When final the Coachella Valley Firebirds had taken the ice in Hershey again on June 24, they possessed a roster brimming with professional expertise, playoff-tested, and with a core that had been by the Calder Cup Finals twice.
Even earlier than the Firebirds had reached the Calder Cup Finals for his or her rematch with the Bears, that they had recognized that change would hit. Head coach Dan Bylsma had already been promoted to that very same position with the Seattle Kraken, and he was ending off his Coachella Valley tenure. And it was an inexpensive assumption that assistant coach Jessica Campbell could possibly be off to Seattle as effectively after a powerful two years with the Firebirds.
On that night time in Hershey, the Firebirds’ bid to undo a number of the ache created by a Recreation 7 additional time loss to the Bears within the 2023 Finals once more fell brief. It was Recreation 6 in additional time when Hershey’s Matt Strome broke free earlier than cranking a shot previous goaltender Chris Driedger and once more scuttled the Firebirds’ hopes.
All through the 2023-24 season, the Firebirds had labored by the residue left by that Recreation 7 additional time loss of their first battle with Hershey. By the point a Finals rematch had materialized, they have been prepared. Getting a second shot doesn’t occur typically, particularly in a sprawling 32-team league just like the AHL.
So when Strome’s shot went in, the Firebirds’ ache was palpable. They gathered close to their bench in silence for a couple of minutes because the Bears celebrated, shook arms with Hershey, after which left for his or her dressing room.
Inside every week, that roster had come aside. Cameron Hughes and Kole Lind went to the Dallas Stars. Andrew Poturalski and Jimmy Schuldt left for the San Jose Sharks. Driedger headed east to the Florida Panthers. Connor Carrick headed north to the Edmonton Oilers. Campbell did land that assistant’s job in Seattle.
A lot of what the Firebirds have constructed of their new desert house since starting play in 2022 has been successful. In a market the place hockey had little, if any, presence, they rapidly constructed an lively fan base. Taking part in out of the brand-new Acrisure Area, they crammed that constructing. They received quite a bit, too, ending second total in every of their first two common seasons. A fourth-overall NHL choose in Shane Wright got here by. Joey Daccord grew to become a fan favourite for Firebirds followers earlier than going to Seattle and solidifying himself as an NHL number-one goaltender.
However a lot in regards to the AHL is about beginning over. Simply because the 2022-23 Firebirds constructed a lot of a basis, and the 2023-24 group solidified that work, this 2024-25 staff has a unique job. Seattle now has 4 draft courses, and this inflow of prospects wants a spot to play. Jagger Firkus rolled up 61 objectives final season within the WHL. Nikke Kokko and Jani Nyman have been examined in Liiga play.
This yr’s Firebirds look far more like a normal AHL roster – heavy on prospects surrounded by some high quality veterans. However largely a gaggle that may want plenty of persistence relatively than the time-tested assortment that the Firebirds iced of their first two seasons.
Eduard Sale is nineteen. Firkus and David Goyette are 20. Jani Nyman possesses that Liiga expertise; however once more, he’s 20. Nikke Kokko has impressed in web throughout his restricted Liiga motion, however he, too, is a 20-year-old. Ty Nelson is a 20-year-old, and that’s usually a troublesome problem for any rookie defenseman.
So nights like the primary two of this common season are going to occur for the Firebirds. Opening night time introduced a 2-1 loss at house to Bakersfield. On Wednesday night time, the Calgary Wranglers got here into Acrisure Area and took a 3-1 win. There have been moments of promise, occasions the place somebody can see the potential that Seattle sees. There are additionally these momentary breakdowns which are simply sufficient to value a staff a recreation. Even a lot of the veterans with the Firebirds are new – Brandon Biro (Rochester), Nikolas Brouillard (Hartford), Max Lajoie (Toronto), and Mitchell Stephens (Laval) are a part of the incoming contingent – however it takes time even for skilled gamers to regulate to a brand new staff. A flubbed clear, a missed protection, a nasty bounce, and it provides as much as a pair of losses.
Left to place all of it collectively is new head coach Derek Laxdal. It’s one thing that he has finished earlier than, together with as not too long ago as his most up-to-date cease with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. There, he took a younger roster and acquired it to the OHL Ultimate final yr, most likely forward of schedule.
The tip of October begins a stretch of eight of 9 video games on the street for the Firebirds. There’s loads of apply time at Laxdal’s disposal, nevertheless. Coachella Valley solely performs 5 video games this month and is off for the primary three Saturday nights of the season. They make a brief journey to San Diego this Friday night time earlier than one other week-long break on the schedule that may afford that useful apply ice.
So Laxdal wasn’t fazed after Wednesday’s house loss to the Wranglers. They outshot Calgary, 40-22, to start out. That they had grabbed the opening lead.
“I really like the way in which we performed,” Laxdal advised native reporters by way of the staff’s YouTube website.
However a defensive-zone turnover allowed Calgary to even the sport. Then bouncing puck gave Calgary a 2-1 lead.
“These youngsters are going to make errors, and it leads to our web,” Laxdal mentioned of a Calgary objective. “I can’t fault our effort. We might have simply had each of these wins. I do know the fellows are pissed off. There are excessive expectations.”
Laxdal made a concerted effort to diffuse any considerations.
“As soon as they simply settle in and simply form of take a deep breath…and simply discover slightly little bit of confidence. In sports activities, if you’re mentally tight, issues are onerous. You’ve simply acquired to play freely and let it move. We’re not there but. I feel we’re slightly bit tight nonetheless.
“We’ll discover our manner.”
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