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dbc
(Been Here Awhile)
865 Posts |
 Posted - 03/07/2011 : 3:55:12 PM
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Interesting statistics: Clones have given up as many even strength goals as they have scored (127) but are a minus 27 on the PP/PK ledger--more than double the next highest minus number. Even strength goals against (127) has been surprisingly (to me) excellent allowing the third lowest total in the Conference after SC ( 118) and Greenville (122). Even strength scoring (127) however has been dismal being the 2nd lowest in the Conference only behind only Gwinett (120).
Add to this the fact we have scored the lowest number of power play goals (39) and given up the most PK goals (66) in the Conference, and you can see what the issue has been all year: anemic offense both even strength and power play, coupled with awful penalty kill numbers. |
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cycfan
(The Next Level!)
243 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 4:16:01 PM
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 5:12:02 PM
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I blame Liambas.
Sorry. Couldn't help it.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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dbc
(Been Here Awhile)
865 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 5:37:40 PM
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Touche' 22. Got me to smile on that one
Wondered if you were as a surprised as I was on the small number of even strength goals given up. I have been critical of the goalie play and you the defensemen, but the numbers show a strong even strength effort. The dismal PK results I think are more to do with the system employed than the players.
I have never liked our system of fronting the puck and cutting off the shooting lanes in a zone like fashion. That is the coach's decision but it seems the other team keeps the puck in our zone for the whole penalty kill and they kill their penalties in an aggressive man to man approach clearing the puck easily before we can set up.
Poor special team results were talked about here early in the year and nothing seems to have changed in our approach. Their guys get open in the slot or for cross ice passes while we cycle down low and lose the puck or shoot from the point. |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 7:04:01 PM
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It could simply be a funtion of very conservative 5 on 5 play.
There is plenty of blame to spread around. So far this season I have left exactly 3 games feeling good about how the team played and at least a dozen feeling disappointed. This past Saturday was one of the worst. Our boys just generally looked like they were skating in oatmeal and the puck was a rubber ball.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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cloneinator
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
597 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 8:28:51 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Catch22
There is plenty of blame to spread around. So far this season I have left exactly 3 games feeling good about how the team played and at least a dozen feeling disappointed. This past Saturday was one of the worst. Our boys just generally looked like they were skating in oatmeal and the puck was a rubber ball.
Boy does this post hit the nail on the head. That is about all the games I can remember also leaving and feeling good about, and I know I left disappointed in more than a dozen. What we have witnessed this season IS NOT Cincinnati Cyclones hockey!
The blame for this dismal season goes far deeper than the signing of one or two questionable players. This season was doomed for failure waiting on Chuck to accept a better offer and the organization allowing itself to hang in limbo, hoping he would stay. It is also the signing of what is perceived by some (including me) as taking the best of the coaches that were left when the best choices were gone. The loss of the Hamilton/Montreal affiliation was damaging also. We can all come up with more reasons.
As far as this season, you can just about put a fork in it...Its done. Even if they manage to back into the playoffs, its not because some light just came on and everything clicked. It would be because they are the best of the worst. I have seen nothing in five months of hockey that makes me thing they deserve a shot at the playoffs.
I can accept a season like this every once in a great while coming off two championships, as painful as its been. But there are some very tough choices this organization is going to have to make in the off season if this team is going to survive. |
...And on the eighth day, GOD created the Cyclones! |
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fangers
(The Next Level!)
USA
262 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 8:49:14 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by cloneinatorThe blame for this dismal season goes far deeper than the signing of one or two questionable players. This season was doomed for failure waiting on Chuck to accept a better offer and the organization allowing itself to hang in limbo, hoping he would stay.
You've mentioned this a couple times and I simply can't agree with this. While the organization probably had a feeling the Chuck might get an offer, you don't kick him to the curb on a feeling that he might sign - that's insanity. Would have look ed really stupid if you kick him out, sign another coach, and then he doesn't get an AHL job. While it is unfortuante that his signing came as late as it did, the organization simply couldn't do anything about it. |
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cloneinator
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
597 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 9:45:10 PM
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And I agree with you Fangers...it was a no win scenario.
I had suggested prior he be offered a contract with thirty or even sixty days to accept. Even at that point I'm not saying you "Kick him to the curb" but a team has to look out for their own interests as well. They can continue their search but if they find someone, you have to take them. Otherwise, you find yourself exactly where we are now.
Yes, the team may have looked foolish. But I would rather make this argument with a possible division lead than be where we are now. I guess as long as the organization and fans are content with being where we are now because we wanted to wait on something to happen to Chuck, then it is acceptable. It makes for an interesting debate.
I am curious however as to yours (and everyone else's opinion). What does this organization do in the off season? Do you give Skalde another season, knowing one more year like this could spell the teams doom? Or do you go out and find someone else? This would be an interesting thread. |
...And on the eighth day, GOD created the Cyclones! |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 9:53:04 PM
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The Weber situation threw a monkey wrench in things, but in hindsight nothing could have reasonably been done differently.
Skalde came in a sub .500 coach and thats likely what we're going to get this year. I can't put all the blame on him, but on the flip side I can't really see anything that would cause me to argue that he should stay.
I think we probably should give him another season just on principle, but it also wouldn't bother me if the organization let him go tomorrow.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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cloneinator
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
597 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 10:48:53 PM
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OK Catch, but let me ask you this. And I ask because I don't know. Do you think this team can stand another season like this? This isn't the Reds or Bengals that have millions in taxpayer subsidies and taxpayer stadiums. The Cyclones don't have TV revenues or luxury suites. They are supported by the fans. No attendance, no team.
I'm not saying Skalde should stay or go because I agree with you 100%. Now as devils advocate, you're the G.M. What do you do? |
...And on the eighth day, GOD created the Cyclones! |
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fangers
(The Next Level!)
USA
262 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 10:50:54 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by cloneinator
And I agree with you Fangers...it was a no win scenario.
I had suggested prior he be offered a contract with thirty or even sixty days to accept. Even at that point I'm not saying you "Kick him to the curb" but a team has to look out for their own interests as well. They can continue their search but if they find someone, you have to take them. Otherwise, you find yourself exactly where we are now.
Yes, the team may have looked foolish. But I would rather make this argument with a possible division lead than be where we are now. I guess as long as the organization and fans are content with being where we are now because we wanted to wait on something to happen to Chuck, then it is acceptable. It makes for an interesting debate.
I am curious however as to yours (and everyone else's opinion). What does this organization do in the off season? Do you give Skalde another season, knowing one more year like this could spell the teams doom? Or do you go out and find someone else? This would be an interesting thread.
Fair enough. Given that I wasn't a fan of the skalde hiring to begin with, I would favor moving on with a new guy... |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 10:57:25 PM
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I tend to agree. I think two things put people in seats in this non-hockey town... Winning and free stuff.
Would we be seeing more than 5K for most weekend games without the two cups and all the media that came with it? I seriously doubt it.
How long will that last?
I honestly have no clue, but I wouldn't press my luck if I were the GM.
But the thing about coaching changes is that there is never a guarantee the next guy is going to be any better. Stability is nothing to sneeze at either.
In short, I'd give him one more year if I were GM. Give him an offseason to get "his players" and set up his system.
On the one hand Skalde does not have a winning season as a coach and likely won't get one this year. On the other hand he started here at a disadvantage with the late hire.
So... Yeah. I'd give him another season.
But I wouldn't sleep very well for a looong time.
Touch call. Always is. The calls are easy when you are winning.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 06:52:52 AM
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Here is a question I haven't seen brought up. The off season Weber situation
has another twist for me. I can't believe Florida called "Monday" and said
they want to be our affiliate or Montreal called one "Sunday" and said they
were not going to be our affiliate. My meaning is this situation must have
been known for at least weeks and with the switch we should have been ready
for the coaching set-up. If Florida AND Nashville was okay with Weber, a
contract should have been signed and he should have been held to it. If he
wasn't the definite coach, why wasn't those steps taken. The Cyclones dropped
the ball on the coaching then dropped the ball on dealing with a bad team.
I have my season tickets for next year but if this kind of #^%& happens again
then this might be the last for SEASON TICKETS ( will still go)! |
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tjpavlik
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 07:44:33 AM
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I'd give Skalde one more year to get "his" guys in and set up his program. I would have to insist that he hires someone who can run the defense. I assume (maybe wrongly) that Fankhauser runs the defense and the goaltending. Both areas have sucked to say the least. Given the returners from last year we know the guys can play; in the right system. Either get new guys or get a new system.
To add another wrinkle... Chuck Weber is most likely out of a job in Rochester due to the loss of the Florida affiliation. Obviously he's in Florida's organization but should he be caught in the numbers game, he's my choice! |
Edited by - tjpavlik on 03/08/2011 08:12:08 AM |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 11:33:31 AM
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I'd like to adjust my previous answer.
Give Skalde another year UNLESS a clearly better candidate that wants the job is available.
If Dean decides he just plain dislikes living in South Carolina and wants to come back... No brainer.
Or some stud with a nice winning percentage in the minors/SPHL/CHL...
In short, I'm all for giving Skalde a chance to prove himself, but not at the expense of shooting the organization in the foot. If a clearly better option is available... Pull the trigger.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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cloneinator
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
597 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 1:45:03 PM
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| OK...so devils advocate, again (ain't this fun). Chuck gets released from Rochester (which I don't necessarily agree with but who knows). Do you bring him back knowing he will be gone again in a heartbeat and we are back where we were this year all over again? Me personnally, no way. |
...And on the eighth day, GOD created the Cyclones! |
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