Hamilton Bulldogs 2022-23 Season Thread

[Rounder8]

They keep messing around with them and the Rock banners. Sometimes they are on one side, sometimes they are hanging from the top rafters, sometimes the top deck. I just wish they'd just make one side of the arena scoreboard is for the Bulldogs (and keep the AHL banner up) and the other side is the Rock and be done with it. If the CEBL ever gets a banner, I dunno, hang it from the middle.

They weren't there at all for the past 2 weeks.

 

[Canadian Game]

It’s very strange how they haven’t been consistent with the banners. I assume that’s the First Ontario Centre’s doing because of other events, and not the Bulldogs. Why it can’t remain consistent is bizarre.

 

[Rounder8]

It's going to be weird seeing Mark Duarte playing against Hamilton tomorrow.

Really looking forward to seeing him. He's having a solid year with 10 goals already.

 

[Rounder8]

It's going to be weird seeing Mark Duarte playing against Hamilton tomorrow.

Really looking forward to seeing him. He's having a solid year with 10 goals already.

Hopefully they give him his ring today.

 

[Canadian Game]

Hopefully they give him his ring today.

I liked how they did it with Andlauer presenting it and the leadership group coming to centre ice

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Bulldogs lookin good of late.

Excited to see this team with Winterton

 

[barriers]

Looks like the 2 year closure of Copps has lead the Honey Badgers to permanently relocate to Brampton. Waiting for the other shoe to drop regarding the OHL's future in town.

 

[three dog night]

Thursday game on Niagara should be a good game Niagara looked a lot better this past weekend.Also read the Honey Badg moving to Brampton do the Bulldogs follow if Mississauga gives permission.

 

[Rounder8]

Congrats to Jorian Donovan on being named the OHL Player of the Week.

 

[Section5Petes]

I know the bulldogs have turned things on as of late, but is there actually a possibility they hold onto Winterton/Morrison/White? Gotta think Winterton and at the very least one of the others would be dealt

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

I know the bulldogs have turned things on as of late, but is there actually a possibility they hold onto Winterton/Morrison/White? Gotta think Winterton and at the very least one of the others would be dealt

Hard to say.

The first year in Hamilton, they dealt Graham, Harper and Marchment but that team was really quite far from being contenders. The year after the bulldogs won their first championship they cleaned house at the deadline but the pandemic year (19-20) they kept Jenik, Nurse and Kaliyev at the deadline, despite being pretty far from being contenders.

The Bulldogs likely won't be in Hamilton for the next two years at the very least and it could be difficult to sell fans on late season tickets to see a scorched the earth rebuild that'll likely be ready to compete when they are in a completely different city.

I imagine some of those players stay and one maybe two get dealt? Though if the Bulldogs are gone for good like the honey badgers, then I fully expect all to be dealt.

 

[Canadian Game]

I don’t see how most of Morrison/Hayes/White/Winterton isn’t traded. I’m sure part of the core will remain to help with player development and make the playoffs, but overall it doesn’t make sense to lose assets for nothing during a rebuild. If it’s like 2019, someone may want to finish their career as a Bulldogs and the team may respect it, as was the case with Matt Strome.

One player who I think is flying under the radar as a possible trade target is Grushnikov. A team would need an open import slot, or send an import back, but he would be a solid addition to any team’s defence. Especially shot blocking. Dallas will likely assign him to the AHL after this season.

 

[Rounder8]

I don’t see how most of Morrison/Hayes/White/Winterton isn’t traded. I’m sure part of the core will remain to help with player development and make the playoffs, but overall it doesn’t make sense to lose assets for nothing during a rebuild. If it’s like 2019, someone may want to finish their career as a Bulldogs and the team may respect it, as was the case with Matt Strome.

One player who I think is flying under the radar as a possible trade target is Grushnikov. A team would need an open import slot, or send an import back, but he would be a solid addition to any team’s defence. Especially shot blocking. Dallas will likely assign him to the AHL after this season.

I would be shocked if Morrison/Hayes and White aren't dealt. If Morrison OR Hayes are dealt they may as well deal everybody because they basically are the team at this point.

I've always though Grushnikov would be dealt as well. I don't think that he is having a very good season, but he would be a nice addition to a contender for sure.

 

[Hammer9001]

Thursday game on Niagara should be a good game Niagara looked a lot better this past weekend.Also read the Honey Badg moving to Brampton do the Bulldogs follow if Mississauga gives permission.

Temporarily, I can see the Bulldogs going there, but permanently, I'm skeptical.

First, as you stated, Mississauga is struggling as is, I doubt they'd be ok with it.

Second, what has changed in Brampton since the Battalion left to suddenly makes that market viable? The team literally 12 minutes away still struggles with attendance.

We still know the NHL ain't going to call Hamilton home, nor are any of the nearby NHL teams going to move their AHL affiliate. The only one I can see is the Marlies, and only because of Tim Lewike being somewhere near the arena group, but I'm skeptical, since they own Ricoh (or whatever it's called now).

You will eventually be getting a new area in Hamilton, with one less team there, so you now you have a better chance of getting a good long term deal.

I want to believe Andlauer when he says he's committed to Hamilton. I really do, but part of me is looking at the state of the store this year, and wondering. I really hope the OHL and him can work something out and temporarily use Mountain arena during the build. That I feel is the best case scenario here.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Temporarily, I can see the Bulldogs going there, but permanently, I'm skeptical.

First, as you stated, Mississauga is struggling as is, I doubt they'd be ok with it.

Second, what has changed in Brampton since the Battalion left to suddenly makes that market viable? The team literally 12 minutes away still struggles with attendance.

We still know the NHL ain't going to call Hamilton home, nor are any of the nearby NHL teams going to move their AHL affiliate. The only one I can see is the Marlies, and only because of Tim Lewike being somewhere near the arena group, but I'm skeptical, since they own Ricoh (or whatever it's called now).

You will eventually be getting a new area in Hamilton, with one less team there, so you now you have a better chance of getting a good long term deal.

I want to believe Andlauer when he says he's committed to Hamilton. I really do, but part of me is looking at the state of the store this year, and wondering. I really hope the OHL and him can work something out and temporarily use Mountain arena during the build. That I feel is the best case scenario here.

I think Marlies would draw really well in Hamilton but personally I could never cheer for the Marlies.

It's Bulldogs or nothing for this fella.

 

[Hammer9001]

I think Marlies would draw really well in Hamilton but personally I could never cheer for the Marlies.

It's Bulldogs or nothing for this fella.

I think I share the same sentiment.

MLSE has treated Hamilton like dirt for a good long time. From them trying to block the Forge from existing and trying to park a farm team at THF, to them almost certainly blocking of Hamilton getting a team when Ottawa got in (say nothing of the other times), to that they own the Argos now and have generally menaced anyone daring to compete with their properties.

Montreal and Andlauer has done more for Hamilton then the Leafs ever have.

 

[Helvigster]

I didn't grow up as a hockey fan - I did go to some of the Bulldogs school day games when they were still in the AHL (and Bruiser actually came to my school at one point, I remember one of my friends being scared the living hell out of by Bruiser, very sweet memories of that LOL), but I was more into monster trucks at the time, and didn't really like "traditional" sports. When the Leafs made the playoffs in 2013, my grandmother went and watched all the games in the first round. I remember specifically coming out of my room and seeing Game 3 being played, and I asked her what was on the TV. She said it was hockey, and for some reason, at this point I was finally interested in watching hockey. I was 9 at the time and Monster Jam moved to FOX Sports starting the next year, a channel we didn't have, so I finally became a hockey fan since that timeslot was freed up. I mention all of this because I feel like I'm probably the youngest person in this thread, and that I grew up as a Leafs fan, so I would be thrilled at the idea of having the Marlies come to Hamilton.

But then I thought about it some more, looked at @Hammer9001's messages here, and I realized that there isn't really a point in that. While I am a Leafs "fan", I don't necessarily pay attention to them anymore ever since the Bulldogs moved to the OHL. I'd always support local sports over major-league sports, even if my local team is in a lower level of play. This is what I was talking about a few pages ago, that if the Bulldogs relocated, I'll start paying attention to the Leafs (and the NHL as a whole) again. The other thing is that I don't like MLSE whatsoever, and I'd rather they not own a team in Hamilton again. Originally I didn't like MLSE just because they've made it so that it's borderline impossible to go to a Leafs game if you're not rich, but now I've grown to dislike them for their nearly-complete monopolization of Toronto sports, shady business practices, the fact that they don't intervene when their teams are doing poorly as long as they're making them money (Leafs), and now with the information Hammer explained, some of which I didn't even know about.

I thought about the arena situation some more, and now I don't think too much of it makes sense. While I do think the Honey Badgers relocating is the fault of the CEBL being too impatient for the arena to become ready again in a few years (also the fact Morreale said something about that Hamilton has no other professional venues in place for that team to stay in, yet Scarborough literally plays on a university campus... okay? That doesn't seem very "professional" to me, but whatever!), who's to say that Andlauer is going to also keep his patience, given how the city has treated him over the past several years? Why exactly is the capacity staying at around 17,000 when none of the tenants even crack more than 10,000 on average? Like Hammer said, there is absolutely no way an NHL team is coming to the city, so who is HUPEG expecting to fill up the seats on a consistent basis?

I feel like the only reason why the capacity is remaining the same is because they see that FirstOntario Centre is a decent alternative to Toronto for concerts, and they want to preserve that. But there once was 3 local teams playing in the arena, and only the Rock got "fair" attendance numbers, so wouldn't it make more sense to cater the seating capacity to them? I am absolutely confused as to who is going to be in the arena that will draw near-capacity crowds on a consistent basis. The Rock had an average attendance of 9,700, which is about the size of the lower bowl. Concerts are nice, but they aren't consistent. The priority here should be the teams, but that doesn't seem to be what's happening here, especially since they only found out recently that they can't play in the arena during renovations, when they were originally led to believe otherwise.

Anyway, I'm sorry for being pessimistic here. I just don't understand how this whole renovation plan is going to work out that benefits everybody, but maybe I'm confused because I'm young and I don't understand how things like this work.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Logan Morrison keeps getting it done.

Another fantastic season for him.

 

[Rounder8]

Logan Morrison keeps getting it done.

Another fantastic season for him.

He's just such a good player at both ends of the ice.

Another absolutely stupid and dirty penalty from Noah Roberts.

 

[Rounder8]

Roberts suspended 3 games.

 

[Rounder8]

lol @ Laura Barney (who I would guess has never been hit in the face by a stick) criticizing Logan Morrison for going down when he was clipped.

Also, congrats to Logan Morrison on becoming the all time assist leader for the Bulldogs. Bulldogs website said that he tied the record, but he had 2 assists tonight, which should put him on top.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Solid win for the dogs.

If they keep playing this way, I can't see them selling at the deadline.

 

[Rounder8]

Solid win for the dogs.

If they keep playing this way, I can't see them selling at the deadline.

They still can't beat the top teams.

I expect them to sell. They're still pretty much a one line team. That line is great though.

Patrick Thomas has taken a big step this year imo. He reminds me a lot of Morrison, except he doesn't have Morrisons goal scoring ability. His vision and all around game are great though.

 

[Hammer9001]

I didn't grow up as a hockey fan - I did go to some of the Bulldogs school day games when they were still in the AHL (and Bruiser actually came to my school at one point, I remember one of my friends being scared the living hell out of by Bruiser, very sweet memories of that LOL), but I was more into monster trucks at the time, and didn't really like "traditional" sports. When the Leafs made the playoffs in 2013, my grandmother went and watched all the games in the first round. I remember specifically coming out of my room and seeing Game 3 being played, and I asked her what was on the TV. She said it was hockey, and for some reason, at this point I was finally interested in watching hockey. I was 9 at the time and Monster Jam moved to FOX Sports starting the next year, a channel we didn't have, so I finally became a hockey fan since that timeslot was freed up. I mention all of this because I feel like I'm probably the youngest person in this thread, and that I grew up as a Leafs fan, so I would be thrilled at the idea of having the Marlies come to Hamilton.

But then I thought about it some more, looked at @Hammer9001's messages here, and I realized that there isn't really a point in that. While I am a Leafs "fan", I don't necessarily pay attention to them anymore ever since the Bulldogs moved to the OHL. I'd always support local sports over major-league sports, even if my local team is in a lower level of play. This is what I was talking about a few pages ago, that if the Bulldogs relocated, I'll start paying attention to the Leafs (and the NHL as a whole) again. The other thing is that I don't like MLSE whatsoever, and I'd rather they not own a team in Hamilton again. Originally I didn't like MLSE just because they've made it so that it's borderline impossible to go to a Leafs game if you're not rich, but now I've grown to dislike them for their nearly-complete monopolization of Toronto sports, shady business practices, the fact that they don't intervene when their teams are doing poorly as long as they're making them money (Leafs), and now with the information Hammer explained, some of which I didn't even know about.

I thought about the arena situation some more, and now I don't think too much of it makes sense. While I do think the Honey Badgers relocating is the fault of the CEBL being too impatient for the arena to become ready again in a few years (also the fact Morreale said something about that Hamilton has no other professional venues in place for that team to stay in, yet Scarborough literally plays on a university campus... okay? That doesn't seem very "professional" to me, but whatever!), who's to say that Andlauer is going to also keep his patience, given how the city has treated him over the past several years? Why exactly is the capacity staying at around 17,000 when none of the tenants even crack more than 10,000 on average? Like Hammer said, there is absolutely no way an NHL team is coming to the city, so who is HUPEG expecting to fill up the seats on a consistent basis?

I feel like the only reason why the capacity is remaining the same is because they see that FirstOntario Centre is a decent alternative to Toronto for concerts, and they want to preserve that. But there once was 3 local teams playing in the arena, and only the Rock got "fair" attendance numbers, so wouldn't it make more sense to cater the seating capacity to them? I am absolutely confused as to who is going to be in the arena that will draw near-capacity crowds on a consistent basis. The Rock had an average attendance of 9,700, which is about the size of the lower bowl. Concerts are nice, but they aren't consistent. The priority here should be the teams, but that doesn't seem to be what's happening here, especially since they only found out recently that they can't play in the arena during renovations, when they were originally led to believe otherwise.

Anyway, I'm sorry for being pessimistic here. I just don't understand how this whole renovation plan is going to work out that benefits everybody, but maybe I'm confused because I'm young and I don't understand how things like this work.

As far as FirstOntario, for the most part, I agree. No one needs anything more then a 10,000 seat venue in Hamilton. The only reason the city bizarrely maintains that 17,000 number is for the occasional big event. That's it. I guess some think that eventually downtown Hamilton will get density that will one day can't be ignored, but frankly, if downtown Hamilton does get to that point, a new venue would likely be needed by that time anyways. It's a depressing small-town syndrome which I had hoped after the Coyotes debacle we had gotten over. Pretending we're the big city, when we should be acting like just a large one.

Say nothing as to how bad the city utilizes the investment. What surrounds it? A parking lot, an unused highschool that's effectively dead land, a church, a halfway house, the farmers market that is closed come game time and Jackson Square which is again, closed or closing before and after the game. Nothing is ever done to move, redevelop or improve hours for these things.

I really wish the city had just gone with Andlauer's Limeridge redevelopment. It has free parking, easy highway access, a major bus terminal, and the one spot on the mountain you could spark more high density development. Instead, I will wager this ends up another Mercanti's debacle. Little changes, but they hold a greater monopoly on events held in the city.

 

[Hammer9001]

They still can't beat the top teams.

I expect them to sell. They're still pretty much a one line team. That line is great though.

Patrick Thomas has taken a big step this year imo. He reminds me a lot of Morrison, except he doesn't have Morrisons goal scoring ability. His vision and all around game are great though.

Yeah, I have to agree here. We're sitting in 6th place currently with 3/5 of our top goal scorers being our overagers and a mere 8 players with a positive +/- and 14 in the negative.

This is not a team that that can make a splash in the playoffs yet, and it is a team that has very little in the draft cupboard currently. Rounder8 here is completely right, this is a team with one of the best offensive top lines in the league, anchored by two of the OHL's top goal scorer's and assist makers.

I would be shocked if the team doesn't sell, because frankly I do feel that Morrison and Hayes are both King makers at this point. They both fill the same niche that Entwistle did when he went to Guelph. They both have championship experience, are mature and are able to put up points.