Kingston Frontenacs 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[FrontalLobe]

I agree, I know lots think we wait, but he is an excellent coach. AHL experience. Demands hard work and detail from his guys.
Was let go from Belleville amid rumours that he divulged some scouting material of Ottawa. Never proven, but where there is smoke there is often fire. Fact remains he developed guys like Nick Paul in the minors and Mark Kastelic, now NHL regulars. Should be a great change

Also players like Batherson, Josh Norris, Erik Braanstrom. This is a good signing.

 

[ktownfan]

All signs point to this being a good move.

 

[FrontalLobe]

I agree, I know lots think we wait, but he is an excellent coach. AHL experience. Demands hard work and detail from his guys.
Was let go from Belleville amid rumours that he divulged some scouting material of Ottawa. Never proven, but where there is smoke there is often fire. Fact remains he developed guys like Nick Paul in the minors and Mark Kastelic, now NHL regulars. Should be a great change

Just off the top of my head, he also helped with development of guys like Drake Batherson, Erik Braanstrom, Josh, Norris, and Parker Kelly. Today is a good day.

Just off the top of my head, he also helped with development of guys like Drake Batherson, Erik Braanstrom, Josh, Norris, and Parker Kelly. Today is a good day.

My apologies. Didn't think my previous post about these players actually posted. A little over excited. Haha.

 

[frontsfan67]

I like a lot of your takes and strong opinions Fronts67 but your take on the Uens kid is so wrong and off. I don't get your obsession with it. He has definitely been one of the most reliable D for the last bit and being used as such. Yes he is -7 on the year but look at the goal differential for this team so far (only Windsor and Eerie are worse) and Burns was just -7 in two games. Holmes -7 and McGowan -7. I love Holmes in the offensive zone but he is more of a liability in our D zone. Flat footed a lot and gets beat to loose pucks. You are the only one that ever says they got 44 to be offensive. He has been playing PK1 minutes all year and utilized primarily in a defensive role. I could be wrong but I don't think he has played any PP minutes this year until the last couple games. Again I'm not sure how close you watch the games. Just bc you are listed on third pairing doesn't mean a thing with this team. He is getting the same or more ice time as all D with the exception of maybe Burns who I would argue hasn't earned a single bit of that. Schneider has been the odd man out as they are mostly running with 5 and the pairings are in a blender after the first rotation. Who was it on here that had access to the "instat" (I think it's called) last year where you can view the actual player's time on ice for each game. I would bet anything that over the last 5-6 games Uens has played top 3 minutes.

And if you are worried about a players plus/minus...

Calliens -15
Soto -12
Miedema -11

Now some positives. That was a big win to salvage 2 points from that road trip against a high profile Owen Sound squad.

Cooper finally pulls the trigger on Caputi. I agree that the most likely scenario will be letting McFarland and Longo run things for the rest of this year for financial reasons. Hopefully they can instill some accountability into these players and an earn your ice time mentality and be rid of all this entitlement crap.

I wouldn’t judge the first 2 or 3 games of the season for burns as he is coming off an injury. It’s quite clear he hasn’t been playing like himself lately I wonder if he is even 100% or if they rushed him back. Also he’s playing against every teams top players every night on d1

Holmes has been on the pk too and hasn’t been great either. Obviously miedema Soto and callens need to work on their defensive game no question there.

Uens was an offensive d man no debate about that. Cannot play defence. He’s gotten better as the year has went on for that but still gets walked on. How many times has he been on when they score short handed goals? Is there a stat for that?


I can’t even see who has scored the most goals in the ohl and all that anymore as a team the new website is trash. How are you figuring out about the teams who have scored the most goals

Mann is our man!

I hope you’re right. It seems like the obvious choice but that’s if Mann wants to go to the ohl he’s been a longtime ahl coach and probably makes more there. Perhaps he would want to prove himself in the ohl that he’s still got it? Hopefully won’t just be a 1 year tenure because if that’s the case they need to find someone else. They’ve had enough of those guys for a year or two then they move on and the team has to find a crappy coach like Caputi.

 

[Logosarejusttargets]

I wouldn’t judge the first 2 or 3 games of the season for burns as he is coming off an injury. It’s quite clear he hasn’t been playing like himself lately I wonder if he is even 100% or if they rushed him back. Also he’s playing against every teams top players every night on d1

Holmes has been on the pk too and hasn’t been great either. Obviously miedema Soto and callens need to work on their defensive game no question there.

Uens was an offensive d man no debate about that. Cannot play defence. He’s gotten better as the year has went on for that but still gets walked on. How many times has he been on when they score short handed goals? Is there a stat for that?


I can’t even see who has scored the most goals in the ohl and all that anymore as a team the new website is trash. How are you figuring out about the teams who have scored the most goals


I hope you’re right. It seems like the obvious choice but that’s if Mann wants to go to the ohl he’s been a longtime ahl coach and probably makes more there. Perhaps he would want to prove himself in the ohl that he’s still got it? Hopefully won’t just be a 1 year tenure because if that’s the case they need to find someone else. They’ve had enough of those guys for a year or two then they move on and the team has to find a crappy coach like Caputi.

Not sure why people keep saying the new ohl site is trash and hard to navigate -- it's all in the STATS area. Kitchener has 51 GF -- you can toggle each of the stat line headings.

 

[FrontalLobe]

I wouldn’t judge the first 2 or 3 games of the season for burns as he is coming off an injury. It’s quite clear he hasn’t been playing like himself lately I wonder if he is even 100% or if they rushed him back. Also he’s playing against every teams top players every night on d1

Holmes has been on the pk too and hasn’t been great either. Obviously miedema Soto and callens need to work on their defensive game no question there.

Uens was an offensive d man no debate about that. Cannot play defence. He’s gotten better as the year has went on for that but still gets walked on. How many times has he been on when they score short handed goals? Is there a stat for that?


I can’t even see who has scored the most goals in the ohl and all that anymore as a team the new website is trash. How are you figuring out about the teams who have scored the most goals


I hope you’re right. It seems like the obvious choice but that’s if Mann wants to go to the ohl he’s been a longtime ahl coach and probably makes more there. Perhaps he would want to prove himself in the ohl that he’s still got it? Hopefully won’t just be a 1 year tenure because if that’s the case they need to find someone else. They’ve had enough of those guys for a year or two then they move on and the team has to find a crappy coach like Caputi.

If you go to the OHL site and just click on the standings it shows you all the team stats as well - like GF, GA, PIMS etc. I think you need to be on a computer or laptop. All the data does not show up if searching the site on your phone. And I agree that the changes to the site are crap.

TBH I don't think 44 has been on the ice for a single shorthanded goal against. Like I said, I don't think he has played on the PP at all until this weekend when we finally had a bit of success. LOL. All the shorthanded goals this year have been against that same unit they ran with from out of the gate, generally fwds messing up at the blueline.

I hear you about Burns but that speaks to the coaching issue until yesterday. He's coming off an injury, struggling, but just keeps getting run out there and it really hurt us the first few games. I'm sure a few more weeks of practices will hep for sure. But that's the entitlement I speak of. Play the players who are going and when someone is having an off night you scale back on their time. Earn your ice.

If Mann is indeed the coach I think you will see more of that philosophy and this team is going to be much improved for it. Fingers crossed.

 

[HockeyPops]

If you go to the OHL site and just click on the standings it shows you all the team stats as well - like GF, GA, PIMS etc. I think you need to be on a computer or laptop. All the data does not show up if searching the site on your phone. And I agree that the changes to the site are crap.

The same data comes up on the website on your phone.

If you use the app, I haven't been able to find some of the stats such as the team stats listed above.

 

[ottsabrefan]

Was never about him wanting out. I’ve never heard he wanted out. Its more of a they need defence they’ll have Chromiak for 2 years and ludwinski is gone after this year.

Not to mention if they get Chromiak and pieniniemi comes to the ohl after WJC you trade pieniniemi or hemstrom to another team And get more picks. With that you have lots of picks to use next year when it is a go for it year.

This year is a retool/building year I think they can finish top 2/3 in conference and hopefully with that go to round 2/3 and get playoff experience. Then next year they’d be more set for playoff hockey and hopefully would result in a championship or championship appearance

Their defence is by far their biggest weakness and trading ludwinski you’d get the most out of the centres for this year (frasca/Hopkins big building blocks very important not going to be traded, so that leaves thibodeau, poole and ludwinski to be traded one of those 3.)

Obviously ludwinski will get the most so you trade him. He’s not head and shoulders better than anyone on this team but he will get the most of those 3.

If they’re ever going to have a competitive team they need competent defence and looking forward for next year they have burns and mcgowan. That’s it. And mcgowan isn’t even that great. He’s taken a leap this year but on some teams he won’t be in their top 6.

So they need a guy like Chromiak who will help the whole d core out this year and next year plus the pics to top it all off that can be used to acquire a high level player.

It would be a trade that would help both teams. Sudbury with their offence and kingston with their defence. And would benefit kingston for 2 full years and they’d get picks too out of it

Next year they have more just McGowan and Burns. They also have Budnick (OA), Uens, Schneider, strong OA pickup and likely Pienineimi. That is a very strong top 7. Plus any other draft picks they want to bring along including Williamson.

I still strongly disagree with the Ludwinski rumours as we literally just used the 10th overall pick in the Euro draft to select an 05 Dman who was drafted in the top 3 rounds of the NHL draft. So, rather than waiting until after the WJC, when most come over, we would trade our number 1 centre within conference to get a player with the same pedigree.

If we want to shore up the D, then use an OA spot to do it now, and then let’s see if Pienineimi comes over after Christmas. To me, a D with Burns, Budnick, strong OA, Pienineimi, Holmes, McGowan, Uens/Schneider is very good.

 

[Logosarejusttargets]

Next year they have more just McGowan and Burns. They also have Budnick (OA), Uens, Schneider, strong OA pickup and likely Pienineimi. That is a very strong top 7. Plus any other draft picks they want to bring along including Williamson.

I still strongly disagree with the Ludwinski rumours as we literally just used the 10th overall pick in the Euro draft to select an 05 Dman who was drafted in the top 3 rounds of the NHL draft. So, rather than waiting until after the WJC, when most come over, we would trade our number 1 centre within conference to get a player with the same pedigree.

If we want to shore up the D, then use an OA spot to do it now, and then let’s see if Pienineimi comes over after Christmas. To me, a D with Burns, Budnick, strong OA, Pienineimi, Holmes, McGowan, Uens/Schneider is very good.

I'm assuming you think that Callans should be the OA to go then? (Savard and Holmes being the other 2). I'd be fine seeing Savard leave too if I'm being honest.

 

[leafs4life94]

Next year they have more just McGowan and Burns. They also have Budnick (OA), Uens, Schneider, strong OA pickup and likely Pienineimi. That is a very strong top 7. Plus any other draft picks they want to bring along including Williamson.

I still strongly disagree with the Ludwinski rumours as we literally just used the 10th overall pick in the Euro draft to select an 05 Dman who was drafted in the top 3 rounds of the NHL draft. So, rather than waiting until after the WJC, when most come over, we would trade our number 1 centre within conference to get a player with the same pedigree.

If we want to shore up the D, then use an OA spot to do it now, and then let’s see if Pienineimi comes over after Christmas. To me, a D with Burns, Budnick, strong OA, Pienineimi, Holmes, McGowan, Uens/Schneider is very good.

I haven't been a fan of Budnick this year so if next year started right now I wouldn't want him as an OA next year, but I'm hoping it's just a slow start and the coaching change will put a jolt into him.

I'm assuming you think that Callans should be the OA to go then? (Savard and Holmes being the other 2). I'd be fine seeing Savard leave too if I'm being honest.

Callens might need to go without a replacement - 1A in 10 games and -15 shouldn't cut it.

 

[ottsabrefan]

I'm assuming you think that Callans should be the OA to go then? (Savard and Holmes being the other 2). I'd be fine seeing Savard leave too if I'm being honest.

I like Callens, but we have too many forwards in front of him to hold an OA spot. And a hole on D. I’ll give Savard some rope as he is still adjusting to a new team.

I haven't been a fan of Budnick this year so if next year started right now I wouldn't want him as an OA next year, but I'm hoping it's just a slow start and the coaching change will put a jolt into him.

Callens might need to go without a replacement - 1A in 10 games and -15 shouldn't cut it.

Yeah, I put Budnick down there as an OA for next year, but you could think of it as a placeholder for an OA Dman (where we improve on him if needed next year). I hope he can get his game back.

 

[frontsfan67]

Not sure why people keep saying the new ohl site is trash and hard to navigate -- it's all in the STATS area. Kitchener has 51 GF -- you can toggle each of the stat line headings.

View attachment 756969

Oh! I was doing standings before last year it showed that. It’s all weird on the phone now I can’t even see half the games now when they’re being played. Thank you.

Just a point of clarity - Thibodeau isn't a centre. He's taken maybe 10-12 Faceoffs all season, and definately isn't playing C in a defensive zone in any capacity.

Oh I didn’t see that they switched him around. Probably so he wouldn’t be playing third/4th line minutes when he’s talented. Makes sense. If ludwinski did get traded though it would make sense for him to go back to that.

 

[frontsfan67]

Next year they have more just McGowan and Burns. They also have Budnick (OA), Uens, Schneider, strong OA pickup and likely Pienineimi. That is a very strong top 7. Plus any other draft picks they want to bring along including Williamson.

I still strongly disagree with the Ludwinski rumours as we literally just used the 10th overall pick in the Euro draft to select an 05 Dman who was drafted in the top 3 rounds of the NHL draft. So, rather than waiting until after the WJC, when most come over, we would trade our number 1 centre within conference to get a player with the same pedigree.

If we want to shore up the D, then use an OA spot to do it now, and then let’s see if Pienineimi comes over after Christmas. To me, a D with Burns, Budnick, strong OA, Pienineimi, Holmes, McGowan, Uens/Schneider is very good.

Whatever happens happens yes but vaccari hasn’t been getting a lot of help even from the “top guys” of the team. definitely need to improve it one way or another. 50 goals against is unacceptable this far into the season.

I'm assuming you think that Callans should be the OA to go then? (Savard and Holmes being the other 2). I'd be fine seeing Savard leave too if I'm being honest.

Callens is definitely the odd man out. Worst plus minus on the team too and not producing many points. I agree savard started great but then he started to take so many dumb penalties which is what happened last year with barrie and why they traded him to us. I have a barrie fan who told me exactly that hes due for about 1-2 dumb penalties per game. He does have good skill though hopefully Troy Mann knows how to use him properly.

 

[ktownfan]

Mann on the ice with the team this afternoon

 

[frontsfan67]

Mann on the ice with the team this afternoon

Excellent. By the way excellent job callong it you and your source. That’s awesome. Very happy it’s him and not some other ohl coach that already got fired this year. If you say he usually has hard working teams that’s exactly what the fronts need. Outwater in particular will benefit from this. He has a lot of skill and is a pretty good 2 way player just he doesn’t have very much intensity.

Mann will love ludwinski if that’s what he is all about. Don’t think he will want to trade him and would rather trade someone else. Any idea how long the contract may be? Hopefully atleast 3 years

 

[ktownfan]

I totally agree, we have some hard working kids. Hopefully he puts them all in roles they can succeed in, and we grow as a team. And win some games

 

[ottsabrefan]

 

[GoFronts]

Mann couldn't have been cheap. Credit where credit is due, kudos to ownership for opening up the cheque book.

 

[ottsabrefan]

Mann couldn't have been cheap. Credit where credit is due, kudos to ownership for opening up the cheque book.

Agreed. I give ownership almost as much flak as Beast, but kudos for getting someone legit. I’m excited to see what he does with this roster both this year and next year.

 

[Logosarejusttargets]

I totally agree, we have some hard working kids. Hopefully he puts them all in roles they can succeed in, and we grow as a team. And win some games

I agree...I think the kids that do the little "hockey things" right will be/should be rewarded and those that are only one dimensional will probably see some pushback on their ice time/privilege.

 

[frontsfan67]

One thing for sure is this guy will know when to call a timeout lol.

I saw a comment on the fronts Instagram page saying that Troy Mann was fired for giving other teams scouting information on his own club? Any clue if that is true? If so it’s a little concerning but I’d be surprised if he would try that again.

Here’s the screenshot. Person deleted it though

 

[Handcuffhockey]

Personally I think the story is bs, he wasn’t fired with cause. Has a great record and is exactly what is needed. Team just went in another direction. Part two would be to probably remove McFarland. The d was under his guidance, he wasn’t a d and I think these guys have been short changed in true development. Let Mann bring in one of his own guys.

A new voice will immediately have an impact, imagine not having someone scream out instructions to you the whole game, players get to think for themselves.

All good, I’m sure the boys will have rockets on their skates on Friday and just to clarify Frontal Lobe is correct, Uens doesn’t play power play, and his penalty kill has been excellent.

 

[GoFronts]

One thing for sure is this guy will know when to call a timeout lol.

I saw a comment on the fronts Instagram page saying that Troy Mann was fired for giving other teams scouting information on his own club? Any clue if that is true? If so it’s a little concerning but I’d be surprised if he would try that again.

Here’s the screenshot. Person deleted it though

That was the rumour going around Twitter at the time of the firing but the Sens paid out the remainder of his deal. Can't imagine they would have done that if those rumours were even 1% true.

 

[frontsfan67]

Personally I think the story is bs, he wasn’t fired with cause. Has a great record and is exactly what is needed. Team just went in another direction. Part two would be to probably remove McFarland. The d was under his guidance, he wasn’t a d and I think these guys have been short changed in true development. Let Mann bring in one of his own guys.

A new voice will immediately have an impact, imagine not having someone scream out instructions to you the whole game, players get to think for themselves.

All good, I’m sure the boys will have rockets on their skates on Friday and just to clarify Frontal Lobe is correct, Uens doesn’t play power play, and his penalty kill has been excellent.

I hope you’re right. Cause if it is true imo this is worse than Caputi. don’t need your own coach doing shit like that would be bad enough a scout doing it let alone the head coach.

Also I heard that McFarland quit. Mann took away the powerplay from him. Don’t know how true it is as there isn’t an announcement but I heard that from someone.

That was the rumour going around Twitter at the time of the firing but the Sens paid out the remainder of his deal. Can't imagine they would have done that if those rumours were even 1% true.

Yeah I agree. Just wanted to ask you guys your opinion on it as I don’t follow AHL hockey.

 

[Truthking]

If he was available before the year started why didn’t they just hire him then?