Future of the Cougars

By 250 News

- Opinion250 News Staff

Another year with Kelowna at the top and Prince George at the bottom.  Frankly, it’s a bit much for anyone to take.  But if their recent draft was any indication, the future does look bright.  The club hopes to be armed with a new three-year deal at newly named CN Center (here after called the Depot or the  ‘Roundhouse) and fans will be pleased to see the white netting around the end boards, finally changed to black.  The problem was that white reflected much of the glare and made it difficult to see through, from either direction.    Certainly, feeling closer to the action will be a plus and there should be plenty of that as nothing short of a playoff position will bring back the disgruntled fans.

Changing a 5th place club into a winner won’t be easy, winning breeds winning, losing breeds losing.  That means they’ll need to purge the lineup of grinders and search for more goal production.  This, after the club set a franchise record for lowest goals scored at 160 in 72 games and lost way too many via the shutout.  Another priority is to find solid leadership and it must come from players who have won before and not just at the minor hockey league level.   This means they’ll have to give up something good in return.  It’s unclear if Dustin Byfuglien will be back for an overage season but he did say publicly that he didn’t want to return to Prince George.  So grant him his wish, we’ll miss his flare but need committed players on a nightly basis.  The Cougars will have to find a super star and give up what it takes to get one.  The top clubs all have a quality star player or two and at this level it really seperates them from the have-nots.  The Cougars could very well already have star power in the likes of local product Nick Drazenovic and shifty forward Eric Hunter.  Colin Patterson is almost a shoe-in for an overage spot next season and should rack up 30-40 goals but they could still use one more sniper.  On the back end, the Cougars are set in goal for the next several years.  Scott Bowles and Real Cyr can carry the load with draft pick Brad Anderson toiling in the background for his chance two or three years down the road.  Defense should be fine, led by up to 5 returnees and as always, you want an overager in that position too.  Last years WHL first pick overall, Ryan Kerr should be able to step into the lineup and begin to make a mark on the Cougar blue line while two years from now, they’ll welcome high scoring Dale Hunt, selected 3rd overall in the 2005 bantam draft. 

The core of returning players ought to have had enough of losing by now and once a clear dressing room leader is found, this group should begin to make its’ move up the ladder.  There will be a stampede for the exits though if owner Rick Brodsky expects fans to swallow that “it’s a building year” line again.  The Cougars have done more building than Spruce Capital Homes!

Does the future look bright?  Yes, it would appear there is a light at the end of this tunnel, but in order to get the fans back into CN Center, they need to be convinced that  "light" isn't a train.

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