Don't you just love the off season?
Players re-signing, players leaving and players retiring. In the world we all know as Steelers World, it’s never normal. I can’t remember many seasons recently when we have had a period of smoothness. There’s always been something happening that makes you sigh, and inhale a sharp intake of breath.
Each of us collectively do this every season and wonder what the time between the first or second week of April and the start of September is going to throw at us. These last six days have been nothing out of the ordinary.
So let’s start with good news then. First of all, wasn’t it a nice move by Robert Dowd to extend his deal until the end of the 2016 season and give us reason to cheer? Rob was very professional it has to be said how he dealt with it to be honest. By explaining this is like a fresh two year deal because the original one was in effect voided by Doug’s departure, this gives us plenty of optimism and secures us what is essentially the Premier British player in the country for at least two more seasons.
Dowdy considers Sheffield “home”, just like I do really, having spent quite a while in these parts. Both of us are, in case you wondered where the similarity comes in, North East lads albeit from places just less than 9 and half miles apart. Good on you Rob!
The second “signing” came this morning with the return of “Number ni-ni-nineteen Rod Sarich” after a year out. Already some have voiced their disapproval at why G has brought Rod back; I’m not one of them. In fact, I’m actually a Sarich fan. On his day, Rod is as good as any offensive defenceman in the entire Elite League. You don’t score over 300 points in the Elite League as a defenceman without being a bit “good” do you?
Yeah sure Rod’s had his problems with injuries in recent times but a year out might have just given his body that bit of a rest and ready to give it another go. Also some qualm he’s prone to errors and that, dare I say (and I know a few will agree) that the play-off final hero Mr Fata had his “moments” last season…third period of the Final comes to mind. Just welcome Rod back and stop think negatively – there are more plusses than minuses when you add the parts as one.
Now the departure lounge, starting with last week’s move across the car park so to speak with Jeff Legue’s move down to the EPL with André Payette’s Steeldogs. For Jeff this is a great move himself, he has secured himself a nice three year deal (probably the highest paid import in Steeldogs small history, and maybe the EPL as a whole) which gives him more chance to develop his coaching aspirations and a testimonial too (will we be the opposition?) after 10 years service of hockey in the City.
He should rack lots of points for Payette and might finally be the piece they needed to deliver silverware of their own. Payette hasn’t won anything major yet; “Leggy” might just unlock that for him. It might actually start to let a partnership work out finally between the two clubs, but that’s for another article maybe…
The second departure hit us today, late afternoon to be precise. What a hammer blow this was, coming completely unexpected to be honest…Steven Goertzen leaving us to join Coventry Blaze. The reaction is quite simply one of “What the…” and justifiably so. Steven has his reasons for joining Coventry and I do wish him the best of luck but why Blaze? He’s as far as we call “Captain Fantastic”, the move to make him Captain was probably the only decent thing Doug actually did (no disrespect meant to Jono) in that ill-fated spell.
What Steven brings to the table is a professional attitude on ice; he is a leader of men who gains respect in the room and also a top-notch guy off the ice. Blaze have certainly got themselves a good one here, and after their acquisition of Mark Smith from Cardiff – it’s certainly a statement of intent from a side that has had no trophies for the last 4 seasons.
Well digest that if you can, and we look forward to seeing what news filters through next. There’ll be more elation and despair in equal measures before September comes round, that I do guarantee.
Ciao for now, and still bleed orange. I’ll be back again soon with more musings…
Mark
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