They say history tends to repeat itself. In the case of the Crunch’s dismal power play, that is definitely true. Syracuse has struggled with the man advantage dating back to last season and after going 0-25 in their first two contests, it appears that the problem has yet to be solved.
There is, however, no need to press the panic button quite yet. Last year was last year and this season should prove to be quite different.
For starters two games is by no means an adequate sample size to pass judgment. Granted they have yet to convert, but they did generate chances in each of their first two contests, which is definitely a positive.
Secondly their personnel is not exactly the same. There are some players who return from last year’s unit, but there are also some new faces and they could loom large for the Crunch.
One of those is forward Peter Sarno. The veteran is better than he showed on opening night when he appeared hesitant at times. Give him some time to get acclimated to his new teammates and history has shown that he can be very effective with the man advantage.
“Sarno is a proven American League scorer,” stated Syracuse Head Coach Gary Agnew. “He is a great playmaker, a great passer and fantastic guy on the power play on the half-boards. He can really thread the needle with his vision.”
Captain Jamie Pushor echoed Agnew’s statements regarding Sarno and also added that Syracuse’s deep pool of forwards should also aid the Crunch’s cause.
“Peter Sarno is a great half wall guy or goal line guy who sees the ice well and dishes the puck,” stated Pushor. “We also have a nice group of forwards where we can put any six forwards up front and have a good mix of shooters and passers and guys who are good around the net.”
The latest edition to the Syracuse lineup may also help resurrect the Crunch’s dormant power play. Defenseman Andy Delmore has been added after being sent down by the Jackets. Delmore is a proven power play commodity after having notched 14 goals via the power play for Nashville in 2002-03, the most for a defenseman in the league that season.
Delmore definitely has the ability, along with a booming slap shot, but how he meshes with his new club remains to be seen. If he plays to his capabilities he should give the Crunch their best option from the point since the days of Derrick Walser.
With Marc Denis getting the nod in another Jacket loss on Wednesday evening in San Jose, it appears more and more that Pascal Leclaire will be heading to the Crunch in the near future.
It is obvious that the Columbus brass still considers Denis their number one. That came into question when Leclaire made the start in the Jackets opener, but Denis has been in between the pipes for the last three Blue Jacket games. If that split remains Denis will make about 60 starts with Leclaire getting around 20.
It just doesn’t make sense to keep Leclaire, especially after missing most of last season, in Columbus receiving minimal starts at this juncture in his development. With the Crunch Leclaire would be the man, start game after game and be exposed to what it is like to be a number one for a club. That is something he hasn’t done since his days in junior.
One other option has the Jackets moving Prusek. That may enable Columbus to keep Leclaire with the big club, but then where do you go to find a suitable number three for the organization who would basically be the number one for the Crunch?
Financially it also makes more sense to send Leclaire down. Even if Prusek could some how clear waivers once his conditioning assignment ended, would the Blue Jackets want to pay him over $600, 000 to play in the AHL when they could pay Leclaire a fraction of that?
There is also just too much uncertainty surrounding Leclaire for the Jackets to keep him. Granted he was solid when he was healthy last season and also in training camp for Columbus, but can he stay consistent over the course of an entire season?
He has yet to prove that as a professional and the Jackets, after spending a good portion of owners John McConnell’s money in the off-season, can’t afford to use the NHL season as a proving ground. They need to win and unless they feel Leclaire gives them a better chance to do that than Denis their only real option is for Leclaire to spend one last, very successful season at the American League level.
The Marlies play at home once again on Friday versus the Cleveland Barons before making the trek to Syracuse for Saturday’s tilt………..Tim Jackman made his San Antonio Rampage debut in their 3-2 win over the visiting Chicago Wolves on Wednesday. Jackman failed to record a point and was whistled for one minor penalty………….The Dayton Bombers fell 4-3 in a shootout to the Alaska Aces in preseason ECHL action. Former Crunch training camp participants Jeff Szwez and Tyler Scott tallied for the Bombers……….The Crunch recently announced that on Wednesday, October 19, the 2005-06 Syracuse Crunch team will be on hand at Carrabba’s Restaurant in Fayetteville from 7:30-8:30 p.m. to sign autographs at a special meet and greet event.