One last move by Seattle today at the deadline, sending backup goaltender Kyle Jahraus to Prince George in exchange for 18 year old Center Robbie Ciolfi.
Ciolfi was dismissed from the team earlier in the year for "education reasons". This is still a really good trade by Farwell for a number of reason... though let me first say that I was totally wrong on Jahraus... I really thought he would stay here in his backup role and instead he will get to go to Prince George and get a lot more playing time and might even become their number 1 goaltender.
As a college baseball player who did not get to play very much I can tell you how difficult it is to be a good teammate and sit on the bench while others get to play and you only get to labor through practices... So I feel great for Jahraus that he might get to play out the rest of his 19 year old season, even if it is up in PG.
For Seattle... it is a no lose trade. if Ciolfi doesn't work out... well you only gave up your backup goaltender who rarely played and if he does work out... you gave up your backup goaltender who rarely played.
If I were to hand out a grade for Farwell at the deadline... I'm giving a solid B+. I'd give him a higher grade but for the fact that the goal was pretty simple... sell your best assets to build for the next couple of years and he did that.
In addition... you kept a player like Charles Wells who could be a really great player if he has the desire to take his game to the "next" level.
You got younger... and I'm honestly not sure you got a lot worse... well done.
I have no idea who is coming to Seattle right away and who isn't I will try to figure that out in the next few days as I get home.
I'm excited to come home this week to take a look at some of these new players.
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1.10.2010
Warg on his way to Prince Albert
General Manager Russ Farwell makes another move today with Stefan Warg headed to Prince Albert for 16 year old midget defenseman Austin Frank and a 5th round bantam pick... which is probably just the pick that Seattle sent to Prince Albert with the Jon Parker deal. Frank was himself a 5th round pick of the Raiders in the 2008 bantam draft.
I can't say I'm shocked by this... but perhaps a bit surprised. Though it is unusual and at best probably a 50/50 chance... I thought Warg had a shot at being back in Seattle next season and that obviously wasn't in the cards.
Prince Albert was thought to have really good depth on defense... the reason why Aasman was a player they were willing to move. So the fact that Frank wasn't with the club and had been sent back to his midget team doesn't necessarily mean he couldn't be a quality player. Looked to me like Seattle dressed 7 defensemen last night... someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Looks like some trades are still coming in... but overall it looks like Seattle was one of the more active teams and there really hasn't been much in the way of "blockbuster" moves outside of Calgary loading up with some Kamloops players.
I can't say I'm shocked by this... but perhaps a bit surprised. Though it is unusual and at best probably a 50/50 chance... I thought Warg had a shot at being back in Seattle next season and that obviously wasn't in the cards.
Prince Albert was thought to have really good depth on defense... the reason why Aasman was a player they were willing to move. So the fact that Frank wasn't with the club and had been sent back to his midget team doesn't necessarily mean he couldn't be a quality player. Looked to me like Seattle dressed 7 defensemen last night... someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Looks like some trades are still coming in... but overall it looks like Seattle was one of the more active teams and there really hasn't been much in the way of "blockbuster" moves outside of Calgary loading up with some Kamloops players.
1.09.2010
Bingo...
Well every blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. As I proposed... Sena Acolatse was dealt to the Saskatoon Blades for RW Burke Gallimore. Another pretty nice move by Farwell. We trade a 19 year old player for an 18 year old player and get slightly younger.
Gallimore is a big winger at 6'0" and 210 lbs and at 18 years old gives you a player that you know will be here next season and could be here as a 20 year old depending on the situation.
Obviously... I didn't miss much last night with Seattle losing 3-0 to Everett last night. In a weird way I actually hope the Tbirds don't make the playoffs because I would rather not pay for playoff tickets to be cannon fodder to one of the top teams in the Western Conference... plus I'd rather have a higher bantam pick in the upcoming draft.
I heard that Aasman played well... but obviously I will reserve any kind of judgment until I return and get a good look for myself.
Gallimore is a big winger at 6'0" and 210 lbs and at 18 years old gives you a player that you know will be here next season and could be here as a 20 year old depending on the situation.
Obviously... I didn't miss much last night with Seattle losing 3-0 to Everett last night. In a weird way I actually hope the Tbirds don't make the playoffs because I would rather not pay for playoff tickets to be cannon fodder to one of the top teams in the Western Conference... plus I'd rather have a higher bantam pick in the upcoming draft.
I heard that Aasman played well... but obviously I will reserve any kind of judgment until I return and get a good look for myself.
1.08.2010
Seattle vs. Everett Game Thread
I am currently located about 2800 miles away in Albany...
You guys will have to tell me how the team looks tonight. I would presume that Aasman will be in the lineup tonight and it might be interesting to note whether Seattle dresses 7 D or whether on of the players who has been playing gets the scratch.
No other news yet on the trade front, though I'd be very surprised if Farwell is done making deals.
The guy in Kootenay mused that the Ice might be a good fit for a guy like Prab Rai. Having won 8 straight and only two 1989 players on the roster... that would seem to be a pretty good fit.
You guys will have to tell me how the team looks tonight. I would presume that Aasman will be in the lineup tonight and it might be interesting to note whether Seattle dresses 7 D or whether on of the players who has been playing gets the scratch.
No other news yet on the trade front, though I'd be very surprised if Farwell is done making deals.
The guy in Kootenay mused that the Ice might be a good fit for a guy like Prab Rai. Having won 8 straight and only two 1989 players on the roster... that would seem to be a pretty good fit.
1.06.2010
Parker to P.A. for Aasman
Seattle gets defenseman Ryan Aasman from Prince Albert for Jonathan Parker and a 5th round bantam selection.
This is exactly the type of move I was anticipating. Aasman comes with a really nice resume having been the 8th overall selection in the 2007 bantam draft... but I don't really know a ton about his game so as usual we'll have to wait to see how he looks. Adding a 17 year old is exactly the type of move I was hoping for... Seattle is stockpiling players around the 16 and 17 year old years and this is in keeping with this.
Moving Parker might seem strange to some fans but from a roster construction stance it makes sense. I imagine this clears the way for Wells to stay... still a chance he is traded as well but I would think there is an 80% chance he stays now.
Also... with the addition of a defenseman you have some wiggle room if you want to trade away a defenseman like 19 year old Dillon.
Official release can be found here.
This is exactly the type of move I was anticipating. Aasman comes with a really nice resume having been the 8th overall selection in the 2007 bantam draft... but I don't really know a ton about his game so as usual we'll have to wait to see how he looks. Adding a 17 year old is exactly the type of move I was hoping for... Seattle is stockpiling players around the 16 and 17 year old years and this is in keeping with this.
Moving Parker might seem strange to some fans but from a roster construction stance it makes sense. I imagine this clears the way for Wells to stay... still a chance he is traded as well but I would think there is an 80% chance he stays now.
Also... with the addition of a defenseman you have some wiggle room if you want to trade away a defenseman like 19 year old Dillon.
Official release can be found here.
Trade Deadline stuff...
Ok... finally I can get to this.
Sunday at 3pm is the trade deadline.
Typically trades happen in the days leading up to the deadline so don't expect Seattle to just wait until Sunday afternoon to pull the trigger on some deals.
I'm not sure I really have a method of format for this thing so let's just roll it out.
I don't think Seattle will trade a defenseman, I will just say that off the bat. There are really only 6 guys playing defense right now with Muth a healthy scratch on most nights. If they trade a defenseman I would half expect a defenseman to come back in return.
Maybe we'll go by age here.
I know there are some that are saying they think Schappert and Rai could/should be traded because they are good players (true statement) but I just don't think you are going to get much back for either of them. Trading top notch 20 year old players in this league is really tough. I believe someone in the barrage of comments pointed out that most of the top teams in the league are pretty well set with their O/A players. It wouldn't shock me to see Rai traded because we know he is a top flight player and there might be a team out there looking to improve their O/A situation by getting him and sending an O/A player back to Seattle plus something else.
My gut prediction... Rai and Schappert stay along with Nielsen.
Let's look at the 19's.
Kyle Jahraus... isn't going anywhere.
Stefan Warg... I really doubt that Warg is going anywhere. He has had an up an down season but Import players are also pretty hard to move and for that reason alone I doubt he goes anywhere. Also, I have heard it rumored that should be be back next season he might be your next captain. Plus... the defense comment from above obviously applies to him.
Brenden Dillon... defense comment also applies. I really doubt he will be traded but it wouldn't shock me either. With just 4 players currently in the 1990 year on the roster, Dillon could be a strong candidate to return next year as a 20 year old.
Sena Acolatse... I would be a little bit sad to see him go, but I personally think there is a strong chance you might see him traded this week. He has the highest trade value in this group of 19's and probably can get you the highest return on a trade. If I were Russ... I would be on the phone to Saskatoon asking them about their 15th ranked PP and selling them on the fact that Sena and his 9 PP goals would look really good at the top of their PP unit. With Saskatoon looking to make a serious run at a league title, Acolatse might be on of the final pieces to their puzzle. That is a trade that makes a lot of sense to me.
Now the 18's.
Brenden Silvester... Maybe. I wouldn't be shocked to see him moved but I really doubt it. He isn't going to have a ton of value because he has been hurt most of the season and I think his best hockey is still yet to be played.
Charles Wells... I could definitely see Wells being traded. Not because he is a bad player or because I want to see him gone, simply because he has solid trade value. I will link him closely with Jon Parker because I really feel like one of these guys is going to be moved. We have 5 players in the 1991 class on the roster and 3 of them are forwards. From a roster construction point of view it would make sense to move one of them. Wells might be able to get you some pretty good value in return. He has big time speed and he is an absolute beast on the PK. This would be a trade you make because Wells has value, not because you don't like him as a player.
Jon Parker... see above. One of these forwards probably needs to be traded to set up the roster better for the future. Parker is a pretty different player from Wells but it wouldn't surprise me to see him traded for the same reason. Despite the 13 game scoring drought, Parker has some scoring ability for a team looking to add some punch at the deadline. Surround Parker with a couple of first class playmakers and he could be lethal.
Scott Ramsay and Erik Bonsor... I doubt either of these guys will be moved. The defense comment from above applies to them and I would assume they stay based on the fact that they must have been acquired for a reason earlier in the season. I really like Ramsay as a player. I love his toughness and I think he can be a pretty solid stay at home guy for the next couple of years. I am less sure on Bonsor but I'm not really "down" on him either. I guess I'm still somewhat neutral on him and I would really like to see more before I form a solid opinion.
Now the 17's and 16's.
This is getting quite a bit easier here. I really don't see them moving any 17 year olds. I suppose it is possible that a guy like Lockhart is moved but I just don't know how much is accomplished by doing that. If a 17 year old player is moved here at the deadline I would have to wonder if there were problems with the player beyond what we see on the ice.
Same goes for the 16's... I just don't see Seattle dealing anything in the 1993 year unless there is something going on that we don't know about.
So that's it... Might be 2 or 3 players on the move for Seattle or there could be zero. I've heard it mentioned already that the trade market will probably hinge on what Regina decided to do with Eberle and Teubert. If Regina decides to keep those two guys and make a run at the playoffs, it will probably open the market up quite a bit for some other players to have higher value... and thus be traded.
Sunday at 3pm is the trade deadline.
Typically trades happen in the days leading up to the deadline so don't expect Seattle to just wait until Sunday afternoon to pull the trigger on some deals.
I'm not sure I really have a method of format for this thing so let's just roll it out.
I don't think Seattle will trade a defenseman, I will just say that off the bat. There are really only 6 guys playing defense right now with Muth a healthy scratch on most nights. If they trade a defenseman I would half expect a defenseman to come back in return.
Maybe we'll go by age here.
I know there are some that are saying they think Schappert and Rai could/should be traded because they are good players (true statement) but I just don't think you are going to get much back for either of them. Trading top notch 20 year old players in this league is really tough. I believe someone in the barrage of comments pointed out that most of the top teams in the league are pretty well set with their O/A players. It wouldn't shock me to see Rai traded because we know he is a top flight player and there might be a team out there looking to improve their O/A situation by getting him and sending an O/A player back to Seattle plus something else.
My gut prediction... Rai and Schappert stay along with Nielsen.
Let's look at the 19's.
Kyle Jahraus... isn't going anywhere.
Stefan Warg... I really doubt that Warg is going anywhere. He has had an up an down season but Import players are also pretty hard to move and for that reason alone I doubt he goes anywhere. Also, I have heard it rumored that should be be back next season he might be your next captain. Plus... the defense comment from above obviously applies to him.
Brenden Dillon... defense comment also applies. I really doubt he will be traded but it wouldn't shock me either. With just 4 players currently in the 1990 year on the roster, Dillon could be a strong candidate to return next year as a 20 year old.
Sena Acolatse... I would be a little bit sad to see him go, but I personally think there is a strong chance you might see him traded this week. He has the highest trade value in this group of 19's and probably can get you the highest return on a trade. If I were Russ... I would be on the phone to Saskatoon asking them about their 15th ranked PP and selling them on the fact that Sena and his 9 PP goals would look really good at the top of their PP unit. With Saskatoon looking to make a serious run at a league title, Acolatse might be on of the final pieces to their puzzle. That is a trade that makes a lot of sense to me.
Now the 18's.
Brenden Silvester... Maybe. I wouldn't be shocked to see him moved but I really doubt it. He isn't going to have a ton of value because he has been hurt most of the season and I think his best hockey is still yet to be played.
Charles Wells... I could definitely see Wells being traded. Not because he is a bad player or because I want to see him gone, simply because he has solid trade value. I will link him closely with Jon Parker because I really feel like one of these guys is going to be moved. We have 5 players in the 1991 class on the roster and 3 of them are forwards. From a roster construction point of view it would make sense to move one of them. Wells might be able to get you some pretty good value in return. He has big time speed and he is an absolute beast on the PK. This would be a trade you make because Wells has value, not because you don't like him as a player.
Jon Parker... see above. One of these forwards probably needs to be traded to set up the roster better for the future. Parker is a pretty different player from Wells but it wouldn't surprise me to see him traded for the same reason. Despite the 13 game scoring drought, Parker has some scoring ability for a team looking to add some punch at the deadline. Surround Parker with a couple of first class playmakers and he could be lethal.
Scott Ramsay and Erik Bonsor... I doubt either of these guys will be moved. The defense comment from above applies to them and I would assume they stay based on the fact that they must have been acquired for a reason earlier in the season. I really like Ramsay as a player. I love his toughness and I think he can be a pretty solid stay at home guy for the next couple of years. I am less sure on Bonsor but I'm not really "down" on him either. I guess I'm still somewhat neutral on him and I would really like to see more before I form a solid opinion.
Now the 17's and 16's.
This is getting quite a bit easier here. I really don't see them moving any 17 year olds. I suppose it is possible that a guy like Lockhart is moved but I just don't know how much is accomplished by doing that. If a 17 year old player is moved here at the deadline I would have to wonder if there were problems with the player beyond what we see on the ice.
Same goes for the 16's... I just don't see Seattle dealing anything in the 1993 year unless there is something going on that we don't know about.
So that's it... Might be 2 or 3 players on the move for Seattle or there could be zero. I've heard it mentioned already that the trade market will probably hinge on what Regina decided to do with Eberle and Teubert. If Regina decides to keep those two guys and make a run at the playoffs, it will probably open the market up quite a bit for some other players to have higher value... and thus be traded.
USA Wins Gold
As a hockey fan and a fan of a team and league whose players are probably 95% from Canada, I have a certain affection and appreciation for the country to the north.... but there is nothing like watching the good old USA knock them off in their own building to win their first Gold in 6 years.
It wasn't on the level as the Miracle on Ice (what am I, stupid? ok don't answer that) but wow that sure was fun last night.
I admit, when the boys in Red tied the game at 5-5 last night I was frustrated, angry and depressed (as much as you can be about a hockey game). The game was over. Canada winning in overtime seemed nothing more than a matter of time.
And then, just like that, the Americans scored... I was almost too shocked to believe it.
I hate to team Team Canada, but they win that game with Pickard in net. Oh well, Pickard can start his two year run at the WJC next year.
Trade deadline post coming up later this morning.
It wasn't on the level as the Miracle on Ice (what am I, stupid? ok don't answer that) but wow that sure was fun last night.
I admit, when the boys in Red tied the game at 5-5 last night I was frustrated, angry and depressed (as much as you can be about a hockey game). The game was over. Canada winning in overtime seemed nothing more than a matter of time.
And then, just like that, the Americans scored... I was almost too shocked to believe it.
I hate to team Team Canada, but they win that game with Pickard in net. Oh well, Pickard can start his two year run at the WJC next year.
Trade deadline post coming up later this morning.
1.05.2010
I'm taking shots left and right here!!
Ok let's do this.
Part of me doesn't want to say this but since I have been accused of not being entirely honestly lately I thought it would be better to just voice my feelings. Some of these comments that are aimed at taking shots at either myself or my opinions have bothered me a little bit. I know, I know... don't start a blog if you can't take the heat... and that's fine. I know it is part of the deal that if I'm going to put my own opinions out there I have to be prepared for people to disagree and potentially take shots. The great part about the age of internet discourse is the ease with which people can exchange ideas and information. The bad part about this era is the ease at which people can snipe authors or other fans under the cloak of anonymity. I really didn't want to make it so that people had to register to make comments but I'm beginning to feel like that day has come. We might just start making people register with their email addresses and if I don't like what you said, you're outta here.
I love arguments, I love when people disagree with me and I openly encourage it... but if your retort is going to basically be "you're stupid because you don't see what I see" I'm just getting rid of you. This isn't free speech, this is my website/blog and I've spent countless hours writing about the Tbirds out of love for the game and the team. There is a perfectly good message board that I have linked to over on the left if all you want to do is see your opinion posted on the internet without giving any thought to what it says.
Obviously, everyone is frustrated and the worst comes out when people are upset and frustrated.
Let me also point out that this doesn't apply to everyone. For the most part commenting has been pretty good. I may not agree with all of it but it has been good.
Ok.... I'm done with that. Look for comment registration coming to your local Let's Go Birds soon.
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"Anonymous" wants me to take a stand on things. Well you obviously haven't been reading my blog for very long because I have stated my opinion in the past... but I will do so again here.
I have made it very clear I think this team has to draft better. That isn't a secret, nor is it some brilliant analysis on my part. This team must draft better. The last impact 1st rounder this team drafted was Thomas Hickey and before that it was Bud Holloway and before that was Chris Durand who had a mediocre at best Seattle career.
Let's take a look at the drafts after the Thomas Hickey draft.
2005 -
Top pick Cody Hanson never developed into a top player and was traded away. Jeremy Boyer was a decent pick who really never became a player who could carry a team and was traded away this fall when he didn't report to Seattle. Jacob DeSerres looked like the goaltender of the future, but lost his way and was traded to Brandon this fall. Jared Prokopets never played for Seattle. Sena Acolatse is the last player left from this class and I would not be shocked to see him traded here at the deadline. Bryce Kakoske, Quinn Gould, A-Jay Moore, Travis Eggum never played for Seattle. Isak Quakenbush never really developed his size and despite scoring against Seattle this season while playing for Chilliwack is no longer on the Bruins roster.
This draft was not good. 3 players who turned out to be players and only 1 left on the team is not good.
2006 -
Steve Chaffin was forced to retire just as he might have been coming into his own. Unfortunately, we will never know. Sadly you have to call this pick a bust. Zac Ashdown never played for Seattle. Steve Oursov played 3 games for Seattle and was traded to Red Deer and never made an impact. Jeff Beattie never played for Seattle. Josh Lazowski showed a little bit of promise but was traded away and never heard from again. Charles Wells is the gem of this class and is the only player still with the team making a bit of an impact. Wouldn't shock me if he was traded as well. Justin Krabben, Kaydon Trubley, Wade Ritchie, Reid Johnson and Anthony Hamburg never developed into anything for Seattle.
This draft was a disaster. If Steve Chaffin has developed into a top defender next season with Wells becoming a top scorer it might have worked but sometimes things don't work out as you had hoped.
2007 -
Erik Fleming has yet to develop into a top player but every pick in the 2007 year still deserves a bit of time to develop. Fleming needs to get bigger in order to continue his development. Calvin Pickard is a franchise player, a grand slam pick in the 2nd round. More of these types of picks are how teams build championships. Brandon Carlson came into camp twice as an American player and despite the fact that I liked what I saw never made the roster. Carlson was drafted 4th overall in the USHL draft this past summer and is currently playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers. Why he isn't on this team I really don't fully understand. Chance Lund still has a chance to be a player and we're all hoping we see more of the 2 goal game he had last week. Jason Zucker is a very talented kid playing for Team USA at the World Juniors but it doesn't appear that he is coming to Seattle at this point. Luke Lockhart probably won't ever be a star but his hustle can fill a role on a very good team going forward. If he develops any kind of scoring touch he could be a really nice player in future years. Justin Lachance, Dan Gibb and Connor Cleverley did not make the team this year. I know Gibb and Lachance were in camp, I can't remember if Cleverley was or not.
This draft has potential. You have one franchise player and potentially 3 other solid players to compliment.
2008 -
Connor Sanvido didn't make the team out of camp this year and you have to be concerned about his ability to develop into a franchise player. Tanner Muth has had a terrible year but has shown flashes of potential that could make him a top 2 defender down the road. Ryan Armbruster didn't make the team out of camp this year but still has a shot to make it next season. Colin Jacobs is a franchise player in the making. He hasn't had a great year but he is only 16 years old and is already light years ahead of Muth, Sanvido, Elliot and Alos. Robbie Newton was in camp this year and looked good but didn't make it. He was one of my favorite players in camp and I would be really disappointed if he doesn't make the team next year. (EDIT: I totally forgot he was traded in the Ramsay deal, oops my bad.) Mitch Elliot (with one T or two T's depending on where you look) made the team out of camp this year and has great size but really hasn't done much yet. Zach Walker was a really solid looking D man and came in for one game on the road swing before getting hurt. Walker should make this team next season. Tyler Alos is has really looked nice in situations as a hustling fore-checking forward and we know he has scoring potential from his Bantam years and hopefully that develops. Seth Ambroz is a very talented American who has been rumored to be coming to Seattle several times but has yet to show up here.
This class also has talent and potential to be very good with one franchise player and several solid players.
So Mr. Anonymous... isn't it pretty obvious????
Do you really need me to tell you why the 2009-2010 version of the Seattle Thunderbirds isn't very good. Well... here it is... this team isn't very good because the draft years of 2005 and 2006 were poor draft years.
So you want to know what I think needs to change? Drafting. Russ has never had a problem stealing good players in trades with other teams... but drafting has been spotty at best. If you want to be an elite team in this league you have to hit on your 1st rounder being an impact player by their 17 year old season and steal another impact player later in the draft. This just didn't happen in 2005 and 2006.
Now... you think you might be able to give me a break just long enough to pound out a Trade Deadline post? Or am I giving myself too much credit that you actually care to read what I have to say?
Part of me doesn't want to say this but since I have been accused of not being entirely honestly lately I thought it would be better to just voice my feelings. Some of these comments that are aimed at taking shots at either myself or my opinions have bothered me a little bit. I know, I know... don't start a blog if you can't take the heat... and that's fine. I know it is part of the deal that if I'm going to put my own opinions out there I have to be prepared for people to disagree and potentially take shots. The great part about the age of internet discourse is the ease with which people can exchange ideas and information. The bad part about this era is the ease at which people can snipe authors or other fans under the cloak of anonymity. I really didn't want to make it so that people had to register to make comments but I'm beginning to feel like that day has come. We might just start making people register with their email addresses and if I don't like what you said, you're outta here.
I love arguments, I love when people disagree with me and I openly encourage it... but if your retort is going to basically be "you're stupid because you don't see what I see" I'm just getting rid of you. This isn't free speech, this is my website/blog and I've spent countless hours writing about the Tbirds out of love for the game and the team. There is a perfectly good message board that I have linked to over on the left if all you want to do is see your opinion posted on the internet without giving any thought to what it says.
Obviously, everyone is frustrated and the worst comes out when people are upset and frustrated.
Let me also point out that this doesn't apply to everyone. For the most part commenting has been pretty good. I may not agree with all of it but it has been good.
Ok.... I'm done with that. Look for comment registration coming to your local Let's Go Birds soon.
******************************
"Anonymous" wants me to take a stand on things. Well you obviously haven't been reading my blog for very long because I have stated my opinion in the past... but I will do so again here.
I have made it very clear I think this team has to draft better. That isn't a secret, nor is it some brilliant analysis on my part. This team must draft better. The last impact 1st rounder this team drafted was Thomas Hickey and before that it was Bud Holloway and before that was Chris Durand who had a mediocre at best Seattle career.
Let's take a look at the drafts after the Thomas Hickey draft.
2005 -
Top pick Cody Hanson never developed into a top player and was traded away. Jeremy Boyer was a decent pick who really never became a player who could carry a team and was traded away this fall when he didn't report to Seattle. Jacob DeSerres looked like the goaltender of the future, but lost his way and was traded to Brandon this fall. Jared Prokopets never played for Seattle. Sena Acolatse is the last player left from this class and I would not be shocked to see him traded here at the deadline. Bryce Kakoske, Quinn Gould, A-Jay Moore, Travis Eggum never played for Seattle. Isak Quakenbush never really developed his size and despite scoring against Seattle this season while playing for Chilliwack is no longer on the Bruins roster.
This draft was not good. 3 players who turned out to be players and only 1 left on the team is not good.
2006 -
Steve Chaffin was forced to retire just as he might have been coming into his own. Unfortunately, we will never know. Sadly you have to call this pick a bust. Zac Ashdown never played for Seattle. Steve Oursov played 3 games for Seattle and was traded to Red Deer and never made an impact. Jeff Beattie never played for Seattle. Josh Lazowski showed a little bit of promise but was traded away and never heard from again. Charles Wells is the gem of this class and is the only player still with the team making a bit of an impact. Wouldn't shock me if he was traded as well. Justin Krabben, Kaydon Trubley, Wade Ritchie, Reid Johnson and Anthony Hamburg never developed into anything for Seattle.
This draft was a disaster. If Steve Chaffin has developed into a top defender next season with Wells becoming a top scorer it might have worked but sometimes things don't work out as you had hoped.
2007 -
Erik Fleming has yet to develop into a top player but every pick in the 2007 year still deserves a bit of time to develop. Fleming needs to get bigger in order to continue his development. Calvin Pickard is a franchise player, a grand slam pick in the 2nd round. More of these types of picks are how teams build championships. Brandon Carlson came into camp twice as an American player and despite the fact that I liked what I saw never made the roster. Carlson was drafted 4th overall in the USHL draft this past summer and is currently playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers. Why he isn't on this team I really don't fully understand. Chance Lund still has a chance to be a player and we're all hoping we see more of the 2 goal game he had last week. Jason Zucker is a very talented kid playing for Team USA at the World Juniors but it doesn't appear that he is coming to Seattle at this point. Luke Lockhart probably won't ever be a star but his hustle can fill a role on a very good team going forward. If he develops any kind of scoring touch he could be a really nice player in future years. Justin Lachance, Dan Gibb and Connor Cleverley did not make the team this year. I know Gibb and Lachance were in camp, I can't remember if Cleverley was or not.
This draft has potential. You have one franchise player and potentially 3 other solid players to compliment.
2008 -
Connor Sanvido didn't make the team out of camp this year and you have to be concerned about his ability to develop into a franchise player. Tanner Muth has had a terrible year but has shown flashes of potential that could make him a top 2 defender down the road. Ryan Armbruster didn't make the team out of camp this year but still has a shot to make it next season. Colin Jacobs is a franchise player in the making. He hasn't had a great year but he is only 16 years old and is already light years ahead of Muth, Sanvido, Elliot and Alos. Robbie Newton was in camp this year and looked good but didn't make it. He was one of my favorite players in camp and I would be really disappointed if he doesn't make the team next year. (EDIT: I totally forgot he was traded in the Ramsay deal, oops my bad.) Mitch Elliot (with one T or two T's depending on where you look) made the team out of camp this year and has great size but really hasn't done much yet. Zach Walker was a really solid looking D man and came in for one game on the road swing before getting hurt. Walker should make this team next season. Tyler Alos is has really looked nice in situations as a hustling fore-checking forward and we know he has scoring potential from his Bantam years and hopefully that develops. Seth Ambroz is a very talented American who has been rumored to be coming to Seattle several times but has yet to show up here.
This class also has talent and potential to be very good with one franchise player and several solid players.
So Mr. Anonymous... isn't it pretty obvious????
Do you really need me to tell you why the 2009-2010 version of the Seattle Thunderbirds isn't very good. Well... here it is... this team isn't very good because the draft years of 2005 and 2006 were poor draft years.
So you want to know what I think needs to change? Drafting. Russ has never had a problem stealing good players in trades with other teams... but drafting has been spotty at best. If you want to be an elite team in this league you have to hit on your 1st rounder being an impact player by their 17 year old season and steal another impact player later in the draft. This just didn't happen in 2005 and 2006.
Now... you think you might be able to give me a break just long enough to pound out a Trade Deadline post? Or am I giving myself too much credit that you actually care to read what I have to say?
1.04.2010
Tbirds fall to Spokane
Overall a good effort from Seattle last night but certainly not the result they were looking for and they now find themselves a full 7 points behind Kamloops for the 8th and final playoff spot in the West.
If Farwell wasn't sure about being a seller at the trade deadline, this recent 5 game losing streak should do the trick. It is time to unload some of these players while they have some value. I have been promising a trade deadline post for at least a week now and I will deliver on that later this week. I will be going on vacation later this week and will be in New York as the actual deadline happens so I will try to have that up on the website by Wednesday.
I will save my energy for the trade deadline post and keep this pretty short as well.
Seattle had good effort tonight and that is what I'm really looking for with this team. Spokane is good, so there is no shame in losing to them by a goal at home. Tbirds did wind up taking 39 shots to just 28 for Spokane so it wasn't as if they didn't play well or didn't have opportunities. The problem really stems from a lack of "drive" or "hunger". Jeremy Schappert actually hit the nail right on the head in his post game interview, Spokane just got hungry around the net in the 2nd period and they were able to earn the lead and hold it from that point. Sometimes you have to just want it more than the other team and force the puck into the net. I'm not sure if I'm really making much sense with that point.
So... the good news is that Seattle is starting to show step 1... effort. Step 2 is effort and hunger. Step 3 is effort, hunger and skill. ETA Step 3... spring of 2011.
One last note on the New Years Eve game down in Portland. I didn't see the game, I heard it was ugly in the 3rd and I decided it wasn't worth it to pay $5 to watch the archived game. I'm not really sure there is anything new we can learn about this team on nights like that. On some nights, this team doesn't even want to get to Step 1 and on those nights they are going to get blasted and at this point Portland knows that and they don't take their foot off the gas pedal.
If Farwell wasn't sure about being a seller at the trade deadline, this recent 5 game losing streak should do the trick. It is time to unload some of these players while they have some value. I have been promising a trade deadline post for at least a week now and I will deliver on that later this week. I will be going on vacation later this week and will be in New York as the actual deadline happens so I will try to have that up on the website by Wednesday.
I will save my energy for the trade deadline post and keep this pretty short as well.
Seattle had good effort tonight and that is what I'm really looking for with this team. Spokane is good, so there is no shame in losing to them by a goal at home. Tbirds did wind up taking 39 shots to just 28 for Spokane so it wasn't as if they didn't play well or didn't have opportunities. The problem really stems from a lack of "drive" or "hunger". Jeremy Schappert actually hit the nail right on the head in his post game interview, Spokane just got hungry around the net in the 2nd period and they were able to earn the lead and hold it from that point. Sometimes you have to just want it more than the other team and force the puck into the net. I'm not sure if I'm really making much sense with that point.
So... the good news is that Seattle is starting to show step 1... effort. Step 2 is effort and hunger. Step 3 is effort, hunger and skill. ETA Step 3... spring of 2011.
One last note on the New Years Eve game down in Portland. I didn't see the game, I heard it was ugly in the 3rd and I decided it wasn't worth it to pay $5 to watch the archived game. I'm not really sure there is anything new we can learn about this team on nights like that. On some nights, this team doesn't even want to get to Step 1 and on those nights they are going to get blasted and at this point Portland knows that and they don't take their foot off the gas pedal.
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