The Stingrays tonight released Czech man mountain of a forward Frantisek Bakrlik from his contract with the club.
Bakrlik, 28, was the Rays third top pointscorer with 22 points in 27 games but has contributed just six goals this season. It's news to me but according to the press release, which I assume was to be released tomorrow morning but has presumably been let out early by ukamericansportsfans.com, Bakrlik had just one even strength goal this season. The writing was on the wall long ago but when he was left out of a full strength squad a few weeks ago it was all but confirmed.
For a team that has struggled to find offence (55 goals in 21 games) as well as that game winning and game changing ability, that simply wasn't enough and Cloutier has made the obvious decision after a double defeat this weekend.
I think if you ask most people, a defensive transaction would have been first on the cards. However, with Dmitri Rodin on the sidelines that simply wasn't an option, especially as Cloutier has understandably stated he wants to have a four strong import blueline. Releasing a defenceman would put them down to just two!
Out of the forward corps, Bakrlik was unfortunately the obvious choice for release. A player that started the year with a pair of truly dominant performances against the Coventry Blaze in pre-season - in which he was an absolute man mountain - his play since has been disappointing. Though his 22 points may indicate otherwise, there has since been only the odd glimpse of the kind of dominance that saw him earmarked as a potential star of the 11/12 season for his pace, strength and surprisingly good stickhandling abilities.
His physicality, or lack thereof, for a player standing at 6'5 was been another disappointment for Bakrlik - who I personally though would end up hurting someone given combination his size and the velocity of his hits in the close season.
The up turn in form of Dominic Osman and Derek Campbell ultimately gave Cloutier no other choice once it became obvious he wanted a stronger blueline with the addition of Kurtis Dulle. In fact one of the few merits to his game while in Hull was his slapshot from the point - something, Rodin aside, the club seem to lack this year.
Luckily for the Czech forward though, the Coventry Blaze have moved quickly (and sensibly in my opinion) to sign him as temporary injury cover, according to coach Paul Thompson on Twitter, following his release.
As I said on Twitter myself, given how well he played in pre-season against the Blaze (unplayable is probably a good word to use), it's not surprising that they picked him up, even away from the convenience of signing a player that is effectively already on your books.
Of course, this being British ice hockey, that in itself has already caused a stir!
As soon as it was revealed that he would be moving to the Stingrays ownership rivals there immediate were conspiracy claims stating the Rays have only released him to leave because Coventry (being the 'big club, apparently) need injury cover and in spite of the Stingrays being down one import (Rodin) etc etc.
For me that is pure rubbish.
Bakrlik hasn't performed, Cloutier has released him and Coventry, fresh from injuries to Jermaine Domish and Owen Fussey, have signed him as cover with the chance to make it permanent if he plays well (to sign him without that clause would be quite frankly, silly, given how well he played in pre-season). They're the facts and I personally believe it is that black and white. Sorry it's not as exciting as the conspiracy suggests.
No one knows what the Rays coach has up his sleeve signing wise and while it's concerning to some we've let him go despite being down a player, perhaps this will give Dan Scott, Bobby Chamberlain, Andy McKinney etc. the ice time in the short term that some were calling out for at the weekend.
