My 2014-15 Pats Preview
2014-15 SEASON PREVIEW
WHERE TO START?
To tell you the truth, I am totally optimistic about this year’s Pats.
The new ownership group from Queen City Sports and Entertainment Group bring
new life to a team that needed a change, let’s call it a reboot. With new owners
comes a new coaching staff and a new air about the franchise. The team needs to
build off of last seasons’ Pennant winning club and forget about the playoff
sweep (but learn from it). This season feels like something to look forward to.
GO PATS GO!
THE X-FACTOR
Goal scoring was a factor last season scoring the 5th most
goals in the Eastern Conference (7th in the league) with 257 which
was actually surprising some players had big years and will need to build on
last season’s success. They will need to replace many of those goals due to
player graduations. With the apparent youth movement they’ll need to find goals
somewhere, whether from within or via trade. Many rookies have stepped in and
have looked like players throughout training camp and the preseason so some of
those goals will definitely come from those players.
OFFENSE
Of the 257 goals scored by the Pats last season 109 of them are gone
via graduation or pro opportunities. The team will be looking to replace 4 of the top 5 scorers in
Stephenson, Stevenson, Leier, and Sinitsyn. Klimchuk looks to be the only
returning player that broke the 30 goal and 70 point barrier. Gay and Hunt will
be looking to build on breakout seasons in which each player was at or near 20
goals and they have the ability to do that. Steel is the player many people are
waiting to see on the ice for the Pats. He’s definitely a top tier talent that
will be a star in the league. But can they depend on him to be the leader?
Others will have to step up.
DEFENSE
Led by captain Burroughs and Williams the Pats have 2 puck moving
defensemen that will be heavily leaned on for much of the backend offense until
the younger guys are acclimatized to the WHL. Chase Harrison has the
opportunity to step up and be a veteran guy that the team can count on this
year to help the younger guys. Zborovskiy seems like a bit of a project at this
point. He seems like a player with an offensive upside but has a decent grasp
on the defensive end of things as well.
PUCKSTOPPERS
Goaltending will be solid with Wapple and Fuhr manning the nets. Wapple
showed that he is a capable goaler with 12 in in 19 games and a 2.83 GAA and 2
SO with the Pats last year until an injury put him out. Fuhr looked good in his
only 2 appearances with the Pats last year.
Both put up 2 wins and similar stats in the preseason games they played
in. I expect Wapple to carry the load as long as he stay healthy.
THE BRASS
John Paddock brings over 30 years of experience of professional
coaching and managing to the Pats, he’s a 3 time Calder Cup Champion and an AHL
Hall of Famer to boot. David Struch brings almost 10 years of WHL coaching
experience (assistant and head coach) to the Pats. Darrin McKechine is a proud
Pats Alumni that has no WHL coaching experience but has been around minor
hockey and has scouted in the WHL so the league is not new to him.
GONE ARE
Chandler Stephenson (will play pro in Washington’s system)
Dyson Stevenson (graduated – will be playing hockey in Portland of the
AHL)
Boston Leier (graduated – will be playing CIS hockey)
Jesse Zgraggen (graduated – will play pro in Switzerland)
Dmitriy Sinitsyn (will play pro – either with Dallas’ organization or
in Russia)
Tye Hand
Griffin Mumby
Dawson MacAuley (reassigned as an overage)
Isaac Schacher (traded to Saskatoon)
NEW FACES
D Sergey Zborovskiy (39th overall in the 2014 Import Draft)
D James Hilsendager (9th round pick 187th overall
in the 2012 Bantam Draft)
D Ryan Krushen (listed player)
D Nathyn Mortlock (listed player – injured but is still with the team)
C Luc Smith (3rd round pick 60th overall in the
2013 Bantam Draft)
LW Jared McAmmond (10th round pick 206th overall
in the 2012 Bantam Draft)
RW Rykr Cole (3rd round pick 63rd overall in the
2012 Bantam Draft)
C Colton Kroeker (7th round pick 134th overall in
the 2012 Bantam Draft)
C Sam Steel (1st round pick 2nd overall in the
2013 Bantam Draft
OVERAGE CANDIDATES
As of the opening game of the Pats season the team will be set with
their 3 overage players, barring any surprising move by either Dallas or
Washington. Stephenson and Sinitsyn have all but graduated. I don’t know how
they fit with the club as it really hasn’t been said if they are doing a full
rebuild or what’s going on for sure. These are the guys:
LW Braden Christoffer
LW Patrick D’Amico
C Logan McVeigh
PLAYER ON THE RISE
This one wasn’t a hard one to pick. Given an opportunity to play I
think Adam Brooks could turn his career around. Too many people have wrote him
off as a bust, but I haven’t. Give him some ice and I think he will be an asset
for the Pats.
SLEEPER
You know in hockey fantasy pools they have a player that could easily
be an under the radar pick as someone you want on your team? That’s what this
pick is. My pick for the sleeper has to be Chase Harrison. At times last season
he was our best defenseman and presumably having an increased role I feel that
he will take the role on and become one of the team’s best players.
SUPER SLEEPER
Similar to the sleeper pick, this one is player that could have tons of
value if given the right opportunity. I pick Max Kammerer. Most people will
disagree as they had him written off last season. With any sort of increased
ice time and regular line mates Max may flourish.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sam Steel. Just watch him. Enough said.