They will likely get a player drafted in the 1st round plus multiple draft picks for Romani. They may get a 17 year old plus draft picks for Wakely but Mathurin and Jacob and Andrew LeBlanc will likely be traded for draft picks. They will not get the three, players in the 1st round that Petes got because most of the their good veteran players are overages and they usually only go for draft picks.
Kingston Frontenacs 2023-24 Off-Season Thread (Part 3)
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frontsfan67
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Hey you never know. We never thought McCoy would fetch a first rounder but he did.
Just a comparison- in other words the future of north bay will be just fine I’m sure
Section5Petes
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It’s an interesting scenario. He would fit well with our group of 2007 and 2008 born players, however I think the cost would be too high.Hopkins would look very good in maroon and white just saying…
I don't agree at all with Kingston building for 25/26 - it has to be next year or else it's been a massive waste acquiring all the '05s.
Obviously a lot will change by then but excluding 25/26 overagers you would have Frasca, Battaglia, Williamson, Hopkins as the only players with 2+ years experience.
Nothing about the make up of this roster makes me think they have a 2 year window - next year is closer to being the second of a two year window including this past year than it is being the first year of a 2 year window.
It wouldn't exactly surprise me if Hopkins wanted out based on ice time but even though he fits Peterborough's window perfectly, I don't think they have the assets that Kingston would be looking for.
There's a real chance Kingston has 6-7 '05s that end up as overagers between Burns, Miedema (depending on if they get signed), Thibodeau, Soto, Uens, McNamara, Vaccari and McGowan. As far as I'm concerned you can't waste this many players from one birth year.
Obviously a lot will change by then but excluding 25/26 overagers you would have Frasca, Battaglia, Williamson, Hopkins as the only players with 2+ years experience.
Nothing about the make up of this roster makes me think they have a 2 year window - next year is closer to being the second of a two year window including this past year than it is being the first year of a 2 year window.
It wouldn't exactly surprise me if Hopkins wanted out based on ice time but even though he fits Peterborough's window perfectly, I don't think they have the assets that Kingston would be looking for.
There's a real chance Kingston has 6-7 '05s that end up as overagers between Burns, Miedema (depending on if they get signed), Thibodeau, Soto, Uens, McNamara, Vaccari and McGowan. As far as I'm concerned you can't waste this many players from one birth year.
beastintheeast
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The last thing they need to draft is a player that is drafted by the NHL. They are better to choose a player who will be drafted next year and has something to show. Too many of those drafted are willing to stay in Europe and play in men's leagues.
Actually a mean spirited 19 yr old 6’7” Russian RD that could play in the KHL now is exactly what every wannabe OHL contender needs.
frontsfan67
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I agree but a few people stick out on that list.
Burns I don’t think will be back for an OA season. He’s been our best d man the last 2 seasons. I expect an offensive jump and his decision making to become better ie penalties and turnovers. He cleans that up he may even get a look on the world juniors team.
Miedema has to make a big offensive jump this season. If he doesn’t I don’t think he’s gonna get signed. That being said if he doesn’t improve LOTS I can see him back as an OA. And if he doesn’t play with us- some team will put up a decent package for him.
Uens has to improve his decision making more than anyone on the team here. And bulk up. If he does that he has a place on our bottom 4 for defence this year. Not sure about the OA season he may get waived.
McGowan needs to improve offensive ability and skating imo. Can turn into a pretty good two way d man here- pretty good defensively already and a tank for only being 5’11
Thibodeau, Soto, Vaccari and McNamara will all be back in the OHL for their OA seasons. 3/4 are small even though talented and McNamara has good size but not enough skill to go the ahl route yet I don’t think.
I predict the OAs in 2025/2026 will be Thibodeau, Soto and Vaccari. 2 good guys who can fill the net and a goalie who I’m sure will be one of the top of the league by then. If he isn’t I’d go for McGowan and trade miedema as he would fetch a decent package
beastintheeast
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LOL, anyone that size that can play in the KHL will choose that if they are not playing in the NHL AHL.
NHL Draft Prospects Rankings | NHL.com
Top prospects for the NHL Draft as ranked by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.
www.nhl.com
4 Fronts made the North American draft list and the countdown is only 6 weeks away.
It is not in the best interest of top rated Europeans to be drafted out of the OHL. Kingston can use their 2nd import pick to take a swing at one of those players if they feel they cannot get two good imports to play for them immediately.
With their first import pick, Kingston should try to secure the defenseman or centre that will have the biggest impact for their team this coming season.
HockeyPops
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There are ways around this. Rasmus Sandin was selected by the Greyhounds and came to play in his 17 year old season. He was then drafted into the NHL following that season, but played in the AHL at 18.
The reason? From what I can tell, when he came to play for the Greyhounds, he was loaned from his Swedish team. This meant that even though he was playing in the OHL, he was not covered under the CHL/NHL agreement that restricted his ability to play in the AHL.
Loaned players to the CHL occurs often enough, though not often the level of Sandin or Rossi (late birth I think). Sandin is an odd case to me, he probably could have had regular minutes in the top Swedish league. It must have been a combination of limited earnings at 17 and wanting to play in a NA size rink.
The point is Kingston will have as many 2005 born as 2006-08 combined. It is a make or break season, so every effort has to be made to land an import that will have an immediate impact.
frontsfan67
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All I know is they gotta get their first rounder to commit this year, can’t fumble 2 years in a row
beastintheeast
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That's precisely the point. NHL first-round picks have various paths they can take-they could be ready for the NHL, play in the AHL, or opt to play professionally in their home country.
Also, drafting a first-round player does not help the team develop. For example, if you draft a forward who is a first-round pick, he is going to expect the minutes. How do you think players drafted by other teams are going to feel?
The bottom line is simple: An NHL-drafted player has many options, three of which do not include the OHL, especially a team that has not proven that it can develop talent.
frontsfan67
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Beast I didn’t mean draft a first round nhl pick I meant our first round chl import pick- we have to get them to commit.
I don’t care if they’re drafted to the nhl or not, can’t miss on 2 straight high chl import draft picks.
They need to find someone to commit here.
beastintheeast
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The last thing Kingston needs is an import depth player to slot behind their 2007-08 born.
There will be NHL teams that want their European prospect to play a lot of minutes on a playoff bound CHL team before being eligible or ready for the AHL. Kingston can target those available, plus 2005-06 Belarusian and Russian players wanting to play in the OHL. The better teams will have more options than the previous 3-4 years.
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beastintheeast
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NHL teams no longer prioritize CHL: experience; just because they draft someone does not mean that they want them playing here.
Consider Pienemi and Kasper. The ability for layers to play in MEN's league versus here is a lot more poppu;lar.
Also, do you really want to go through the draft and then find out at training camp that Payer X has either decided to go home or is playing in the AHL?
Kingston already threw away their first-round pick in the OH draft. do you want, or can management afford, to throw away their first-round pick in the Euro again?
With Russian players available again there will be more good imports available than last season when Barrie, Kitchener, Sudbury, had NHL 1st round picked 18-19 yr olds show; Erie, London, Oshawa 2nds; Soo 3rd; Guelph 4th.
It would a waste of a roster spot for Kingston to bring over a 4th line forward or 6-7 D for development purposes imo. I think they would be better off with Chromiak.
HockeyPops
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He'd be an OA/Import and for a team that IMO should be going for it I don't think you'd want to use both an OA and Import one player and with how the roster is set-up I think they need to maximize those "premium" slots - but if they can't find another import it shouldn't be completely ruled out.
I also haven't heard how he's doing health-wise - he was KOed cold by Arnsby in the playoffs so hopefully he's healed.
beastintheeast
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I would rather have a player who is going to report and play a 3rd line or mid-D position than have no one. Just because Russian players may be avail it is not a guarantee that they are going to report here.
I don't see this as a year for them to go for it. A few teams have a better returning lineup. Hemstrom will not be coming back if he does not make the NHHL AHL. Then, he will play pro at home.
The issue is Kingston's roster is 100% built around this year with all the '05s they have. Are there teams in better position? Absolutely - Oshawa and Mississauga/Brampton being the two most notable having arguably better teams and better draft cupboards - but just because there's other teams that look better doesn't mean Kingston should just keep kicking the can down the road - I think they should go for it this year, do a mini-rebuild in 25/26 by selling off Frasca/Battaglia (assuming they develop as expected and it doesn't look like they'll be back for an OA year) and then regroup for a run in 26/27 around Hopkins.
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