Let’s take a deeper look beyond just the number.
Ben Pickell was picked off the scrap heap this year and he won’t be missed in the slightest. A back up goalie like Vaccari is easily replaceable. Little Cal Uens also won’t be a significant loss.
Three of them will be back as OAs - - Soto and McGowan are near certainties to return and they’ll be very good OAs. Uronen still hasn’t been signed yet and I’d say it’s a 50/50 chance that he’s back as the third OA. Failing that, McNamara would be the third OA, but I’d look to move him this year because there’ll be better OAs available to be had next year.
That leaves three significant losses: Burns, Pieniniemi and Miedema.
Here’s the issue for Kingston - - none of those three compare to the level of Cal Ritchie, Easton Cowan, Carson Rehkopf, Denver Barkey or Oliver Bonk. They’re nowhere close to the talent that’s needed from 19yr olds on a championship contender.
This is one of those “difficult” decisions teams have to make between setting themselves up for sustained future success or wasting what they have by trying to make a delusional run.
Very similar to the decision London had to make with Robert Thomas. Obviously none of the aforementioned three are remotely comparable to Thomas, but dealing at least two of them would amount to a similar net return. London made the correct decision and that’s why they’re the CHL’s model franchise.
The delusional run already took place with the same staff and most of the core players last season when they added at the trade deadline and the team was in 7th place and chose not to move Ludwindski.
(BTW - Ludwinski has played 11 AHL games for Rockford and has 1 assist)
I agree with everything you are saying regarding the situation Kingston is in (minus Barkey being considered an elite 19 yo). 16 pts in 16 games with 9 pts being on the PP
I have a gut feeling that they will push and make additions for a couple of reasons:
- Roster is loaded with 19 yo
- Coach only trusts older players
- Available draft picks to use after moving Thibadeau & Frasca
Giving the A to #9 locks him in as an OA for this season and the Fronts staff will stay loyal. He stands to have more points this year then all 3 previous years combined from playing on a decent line.
My bet is they target an 18/19 year old Fwd that they know will be around both this year and next.
- Luchanko
- Romani
- Procyszyn
