They couldn't bring Ranger back if they wanted to,OA players had to be decided by Jan 9 a day before trade deadline, no add ons from that date on.
I find this hilarious. For the past two weeks the goalie complainers on this board were running Tanger out of town. “Can”t win with a goalie who is always flopping on his stomach” some of you wrote. Well this is what happens when you gamble on an OA goalie to bring you to the promise land. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. With the OA deadline approaching it was obvious to everyone who watched this team a change had to be made. Has the change worked out, well to this point I’d say no; however, what else could have been done. No other team was prepared to trade the Wolves a quality starter before the Jan.10th deadline. Thankfully, those so called terrible scouts found us Krawchuk and he needs to be given a chance. Specially now when we have 2 of our better players out. We are not likely to put score a poor goal tending performance. I look at this thru a different lens, the GM tried to fix a problem just like he did with the coaches. So far the results have been poor but he’s doing something. I read all team threads on here and ask Kitchener Rangers fans think about their coach/GM and their seemingly unwillingness to improve. Maybe same can be said about the Flint GM. Paps is responsible for sure, but I applaud the effort. With no risk, there is no reward. Now it’s time for Chucky to step up and save the day! If Bressard doesn’t like backing up, then play better! That is one thing that has improved the most on this team since DM became coach: Accountability. Just ask McCallum and Villie…
Didn’t praise Brassard and didn’t praise Ranger. I just want the young kid to start more games. He deserved so when he beat North Bay. Plus he’s the only one coming back next year. So get him some starts. As for Brassard win the fans and coaches over by stopping the puck especially easy ones floating from the point. Game preparation is not good as far as I’m concerned. If a deal was made to play the majority of games I say too bad if I’m Zulich. Go home then. At this point the Wolves owe him nothing.
You state no team was willing to trade the Wolves a quality starter, do you know this for a fact? I really beg to differ, could Paps have put too much value on certain players thus missing the boat?
Humpty Dumpty tried signing Morrow to run a tandem with Chuck but as stated Morrow declined for the 2nd time I'm told. Brassard was next in line but like mentioned probably promised starts. Can't see him walking but the whole situations looks bad as an organization with blaming Ranger, draft pick refusing to sign then sign a lack luster OA all in 24 hrs.
We have the draft capital. Our next goalie for our “go for it years” will not (or should not be an OA), so with this in mind an 04 or 05 goalie will be ideal. If that goalie was available before Jan.10th, he’d be here (no brainer), but the teams that have the goalies we want are in a playoff spot and not willing to trade mid-season. Off season yes, as some of these teams will be forced to re-build. IMO
He should have shown it, we wouldn’t be wasting our energy discussing this if he had…
Do you have confirmation that he declined a first or second time? If so how do you this? Just wondering since a kid who played well at the WJAC-19 not great but decent with a 3.66 and .899 save percentage would not job all over the opportunity to play in the OHL. And if he refused a second time then why wouldn't the organization trade his rights then? No signed commitment to a US college you would think he would take the OHL option to play with Chuck and gain the experience and see where it goes next season. I'm quite surprised his agents would not take the OHL option and education package that comes along with it. Someone is a little insulted here. The Wolves organization or Morrow and his family. But an easy solution is the trade option. Wonder if that was explored?
What I want to know is why D-Mack keeps running him out there! Can't he see who's playing better?
Maybe Sawchuk was never in next seasons plans?? Gaulton and new goalie may have been the original plan? Maybe Chucky was a place holder? No matter what the overall intentions were/are, Nate Sawchuk has an opportunity to make a difference for the remainder of this year and forcing his spot on the team for years to come…
To clear this up. The point is NOT that Ranger wasn’t cutting it and we wanted an upgrade. That was known and obvious. The issue is the half cocked way Papineau took a shot in the dark and brought in a goalie who is worse.
See my comment below. I stand by my opinion that Brassard makes Ranger look way better. Get it straight it is not that an upgrade was needed, it’s the way he went about it.
You ”applaud the effort”? Do you think maybe it should have been better thought out? You can’t hide your bias so tell me who was it that watched Brassard play enough to recommend him or did Papineau just scour the CHL looking for goalies that were not playing and available essentially because nobody wanted them. Huge blunder or whatever you want to call it (for me at least) but definitely not worthy of applause. Would be the last straw for me.
I understand and appreciate your point.
No confirmation, but it could have been last straw….
As suggested, it could well be that he may have had to play along with what Brassard was promised. I would have liked to be a fly on the wall when Dereck likely went to Papineau and said flatly, this guy can’t cut it, I need to play the kid. You can guarantee they had some conversation about it. Dereck played pro hockey. Surely he sees what we see. How will Brassard take being the backup? I agree though ultimately if he wants to go there’s the door. Prove you can play goal and there would be no issue.
Mutual Wolf.
I had to laugh last night. I wondered if the Sawchuck thing would go unnoticed by some. Clever
Brassard so the quota is met. Concentrate on D until the 1st period ice scrape the put in SawcukWho starts in net for the Wolves tomorrow?
Huuuuuuge game
That should be the goal for the majority of coaches. Whether it's NHL NFL NBA MLB. That's a no brainer. Probably a clause in contract he can dip if an opportunity arises.
