Troubled Times

By: Liam Darby

Well I’ll be first to say that the start of the Sabrecats 
season has not been as one would have hoped.  Last years 
savor Mika Noronen seems to be unable to shake a rough 
start.  Now his back up Jim Carrey has not been able to make 
a difference.  As the team slowly nears the 1/4 mark of the 
year, many questions have come up.  What is wrong, and how 
can it be fixed?  Where are the goals?  Is there a real goalie 
in the organization?  What more can the defense do?  Who will 
be the first to step up?

Are there answers to these?  Yes, many things are wrong.  First 
trade talks have many in fear, and it has not helped.  Rumors 
can only hurt progress as Dave Manson has been added to a team 
already carrying 7 Defensemen on its roster.  To go with 5 more 
in the farm the question is who is going to go?  Or has that 
been answered?  I say don’t look for the team to go after any of 
their own Defensemen that become FA at season’s end.  Also as the 
team searches for a new start Right-Winger watch the draft is all 
I say.  As the team looks at add mass quantities of mid to late 
2nd round picks and high 3rd round picks. I say look for a less 
then stellar regular season and a prayer that Cinderella miracle 
returns and lasts all the way to a championship this time.  The 
team should be saying goodbye to some major stars in the next 
little while, and regards less of what new head coach Marois has 
to say team Captain Mike Modano might not last till the seasons 
end.  As for the teams pride and future Adam French, I don’t see 
him going anywhere anytime soon.  I see Tim Conolly staying only 
if he looks like he can be resigned before the start of next 
season after the playoffs end.

As for the goals I say look at Donald Audette as he was expected 
to be a 20 goal scorer or better this year, and I don’t see it 
happening.  As for Enrico and Richards look for 1 of them to land 
on the farm next season.  With Petrovicky gone all hope goes with 
the front line Conolly, Audette and Marchant.  After that the team 
has some big hitters, speed and playmakers, but no big guns.  Back 
on the blue line French, Skoula and Tok can only bring so much 
before the forwards need to put some pucks in the net.  The team 
needs 1 man to make that move and deliver when it counts.

Well look on the bright side, the Defense is doing their share and 
then some.  If only Carrey could play the way he did a year ago, 
but more so if only Mika Noronen could re-find the magic of last 
year Cinderella playoff run.  Once the team figures out their 
number 1 goalie and gets him to play like 1 things could get back 
to wonder that was.  Until then we can only sit and wait.