Coachella Firebirds: News and Discussion

[RainyCityHockey]

Didn't Ty Nelson also turn 20 and won't be able to play in the minors anymore?

If so, he should be a part of the Firebirds defensive core as well.

 

[Fuhrious]

Really good article over on Sound of Hockey about AHL roster construction restrictions and how Francis looks to be navigating them.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Just curious about Firebirds' fans impressions of Ville Petman during his two years with the club. Better numbers his first year and it looks like he didn't play in this year's playoffs.

He's returning to SaiPa in his hometown this season. Lapeenranta is the closest team to the Russian border and finished last in the league last season.

SaiPa hasn't made the Liiga playoffs since 2018-19 but Ville Petman led the team in scoring as a 21-year-old two years ago before signing with the Kraken.

 

[tank44]

Do AHL teams have training camp and preseason games? I will be in Palm Springs in mid-late Sept this year and hoping to catch some Firebirds action.

During their 1st year, (kraken 2nd year) a Kraken season ticket holder benefit was free tickets to firebirds games. That was only valid for that 1 year.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Firkus scores in his first pro game of a really crazy angle shot. First goal for CV this season.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

CV lost though they really controlled most of the 3rd. Just couldn't get one in. Stezka was good. Firkus has an unreal shot. And yes, he did get pushed off the puck multiple times.

 

[gstommylee]

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Have not had a chance to watch the game but 1-3 loss to Calgary yesterday. Sale got his first point in Coachella (assist) on the only goal. Hoping he can continue to build confidence while in Coachella. The skill is there, just need him to put everything together.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

Have not had a chance to watch the game but 1-3 loss to Calgary yesterday. Sale got his first point in Coachella (assist) on the only goal. Hoping he can continue to build confidence while in Coachella. The skill is there, just need him to put everything together.

That´s a great news about Šalé! He is definitely project he is nowhere near physically developed to play in NHL(at least 3 years of AHL), but upside is really high and he is only 19. Could be very good 2nd line scoring winger.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

What a strange ass game. CV was up 6-1 and dominating. They were up on SOG with a decent margin and then they just went flat in the 3rd. All over defensively. Leaving guys open in front of the net. Just a mess. They ended up winning 6-5 and would likely have lost if there was a few more minutes left in the game.

Sale was good for another 2 points (1G 1A). Firkus had 1 A. Fleury had a hat-trick.

 

[Fuhrious]

Winterton and Morrison appear to be starting the season a bit slowly, was hoping they’d come out jumping as if to send a message to Francis and Co that the demotion was a mistake.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Winterton and Morrison appear to be starting the season a bit slowly, was hoping they’d come out jumping as if to send a message to Francis and Co that the demotion was a mistake.

Yeah. Really surprised with Winterton's start considering how good he was in the pre-season and camps.

Side note, Sale's goal from yesterday, I can't tell when he gets his shot off. I can see him get the pass but can't tell when he shoots it.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847467850543616147

 

[sigma six]

Yeah. Really surprised with Winterton's start considering how good he was in the pre-season and camps.

Side note, Sale's goal from yesterday, I can't tell when he gets his shot off. I can see him get the pass but can't tell when he shoots it.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847467850543616147

I see what you mean, it just sort of materializes behind the goalie.

Am thinking about doing the Flohockey thing so I can see how our draft picks are doing. Lots of turnover with both the coaches and the roster from last year, but now we're at the point where Seattle's good drafting will inject new talent. Pretty keen to see how Firkus, Nelson, the Fins and Sale progress towards joining the big team someday.

 

[majormajor]

Any comments on how Sale looked?

It's encouraging that he's already getting points in the A, considering he didn't score much in junior last year.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

Any comments on how Sale looked?

It's encouraging that he's already getting points in the A, considering he didn't score much in junior last year.

i am asking the same thing, don´t have AHL tv.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

i am asking the same thing, don´t have AHL tv.

Since the first game, in which he did not play, I have mainly watched highlights only. He had 2 points in the last game, but they were relatively quiet. I notice Firkus a lot more than I do Sale. Relatively small sample size ofcourse. Will try to pay more attention on Sale going forward.

 

[RainyCityHockey]

Since the first game, in which he did not play, I have mainly watched highlights only. He had 2 points in the last game, but they were relatively quiet. I notice Firkus a lot more than I do Sale. Relatively small sample size ofcourse. Will try to pay more attention on Sale going forward.

I think Sale is a guy that either has something click and is able to realize his potential(because he's understood that he needs to be more engaged) or he's going to end up as one of those "hat could've been" players.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

I think Sale is a guy that either has something click and is able to realize his potential(because he's understood that he needs to be more engaged) or he's going to end up as one of those "hat could've been" players.

I think all his problem was not hitting the gym, because he relied on his skill too much, then he thankfully realized after playing in OHL that having skill is not nearly enough. He was barely 70kg in his draft year, with him being 6+ feet tall he was basically stickman. Like i said he is long therm project and needs at least one, more like two years of ligting weights. You basically have in him either completely wasted pick, playing soon in Europe or really fing good top6 player, there is just nothing inbetween, flawed guy who you pick in late 20s in first round to early 2nd, hoping you´re hitting jackpot and having confidence in your development system that they can fix him.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I think all his problem was not hitting the gym, because he relied on his skill too much, then he thankfully realized after playing in OHL that having skill is not nearly enough. He was barely 70kg in his draft year, with him being 6+ feet tall he was basically stickman. Like i said he is long therm project and needs at least one, more like two years of ligting weights. You basically have in him either completely wasted pick, playing soon in Europe or really fing good top6 player, there is just nothing inbetween, flawed guy who you pick in late 20s in first round to early 2nd, hoping you´re hitting jackpot and having confidence in your development system that they can fix him.

All of us Kraken fans are hoping you are right. One of the main reasons they didn't send Sale back to juniors is because they felt like they can help Sale focus more on areas of weakness while in Coachella. Two games is really a useless sample size BUT atleast gives Kraken fans some hope that this is a step in the right direction. Also, playing with his peers like Firkus, Goyette, Winterton, etc. gives him a good idea of where he should be headed towards.

All that being said, he was always going to be a boom/bust type of pick. We knew that from the start, just hoping that it is the former and not the latter.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

Since the first game, in which he did not play, I have mainly watched highlights only. He had 2 points in the last game, but they were relatively quiet. I notice Firkus a lot more than I do Sale. Relatively small sample size ofcourse. Will try to pay more attention on Sale going forward.

Yep that´s his signature, it shows top tier hockey sense and positioning.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

5-2 Win. Sale had a quiet point again and is upto 4 points in 3 games. Did not hear his name much in the 2nd and 3rd. But maybe there is something to this kid after all.

Firkus didn't have points but was noticeable.

The team dominated for most of the first 2 periods. Reign pushed back in the 3rd but Stezka was solid. He made a lot of great saves with 3-4 skaters around the net.

 

[Fuhrious]

How have they only played 4 games when there are teams out there who’ve played 8 and one whose played 9? AHL schedule is so weird.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

How have they only played 4 games when there are teams out there who’ve played 8 and one whose played 9? AHL schedule is so weird.

Damn stupid if you ask me. I have the AHL package and am waiting to watch games but their schedule is whacky.

Game 1 - 10/11
Game 2 - 10/16
Games 3 - 10/18
Game 4 - 10/25
Game 5 - 10/30

All but 1 game had 5 days of rest between them.

 

[The Marquis]

That schedule is going to get brutal in time.

 

[Fuhrious]

That schedule is going to get brutal in time.

I was actually thinking the exact same thing : At what point do they start playing 3 games in 5 days to get caught up?