Guelph Storm 2018-19 Season Thread
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In all the discussion on trade/no trade/ go all in/stand pat/we need a goalie/defence/forward one issue I have not seen discussed is the coaching. I agree with Northernstormfan's assessment of our propensity for poor or over passing- I ask how much of this is coaching?
SSM was a joy to watch last night- passes tape to tape, hitting the player in stride 2 lines up ice- break out plays, picking off errant Storm passes at the blue line.
I saw SSM and London use systems- Guelph is too much individual effort. We usually get away with it because of the talent of our players, but imagine if they had learned more of a team game?
With the trade deadline approaching, maybe it's time GB stuck to being GM and bring in a new younger coach who's up on the latest coaching techniques and connecting with the players.
But that would increase the payroll- so doubt it happens.
SSM was a joy to watch last night- passes tape to tape, hitting the player in stride 2 lines up ice- break out plays, picking off errant Storm passes at the blue line.
I saw SSM and London use systems- Guelph is too much individual effort. We usually get away with it because of the talent of our players, but imagine if they had learned more of a team game?
With the trade deadline approaching, maybe it's time GB stuck to being GM and bring in a new younger coach who's up on the latest coaching techniques and connecting with the players.
But that would increase the payroll- so doubt it happens.
It's 80% on the coaches, they tell the players what type of game they want played, they say who they want out on the ice and they have lost control or never had control of the players. I've said right from the get go that one person cannot and should not be both coach and GM. They are to important and too stressful for one person to handle. As the GM you pick the players then as a coach you have make them work. But when a player doesn't who gets the blame. Then the crap starts falling because your then pushing and prodding the player to be or do something they can't just so the GM doesn't look bad. The Storm management needs to stop hiring their buddies to be behind the bench. In fact I think the Storm needs a whole new management/ ownership group before we see a team or years of teams that can compete on a steady top 4 team level.
Many well articulated points here.
I want to make it clear that I've not ripped on Poppy. Popovich > Nichols. My stance has been looking at who we will lose after this year: Samorukov (most sound D), Ratcliffe and Shnarr (that's a lot of scoring). That, to me, means buy - regardless of if that makes them the sure-fire favourites.
As defence is the sorest spot, obviously shoring up D makes the most sense. You have to include goalies when discussing defence. Building the team from the back end. If the price for DiPietro is too high, a D/F trade is a must. Worst case would be getting only a goal scorer and hoping that you can just score more to win games 7-6.
I also agree that GM/Coach should not be a dual role at this level. I will wait until after the trade deadline and seeing how the team gels though to pass final judgment. I'm not convinced that another coach could magically cure some of these ego/teenage issues.
I want to make it clear that I've not ripped on Poppy. Popovich > Nichols. My stance has been looking at who we will lose after this year: Samorukov (most sound D), Ratcliffe and Shnarr (that's a lot of scoring). That, to me, means buy - regardless of if that makes them the sure-fire favourites.
As defence is the sorest spot, obviously shoring up D makes the most sense. You have to include goalies when discussing defence. Building the team from the back end. If the price for DiPietro is too high, a D/F trade is a must. Worst case would be getting only a goal scorer and hoping that you can just score more to win games 7-6.
I also agree that GM/Coach should not be a dual role at this level. I will wait until after the trade deadline and seeing how the team gels though to pass final judgment. I'm not convinced that another coach could magically cure some of these ego/teenage issues.
There is much debate on what the Storm should be doing and admittedly I think they will be buyers. I just think that it is the wrong decision. The team is 3 and 6 in the month of November and is regularly outplayed by the opposition. They stole a game last night otherwise would be 2 - 7. There is simply too much that needs improvement for them to be considered contenders. I would also say that as this season progresses George Burnett's job has to come into question. The team is being outplayed and outworked regularly and some roster decisions need to questioned....see Mason Primeau.
Saginaw just fired Troy Smith and their win/loss record is the same as the Guelph Storm. I would say the expectations were greater for the Storm entering this season as well.
Saginaw just fired Troy Smith and their win/loss record is the same as the Guelph Storm. I would say the expectations were greater for the Storm entering this season as well.
Based on your est. of whats going to leave..I see at least another cycle of ohl career years before this "team" is competitive.'.. this cycle beginning with the Merk draft is done IMO.... Just an addendum to my belief..reinforced after todays Barrie hallucination;...(nightmare?).. that Merk reminds me me in a wee way of Gretzky... a bita magician ..unpredictable...a potential big points man ...but he AIN'T no defenseman....but that decision to move him up is not likely; under this block head admin..I just hope his pro future hasn't been ruined by what I consider equally bad mgmt...and coaching....Ruined..in other words.... Should be interesting tomorrow watching N. Bay come to town..if ;.. as I suspect...Primeau has a good game.. and they lose..(or barely win..)...It; in my opinion reveals a malady of leadership that has made a LOT of dumb moves or an unwillingness to do whats obviously needed..AND;.. if we trade high end to get whatever this year ... WHO?.. and to what end ?.... a three year rebuild is my only guess..you don't get SOMETHING.. for nothing.. and whats left in picks ?..or quality../..thats just moving the deck chairs round on the Titanic.
With the amount of talent on your roster you should be making a run. What your team needs more then anything else is a new coach. Burnett can stay on as GM but the game passed him by behind the bench long ago.
haymaker22
Registered User
- Aug 29, 2018
- 313
- 42
Hey guys Colts fan hear, and after watching the game last night what in the world is up with Merkley's attitude?
Absolutely pathetic in last nights game, he did not care out there in the final 10 minutes of the game and was laughing the whole time.
Absolutely pathetic in last nights game, he did not care out there in the final 10 minutes of the game and was laughing the whole time.
haymaker22
Registered User
- Aug 29, 2018
- 313
- 42
The whole building could not believe what he was doing yesterday, absolutely insane, got the puck and just shot it up the ice many times.
Merkley skipped out on the stick salute to the fans of Friday night during home game as well
I've been reading posts from Barrie and North Bay and all I can say is that no matter how good Merkley is or could be he's become the embarrassment of the Storm and the OHL. After his "performances" in all the games this weekend I think it's time for a serious sit down with him. He's becoming more unstable as the year goes on. Maybe being in the OHL is just too much for him to handle, too much pressure for him.
RoyalCitySlicker
Registered User
- Sep 6, 2013
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If the team wants to compete, they need a bump on all fronts.
They need help up front. Quick, skilled and defensively reliable would be best. Easy to say, expensive to acquire.
They need defensive and structural help on the back end. Someone to insulate the mind-wanderings of Merkely and others. Lead them and clean them up!
And, you'll probably all tell me I'm wrong, but the team needs help in goal too. Whether its to supplant Popovich, or to at least provide good relief for him to get a break more often, they need more. I still haven't seen enough to trust him 100%, and it's been 100+ games now of sample size, including his most recent hot streak.
Time will tell. The team has gotten better results than I thought they would, but IMO their play has been worse than their record would indicate.
I mean their goal differential is +6. London is +40. And that was with a short-staffed Knights team for half the year.
I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but without additions, I don't think this team even makes the West Final.
They need help up front. Quick, skilled and defensively reliable would be best. Easy to say, expensive to acquire.
They need defensive and structural help on the back end. Someone to insulate the mind-wanderings of Merkely and others. Lead them and clean them up!
And, you'll probably all tell me I'm wrong, but the team needs help in goal too. Whether its to supplant Popovich, or to at least provide good relief for him to get a break more often, they need more. I still haven't seen enough to trust him 100%, and it's been 100+ games now of sample size, including his most recent hot streak.
Time will tell. The team has gotten better results than I thought they would, but IMO their play has been worse than their record would indicate.
I mean their goal differential is +6. London is +40. And that was with a short-staffed Knights team for half the year.
I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but without additions, I don't think this team even makes the West Final.
mismanaged...mis -positioned..heez a forward ...like a mini gretzke... ... He has an ego the size of a zamboni..needs firm direction..HE is only ONE member of team.... harness him..move him to forward .. he could in time be a great fwd....points wise.... and not an overall team liability.......or move him out.
Generalsupdates
@GeneralsUpdates on Twitter
- Sep 4, 2017
- 7,674
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He was a 1st round pick to the NHL. There's no way San Jose is letting you move him to a forward if they used a 1st round pick on him as a D-man lol
then move him to AHL or put him in charge of the Gatorade.or lend lease him to Siberian team..
Disappointing to hear that the Merkley-Primeau drama was in fact real and apparently words were had in NB.
It's hard to root for a guy like Merkley some days.. Circle Jan 6 on your calendar folks. It could be quite the game.
Don Cherry may be a crazy old man but I've always taken one thing he says to heart, "Don't give them a reason". Merkley has unfortunately given them a reason to come in angry and ready.
It's hard to root for a guy like Merkley some days.. Circle Jan 6 on your calendar folks. It could be quite the game.
Don Cherry may be a crazy old man but I've always taken one thing he says to heart, "Don't give them a reason". Merkley has unfortunately given them a reason to come in angry and ready.
goes WAYYYYY deeper than Merkley I think Fudge;though heez a major issue... I believe it goes back as far as pre season.. where some players asked for a trade.. but it was temp waxed over.... Primeau is too good a future to just dump..for 2 seconds..remember the agent scenario pre season;... and expect more fall out to come...the cement heads in ubber mgmt . are dedicated in their ways... .. .. we'll see eh?..
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