Les' Loft - View Entry

WOW!!

Posted by Les Lazaruk on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 01:51:00 PM.

REGINA - I guess it's a good thing I spoke to my wife this morning and found out she still loves me! The next thing will be to speak with my friends and acquaintances and make sure we're still cool!!

I would next say, "lol", but this is no laughing matter. To say that there is unhappiness and unrest amongst Saskatoon Blades' supporters is to put it mildly. I guess I put myself in the cross-hairs by choosing to defend the Brodsky family ownership of the team, by explaining what I see as being the situation, as I see it, within the hockey club.

It seems, based on further responses to my pre-Christmas post a couple down, that many folks don't want to hear explanations or rationale...they've had enough!

As much as I don't agree with that attitude, I do respect it. I will apologize to "Season Ticket Holder" for going off on him. It was unprofessional of me to do so...as one responder stated. I made an assumption that "Season Ticket Holder" was a particular person who was anonymously phoning "Boots and Salutes" on CJWW and taking shots at the ownership of the team, as well as G-M and head coach Lorne Molleken. I object to people who take their shots anonymously...I do respect people who come on here to respond to this blog and put their names up beside it. I will point out that I didn't refer to anyone as "a moron"...I was actually called that. And, that's fine...if that's the heat I have to take, trust me I can take it. I've been in the sports media for a long time (actually, Wheat King fan, I remember what it was like in Brandon back in the 80s when I worked there...there's quite a few similarities to the way fans there felt back then about the Wheaties compared to the ones here now with the Blades!)

When it comes to the players, I speak with them on a fairly regular basis and I don't feel as though they are measuring me for physical harm. From what I can see, they are disappointed with the season and realize they must shoulder responsibility and accountability for it...just as Lorne Molleken does.

Once again, as I've stated before, I was invited to do this blog and wasn't certain if I wanted to. Since I'm not a coward and never been one to back away from a discussion, I will continue blogging. I'm not going to quit my job, either. I enjoy it, even with this situation. I don't feel I'm a "Know-It-All", but I do have access to people within the team and within the league...from where I base my opinions. They aren't always correct...I've been wrong before and I'm sure I will be again. So, future blogs will attempt to provide room for response as to what I offer...both in terms of facts and opinions. I look forward to hearing more from readers of the blog...which I'm told gets the most traffic on the Blades' website of any area that can be viewed!

I will also implore those of you who are regular attendees of Blades' home games, who have concerns about the direction of the hockey club, to seek out president Jack Brodsky. Whether you are satisfied with what he says or not, he is approachable and willing to explain what he and his family thinks regarding the ownership of the team and the direction the on-ice product is going in. If you're still thinking an ownership change or other changes in the hockey operations are required, that is your opinion and you are entitled to it.

Now, let's see how the Blades do tonight in Regina after last night's good effort in Moose Jaw. The 3-2 shootout loss was punctuated by two great goals in the shootout...Ondrej Fiala for the Blades and Ty Wishart's winner for the Warriors. I know it's likely a little late, but the Blades are 4-3-0-1 in their last 8 games. They've out-shot their opponents in six of the eight games and tied Prince Albert in shots in the only game in which they stunk during the eight (in my humble opinion) when they lost 5-1. Otherwise, they've been out-scored 19-18 in the eight games while out-shooting oppoents 242-215. The power play is 10-44 in that time while opponents are just 4-42 with the man advantage. Scoring goals...especially at even strength...continues to be a source of frustration for the Blades. I look forward to reading thoughts as to why scoring is so difficult for this group. My first thought is that maybe the team isn't as talented as we were led to believe, although I also feel their relative youth and inexperience plays a part in it as well.

Your turn...I'm going to check if I've been cooked thoroughly and evenly from the heat I've taken!

4 Comment(s) | Leave a Comment

Comments

Stimulus and Reaction
from stanley on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 09:09:32 PM
Les, good on you for staying the course. I'll follow up in a separate post (or seek you out in the building) to offer my suggestions for improvement. Its all about stimuli, and rewards and guts.

IMO
from Dean on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 05:03:12 PM
Here is my take on the Blades Team situation. I have being living in Saskatoon for aproximately 7 years I am a season ticket holder of 4 years, so maybe Its a case where I don't have years of built up frustration but I like what I have seen thus far in Lornes 3+ year tenure. Believe me I know frustration, I am a rider fan. And I know the Blades have not made a run in the playoffs for quite some time. But the Blades are severely suffering from the McEwen disaster the last couple of years. year after year Lorne has had to trade for 20yr olds because of the poor drafting of previous years. unfortunately the Brodsky's should have seen this coming sooner then they did. Molleken was brought in 2 years two late. Just like the Raiders will suffer from the Don Clark era. That is over now and we can't blame Lorne Molleken for it. It takes time to build a team in Junior and you build through the draft. I think Molleken has made some great trades and Draft picks throughout the years he has being here. Trades such as the Seto trade, Fiala, McCrea ( I liked McCrea but this was a great trade) Lankgow will be a great 20yr old, A 20 yr old we don't have to trade for. And molleken has made some great draft picks. Both Bantam and European. Khudobin, Zahn, Hamilton, Niemi and I think Patterson will play a huge role in 2010. IMO he is underrated right now. The kid is built like a horse he will be a solid 20yr old (again one we don't have to trade for). Not to mention Lorne finding a jem like Sam Klassen playing in Junior A. And If Krahn, Morrison, Inglis, Nicholls, crooks and Gallimore all turnout. Overall I can't see how anyone can fault Molleken for his role as GM. Coaching is where Molleken has faltered this year and maybe last. Not saying he isn't a great coach because we seen how great he was when he turned a team who won 7 games the previous year to a team that won 34 games the following season. That is great coaching. But I think Molleken has spent so much time and effort rebuilding this team that the coaching dedication might not have been there. The Blades have no consistency this year which IMO results from coaching. (Not to mention how unprepared they looked to start the season). I have never being a fan of the coach/GM role but by next year Molleken's rebuilt team will be in place for 2010 and he will be able to dedicate himself to coaching that team to the Memorial cup (hopefully). All in all I see potential with the Blades. But I will say great franchises stem from great ownership. But I really think that the Brodsky's have turned things around for the good. Its just a matter of waiting AGAIN. Hopefully this time they don't let things slip away again. This was my opinion on the Blades as a Team. Stay tuned for my opinion on the Blades as an orginization.

IMO

from Dean on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 05:03:12 PM

Here is my take on the Blades Team situation.
I have being living in Saskatoon for aproximately 7 years I am a season ticket holder of 4 years, so maybe Its a case where I don't have years of built up frustration but I like what I have seen thus far in Lornes 3+ year tenure. Believe me I know frustration, I am a rider fan. And I know the Blades have not made a run in the playoffs for quite some time. But the Blades are severely suffering from the McEwen disaster the last couple of years. year after year Lorne has had to trade for 20yr olds because of the poor drafting of previous years. unfortunately the Brodsky's should have seen this coming sooner then they did. Molleken was brought in 2 years two late. Just like the Raiders will suffer from the Don Clark era.
That is over now and we can't blame Lorne Molleken for it. It takes time to build a team in Junior and you build through the draft. I think Molleken has made some great trades and Draft picks throughout the years he has being here. Trades such as the Seto trade, Fiala, McCrea ( I liked McCrea but this was a great trade) Lankgow will be a great 20yr old, A 20 yr old we don't have to trade for. And molleken has made some great draft picks. Both Bantam and European. Khudobin, Zahn, Hamilton, Niemi and I think Patterson will play a huge role in 2010. IMO he is underrated right now. The kid is built like a horse he will be a solid 20yr old (again one we don't have to trade for). Not to mention Lorne finding a jem like Sam Klassen playing in Junior A. And If Krahn, Morrison, Inglis, Nicholls, crooks and Gallimore all turnout. Overall I can't see how anyone can fault Molleken for his role as GM.
Coaching is where Molleken has faltered this year and maybe last. Not saying he isn't a great coach because we seen how great he was when he turned a team who won 7 games the previous year to a team that won 34 games the following season. That is great coaching. But I think Molleken has spent so much time and effort rebuilding this team that the coaching dedication might not have been there. The Blades have no consistency this year which IMO results from coaching. (Not to mention how unprepared they looked to start the season). I have never being a fan of the coach/GM role but by next year Molleken's rebuilt team will be in place for 2010 and he will be able to dedicate himself to coaching that team to the Memorial cup (hopefully).
All in all I see potential with the Blades. But I will say great franchises stem from great ownership. But I really think that the Brodsky's have turned things around for the good. Its just a matter of waiting AGAIN. Hopefully this time they don't let things slip away again.

This was my opinion on the Blades as a Team. Stay tuned for my opinion on the Blades as an orginization.

still wondering
from Amol on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 01:36:21 PM
hi guys.. ive been a blades fan ever since i could drive out to the games. ive been a season ticket holder for 2 years and im alittle frustrated. do not get me wrong ill support and love seeing this team play no matter what, but im tired of the outcomes year after year. all the trades seem to disrupt this team and then just when your thinking of having some chemistry its lost. whether we like it or not we need 20 year olds! People that have seen it all. We also need size and people like Reech. i went to game on saturday in regina and regina was hit and bashing us around. We need speed as our offensive break outs tend to lead to turnovers. I just want some improvement year after year. im ok with a slump but not every year. Every team improves each year....moose jaw and P.A. saw themselves going to the Western final a couple of yeas back and now regina is going to do well this year too. we need to think about keeping our experienced players and maybe there needs to less loyality around our team. Maybe then more people will bleed blue just like i do.

still wondering

from Amol on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 01:36:21 PM

hi guys.. ive been a blades fan ever since i could drive out to the games. ive been a season ticket holder for 2 years and im alittle frustrated. do not get me wrong ill support and love seeing this team play no matter what, but im tired of the outcomes year after year. all the trades seem to disrupt this team and then just when your thinking of having some chemistry its lost. whether we like it or not we need 20 year olds! People that have seen it all. We also need size and people like Reech. i went to game on saturday in regina and regina was hit and bashing us around. We need speed as our offensive break outs tend to lead to turnovers. I just want some improvement year after year. im ok with a slump but not every year. Every team improves each year....moose jaw and P.A. saw themselves going to the Western final a couple of yeas back and now regina is going to do well this year too. we need to think about keeping our experienced players and maybe there needs to less loyality around our team. Maybe then more people will bleed blue just like i do.

Zemlack
from Joe B. on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 04:45:07 PM
Somebody needs to help me out with the logic of playing Holtby all the time. Zemlack is a great goaltender but has not had the opportunity to prove himself. With the playoffs not a reality, why not give Zemlack some games. They will not run with two 19 year old goaltenders next year. If they hope to be able to trade Zemlack for anybody they should prove that he can play the game. Alternate them for the rest of the season.

Zemlack

from Joe B. on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 04:45:07 PM

Somebody needs to help me out with the logic of playing Holtby all the time. Zemlack is a great goaltender but has not had the opportunity to prove himself. With the playoffs not a reality, why not give Zemlack some games. They will not run with two 19 year old goaltenders next year. If they hope to be able to trade Zemlack for anybody they should prove that he can play the game. Alternate them for the rest of the season.

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