Barrie Colts 2022-23 Off-Season Thread

[OMG67]

But it’s unfortunate as you don’t want to waste Clarke’s last go at it

It’s tough though. Sometimes you’re between a rock and a hard place and things just don’t pan out. It was a serious buyers market this season. Feel bad for Barrie but only so many big names to go around.

No one really had a chance to acquire Beck and DelMastro. It’s not like other teams in contention had the #5 and #6 picks to trade. Wright controlled his destination for the most part. I’m sure Sarnia weaselled into DBB with the DelMastro trade and Martone so that took him off the table as well.

Ottawa had the OA and Import slots open.

Barrie could have jumped on some of the earlier guys but if they didn’t know for sure Clarke woudl be back, those deals are tough to make so they lost out on payers like Harrison and Holmes.

Barrie was not in an easy position. They got screwed by the market and how it unfolded. If Flint enters the fray then they have a strong opportunity to add some players. If Flint doesn’t, there is no reason to make a buyer move at all.

 

[OHLColtsPuck]

Barrie was not in an easy position. They got screwed by the market and how it unfolded. If Flint enters the fray then they have a strong opportunity to add some players. If Flint doesn’t, there is no reason to make a buyer move at all.

So if you're Marty, do you take a last minute stance to sell? 03 Players like Clarke, Frasca, Cholach, Savard, Punnett would all be good ads to any team making a run for it.

 

[OMG67]

So if you're Marty, do you take a last minute stance to sell? 03 Players like Clarke, Frasca, Cholach, Savard, Punnett would all be good ads to any team making a run for it.

No. The contenders have all pretty much blown their load. Marty would just be picking at the carcasses at this point.

Ottawa could easily do it and make a deal for Clarke but there is no reason to.

The best stance to take now is try to go after Lombardi out of Flint. Try to add a couple forwards. Maybe upgrade the 2nd import slot with someone like Grushnikov or Kuzmin to help the defence.

If Barrie can add a solid stay at home D-Man like Grushnikov, a stud centre like Lombardi and another forward that can play top 6, I think they can piece together a solid enough roster to hopefully finish ahead of Peterborough and takes their chances in round 2 against North Bay. To me, that has to be their strategy.

 

[OHLColtsPuck]

Seems like a pretty big price to pay for Hache.

 

[ottsabrefan]

Seems like a pretty big price to pay for Hache.

I’m sure the last two picks are conditional on his return as an OA.

 

[OHLColtsPuck]

I’m sure the last two picks are conditional on his return as an OA.

True enough.

 

[LDN]

I’d think Barrie would want to add at least another forward or two

 

[MeafAttack]

Seems like a pretty big price to pay for Hache.

Not a bad price, those two picks are conditional I would assume if he comes back for an O/A year. Barrie has been hurting on defence most of the year With Hache and Clarke things should settle down in the 2nd half

 

[OHLColtsPuck]

Looks like Flint adding and not selling.... Time to get creative.

 

[OHLColtsPuck]

Well I guess Barrie is holding tight. They pick up Haché, a large young man from Newmarket to play some of the heavy defensive minutes. Adding Haché without losing anyone from our roster gives us a deep defence core.

Haché or Cholach with Clarke
Haché or Cholach with Akey
Punnett with Kavanagh
Tiller
Aitcheson
Chisholm may move back up to forward, especially if we meet a bigger opponent.

Savard-Vierling-Cardwell
Jelsma-Frasca-McDonnell
Wigle-Beaudoin-Jodoin
York-Grisolia-Matthews
Lowe
Chisholm

If we're going to do anything, it's going to be through grit, hard work and determination. I think overall other teams in the east (Ottawa/Peterborough) have much more scoring depth than us at forward. I think our D is pretty solid though. If PP can get us a few and the boys work hard as a team, we should be in for a few good rounds of hockey.

Go Colts Go

 

[JetsColts13]

Overall I like our top 6 forwards. Bottom 6 concerns me. Really hoping we hear about Sale coming to bump some guys down and create some more depth. Definitely move Chisholm back to forward.

Blueline on the other hand looks good. Clarke and Hache will be a great pairing and both will bring in some needed leadership to the room so we see less of the late game collapses and lopsided shot totals.

 

[OHLColtsPuck]

Overall I like our top 6 forwards. Bottom 6 concerns me. Really hoping we hear about Sale coming to bump some guys down and create some more depth. Definitely move Chisholm back to forward.

Blueline on the other hand looks good. Clarke and Hache will be a great pairing and both will bring in some needed leadership to the room so we see less of the late game collapses and lopsided shot totals.

I agree, Blueline looks great, bottom pairing can play 10-15mins and we'll get 20-30 mins out of the top two pairings. I'm really glad we still have Akey, he has been awesome this season. Punnett was a warrior last playoffs and I expect the same this year.

I echo bottom six but really it's more like the bottom 1 or 2 that concern me. It would be nice to have one more scorer amongst them, moving Beaudoin down to 4th line. He is a great grinder with some great potential down the road but hasn't found a scoring touch yet.

All in all a decent team to go into the playoffs with, better than last year for sure. If Thornton plays the way he has the past month, they could surprise and grind out a few extra home games for us.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Overall I like our top 6 forwards. Bottom 6 concerns me. Really hoping we hear about Sale coming to bump some guys down and create some more depth. Definitely move Chisholm back to forward.

Blueline on the other hand looks good. Clarke and Hache will be a great pairing and both will bring in some needed leadership to the room so we see less of the late game collapses and lopsided shot totals.

Couple scouts online say Sale will finish the season where he currently is. Which would be a shame. He'd excel in Barrie.

 

[Devin]

If Clarke cared about Barrie or his mates at all, he would have shown face here in August for training camp. Outgoing Captain should have been around to show some of the 2022 picks the ropes.

But Yes I agree, right now him coming back seems like a waste to not at least give it a go!

Reflecting on today;

- I am not surprised this is where our team is at post-deadline. With or without the addition of a STUD, Ottawa and Peterborough have great teams, so the odds of seeing two rounds of revenue would be likely either way. Money talks, and thats the owner's biggest concern. For anyone visiting Barrie this year, bring cash or else you'll be lining up at the ATM with a $3 money dispense fee as he does not accept credit or debit.

-This team, as mentioned above may be able to pose an outside shot at things if they show heart. Another concern I have is how interested will Clarke be? Will his eyes be on the OHL playoffs or more so knowing he has a one way ticket to the Ontario Reign once BAR is eliminated? Either way, I think he is the best player in the east.

-The defence is as good as any defence in the league. This team is built to prioritize the D before the forwards, which the TOP 6 aint all that bad.

This team, IMO can do damage with hard work and resiliency however I think they have round 2 game 5/6 exit written all over them.

 

[Devin]

barrie going in with vacant import spot, they must still feel like they have a shot not to fill that...

 

[Square Corners]

barrie going in with vacant import spot, they must still feel like they have a shot not to fill that...

Kevin Niedenz coming back?

 

[Devin]

Kevin Niedenz coming back?

lets hope not

 

[OHLColtsPuck]

Clarke and Haché in the lineup tonight vs. Flint. Should be a fun game, it will be my first since NYE Guelph stomp.

 

[MeafAttack]

barrie going in with vacant import spot, they must still feel like they have a shot not to fill that...

What were they to do ? They still hold the rights to a possible/probable top 5 NHL drafted pick. Would've had to trade his rights away. His current contract is/was too hard to get out of and probably expensive. There was no benefit IMO for Eduard Sale to report this year as far as his playing in the CHL.

 

[JetsColts13]

Fantastic debut for Hache. Looks like he played with Clarke for years. Instant chemistry. The team definitely played with confidence tonight.

 

[Wolfman Jack]

Watched Barrie/Flint tonight. Lets just say that this team is big, skilled and deep throughout. There will be wars with the Petes, Ottawa and North Bay. But if I would have to put them in order. Ottawa/Barrie/North Bay/Petes. Ottawa because they just play a real fast game and got the best Overage and D-man at the deadline to go with a real deep team. Barrie second because they are big and will be able to sustain any style of game IMO. Punnet, Hache, Savard, Frasca and Chisholm are a big group that can play. North Bay third because I just don't think the defence is as strong. The Petes fourth because they are too small up front and will get beat up vs the other 3. Plus I don't think the Petes will mesh well. Othman in the line up tonight and they lose again. Its a weird group.

WJ

 

[Devin]

Watched Barrie/Flint tonight. Lets just say that this team is big, skilled and deep throughout. There will be wars with the Petes, Ottawa and North Bay. But if I would have to put them in order. Ottawa/Barrie/North Bay/Petes. Ottawa because they just play a real fast game and got the best Overage and D-man at the deadline to go with a real deep team. Barrie second because they are big and will be able to sustain any style of game IMO. Punnet, Hache, Savard, Frasca and Chisholm are a big group that can play. North Bay third because I just don't think the defence is as strong. The Petes fourth because they are too small up front and will get beat up vs the other 3. Plus I don't think the Petes will mesh well. Othman in the line up tonight and they lose again. Its a weird group.

WJ

I was at the game tonight, team piled on 52 shots total.

Clarke almost scored on that breakaway he created for himself with about 3 firebirds around him. What he is great as is drawing players towards him then finding the open man, see that pass to cardwell in the first 2 mins. Can walk right around guys creating open players.

The defence on this team is lethal, its very hard for teams to get that dangerous scoring chance off.

 

[OHLColtsPuck]

The team is definitely a lot bigger than last year and more built for grinding it out in the playoffs.

Also great mix of speed with Cardwell, Jelsma and our D. McDonnell looked strong and fast as well.

Akey didn't miss a step with Clarke back.

Haché is a huge presence back there. Chisholm much better on forward.

I'm still not sold on Savard but he definitely doesn't hurt them.

Beaudoin a perfect 4th line grinder and penalty killer, the guy just doesn't stop skating, ever...

Should be a fun team to watch down the stretch.

 

[dirty12]

Watched Barrie/Flint tonight. Lets just say that this team is big, skilled and deep throughout. There will be wars with the Petes, Ottawa and North Bay. But if I would have to put them in order. Ottawa/Barrie/North Bay/Petes. Ottawa because they just play a real fast game and got the best Overage and D-man at the deadline to go with a real deep team. Barrie second because they are big and will be able to sustain any style of game IMO. Punnet, Hache, Savard, Frasca and Chisholm are a big group that can play. North Bay third because I just don't think the defence is as strong. The Petes fourth because they are too small up front and will get beat up vs the other 3. Plus I don't think the Petes will mesh well. Othman in the line up tonight and they lose again. Its a weird group.

WJ

I agree it’s going to be a battle between four teams in the east. I see it a bit different as I have it NB, Petes, ‘67s, Colts.
Othmann-Beck-Hayes we’re definitely not in sync in their first game together, but the Sting D had a lot to do with that.
The Colts & Sting D might be the two best in the league.

 

[Square Corners]

Watched Barrie/Flint tonight. Lets just say that this team is big, skilled and deep throughout. There will be wars with the Petes, Ottawa and North Bay. But if I would have to put them in order. Ottawa/Barrie/North Bay/Petes. Ottawa because they just play a real fast game and got the best Overage and D-man at the deadline to go with a real deep team. Barrie second because they are big and will be able to sustain any style of game IMO. Punnet, Hache, Savard, Frasca and Chisholm are a big group that can play. North Bay third because I just don't think the defence is as strong. The Petes fourth because they are too small up front and will get beat up vs the other 3. Plus I don't think the Petes will mesh well. Othman in the line up tonight and they lose again. Its a weird group.

WJ

You have the Petes as the 4th best team in the East? I dont see that.

PBO offence way better than BAR. PBO goalie way better than BAR. With Clarke back BAR has the better defence