Winter Hawks in Turmoil

These are tumultuous times in Portland. Ownership seems to have reached the limits of their patience with the team and wholesale changes have occurred. Not only does the team continue to lose on the ice with a miserable 15-27-3 record as of this writing, but they continue to incur significant loses at the the turnstiles as well, having frittered away close to $5 million year-to-date! Something had to give.

"We thought with the guys we had we could be a .500 hockey club but it was obvious that the player mix and coaching styles were all wrong. These guys just completely under-performed. Now you can see why I don't give "no trade" clauses in our contracts. You need to perform to your abilities or you need to find somewhere else to play."

Forwards who started the year in Portland but are now plying their trade elsewhere include the whole first line, Rod Brind'Amour, Patrick Marleau, Jamie Langenbrunner, as well as third liners Chris Kelly and Mike Modano. Yanic Perrault and Josef Stumpel both received buy outs when they were waived through the league.

On defense, where the 'Hawks were deemed stable, there was even more turnover. Gone are stalwarts Willie Mitchell, Dan Hamhuis, Shaone Morrisonn as well as Sergei Gonchar who had stopped in for a cup of coffee on his way to New York.

The goaltending corps were revamped too as both Vesa Toskala and Martin Biron were shipped out.

In return, besides a plethora of players, the 'Hawks have reduced their payroll by in excess of $12 million, reduced their 2009-2010 season contract obligations significantly and replenished their 2009 draft selections by acquiring 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks.

The players acquired are typically younger and therefore earlier in their careers where they have not yet earned UFA status and the overpriced contracts that come with that status. "We've had to walk a fine line in our negotiations. We needed to get younger, acquire picks, shed salary and long term obligations, but try to remain competitive on the ice in order to keep the fans coming through the gates. "

New forwards arriving in Portland are veterans Todd Bertuzzi, Darcy Tucker and Milan Hedjuk along with relative youngsters Eric Belanger, Antti Miettinen, Ryan Kesler, Tomas Fleischmann, Andrei Kostitsyn, Guillaume Latendresse and minor league prospect David Clarkson. On defense the newcomers are Sergei Gonchar (since moved to NYH), Sami Salo, Zbynek Michalek, Grant Exelby and Greg Zanon. In goal, Alex Auld, Hannu Toivonen and Miikka Kiprusoff fill the gap.

"This is a difficult league to succeed in when you do not have the financial resources of some of the more successful big market franchises. But it isn't just players and contracts. It is also attitude. That is why we've made some coaching adjustments too. I am stepping away from the coaching role and will concentrate on GM and managerial duties. Our lease is up at The Rose Garden and those guys are playing hardball with us. I am not certain we are going to be able to do a deal there and that means I need to focus on finding us a new home for 2009-2010. So I've brought in some guys that I think can change the culture in the room and get the most out of the players."

"Allow me to introduce our new Head Coach, 'Gunney' Hartman. 'Gunney' has never held a hockey coaching position before, but comes to us with a wealth of experience in 'coaching' as a long time Gunnery Sargent with the U.S. Marines. I am confident that 'Gunney' will be able to get and hold our players attention and provide the focus necessary to perform at a high level every day. Assisting 'Gunney' will be two others new to the hockey arena. First, in charge of conditioning, is Richard 'Dick' Simmons who brings with him a wealth of experience in assisting out-of-shape, under-achievers. In the hockey tradition of giving everyone nicknames, we've decided he will be called 'Dick' because frankly, we think he looks like one. And to assist our players with coping with the stress and strains of the HBMHL, (mostly brought on by 'Gunney') we've also retained the services of Dr. Phil 'Quick Draw' McGraw. Dr. Phil, as we all know, can help anyone with anything which makes him uniquely qualified to assist any and all dis-functionalities that could occur during a long season. (Phil's wife is reputed to have given him his nickname but we're not sure why. Probably because it rhymes.) We believe this unique approach to team coaching will elevate Portland as a force within the Hobey Baker Memorial Hockey League for years to come and become the model going forward for future franchises to follow."

"We are pretty much done with changes until the off season. We are going to give this group a chance to gel and get used to the new culture here in Portland. There could be lots more changes during the off season, not the least of which will be finding a new home".