Post by GoVoysGo on Oct 23, 2014 23:33:48 GMT -5
Tension Growing in Red Deer
TFHN - Daniel Ronel, Oct. 24
Red Deer, AB • When a team is performing sub-par, regardless of their record, the fans notice.
Luckily, Red Deer has not performed sub-par. It's more of a slightly-above-par. Nevertheless, it is very clear the fans expected another top tier performance, year in and year out. They are not confident that the Blades can provide such, at least this year. The "Redshirts" faithful are known to be very vocal, and are letting the world know how they feel as they lined the streets Thursday afternoon in protest of the teams decision to extend head coach Ben Mitchflock's contract another year.
Mitchflock has simply lost the room. There is no other logical explanation. The players do not connect with "Captain Ben" the way his previous teams have. His decision making is deplorable and he often looks dismayed and utterly shocked atop the team bench, watching turnover after turnover, missed chance after missed chance, desperation save after desperation save. It is painfully obvious that the dump-'n-chase is not working. It's not unusual to see Mitchflock at a loss of words during his post-game conference (I'm sure he spoke plenty in the dressing room moments earlier, however).
Alongside the "Death to Captain" signs seen everywhere within a block of owner Mark Korodetz's house, Blades protesters also held up "Fire the Moron" signs.
"Moron" is a derogatory nickname given to Red Deer GM Jean Legstrong, and it isn't arduous to understand why. He has overpaid every single free agent he has signed this year. Massively. I'm talking Dion Phaneuf-type overpaid. Most recently, he signed Nick Foligno to a 2 day, $20M contract that will net him $20M in 2014-15. Legstrong also scoured the market for a real-life TB player, and after finally acquiring Tyler Johnson, he swapped him for Andre Burakovsky.
It remains to be seen the fate of Mitchflock, but Legstrong's job is likely gone, and it is assumed Korodetz will take the reigns himself. Should Mitchflock be canned too, there is a good chance Korodetz should succeed him as well. And we all know what happens when ownership takes over management. Redshirts fans, be careful what you wish for.
Update: Legstrong extended Foligno for the rest of the year. After the 2 day contract expires, he will make $750k for the remainder of the season. This is likely the last move Legstrong will make with the team. I will 'italics' this part when I reach my computer.