Brantford Bulldogs 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[SoupNazi]

Continued from Brantford Bulldogs 2023-24 Off-Season Thread (Part One)

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[Jawk]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842009122767618347

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842008476064604397

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842265319878058448

 

[Jawk]

No surprises at all in those articles. Plans for new building in Brantford are progressing.

Hamilton building wants to attract a new full time tenant (despite insisting they were going to be concert only).

 

[coolhandluc44]

No surprises at all in those articles. Plans for new building in Brantford are progressing.

Hamilton building wants to attract a new full time tenant (despite insisting they were going to be concert only).

Yes we should have some more answers next week. The city has done a great job with the current Civic Centre renovations and I have been really impressed with the consultant they hired. Over the next few years, there is also going to be alot of major residential redevelopment across the street and other areas close by. Also next door at Earl Haig, there is plans to build a 20 million dollar indoor soccer and baseball facility. Brantford's population is growing fast so I am very confident we are well positioned to support the team long term.

Im pretty sure the mayor of Brantford stayed on specifically to get these project approved. For those unfamiliar he was going to resign over the summer but stayed on.

 

[Jawk]

Yes we should have some more answers next week. The city has done a great job with the current Civic Centre renovations and I have been really impressed with the consultant they hired. Over the next few years, there is also going to be alot of major residential redevelopment across the street and other areas close by. Also next door at Earl Haig, there is plans to build a 20 million dollar indoor soccer and baseball facility. Brantford's population is growing fast so I am very confident we are well positioned to support the team long term.

Im pretty sure the mayor of Brantford stayed on specifically to get these project approved. For those unfamiliar he was going to resign over the summer but stayed on.

I'm fairly in touch with the Brantford politics. I l basically lived there for my high-school years.

Hoping for some good restaurants once the commercial redevelopment is completed.

Seems like the entire council is on board for all of these projects, and final arena approval is nothing more than having to go through the required process.

 

[Jawk]

Brian Smiley on his Twitter wrote his little weekend blurb and mentioned the injuries to Vanacker and O'Donnell.

I inquired about Bujold and he said the team is saying absolutely nothing publicly about him.

Edit: I know it's early, and it's managing the schedule/opponents, but I can't believe it's going to take until atleast home game #3 to see Leenders.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Bulldogs still don't have a captain. Wonder who will end it up with it

 

[Jawk]

Bulldogs still don't have a captain. Wonder who will end it up with it

I thought for sure Thomas, but why not announce it?

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Another tough loss.

Team lost too much toughness this off season. Started getting thrown around at the end there.

 

[coolhandluc44]

I'm fairly in touch with the Brantford politics. I l basically lived there for my high-school years.

Hoping for some good restaurants once the commercial redevelopment is completed.

Seems like the entire council is on board for all of these projects, and final arena approval is nothing more than having to go through the required process.

I’m pretty confident it will be supported. I follow council pretty closely. I could see a few councillors vote no knowing full well the vote will be yes but they will want to appear that they wanted the team to pay for everything.

You also will hear some residents say Brantford needs a new hospital and not an arena. Well of course we need a new hospital. These are the same people that don’t understand the province pays for 90% of the funding while the city/ Brant county/First Nations have to raise 10%. There is a plan already in place and even if the city raised its 10% tomorrow, the hospital will not be built for another 10 years. This is why the city will constantly say in every media release this will not impact the building of a new hospital

 

[coolhandluc44]

No surprises at all in those articles. Plans for new building in Brantford are progressing.

Hamilton building wants to attract a new full time tenant (despite insisting they were going to be concert only).

I wonder what NHL team would want their affiliate to be in Hamilton? The current trend is to have your AHL team close by which makes sense for logistical reasons l when calling up players your not flying them in and also your fan base would most likely be fans of the NHL team which would increase a draw. I was never a fan of the AHL bulldogs because I’m a Leafs fan so the thought of cheering for Montreal prospects made zero sense.

You hear Toronto mentioned but I thought they drew ok and a huge benefit they have in keeping the team in Toronto is that there top candidates for call ups can live in Toronto throughout the season no matter what team they play for.

 

[Jawk]

I wonder what NHL team would want their affiliate to be in Hamilton? The current trend is to have your AHL team close by which makes sense for logistical reasons l when calling up players your not flying them in and also your fan base would most likely be fans of the NHL team which would increase a draw. I was never a fan of the AHL bulldogs because I’m a Leafs fan so the thought of cheering for Montreal prospects made zero sense.

You hear Toronto mentioned but I thought they drew ok and a huge benefit they have in keeping the team in Toronto is that there top candidates for call ups can live in Toronto throughout the season no matter what team they play for.

Only the rumour going around, but it is the Marlies they would target first. Their lease is up at the same time Hamilton would be ready.

 

[Rounder8]

I thought for sure Thomas, but why not announce it?

I agree. I thought it would be Thomas as well.

Maybe they have inside knowledge that a piece that we thought wouldn't be back, will be?

Now you have me thinking the same way!lol

This team does need some size and toughness.

 

[Jawk]

I agree. I thought it would be Thomas as well.

Maybe they have inside knowledge that a piece that we thought wouldn't be back, will be?

Now you have me thinking the same way!lol

This team does need some size and toughness.

Yeah, I don't know. I think we've all thought for awhile there was 0% chance Xhekaj was coming back. It seems ridiculous to even suggest it.

I don't think I'd even have him as the C over Thomas anyways. I'm sure we're all just over thinking it and they will make the expected decision during some promotional team event.

 

[coolhandluc44]

Only the rumour going around, but it is the Marlies they would target first. Their lease is up at the same time Hamilton would be ready.

I think the Marlies would be a solid draw and do better than the Bulldogs(AHL or OHL version) because it’s the baby Leafs. According to hockey DB the Marlies averaged 6500 last year and pretty solid attendance since 2012. Should be interesting to watch

 

[Rounder8]

Yeah, I don't know. I think we've all thought for awhile there was 0% chance Xhekaj was coming back. It seems ridiculous to even suggest it.

I don't think I'd even have him as the C over Thomas anyways. I'm sure we're all just over thinking it and they will make the expected decision during some promotional team event.

The only other one other than Thomas that I thought was a possibility was Moore because they gave him an A at a young age.

 

[Jawk]

If this D group isn't one of the worst in the league....

Everyone is being asked to do too much.
Protz is a 2-3
Moore a 4, and he's turning the puck over more than he did all of last year.
Roberts a 6
Radley a 7
Chen and Krmpotic are GOJHL callups

They can't get out of their own end clean to get any offense going.

 

[Rounder8]

If this D group isn't one of the worst in the league....

Everyone is being asked to do too much.
Protz is a 2-3
Moore a 4, and he's turning the puck over more than he did all of last year.
Roberts a 6
Radley a 7
Chen and Krmpotic are GOJHL callups

They can't get out of their own end clean to get any offense going.

Yes to all of this.

Moore has been bad so far this year. WAY too many turnovers. Probably trying to do too much.

This team is tough to watch right now.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Team has the same problem as last year. Every break out must be perfect or it doesn't leave the Bulldogs stick. Nothing wrong with a nice flip to the neutral zone. Not sure it's totally on the players at this point, they're obviously not being told otherwise or it wouldn't have gone on for two years.

 

[coolhandluc44]

If this D group isn't one of the worst in the league....

Everyone is being asked to do too much.
Protz is a 2-3
Moore a 4, and he's turning the puck over more than he did all of last year.
Roberts a 6
Radley a 7
Chen and Krmpotic are GOJHL callups

They can't get out of their own end clean to get any offense going.

I agree the D has not been good. This team cannot get out of their zone. Moore has had a tough weekend. I noticed that Chen moves the puck quickly without looking when he has time. They cannot make a clean break out pass. Probably hoping Leenders was going to cover a lot of the bad play early on.

I would add the forwards have not been good either in their zone. And this all forward power play is not working and they where lucky a few times this weekend they did not give up a short handed goal

A disappointing weekend and not because they lost both games, that will happen but the way they lost. They got out worked in both games, and sloppy plays.

And what is going on with Bujold? Is he injured? Is it possible there withholding playing him to not use a card if they get Hamara or Xhekaj back?

 

[coolhandluc44]

I know is super early and probably means nothing but Maholtra has 1goal and 0 assists in 6 games. No context of who is playing with or ice time etc and I know stats dont tell the whole story. Was just thinking about this with the NCAA rule changes and if decides to report next year. What if his game does not translate to the next level and we gave up alot of assets for him.

 

[Jawk]

Disappointing that he couldn't find a spot out West.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843743765569384631

 

[coolhandluc44]

Disappointing that he couldn't find a spot out West.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843743765569384631

Based on how bad this teams D has been playing and they dont improve could they bring him back and drop Bujold or maybe Lavoie? (assuming Hamara or Arber dont come back) Also do WHL education packages work the same as OHL? Worst case scenario he played 4 games so he should get a year of school paid for

 

[Jawk]

Based on how bad this teams D has been playing and they dont improve could they bring him back and drop Bujold or maybe Lavoie? (assuming Hamara or Arber dont come back) Also do WHL education packages work the same as OHL? Worst case scenario he played 4 games so he should get a year of school paid for

I have no idea how any of that would work. You could argue that bringing back Rebelo to play D while Bujold is out would be an improvement.

I think in the end, regardless of what the rules are, that this D will eventually be better and bringing back OAs for a short term fix is not ideal. Best to just move on with the plan, let those OA guys move on with other teams in other leagues

 

[coolhandluc44]

I have no idea how any of that would work. You could argue that bringing back Rebelo to play D while Bujold is out would be an improvement.

I think in the end, regardless of what the rules are, that this D will eventually be better and bringing back OAs for a short term fix is not ideal. Best to just move on with the plan, let those OA guys move on with other teams in other leagues

I had high hopes that this D can develop with time and have to remind myself it’s still so early. It might be best to concede that Brampton and Oshawa will just be too good to overcome and not the year to go all in. I’m not saying start trading away guys like Lardis. But maybe just stand pat and not use that draft capital for short term rentals. Take your lumps and let Radley, Krompotic, Babin and to an extent Chan( can’t see him being more than a 6 on any decent team) get experience. Maybe you hope for 3rd place win a round maybe two. Next year the guys a year older and more experienced