His fault for wanting to move and hurting himself in the standings, but I also understand that some players just don't fit a organization. He will probably be replaced with a player with more heart who would like the organization and city to win than this guy who, let's say....isn't the hardest worker on the ice.
"I was surprised," said Clark. "I worked with him as far as trying to get his effort and some things a little bit better. He was obviously frustrated with the fact that he wasn't ranked with [NHL] central scouting and he's chosen to maybe blame us for the fact that he's not there."
When the NHL central scouting preliminary rankings came out in November, Forsberg's name was nowhere to found among the top North American skaters.
"I don't know what the situation is, but the family is very adamant that he would be better off somewhere else, which is fine," added Clark. "We don't want guys here that don't want to be here. It's their decision and we'll move forward."
It's the second time in less than six months a member of the Forsberg clan has asked for a trade out of Prince George. During the summer, the Cougars traded 19-year-old Jesse Forsberg to the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for fellow 19-year-old Colin Jacobs.
"I think the family has an opinion of the organization and that's their opinion," said Clark. "I've been in Calgary, Brandon and Kamloops and the players are treated here just the same as they were in all those organizations. [The Forsbergs] assume that it's different, whatever, I'm not going to comment on what they think or feel."
Clark said he hasn't spoken with Forsberg, who celebrated his 18th birthday today, though he did text him and didn't receive a response. Not surprising, considering the Cougars' organization was informed their top recruit from the 1995 class wouldn't be returning through an exchange of emails between his father Blaine Forsberg and Cougars general manager Dallas Thompson during the holidays.
"They just indicated that he wasn't coming back and they wanted a trade," said Thompson, adding an emphatic "No" about the rumour the Waldheim, Sask., product would be playing for the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
In 87 games with the Cougars, Forsberg accumulated 24 goals, 59 points and was a minus 26 but injuries, notably a hip flexor last season that limited him to 51 games, slowed his development.
Thompson said he's had conversations with almost every WHL club about a trade but added he won't move the disgruntled forward before the Jan. 10 trade deadline if the price isn't right.
"It's very difficult with him not being here," said Thompson, adding his request Forsberg return until a deal could be worked out was ignored. "I'm just working with what I have here. We've been put in a very difficult situation and now we're going through the process.
"We will make a deal if it's a good deal for the Prince George Cougars," he added. "It's the only way that a deal is going to get done and right now it's proving very difficult."
Thompson said the majority of 1995-born players have no-trade clauses in their agreements with WHL clubs and acquiring a talented 1994-born player is proving difficult
He tweeted a few weeks ago there was nothing to do in PG except fb, twitter and tumblr lol, what else is there to do he said.
I cant really see too many teams interested. There not going to give up much. Poor PG. they havent been good for many years.
Disagree. Would imagine that over half of the league's opposing GM's have atleast given the Cougars a call about his services.
Do you see Forsberg going to the Blades as a realistic option? His hometown is just outside of Saskatoon, and the Blades are likely interested in loading up for the Memorial Cup.
I guess the pro's of adding him is the hope he realizes some of the potential he had and him not even being 18 yet he could (and likely should) be around for 2 more WHL seasons after this one.
It's an investment.
When you see what Kamloops gave up for Edmundson earlier as a rental, this could really help Prince George out for the future.
Harkins and Morrison are excellent players to build around, if they can get another 1996 born player and some picks it'll probably be in the best interest of all involved.
Disagree, if I was a GM I would avoid this guy with a thousand foot pole. Everything he has done screams anti-character to me.
I disagree. You have to take into consideration he's just a kid and he's somewhere he doesn't want to be, where its not a good environment.
This isn't the NHL, it's juniors, not the same thing when they ask for trades. Matt Puempul, Austin Watson, Jordan Maletta, Alaine Quinne, Ryan Spooner, Slater Koekoek, etc have all asked for trades. Does it mean they have a bad character? No. They're just young kids who are in a negative environment for themselves where they don't think they can succeed with their career, or there's some off ice issues that not everyone is fully aware of (that's why I named a few Petes).
Just think of it this way, you have a job where it's a awful environment, in a remote area, away from your family for the first time in your life, and you're not treated fair or its hurting your potential instead of growing it. Now wouldn't you want to leave and go to the best place possible that you'll be accepted with open arms, and get a chance to expand your full potential?
Disagree, if I was a GM I would avoid this guy with a thousand foot pole. Everything he has done screams anti-character to me.
You've never met him, you've never met his family. Everything you "know" is purely anecdotal, he doesn't cause problems off the ice or in the dressing room from all accounts. He's just frustrated with the culture and environment in Prince George and I can't really blame him. He's a 17 year old kid, maybe take that into consideration before attacking his character and him as a person.
I disagree. You have to take into consideration he's just a kid and he's somewhere he doesn't want to be, where its not a good environment.
This isn't the NHL, it's juniors, not the same thing when they ask for trades. Matt Puempul, Austin Watson, Jordan Maletta, Alaine Quinne, Ryan Spooner, Slater Koekoek, etc have all asked for trades. Does it mean they have a bad character? No. They're just young kids who are in a negative environment for themselves where they don't think they can succeed with their career, or there's some off ice issues that not everyone is fully aware of (that's why I named a few Petes).
Just think of it this way, you have a job where it's a awful environment, in a remote area, away from your family for the first time in your life, and you're not treated fair or its hurting your potential instead of growing it. Now wouldn't you want to leave and go to the best place possible that you'll be accepted with open arms, and get a chance to expand your full potential?
Agree with this totally. These are KIDS who are growing, not completely mature yet, not pieces of meat on a market that you can just tell to go anywhere and shut up and put up with any garbage that they have to encounter. Would like to see how a lot of posters here would react living more than 1,000 km away from home at 16 and 17 leaving all your friends and family behind. People need to figure it out. These players are people and young teenagers, and if you are gonna condemn a guy just because he wanted to get out of a rotten situation, I guess that would be your loss if you were running a draft or a WHL team.
Agree with this totally. These are KIDS who are growing, not completely mature yet, not pieces of meat on a market that you can just tell to go anywhere and shut up and put up with any garbage that they have to encounter. Would like to see how a lot of posters here would react living more than 1,000 km away from home at 16 and 17 leaving all your friends and family behind. People need to figure it out. These players are people and young teenagers, and if you are gonna condemn a guy just because he wanted to get out of a rotten situation, I guess that would be your loss if you were running a draft or a WHL team.
I posed this question in the thread earlier and the response back was that the WHL and team needs are essential, when it's really not true and largely that question gets ignored.
You've never met him, you've never met his family. Everything you "know" is purely anecdotal, he doesn't cause problems off the ice or in the dressing room from all accounts. He's just frustrated with the culture and environment in Prince George and I can't really blame him. He's a 17 year old kid, maybe take that into consideration before attacking his character and him as a person.
Because I stated that I would stay away from him, is attacking him? All I questioned is his character and it seems like he doesn't have a lot of it. True I don't know him as a person, but I've been on and around junior teams and know what happens in situations like this. I don't care what age they are, if you're potentially a prospect with great talent, you act professional. I do give him some respect for not going out in the public and demanding a trade.
I bet you that if Landeskog was in that situation, he wouldn't demand a trade. He would overachieve and try to make the team better. Also Spott wanted him and traded for his rights, so don't give me, "well Landeskog got traded to Kitchener, bla-bla-bla".
Because I stated that I would stay away from him, is attacking him? All I questioned is his character and it seems like he doesn't have a lot of it. True I don't know him as a person, but I've been on and around junior teams and know what happens in situations like this. I don't care what age they are, if you're potentially a prospect with great talent, you act professional. I do give him some respect for not going out in the public and demanding a trade.
I bet you that if Landeskog was in that situation, he wouldn't demand a trade. He would overachieve and try to make the team better. Also Spott wanted him and traded for his rights, so don't give me, "well Landeskog got traded to Kitchener, bla-bla-bla".
Landeskog also did say that he'd only report to the Rangers, since he had an agreement in place prior to the draft with them that he'd only go there.
Last time I checked it was a privledge not a right to play junior hockey.
Coaches get paid to win games while developing players. If he wasn't happy with his ice time and took it personally, then wow.
I am really surprised so many people have come to his defense. This doesn't tell us whether or not he has an attitude problem, but it tells us something about his attitude. I don't like it.
Last time I checked it was a privledge not a right to play junior hockey.
Coaches get paid to win games while developing players. If he wasn't happy with his ice time and took it personally, then wow.
I am really surprised so many people have come to his defense. This doesn't tell us whether or not he has an attitude problem, but it tells us something about his attitude. I don't like it.
Maybe you need to take the rose-coloured glasses off and check a calendar because i think the 1950's are over. Players aren't the owner's chattell any more.
Teams draft players to make money, not out of the kindness of their hearts. They spend time and money developing players because it is in their self-interest. If they deem a player to be no longer in their best interest, they have the option of trading that player. That player has two options: retire from the league or report to the team they were traded to.
Players sign with teams because they believe it's in their best developmental interests. If a player believes that is no longer the case, they can ask for a trade. That team then has two options: keep the player's rights or acquiesce to the trade request.
Seems like a fair balance to me, especially concerning the power imbalance between junior players and management. So not sure why you think we should return to the good old days of indentured servitude, but that's your right, i guess.
This kid was given opportunity that most of us can only dream of. It looks like he wasnt willing to put in the hard work required to turn the pumpkin into a carriage. Nobody is saying it is easy, but he had the opportunity to set himself up for life here. And he was/is free to decide that it isnt his bag and go home at any time of his choosing, which is what he eventually did.
The only sad part is seeing someone squander an opportunity of this magnitude, but if that is truly his desire, then he can get a Joe job like the rest of us pleebs.
This kid was given opportunity that most of us can only dream of. It looks like he wasnt willing to put in the hard work required to turn the pumpkin into a carriage. Nobody is saying it is easy, but he had the opportunity to set himself up for life here. And he was/is free to decide that it isnt his bag and go home at any time of his choosing, which is what he eventually did.
The only sad part is seeing someone squander an opportunity of this magnitude, but if that is truly his desire, then he can get a Joe job like the rest of us pleebs.
Given the opportunity? Or did he earn it by way of his talent? Is the Prince George management and coaching staff "putting in the hard work"? I don't know. Given the dismal record of this team over the last number of years that's a pretty open question.
Perhaps Forsberg is squandering an opportunity. With the old school mentality that remains prevalent in hockey circles, it wouldn't surprise me at all. So in that sense i take your point. But just once i would like someone to explain to me why when a team trades a player that GM isn't seen to have an "attitude"? Sure, their intelligence might be questioned, but no one suggests they have "character" issues. Nope, it's just 17 year old kids with that particular defect. It's an interesting double standard that seems particularly predominant in the sports world.
This kid was given opportunity that most of us can only dream of. It looks like he wasnt willing to put in the hard work required to turn the pumpkin into a carriage. Nobody is saying it is easy, but he had the opportunity to set himself up for life here. And he was/is free to decide that it isnt his bag and go home at any time of his choosing, which is what he eventually did.
The only sad part is seeing someone squander an opportunity of this magnitude, but if that is truly his desire, then he can get a Joe job like the rest of us pleebs.
This kinda smack of envy here to me, sure most of us would die for a chance to play, but we never really ever think out all of those ramifications either.
Your non answer to my previous question was actually answered by your slinece on it.
Very few of the "respect hockey" crowd would want to be treated this way in their professions at such a young age to boot.
I have had family members been involved in recruiting (football) where both sides have a choice about which university the player will be attending.
Junior hockey like it or not is not a non prophet enterprise, it's a business 1st and foremost.
Sure most of the people involved love the game but let's not cloud our judgement here about the situation as I bet few of us stay with any 1 organization in our lives either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dickiedunnwrotethis
Given the opportunity? Or did he earn it by way of his talent? Is the Prince George management and coaching staff "putting in the hard work"? I don't know. Given the dismal record of this team over the last number of years that's a pretty open question.
Perhaps Forsberg is squandering an opportunity. With the old school mentality that remains prevalent in hockey circles, it wouldn't surprise me at all. So in that sense i take your point. But just once i would like someone to explain to me why when a team trades a player that GM isn't seen to have an "attitude"? Sure, their intelligence might be questioned, but no one suggests they have "character" issues. Nope, it's just 17 year old kids with that particular defect. It's an interesting double standard that seems particularly predominant in the sports world.
See I agree with this, it takes a balanced approach as both the team, league and players have needs and wants and they don't always agree or even have the same interests at heart.
I don't know or even care if Forsberg has an attitude problem, my concern is that his options are limited because of the over control (there really isn't a good argument as to why the draft is needed, every team has a 50 player list) of the league and team about his interests here.
This kinda smack of envy here to me, sure most of us would die for a chance to play, but we never really ever think out all of those ramifications either.
Your non answer to my previous question was actually answered by your slinece on it.
Very few of the "respect hockey" crowd would want to be treated this way in their professions at such a young age to boot.
I have had family members been involved in recruiting (football) where both sides have a choice about which university the player will be attending.
Junior hockey like it or not is not a non prophet enterprise, it's a business 1st and foremost.
Sure most of the people involved love the game but let's not cloud our judgement here about the situation as I bet few of us stay with any 1 organization in our lives either.
You dont bring anything to the table. That is why I wont respond to your gobbledy-gook any longer. Other than this time, as a courtesy to let you know why.
You dont bring anything to the table. That is why I wont respond to your gobbledy-gook any longer. Other than this time, as a courtesy to let you know why.
What table do you sit at exactly?
Look it's pretty obvious that you wouldn't want to be treated that was in your profession so your non answer will speak volumes.
I'm not here for your high and mighty approval either just a serious discussion on hockey ideas, if you are so enlightened just let us know where we can buy your weekly column or which organization pays you for your insight.
Chances are that you are just another opinion just like me.
Let's hope that Forsberg lands somewhere before the deadline so that both he and PG can get started on rebuilding their careers.
