Winning Not Required

Photo By: Adam Klepsteens

One of the reasons Syracuse didn't like the Ducks franchise as their affiliate is that the Ducks didn't put enough emphasis on winning at the AHL level.  That is also the main reason Syracuse decided to end their affiliation with Anaheim.

On many occasions the Ducks front office has said winning at the AHL level is not the priority for them and they will not feed players to their prospect development team if they are not serious about either signing them or serious about making them into NHL players.  The number one priority of the Norfolk Admirals is to develop players to play in the NHL.  If they win games that's great, but because the main goal for the Ducks is to have players that can contribute at a professional level and bring home Lord Stanley's Cup, winning is not required.

Tonight we saw another example of the mentality "winning is not a priority".  Norfolk was flat almost all night.  They played a great first period and even though shots weren't getting through to the net they were taking them.  After Referee Luxmore waved off the goal at the end of the first period Norfolk should have come out of the dressing room energized and ready to push hard and play a great second period.  That was the first 2 minutes of the second.  The rest of the game Norfolk played like they were doing exactly what Anaheim wants them to do.  They played like they were developing their skills.  There were a few times the same line would try to run the same play that failed three or four times in a row just to work on it in a game setting.  There were times the defense would push up in the offensive zone to harass any possibility for the other team to start a good forecheck.  You could see Bobkov was working on his rebound control in a game setting.

So, as for tonight, I am chalking up yet another home game without at least one point (and the 5th shutout against on the season) to the fact winning is a secondary goal.  And just as long as the players are pushing themselves to play better and developing their talents so they can some day make it to the NHL and bring the Stanley Cup home to Anaheim everything is good on the Ducks front.

POPPYCOCK!!!!!!!!  I can say the players themselves have gotten better (well most of them).  But as a team they are not playing well.  I would think part of development is to be able to play in a team environment and win a good stretch of games.  Who am I though?  I don't have a ring, or a cup, or play hockey.  I'm not a coach or a manager.  I'm just a guy who sits in the stands and hopes some day I can say I saw that guy holding the Stanley Cup up over his head, play in Norfolk as a prospect.  A few wins would be nice though.

I love the Norfolk Admirals and win or lose they are my AHL team and will always be my AHL team. Bottom line.

With that said... Rabbi out!

Email any questions to hockeypocket@hotmail.com and I will try to get some of them into the Rant's Weekly Video Blog.  You can also become a writer for the Rant Norfolk Admirals by just sending your fan writing to jack_miceli.norfolkadmirals@blogger.com.  Follow the Rant on Twitter @HockeyRabbi and make sure you follow Brad @AdmiralsUnited.

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**The Rant Norfolk Admirals is in no way affiliated with the AHL or the Norfolk Admirals organization. The views and opinions in this blog do not reflect the views and opinions of the AHL or the Norfolk Admirals organization. For the fans by the fans.