I see that my buddy Andrew has been getting some flack over his prediction that the Aeros probably won't make the playoffs. I'm not going to get into the stats like Andrew -- primarily because he does better than I can.
I tend to agree with Andrew -- which means I won't get into the Sunshine Club either. But here's the thing, there's one thing working against the Aeros that Andrew doesn't really handle, and it's this. The Aeros have a lot of great guys on the team -- they're all great to talk after the game -- and they really hustle. But I just don't think this team has the talent to go into the playoffs.
Just like last year, this team has trouble with scoring, and with Krys Kolanos up in Minnesota and probably not coming back, then I don't see anybody replacing him. I like Corey Locke. And Locke has a good shot, and speed, and he's always around the net, but he just doesn't have that ability that I saw in Kolanos to score at will.
What the team has are what us baseball stat head fans deride as heart and intangibles. I tend to think that there's something to heart and hustle and intangibles. But while they can get you into position to take the shot, if you don't have the talent, that puck's not going to go in. Cal Clutterbuck is a big hit in Minnesota because of his hustle and his punishing hits on the opposition, but what's kept Clutter in Minnesota is that he's working on his ability to score.
Barry Brust and Nolan Schaefer will keep the Aeros in just about every game the team plays. But at some point, the Aeros have to score, and the team just can't always be depended on being able to do that.
I want the Aeros to make the playoffs. But I'm afraid I have to agree with Andrew on this.
1 comment:
Thanks John, you and Andrew are telling it like it is. And it is what it is, a little spotty for the Aeros. You guys may be right about the playoffs. Advanced skill is a necessary ingrediant for consistantly winning teams. That's cool. But for me, sport is all about heart. Heart brings emotion and passion to the game. It is about honor. It is about personal accountability. Maybe we don't get to see it every day but when we do, it strikes a special chord recognizable to most everyone. It takes purpose and commitment, a day to day grind. It is tough, it is hard, and it is to be admired. Heart is a celebration of life. I hope we make the playoffs but that's not my measuring stick. I see heart in some of these Aeros and that's the trump card in my view. I bet those guys will go at the next game the same way they went after the last game, like they're going to win them all.
Sorry, I woke up in a kinda serious mood this morning. It'll pass. Where do I sign up for the Club?
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