General Heat discussion thread

[Mitch]

How is reinhart on face-offs so far?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Yeah, that's about 400-600 people more than they usually get on weekday games, so it's not too bad. Obviously, we'd all like to see more, which I think we will in round 2.

I'm not an expert on that topic, but I don't really find those attendance numbers very encouraging. Seeing that at the same time a junior hockey team like the Winterhawks had 7700 visitors on a Wednesday night as well, those Heat numbers don't seem great at all. Again, I'm the wrong person for the topic, but it's baffling to me. Here in Austria, my hometown team is playing only in the second division, but even their home games usually draw an attendance around 2500 people (and by no means Austria is a hockey nation ), so I thought attendance in the AHL would be way higher than that.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by devo22

I'm not an expert on that topic, but I don't really find those attendance numbers very encouraging. Seeing that at the same time a junior hockey team like the Winterhawks had 7700 visitors on a Wednesday night as well, those Heat numbers don't seem great at all. Again, I'm the wrong person for the topic, but it's baffling to me. Here in Austria, my hometown team is playing only in the second division, but even their home games usually draw an attendance around 2500 people (and by no means Austria is a hockey nation ), so I thought attendance in the AHL would be way higher than that.

It is awful. I agree.

But that's the difference between a Canucks fan and a hockey fan. A Canucks fan follows the Canucks and nothing else, not even their prospects and AHL affiliate (Almost every Canucks fan I know is this type of fan). Then there's the hockey fan (who can also be a Canucks fan), but also follow the sport of hockey in general, even other team's AHL affiliates who happen to be in the general region you live in.

[EVERLAST]

The more I see Ward the more I Like what I see....even though if we started a Troy Ward Drinking game and drank whenever he says "like" man we'd all be in rough shape.

Awesome to hear about his work with all of our young players and how successful he has been with the Heat thus far

[Jaybird]

I know there is a Ward "lovefest" on this thread, but I just don't feel it. I think the the jury is still out on how good he is at developing young players. He may be helping some but not all. He obviously seems to be developing the players he wants to see succeed. I don't think he is as great as some people are saying. I think he is doing and saying want needs to be done for Coach Ward to succeed.......and whatever.....that may just be the way it works in pro sports. Anway I am just not feeling the sincerety in what he says. Also can anyone confirm that Ward was offered $1000.00 which would have been donated to the cancer "cuts for the the cure" campaign but that he refused as he did want have his head shaved? I hope this is just a rumour as it does speak to heart and character.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Jaybird

I know there is a Ward "lovefest" on this thread, but I just don't feel it. I think the the jury is still out on how good he is at developing young players. He may be helping some but not all. He obviously seems to be developing the players he wants to see succeed. I don't think he is as great as some people are saying. I think he is doing and saying want needs to be done for Coach Ward to succeed.......and whatever.....that may just be the way it works in pro sports. Anway I am just not feeling the sincerety in what he says. Also can anyone confirm that Ward was offered $1000.00 which would have been donated to the cancer "cuts for the the cure" campaign but that he refused as he did want have his head shaved? I hope this is just a rumour as it does speak to heart and character.

You certainly have some sort of axe to grind with the coaches that were in place when JD Watt had his falling out with the organization.

Ward "lovefest"?

The guy is doing a fantastic job as far as head coach of the Heat.

I really wish you'd give the passive aggressive "anti-Heat coach" agenda a rest already.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Jaybird

I know there is a Ward "lovefest" on this thread, but I just don't feel it. I think the the jury is still out on how good he is at developing young players. He may be helping some but not all. He obviously seems to be developing the players he wants to see succeed. I don't think he is as great as some people are saying. I think he is doing and saying want needs to be done for Coach Ward to succeed.......and whatever.....that may just be the way it works in pro sports. Anway I am just not feeling the sincerety in what he says. Also can anyone confirm that Ward was offered $1000.00 which would have been donated to the cancer "cuts for the the cure" campaign but that he refused as he did want have his head shaved? I hope this is just a rumour as it does speak to heart and character.

C'mon Jaybird. This is just simply slander towards Ward's character and ridiculous rumour to keep afloat.

I'm not sure why you dislike Ward so much. It'd be one thing if Ward was all talk and no walk, but that's not the case. I can see how you don't like the way he talks because you're probably used to coaches who say lame, cliche statements just to get an interview over with. Ward actually speaks in substance. He actually makes statements you can discuss with fellow fans unlike Sutter, Playfair, etc, etc who say, "Yeah, we just need to work harder out there...". Yeah, no sh*t. Next.

Furthermore, like I said, Ward's not all talk. There are dozens and dozens of testimonials out there from players, staff, and management who love Ward. Playfair, because last year's Heat team was VERY shallow in terms of depth, was playing some players outside of their capacities/roles. For example, Bancks and Patterson were being played as top 6 wingers, which isn't what they should be. They're energy checkers to be played in PK roles, which is what Ward has been playing them in. Matt friggin' Keith, a 3rd/4th line energy grinder was the Heat's leading scorer on the 1st line with 20 goals and 35 points. The point is (and this is not a criticism of Playfair, it's more a criticism of the organization) that players were not used in the roles they should have been used in. Now, Feaster has provided the Heat with good and very good AHL players which allowed Ward to use the prospects in the roles they should be used in (i.e., Nemisz, Sylvester, Byron, etc.). Nemisz is a second liner which is what he should be. Bancks is a third line energy/PK specialist which is what he should be. And so on and so on.

He's developing players just fine. In fact, to most people's surprise, he's developing players far beyond what many of us expected. The best part: He's developing players within the roles they are suited for so when they make the NHL, they'll be ready. Using Bancks as an example, if he got called up last season, he would've been lost in the NHL last season because he was used to playing 2nd line, offensive roles. This season, if he was going to be called up, it was going to be to fill a role that was suited to him.

/rant.

[EVERLAST]

now I really wanna see the Heat win the Calder cup to shut up the people doubting Troys hard work.....there is more to being a Ahl coach than people realize .......grooming all of these young men into professional athletes and dealing with their egos is not a job to be taken lightly?

Go Heat Go!!!!!!!

[kehatch]

Ward has the team on a playoff spot with home ice advantage and a first round sweep (so far). He has done it despite significant roster turnover throughout the season. The players that have been called up to the Flames have looked ready. Everyone that has been around him has went out of their way to compliment him publicly.

I am not sure what other peoples expectations are but mine have certainly been met.

[nickerjones]

Im hoping Chicago wins tonight ... If so ... FLAMES PLAYOFF HOCKEY IN OKLAHOMA WOOT WOOT!

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Im hoping Chicago wins tonight ... If so ... FLAMES PLAYOFF HOCKEY IN OKLAHOMA WOOT WOOT!

Haha OKC scares me. They have so much damn still, it's ridiculous. I'd prefer Toronto.

Regardless, even if the Heat beat Toronto, I'm sure OKC will be Chicago and they'll play in the Western finals anyways.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

2-1 San Antonio over Chicago with about 8:00 to go in the game.

Please hold on San Antonio!

[Canada 02]

Panthers eliminated just in time to send Markstrom down to beat Chicago

boo, Wolves score in the last minute to tie the game

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Panthers eliminated just in time to send Markstrom down to beat Chicago

boo, Wolves score in the last minute to tie the game

I believe Markstrom has been playing the whole time. It says he's played 3 games so far these playoffs.

[Canada 02]

ahh, he was called up for one game then sent back down for todays game

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Just as an update:

The score is 2-2 in the San Antonio/Chicago game and they just started the 2nd OT.

EDIT - San Antonio wins!!! YAAAAY!!!! Heat play Toronto!!!

[Freeway]

ROUND TWO!

May 1: Abbotsford at Toronto (5pm MT)
May 3: Abbotsford at Toronto (5pm MT)
May 5: Toronto at Abbotsford (8pm MT)
May 8: Toronto at Abbotsford (8pm MT)
May 9: Toronto at Abbotsford (8pm MT) (if necessary)
May 12: Abbotsford at Toronto (1pm MT) (if necessary)
May 13: Abbotsford at Toronto (1pm MT) (if necessary)

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Any predictions for this Heat series?

I'm going to say Ward has them playing like a fine-tuned machine on Tuesday. Toronto will be caught off guard by this "new" Heat team they hadn't faced before.

I'll go with Heat in 5.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Any predictions for this Heat series?

I'm going to say Ward has them playing like a fine-tuned machine on Tuesday. Toronto will be caught off guard by this "new" Heat team they hadn't faced before.

I'll go with Heat in 5.

Actually, the Heat and Marlies closed out the season against each other just two weeks ago.....Heat won 3-0 and 5-4 in OT. So Toronto has played this Heat team before.

I think the Heat win the series as well, as long as the goaltending doesn't falter.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Actually, the Heat and Marlies closed out the season against each other just two weeks ago.....Heat won 3-0 and 5-4 in OT. So Toronto has played this Heat team before.

I think the Heat win the series as well, as long as the goaltending doesn't falter.

True, the Marlies did play them once this year and that was in that 3-0 loss. In the 5-4 OT loss the Marlies played against all of the Heat's reserve players.

Given that, I think the Heat will win the series. Don't wanna be too overconfident though haha.