I had the chance for a first on Monday night. Rod Pedersen invited me on Sportsline to talk WHL playoffs. We talked WHL playoffs---for about a minute. The other 59 were devoted to the Regina Pats and what's next. John Lynch and Kelly Remple were also there to throw in their two cents and it was a lively hour of radio. Who says you can't talk an hour of junior hockey in Regina and that people don't care? We could have talked about what the future holds for the Pats for two or three hours. One person e-mailed Rod saying he had just heard the best 15 minutes of sports talk he had heard in a long time. There were several other e-mails that we couldn't get to because of the time.
The Regina hockey community is pinning the blame on GM Brent Parker. I don't blame them. I also don't blame Brent for keeping Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert. Perhaps that is because I wanted to see Eberle finish his career in a Regina uniform. As I have stated on this blog before, I would have been ill had I seen Eberle come back to the Brandt Centre wearing a Brandon uniform. People want Brent to leave. Again, I can understand that. Brent said Monday at the Brandt Centre that he understands that. Guess what? Brent isn't going anywhere.
This isn't the first time the Pats have not lived up to expectations, but Parker has not given up his duties as GM. Do you really think anything is going to change? As long as Russ Parker continues to own this franchise, Brent will be the GM unless Brent decides he has had enough and I don't think he will make that decision. I don't have to tell you that Brent is a very passionate man. It would kill him to step aside and see someone else build a winner. What would that say about his own abilities? He is going to continue to do whatever he feels he can to make this team a winner. He gambled by trading for Carter Ashton, Mitch Spooner and Cass Mappin and he lost. He was at least willing to roll the dice. He was at least willing to try. Yes, getting into the playoffs would have likely meant a first round demolition at the hands of either the Calgary Hitmen or the Brandon Wheat Kings, but he was hoping it could get done. He lost that gamble.
I found Rod's blog very interesting on Monday when he said that some players were not enamoured with either Curtis Hunt or Dale Derkatch. BINGO! There's your problem! You're going to tell me Curtis Hunt can't coach? This guy was picked by Hockey Canada to be an assistant on two World Junior teams and he had a stint in the NHL. This guy can coach! As for Derkatch, it is now maybe obvious that he wasn't given a fair chance. It also asks the question just what the h-e double hockeysticks to these players want? Are they upset if they are not getting pampered? Do their egos take a hit if they aren't on the first line or the power play? Apparently, the answer for some is yes! The players must be held accountable as well. They must be held accountable by the same people who blame Parker and Hunt. It is up to Parker, Hunt or whoever to get rid of these guys if indeed they are coming back or to make sure they have a completely different attitude when camp rolls around next year. The culture needs to change and it needs to change immediately.
The question was also asked about expectation levels for this team and the pressure it will be under next year. Yes, Regina hockey fans will likely go into next year thinking the team won't be that good and that a 3rd straight season without a playoff appearance is on the horizon. Does that take the pressure off or does it increase the pressure from those who want this team to succeed. I guess we won't find out that answer until the puck is dropped next season. What will the team look like when the puck is dropped? No one knows the answer to that question. I don't even think Brent or Curtis know right now. Can you blame them?
One suggestion comes for next year and that comes from Rob Vanstone. Its a great piece. Take a read....
http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/Pats+Brent+Parker+doesn+regret+keeping+stars+Jordan+Eberle+Colten+Teubert/2686464/VANSTONE+Pats+should+explore+splitting+duties+into+business+hockey/2686479/story.html
Is taking the same model as the Riders the answer? It wouldn't bother me.
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Alex Ovechkin gets two games for his hit on Brian Campbell. To see Ovechkin get suspended while Matt Cooke gets away with nothing for his hit on Marc Savard just makes me shake my head. Ovechkin was playing the game and Campbell to me was the victim of a hard check---a check that did not take aim at the head. What Cooke did was simply heinous. The fact he is still playing is a joke. If Pittsburgh is smart, they give him the night off when they go to Boston Thursday night. If they don't, we could have a Bertuzzi-Moore Part 2. No one needs to see that.
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The Kraft Hockeyville contest is underway and there are no Saskatchewan centres in the final 12. Are you kidding me? We know that there is no better place for hockey than in small-town Saskatchewan where the rink is the meeting place. I don't know what the criteria is for getting in the final 12, but not seeing some place from Saskatchewan in that final group is wrong.
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How can "24" not be getting the ratings it has in other years? I find this year's show to be better than last year's. Tonight's episode was a great cat and mouse game with the terrorists taking this round. I know Jack can't go forever, but I just can't see the interest in the show waning from those who have watched in other years. I'd rather watch "24" than "The Biggest Loser" or "The Bachelor".
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Have you filled out your March Madness bracket yet?
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By the way, I have mentioned it before, but you can catch me on Access 7's SportsZone with Pete Paczko every week. While you get this in print every day, you can catch another commentary on his show. It goes Tuesdays at 9, Wednesday at 3 and I believe Saturday too, but I'm not sure at what time. Speaking of which, I gotta hammer something out for that show. Will it be what's at the top of this posting. It might be!
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As you go into your Tuesday, I say this to you....
"Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers: What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow!
9 comments:
A big issue is scouting. They continue to have to trade for players as their selections do not seem to rise to expectations. Everyone who saw Ebs from age 7 on knew he was going to be a player. Can't think of anyone off the top who was a late pick who has really been a standout?
Not only was it your first time on Sportsline, but it was something that was highly overdue. Thats one of the best shows I have heard in a long time!
I think Brent will be back too, because he can't walk away and Pa Parker won't cut the cord.
The one thing you did say that I will disagree with you on is next year. Many are saying or have said they won't be back, and you said a majority of those of will be when push comes to shove. I don't think so.
The only way this team will listen to what is an eroding fan base is by not putting their $$ down to see something like what we've seen the last two years. Eberle is gone, and Weal isn't a local boy so the Regina factor is gone.
Terry C
Ovechkin deserved a suspension. What he did is considered boarding. It was dirty, cheap, and against the rules. Not defending Matt Cooke, but by the rules it wasn't a penalty (even though it was really dirty and cheap). Let's not forget this isn't the first time Ovy has done something dirty.
The last few episodes of 24 were kind of slow, but last nights episode was great! If you watch enough of the show you can see some twists coming, but I did not see that coming at all!
Little Johnny
Let me get this straight. It was you, Pedersen, Remple and Lynch talking for an hour about the Pats. Good god, that would have been GREAT to listen to. What a group you four would make! Why didn't you say you were going to be on? Why didn't Rod say what was coming up. Is this happening again!
RT
Its as simple as this. If Parker is back, I'm not. I can think of better ways to waste my $$$
Clark
Mitch, you are way off base if you honestly a TON of people will be back after the last 2...nay, 15 years. People have had it and they will show it by not going to the rink next year. That's the only way to run the Parker's out of town.
Parker's biggest problem is he makes terrible trades. Example--He trades Bosch to MJ for Neal Prokop. Prokop was brutal and Bosch was a commodity. Prokop does nothing here and is traded for Jason Gardner. Where is he now? Meanwhile, Bosch beats the Pats in seven of eight games this year. Bosch should have been the starting goalie this year with Ketlo backing up. If Bosch was here, the Pats would have made the playoffs. Its why I was hoping Eberle would stay because we would have gotten zip-squat for him.
DM
Mitch,
How can you take Red Deer in 7 against Saskatoon? Didn't you see the score on February 17 in Saskatoon? 8-1 Blades!
I'd love to hear your justification.
Darrell
I don't agree with everything you say, but you and Pedersen would make a solid team!
Darren K
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