What has French done ?

I sure liked the sounds of French from he preseason quote about "in your face hockey" and "relentless presure" but since our team isn't playing that style it makes me wonder what really has French done.

He gets here and 90% of our team is already signed with enough great players like Duda, Clayton, Blaznek and Tetrault even Cooter could probally coach these guys to a winning season.

The only players he signs after getting here are Murphy, Lizotte, Larner, Bain and Laplante. In a interview with LaPlante, he said once he losted his job he made a bunch of calls and happend to find French in need of a goalie, so that one didn't take to much recruting skills, we just got lucky he called at the same time we needed a goalie.

I wonder about his connections 23 games into the season and we still have every single person from our opening day roster, even when we have been strugling over the last 10 games or so.

I also wonder how much control he has over the team because our first 4 or 5 games we did play "in your face" mega presure hockey, but lately he let the team slide into a no checking, soft hockey slump.

I'm not ready to give up on him yet, but the season will be 1/2 way gone in just a couple of weeks, he needs to get busy fine tuning his roster and get them back to playing his style of hockey.

Re: What has French done ?

ThunderStruck wrote:

I sure liked the sounds of French from he preseason quote about "in your face hockey" and "relentless presure" but since our team isn't playing that style it makes me wonder what really has French done. He gets here and 90% of our team is already signed with enough great players like Duda, Clayton, Blaznek and Tetrault even Cooter could probally coach these guys to a winning season. The only players he signs after getting here are Murphy, Lizotte, Larner, Bain and Laplante. In a interview with LaPlante, he said once he losted his job he made a bunch of calls and happend to find French in need of a goalie, so that one didn't take to much recruting skills, we just got lucky he called at the same time we needed a goalie. I wonder about his connections 23 games into the season and we still have every single person from our opening day roster, even when we have been strugling over the last 10 games or so. I also wonder how much control he has over the team because our first 4 or 5 games we did play "in your face" mega presure hockey, but lately he let the team slide into a no checking, soft hockey slump. I'm not ready to give up on him yet, but the season will be 1/2 way gone in just a couple of weeks, he needs to get busy fine tuning his roster and get them back to playing his style of hockey.

He's working on it.

OUT

GDOGG

Well I have to give him credit for one thing and thats not panicking.....Making moves just to be making moves....I think your in need of a couple of role players and another goalie...But if you make a trade you have to give up something to get something.....Its hard to make up for pre-season mistakes like the ones in Tulsa...But we have picked up leadership and toughness which I like...One player that I hope shows up is Joey Sewell...Play should pick up after the holidays...

Voth wrote:

I think your in need of a couple of role players and another goalie....

Changes in toughness yes, another goalie I think we are pretty solid there.

hockeychat wrote:

Changes in toughness yes, another goalie I think we are pretty solid there.

I completely agree!! Our toughness dept. is in desperate need of changing, but on most nights, Seabass, and Volp are both pretty awesome goalies. The nights they don't fair so well, usually is more of a D-man problem then a goalie problem. Now, as long as Seabass will learn to stay in the goal a little more often then we really will be doing okay in that dept.!!!

Makes me wonder if something isn't going on in the locker room, behind closed doors. It almost seems like the great chemistry this team had at the beginning of the season has been disrupted by something or someone in the locker room.

And GDogg, I too, have heard that "changes" are being "worked" on.

i think our # 1 problem right now is Defense

The assistant GM is always on this website reading, why not just ask him your questions. After all he's always on this website looking for information from fans as well. You would think they would like to communicate with their ticket holders and supporters.

deadbolt wrote:

i think our # 1 problem right now is Defense

I agree 100%.

The defense does suck. Even though the Thunder have three out of the top four points leaders in the CHL they still manage to lose games. I beleive that reflects on the inability to play defense. Also look at how many times the Thunder get out shot per game. If there was a defense, other than the goalie, the number of shots from the opposing teams would not be that high.

Defense Defense Defense

cockroach wrote:

deadbolt wrote: i think our # 1 problem right now is Defense I agree 100%. The defense does suck. Even though the Thunder have three out of the top four points leaders in the CHL they still manage to lose games. I beleive that reflects on the inability to play defense. Also look at how many times the Thunder get out shot per game. If there was a defense, other than the goalie, the number of shots from the opposing teams would not be that high. Defense Defense Defense

I dont think its as much the "inability" to play defense.....its more of the unwillingness to play good solid defense

as for the toughness issue and the no players available thing........ Arron Plumb is available it looks like. I showed that he was playing for the idaho stealheads this year and is no longer on their active roster or anybody elses.

Inability or unwillingness it does not matter. The Defense is not getting it done!

cockroach wrote:

Inability or unwillingness it does not matter. The Defense is not getting it done!

I totally agree the defense isn't getting done....my point is that if the Thunder 'wanted" to play good solid defense they have the ability to. But you're right, right now the Thunder's defense sucks!!!

i agree the D needs to be solidified. they need to start checking at the blueline and beating opponents forwards to the pucks.
lizotte has spent more time playing forward lately than D and Fairbarn cant handle the puck worth crap! the only two on the ice that i dont worry about is tetrault and mcmillian.

as for plumb, wont do any good as i think he retired, his hands were beat up really bad from fighting so much. not to beat a dead horse but sucks that devo was told there was no room on the team. hell i say shake things up a bit. give him a shot, we all know he is tough, no he may not be in the best game shape but at least we pick up something by having him on the roster, toughness. hanson hasnt done anything so cut him and give devo a shot. IMO

The only reason Plumb played for Idaho is as an emergency player...I think the game was even in Victoria which is his home...he is like a Voth, Migdal, etc...local emergency player. On another note, we were interested in acquiring David Silverstone from Ft Worth...however he went on 45 day IR today...so that wont be happening.

I will pitch in a couple hundred a month for Parker, anyone else? We need to be thanking the goalie gods right now for letting Laplante find us, cause if not, we'd be in a hole already. Colorado seems to just keep chuggin. Let's call Esdale as well.

Hey Chief,

I understand that Lawrence is coming back to the Oilers. Any chance we could pull out a Sapergia or a Handy or maybe even a Desjardins?


I probably misspelled 2 of the 3 names I just brought up........I apologize!

lqseven wrote:

Hey Chief, I understand that Lawrence is coming back to the Oilers. Any chance we could pull out a Sapergia or a Handy or maybe even a Desjardins? I probably misspelled 2 of the 3 names I just brought up........I apologize!

I really hope that was a joke.....did anyone see Handy last time he made an appearance here? I looked a little out of shape, kind of like Martin Short in that movie when he gets stung by a bee.

OUT

GDOGG

Gdogg6 wrote:

I really hope that was a joke.....did anyone see Handy last time he made an appearance here? I looked a little out of shape, kind of like Martin Short in that movie when he gets stung by a bee. OUT GDOGG

[Sarcasm]Theres always Jober. Hell we could all pitch in and get Chiggy a good defense lawyer and get him out of jail to play for the Thunder.Blaz, Duda and Clayton are all puck hogs like Kobe so it wouldnt break my heart to let one of them go[\Sarcasm]

surely the hunting business can do without him for a bit. call up NORDSTROM.