Gutted like a dead fish

"Be patient."

That's what new Phoenix Coyotes' General Manager Cliff Fletcher says.

"Just wait a few weeks. We have a plan."

Uh huh. I see the plan now, Cliffie. I don't have to wait a few weeks to know that you are gutting my hockey team like a dead fish, and things are already beginning to smell.

I was prepared for some retooling, even a little bit of rebuilding. I knew that the team we had was not working. But I thought, not unlike many others, that we were probably only a few players away from a legitimate play-off run. Mr. Fletcher assured us that we were NOT re-building. I request permission, however, to refute that statement with every fiber of my being.

We watched and waited and believed everything we were told, like dutiful, devout, trusting, loyal little fans. We listened, Mr. Fletcher, when you said that the first priority was to sign Khabibulin. Then Nik was gone. We listened when you said that you were going to build the team around Captain Tkachuk.

Then Keith was gone too. And we listened once again when you said that this was Jeremy Roenick's team and your first priority (that again) was to sign Jeremy Roenick this summer. And now, only days from now, Jeremy will be gone too. And with the departure of Jeremy Roenick, there will not be one player on this team that is a bankable superstar. You better keep dumping salaries, Mr. Fletcher, because you just ripped out the heart of your team by letting Jeremy walk out the door, and a good chunk of your profits with him. This heartbroken fan is not putting any more hard earned dollars into those limited view America West Arena seats.

Now we have the privilege of sitting and watching while Mr. Fletcher tears this team to shreds in the name of salary dumping, all the while telling us that we are not rebuilding and that he is improving the team. And we are supposed to be happy about it on top of it. We are supposed to smile and nod and say what good work he is doing while he announces the departure of Carney and Green and DeBrusk and Sullivan. To add insult to injury, he flaps his wrinkled old jaws in the local press and says that the team wasn't any good anyhow, and anything he does is an improvement, slapping veterans who worked off their butts last season, players like Brad May and Landon Wilson and Sean Burke and yes, Jeremy Roenick, right across the face. It's bad enough that he lies to us, but he lies to his players, and that is inexcusable.

Claude Lemieux was brought in for his playoff contributions. Will this team ever get back to the playoffs before Claude retires? Highly unlikely. And how old will Sean Burke be when this "we are not rebuilding" hockey team sniffs a playoff race again?

It's been reported this last week that our GM is annoyed by reports of the fans questioning the moves and decisions he has made recently. Well, get used to it Cliffie. This is OUR hockey team that you are gutting like a dead fish. OUR team. Just because you are on the payroll does not give you the permission to gut the heart and soul and life from this team in the name of the almighty dollar and then lie to us about rebuilding. The fans who loved and supported this team through thick and thin will still be here long after you have gone, Mr. Fletcher, and we will be comparing you with that other ex-GM, Bobby Smith. Don't forget, we pay YOUR salary, too. And that one can be dumped just like any other salary can.

From the desk of the Roenick Chick http://www.jeremy-roenick.com