Best of Luck Muchs...

Over the past 5 years there has been one constant with the Portland Winterhawks, starting in net #35 Kurtis Mucha. Muchs has seen his share of the highs and lows with this franchise, and to many it would have been no surprise to see Kurtis not in net with Portland, rather playing with an AHL or ECHL affiliate to Edmonton. Kurtis showed very well in camp, and with Portland not knowing what kind of team they were going to have, it would have been completely understandable to see #35 moving on before the season began.

Instead, something different happened, Kurtis and his family decided to head back to the WHL and Portland to finish out Kurtis' junior career with the one team he had grown up with... In the last PWHBC Hawkey Talk Newsletter, Lee-Ann, Kurtis' mom wrote a heart warming and very emotional piece about what the last 5 years have been for them as a family. How they sent their son to Portland to follow his dream to play professional hockey.

So, today many are outraged that Portland has moved Kurtis to another team. Personally Mucha has been a stalwart with this team, time and time again saying he didn't play well enough to win, when it would have been easier to just throw his team under the bus saying how can he win seeing 50 to 60 shots a night. Kurtis is that kind of person. I will miss seeing that last 4 or 5 months of Mucha playing hockey. I am sure many will have the #35 jerseys on for January 20th in the MC and again on February 3rd when Mucha comes back to Portland. We can give him the kind of thank you he deserves.

Now we have what's next with the changing of this team. Moving Mucha for a pick is one thing, heck Seattle got a pick and a player for DeSerres going to Brandon. So, while I like many are frustrated that Mucha was moved, I also ask what is next? If Portland makes this deal, is it to make room for a different overage player? So, before I completely rip the team for making this move, I say, what's next and what is the overall impact. Is someone like Travis Ehrhardt coming back to Portland?

So while I say, good luck to Kurtis, and we'll see you soon, and hopefully for years to come in the NHL, I also say, hey Coach Johnston, what's next?