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Apocalypse Sticks
(The Next Level!)
199 Posts |
 Posted - 11/06/2010 : 11:24:15 AM
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"As a 1st-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators in 2008 (18th overall, 11 picks after Colin Wilson), hopes for goaltending prospect Chet Pickard have been justifiably high. Pickard was dominant throughout his junior career, and started strongly with the Milwaukee Admirals. Expectations were such that he entered Predators training camp in September with an outside chance at backing up Pekka Rinne to begin the season.
Sometime last season, though, something began to go wrong. As of this writing, Chet Pickard's last victory was on February 5, 2010, when he allowed 3 goals on 21 shots. He has started 16 times since then, without a single victory. On October 26th, he was demoted to the Cincinnati Cyclones, Nashville's ECHL affiliate. Last season, Mark Dekanich went through a slump with the Admirals, and while it wasn't as protracted or extreme as Pickard's, a quick demotion to Cincy cured everything. He dominated at the ECHL level and returned to the AHL after three games, a new man.
In this case, however, the move may have backfired. Pickard is now 0-3 with the Cyclones, and lasted only 8 minutes last night against Trenton, giving up 3 goals before being pulled from the game.
Read the full article at...
http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2010/11/6/1796355/is-chet-pickard-spiraling-out-of-control
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Pretty harsh article, but some eye-opening stats and commentary from Nashville and Milwaukee..
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"What daring! What outrageousness! What insolence! What arrogance!... I salute you. " |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2010 : 2:22:59 PM
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The only thing worse than a struggling goalie is a struggling D in front of a struggling goalie.
The goalies aren't responsible for 55 shots on goal.
Chet is clearly not playing well, but at least Dekanich had a team that was playing pretty well in front of him for his demotion. Right now the 'clones look to be the worst team in the league.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2010 : 2:30:03 PM
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Good find.
The combination of a goalie in the midst of a deep slump and a team which hasn't found its stride has been lethal.
I hope Skalde plays Cheverie (who had a very nice game last night) until the team puts a few wins in the bank. The combination of Pickard and an ineffective PK is killing this team.
You can't fight City Hall. A goalie on a 16 game losing streak and a PK which allows one goal in every three chances won't win too many games. Perhaps it won't win any.
Hopefully, Milwaukee understands the gravity of the situation and doesn't insist upon sinking the Cyclones in order to play a goalie who has-from all appearances- completely lost it.
Imagine what the 2008-09 season would have looked like had Gajewski played half the games. That's what this season is stacking up to be.
Bench Pickard now. |
"The only way David Desharnais will see an NHL game is if he buys a ticket".
--donnie hockey
"David Desharnais will be invisible during 5 on 5 hockey. IN THE AHL"
--donnie hockey
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Edited by - hrc666 on 11/06/2010 2:36:54 PM |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2010 : 4:08:18 PM
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Pickard's stats:
4 games/0-3/4.51 goals against average/ 83.3% save percentage
Gajewski's stats with the Cyclones in 2008-09:
21 games/7-10-2/3.82 gaa/ 87.4% save percentage
Would the Cyclones have made the Conference Finals with Gajewski in net for half the games? Obviously not. Unless Pickard can turn it around quickly, then I hope the Skalde can dish him off to another team like Weber did with "juice".
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"The only way David Desharnais will see an NHL game is if he buys a ticket".
--donnie hockey
"David Desharnais will be invisible during 5 on 5 hockey. IN THE AHL"
--donnie hockey
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Edited by - hrc666 on 11/06/2010 4:11:33 PM |
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cloneinator
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
597 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2010 : 4:21:01 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by hrc666
Hopefully, Milwaukee understands the gravity of the situation and doesn't insist upon sinking the Cyclones in order to play a goalie who has-from all appearances- completely lost it.
Sorry HRC, but I honestly don't believe for one second Milwaukee gives a crap about the Cyclones. That's a team that calls up players just to sit them and not even dress them for games. And lets face it, they (and yes even Rochester) have their own fish to fry without being overly concerned about us.
I'm sure Coach Weber will always do what he can for us, but at the end of the day he is going to do what is in his teams best interest. |
...And on the eighth day, GOD created the Cyclones! |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2010 : 4:24:40 PM
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| After playing 30-plus games in the AHL last season, Pickard probably feels like he's too good to be playing in ECHL. A lot of young players think it's the end of the world when they get sent to the ECHL. But it's a good opportunity for him to get a lot of playing time in Cincinnati, see a lot of rubber and work on his skills. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
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Cyclonesdiehard
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2010 : 4:56:55 PM
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| A lot of guys won't think that way Donnie, and its too bad. I would think the more playing time the sharper I would be, and when the inevitable call came I would be a the top of my game. |
http://cyclonesopinionpage.blogspot.com/ |
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