How are we feeling out there?

[SteveUL]

hockeychick21 said:

I find myself having no interest whatsoever this season....I go to the rink, the game is boring, the team isn't playing great and I sit there waiting to go home and hoping the clock can move a bit faster. Sometimes it is a struggle to get my mind even wanting to go to the game because alot of times this year I havent really wanted to go at all...knowing the outcome probably isn't going to be that good. Hopefully that changes soon, I would hate to waste a entire hockey season ya know

I think this post should be used as an alarm bell for the organization ... when this poster is suddenly not willing to be a die-hard fan anymore I think the organization has hit the bottom. No sarcasm intended.

Obviously Chouinard needs time to turn his new team around ... 5 games is not enough ... but he has to undo 5yrs of "no plan" ... and that might take a few trading periods before there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[mboyan]

I'm not dis-interested, as much as I am disappointed. I'll continue to go, win or lose, for two reasons;

a) this is the best hockey we're ever going to see here (laclustre performances or not). As much as I want to see the Rocket do well, I go just as much to see the other budding stars around the league. Some of these guys are future Hall of Famers, and I'll not stop watching them because "my team" has no desire or heart....if that is indeed the case,

b) I've already spent my money on season tickets, so there's no point in staying away. Instead, I'll show up, when I can, and cheer when they deserve it, and boo when they deserve that. I'll also, like the rest on this board, continue to be an arm-chair critic, spouting off my opinion when I feel the need to, venting my frustrations when I have to, and praising performances when they're deserved. Because the bottom line is that I am a fan......and nothig more. I have no say in how the team is run, any more than I have a say in whether or not you should buy tickets next year.

You would be hard-pressed to convince me that this team is as bad as its record would indicate. Sub-par goaltending from an NHL drafted goalie, poor defensive play from our top 2 defencemen (and, to be fair, all defencemen), and too many individual efforts all point to lack of team motivation.

Having said all that, my own personal opinion is that the so-called "leaders" on this team need to step up, and do everything in their power to turn this thing around. Guys that think that they are "all that and a bag of chips" need to remember that this is a team game, and without your teammates support, you'll eventually go nowhere. Lessard, Gervais, and Morrison all need to show me why they are deserving of letters on their jerseys.

At the same time that the leaders are doing their jobs, the coaching staff needs to send messages to players that floating, individuality, and poor play will only be rewarded with a seat on the bench. I would much rather see this team lose in a blowout, to anybody, if the right messages were being sent to the right players, and those on the ice were giving their all. I don't give a shit if you're a "star" or not....you still have to earn your ice time

Lastly, it's up to each individual person on this team to look inside themselves, and ask if they are truly happy with the way things are going. If not, then they need to ask themselves how they can help fix it....how they can help to bring out the best in those around them. I know that sounds like a cliche (no, not Maxim), but unless these guys can dig down deep, and start to think about the other guys as much as they do themselves, this team will continue to nose-dive.......right out of the playoffs.

I hope that they can get this thing turned around.......I hope that we'll see them come together as a team soon.......I hope that they soon realize that skill, by itself, doesn't win hockey games......I hope.

I guess, by your definition, that would make me a #2......but really, like a lot on here, I'm a #5 ;D

[coreyapple]

mboyan said:

I guess, by your definition, that would make me a #2......but really, like a lot on here, I'm a #5 ;D

So you're telling us you're a number 2?

You're being too hard on yourself, methinks.

[mboyan]

coreyapple said:

mboyan said:

I guess, by your definition, that would make me a #2......but really, like a lot on here, I'm a #5 ;D

So you're telling us you're a number 2?

You're being too hard on yourself, methinks.

Nope..telling you I'm a 5!!

[rocket09]

How do we feel? How the heck do you think we feel. JUST SICK!!!! Pissed off, fustrated, discouraged, used, you name, we got it.

Where is the team? Cannot blame coaching any longer. If the boys cannot get off the pot, they need to get out of the game.

I have had enough of this crap. I am paying good money to see good hockey. When am I going to see it?

[Score]

steveul said:

hockeychick21 said:

I find myself having no interest whatsoever this season....I go to the rink, the game is boring, the team isn't playing great and I sit there waiting to go home and hoping the clock can move a bit faster. Sometimes it is a struggle to get my mind even wanting to go to the game because alot of times this year I havent really wanted to go at all...knowing the outcome probably isn't going to be that good. Hopefully that changes soon, I would hate to waste a entire hockey season ya know

Obviously Chouinard needs time to turn his new team around ... 5 games is not enough ... but he has to undo 5yrs of "no plan" ... and that might take a few trading periods before there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I hate to "always" seem so optimistic, but I agree with Steve 100%.

5 games is not enough time to start worrying. The players were used to a system (Jean's) now they are being taught things that im sure are a lot different then what Jean was teaching them. The change takes time, and personally, I'm willing to wait. It will be worth it.

But i do agree that certain players need to pick it up some, as not all are playing to their capibilities.

I still worry about the play in our own zone.........the D are not playing as well as they can. That needs to be addressed.

[North Shore]

reggiedunlop7 said:

....what's the mood in sections around where you sit? ...
1. Totally pissed off and constantly looking for failure and when the team does even the smallest thing right they still find fault with it.

2. Cling to the hope that things will get better if we would get a break or two..i.e. goals sitting on the doorstep going in, etc.

3. Looking at their watches wondering why did I come here tonight.

4. Trying valiantly to cheer even though the play on the ice says otherwise.

wingman said:

5. Wanting to see good hockey, see the team do well but are pissed off and discouraged when they leave the rink due to that night's performance.

How about it folks....is the support for this team headed for implosion?

As for section 16, there seems to a mix of 2 and 3.

I was definitely a number 5 prior to the Coaching change and am now paitiently waiting and watching for some changes, fully expecting some losses but hoping to see better use of all players and improved work ethic. If these come along I think the team will start to put the wins up.

[coreyapple]

So now that we're in a so-called "playoff race", would someone please tell me something?

I can't find out on the Q site.

Does a team from the Western division cross over into the East whatever their points total, or only if they have more points than the 8th-place team from the East?

In other words, if the Rocket finish 8th in the East with, say, 50 points, and Shawinigan finishes 9th in the West with 49 points, does Shawinigan still cross over?

That would mean that Shawinigan would make the playoffs even though they finished 17th overall - but given the idiocy of this playoff system, that wouldn't surprise me.

Anyone know?

[Krang7]

The last place team from each division gets eliminated, and the second last place team from the West division crosses over and slots into whatever ranking their points place them in.

So yes, in your situation Shawinigan would crossover into 8th place in the East.

[coreyapple]

Thanks for the information, Krang.

However, I think the league is missing the boat.

The second-last-place team in the West and the last-place team in the East should engage in a 2-of-3 series played on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday after the last Sunday of the season, as a preliminary round.

.....or maybe the 16th, 17th, and 18th-place teams should play a round-robin on those days, with the winner getting into the playoffs.

Just trying to find a way to make this playoff system even more ludicrous, but having a tough time doing it.

[coreyapple]

So seriously, whom does the Rocket have to beat out to make the playoffs.

Halifax, Cape Breton and Lewiston are obviously out of the question, and Saint John and St John's have looked pretty good.

That leaves Moncton and Bathurst.

Doesn't look good.

Not fair - they should let all 18 teams into the playoffs!

After all, it's a development league, right?

[Krang7]

St. John's and Moncton are probably the two that they have the best shot at beating out. If CB falters a lot before Christmas and they go into sell mode and trade the likes of Ouellet, Culligan and Slaney then they might have a chance of catching them too.

[Jack Bauer]

coreyapple said:

So seriously, whom does the Rocket have to beat out to make the playoffs.

Halifax, Cape Breton and Lewiston are obviously out of the question, and Saint John and St John's have looked pretty good.

That leaves Moncton and Bathurst.

Doesn't look good.

Not fair - they should let all 18 teams into the playoffs!

After all, it's a development league, right?

I think i'd rather miss out and get one of the top picks instead of getting embarassed in the playoffs by a top team. I realize the games still have to be played, but its like the #16 seed in the NCAA tourney, you basically have no chance. Do kids develop more by playing and losing 4 games against the leagues best? I don't think so.

[coreyapple]

jackbauer said:

[. I realize the games still have to be played, but its like the #16 seed in the NCAA tourney, you basically have no chance. Do kids develop more by playing and losing 4 games against the leagues best? I don't think so.

Some people apparently think so.

The scouts and management get to watch these players during training camp, pre-season, 70 regular-season games, but apparently these 4 additional blowouts against the top team in the league are all-important in player evaluation.

Similarly, teams get 3 preseason games and 35 regular-season games to sell to fans, but those extra 2 home playoff dates for the blowout games will make the difference between having a loss and a profit.

What nonsense!

Many so-called rationales are trotted out to defend the Q's ridiculous playoff format - but none of these can stand up to scrutiny.

All that having 16 teams in the playoffs does is make a joke of the regular season, and render most games virtually meaningless - now THAT really helps put butts in the seats in November and February, doesn't it?