Post by torontogm on Jun 4, 2014 20:15:54 GMT -5
Abbotsford, BC - After winning the first two games of the series the Toronto Marlies seemed to be on a roll. Fresh off of a second place finish in their conference and a tie for second overall in the AsHL it looked like the club had put it all together. But instead the collapse came hard and fast. Four straight losses in which they were outscored 20 - 12 including a 7-3 embarrassment in the final game. So the mystery of the AsHL playoffs continue.
This year was supposed to be different. The club brought in an enthusiastic young coach who was supposed to reach players when it counted most in ways that seemed to elude veteran Jim Schoenfeld. Some significant players like Jeremy Williams departed, but new comers Jordan Weal and Reilly Smith, along with veterans like Aaron Palushaj, Christian Hanson, and Brett Sterling were there to create a potent offense. It worked - in the regular season. Their defense should have been strong - Jonas Brodin joined the likes of T.J. Brennan, John Moore, and Steven Kampfer to form as good a blueline corps as you will find in the AsHL. It was - but not in the playoffs. The goaltending was stellar all year no matter who played. That continued for the first two games of the playoffs. Then, they found themselves shell-shocked by the collapse in front of them and just could not mop up the mess.
And that is what the Marlies were in the end - a mess. How they will be cleaned up remains to be seen. Reilly Smith, their leading scorer, is expected to make the jump to the Leafs next season. Aaron Palushaj has a shot at the same. Ben Bishop has been pre-ordained as the future keeper of the crease with the big club, and it is expected that he will assume that role next year. There are good young players expected to begin their pro careers with Toronto next season, but for whatever reason the club just seems to not be built for the playoffs. It is expected that more changes will take place, especially given the similar collapse of the parent Maple Leafs.
Let the tradition of off-season hand-wringing begin once again in Toronto.
--- Barbie Q. Pork for the Hogtown Hockey News
This year was supposed to be different. The club brought in an enthusiastic young coach who was supposed to reach players when it counted most in ways that seemed to elude veteran Jim Schoenfeld. Some significant players like Jeremy Williams departed, but new comers Jordan Weal and Reilly Smith, along with veterans like Aaron Palushaj, Christian Hanson, and Brett Sterling were there to create a potent offense. It worked - in the regular season. Their defense should have been strong - Jonas Brodin joined the likes of T.J. Brennan, John Moore, and Steven Kampfer to form as good a blueline corps as you will find in the AsHL. It was - but not in the playoffs. The goaltending was stellar all year no matter who played. That continued for the first two games of the playoffs. Then, they found themselves shell-shocked by the collapse in front of them and just could not mop up the mess.
And that is what the Marlies were in the end - a mess. How they will be cleaned up remains to be seen. Reilly Smith, their leading scorer, is expected to make the jump to the Leafs next season. Aaron Palushaj has a shot at the same. Ben Bishop has been pre-ordained as the future keeper of the crease with the big club, and it is expected that he will assume that role next year. There are good young players expected to begin their pro careers with Toronto next season, but for whatever reason the club just seems to not be built for the playoffs. It is expected that more changes will take place, especially given the similar collapse of the parent Maple Leafs.
Let the tradition of off-season hand-wringing begin once again in Toronto.
--- Barbie Q. Pork for the Hogtown Hockey News
