Possible Trophyless Season?

[Al Murrays Hairbrush]

Much as I hate to say it I think we will come out of the season empty handed.
Around Xmas my son and I were talking about how we were top of the league, but couldn’t figure out how as we seldom dominated any games for more than a period, if that in some games.
The loss of Conn’s grit and points was major blows add to that the points that Deluca would add that alone turns the narrow losses to wins.

We’ve suffered with injuries to key players and have had to shuffle both forward lines and D Parings
With no disrespect to the replacements / mid season signings, Polak aside, they’ve not filled the gaps that have been left. We have a squad that now consists of a number of players that would’ve been 3rd or 4th line in previous seasons yet they’re now playing top 6 roles and minutes.

Polak has been great at face offs and with well over a point per game has been a find and Whistle had improved beyond recognition from the player he was but is still a 4th line centre.

Recently the loss of Latal’s, who has exceeded my expectations, and Jono’s speed has hit our style and we appear to have no “plan B” when teams counter or read the stretch pass / speed game plan.

Currently missing Vally’s points Armstrong being on a lean spell has added to the situation offensively turning wins into narrow defeats.
Feldner looked good at both ends of the ice on his debut, so will push others down to more suitable lines.

Defensively Davey has been solid as hoped, Jones has grown in stature over the season, Shudra when used has been steady. Todd has been a good, less error strewn, replacement for O’Connor and his injury will impact our transition game.
ASD has been for the most part very solid and it’s odd when you have an ex NHL’er in the line up that he appears to be the Dman not afraid to clear the crease. Ellerby, for me, doesn’t look like a player who did 6 seasons in the Show, lacking in physicality, intensity and at sometimes even interest.

As a D Core, we struggle to clear our own zone at times and still throw too many blind cross ice passes, gifting possession to opponents.

Netminding, I do prefer Rok’s mobility, but his performance in the penalty shoot out was poor last night and as like all netminders there’s a few soft ones gone past him.
Brust, fills the net and is a better stick handler close to the net and playing to puck up to the forwards than Rok but lacks mobility and has been beaten over the glove side shoulder a lot.

When our game works & all the players are firing it’s great to watch but it’s not been sustained, so with all the injuries and loss of points and grit we have a slowly dwindled away from the team we could’ve been and I feel we’ll run out of steam / luck / goals to see us over the line in the league.

Play Offs, who knows? See how we go with the loan players settling in and may be having the opportunity to play settled lines, we may have a chance, but feel it’s not our year. I do hope to be wrong.

[DiscoRay]

Let's hope so.

[smbmetal]

Looks like it could certainly be a trophyless season now. I don’t think we have enough for winning the playoffs. We’re not good enough in one off games.

Not winning a trophy if so would be a backward step from Fox’s first season for me.

Yes, we’ve had a lot of injuries, but great teams find a way.

Let’s hope some valuable lessons have been learned from this season. We need a younger team as the ‘experienced heads’ have not seen us through.

Whilst Simms may think people on this forum don’t know what they’re talking about, most people have called this season spot on so far.

[paul johnston]

Looks like it could certainly be a trophyless season now. I don’t think we have enough for winning the playoffs. We’re not good enough in one off games.

Not winning a trophy if so would be a backward step from Fox’s first season for me.

Yes, we’ve had a lot of injuries, but great teams find a way.

Let’s hope some valuable lessons have been learned from this season. We need a younger team as the ‘experienced heads’ have not seen us through.

Whilst Simms may think people on this forum don’t know what they’re talking about, most people have called this season spot on so far.

Simms may be happy with second (glass half full guy) but Fox wasn't in post match interview.

[smbmetal]

I always generally like Fox’s post game interviews. He echos many of thoughts of the fans on here. Reading between the lines from a few of the interviews, I’m not sure that ALL the players regularly buy in. Concerning if so.

[Robert Mansell]

Looks like it could certainly be a trophyless season now. I don’t think we have enough for winning the playoffs. We’re not good enough in one off games.

Not winning a trophy if so would be a backward step from Fox’s first season for me.

Yes, we’ve had a lot of injuries, but great teams find a way.

Let’s hope some valuable lessons have been learned from this season. We need a younger team as the ‘experienced heads’ have not seen us through.

Whilst Simms may think people on this forum don’t know what they’re talking about, most people have called this season spot on so far.

Technically 3rd season if you want to include include the make do elite series.

Coaches have been sacked for less by the current regime.....

[SteelerBlade]

Belfast are the standard the chasing pack need to gun for at playoffs. In one off games anything can happen as we’ve seen over the years in our favour and against.

As a side note, I assume if the complete the grand slam we’d get the Continental Cup position as 2nd in the league? (Although the only team in the running with no European commitments was Belfast so maybe that counts for something).

[Ron 25]

Given their respective résumés I expected more from Hodgman and Ellerby, which, for me, illustrates how difficult recruitment is. Fox seemed to allude to the fact that some of the team weren't fully on board - I wonder if these two are part of that issue?

[smbmetal]

Belfast are the standard the chasing pack need to gun for at playoffs. In one off games anything can happen as we’ve seen over the years in our favour and against.

As a side note, I assume if the complete the grand slam we’d get the Continental Cup position as 2nd in the league? (Although the only team in the running with no European commitments was Belfast so maybe that counts for something).

Before COVID hit Cardiff seemed to be the standard everyone was trying achieve. Belfast have quietly gone about their business and are certainly the current benchmark I agree. Used to be the Steelers.

[Sully]

AF has done a good job considering the toxic atmosphere around the club when he landed. He’s brought the club together and lives in the real world. He doesn’t sugar coat anything.

If it wasn’t for covid, I think we’d have been further on his journey.