Blades trying to find their identity

[Renomitsu 934]

BRAMPTON, ON - As Brampton's mid-season slump (of sorts) continues, the Blades' coaching staff is still trying to figure out exactly what their team is meant to do. With the Blades sitting in second in the North American Conference, fifteen points ahead of Ottawa, some may consider the season thus far a success. However, it's clear that the Blades leave something to be desired in comparison to the Wild, as well as Europe's top three teams, both in terms of overall team play as well as a defining identity.

 

The Royals, for example, have relied on the abilities of star Zach Parechkin to produce the majority of their offense, whereas the Wild exploit the unusual offensive ability of defenseman MC Hammer; Saskatoon also has an excellent mix of forwards with defensive and offensive proficiencies. The Red Wolves use first-line talent like Arcturus Mengsk and Jace Hines in tandem with a tremendously deep roster to wear opponents out, and the Storm focus their team around their excellent defensive talent in their top two lines paired with Giovanni Reuel and Wesley Babiy to produce most of their team's offensive output.

 

The question is, then, what does Brampton do well? They have two solid defensemen in Hackett and Voss, but they have no standout offensive player like Parechkin, and their defenders aren't specialized in the same way Hammer is. Goalie Chris Fekete has been pushed to so many overtime games and shootouts in his couple dozen games that the rookie has probably had a tough time adjusting to the grueling nature of VHL games. These are the questions experts will hound Brampton with until they come up with something definitive.