It is getaway day for the Allen Americans who will fly to Rapid City this morning and hold a practice this afternoon. The Americans will play their next five games against the Rush. Friday and Saturday in Rapid City followed by three games in Allen next Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. These are the two worst teams in the entire ECHL with identical .365 point percentages. Utah is also in the mix for last place with a .375 point percentage. One of these three teams will end up in last place in the Mountain Division and about all they have to play for at this point is avoiding the basement.
- There have been plenty of comments about the wisdom of each and every trade both before B.J. Adams was fired and since. Here is my take on what coach Ferguson is trying to do with the roster. Allen has a roster that can't score and can't prevent other teams from scoring. Here are the goals scored and allowed by each team in the Mountain Division:
Goals Scored
- 146 - Tahoe
- 132 - Tulsa
- 130 - Kansas City
- 126 - Wichita
- 125 - Idaho
- 109 - Utah
- 93 - Rapid City
- 93 - Allen
Goals Allowed
- 152 - Utah
- 151 - Allen
- 140 - Rapid City
- 126 - Idaho
- 122 - Tahoe
- 117 - Tulsa
- 99 - Kansas City
- 98 - Wichita
- Since the beginning of December, Allen is averaging 2.43 goals per game while allowing 4.29 goals per game. You are not going to win many games with a goal differential like that. Allen's record since the beginning of December is 3-14-3-0 (.225). My take is the recent roster moves are about lowering the 4.29 number. Allen has allowed two or fewer goals in just 24% of its games, the second lowest percentage in the league. The good teams are at 50% and the best team (Florida) is at 68%. If the Americans are going to get back on a winning track, the goals allowed have to come down a lot.
- It is pretty clear coach Ferguson wants a team that is tougher to play against along the boards and in front of the net. Some guys didn't like to go to the dirty areas. Other guys had trouble scoring and bad plus/minus stats. The other factor is the salary cap. If you noticed Allen played shorthanded for a couple of games, that was a salary cap issue. For Allen to win it will have to win games 3-2. Coach Ferguson is making the moves to try and turn this around. Standing pat was clearly not the answer.
- Allen will have 21 players on the trip to Rapid City. Goalie Luke Richardson and forward Brian Chambers are not with the team. Kamerin Nault is driving to Allen from Norfolk and will not be available until next week. Here is the travel group:
Goalies
- #35 Anson Thornton
- #39 Dylan Wells
Defensemen
- #23 J.C Brassard
- #82 Cole Fraser
- #55 Kenny Johnson
- #66 Artyum Kulakov
- #21 Mike Van Unen
- #2 Quinn Warmuth
- #5 Hudson Wilson
Forwards
- #26 Spencer Asuchak
- #42 Robbie Baillergeon
- #24 Harrison Blaisdell
- #16 Kyle Crnkovic
- #8 Mark Duarte
- #10 Will Gavin
- #84 Liam Gorman
- #14 Brayden Guy
- #9 Nick Isaacson
- #17 Colin Jacobs
- #89 Patrick Polino
- #92 Brayden Watts
- I referenced above the percentage of games ECHL teams hold their opponents to two or fewer goals. Here are the teams with the highest and lowest percentage. Notice Utah, Allen and Rapid City have the lowest percentages in the ECHL:
DID YOU KNOW: Here are the ECHL teams with the longest point streaks and losing streaks. Some teams you wouldn't expect are on these lists:
Point Streak
- Iowa: 6-0-1-1
- Worcester: 5-0-1-2
- Fort Wayne: 5-0-0-0
Losing Streak
- Adirondack: 0-7-1-0
- Allen: 0-3-2-0
SOG and Goal Differential.
ReplyDeleteFans have been saying that all season long.....
Ferguson has probably never played before and we’re letting him call the shots
ReplyDelete1. Never played at a professional or semi professional level.
Delete2. Never coached at a professional or semi professional level.
A Video Coach (2012-2024) is not a true coach.
Time will tell if Myles has Brett, who is a good guy mind you, come back next season if he feels he is qualified, or slot Brett back as an assistant coach and hire the best there is to lead the Americans as HC/GM.
Time will tell ..
He was a bench assistant coach for multiple years with San Diego under Dallas Eakins as well as an assistant coach at the junior level (USHL) according Barry’s previous blog introducing Ferguson
DeleteYou’re giving Ferguson too much credit for the transactions, all the OG Chad players including Spencer were placed on the trade block under BJ, and they have been for a long time. So glad Ryan gets to go to a better organized team. Say hi to Crone when you get there!
ReplyDeleteCurious, is there a portal where players are assigned for trade options and that is how trades are initiated? What a mess to try and keep up with all of the trades otherwise. Can anyone explain this in detail?
DeleteMark Sinclair - All Star. Who would've thought?
ReplyDeleteLots of former Americans succeeding elsewhere.
Myllari even getting the call up from Belleville.
Maybe Costello was onto something.
He was ........
DeleteAs we all know, Allen Americans are the laughing stock of the league. I just can’t imagine what or who can make STH want to purchase tickets again. If only there were some way to go back a year and keep Chad and the team. What’s happened in Allen is beyond a bad joke
ReplyDeleteAnyone know renewal pricing?
DeleteGot invited to an event to renew, but no pricing upfront.
That's gonna be an uncomfortable discussion.....
I would think pricing would be the same just to keep people renewing. Fingers crossed.
DeleteGetting people to renew is going to be a serious challenge. The new leadership has shown no ability to put a good product on the ice or hire the people who can. What is their sales pitch?
DeleteAn email to STH with pricing, or an incentive to renewal on or before 2/1 would be a good idea.
DeleteAgree with above. Today I sit in the camp of wanting to know my pricing options also. However, if there are under 2000 STH as previously suggested, a loss of just 10% could be $160,000 in lost revenue (assuming the lowest STH cost per ticket). it could be approaching $250,000. That is substantial for an ECHL team. Loss of revenue does mean capital calls to shareholders if the income cannot cover expenses, but it also means we can't hire the best, or retain the best (looking at Dutes and Miletich here).
DeleteI'll likely renew, just want to know what I am looking at.
Go Red! Let's turn this around.
I am closer to renewing right now than I was a couple of weeks ago, but not by much. As I have said before, I don't care about the occasional losing season, it's something that happens, but when total decimation seems the goal, why would I want to keep giving them my money? If my grocery store starts selling nothing except spoiled items, I won't be giving them my money, so why would I want to spend it here when they obviously don't want me to receive anything in return (i.e., entertainment). Whatever happens the rest of this season on the ice is inconsequential at this point, show me you are willing and working to make the positive changes to right this ship (if you can get it off the ocean bottom) and I will lean more toward renewal. But you better hurry because they will be asking me for that credit card pretty soon.....
DeleteDidn’t review for this season and not entertaining coming back next. Or further until marked improvement for on the ice, off the ice, entertainment, concessions, hockey ops, media, and yes, both management and ownership.
ReplyDeleteHearing they are asking for renewals without pricing details is just another sign. And in January yet again. Get a clue Allen, you are not helping yourselves with all these issues and showing zilch effort (other than canning BJ).