« BUCKS TOP BEES 3-1 | Home | GAME NOTES, FEB 26 »
MINOR OBSERVATIONS, FEB. 24
By admin | February 25, 2008
There really hasn’t been a dull day in Bee Nation lately. I’m going to paraphrase some of the questions I’ve gotten lately so as not to ruffle anyone’s feathers…
IT’S ABOUT TIME THE COACH HAD SOMETHING POSITIVE TO SAY IN THE PAPER ABOUT HIS TEAM. WHERE’S THAT BEEN ALL YEAR? COACHING BY FEAR IS NO WAY TO RUN A TEAM.
Well, if there were anything positive to say I’m sure he’d have said it. It’s funny, because everyone here always points to “Ruskowski would do this, or wouldn’t do that, etc.” How many times has Rosco blasted his team in the paper? It seems as soon as they lose two games in a row he’s in the paper talking about making changes. That’s not coaching by fear?
I THINK THE TRADES THE TEAM HAS MADE ARE AWFUL. SOME OF THE WORST EVER. THEY TRADED AWAY PLAYERS WE LIKED.
Trades are part of the game. I disagree about any trades being truly awful the last two seasons. Show me one where the Bees got the short end of the stick. I know everyone will point to Kurtis Dulle/Bill Newson, so chew on this…Dulle was a minus-7 and had 15 points at the time of the trade. He’s having a great season this year and good for him. Playing on a stacked Youngstown team certainly helps. Good players play better with other good players. That trade also helped the team make the playoffs last year. As for this season, is anyone any better or any worse than what the team got in return? I don’t think so, but it’s certainly open for debate. I’d say they’ve all been about even.
YOU’RE A KNOW-IT-ALL AND A SUCK UP TO THE COACH. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS?
I think I’ve been pretty honest in my comments here based on what I see day in and day out.
WHY DID BONAR GET SCRATCHED THE OTHER NIGHT? THAT’S NO WAY TO GET A GUY OUT OF A SLUMP?
Josh has exactly two assists in his last 17 games. He’s also a gifted natural scorer. So why isn’t he scoring? Who knows? You see guys get scratched in the NHL and AHL all the time when they’re not playing well. That was one of the reasons teams are able to carry an extra guy this year; it reduces the money spent on getting players in and out when there’s an injury and it also gives a coach the flexibility to move guys in and out of the lineup if they aren’t playing well. The usual responses from a player who gets scratched is to A) tell the coach he’s pissed about it, then “show him” what a mistake it was when returning to the lineup; B) tell people that sitting out a game helped because you see the game differently when watching from up top. It helps give a fresh perspective.
IF FIXTER PICKED THE TEAM, HOW CAN HE GO OUT AND BLAST THEM WHEN THEY’RE NOT PLAYING WELL? HE PICKED THE TEAM, HE SHOULD TAKE THE HEAT.
Agreed, to a certain extent. He did pick the team. And he does take responsibility. But, and I’ve said this a million times by now, if the players you sign are projected to be ‘A’ players and then play like a ‘D,’ whose fault is that? CHL coaches have the unenviable job of recruiting players, many with a limited budget. It’s not like the NHL/AHL where you have a GM who not only picks the players, but quite often tells the coach who to play. And if you read NHL/AHL stories, how many times do you see the GM or coach “call out” players? It happens all the time.
THERE’S PLENTY OF TALENT ON THIS TEAM, THE COACH JUST DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO COACH AND GET IT OUT OF THEM.
There’s always a worst team in the league and this year we got handed that card. Regardless of what you think of Paul Fixter, facts are facts. And the facts show me a guy who coached two Hershey teams to .500 records with a barren system of prospects; he did it with UHL/ECHL players and a handful of budding NHL prospects. The Colorado farm system was so bare that they didn’t have an AHL affiliate for two seasons. So that tells me the man can coach. Why he can’t get this team here to play well is mind-boggling. It could be that the team doesn’t have the talent to compete night in and night out. It could be that guys don’t like each other. Or it could be that they like each other too much and have too much fun away from the rink. It’s anyone’s guess.
WHAT’S UP WITH THE GAME NOTES? WHAT’S WITH THE WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT STUFF?
If it’s noteworthy when a guy is on a scoring streak, isn’t it also noteworthy when they’re on an extended non-scoring streak? It’s not like I make this stuff up. Just the facts, my friend. Besides, don’t you hear about who’s struggling when you watch a major league/NHL/NFL game? Where do you think they get that stuff?
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE CHL ALL STAR GAME FORMAT FOR NEXT YEAR? THAT’S DUMBEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN.
It sure is interesting. The NHL used to do the Team X vs. All Stars thing a long time ago. I think most people agree All Star Games are, well, not the most exciting thing in any sport. So why do them? For the record, I actually thought this year’s game was entertaining pond-style hockey. Not that I’d want to see it every night, but I think seeing wide open, creative offense is fun every now and then.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME ISSUES WITH THE GUYS IN THE LOCKER ROOM. WHY DOESN’T THE COACH PUT A STOP TO IT?
What happens in the room stays in the room, at least it should. How the coach deals with “issues” isn’t really for public knowledge. Only in the most egregious situations would something be made public, in an official statement from the organization, about what repercussions there are . And there really hasn’t been anything like that this year, despite the rumors that float around.
I’VE HEARD SOME GUYS DON’T WANT TO PLAY FOR THE COACH. FIRE HIM ALREADY.Does everyone here love their boss? Didn’t think so. That said, if guys don’t want to play for the coach, no one is holding a gun to their heads and making them stay here. Do the inmates run the asylum? Sorry for the bad cliches, by the way. If you don’t like your boss, does that stop you from doing your job to the best of your ability? If you “pull the chute,” who are you really hurting? Especially in pro sports, where everyone is expendable. Go home already and work on the farm, landscape or put your degree to use. There are guys who would love to be able to put on the jersey. There’s players in Laredo who don’t like playing for Ruskowski, but they stay there and put up with it because the team uses its “resources” to make it worthwhile.
THE POWER PLAY STINKS. HOW COME THE VETS ARE ALWAYS OUT THERE? WHY IS BIG SNAKE ON THE POWER PLAY?
There have been all sorts of power play combos this season, with vets and rookies getting plenty of time. Big Snake had 12 power play points (6-6-12) with Rockford last year and 10 (5-5-10) the year before that. He also had two 40-plus point seasons with the Ice Hogs.
Topics: Minor Observations |
February 25th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Rich,
It’s unfortunate that you decided to stop posting in the killerbeefans.com board. However, I kind of like it better this way. I think we can get more insight info out of you. Keep it up!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I liked the way you handled the comments made. keep it up.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Rich, I think you are doing a very professional and great job at what you do. And to all the doubters out there. The Rocky Mountain Rage were the team we are last year, now look at them. All I can say is GO BEES GO!! We love you guys still be bringing a great time and sport to the Valley.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
A decent first draft comments for all questions with the exception of the last one about the power play. You are comparing U’haul numbers which don’t apply in my opinion. I believe you go with skill set not lower league stats.
The UHauL was considered to be the same level as the CHL.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Rich,
I like your comments and insights. You report the facts good and bad and from what I’ve seen you’ve always been professional in your comments and I don’t see why anybody’s feathers should be ruffled. Don’t let the bad seeds ruffle your feathers!
I think the Bees organization should be happy that there is this much fire about the team! It shows there is a dedicated fan base that is invested in what happens with the team.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
WAS or IS?? Please clarify.
Was, since there isn’t technically a UHauL anymore. It’s open for debate whether or not the new IHL is on par. Comparing Matt Reynolds stats from this year to last year, he’s on pace for about the same thing, so judge for yourself. RB
February 28th, 2008 at 12:56 am
I realize there is no UHL anymore, however, I think the CHL of today is a bit higher in standard/calibre than the old UHL and the new IHL. Based on that opinion, I find it hard to compare stats between the two leagues.
Let’s not split hairs Roger. How else would you compare a guy at this level? The ECHL may have more depth than the CHL and IHL, but generally a guy who scored 30 goals there should do the same here. Again, compare what two former Bees are doing in the IHL. Matt Reynolds has 38 points in 54 games with Fort Wayne, while Jason Cirone has 49 points in 44 games with Flint. Daymen Rycroft had 47 points in 68 games with Charlotte in the ECHL last season, on pace with his 55 in 59 the year before with us. Obviously, he is having a breakout season this year. You can also compare Greg Bullock’s numbers from the ECHL to the CHL to the UHL/IHL…the numbers compare across the board.