NHL players from the 1996/1997 team....

Ronald Petrovicky, Joel Kwiatkowski, Blair Betts, Eric Brewer, Zdeno Chara Tyler Bouck, Chris Mason

Just thought with all the negativity around here we could look back on something positive!

I still have a hard time listening to Dallas and Rick pedal this BS about how this current squad is the greatest set of talent we've ever iced...when I look at those names from a decade ago!!!

that team finish sixth out of seven with those gods Butler and Polo running the show, for that those two guys should be in the hall of fame... or is it shame, 6 out of 7 with that talent

that the regular season meant even less then, than it does now. If you had the choice to have a team win the regular season division banner or go deep into the playoffs, what would you choose? Look at it this way. Butler and Polonich took a disastrous team and in one season, and a TON of trades, formed a cohesive squad that grew better and better as the year progressed then peaked at the right time. That one year gave PG a legacy of "best fans" three years in row, somewhat of a respectable image to attract high end players - even Euros, made PG a place where no one minded coming, etc. Pretty good for one year. It's all how you look at it isn't it? GOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOGS!!!

was it polo, or was it the gm before him, think about who was on watch when all those great names came in
hint it wasnt polo, who never got another gm job after he was here

You're correct. I have to choke while I type it, but Rick Brodsky made the wholesale trades. I believe it was year two he blew out everything worth trading and loaded up on a younger team. It can be debated forever whether that streak was coaching, or GM (Brodsky). Still doesn't change what's happened since then..

On a positive note, glad to see Tyrell ranked I think 7th in preliminary rankings on WHL skaters. With that kid Rowdy Cat could be coach and you'd still see the same effort. Way to go Tyrell. There hasn't been a night yet where you didn't put on a show worth watching.

was at the game in Kelowna last night and Tyrell was by far the best player on the ice hopefully the rest of the team will follow his lead

Tyrell is the best player on the ice . Personally I don't think Dana gets the recognition eh should, but that hockey, and he is still just 17. His turn to lead will come, if he doesn't get frusterated with the team around him.

The kid is a gamer, plain and simple.

I really began to take notice of him, I think last december - early december anyways. I'm pretty sure it was his skating that got my attention. He was always the first guy in on the forecheck, and despite not being the biggest guy out there, still came in guns-a-blazin. There was an SHG that he scored last year where he just lit the dman up with his speed and blew by him, protected the puck beautifully, and tucked it in. I think we'll see him up in the top 5, MAYBE top 3 of WHL players by the end of the year. Like has been said, he's still only 17 and could very easily be named captain as early as next season.

Also, in 21 games this season, he's already passed last season's goal totals and point totals. He's now just shy of a point a game with 19pts in 21GP...the kid KNOWS how to play

Easily my favorite player on the team for the past year and a half

I said Polonich made the trades, just that many trades were made under his reign. I believe a GM at this level does/should do a lot more than just make trades. Amidst a sea of new bodies, and a very poor last few years, Polonich helped to create a positive, improving environment that left quire a legacy for years to come.