Every single post underestimates Kootenay as they do every year. With our without Reinhart they will start slow and yet finish in the top four. Nobody will want to meet them in the first round of the playoffs.
Every single post underestimates Kootenay as they do every year. With our without Reinhart they will start slow and yet finish in the top four. Nobody will want to meet them in the first round of the playoffs.
Have to say I am shocked at how bad Swift Current was this year
I'm surprised at how much Vancouver and Victoria regressed.
Victoria lost a pretty significant group of players in Hodges, Walker and Nelson.
They are/were a blue collar group who score by committee.
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Interested to hear where your allegiances lie with the remaining games to go.
Blazers vs Cougars for the final 3 games with a playoff spot on the line. As a BC resident, I'm hoping all three games go to OT.
The positive is that Tri-City has 2 games against Portland remaining, and Portland needs the wins for a division title. Couple that with Tri-City's 2-8 record in their last 10, I'm hopeful we'll get 4 BC division teams into the dance.
Not bad if I say so myself. Relied too much on the Oil Kings, yes they lost a lot of talent, but I didn't think they would fall back that far.EAST
Winner: Brandon Wheat Kings
Darkhorse: Regina Pats
CENTRAL
Winner: Edmonton Oil Kings
Darkhorse: Red Deer Rebels [Not really a darkhorse team, but very tough division]
BC
Winner: Kelowna Rockets [Personally I think they're the best team in the dub]
Darkhorse: Victoria Royals
USA
Winner: Portland Winterhawks [If the Thunderbirds get consistency from the whole team, I honestly think they could challenge the WHs]
Darkhorse: Tri-City Americans [Actually building a solid grinding team filled with a lot of great two-way powerforwards]
Not understanding this Royals talk here, they're second in the BC division and in a pretty comfortable lead for the playoffs. They got a 15 point lead on Cougars and a 19 lead on the Blazers. I hope none of you guys thought they could have matched with Kelowna.I'm surprised at how much Vancouver and Victoria regressed.
Now they're probably going to lose Geertsen, Houck, Popoff, and Atwal all in the offseason.
The only guy on that list that might leave is Geertsen. But he still needs a contract from Colorado. And even if he does get signed I'm not 100% convinced he will be gone. It's ultimately up to the Avs. I don't believe Geertsen benefits riding the pine in the AHL rather than playing top minutes in junior working on the parts of his game that are now starting to grow. But NHL teams do it all the time. Push players into pro early. So right now I would say it's 50/50 on Geertsen returning.
Houck, Popoff and Atwal will absolutely be back unless the Giants decide to trade/release any of them. Houck won't be signed by Edmonton, Popoff and Atwal are undrafted. The only potential issue is all three of them (four if you include Geertsen) would be overagers. If Geertsen is out of the picture those three players would be solid overage candidates. If Geertsen does return, Atwal will be traded.
Not bad if I say so myself. Relied too much on the Oil Kings, yes they lost a lot of talent, but I didn't think they would fall back that far.
I think Red Deer would be above Medicine Hat if they didn't start the season like they did and if Bleackley hasn't been injured the last 3 weeks.
Not understanding this Royals talk here, they're second in the BC division and in a pretty comfortable lead for the playoffs. They got a 15 point lead on Cougars and a 19 lead on the Blazers. I hope none of you guys thought they could have matched with Kelowna.
Vancouver though, you are right, that has been by far the most disappointment for the season. They have a team with better overall talent than the Cougars IMO and just bombed the whole season. I never bought the Payton Lee hype here that some posters were selling. Now they're probably going to lose Geertsen, Houck, Popoff, and Atwal all in the offseason. They have Benson which any team can build around, but that is some serious firepower and veteran leadership that is not coming back.
Why do you think Houck will not sign with Oilers?
S E P H said:I am not in agreement with you concerning Geertsen, surprised that Avs haven't signed him to a contract, but if he is signed, he most definitely is gone.
Fair enough, in my own viewings, I always though Popoff was the better player, sad he didn't have a bit more growth spurt so his frame could grow into. He definitely has improved in the muscle department from the first time I've seen him, but still, it's like he's fighting against hurricane force winds out there at times.I can't say too much but trust me it isn't going to happen. I know from an inside source. Unless Oilers brass decides to do a 180 it isn't happening.
As a fan it's easy to see why Houck won't be signed. He is an inconsistent player. And he doesn't bring it often enough. If he has a productive overage season maybe another team will sign him as a free agent. That option always remains.
I am not doubting your statement, but that is strange to hear from a player that has improved so much over his junior career. Personally speaking from an Avs fan point of view and a Dub follower, that would be a horrible mistake to let him go (his rights would probably be traded than just "let go"). I thought the reason they haven't sign him yet was due to him and his agent wanting more money for his ELC (perhaps including bonuses).From what I understand there is a bit of conflict in Avs management regarding Geertsen. Some really like him others do not. Hence why he hasn't been signed just yet. It'll likely happen soon as ultimately they will lose his rights in the upcoming months prior to the draft if he isn't inked. Geertsen would be better off in the ECHL than the AHL if they plan on keeping him in pro. He needs the minutes to continue to round out his game. Which is why playing in the AHL would be a mistake, IMO. Unless he would be guaranteed top 4 minutes. And obviously nothing is guaranteed. But he needs that playing time. Physically he is without a doubt ready for pro. But there are certainly areas of his game that still need grooming.
I wasn't saying Geertsen will return to junior. I am saying until he receives that contract you can't bank on him playing pro next season. If/when he does get signed at that point I still consider it a toss up. There are pros and cons to either side. I always think it's better to keep players in junior rather than rush them to the pros. Unless they are absolutely dominant at the junior level. And clearly Geertsen is not in that boat.
As Armaster said, they did lose some of their best veteran scoring talent so I am not surprised they are 20 points down, but it still a pretty much successful season from a neutral point of view. Then they should be the favourites to get out of the first round which is, again, should be looked as a successful stage.They have 20 Points less than last year. I guess that is my point. I thought they would break, or at least get close to, 100 points again.
Fair enough, in my own viewings, I always though Popoff was the better player, sad he didn't have a bit more growth spurt so his frame could grow into. He definitely has improved in the muslce department from the first time I've seen him, but still, it's like he's fighting against hurricane force winds out there at times.
I am not doubting your statement, but that is strange to hear from a player that has improved so much over his junior career. Personally speaking from an Avs fan point of view and a Dub follower, that would be a horrible mistake to let him go (his rights would probably be traded than just "let go"). I thought the reason they haven't sign him yet was due to him and his agent wanting more money for his ELC (perhaps including bonuses).
Though Roy has mentioned he wants big changes in the farm systems and prospect board, he wants the scouting team to focus on size and physicality than what our ex-Head Scout was drafting for (5'11" and under Canadian OHL centres). So Geertsen definitely fits that bill of what Roy wants.
I think when Giants season ends, he's probably going to get a try-out with Lake Erie and see what goes from there (with the people who potentially "do not like him" getting to see him against men in a pro league).
As Armaster said, they did lose some of their best veteran scoring talent so I am not surprised they are 20 points down, but it still a pretty much successful season from a neutral point of view. Then they should be the favourites to get out of the first round which is, again, should be looked as a successful stage.
Fair enough, in my own viewings, I always though Popoff was the better player, sad he didn't have a bit more growth spurt so his frame could grow into. He definitely has improved in the muscle department from the first time I've seen him, but still, it's like he's fighting against hurricane force winds out there at times.
S E P H said:I am not doubting your statement, but that is strange to hear from a player that has improved so much over his junior career. Personally speaking from an Avs fan point of view and a Dub follower, that would be a horrible mistake to let him go (his rights would probably be traded than just "let go"). I thought the reason they haven't sign him yet was due to him and his agent wanting more money for his ELC (perhaps including bonuses).