Spent most of Monday at an auto repair shop, dropping a small fortune on new brakes for the Pontiac.
And how was your holiday?
Pete Pelegrin, he of the FIU beat, graciously filled in for me today and grabbed Olli after practice. JM says he wouldn't talk about rumors, and that's fine. There is so much stuff floating around, if he commented on them all, that's really all we'd talk about. Anyway, Pete transcribed the conversation for me and sent the email my way.
Want to read what Olli had to say? No? OK, see you tomorrow.
Just kidding. Not about the 'see you tomorrow' thing. I will blog tomorrow from the Big Bank. There's some interesting stuff below. Olli seems to be pretty forthcoming, and adds if this team doesn't make the playoffs again this year, he won't have to ask for a trade. It'll come on its own...
RUMORS SWIRL
The team hasn't been playing well. Who
else are you going to bring up on our team? Vokoun has no trade clause; most of
the guys have no trade clause. I don't have a no trade clause.
If you’re not wanted in one place, a no
trade clause won't save you.
What are you going to say? The team
hasn't been playing well. My name is popping up again. I don't think if we were
in first place, my name would be out there in trade rumors. I'm pretty much
used to it. It doesn't really bother me. My agent called me and asked if I had heard
it.
I haven't been traded in 7 years. I
never will be OK with it. I like this place. This is home. It’s not one of
those things where you want to move. I don't believe the grass is any greener
on the other side. as a player you are always going to win. To me it's the easy
way out looking elsewhere for other teams or going somewhere and trying to win happiness
or win championships. I want to win here and hopefully we make some moves here.
It’s the bottom line. We haven't been
playing well. Hopefully our injured guys are coming
EVER ASK FOR A TRADE?
I asked a couple of times [for trades] and my wish came true. Just once actually from the Islanders to Panthers in 2000. I think its something positive out there too. I think it shows there is some interest around the league. It shows you have been doing something right.
WHEN WOULD YOU CONSIDER A TRADE?
You guys probably think I’m out of my
mind I’ve been so positive all the time. I believe we've been going in the
right direction the last couple of years. It’s been really a hard year this
year, especially seeing other teams struggle, not playing the level they're
capable of playing, as well as in our division.
CONFIDENT TEAM CAN STILL MAKE PLAYOFFS?
It’s pretty amazing we're still right
there at four points behind [Carolina], being three games below .500. We had a
really good stretch there is December, but like I said, it’s been a roller
coaster all year.
THE PROBLEM?
I don't think it’s coaching or anything
like that. It’s more of the guys playing consistently. We’re doing pretty good
when we're doing that, 20 guys on the same page. We win most of the nights when
we do that.
I don't how long we are going to wait and see what is going to happen as a team. I think fans have been patient. I think owners have been patient. if things do not go well we're probably not going to be in the playoffs then there are probably going to be some moves like you guys have been hearing.
If we don't make it this year, I probably don't have
to go and say I want to get traded there's probably going to be moves no matter
what.
And usually you go out there and change your top players. That’s how its always been done in the business and that's how it's always going to be.
The best thing for us is winning hockey games and
be in the playoffs at the end of the year. I think that's what this franchise needs.
OK PLAYING WING WITH SHAWN MATTHIAS AT CENTER?
If I got a center like Matthias I don't have a problem to play wing.
He’s a good player who gets you the puck. He plays
the same type of hockey that I do. We match up good. He’s not like a typical
center, not like a playmaker center. He’s more of a goal scorer, a guy who
crashes the net and takes the puck well. I never really have had a chance to
play with a guy like him.
Note to JM. Keep this kid Matthias around for a bit to keep Olli happy.
60 minutes of hockey boys! Not 45...
Posted by: JD | January 21, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Sorry Olli, it is the job of the coaching to make sure that guys play the type of hockey that wins games and it has not happened here in a long time.
If the effort is not there then the player needs to ride the bench no matter who the player is.
If you are at the game just watch the line changes of the two teams on the ice. The panther players are slow coming to the bench and getting off the bench, this is all attitude.
Without the right environment you will not be consistent. Someone needs to light a fire under these guys to have the attitude that I am going to outwork my opponent. I am going to crash the net, I am going to be in position to get the rebound. The environment is set up by the coach and the players need to follow through and if they don't they don't play.
We have too many guys that do not work hard or make the same stupid mistakes game after game, we are now 27 out of 30 in the league and there is a reason for this and if what is being said is true it is not talent it is attitude.
It gets tiring watching the same 3 or 4 guys working their butt off while watching the other 15 or 16 guys taking the night off.
Bring in a coach whose system works in today's NHL someone who believes in puck possession and crashing the net and/or bring in players that are capable of doing this.
Until this happens we will continue to be stuck in the mud near the bottom of this league.
Posted by: Season Ticket Holder since day one | January 22, 2008 at 07:23 AM
"dropping a small fortune on a break job."
George, did you mean "brake job" or were the mechanics actually disassembling your vehicle in an unorthodox manner?
Really, editing these days...;)
Posted by: Alan | January 22, 2008 at 02:06 PM
nice catch alan. actually, I sometimes let my readers do the editing. good job by you...
Posted by: grichards | January 22, 2008 at 02:26 PM