It has certainly been an interesting season thus far. We have made a few moves, both within the organization and within the way we structure our lines, yet the team is still hovering just at .500, which, we can't complain. "The league is extremelt competitive, and anyone, any team, not even just the ones that are good on paper, those teams, you can't take a night off". The last few game days saw Ristolainen and Cholowski return from injury. Still waiting on breakout rookie Dhalbeck to step back into a depth offensive role on the backend. This evolution of the d-corps has a lot of potential. Risto and Zaitsev are young. A massive deal to bring in Ryan O'Roruke, paired with a burgoeing former 1st round pick. A combo of value depth bargain Pridham specials round out the bottom pairs, mixed in with a waiver claim mid season.
Morale seems high amongst the squad, no panic has set in, yet. But the race for the final four playoff spots is always so hotly contested. Last year, we were able to ride a more experience squad through to a comfortable finish, but this team is younger, and that's not a bad thing. A playoff berth will do their experience, and our coffers, well. Well enough to lead to another round of prosperous workout camps in the offseason for our budding youngsters. The farm is looking promising as well with Robertson, Moldenhauer, Dylan James. Six players over a PPG, including Zavgorodny, Bordelau, Brooks, and Roberston.
Again, this team doesn't seem to be struggling to score, 113GF, but the D, across the system, needs to tighten up. We don't think it is our goaltending. We think we need to plug holes, complient, control the pace of the game better, and that will come with defensive awareness and experience.
Until next time.
12/18/2022 - 304 words
