Guelph Storm 2018-19 Season Thread

[Fudgeo]

I'm still all for a #1 C over a goalie. Another C would give us 3 options for the Ratcliffe line (hillis, Hawel and trade), slot everyone down one and give us lots of depth.
For what we would have to pay for a dipietro/villalta I don't think the payoff would be enough to justify it.

 

[StormWatcher]

I'm still all for a #1 C over a goalie. Another C would give us 3 options for the Ratcliffe line (hillis, Hawel and trade), slot everyone down one and give us lots of depth.
For what we would have to pay for a dipietro/villalta I don't think the payoff would be enough to justify it.

I'm still all for a #1 C over a goalie. Another C would give us 3 options for the Ratcliffe line (hillis, Hawel and trade), slot everyone down one and give us lots of depth.
For what we would have to pay for a dipietro/villalta I don't think the payoff would be enough to justify it.

In this case the hope would be a combined trade for C/D? Frost and Sambrook or Hollowell? Scoring isn't a big issue, but you're right that would provide depth.

I, for one, am itching for the deadline to see how this all plays out.

 

[HockeyPops]

As for the rest of your post, sounds like opinion rather than fact.

Fair enough. Stats don't always tell the whole story. There are so many variables when trying to compare two players on different teams. Isn't most of what we post on here opinion?

Comparing two goalies on the same team is one of the few times we are able to control most of the variables. This is probably the closest to fact that we will ever get. The fact is that the Greyhounds have not managed a regulation win in their last 5 starts. That's what's happened since Villalta was injured. The rest of the team has remained the same. Those variables are controlled. We are not cherry picking easier opponents and trying to compare different roles (ie. starter versus backup) so we have controlled that variable as well. Granted it's a small sample size, but hockey stats are always based on small sample sizes. The fact is that Villalta is incredibly important to the Greyhounds. Quite possibly their most important player. And on a team with a few other superstars, that speaks volumes.

Are their metrics by which DiPietro is ahead of Villalta? Absolutely, and save percentage is one. However, there are metrics by which Villalta is ahead. Ignore them if you wish but they won't go away.

 

[storm surge]

I'm still all for a #1 C over a goalie. Another C would give us 3 options for the Ratcliffe line (hillis, Hawel and trade), slot everyone down one and give us lots of depth.
For what we would have to pay for a dipietro/villalta I don't think the payoff would be enough to justify it.

C?...#6

 

[Molson Muscle]

Hearing people throw Chayka's name around is really grinding my gears.

The fact is Chayka is untouchable, and this is a straight fact.

My reference to Chayka was simply an opinion, on not wanting to see him traded. If you are correct and he is "untouchable" then that is great.

 

[TrueBlueStorm]

Unless we completely empty the draft cupboard of every 2nd, 3rd and 4th pick we have left, and trade some 01 and 02 players, we will not get close to London this year. Once Bouchard and Formenton came back from the NHL, along with Boqvist and Foudy it became a one team race. And the Knights have plenty of their own picks if needed.
It's not like 2013-14, when we were already loaded and adding Rychel and Ebert put us over the top, but at a price I would not pay this year. Not if it means 2-3 years of post 2014 futility- remember the 2015-16 season? Wasn't that fun finishing worst in the OHL 24 points out of a playoff spot? Or 2016-17 again last 20 points out?

London is 9-0-1 over last 10
Guelph is 4-1-2-3

No blockbuster trade please- I'll be happy with 2 rounds of playoff success, and stay competitive next year and the year after that.

 

[storm surge]

Unless we completely empty the draft cupboard of every 2nd, 3rd and 4th pick we have left, and trade some 01 and 02 players, we will not get close to London this year. Once Bouchard and Formenton came back from the NHL, along with Boqvist and Foudy it became a one team race. And the Knights have plenty of their own picks if needed.
It's not like 2013-14, when we were already loaded and adding Rychel and Ebert put us over the top, but at a price I would not pay this year. Not if it means 2-3 years of post 2014 futility- remember the 2015-16 season? Wasn't that fun finishing worst in the OHL 24 points out of a playoff spot? Or 2016-17 again last 20 points out?

London is 9-0-1 over last 10
Guelph is 4-1-2-3

No blockbuster trade please- I'll be happy with 2 rounds of playoff success, and stay competitive next year and the year after that.

agreed

 

[storm surge]

My reference to Chayka was simply an opinion, on not wanting to see him traded. If you are correct and he is "untouchable" then that is great.

10:4 on that

 

[NamesAreHardToChoose]

People without actual inside knowledge know nothing. Don't forget that. Them throwing around names is inconsequential.

Same with fans stating what is or is not a fact. Him being untouchable is your opinion, not to mention likely. It is not a fact.

No, I do know for a fact he is untouchable unless there's a significant return in youth and talent. Management and NHL Scouts are extremely high on him.

This team would not trade him straight up for Tippett. That's how bright his future his.

Some might say that's ignorant, but it's just not worth trading someone you get for another three years and is a projected top 10 pick in the NHL for a chance at winning the conference, which is very slim.

 

[NamesAreHardToChoose]

Unless we completely empty the draft cupboard of every 2nd, 3rd and 4th pick we have left, and trade some 01 and 02 players, we will not get close to London this year. Once Bouchard and Formenton came back from the NHL, along with Boqvist and Foudy it became a one team race. And the Knights have plenty of their own picks if needed.
It's not like 2013-14, when we were already loaded and adding Rychel and Ebert put us over the top, but at a price I would not pay this year. Not if it means 2-3 years of post 2014 futility- remember the 2015-16 season? Wasn't that fun finishing worst in the OHL 24 points out of a playoff spot? Or 2016-17 again last 20 points out?

London is 9-0-1 over last 10
Guelph is 4-1-2-3

No blockbuster trade please- I'll be happy with 2 rounds of playoff success, and stay competitive next year and the year after that.

You think this team without Sammy, Hanley, Ratcliffe, Toropchenko, Commisso and if he continues Schnarr will be competitive?

And the slight chance a couple of them come back, there's still too many OA's to keep them all.

This is the window believe it or not and that's not just an opinion, London will only get better with their talent pool same with Saginaw among others.

It will be another 2-3 years before a good run from Guelph.

 

[storm surge]

No, I do know for a fact he is untouchable unless there's a significant return in youth and talent. Management and NHL Scouts are extremely high on him.

This team would not trade him straight up for Tippett. That's how bright his future his.

Some might say that's ignorant, but it's just not worth trading someone you get for another three years and is a projected top 10 pick in the NHL for a chance at winning the conference, which is very slim.

eggzactly..

 

[storm surge]

You think this team without Sammy, Hanley, Ratcliffe, Toropchenko, Commisso and if he continues Schnarr will be competitive?

And the slight chance a couple of them come back, there's still too many OA's to keep them all.

This is the window believe it or not and that's not just an opinion, London will only get better with their talent pool same with Saginaw among others.

It will be another 2-3 years before a good run from Guelph.

yup

 

[storm surge]

No, I do know for a fact he is untouchable unless there's a significant return in youth and talent. Management and NHL Scouts are extremely high on him.

This team would not trade him straight up for Tippett. That's how bright his future his.

Some might say that's ignorant, but it's just not worth trading someone you get for another three years and is a projected top 10 pick in the NHL for a chance at winning the conference, which is very slim.

I see Chayka top 5.. he should be top pairing or 2nd right now.. and he just turned 16 I think..He's SOLID.

 

[NamesAreHardToChoose]

I see Chayka top 5.. he should be top pairing or 2nd right now.. and he just turned 16 I think..He's SOLID.

He's in the 2021 draft year, think about that for a second...

He's here for the long-haul, and he's already improving. This kid is special.

 

[storm surge]

He's in the 2021 draft year, think about that for a second...

He's here for the long-haul, and he's already improving. This kid is special.

Totally

 

[Molson Muscle]

Unless we completely empty the draft cupboard of every 2nd, 3rd and 4th pick we have left, and trade some 01 and 02 players, we will not get close to London this year. Once Bouchard and Formenton came back from the NHL, along with Boqvist and Foudy it became a one team race. And the Knights have plenty of their own picks if needed.
It's not like 2013-14, when we were already loaded and adding Rychel and Ebert put us over the top, but at a price I would not pay this year. Not if it means 2-3 years of post 2014 futility- remember the 2015-16 season? Wasn't that fun finishing worst in the OHL 24 points out of a playoff spot? Or 2016-17 again last 20 points out?

London is 9-0-1 over last 10
Guelph is 4-1-2-3

No blockbuster trade please- I'll be happy with 2 rounds of playoff success, and stay competitive next year and the year after that.

Could not of said it better myself.......The next few weeks should paint a better picture of the playoffs.

 

[NamesAreHardToChoose]

Could not of said it better myself.......The next few weeks should paint a better picture of the playoffs.

You're not going to waste the last year of Samorukov, Ratcliffe and others for next year.

They won't be coming back and they are the only reason why this team has a chance to compete this year.

 

[TrueBlueStorm]

We have 6 2nds and 6 3rds over the next 5 years- we would need to trade all of them to get the goalie, D and C some people feel we need to compete for a championship. So you think 5 years of bottom 4 finishes is worth it? Just for a chance at a championship this year? And btw, London has 9 2nds and 10 3rds over the next 5 years- think they won't spend any of these to keep ahead?
I love a championship as much as anyone (STH for 22 years) but sometimes you just gotta go with what you got.
I'm sure a trade or 2 is coming, but hopefully we keep something for the future.

 

[NamesAreHardToChoose]

We have 6 2nds and 6 3rds over the next 5 years- we would need to trade all of them to get the goalie, D and C some people feel we need to compete for a championship. So you think 5 years of bottom 4 finishes is worth it? Just for a chance at a championship this year? And btw, London has 9 2nds and 10 3rds over the next 5 years- think they won't spend any of these to keep ahead?
I love a championship as much as anyone (STH for 22 years) but sometimes you just gotta go with what you got.
I'm sure a trade or 2 is coming, but hopefully we keep something for the future.

It's because London got value for their players before they left. Dickinson, Bertuzzi, Fabbri, etc were never traded for their value when they could have been.

Popovich has been the sole reason we've even been close lately. He's being bashed by this entire fanbase but have you seen the defence being played around him? It's non-existent at most times.

The sad fact is that Guelph has put itself in a very unfortunate situation.

 

[HockeyPops]

Once Bouchard and Formenton came back from the NHL, along with Boqvist and Foudy it became a one team race. And the Knights have plenty of their own picks if needed.

Wish I could have had you talk some sense into Hamilton last year before they loaded up. I would be staring at another banner in the rafters now...

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

Hard to know what to do with this team. As is, I don't think anyone would argue that it is a favourite to win the West. Even if they pay big for an addition, I'm still not sure it's good enough, and it also guts the team going forward....the loss of all the picks combined with players graduating would leave the team in a tough spot. Do nothing, and it's another year of mediocrity with more of the same on the horizon.

Personally, I think I'd prefer they take a shot. I don't care too much for one or two rounds at best of playoffs in a league where 80% of the teams get in. I'd rather they load up to give London - or whatever team - a real run come April. If that's to be done, next year must be about recouping assets. Something I am not sure this organization has shown an ability to do. But it will be necessary.

I'm not sure this is the best option, but it's what I'd like to see.

As for Chayka. I never said he wasn't good, or that he didn't have the potential to be a real difference maker. I just took issue with him being called untouchable. No one is untouchable for the right price, and we as fans know nothing of what's going on inside the front office. No matter what some might try to tell you

As for him being a top-5 pick.........not likely. At all.

 

[TrueBlueStorm]

HockeyPops- you missed my point. When you are at or near the top (like the Storm in 2013-14 or Hamilton last year) I am all in favour of 'going for it'. But no matter what we do this year, I very much doubt we get better than London. Not counting the other 4 teams (Ottawa, Oshawa, Miss, SSM) who are currently ahead of us in winning %.
IMO we just aren't quite good enough this year to make the plunge, not at the future cost of futility.
But hey- I count 17 more games before the trade deadline (Jan 9??) for the Storm to prove me wrong.

 

[storm surge]

Hard to know what to do with this team. As is, I don't think anyone would argue that it is a favourite to win the West. Even if they pay big for an addition, I'm still not sure it's good enough, and it also guts the team going forward....the loss of all the picks combined with players graduating would leave the team in a tough spot. Do nothing, and it's another year of mediocrity with more of the same on the horizon.

Personally, I think I'd prefer they take a shot. I don't care too much for one or two rounds at best of playoffs in a league where 80% of the teams get in. I'd rather they load up to give London - or whatever team - a real run come April. If that's to be done, next year must be about recouping assets. Something I am not sure this organization has shown an ability to do. But it will be necessary.

I'm not sure this is the best option, but it's what I'd like to see.

As for Chayka. I never said he wasn't good, or that he didn't have the potential to be a real difference maker. I just took issue with him being called untouchable. No one is untouchable for the right price, and we as fans know nothing of what's going on inside the front office. No matter what some might try to tell you

As for him being a top-5 pick.........not likely. At all.

IMO HEEZ REALLY good..really .... really good..a REAL D..

 

[storm surge]

HockeyPops- you missed my point. When you are at or near the top (like the Storm in 2013-14 or Hamilton last year) I am all in favour of 'going for it'. But no matter what we do this year, I very much doubt we get better than London. Not counting the other 4 teams (Ottawa, Oshawa, Miss, SSM) who are currently ahead of us in winning %.
IMO we just aren't quite good enough this year to make the plunge, not at the future cost of futility.
But hey- I count 17 more games before the trade deadline (Jan 9??) for the Storm to prove me wrong.

we still have the same stiff necked ownership that did nothing in 13 -14..Even if they could ...they'll mess it up.its becoming a tradition.

 

[storm surge]

It's because London got value for their players before they left. Dickinson, Bertuzzi, Fabbri, etc were never traded for their value when they could have been.

Popovich has been the sole reason we've even been close lately. He's being bashed by this entire fanbase but have you seen the defence being played around him? It's non-existent at most times.

The sad fact is that Guelph has put itself in a very unfortunate situation.

indeed