guinevere
10-10-2003, 01:37 PM
LOWELL Ron Smith is asked about this season.
"We should be a lot better than last year," the head coach said, sitting back in his chair and laughing. "That's a bold statement."
Tom Rowe is asked if he's worried his team is once again an affiliate of two National Hockey League teams.
"There won't be any knee-jerk reactions," the assistant coach/director of player personnel said, laughing.
Sense a trend?
The 2002-03 season was no laughing matter for anyone associated with the Lowell Lock Monsters. One season after winning their division and collecting nearly 100 points, the Lock Monsters bumbled and stumbled through a nightmarish 19-win, 48-point season.
Changes were expected. And changes have been made. Just eight players from last year's opening night roster are back this fall. Maybe Lowell will have the last laugh again maybe as soon as 7:05 tonight, when the Lock Monsters host Portland at Tsongas
Most responsible for the turnover is the arrival of the top prospects of the Calgary Flames, who will join the Carolina Hurricanes in stocking Lowell with talent.
The last time Lowell was a dual affiliate was a disaster. That was in 1999-2000, when the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings were supposed to supply the players "supposed to" is the key phrase.
Before Christmas, unhappy with their treatment, Islanders general manager Mike Milbury pulled all of New York's players out of Lowell without any notice.
Rowe promises a smoother union this time around.
"There's no Mike Milbury to deal with. That was Mike being Mike. That was insane," he said.
The positive of a dual affiliate is a greater level of talent, especially quality depth.
"I think the depth level will be very good," Smith said, "even with the fact that we could have three or four guys missing (due to NHL call-ups) for a long period of time."
The downside is chemistry. Can Smith and Rowe get players from two organizations on the same page?
"I don't think it's going to be a problem at all," Smith said. "Halfway through the first game we'll probably be a team."
If there aren't any squabbles over playing time, the 2003-04 Lock Monsters should be competitive in their new division, the Atlantic Division.
Smith's right. The Lock Monsters will be better than last season. But how much better?
Lowell should be vastly improved defensively. Goaltending should be a strength, especially when the logjam of Dany Sabourin (Calgary) and Carolina's trio of Arturs Irbe, Rob Zepp and Patrick DesRochers is settled.
On defense, Jesse Wallin (Calgary) headlines a blue line group which should produce much more offensive punch than last year. Tomas Malec (Carolina) is an intriguing talent, Allen Rourke (Carolina) is a proven commodity and Roman Rozakov (Calgary), Brad Fast (Carolina) and Sean Curry (Carolina) have big upsides.
Offensively, Lowell's big guns should include Robert Dome (Calgary), Pavel Brendl (Carolina), once he's healed from an arm injury, Jason Morgan (Calgary), Ryan Bayda (Carolina), Brad DeFauw (Carolina), Matt Davidson (Calgary) and Josh Green (Calgary).
Depth should be a plus. Lowell's fourth line talent-wise could equal the second line from last year.
"All of them can play in the American League. That's four or five more than you normally have," Smith said.
But injuries will happen. And the players putting up big numbers will be gone to the NHL. That's life in the AHL, where a laugh is just a win away.
"We should be a lot better than last year," the head coach said, sitting back in his chair and laughing. "That's a bold statement."
Tom Rowe is asked if he's worried his team is once again an affiliate of two National Hockey League teams.
"There won't be any knee-jerk reactions," the assistant coach/director of player personnel said, laughing.
Sense a trend?
The 2002-03 season was no laughing matter for anyone associated with the Lowell Lock Monsters. One season after winning their division and collecting nearly 100 points, the Lock Monsters bumbled and stumbled through a nightmarish 19-win, 48-point season.
Changes were expected. And changes have been made. Just eight players from last year's opening night roster are back this fall. Maybe Lowell will have the last laugh again maybe as soon as 7:05 tonight, when the Lock Monsters host Portland at Tsongas
Most responsible for the turnover is the arrival of the top prospects of the Calgary Flames, who will join the Carolina Hurricanes in stocking Lowell with talent.
The last time Lowell was a dual affiliate was a disaster. That was in 1999-2000, when the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings were supposed to supply the players "supposed to" is the key phrase.
Before Christmas, unhappy with their treatment, Islanders general manager Mike Milbury pulled all of New York's players out of Lowell without any notice.
Rowe promises a smoother union this time around.
"There's no Mike Milbury to deal with. That was Mike being Mike. That was insane," he said.
The positive of a dual affiliate is a greater level of talent, especially quality depth.
"I think the depth level will be very good," Smith said, "even with the fact that we could have three or four guys missing (due to NHL call-ups) for a long period of time."
The downside is chemistry. Can Smith and Rowe get players from two organizations on the same page?
"I don't think it's going to be a problem at all," Smith said. "Halfway through the first game we'll probably be a team."
If there aren't any squabbles over playing time, the 2003-04 Lock Monsters should be competitive in their new division, the Atlantic Division.
Smith's right. The Lock Monsters will be better than last season. But how much better?
Lowell should be vastly improved defensively. Goaltending should be a strength, especially when the logjam of Dany Sabourin (Calgary) and Carolina's trio of Arturs Irbe, Rob Zepp and Patrick DesRochers is settled.
On defense, Jesse Wallin (Calgary) headlines a blue line group which should produce much more offensive punch than last year. Tomas Malec (Carolina) is an intriguing talent, Allen Rourke (Carolina) is a proven commodity and Roman Rozakov (Calgary), Brad Fast (Carolina) and Sean Curry (Carolina) have big upsides.
Offensively, Lowell's big guns should include Robert Dome (Calgary), Pavel Brendl (Carolina), once he's healed from an arm injury, Jason Morgan (Calgary), Ryan Bayda (Carolina), Brad DeFauw (Carolina), Matt Davidson (Calgary) and Josh Green (Calgary).
Depth should be a plus. Lowell's fourth line talent-wise could equal the second line from last year.
"All of them can play in the American League. That's four or five more than you normally have," Smith said.
But injuries will happen. And the players putting up big numbers will be gone to the NHL. That's life in the AHL, where a laugh is just a win away.