Where's the Beef?

Iqaluit, NU (IFPW)

RHL16 is upon us and from where this reporter sits, the Rovers aren't exactly ready to rumble. This is a team that came up short in the conference finals against once-again division rival South Edmonton, yet added no pieces to the team but instead sat idly by as free agency stripped away key parts in Recchi, Hill, and Halpern. And then, after only retaining Stillman in free agency, went and traded their best player in Chris Pronger to the StrapHangers for Keith Carney and some stuff that may or may not help them down the road. Now don't get me wrong; I like Carney, but he's no Pronger!

So now they're back in the Malone division and battling the Sockeyes - defending champs - and Funboys - significantly better on D and in net and deeper up front. Is there any way the Rovers don't finish third behind those two? I can't see a way ahead. And there's that word.. depth. Where is it? Pressing sophomore Nathan Horton into second-line duty may be hazardous to his health if he can't stand up to a full season. And then if someone does go down up front they have to call on.. Steve Montador? A #8 defenseman that can play a bit of wing in a pinch? Wake me when it's over! Are they gonna have to put out a call to the farm for help? Wow, this team certainly has had good fortune the past three seasons with a lack of injuries, but if that goes south this season, they're up the creek.

Management has been touting this season as a "transition" year between the free-spending RHL13-15 Rovers and the homegrown RHL17 brand. Well, to this writer "transition" is a euphimism for "crap".. and too many fans have paid good money to watch the RHL16 Rovers and they deserve a good product too. After competing at the highest level for the past three seasons, the Rovers should try to do no less again this year. However instead they appear content to drift through this season and take it as it comes. We'll see how quickly this lackidaisical attitude comes back to bit them in the butt.

I.C. Stair, IFPW