What to do?

[wallee]

i never thought i would be saying this a few weeks ago but the way the team is coming together and playing right now you have to wonder...do we have a chance this year? i think we do if we continue to improve the way we are. (i know, hit me with a stick!)

this is the big quesiton to we dump are top players to secure some top talent for the future or do we just try to fill a hole here or there and go for it all?

i say we go for it......

[bois]

yep i'll hit you with a stick dec 28

[reggiedunlop7]

Three weeks ago we were casting out players like they were lepers...now the waters are a bit murky to a degree.
Realistically we are 7th right now, 1 pt out of 6th and 5pts from 5th. Even with a tear I'm thinking the best we could hope to finish is that 5th spot, 4th maybe if we really pour it on and other start to tumble hard.
I see a finish of Halifax, Saint John, Lewiston, Cape Breton, PEI , Acadie-Bathurst, St. John's, Moncton.

That would put us and CB in the 1st round.

As far as trades go I think of the future of this franchise we have to let some of the present go. Who that is remains to be seen. Some might say we've given up this year if say Morrrison goes, but the return will surely help us this year too.

Hate to be in Guy's shoes right now trying to figure out what move to make...sell a bit or sell a lot.

[mikey]

Go for it... WTF!!

I do agree that Rocket have a crucial decision to make. At the moment, we do not have the team depth to go for it. Yes, we have improved in almost all aspects of our game since the coaching change. But, right now, with no changes, I believe we should get out of the first round, but we will be beat solidly in the second.

In my opinion, the Rocket need to decide ....

One, to use our assets in Latal, Morrison, Walker, Lessard, Lafleur, etc.. and make a few deals to help us in the future, thus sacrifacing this years playoff run, and possibly loosing more fan support.

Two, perhaps trade some youth Malouin, Deighan, Gelinas, so we could possibly upset someone in the second round, and get beat in the third, but making to the third would spiking interest in the Rocket and hopefully saving some season pass sales for next season.

Personally, I would be happy with option 1, as it could mean a serious run at the championship in two years.

[North Shore]

I think a lot of fans who follow the team and league closely would agree with option 1. However those fans are not the majority and unless there is a winning product on the ice in the second half the team is going to loose more of the casual fans.

I think its harder to get a fan back than to keep one. As much as I'd like to see us build a serious contender over the next two years I think the team will try to maintain sufficient depth to finish in the top half of the division and win at least the first round for the next two years to rebuild fan support.

My guess is the "Run" will be a long term project for Chouinard, built on drafts and trades to be in a position to make the "Run" in year 4 with talent that is not even in the Q yet.

While we likely wont have a championship team in the next two years we should still see good hockey and in year 3 and 4 we would have a team that is a contender.

[bois]

Folks Halifax is loading up.... they will eat us for dinner (possibly in round one or definitely in round 2), we've been trying to be second round playoff team for five years and it hasn't happened yet.. deciding what to do at xmas won't be easy for sure but if that decision is made (to tweak slightly) I'll be gone next year... that would send the clear message to me that Serge is still calling the hockey shots and only cares about making some of his money back shortterm

Right now our team for next year looks terrible.... trading a bit of youth and keeping all our vets to try and win one playoff round will mean we're fighting just to make the damn playoffs again next year

[wallee]

some very valid points woodsie....

[voiceofytown]

I would trade as much as i can to better for next year. A 2nd round playoff birth.. is not worth the suffering for next season. You guys have some assets some teams could use. I say unload for some prospects and players who will help in the next year or 2.

[mboyan]

While having a 2nd round playoff team this year may sound compelling, and may put a few extra dollars in Serge's pockets, I'd much rather get good value for our assets now and build for a run in 2 years. This would allow Chouinard enough time to build this as his team, and, if done right, make us more competitive in the years we're not in a "go-for-it" mode.

We can talk all we want about who's expendable, and who's not, but I think I'll just put my trust in Chouinard, and hope he'll make the right decisions.

I know that he's a good coach, but time will tell what his GM skills are like. And, in another few weeks, we'll know in which direction he is going to take this team.

[chillywack]

wallee said:

i say we go for it......

I say your way off base. You go for it this year ... you can say goodbye to all your fans in the next few years. Really don't think they'll be too fond of having a 2nd round playoff exit, then the next few years of missing the playoffs because you sold the farm to attempt to "go for it"

You guys are nothing compared to as what Halifax will be after Christmas.

[canucklehead]

From an outsider here's my opinion:

If you can make some major improvements on defense then I say give it a shot. Personally I thought the Rocket would be a much better team then the start indicated. That being said how move can the defense improve with whats available?

I'd love to see a team step up and knock the Mooseheads off their pedistal!

[Judas In My Mind]

Good lord....sell! Nobody is making a run at Halifax other than Baie Comeau or Rouyn Noranda, so "going for it" is not really an option. You'd need a ton of help just to have a chance against the current Mooseheads...before they load up at the deadline.

I'd be trying to trade with those 2 teams in the Telus division. I'm sure Baie Comeau would love someone ala Morrison to fill that 20 slot occupied by Morier. Looking at Rouyn...do they really want Sniderman in nets to try and win the President's Cup? I surely hope not. A Lafluer and Morrison package deal to them would make that team look really good and should land you a boatload of help for the future. I expect Bathurst to be busy trading too and I don't buy into Bartos coming back, so maybe they'd give you some help for the future for a Latal also.


Those are just potential trading partners off the top of my head. Bottom line is you should sell for sure, IMO.

[canucklehead]

David vs Goliath go for it boyz!!!

[Judas In My Mind]

canucklehead said:

David vs Goliath go for it boyz!!!

The Maple Leafs are hot now too. I suppose you also think they should make a run at the Stanley Cup? I might be a drunk but you're a damn crackhead Canucklehead. ;D

[canucklehead]

jrsuperstar said:

canucklehead said:

David vs Goliath go for it boyz!!!

The Maple Leafs are hot now too. I suppose you also think they should make a run at the Stanley Cup? I might be a drunk but you're a damn crackhead Canucklehead. ;D

Whoa! Did someone say the Leafs are going for the Stanley Cup

Seriously though if the Rocket wanted to they could take a shot at it they have a very good offense it's the backend that's killing this team it even hurts the offense because they aren't making good decisions with their first pass coupled with turnovers in their own end.

Do I think they will go for it probably not because there just isn't alot of decent defensemen available and if they can't improve that then yeah it might be time to make some tough decisions.

Someone has to give Halifax a run for their money in this division.