Brantford Bulldogs 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[Jawk]

As a Blues fan how did Jiricek look in his first game?

He looked like a guy that has skill, but hasn't played in almost a year. Timing was off, confidence was low, just trying to adapt to a new team, league, country, language.

Ask again in 10 games and I bet the review is drastically different.

Edit: I think it's huge for him that they have him paired with Hamara. Fellow countryman that can really help him with all things NA hockey.

 

[BluesReport25]

He looked like a guy that has skill, but hasn't played in almost a year. Timing was off, confidence was low, just trying to adapt to a new team, league, country, language.

Ask again in 10 games and I bet the review is drastically different.

Edit: I think it's huge for him that they have him paired with Hamara. Fellow countryman that can really help him with all things NA hockey.

I figured it would take him a while to get going again. He missed a lot more time than expected given his injury so it must have been pretty bad. I agree Hamara should really help him and I'm glad those 2 are paired together. Hoping Jiricek continues to improve, and the Bulldogs should be fun to watch especially when Vanacker is healthy as well.

 

[Babs716]

They need a f*** You forward. AKA, Xhekaj clone.

Said the same thing tonight. Missing Sobolev and Xhejak. Need some physical force to get the boys fired up and to throw the other team off their game.

 

[Rounder8]

As a Blues fan how did Jiricek look in his first game?

You could tell that he hadn't played in a long time for sure. Lots of missed passes and turnovers. Looked tired sometimes. All of this is to be expected.

I found his footspeed to be a bit slow, but that might be because he's paired with a great skater in Hamara. He was strong with the puck and not afraid to throw his body around though. I'm sure everything will improve as he gets his feet under him in the next month or so.

As for the game, they mainly lost because of special teams. Their PP continues to be bad. A bunch of penalties in the first period kept guys like Lardis off of the ice for the most part.

Cole Brown (who can be super frustrating with his inconsistency) continues to play really well.

I thought that Radley REALLY struggled.

Schaefer looks VERY good for Erie.

Tough break for the Bulldogs. Musty has joined Sudbury just in time to play them.

 

[Rounder8]

What a terrible game.

Just no energy at all.

PP now chugging along at 4.5%. How is that even possible?

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Team is way too talented to be playing this poorly.

They look absolutely dreadful.

 

[frontsfan67]

What a terrible game.

Just no energy at all.

PP now chugging along at 4.5%. How is that even possible?

Holy crap that is actually impressive to be that low. Have 0 idea how it is that low with Lardis, O’Brien, Thomas, Brown, Protz all getting powerplay time

 

[coolhandluc44]

Weekends like this really confirm my feelings that I would not go all in this season and just stand pat. I know we are missing Vanacker but secondary scoring has been a problem all season. I expected much more from Lavoie,
Thomas and Brown

 

[three dog night]

Rough weekend

 

[Rounder8]

Weekends like this really confirm my feelings that I would not go all in this season and just stand pat. I know we are missing Vanacker but secondary scoring has been a problem all season. I expected much more from Lavoie,
Thomas and Brown

You think this team will be better next year?

They lose A LOT at the end of this year.

I don't think that Thomas and Brown have been that bad. Thomas has never been a goal scorer in this league. His shot just isn't good enough. He is still putting up plenty of points though.

Brown has played better of late and I think has been one of their better forwards the past few weeks imo.

Lavoie has definitely been disappointing. I thought that he had a chance to score 35-40 goals this year. I never thought that I would say this, but maybe they would be better off with Bujolds energy and physical game.

I also thought that Luca Testa would be MUCH better this year. He is almost invisible.

 

[Babs716]

You think this team will be better next year?

They lose A LOT at the end of this year.

I don't think that Thomas and Brown have been that bad. Thomas has never been a goal scorer in this league. His shot just isn't good enough. He is still putting up plenty of points though.

Brown has played better of late and I think has been one of their better forwards the past few weeks imo.

Lavoie has definitely been disappointing. I thought that he had a chance to score 35-40 goals this year. I never thought that I would say this, but maybe they would be better off with Bujolds energy and physical game.

I also thought that Luca Testa would be MUCH better this year. He is almost invisible.

Bujold will be around this season, but you won’t see him suiting up for games

 

[Generalsupdates]

I've never seen Jiricek play prior to last night so I'm not sure what his skating was like before the knee injury, but man he was not moving very well last night. Was creative on the blue line to get some shots through but was surprised at his lack of foot speed for an NHL 1st rounder

 

[Rounder8]

I've never seen Jiricek play prior to last night so I'm not sure what his skating was like before the knee injury, but man he was not moving very well last night. Was creative on the blue line to get some shots through but was surprised at his lack of foot speed for an NHL 1st rounder

I agree with this assessment. He is strong with the puck, but I'm not impressed with his stride at all for somebody drafted that highly.

Hopefully it will improve...

 

[coolhandluc44]

Woof another brutal loss. Jiricek got hammered on a great open ice hit. I hope he is ok as up until that point he looked pretty good.

I can’t believe how bad this offence has been and the PP is just awful.

My fear is that if this team doesn’t improve there will be a lot of pressure on Vanacker when he returns. I’m not saying he can’t handle the pressure but it’s a lot to ask on any player who is starting the season months after everyone.

 

[Rounder8]

The more that I watch this team the more I realize that they are a lot more than one player away from being a contender.

There is just something missing.

 

[Jawk]

The PP is atrocious. I get that long term they think the best unit includes Hamara and Jiricek, and chemistry may take some time, but it's been bad all year.

Shocking how working it high, then down low on the left side, then high, then right to a Lardis one time on a bad angle. Over and over predictably, isn't working.

Can't get out of their own end.

Imagine if the goaltending was also struggling.

They're soft and way too easy to play against.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Team might be closer to being a seller than a buyer at this point.

Just so many holes on this team right now.

 

[IceDogs452]

Massive stretch coming up for Brantford. Losing 4 straight in regulation and next 5 games are Brampton x2, Niagara x2 and Barrie.

Outside of 2 games against Peterborough Brantford has the below leading up to Christmas:
Brampton x4
Barrie x3
Niagara x3
Oshawa x3
Kingston x2
Kitchener x1

 

[Rounder8]

Massive stretch coming up for Brantford. Losing 4 straight in regulation and next 5 games are Brampton x2, Niagara x2 and Barrie.

Outside of 2 games against Peterborough Brantford has the below leading up to Christmas:
Brampton x4
Barrie x3
Niagara x3
Oshawa x3
Kingston x2
Kitchener x1

Yep, these games that they should win, especially at home are really going to haunt them.

They could be in some real danger of missing the playoffs by Christmas.

 

[Jawk]

Best period they've played in a long time. This is a game where you outshoout them 45-16 and go to OT tied at 2.

Let's hope they can pad it a bit in the 2nd.

 

[Rounder8]

Best period they've played in a long time. This is a game where you outshoout them 45-16 and go to OT tied at 2.

Let's hope they can pad it a bit in the 2nd.

Yes, playing great today.

Officiating isn't helping them. Might have cost them both goals.

Protz did interfere, but that same play has been let go at least a dozen times so far.

Flores is playing great.

 

[Jawk]

Yes, playing great today.

Officiating isn't helping them. Might have cost them both goals.

Protz did interfere, but that same play has been let go at least a dozen times so far.

Flores is playing great.

2nd wasn't terrible, just some real sloppy mistakes that result in goals.

Radley hasn't been great. Didn't need the Chen fight (as wild as it was to see). The Roberts 10 was so classic Roberts.

 

[Rounder8]

Tough day for Leenders today.

 

[Jawk]

Tough day for Leenders today.

Battled the puck after standing around the whole 1st. Need your stud G to steal one when you're slumping. Just not good enough.

 

[Jawk]

Woof.