Post by torontogm on Apr 26, 2012 17:45:50 GMT -5
Toronto, ON - Did you hear that squeak? The one that was only slightly more audible than the sound made by a whoopee cushion after being sat upon for the second time without being reinflated? That was the sound of the Toronto Marlies season going down the drain.
With a roster filled with pretty much the same lineup that got them the first seed the past two seasons in the Eastern Conference, the expectations were high. But instead of dominating the regular season, they barely squeezed in. The thought was that maybe, just maybe, they would have something left in the tank for the playoffs. But alas, they did not.
"There's not much to tell," said coach Jim Schoenfeld after the game. "We could not match that Rochester club. They played at the top of their game. We did not. Our goalies did what they could, but in the end if you are not putting up the offense, you're not going to go very far."
"We were fine defensively, but we just could not generate the scoring chances we needed, and when we did Rochester's goalies made some outstanding saves," continued the coach.
The Marlies have the potential to be very similar next season with many players signed, but there are still changes to come.
"We would be surprised if Tlusty, Harrison and Voynov are pushing for a roster spot on the Leafs next year, and I doubt if we will go with a three-headed monster in the nets given the talent of all three young men," said GM Jade Graber. "There are a few UFAs that we will have to make tough decisions on, and we expect young players like Zac Rinaldo, John Moore, and Anthony Nigro to be signed in the off-season, too."
So it is back to the drawing board for the Toronto Marlies. A disappointing season ended with barely a thud.
--- Barbie Q. Pork for the Hogtown Hockey News
With a roster filled with pretty much the same lineup that got them the first seed the past two seasons in the Eastern Conference, the expectations were high. But instead of dominating the regular season, they barely squeezed in. The thought was that maybe, just maybe, they would have something left in the tank for the playoffs. But alas, they did not.
"There's not much to tell," said coach Jim Schoenfeld after the game. "We could not match that Rochester club. They played at the top of their game. We did not. Our goalies did what they could, but in the end if you are not putting up the offense, you're not going to go very far."
"We were fine defensively, but we just could not generate the scoring chances we needed, and when we did Rochester's goalies made some outstanding saves," continued the coach.
The Marlies have the potential to be very similar next season with many players signed, but there are still changes to come.
"We would be surprised if Tlusty, Harrison and Voynov are pushing for a roster spot on the Leafs next year, and I doubt if we will go with a three-headed monster in the nets given the talent of all three young men," said GM Jade Graber. "There are a few UFAs that we will have to make tough decisions on, and we expect young players like Zac Rinaldo, John Moore, and Anthony Nigro to be signed in the off-season, too."
So it is back to the drawing board for the Toronto Marlies. A disappointing season ended with barely a thud.
--- Barbie Q. Pork for the Hogtown Hockey News