The future of the PEI Rocket roster

[Krang7]

By the way the last couple of days of the trading period went for the Rocket the attention seems to have shifted towards the next couple of seasons. I'd just like to take a quick look at the returning players for next season and what the plans may be.

FWs(junior age next season in brackets):

Locks:
Tousignant(19)
McKinley(19)
Doyle(18)
Kana(18)
Coon-Come(18)
Casavant(17)
MacLean(17)

Possible returnees:
Lachaine(20)
Desroches(18)
Wright(18)
Street(17)

D:

Locks:
Quaile(20)
Garnier(19)
Southorn(18)
Malouin(18)
Neiderer(17)

Possible returnees:
Main(20)
Deighan(18)
Clow(18)

G:
Gelinas(19)
Mosher(18)

(As far as I can tell, Lafleur won't be back whether he plays pro or gets traded elsewhere. I could be wrong though.)


Obviously that is a solid core group but there are still a few holes to fill. I think that right now Quaile is our only lock to be an OA next season.

I'd like both Lachaine and Main a lot and I wouldn't be disappointed if we had them both back for next season, but if they're position were to get filled by better players then that's the nature of the business. I think it's important that we improve our top line scoring for next season and Lachaine's OA spot might be a spot to do that. His offense has been excellent lately, but I'm talking a 90 point OA which I don't think Matty will ever be.

Main is probably a bit more safe to return, at least for the first half of the season, but if they add a top OA FW then there's a chance they'll want to keep both that OA and Lachaine. Either way I think that our OA situation for next season is very solid.

Depending on where we finish in the standings by the time this year ends we should be able to pick up a solid young player or two early in the draft that could fill in some spots. I'm not sure exactly how are draft picks break down for this year's draft, someone else may be able to post it.

I'm sure I'm missing some other young prospects that might have a chance to crack the lineup as well.

From what I can tell there are about 6 or 7 FW spots to fill and 3 or 4 D spots. I'd like to read some more opinions on what exactly we could be looking for going into next season.

[Captain Obvious]

If they play their cards right, that's a team that could be very good in 1 1/2 years building around your 1990 and 1991 players.

[bois]

I thought this was going to be a post about the team moving

Good starting point but nothing is certain for sure

I think there will be some moves (hopefully made at the draft) to plug some holes.. absolutely a goalie must be dealt.. ideally it's LaFleur but what if he gets hot, wins back the starting job, carries us to a playoff upset? wouldn't he then become a lock to return as a 20

I like Gelinas but one must remember he was an 11th round draft pick, acquired for a 9th rounder.......... he will certainly fetch us more than that right now if we dealt him (i wonder if this was explored at all.. if Gougeon could land a kid plus a first rounder..... what if we had thrown Gelinas into the Morrison deal? what could we have gotten then?

I base this on no certainty at all but my gut feeling tells me the extra draft pick we got from Rouyn is turning into a player for next year.. ideally it would be a 19 year old (in terms of next years age).... Bourdon would be the dream but is not likely .. other options could potentially be Macaneour or DesJardins both of whom would provide some top 6 scoring for us and not take up an overage slot.... or maybe it's Yannick Riendeau.. a prolific scorer who would take up a 20 slot (facilitating further moves) but a real injury risk

I also think one of the kids.... maybe two.... will be used to land a dandy player as well... Maclean, Street, cassavant, CoonCome and Malouin being the guys I'd centerpiece an offer for

It's a great direction this team has been slowly taking this season... I hope they keep it going and really treat us to a special next 2 seasons.. the pieces are in place to do just that now

the only thing still missing is for Serge to go on a media frenzy right now telling people why these moves were made.... I see on the Guardian web poll the option that the trades made were horrible was winning handily (as of 10 am) and that frightens me.. also in talking with a few season ticket holders.. of the more aged variety... they are very unhappy when they heard the news of the trades the past two days... I explained why i think it was great.... they feel a bit better now but it isn't my job to do this.. I was very disappointed actually that there wasn't a feature interview with Serge and/or Guy on Compass last night actually.. I'm holding hope there might be soon.. I think it's crucial to the success of this franchise

[Krang7]

bois said:

I thought this was going to be a post about the team moving

Hopefully that subject will make it a little more clear...

[Score]

bois said:

It's a great direction this team has been slowly taking this season... I hope they keep it going and really treat us to a special next 2 seasons.. the pieces are in place to do just that now

I was very disappointed actually that there wasn't a feature interview with Serge and/or Guy on Compass last night actually.. I'm holding hope there might be soon.. I think it's crucial to the success of this franchise

For the first time in the history of the PEI Rocket, it finally seems as though the team has a legit plan....and is being followed through.


2003-2004
The Rocket moved to PEI from Montreal with a strong base of players.
Finishing 5th overall with 91pts, the Rocket were led by players such as:
Michael Lambert
Cory Urquhart
Maxim Lapierre
Pierre-Andre Bureau

This team had some solid skill and some prospects that made this franchise look bright.
Marc-Andre Gragnani-16
Tyler Hawes-16
Ryan Mior-16
David Laliberte-17

This team had a chance to really make some noise in the playoffs, but the management never went out and brought in the players that were needed. They added the much needed goaltender in Boutin, but no other big moves were made.



2004-05
After losing the main core from the year before, this years Rocket team would struggle.
With a 24-39-7 record, this Rocket squad would not see the post season.
Yet, they went through the trade period and hung onto their main assets.
Pierre-Andre Bureau
Maxim Lapierre
Jimmy Bonneau
Dominic Soucy
If those players above were traded, who knows if things would have been different......but IMO, that was one of the biggest mistakes that were made. Hanging onto them.


2005-2006
This season was not that much better. After head coach Alain Vigneault gave his notice just before training camp, Savard had to fill that spot fast.
Enter Coach Jean.
Finishing 7th in the division, only above the expansion SJ team, this team was led by euro star, Vyacheslav Trukhno. Slava finished the year off with 96pts to push the Rocket into the post season.
The Rocket brought in Russian "star" Anton Skorykh, and we all know how that went.
Moves were made to help the backend, as Travis Mealy and Jean-Claude Milot helped the backend....but it came at a cost.
Rumors floated about that coach Jean was not overly popular in the dressing room with the players.
The Rocket got outed in the opening round of the playoffs in a battle with Bathurst.


2006-2007
This season was a weird one.
Players came in..........unhappy players left.
Still rumors around that Coach Jean was not liked, and players wanting out of PEI.
The Rocket finished 4th in the Eastern Division and IMO had no real direction. Trades were made to bring in players like Lessard, Morrison, Gervais....but out went players like Slava, Hawes, Lund, and Mior.
They didn't "sell" or "buy"....
In a spiritated 7 game playoff with Bathurst, once again the Rocket were eliminated from the post season.



Now, for the first time in the history of the Rocket, it finally seems as though the team has a legit plan....and is being followed through.

Jean is gone. Replaced by Coach Guy Chouinard....who is well known for his accomplishments.

They finally made a choice to build the future....and they finally did it right.

Sure, some "casual" fans may not understand why the teams leading scorer, why their captain and why their assistant captain were all traded, but IMO, if they weren't, this franchise would have been in HUGE trouble.

Fans here need a winning team, but most importantly, fans here DESERVE a winning team.
With the moves that were made, the base is their. It's up to Guy/Savard to do the finishing touches when the time comes.

As of now, it finally looks as though this team is headed into the right direction, as all the right moves were made.



The info above may not all be accurate....im tired

[catnut]

To me, this trading period is a sign that Savard has really let the reins to Chouinard. Your team finally seems to have a plan in place.

[Score]

catnut said:

To me, this trading period is a sign that Savard has really let the reins to Chouinard. Your team finally seems to have a plan in place.

Yes, finally it seems that way.

I just hope they finish the job they started.