Claimed: Wranglers Fall Flat in Off-Season

[Kyle 667]

Wranglers Fail to Improve In Whirlwind of Off-Season Trades

 

In one of the most important off-seasons for Calgary in recent memory, the Wranglers failed to jump on the opportunity to allow them to insert themselves into the conversation of contenders. Nearly every big trade for established players was done within 24 hours, with organizations such as Riga and Davos making huge leaps and picking up players from a now rebuilding New York. GM Austin Gow has expressed his frustration of being unable to make a deal this off-season where he allegedly offered a bigger package to New York for Diana Maxwell and Motherfucker Sharpe than Davos did; but New York still declined. 

 

Although Gow did his best with what he could, picking up depth in exchange for a pair of 2nd round draft picks with Davos and Quebec respectively, it's clear that the Wranglers won't be contending as much as the players within the organization were told they would be before the off-season kicked off. With no players available on the block who would allow the Wranglers to directly compete, the Wranglers will turn back to the draft tonight where they draft 6th overall and will continue to "trust the process". But, with Jacob heading into his 4th season of a team that seems to be stuck in neutral, it's curious to how much longer he is willing to stick around a roster that gives him limited support. 

 

Currently, the future of defense in Calgary seems to be solid with Luca Volkov and Felix Savard manning the blue line,. However, the forward core is so barren that it seems to look like another season for the Wranglers that will be wasting Jacob's prime; which is no doubt frustrating for everyone involved in the organization. We saw Luca Volkov at the draft representing the Wranglers and asked him for a few quotes on how he's feeling about the lack of progress on the roster so far this off-season. 

 

Quote

"It's obviously really frustrating to watch other teams make such huge leaps while we sit around and seemingly watch. But with the report coming out that we offered New York a bigger package than they received from Davos, it's clear that we were at least trying. Hopefully we can get a good prospect in the pipeline in the draft and continue to focus on letting our players develop through the system. I think the guys in the locker room are just going to be focused on doing what we can to improve, and hopefully make the playoffs again this season. I'm looking forward to my first full season next to Felix and in Calgary."  - Luca Volkov

 

We will keep a close ear to the ground within the Wranglers roster to if the frustration within the locker room eventually bubbles over, the process can't be trusted forever. Eventually a move needs to be made for a player who can get them over the hump. Time in the VHL is limited, and wasting the primes of players is dangerous.

Edited August 3, 2017 by Kyle