beastintheeast
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Kingston Frontenacs 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)
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frontsfan67
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I think salajko will get his first start against Ottawa this week. I don’t see it happening against Sudbury a much better team and very good forwards. Don’t want to break the kids spirit right from the go. Ottawa games are always close I definitely see him starting that.
To be fair burns (and frasca) is still out as far as i know and they have had a tough schedule so far. Most teams have all their players back. Pretty sure Sudbury is just waiting on musty and that is the last guy
Didn’t you just say that the first few months are for developing and seeing what works. Why would the 2nd week tell us much about how they’re going to do this year?
At this level, whether or not you are close to home would be less important than the coach, development and the organizations treatment of players. If you are lucky enough to play close to home like Meidama and get coaching and develop that is a bonus. Not many kids are from the Soo, but not so long ago, kids were happy to go there because they won, and developed. Not sure how the kids are treated, i assume well, but develpopment and coaching here.... I'm not so sure
Two against Oshawa and one against Peterborough is not a tough schedule so far....
Not sure if the fronts knew what time the game started, 9 shots through 2 in unacceptable. Careless penalties by Budnick and 2 too many men penalties is awful, the only positive thing to say is that the PK continued to look really good
Unfortunately looks like Poole is hurt again, I saw him in a suit in the concourse midway through the third limping around, hopefully it's not long-term.
Unfortunately looks like Poole is hurt again, I saw him in a suit in the concourse midway through the third limping around, hopefully it's not long-term.
Absolutely terrible. Poor coaching lead to 2 Too many men penalties only minutes apart. The team looks dis organized and the cherry on top was Caputi called a coaches challenge with 4 sec left on a goal that meant nothing and Kingston down 3 goals. Luckily only 2200 fans were there to witness this mess. It's the same old thing...poor coaching. Will things change when we're down to 1500 in the seats...at what point do you try something different. I know...it's only 4 games in...but this is a continuous from last year. Something has to change...do it before we ruin another year.
frontsfan67
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Worst period of the season so far for the fronts was that 1st period. Absolutely horrendous. Second I thought was pretty even despite the shots and the third they definitely out played them.
What is up with them and their shitty starts holy crap. They are horrible in the first.
PK looks really good. Powerplay is decent. Doesn’t help that Sudbury had 6 powerplays to our 3 tonight and the one was only for 17 seconds lol.
Caputi or whoever decides they wanted to review that goal at the end there needs to give their head a shake. Didn’t change the outcome of the game and wasted everyone’s time.
Their crowds this year have been horrible. Something has to change. The home opener against probably our biggest rival Oshawa had no more than about 3500 and that’s generous. Tonight’s crowd was even worse. You could count the damn people.
If springer wasn’t so rich I’d say we would lose the team. Absolutely no fan support whatsoever it’s embarrassing.
I haven’t heard anything on the injury burns got at the blues camp. Has anyone heard about that? How long he may be out for?
Also I’d waive callens right now. Horrible OA. Wish they would play weir instead of him.
What is up with them and their shitty starts holy crap. They are horrible in the first.
PK looks really good. Powerplay is decent. Doesn’t help that Sudbury had 6 powerplays to our 3 tonight and the one was only for 17 seconds lol.
Caputi or whoever decides they wanted to review that goal at the end there needs to give their head a shake. Didn’t change the outcome of the game and wasted everyone’s time.
Their crowds this year have been horrible. Something has to change. The home opener against probably our biggest rival Oshawa had no more than about 3500 and that’s generous. Tonight’s crowd was even worse. You could count the damn people.
If springer wasn’t so rich I’d say we would lose the team. Absolutely no fan support whatsoever it’s embarrassing.
I haven’t heard anything on the injury burns got at the blues camp. Has anyone heard about that? How long he may be out for?
Also I’d waive callens right now. Horrible OA. Wish they would play weir instead of him.
I Loveallsports
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The too many men penalties are mind boggling, I’ve never seen a team have so many, the bench staff really need to figure this out. But we know that won’t happen. I hate seeing the same type of selfish plays without any correction on the bench. Somehow Thibideau believes he needs to always take the puck through five players, for every brilliant goal he scores there’s 150 turnovers doing the same thing over and over. Miedema with a couple head scratching plays, threw the puck away not looking and gave away a goal and then as he drives the blue line with the puck he cuts back putting everyone offside. It’s early but you hope they work on these mental errors in game film.
McGowan is becoming my favorite d-man, every game a player on the other team realizes he’s made from cement.
Pk has been fantastic, Poole, Heyes, Hemstrom continue to block shots, intercept pucks and relieve the pressure. Uens has also played well on Pk.
I do think the PP is better than it was last year , the sling shot and 5 forward strategy has been horrendous for two years. The puck movement seems to be much better this year.
Vaccari, had a slip on the second goal but otherwise thought he made some big saves.
Thought Heyes was our best player, had great speed, was great on the PK, hit the post on a rocket, made some nice passes that were Scoring chances, scored on the penalty shot and rallied his team. In continuing fashion, I don‘t think I saw him out very much after that. I mean why ride a player who is having a good night?
I am starting to get concerned about Ludwinski and Callens on the same line- just don’t think it’s working.
McGowan is becoming my favorite d-man, every game a player on the other team realizes he’s made from cement.
Pk has been fantastic, Poole, Heyes, Hemstrom continue to block shots, intercept pucks and relieve the pressure. Uens has also played well on Pk.
I do think the PP is better than it was last year , the sling shot and 5 forward strategy has been horrendous for two years. The puck movement seems to be much better this year.
Vaccari, had a slip on the second goal but otherwise thought he made some big saves.
Thought Heyes was our best player, had great speed, was great on the PK, hit the post on a rocket, made some nice passes that were Scoring chances, scored on the penalty shot and rallied his team. In continuing fashion, I don‘t think I saw him out very much after that. I mean why ride a player who is having a good night?
I am starting to get concerned about Ludwinski and Callens on the same line- just don’t think it’s working.
I sound like a broken record. I believe given the opportuntiy heyes can produce. Caputi has to have set a record for most too many men on the ice in the history of the OHL. And the coaches challenge? That is called trying to keep the goals against down in order to protect your job . Do it now , pull the plug on him
Finally....page 7 is an entire page of opinions and views that I agree with. Last night was an absolute joke. This coach and/or coaching staff needs to be fired yesterday. Imagine being this bad at your job with no repercussions? How do you not adapt and change things as to how the game is going and based on how players are playing regardless of their draft position or if they are NHL drafted. No accountability at all, just entitlement. Heyes gets a huge goal to get us within one and playing energized hockey, gets the crowd going and barely sees another shift the rest of the way. Yet they keep running guys like Outwater, Battaglia, and Thibodeau out there despite absolutely no effort. How are you playing at this level and scared out there? Take a hit to make a play. Be first to loose pucks. Move your feet. What did any of them do last night to deserve PP time? People have been complaining about the D all week. The D is not the problem. It is the soft soft soft play of the forwards and their terrible play in our end and neutral zone. Look at that turnover by Miedema last night but right back out there again after. Hi first few games were great but the high of being back from NHL camp is apparently gone with that lack of effort last night. Why do all of the wingers turn back and take it back towards our goal line every time they receive a pass from our D along the wall on breakout? Scared to take the hit and get it out. They need to sit kids and reward those that are playing well. Outwater would be a healthy scratch if I was coaching right now until he gets some grit in his game. Same with a few other fwds.
The two many men penalties are ridiculous at this point. Figure it out already.
Budnick's play and body language scream that he doesn't want to be here. His play has been extremely underwhelming. Should not be getting top 4 minutes until he decides to start playing. Ludwinski's will be the same very soon if something doesn't change right away, which leads me to this...
Overheard two players in the foyer speaking to a family member or friend openly in the foyer last night while my nephew was seeking autographs. They stated the dressing room is complete joke right now. No one likes or respects the coach and the supposed leaders are not being leaders at all because they don't care.
For Thanksgiving I am thankful that we are having dinner tomorrow and won't be going to watch. And who schedules a game on Thanskgiving at 2:00. LOL. Someone said there were 2200 there last night. Not a chance. There may not have been 1000. Pathetic. Hopefully more than 500 tomorrow but unlikely being Thanksgiving and two home games in two days. A lot of people can't afford that. Good planning Fronts. From the top down needs to be looked at.
The two many men penalties are ridiculous at this point. Figure it out already.
Budnick's play and body language scream that he doesn't want to be here. His play has been extremely underwhelming. Should not be getting top 4 minutes until he decides to start playing. Ludwinski's will be the same very soon if something doesn't change right away, which leads me to this...
Overheard two players in the foyer speaking to a family member or friend openly in the foyer last night while my nephew was seeking autographs. They stated the dressing room is complete joke right now. No one likes or respects the coach and the supposed leaders are not being leaders at all because they don't care.
For Thanksgiving I am thankful that we are having dinner tomorrow and won't be going to watch. And who schedules a game on Thanskgiving at 2:00. LOL. Someone said there were 2200 there last night. Not a chance. There may not have been 1000. Pathetic. Hopefully more than 500 tomorrow but unlikely being Thanksgiving and two home games in two days. A lot of people can't afford that. Good planning Fronts. From the top down needs to be looked at.
frontsfan67
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I agree budnick shouldn’t be playing anymore than Williamson at this point until he gets it together. Both are terrible but Williamson doesn’t take stupid penalties.
Ludwinski had his first game back since the Blackhawk’s camp. The whole team looked like shit honestly not just him.
The only one that stood out was Heyes imo with all the damn penalty kills and he is by far the best on the team at that. not to mention the nice penalty shot goal.
Would’ve had a nice reaction if there wasn’t “2200” people there. I agree it didn’t look like that much. I haven’t seen it that dead in there in a long time.
Honestly if the fronts lose Sunday and both games against ssm this week I see Caputi being fired 100% if they lose all of these games. a team that’s supposed to be contending potentially starting 1-6 is completely unacceptable regardless of the league. We’ve already see coaching changes around the league. We might see another one here soon.
Not sure who they would bring in. I think they would just leave the 2 assistants for the year probably
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This sums up how bad everything about this team is.....the commentator last night said " we're back at the Leons center in Cornwall"....wtf?
frontsfan67
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LOL. To quote a line from Step Brothers... "Did we just become best friends?" We have been bantering back and forth on here a bit recently but like I said before....that's good. But love your statements in those responses. Just want to clarify that I wasn't necessarily knocking Ludwinski's play last night with my comment. Although I'm sure we were all hoping and expecting more. I just meant that he is likely going to want out if changes are not made.
And don't want to get you riled up again bc I know your position on the player but will add that Heyes and Uens have been our best PK guys so far. Seems like Uens is drawing PK1 minutes every game. Quick stick and feet, blocking shots, getting to loose pucks and clears and often being willing to take a hit to make the clear is sometimes better then big, slow, and not getting to loose pucks. IMO I get he is small and that has some disadvantages but if those fwds I mentioned above played with an ounce of the heart guys like Uens, Heyes, Poole, and McGowan seems to play with, we would be a much better team.
frontsfan67
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Lmao
Yeah I agree I barely noticed him and miedema last night. It could be due to Sudbury having amazing defence though
Yeah a lot of the team doesn’t play with as much passion I agree. I think the whole team is shocked they are 1-3 right now- perhaps getting some ptsd after last season being so terrible the last 15 or so games
Prior to the year all of the fronts seemed really excited like it’s Kingston’s year- and to start off the way they have I believe it has broken their spirits. It’s the coaches job to get them back on their game and we know Caputi isn’t great at that- they usually suck in the first period.
I’m hoping tomorrow is completely different and they come out firing from the start and dominate Ottawa start to finish. That’s what they need- confidence.
Unfortunately they have had a tough schedule so far so it could be hard to build off of that
beastintheeast
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But remember Sringer promised that all the seats would surpass the M Center if they built him a new arena. Yeah, seat quality might be up bout bums in the seat is another story.
Kingston has a huge problem for a lot of us friday night hockey was nothing to do with hockey as much as it was a night out with friends it was the great M Centre French fries with vinegar and salt. It was the atmosphere of the building and the friendliness. It was also the low prices. Now the cost of a game has gone up to the point that it is no longer a family night out unless three is someone to see.
Kingston only gets large crowds when it has a winning hockey team.
The seating numbers are not a full sign of what the sets hold. They include season ticket holders even if they do not go to the game, they include tickets that are given away in lieu of favours for the team as well as sponsors' seats that again may or may not be used.
as to Caputi Kory has a huge problem.
The first springer does not like to pay 2 contracts for a position
second none of the assistants seem to be showing any drive to be a head coach
third no one who wants a career is going to go to Kingston for the cheap money that they pay and
fourth of course most good coaches are already committed to teams at this stage.
There is one good thing about the fronts this year in the OHL. If they keep playing this way, they are going to take a lot of pressure off of Niagara.
As to players that don't want to be there the answer is simple either find someone to go into the dressing room and shake it up or trade one of the "leaders to Niagara Flint or Erie and not care about the return.
I know it is old school but Kilrea did that with Grant Marshall and the message was received loud and clear.
HARD SCHEDULE 3 IN 3 ON THE ROAD IS A HARD SCHEDULE They have played teams that are better prepared and want it more. it has nothing to do with a hard schedule
Kingston does not have a lot of rabid OHL fans. I was there at the time Villardi, Day, Jones, Pu were acquired in a span of 2-3 days; it was not a topic of discussion.
I think the largest crowd from the trade deadline to end of season was 3800. I was able to walk-up on game day and get the seat I wanted every game.
Game day prices were not cheap, but the season ticket packages were at least $100 less than Sudbury.
Queens-RMC game was over filled.
Seriously, which Frontenac ‘leader’ could play for Erie or Niagara?
You’re not suggesting any of Meidema, Soto, and Burns be traded; are you?
They used to have tons of OHL fans. It is a hockey town and an OHL town. Just that, as beast said, they aren’t going to go and support the crap that this owner has been spewing over the last 15 years or so.
Hockey town, ok; even if the majority were university students, the vibe of the packed house for Queens-RMC equaled that of Sweden-Finland at the Vancouver olympics.
But ~100 for a Belleville-Kingston jrA playoff? Nearly zero excitement for the acquisition of a player like Villardi?
An OHL town, Idk.
It was one of the better OHL towns. And would be again with a new owner. They have been burned over and over again and he has chased away most of the OHL fans. There is a reason why Kingston has had an OHL team for 50 years. It is because it is an OHL town.
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