Claimed: New York Finally Bested, GM Talks Future

[Devise 4,475]

It's old news now, but the New York Americans were finally bested in a playoffs for the first time in several seasons. The Quebec City Meute were able to expose some weaknesses in Jakab Holiks game, and Holiks reputation for playoff struggles continued, as Quebec beat the Americans in 5 games. It was kind of a tale of two different series really. In Games 1 and 4, the Americans and Meute very much played games most thought this series would look like. Both games were 2-1 decisions, the first by the Americans to kickoff the series on the road. And the second an OT victory for the Meute in a game in which the Americans out shot Quebec 38-28. 

 

But the rest of the series the Quebec offense was mostly opportunistic. Despite the depth advantage, the shot totals in the series were fairly close, and key defensive and goaltending mistakes ultimately cost the Americans too many goals throughout the series as the other games the Meute scored, 5, 6, and 7 goals. As the Americans were packing up their things in the locker room and had their final media for the season, PR caught up with GM Ryan Power to discuss the season and the future of the club. 

 

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The scoreboard in that series often indicated a different series than I think was being played. I think people really need to look closer at our win over Quebec last season. Skye almost stole games that series, enough games that you could of easily said Quebec could of won that series in 5 if M.T. Power wasn't also so good. Skye was very much that same player in this series. And in games when Holik was able to match that level of play, or come close to it, we were in. Or we won. But at this level, and with how our team was built this season for sure sometimes it's those mistakes that cost you. I'm not disappointed in the season ultimately. We had some strong performances from some great players. Going forward we still have a very good core group of guys here that know they can still win it all. Star power versus depth doesn't always goes depths way, and it doesn't always go star powers way either. We have countless examples of this throughout league history. We'll be back next season, and Holik will be back for that matter. I'll squash any doubts of that right now. This is a guy capable of being the best in the league. We leveraged him this past season with one defender, it was a gamble and it didn't pay off. He'll get two defenders in front of him next season, we'll give him a bit more help and it's his final season. He knows if he wants a Cup he's going to have to be the best he can be, but there is no doubt in my mind that despite some playoff flash Holik is the better player for us to win than M.T. Power right now. So of course we are going to keep him. That agent and that player deserve success, and we have a group of guys here who have a history of providing it. One season doesn't a run make, and this dynasty level run with this team will continue to be competitive and continue to showcase some of the best players in the league, many of which who are going to be suiting up for us in Season 55. We have some internal house keeping and future planning to continue doing, and we'll work on that.