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Post by Bagheera on Jan 13, 2023 21:40:27 GMT
Lost 1 period, drew 1 and won one. Impressive in Belfast that.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 11, 2023 19:28:32 GMT
Played a decent standard and looks a good player. I'll drop the first less than positive comment....
Think it could be another square peg for a round hole. We need a stay at home Dman whos only focus is defending. This guy is almost a point a game player. He has also only played 10 games this season.
Hope it works out well and he does a good job though.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 11, 2023 13:52:13 GMT
So what do we think with signing news soon then ? My money is on a Dman, closely followed by an announcement that Lagrone won’t be playing again this season. I'd really like it to be Justin Hamonic. Big unit, captained the Blaze and gets a nose bleed if he crosses the blue line. 8 points in 48 games last season with a +/- of +9 on a poor Coventry roster. Left Greenville Swamp Rabbits just over a week ago and not announced anywhere yet.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 10, 2023 14:22:06 GMT
I guess this is the best place to post Omars latest interview.
Think he pretty much confirms the investment in bringing Corey in effected player signings? Also suggests there will be signing news soon?
Doesn't really appear to say anything regarding player signings that directly.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 9, 2023 6:27:57 GMT
Welychka continues to lead the way for us. Speed and ability in abundance. One thing to thank GG for Was it Welychka who was signed when that other chap got a better offer? GG(15 games) - 6 wins(4reg) - 1 OTL - 8 losses = 13 points 36 goals for, 55 against CN(14 games) - 6 wins(5reg) - 1 OTL - 1 SOL - 6 losses = 14 points 42 goals for, 50 against I think the goals might actually be closer than you've got here, GG scoring a few more. After tonight (league only): GG = 6-8-1: 13pts, GF43 GA55 CN = 6-7-2: 14pts, GF44 GA53 (This counts a SO winner as a single goal btw. Well prepared to be corrected on any of this ) As you say, a similar mix of teams played. A very slight improvement overall. It's also interesting to hear CN talk about things like taking better care of the puck, and making better decisions. All from the weekly GG script. Might've had a mutiny had he stayed, but it's not changed a lot. I made an edit to the goals after recounting then edited GG goals for on the post instead of Corey. DOH! I didnt include the SO as goals at all. Again, im not sure if they count or not. I knew tonights scoreline would make it very close. Regardless of all the variables it's remarkable how similar they are.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 8, 2023 21:12:27 GMT
Am I missing something…how have we played 14 imports tonight and last night? Surely we should have played one short last night due to the Puffer suspension? Changed a few seasons back. Suspensions on imports now just take the player out but dont effect the team itself, unless you dont carry spares of course.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 8, 2023 20:20:16 GMT
Appears Moore missing again tonight, healthy scratch? Looks that way. With Puffer being back we have a full quota of imports available. Berry backed up last night. We had the full 20 players so somebody had to miss out. Moore and Berry out, Puffer and Bloor in. As discussed a while back, i'd keep Hazeldine in over Moore. Perhaps Corey sees it the same. Perhaps he is just easing him in with one game.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 8, 2023 15:04:41 GMT
The old saying, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear seems apt. Even if the team was more balanced there's still a lack of quality and the lack of interest in making changes speaks volumes about the club's willingness to spend money to improve the team. A change of coach was never going to change much and I suspect the choice of Neilson was a sop to the more guillable fans. The Panthers have changed much but the core of the club, the players are cheap and neglected. Neilson cannot change the rotten ownership. Neglected I believe is the most important word in all that. I dont believe the team is cheap all over the ice. As I said when the roster was completed, it's those last 3 or 4 signings again. We all look at what we have and know what we need. We think we have 2nd to 4th line complete and need a top line but we finish with fillers. We think we need a top stud Dman, we get Lagrone. I do believe this team is inbalanced and 4 or 5 changes, taking out the worst imports and replacing them with top end guys and itd compete. Dont get the quality in the right areas and everybody suffers and looks poor. The biggest question has to be though. Why do apparent good players, players with career good stats end up looking poor? There are players on this roster and rosters before who absoloutly are good players but it doesnt work for them here and we see a poor version of them. That's the neglect part. It's happened all to often that these good players go bad here more than anywhere else. Something goes on to disengage the players. Likely all the periferals that come with playing overseas. Housing, Cars, Bills and all that other stuff. The reason Panters fail is the way the players are treated off the ice. It has to be. And that all comes back to the main point. Black doesn't want to spend. Everything on the cheap to maximise profits. Yes Omar, bring in Corey and Rick, but they cost money so if you do it you dont get any more for players.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 8, 2023 11:25:18 GMT
This game will mark 15 league games for Corey. This will be a perfect example of why stats almost always need context. Clearly Corey had nothing to do with putting together this poorly built team and it's also fair to say he'd need a period of adjustment but statistically we havn't really got any better.
I know it would have been better to do this comparison after tonights game, but I had tine to sit and look this morning.
GG(15 games) - 6 wins(4reg) - 1 OTL - 8 losses = 13 points 36 goals for, 55 against
CN(14 games) - 6 wins(5reg) - 1 OTL - 1 SOL - 6 losses = 14 points
42 goals for, 50 against
Both have played 6 games v top 4 sides +2 v Coventry after tonight. I know Panthers can do typical Panthers and win away today but its a fair expectation that they'll lose. So those records are very close and we havn't really improved much at all.
*statos, I scribbled these numbers down this morning so feel free to correct any errors.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 7, 2023 7:43:58 GMT
Goals 2&3 both had potential goalie interference. The second one I think was a fair goal. The 3rd im not so sure. Looked to have a whiff of offside to me? Of course, the lines might need to be a little better to tell with any great degree of accuracy but my first thought on watching the goal was that it was offside. The still below is the best I could get, but shows the puck has absolutely not crossed the blue line, but the backskate of the nearer Giants player almost certainly has. What the chuff was Puffer thinking? He nearly took his head off? Indeed it does look offside. I guess from that still the lino must be the opposite side to the puck carrier and at full speed would have been a tough call. Panthers clearly arn't a good team, but they have also been short on luck. I know there is an arguement you create your own luck etc, but also when things arn't gping to well you dont appear to be able to catch a breal either. Panthers have been getting their fair share of bad bounces( and calls). It's the quality that shines through though in the end. That's why we lost this game and plenty others too. The game did pivot on that stupid hit by puffer. No idea what he was thinking. It was a bad hit and it's hard to see anything other than intent. A 1 game ban announced just now for charging. A little lucky if you ask me. I think had the player suffered a more serious injury perhaps he'd have got longer. As ever the league make themselves look a little silly. Oh, we told Panthers Thursday but decided to wait another 2 days before making it public. So they either didn't do the review and tell Panthers Thursday, or they forgot to make it public.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 6, 2023 7:28:29 GMT
Cardiff ended Sheffields streak with a 3-1 win last night. Still almost half the season to play and it's looking like an exciting run in. 4 teams seperwted by 6 points. Even Blaze in 5th are only 10 points off(I think we'd all agree they wont be in the fight though).
It's tough to predict who will get it at this stage. Steelers will be tough to stop, but Belfast have started to look much better since they sorted their internal issues. I think i'd put my money on them at this point.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 5, 2023 14:54:56 GMT
Anybody have the stats for GG era and post GG? Has he improved since GG left. He certainly looks a better player in recent months. I wouldn't rule him out of a return next season just yet. I really hope he’s not back next season, I think he’s been a real disappointment. I don’t know if I got suckered into the hype around his signing but I really expected more from him. He’s good on the powerplay, you can’t deny that, but his puck management and defensive side of his game at 5 on 5 really leaves a lot to be desired imo Maybe, as Bobness says, he’s not playing with the right line mates in Levin and Sorenson Him & Levin do look good together(offensively). I thought it was a good call putting them together permenantly. It's been said plenty of times this season that the team lacks balance so some players we arn't going to see the best of. Righr now though Hammond isn't living up to the hype. You can afford luxuries like him if you have all the other peices in place.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 5, 2023 14:51:16 GMT
Anybody have the stats for GG era and post GG? Has he improved since GG left. He certainly looks a better player in recent months. I wouldn't rule him out of a return next season just yet. Hammond in the league ("my" corrected stats in terms of +/-) GG (first 15 games) 12 GP (missed 5/6 with injury and 15 "benched") 4+4, -7 CN 13 GP 3+8, -8 Overall, 25GP, 7+12, -15 So, you'd be pushing fog uphill arguing Hammond has been a "better" player under Neilson? Hammond and Welsh lead the forwards with 30 minuses so far. By contrast, Levin has 13 in 25GP. When Hammond gets a minus, Brady is -16, Ferrara is -14, Brassard -15. The 9/19/90 line (put together by Nielson, all bar one goal on 13 November), when on ice at the same time, at even strength, scored 1 goal (their final act together, then the line was split) after conceding 7, and was a net -30. Fair enough. His point production is slightly improved but his +/- is clearly still woeful. He has looked improved under Corey so it isn't all stats but that isn't very good at all.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 5, 2023 12:17:56 GMT
-21 across 34 league and cup games If prior year stats are to be looked at, that is unusual. He had 90 points and was +39 last season. Was even in his last full EIHL season, 22 points and +5 in the elite series, in 14 games. Somethings gone wrong this year, would appear to be the conclusion. I suspect he needs to be on a line with a grafter, the Benedict with Ling, if you will, which probably hasn’t happened? Anybody have the stats for GG era and post GG? Has he improved since GG left. He certainly looks a better player in recent months. I wouldn't rule him out of a return next season just yet.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 4, 2023 21:23:56 GMT
Well. At least we dont have to play Sheffield 2 more times.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 4, 2023 20:31:43 GMT
Now 4 2.
Giants been camped for the entire period.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 4, 2023 20:31:20 GMT
Giants take the lead, and even the tie, 2-3 (5-5) Goals 2&3 both had potential goalie interference. The second one I think was a fair goal. The 3rd im not so sure.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 4, 2023 20:27:15 GMT
Crazy period. Panthers 4 power plays within first 12mins. 1 PP goal and 1 as a penalty expired. Couldve had more with a few non calls. Giants then get a PP with a major then called to make it a 5 on 3 for 43seconds. No goal on the 5 on 3 but they did manage their goal on the major 5 on 4. Puffer was ejected. Didn't hear the official call but it looked fair he was chucked. Elbow to the head and left his feet. I'd guess checking to the head. SOG will be ridiculous. Belfast 23 - Panthers 18 Sorry was 15 -17. Didnt realise EIHL shows shots and shots on goal.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 4, 2023 19:53:49 GMT
Crazy period. Panthers 4 power plays within first 12mins. 1 PP goal and 1 as a penalty expired. Couldve had more with a few non calls. Giants then get a PP with a major then called to make it a 5 on 3 for 43seconds. No goal on the 5 on 3 but they did manage their goal on the major 5 on 4. Puffer was ejected. Didn't hear the official call but it looked fair he was chucked. Elbow to the head and left his feet. I'd guess checking to the head. SOG will be ridiculous. Belfast 23 - Panthers 18
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 4, 2023 19:50:29 GMT
Crazy period. Panthers 4 power plays within first 12mins. 1 PP goal and 1 as a penalty expired. Couldve had more with a few non calls.
Giants then get a PP with a major then called to make it a 5 on 3 for 43seconds. No goal on the 5 on 3 but they did manage their goal on the major 5 on 4. Puffer was ejected. Didn't hear the official call but it looked fair he was chucked. Elbow to the head and left his feet. I'd guess checking to the head.
SOG will be ridiculous.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 3, 2023 20:34:14 GMT
I actually dont think our Defencemen themselves are that far off. We have been left woefully short for far to long and even Caruso has been in and out of the line up. Team D has been poor but a large part of that was down to whatever was wrong under GG. There have been signs of imporovement of late under Corey(I know the goals agaisnt arn't all that clever still). Then there are the 2 average netminders too. I think there is a core of decent Dmen there and to be honest the big differnce would be the same thing I thought when Lagrone was signed. That last D signing should've been a top pairing stud. Now Brassard started woefully which nobody ex0ected. He has improved of late but would need a really great end to the season for me to want to see him back. I really like Summers. Caruso when fully fit looks plenty good enough & Gagnon is doing a decent job all things considered. Again being asked to log huge minutes because of injuries and having to stick to just playing sensible D. Our biggest problem is the lack of any real quality Brit Dman. Id be quite happy next term to see Summers, Caruso and Gagnon all return. The rest then depends on squad make up, 4 or 5 Import D. Id perhaps go with 5 then go get Joe Hazeldine back. Also then retian Archie on a 2 way. If we went with 4 imports then keep Archie full time, certainly over Moore. Upgrades on Lagrone & Brassard. Caruso is on a uni deal so it’s highly likely he will return, hopefully he doesn’t get any slower next season though! I fully agree with you about Summers and Gagnon, we’ve got a good two-way defenceman and a good stay at home defenceman in them, I’d be happy if they both returned next season. If we were to go with one out of Joe and Archie I’d prefer us to go with Archie, he’s younger and I’d argue he’s better than Joe was at the same age. Going off at a slight tangent, after watching the past two games against Coventry, if there was any defenceman that we should have kept from last season it should have been Norrish Yeah, I had a bit of a debate on here around this time last year I rekon. At the time I thought Norrish was the better of the 2. As the season went on though I did start to appreciate Brassard more. It was the correct call to only keep one of them, sadly it looks like we chose the wrong one.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 3, 2023 13:34:26 GMT
I actually dont think our Defencemen themselves are that far off. We have been left woefully short for far to long and even Caruso has been in and out of the line up.
Team D has been poor but a large part of that was down to whatever was wrong under GG. There have been signs of imporovement of late under Corey(I know the goals agaisnt arn't all that clever still). Then there are the 2 average netminders too. I think there is a core of decent Dmen there and to be honest the big differnce would be the same thing I thought when Lagrone was signed. That last D signing should've been a top pairing stud. Now Brassard started woefully which nobody ex0ected. He has improved of late but would need a really great end to the season for me to want to see him back.
I really like Summers. Caruso when fully fit looks plenty good enough & Gagnon is doing a decent job all things considered. Again being asked to log huge minutes because of injuries and having to stick to just playing sensible D. Our biggest problem is the lack of any real quality Brit Dman.
Id be quite happy next term to see Summers, Caruso and Gagnon all return. The rest then depends on squad make up, 4 or 5 Import D. Id perhaps go with 5 then go get Joe Hazeldine back. Also then retian Archie on a 2 way. If we went with 4 imports then keep Archie full time, certainly over Moore. Upgrades on Lagrone & Brassard.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 2, 2023 20:43:10 GMT
Perhaps any remaining budget was spent on Corey and Rick. Can only guess, but surely Corey is on more than GG.
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 2, 2023 20:37:33 GMT
Panthers have just been completly done as far as I can see on the webcast. Shot from Blaze deflects up into the net. Ref signals it’s gone out play. Blaze players suggest it’s gone through the net and then gone up so the ref gives a good goal. Signals a review. They come put and give the goal. No idea if they got a different replay this time from a working systwm. The Webcast replay looked to be a clear crossbar and out to me. It did go through the net, there was a hole bigger than a puck in the top right corner of the net. The hole was quickly tied up as the review was going on. They’ve not replaced the dreadful goal pegs so I very much doubt there’ll be some replacement netting anytime soon Fair enough. Only the main webcast camera angle to go from sat at home. 👍🏼
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Post by Bagheera on Jan 2, 2023 20:17:45 GMT
6 3. x2 ENGs. Scoreline flatters the Blaze. Pretty even game including the rougue goal.
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