Kingston Frontenacs 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 2)

[Logosarejusttargets]

Based on the scorer's sheet looks like Salajko getting the start tonight - smart decision and I hope they continue to rotate him more frequently against some of the weaker teams on the schedule.

Interestingly - McGowan not listed at all, they've got Williamson as the 6th D and Cavallin as the reserve.


His numbers are inflated though with the 5 point game against Peterborough - take that away and it's 6 in 20 which isn't nearly as impressive for where his NHL draft stock was at the start of the year. If he was a consistent 0.5 PPG I'd be ecstatic with that from a 3rd pair D, but his statline is a little deceiving with that first game after being cut from the WJC.

It could've just been inaccurate expectations but I was also hoping for a little more dynamicism from him.

I do agree though - it's a little odd that he doesn't get much PP time. I get having Schmidt/Holmes because they both have cannons, but it's tough to argue with their PP success considering it's 5th in the league, and first in the Eastern conference by over 3%.

McGowan is sick

 

[ScoutLife4]

Tired of the ”My Dad can beat up your Dad“ conversation now.

Only thing left now is to prove it! Best of luck guys! I will be back in March with the “I told you so!” Mostly because that’s the kinda guy I am….

you guys are great BTW. Good convo. Productive and considerate/polite.

Oh, and so you know, I will be sacrificing a chicken before tomorrow’s first game for the 67’s post-deadline. Voodoo is helpful.

Do any of you remember back in the Belleville Bulls day when they used to hang "the Hex" over the away goalie lmao. -Sacrificing the chicken made me think of this for some reason.

 

[frontsfan67]

Based on the scorer's sheet looks like Salajko getting the start tonight - smart decision and I hope they continue to rotate him more frequently against some of the weaker teams on the schedule.

Interestingly - McGowan not listed at all, they've got Williamson as the 6th D and Cavallin as the reserve.


His numbers are inflated though with the 5 point game against Peterborough - take that away and it's 6 in 20 which isn't nearly as impressive for where his NHL draft stock was at the start of the year. If he was a consistent 0.5 PPG I'd be ecstatic with that from a 3rd pair D, but his statline is a little deceiving with that first game after being cut from the WJC.

It could've just been inaccurate expectations but I was also hoping for a little more dynamicism from him.

I do agree though - it's a little odd that he doesn't get much PP time. I get having Schmidt/Holmes because they both have cannons, but it's tough to argue with their PP success considering it's 5th in the league, and first in the Eastern conference by over 3%.

What I’m saying about the points is don’t go off that. He’s been playing 3rd pair. He gets like a third of the minutes compared to the top line. His numbers won’t be good then.

Also about the powerplay which is obviously when lots of goals happen he hasn’t been playing so a good chunk of his points are all even strength as a third pairing d man minus the one game.

I’d say he’s doing pretty good but I’d like them to switch him and uens. Put uens on the 3rd line put Chromiak on the second. Uens has shown absolutely 0 potential and Chromiak has shown lots. Chromiak should be a big part of the team for next year where as uens might be the same role he is now.

If Chromiak works on his defence in the off-season he will be amazing. That’s the biggest thing holding him back- imo either uens or Chromiak has the worst defence of all the d.

 

[frontsfan67]

Salajko struggling here early.

Fronts dominating shots 18-7, faceoffs 15/7
and 2/2 on powerplay

score is 3-2 for Pete’s after 1 lmao. If salajko lets in anymore weak ones he has to get pulled.

Fronts are dominating here if they don’t come away with a win this will be VERY disappointing

 

[ottsabrefan]

Salajko struggling here early.

Fronts dominating shots 18-7, faceoffs 15/7
and 2/2 on powerplay

score is 3-2 for Pete’s after 1 lmao. If salajko lets in anymore weak ones he has to get pulled.

Fronts are dominating here if they don’t come away with a win this will be VERY disappointing

I think Salajko gets one more goal against simply because of who they are playing. But, yeah, down 3-2 outshooting the other team 18-7 hurts.

Is there a contingency plan if Salajko is unable to perform down the stretch? Downey?

 

[frontsfan67]

I think Salajko gets one more goal against simply because of who they are playing. But, yeah, down 3-2 outshooting the other team 18-7 hurts.

Is there a contingency plan if Salajko is unable to perform down the stretch? Downey?

I’m not sure if there is but there should be. I think what they’re banking on is since he’s so young that he should gain more confidence here the second half and hopefully leads to him getting better. He won’t see a minute in the playoffs though

Similar to when miedema “injured” a goalie (i forget what one) and got a 5 minute penalty and then the goalie came back like 2 plays later, the same thing happened here tonight in Peterborough with uens being the bad guy on that.

Luckily in the 2 minutes stuzka was out battaglia managed to score a short handed goal for his first ohl hat trick!

As I’m writing this they scored another short handed goal. 5-3 fronts

 

[beastintheeast]

Salajko is different than the goalie if you have a close game. His job is to spot games that the offence should e able to win.

 

[leafs4life94]

The save he made on Page on the 2-1 5 minutes into the third was key for his confidence, and he looked much more comfortable overall this period.

Ludwinski/Battaglia continue to just keep rolling - I don't think I've ever seen that long of a 2 on 0, they were alone from their own blue line...

Unfortunate play with Uens and definitely deserved a penalty but I'm not sure it was a major. There was a little bit of head contact but I think what bumped it up was the fact Sztuska stayed down, and with how he looked I thought for sure he wouldn't be back, let alone in the next couple whistles...

I just looked - OHL website has the Uens call as charging??? Goalie interference I get but definitely not charging...

I do feel bad for Rye - according to the announcers it's his first appearance in front of the hometown crowd and the only shot he faces is an 80ft 2 on 0.

 

[frontsfan67]

Salajko is different than the goalie if you have a close game. His job is to spot games that the offence should e able to win.

Absolutely but the first period was very rocky for him regardless.

Second period looked calm, cool and collected.

I’ve noticed with him I don’t know if it’s because he’s a rookie goalie and maybe gets the jitters but I always notice when he plays he has a bad first period and seems to get more comfortable looking as the game goes on.

 

[frontsfan67]

The save he made on Page on the 2-1 5 minutes into the third was key for his confidence, and he looked much more comfortable overall this period.

Ludwinski/Battaglia continue to just keep rolling - I don't think I've ever seen that long of a 2 on 0, they were alone from their own blue line...

Unfortunate play with Uens and definitely deserved a penalty but I'm not sure it was a major. There was a little bit of head contact but I think what bumped it up was the fact Sztuska stayed down, and with how he looked I thought for sure he wouldn't be back, let alone in the next couple whistles...

I just looked - OHL website has the Uens call as charging??? Goalie interference I get but definitely not charging...

I do feel bad for Rye - according to the announcers it's his first appearance in front of the hometown crowd and the only shot he faces is an 80ft 2 on 0.

I agree should’ve been a 2 min goalie interference. If sztuska didn’t lay down and have a nap I’m sure it wouldn’t have been a major. Really sold the call.

Yes I don’t agree with the “charging” to me it looked like a puck was passed for him and he was going too fast missed the puck then crashed into sztuska. Had he scored would it be charging or goalie interference? Maybe not

Yes he seems in a similar spot that salajko is in oddly enough. Hasn’t seen much rubber

 

[ottsabrefan]

It really feels like hall the team is going through the motions. I know the shots look great but they are losing battles all over the ice. Miedema looks awful with all these weak reaches for the puck. His line has been terrible all game.

 

[ottsabrefan]

Interesting that the Miedema-Frasca-Thibodeau line didn’t see the ice after the 5th Petes goal. Just went lines 1-2-4 the rest of the way. Exactly what I would have done.

That top line is so dominant. Carried the team to victory tonight.

 

[leafs4life94]

I thought Hopkins had a really great start to the game. Didn't notice him as much towards the end but other than Battaglia/Ludwinski no one really stood at all game.

Dubois (18/27) and Ludwinski (18/22) both dominated the draws - although I didn't think Dubois had a massive impact outside the dot.

The PP continues to roll - they're able to set up the big shots relatively easily and the two OAs have absolute cannons from the point.

 

[seanwae]

Interesting that the Miedema-Frasca-Thibodeau line didn’t see the ice after the 5th Petes goal. Just went lines 1-2-4 the rest of the way. Exactly what I would have done.

That top line is so dominant. Carried the team to victory tonight.

That's true but at the start of the 3rd they changed the lines to:

Miedema - Hopkins - Thibodeau
Hemstrom - Dubois - Frasca
McNamara-Poole-Heyes

Probably why you didn't notice Hopkins at the end.

 

[ottsabrefan]

That's true but at the start of the 3rd they changed the lines to:

Miedema - Hopkins - Thibodeau
Hemstrom - Dubois - Frasca
McNamara-Poole-Heyes

Probably why you didn't notice Hopkins at the end.

Makes sense. Thanks. I watched the game on my cell so it was hard to see everything going on. I even had to wait for the call to know a goal happened.

I can see them going with those lines in the playoffs and sitting the Hopkins line with a lead in the third as Miedema and Thibodeau tend to play way too soft.

 

[NorthernVoice]

Based on his three games in a Frontenacs jersey against Peterborough, I'm pretty sure Roman Schmidt is the best dman in OHL history lol. He's been an absolute monster against the Petes. What a huge pick up for you guys.

 

[ScoutLife4]

Salajko did not have a good night.
It’s easy to see why there is not a lot of faith in him and vaccari carries a heavy workload.
Everytime the puck would get close to the net for the Pete’s it was a potential goal tonight.
His positioning and laterial movement is really on the weak side. I’m not a goalie guy but he does not look close to the level of being an Ohl goalie.
I spoke to Troy before the game and he said they wanted to have Vaccari fresh for Oshawa tomorrow.

Uens GMP was a bit of gong show. That was a 2 min goalie interference penalty at most.
There won’t be a sussy once that is reviewed. Cal was in the press box basically right beside me and distraught that he got a match penalty for that.
They are challenging him to get more involved in the offence and I’ve noticed the last 2-3 games he’s really been pinching more and going to the net.

Hopkins looked pretty good tonight he was winning puck battles this was one of his stronger games.

Jacob Battaglia - I think it’s astrocous he was not invited to the Top prospects game. I found out tonight he is the first substitute player if someone is injured prior so he can still potentially get a spot. (Hat trick and 4 pts tonight)

All in all the Fronts were lucky to pull out this win tonight.

 

[beastintheeast]

Absolutely but the first period was very rocky for him regardless.

Second period looked calm, cool and collected.

I’ve noticed with him I don’t know if it’s because he’s a rookie goalie and maybe gets the jitters but I always notice when he plays he has a bad first period and seems to get more comfortable looking as the game goes on.

That's called a lack of ice time. The challenge is that he has to start getting games. You have to remember that he is going in nets thinking that as soon as he screws up he will be pulled.

Interesting that the Miedema-Frasca-Thibodeau line didn’t see the ice after the 5th Petes goal. Just went lines 1-2-4 the rest of the way. Exactly what I would have done.

That top line is so dominant. Carried the team to victory tonight.

The first lines are supposed to be dominant. They are usually your top and oldest players.

 

[frontsfan67]

That's called a lack of ice time. The challenge is that he has to start getting games. You have to remember that he is going in nets thinking that as soon as he screws up he will be pulled.

The first lines are supposed to be dominant. They are usually your top and oldest players.

I don’t know if he’s been pulled this year. Maybe once but Mann usually keeps him in for the minutes regardless how bad he is playing.

Again- he is young and I’m hoping his game grows a lot here in the second half. If it doesn’t I don’t think he will be on the team next year. They might go and draft an import goalie to split the games with vaccari




Beast you’re right they’re supposed to be- but the chemistry has gotten better and better as the season has went on.

Battaglia also is a monster this year. Really underrated player in the league- he has made HUGE strides from last year. I see him scoring 40 or 50 next year

 

[frontsfan67]

Jacob Battaglia - I think it’s astrocous he was not invited to the Top prospects game. I found out tonight he is the first substitute player if someone is injured prior so he can still potentially get a spot. (Hat trick and 4 pts tonight)

Thanks for the heads up! That’s great news to hear. Yes he was absolutely snubbed from that- I actually expected him to be in over frasca just because frasca was hurt and just barely came back when the list was posted

 

[Newbie Observer]

I agree should’ve been a 2 min goalie interference. If sztuska didn’t lay down and have a nap I’m sure it wouldn’t have been a major. Really sold the call.

Yes I don’t agree with the “charging” to me it looked like a puck was passed for him and he was going too fast missed the puck then crashed into sztuska. Had he scored would it be charging or goalie interference? Maybe not

Yes he seems in a similar spot that salajko is in oddly enough. Hasn’t seen much rubber

If you watch the replay, there was no push by the def; he put his shoulder into the goalie's head.

 

[Logosarejusttargets]

I don’t know if he’s been pulled this year. Maybe once but Mann usually keeps him in for the minutes regardless how bad he is playing.

Again- he is young and I’m hoping his game grows a lot here in the second half. If it doesn’t I don’t think he will be on the team next year. They might go and draft an import goalie to split the games with vaccari




Beast you’re right they’re supposed to be- but the chemistry has gotten better and better as the season has went on.

Battaglia also is a monster this year. Really underrated player in the league- he has made HUGE strides from last year. I see him scoring 40 or 50 next year

Salajko has yet to be pulled this year. He has gone in for Vaccari 2x and has started 3 games - including that debacle in London in Caputi's 2nd or 3rd last game. The last game he started - in Ottawa he was shaky giving up a couple goals on first few shots then he settled down. I don't think we can expect much more than that based on the lack of games he does play in.

 

[ktownfan]

good to get the win. I went to the game last night and sat 3 rows up. I hear alot about Uens, but I don't know if it was because I was almost at ice level, but man he looks so scared out the. Nervous with the puck and timid of the body. Battaglia looked great and Ludwinski too. Thibideau had at least wo assists on Petes goals. 1 in the first in Petes end that ended up in our net 5 seconds later, and a perfect pass to petes D from our corner in the third which they went d to d and cameron buried. That was his last shift. Guy is a turnover machine . I didn't thikn Frasca did much either. Good job by heyes and poole, they are 100% all the time and a nice shorty for poole too. 2 points for us and on to tonight

 

[ScoutLife4]

good to get the win. I went to the game last night and sat 3 rows up. I hear alot about Uens, but I don't know if it was because I was almost at ice level, but man he looks so scared out the. Nervous with the puck and timid of the body. Battaglia looked great and Ludwinski too. Thibideau had at least wo assists on Petes goals. 1 in the first in Petes end that ended up in our net 5 seconds later, and a perfect pass to petes D from our corner in the third which they went d to d and cameron buried. That was his last shift. Guy is a turnover machine . I didn't thikn Frasca did much either. Good job by heyes and poole, they are 100% all the time and a nice shorty for poole too. 2 points for us and on to tonight

I eluded to Thibideau's issues yesterday before the game, He's trying to do to much holds the puck to long and misses his lane to pass and then under pressure turns the puck over or gets bumped off because he's too small. -I think its become well known around the league to wait until he gets the puck then pressure him and its free possession.

 

[leafs4life94]

I eluded to Thibideau's issues yesterday before the game, He's trying to do to much holds the puck to long and misses his lane to pass and then under pressure turns the puck over or gets bumped off because he's too small. -I think its become well known around the league to wait until he gets the puck then pressure him and its free possession.

I'm not sure how true it is - someone else may be able to speak more to it - but I've seen previous comments that his dad (ex-minor pro) is in his head quite a bit and may be feeding him advice that goes against the coaches, although that may have been more when Caputi was around.