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dbc
(Been Here Awhile)
865 Posts |
 Posted - 03/30/2012 : 1:47:30 PM
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Talked about this a couple of weeks ago, but now that the season is about over I looked at the numbers again. I am a great believer in the numbers over a season.
At home in 34 games ( 2 remaining) the Cyclones have 51 points (.750) or 1.5 points a game. This puts them only behind Alaska which had 60 points in 36 games and Gwinett which has 55 points in 36 games. Both these teams lead their conference and have used such a home record to do so. YTD the clones are a +30 in goals at home. A great great home record.
On the road in their full 36 games this year the Cyclones however had an abysmal 24 points (.333) or 2/3 of a point per game. This is last in the league behind 28 points for Bakersfield in 36 games and Trenton with 28 thus far in 35 games. No team in the AHL has a worse record on the rod either (won't check the NHL). They have 9 wins ( one in four) on the road all year long and only six of these were in regulation (one in six). Three of these six regulation wins have been shut outs. While being +30 in goals at home in 34 games they are -33 on the road in 36 games. In the last ten road games with the year on the line, they have two wins for four points (.200).
Their home record proves to me they have the talent level necessary to have been a strong playoff team. The only reason they then must be such a horrible horrible horrible road team either has to be the system the are told to play on the road or that the team can't "get up" for the games. Both lead directly to the coaching. To have a team play worse on the road than any other team in the ECHL or AHL while having the talent to have such a great home record is unacceptable. Thoughts? |
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n/a
deleted
149 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2012 : 2:11:51 PM
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The bi-polarity is truly amazing. If the Cyclones win out at home, then they will tie for having the second best road record in the league and still probably not make the playoffs despite the fact that 2/3rds of their conference will go.
I'll be a broken record on point one. Chet Pickard has appeared in 32 games for the team. Had he only appeared in 20 games, then-assuming other goalies performances to be constant-the team would be in the playoffs.
Is it coaching? Then Skalde has really forgotten a lot in one year. Last season, the Cyclones were 15-17-2 at home and 18-12-6 on the road...tied for 6th best road record in the league.
The number of one day trips didn't help and the number of Sunday 3rd in 3 on the road didn't either. The Cyclones finished at 0-5-4 in these Sunday games.
I had lunch with an old friend of mine yesterday who is a basketball savant. He's the only person whom I've ever known to be fired by numerous bookies for winning too much on sports (college hoops in his case)!! He hasn't been to a hockey game forever. He asked about the Cyclones and I told him about the home/road differential. His first question was, "Are they a very young team?". I said that I believed that they could be the youngest in the league. He replied to the effect that young teams tend to have a lot more trouble winning on the road than veteran teams.
The non goalies in the line up the Cyclones iced on Wednesday in Chicago had TEN first year players and 6 second or more years of experience players. My buddy's explanation seems to make sense on light of the fact that last year's veteran team coached by Skalde didn't have any problem winning on the road.
BTW, if you have any extra tickets left for this year bring them to the game if you don't plan to use them tomorrow....I can find some takers.
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Edited by - n/a on 03/30/2012 3:21:18 PM |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2012 : 5:52:56 PM
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Those numbers are nice, but here is where I am...
Two years ago the Cyclones were consistently competing for the cup every season. For the past two seasons they have hovered around .500, backed into the playoffs last year and might not even get in this year.
Other than players (it's the ECHL, players always change and always will), what has changed?
1. Coaching
2. The affiliation with Montreal
It's one, or both, of those things. Plain and simple.
Do I think the 'clones would still be a solid team with Stork behind the bench and Ehgo wearing the C and centering the PK??? Yes, yes I do. Your opinion may vary.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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cloneinator
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
597 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2012 : 6:11:19 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by ratsncats
I'll be a broken record on point one. Chet Pickard has appeared in 32 games for the team. Had he only appeared in 20 games, then-assuming other goalies performances to be constant-the team would be in the playoffs.
Is it coaching? Then Skalde has really forgotten a lot in one year. Last season, the Cyclones were 15-17-2 at home and 18-12-6 on the road...tied for 6th best road record in the league.
This year Brian Foster played in 27 games with a 14-11-1-1-3 record, and allowed 74 goals (2.74 GAA).
This year Chet Pickard played in 32 games with a 14-12-0-2-1 record, and allowed 94 goals (2.94 GAA).
I'm sorry, but while I am not a Pickard fan, to say this season was lost because of him I would respectfully disagree with.
As far as coaching, let us remember people were complaining last year that Skalde did not have time to get "His team" together because of how late he was brought in, but this year he did. That certainly needs to be taken in to account.
I don't see how Pickard can be thrown under the bus without there being room for anyone else. Just sayin'. |
...And on the eighth day, GOD created the Cyclones! |
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dbc
(Been Here Awhile)
865 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2012 : 11:20:57 PM
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You can point to Chet, you can point to some bad games Brian has had, you can point to a so so set defensemen, you can point to injuries and call ups, you can point to many of the games they lost and and identify one player who made a bone head play and cost us 2 points that would have put us in the playoffs after tonight, but over the whole season you have to point to to how the TEAM played to get 24 points in 36 away games. That is unbelievably horrible! That record falls on the coaches. I dont know the reason it was so bad but It was awful from the beginning of the year and they never got the TEAM to play any better on the road. Thats their job and they didn't do it. It is up to management to decide what should happen. I am just pointing out a year long problem of major proportions that was never corrected
Dont think the Montreal affiliation has anything to do with it. The Habs have imploded and Hamilton is no longer loaded. Wheeling has had very few if any impact players from them--it is Pittsburgh that has sent them most of their talent.
Lets hope the hockey gods smile on us tomorrow night and somehow Trenton comes up with its best game of the year |
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n/a
deleted
149 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2012 : 11:47:27 PM
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Just my humble opinions
Chet Pickard is a nice kid who wouldn't have an ECHL job for any other team.....except for the fact that he was a first round pick and he's still under his entry level NHL contract. Next season he is still under contract-buyout would cost Nashville around $450,000 (if my understanding of buyouts is proper) and Chet will only make $60,000 next season. I'm almost certain that Pickard won't be wearing a Cyclones uniform even if the team is still affiliated with Nashville and/or Skalde isn't coach. He's dragged this team down far enough during the past two seasons. I really doubt Ray Harris will allow him to wear a Cyclones sweater again. Pickard is Kyle Gajewski v2.0. Two years is enough, Nashville. Thank you very much.
Here are the GAA stats from the ECHL site:
http://echl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=goalies&subType=3&season_id=22&leagueId=1&lastActive=&singleSeason=&confId=0
Brian Foster 28 1621 76 3 2.81
Chet Pickard 32 1805 94 1 3.12
Here are the save percentages for all ECHL goalies. Pickard is 30th out of the 32 who qualify for this statistic. That's horrible and if he were even a half percentage point better (still horrible) the Cyclones would be in the playoffs.
http://echl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?first=20&type=top_goalies&subType=1&season_id=22&lastActive=&singleSeason=&leagueId=1&confId=0
30 Chet Pickard Cincinnati Cyclones 32 1805 853 759 94 1 3.12 0.890
Stork could have been hired by the Cyclones if they really wanted him. Something could have been worked out with him if the organization was really sold on him as must have head coaching material.
Ehgoetz was on the downward side of his career. He wouldn't have played first line center on this team. He would have played behind Sisca for certain and Pelech possibly. Ehgoetz really wasn't very good on the power play anyway. Last year the PP was second to last in the league.
Ehgoetz was an above average ECHLer who had a 3 game AHL career. He is romanticized far beyond what he really was in Cyclone Country. Which is fine. Better that than the opposite.
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Edited by - n/a on 03/30/2012 11:52:17 PM |
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cloneinator
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
597 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2012 : 07:46:27 AM
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I stand corrected on the GAA of Pickard and Foster, I just divided the goals allowed by games played. Both have almost identical win/loss records. Regardless, I am NOT a Pickard fan, there is just no way this season can be put on his shoulders. I certainly agree two years of him has been enough.
As far as Dean (Stork), he took a head coaching job offered to him in Greenville while Chuck was waiting on his AHL offer and still here. He had to take the opportunity presented to him. Chuck left late in the off season, so it's not like there were a lot of solid candidates available at that point.
I guess when it comes right down to it, we may disagree on Skalde, but the powers that be will make that decision. This organization WANTS to win, and they will decide which direction they want to go in. |
...And on the eighth day, GOD created the Cyclones! |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2012 : 1:07:41 PM
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I'm OK with a career (probably HOF) ECHLer because what we have here is an ECHL team. As I've said before, at least 50% of the roster is going to be a revolving door. You need the other 50% to be solid, reliable ECHLers in order to be successful. The former captain fit that role, and lets face it, the guy was a winner that was loved in the community, and those are intangibles that dont show up on the stat sheet.
I am FAR less concerned with watching a future AHL star play 10 games here than I am with a solid, winning ECHL hockey team. When I write my check for my season tickets, that's what I'm writing it for and that's what we USED to have. I still love hockey and still enjoy the games, but I am far less enthusiastic about the current team than I used to be and I know I'm not the only one.
<--Haven't bought next season's tickets yet. Waffling and just considering doing individual games when we feel like going.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2012 : 2:39:17 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Catch22
I'm OK with a career (probably HOF) ECHLer because what we have here is an ECHL team. As I've said before, at least 50% of the roster is going to be a revolving door. You need the other 50% to be solid, reliable ECHLers in order to be successful. The former captain fit that role, and lets face it, the guy was a winner that was loved in the community, and those are intangibles that dont show up on the stat sheet.
I am FAR less concerned with watching a future AHL star play 10 games here than I am with a solid, winning ECHL hockey team. When I write my check for my season tickets, that's what I'm writing it for and that's what we USED to have. I still love hockey and still enjoy the games, but I am far less enthusiastic about the current team than I used to be and I know I'm not the only one.
<--Haven't bought next season's tickets yet. Waffling and just considering doing individual games when we feel like going.
Agree 100% and 200% on your last statement. Still fuming over the horrible
overload of February and the emphasis on bringing in the loud mouth beer
drinkers as one of your main targets for promotions. I bet every team in the
East will gladly give us their Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday dates if we want
them for home games.
Maybe I need a year off from season ticket grind and more a schedule of
when I want to just go see a game for the night. My guess would be 23 out
of 36 possible home games. |
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n/a
deleted
149 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2012 : 2:48:07 PM
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While the road record has been a complete and utter disaster, the portion of the schedule which most of us get to watch-the home schedule-has been nothing short of spectacularly good.
A win tonight ties for 2nd overall best home record in the league (.764 winning percentage). I don't know how anyone can gripe about the product that they've actually gotten to watch. The team has had numerous incredible comebacks. The goals differential at home (+33) is third best in the league as will be the total amount of goals scored if the team nets 2 or more tonight. Point is, that the product which really is the one most relevant to ticket holders-the one they actually get to see-has been excellent.
The only Cyclone team (post suspension) to have a better home record was the quasi-AHL 2007-08 Cyclones. Assuming a win tonight, that once-in-a-generation team, will have only have generated 6 more home points (61-55) than this season's team. Weber's second best home record (09-10) only generated 48 points. This team has been much more productive at home and much more exciting to watch due to all of the comebacks.
In any case, tonight's game will be effectively a game 7 of a playoff series. Should Trenton somehow manage to hold Reading to an OT loss, the building ought to be nothing shy of electric should the game be close. And for 10 bucks, that's quite a bargain.
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Edited by - n/a on 03/31/2012 2:52:27 PM |
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fangers
(The Next Level!)
USA
262 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2012 : 10:41:52 PM
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| After last year all the skalde apologists said to give hima year to get his own players. Did that and in a year where 75% of the conference make the Playoffs he failed to. Fire him already |
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