PensFan101
Forever Champions.
I only have the benefit of Dale's interview with Fred post draft. I fully understand a commitment is not binding, but in the history of the Attack, and specifically under the current management, the list of guys we have gotten to decommit from the NCAA is extremely short.
It's just frustrating to hear about the confidence management has that high picks will report, only to have them be caught with their pants down so to speak weeks later. The Attack are notorious for the lack of information coming from management, and player recruitment is front and centre for the smoke and mirrors that go on.
I'm all for taking kids from the states that might have real NCAA options, a team in a market the size of Owen Sound and area cannot compete without being bold.
The Richard Power/Rick Nash example isn't really a good one though, because it was so long ago. The Platers/Attack were a mickey mouse franchise in every sense of the word (remember our blue benches??), and in the OHL draft, there's no point getting upset about who you could have had in the first round because there's always the question of whether they'd report. I'm going to guess, given that was the first year the Hunters owned the Knights, that Nash was never an option.
Bobby Ryan can also be considered a special case given his very particular family situation at the time. Whether the Attack decision started it or not, he's also had a rough relationship with US Hockey.
My sentiment with this team is I'll believe it when I see them on the ice here - and more frankly - when they've signed a deal.
