler Pavkovich's autograph on his Prairie Mobile Skill's Competition Jersey. I think this picture is great.

I'm back (again)...

After a while away to contemplate the season (and now that my internet is finally working correctly.... had a bad cable or something along those lines). I will get at my 2010/11 season breakdown later tonight. I'm thinking of changing up the appearance of the blog (again.... I know.... but I like change)

Kevin