What Went Wrong? Part 1 - 06-07 · 8 April, 16:52

With a record of 17-52-1-2 in 06-07 and a 22 game losing streak in 07-08, it is easy to find fault with the Hawk organization and the personnel decisions made in the last 2 years. Was it a perfect storm; a convergence of bad moves and bad luck?

By Mid 06-07 it was clear that the team was not going to make the playoffs and the organization’s focus changed from winning games NOW to rebuilding the team for the future. The idea is that if the team is not going to make the playoffs, your best course of action is to start moving valued older players. If executed correctly, the team acquires more draft picks, and younger prospects for the future. With more quality prospects to evaluate, this increases the odds of acquiring quality players.

This is conventional GM wisdom. This is also the Hawk’s solutions to their “broken economic model.” The Hawks believe that a deep run into the playoffs is the way to profitability, and an average season is still a money loser. This is why the Hawk organization continues to roll the dice to hit the big payoff. As a gambler in Vegas, they keep doubling down and the dice keeps coming up snake eyes. They have been unlucky so far with injuries and the dice may change, but the bets for the organization get higher with the next roll.

How does this play out in Hawk personnel decisions? Mid-season 06-07 was the start of the big fire sale.

Hawks trade 20-year-old forward Kyle Bailey to Lethbridge for 16-year-old defenseman Bo Montgomery and a 7th round choice in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. As Scooter quotes at the time, “As popular as Bailey was with the fans, few could question this move once they saw Montgomery play. For a 16-year-old, he displayed maturity well beyond his years, both on the ice and in the dressing room. By the end of the season, Montgomery was probably Portland’s most reliable defenseman as he rapidly became part of the team’s ‘present’ as well as the team’s future.”

At the time Scooter was right, Montgomery showed promise, but this year Montgomery has stepped back in his development. He seems to have lost confidence and his play at times is confused and unsure. Montgomery may be one of those young players that needs more stability and defensive help before he can grow as a player. Constant losing and pressure within has not given him a chance to develop.

Hawks trade Michael Sauer to Medicine Hat for two 16-year-old D-man prospects in Patrick Weircoich (a 2005 2nd round draft pick) and Lee Morrow (a 2005 9th round draft pick).

The Hawks were thinking D-man Patrick Weircoich could be just what the doctor ordered, a young offensive minded D-man with puck handling skills for a team that had no offensive productions from that position. But Medicine Hat slipped the Hawks a bill of goods, passing another unsigned player off their list and acquiring a top-line D-man to help their playoff run. The Hawks bit on the offer but as reported on 1/29/08, Patrick Wiercioch will play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin. Looking back was this desperation or the Hawks having a reasonable chance of acquiring him? Was the need so great that the Hawks were willing to roll the dice again? Lee Morrow, the other pick in the deal could have given the Hawks back line some help this year, but was gone most of the season with a shoulder injury.

06 Portland General Manager Ken Hodge filled his available 20-year-old spot with forward Rob Klinkhammer in exchange for a 4th round bantam draft pick to Seattle. Klinkhammer got off to a hot start with the Hawks, posting (12-10-22) in his first 14 games, a major reason the Hawks thought they might be able to compete 06-07.

With Klinkhammer, the Hawks found a scoring gem off the over-age pile with real value to the team, but quickly when it was found that Klinkhammer couldn’t save our season, the Hawks trade Klinkhammer to Brandon for a 2nd round choice in the 2007 draft and 20 year old Teegan Moore.

Portland decided to call up 15-year-old defenseman Brett Ponich, the club’s 2nd round choice in the 2006 Bantam Draft. With the new “get young” mantra, they threw Ponich into the stream to see if he can swim. He looked OK in 06-07.

So looking back, what marks would you give for the 06-07 moves?

The Hawks dump Kyle Bailey, Michael Sauer and Rob Klinkhammer and replace them with 16 year old Bo Montgomery, 20 year old Teagan Moore and for the last few games of the season 15 year old Brent Ponich. They added prospects Lee Morrow and the Brandon pick which is converted to Keith Hamilton a goaltender prospect.

From January 13 to the end of the season, the Hawks were (3-26-0-1). During one stretch, they were shut out 10 times in 16 games. Portland would had set the all time league record for fewest goals scored without Klinkhammer, who had 23 goals and 42 points in the 37 games in the beginning of the season. Klinkhammer was an amazing player that seemed to be the only roster player keeping the whole team from the WHL abyss.

By the end of 06-07 it should have been clear to the Hawks that the current roster could not compete. So why weren’t there more changes at the start of 07 season? The decision to let coach Mike Williamson go, halted Hawks development and it took the organization to the beginning of the season to hire ex Hawk Rich Kromm as the new coach.

The delay of hiring the new coach doomed the beginning of the season. And this delayed the next big personnel shift starting mid season just about the time Rich Kromm could figure out his roster and make changes. This of course was another factor in why the Hawks have produced one of the worst season in WHL history.

In all of these moves the organization seemed oblivious to the fan perspective. That when you come to the game you should have a reasonable expectation that your team can win. And that giving up half way through the season to start rebuilding for next year is a losing strategy with no guaranties of winning in the future.

Losing organizations have a constant theme, each year they are rebuilding. They are looking for a quick fix.

Next year is here now. The big bets have come up snake eyes so far.

— S. Blanchard

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US Divisional News · 18 January, 15:48

— S. Blanchard

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