Wind Of Change Or Just Flatulence?

In the last few days, it has been put beyond doubt that Bob Westerdale only writes what he is told by the Sheffield Steelers. Were this not the case, today's story would likely have been taken down for defamation of character.

Have a read of this and come back to me:

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/ice-hockey/wind-of-change-is-ruffling-feathers-at-sheffield-steelers-1-6648704

So let's start to decipher this.

Top goalscorer Stefan Meyer was offered a new improved deal and the club had expected him to sign it over the last few days. But with Coventry Blaze continuing their pursuit of the Canadian, no deal has been finalised.

Read as: Meyer hasn't made his mind up yet. Which is fair, he's said all along he was going to take his time before making his decision.

The club says they thought the winger was coming back to Sheffield on his own, and offered him a rise. Then they were told he wanted to bring his wife and pet dog from north America, which meant the club would have to spend more and offered him a repeat of last year’s deal instead.

Read as: "here's a pay rise Stefan, please come back...hang on, you want to bring your wife over? Na sorry that'll cost too much, never mind, here's last year's contract, take it or leave it."

I don't know if Stefan will play for Coventry or not next year, but I can pretty much guess he won't be in orange now. Top work...

Meanwhile, Chris Blight has corrected the club after they stated he was having a shoulder operation. Blight has a career to protect, and clearly wants to erase any notion about surgery.

He told The Star: “I’m not getting surgery. I haven’t heard from anyone there (Steelers) in over a month."

Management at the club commented: “Something has obviously changed, so we are pleased Chris is ok. Up until yesterday G (coach Gerad Adams) was under the assumption that Chris was going to have an op.”

Read as: the club are trying their best to justify not signing Blight yet. "We thought he was having surgery, wait and see how he is before we decide." "I'm not having surgery." "Well why didn't you say so? We'll...erm...be in...touch...?"

Meanwhile Chad Langlais is exciting interest from a Swedish second division team. Langlais has asked Sheffield for video clips to show the prospective employer his defensive and offensive skills.

Chad's going, no real surprise, good luck to him.

Drew Fata has contacted Coventry and Breahead Clan to determine if there is any interest in him at those two clubs.

Finner signed him, and I can imagine signing up with Goertzen again would appeal.

Steelers have been working to replace him and are in talks with Cardiff Devils’ Canadian D-man Tyson Marsh.

The 29-year-old is looking to twin his playing ambitions with an MBA university course. 

Read as: "Never mind the players that will excite you with coming back, we're after another Devil!"

Meanwhile back up goalie Geoff Woolhouse is likely to be fit enough to regain his spot, next season.

Read as: "We've not bothered looking at anyone else so if he doesn't come back, we're buggered."

Today is not my happiest day of being a Sheffield Steelers fan. This has gone down as well with me as a fart in a lift.

I don't actually blame Bob. He has a paper to sell and is only reporting what the club is telling him. The blames lies with the club for releasing this sort of information. Insider details of contract talks should be kept well away from the press and should only be unveiled, if they really have to be, after signing. The past few days could have cost us our player of the year and another very exciting talent.

Loose lips sink ships - and square pegs in round holes won't solve the problem.

Come discuss it with me on Twitter at @FrozenSteelBlog and @IAmMcCausland, or head over to the Frozen Steel Forum and shoot with us there.

Liam