Kingston Frontenacs 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[ScoutLife4]

At the start of the season a lot of people here were counting Kingston out thinking they should not add this season because Brampton, Barrie, Oshawa and Brantford would be too good to compete.

A month and a half later they are tied for 1st in the east with the 2nd best goal differential in the league with a top PK and PP in the league.

Now that we are starting to see a positive start to the season what in your opinion should the top 2 improvements be to make this team a contender?

-Heyes has started to contribute a little more so i'm thinking they may be starting to question upgrading that OA spot.
-Defensively they have been surprisingly good with McGowen proving he capable of being a 1st or 2nd pairing guy.

My struggle right now is should they prioritize a potential top pairing Dman or add more scoring depth to potentially bump Heyes or Pickell down the lineup.
I'm leaning D upgrade first priority, scoring forward 2nd.

* as a wrote this Kingston blows the 2 goal lead* Lol.

 

[leafs4life94]

I have no idea how this review is taking so long, his entire stick is above the cross bar....

 

[ScoutLife4]

I have no idea how this review is taking so long, his entire stick is above the cross bar....

No goal!

The video replay on the ipads are so brutal in some arena's.

 

[zaluty]

My vote would be for another D. Some one that could play 2nd pairing

 

[frontsfan67]

Would love Bronson ride from North Bay but may be a more expensive move but they could off load next year if need be

 

[FrontalLobe]

I have no idea how this review is taking so long, his entire stick is above the cross bar....

Lol. The length of that review is ridiculous. The bias announcers had no clue. It was so obvious. I know Uens is short but the puck went right by his face which was well above the bar, you could see him flinch to avoid getting hit in the face so well over the bar and hit Stonehouse's stick. You would have to be blind to not see it.

But omg. What are we doing again to blow these leads? Two glaring things as to that goal to get it to one and then the disallowed goal. Miedema has to be stronger on that puck on the offensive blueline at the end of the pp. There is no way you can turn it over there at that point in the game and allow that breakaway to Foster. And with the last one...what are we actually doing here. 88 cannot be on the ice with less than a minute left defending a one goal lead. Was there not someone on here that pointed out how he has almost been on the ice for every late game tying or game losing goal against this year. If we need a goal he has to be out there absolutely but might be the last person I'm putting out to defend the one goal lead. Go watch the replay. Maybe I'm wrong but will watch it again, ... pretty sure the D get control and slowly work it over to him on his boards and it gets turned over again.

Nonetheless a solid two points. Don't care how good Carter George is we need to win Friday and then try to steal at least a point on Sunday.

Great job by the PK again today.

My vote would be for another D. Some one that could play 2nd pairing

It just has to be a D that will allow us to play 6. Those 5 have to be gassed today. Moore didn't see a shift the entire second half of the game.

 

[ottsabrefan]

At the start of the season a lot of people here were counting Kingston out thinking they should not add this season because Brampton, Barrie, Oshawa and Brantford would be too good to compete.

A month and a half later they are tied for 1st in the east with the 2nd best goal differential in the league with a top PK and PP in the league.

Now that we are starting to see a positive start to the season what in your opinion should the top 2 improvements be to make this team a contender?

-Heyes has started to contribute a little more so i'm thinking they may be starting to question upgrading that OA spot.
-Defensively they have been surprisingly good with McGowen proving he capable of being a 1st or 2nd pairing guy.

My struggle right now is should they prioritize a potential top pairing Dman or add more scoring depth to potentially bump Heyes or Pickell down the lineup.
I'm leaning D upgrade first priority, scoring forward 2nd.

* as a wrote this Kingston blows the 2 goal lead* Lol.

So you’re the reason they blew the two goal lead!

 

[leafs4life94]

Lol. The length of that review is ridiculous. The bias announcers had no clue. It was so obvious. I know Uens is short but the puck went right by his face which was well above the bar, you could see him flinch to avoid getting hit in the face so well over the bar and hit Stonehouse's stick. You would have to be blind to not see it.

But omg. What are we doing again to blow these leads? Two glaring things as to that goal to get it to one and then the disallowed goal. Miedema has to be stronger on that puck on the offensive blueline at the end of the pp. There is no way you can turn it over there at that point in the game and allow that breakaway to Foster. And with the last one...what are we actually doing here. 88 cannot be on the ice with less than a minute left defending a one goal lead. Was there not someone on here that pointed out how he has almost been on the ice for every late game tying or game losing goal against this year. If we need a goal he has to be out there absolutely but might be the last person I'm putting out to defend the one goal lead. Go watch the replay. Maybe I'm wrong but will watch it again, ... pretty sure the D get control and slowly work it over to him on his boards and it gets turned over again.

Nonetheless a solid two points. Don't care how good Carter George is we need to win Friday and then try to steal at least a point on Sunday.

Great job by the PK again today.


It just has to be a D that will allow us to play 6. Those 5 have to be gassed today. Moore didn't see a shift the entire second half of the game.

I think even Mews knew that it probably wouldn't count, he had nowhere near the reaction you'd expect after a late tying goal and you could see him ask Stonehouse something.

100% agree on needing a D. I've referenced Oshawa's Sandhu deal last year as the perfect example of the kind of trade they need to make.

 

[leafs4life94]

At the start of the season a lot of people here were counting Kingston out thinking they should not add this season because Brampton, Barrie, Oshawa and Brantford would be too good to compete.

A month and a half later they are tied for 1st in the east with the 2nd best goal differential in the league with a top PK and PP in the league.

Now that we are starting to see a positive start to the season what in your opinion should the top 2 improvements be to make this team a contender?

-Heyes has started to contribute a little more so i'm thinking they may be starting to question upgrading that OA spot.
-Defensively they have been surprisingly good with McGowen proving he capable of being a 1st or 2nd pairing guy.

My struggle right now is should they prioritize a potential top pairing Dman or add more scoring depth to potentially bump Heyes or Pickell down the lineup.
I'm leaning D upgrade first priority, scoring forward 2nd.

* as a wrote this Kingston blows the 2 goal lead* Lol.

I figured they'd end up in the middle mostly because I wasn't super confident in their D core - Pieniniemi new to NA, question marks around where guys like McGowan/Williamson/Uens really belong on an top-of-conference team.

Those question marks have been more or less resolved - Pieniniemi has clearly proven to be able to adapt, and like you mentioned McGowan has taken a big step forward.

Heyes has played pretty well but I think I'd still like an upgrade that has some more size like Swick (if he gets moved). Their forward group isn't necessarily small, but they also don't really have many big bodies, with McNamara and Miedema being the only regulars above 6'1".

I'd probably rather a D first, just because while playing 5D might fly right now, once they get to the playoffs they'll need a 6th D that can play unsheltered.

 

[frontsfan67]

What would the cost of upgrading Gage Heyes (to Trent swick) and acquiring Bronson Ride (while trading 1 of Moore/velliaris/weir) be in a deal around picks?

That would give them a big guy up front who can score and look out for the smaller guys, and a big guy in the back end that may come back next year- play top 4 this year and be that imposing d man the fronts need.

 

[dirty12]

What would the cost of upgrading Gage Heyes (to Trent swick) and acquiring Bronson Ride (while trading 1 of Moore/velliaris/weir) be in a deal around picks?

That would give them a big guy up front who can score and look out for the smaller guys, and a big guy in the back end that may come back next year- play top 4 this year and be that imposing d man the fronts need.

I doubt NB has any intention of trading Ride; and NB would not want a player that Kingston would be willing to trade back, unless it was V.Williamson imo.
It would take an over payment similar to the wolves forcing the bulldogs hand for VanVliet, I think. Maybe 2,2,3,3*,4* is enough.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Agreed on Burns - he was at the summer camp so at least at one point he was on the radar but I'm not sure he's still on it.

Kingston gets lucky again with Oshawa - they play them twice over the WJC where they'll be without Ritchie, possibly Sennecke, maybe Marrelli? Then I have no idea if their two imports will make it.

Sounds like y'all are down on Burns. Has he regressed? Or just hasn't improved or ???? Asking as a Blues fan.

 

[leafs4life94]

Sounds like y'all are down on Burns. Has he regressed? Or just hasn't improved or ???? Asking as a Blues fan.

I wouldn't say regressed - more just meaning I don't think he's on the WJC roster. Honestly I was surprised he got the invite to summer camp - he's a solid puck mover but where he excels is the gritty game and that doesn't really translate too well to the international game. Add that along with lots of PIMs and it doesn't add up to a WJC player.

 

[ScoutLife4]

Sounds like y'all are down on Burns. Has he regressed? Or just hasn't improved or ???? Asking as a Blues fan.

I have seen a lot of expert projections of the Canada roster and not one has him on it.
I just think there is a lot more skill available between the 3 leagues to fill those spots.

 

[Handcuffhockey]

At the start of the season a lot of people here were counting Kingston out thinking they should not add this season because Brampton, Barrie, Oshawa and Brantford would be too good to compete.

A month and a half later they are tied for 1st in the east with the 2nd best goal differential in the league with a top PK and PP in the league.

Now that we are starting to see a positive start to the season what in your opinion should the top 2 improvements be to make this team a contender?

-Heyes has started to contribute a little more so i'm thinking they may be starting to question upgrading that OA spot.
-Defensively they have been surprisingly good with McGowen proving he capable of being a 1st or 2nd pairing guy.

My struggle right now is should they prioritize a potential top pairing Dman or add more scoring depth to potentially bump Heyes or Pickell down the lineup.
I'm leaning D upgrade first priority, scoring forward 2nd.

* as a wrote this Kingston blows the 2 goal lead* Lol.

I’ve really limited my comments on here this season simply because no matter what this team does somebody is always picking it apart. I tend to agree with almost every post ScoutLife4 writes.I recall, for the majority of this season it was Springer is so cheap he doesn’t know what he’s doing, Cooper is awful as a GM, Mann has no idea how to coach, Heyes doesn’t belong, Miedema needs to go, Burns is killing this team with penalties…trade anyone and everyone for all the top players in the league…

Well what do you know, the team is delivering, the imports that Cooper brought in have been fantastic, Mann has skillfully put together three balanced lines and they are finding ways to win some big games. Give credit where credit is due. I personally believe Mann if not the top is one of the best coaches in this league.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I’ve really limited my comments on here this season simply because no matter what this team does somebody is always picking it apart. I tend to agree with almost every post ScoutLife4 writes.I recall, for the majority of this season it was Springer is so cheap he doesn’t know what he’s doing, Cooper is awful as a GM, Mann has no idea how to coach, Heyes doesn’t belong, Miedema needs to go, Burns is killing this team with penalties…trade anyone and everyone for all the top players in the league…

Well what do you know, the team is delivering, the imports that Cooper brought in have been fantastic, Mann has skillfully put together three balanced lines and they are finding ways to win some big games. Give credit where credit is due. I personally believe Mann if not the top is one of the best coaches in this league.

He is 100%.
He gets a bad rep from a beat writer in Ottawa that ran with a rumour a reporter made up that was trying to make a name off of.
Anyone that knows him or has a conversation with him around the rink will tell you that he’s a genuinely good person and good hockey mind.

Cooper imo was a green GM that was still finding his way and is slowly getting better.

Heyes in all honestly I can say I was one of the ones that said he is not good enough to hold an OA spot on a contending team and he is playing very well right now.
I do however still think it’s possible to upgrade him but he’s making a case to keep his spot.

I wouldn’t hate if they went out and got Mews from Ottawa but I think the price would be too high.

 

[frontsfan67]

Sounds like y'all are down on Burns. Has he regressed? Or just hasn't improved or ???? Asking as a Blues fan.

In my opinion he hasn’t improved much offensively over the last year or two.

Defensively he is sound but could add some speed and offence to his game. He doesn’t have a goal yet this season.

I know he is signed by St Louis but he is a guy to me where he would benefit from either an extra year of junior or going to the NCAA next year before making the jump to professional hockey. But with him signed I believe he can’t go NCAA.

Also he sometimes has meltdowns where he takes like 3 or 4 dumb penalties in a game which is something he could work on.

 

[leafs4life94]

I’ve really limited my comments on here this season simply because no matter what this team does somebody is always picking it apart. I tend to agree with almost every post ScoutLife4 writes.I recall, for the majority of this season it was Springer is so cheap he doesn’t know what he’s doing, Cooper is awful as a GM, Mann has no idea how to coach, Heyes doesn’t belong, Miedema needs to go, Burns is killing this team with penalties…trade anyone and everyone for all the top players in the league…

Well what do you know, the team is delivering, the imports that Cooper brought in have been fantastic, Mann has skillfully put together three balanced lines and they are finding ways to win some big games. Give credit where credit is due. I personally believe Mann if not the top is one of the best coaches in this league.

I would be surprised if there were very many people that had Heyes contributing the way he has this year. I remember going back and forth on whether it'd be Poole or Heyes to start the year as the placeholder for an upgrade, but he's proven me and quite a few other people wrong.

Miedema last year and this year are totally different players - we saw glimpses of it in the NB series and my "concern" for lack of a better term was whether he'd continue with that style of play. He's still a somewhat frustratong player to watch because you can tell there's so much talent there and some of the penalties he takes are dumb (like the cross-checking one today).

I tried to reserve most comments on Mann until we got a good way into this year because I wanted to see what he'd do with a full offseason and training camp - and obviously he's been amazing. My only concern is that he could be enticed back to the pro ranks - but I have no idea what his goals are.

 

[OMG67]

Personally, I don’t think Heyes is strong enough to roll with as an OA for a team that has Championship aspirations. He’s scoring at a .7 PPG clip right now. At 6’0” 172, he is not going to be a physical presence as the playoffs wear on. I don’t think Kingston is in a position to post up an average OA. I think it is imperative for them to improve that position without a doubt.

If this were a situation where Kingston only needed one player and they are fine, maybe my opinion would be different but when you need multiple players to craft the playoff lineup you go to war with, you need the assets to do it. Kingston will struggle if they don’t upgrade the OA slot on the cheap compared to the cost of 19 year olds. Adding an ELITE OA is almost a must. That elite OA os jsut as effective and productive as the 19 year old but about 60-70% of the cost.

 

[frontsfan67]

Personally, I don’t think Heyes is strong enough to roll with as an OA for a team that has Championship aspirations. He’s scoring at a .7 PPG clip right now. At 6’0” 172, he is not going to be a physical presence as the playoffs wear on. I don’t think Kingston is in a position to post up an average OA. I think it is imperative for them to improve that position without a doubt.

Trent swick would be perfect match. I mentioned this at the end of last season. Only thing is though- Heyes is and has been the best pk guy on the fronts pretty much since he put the jersey on. Not sure who would replace him. Also very liked in the dressing room but still not enough of an excuse to keep him.

As I said yesterday Trent swick and Bronson ride are the 2 players I’d target and get them by Christmas. Then over Christmas break they can have a bunch of practices to get all settled in and kingston can win a bunch of games around the Christmas break with all these world junior players away. They may not be the best team but the way things are going they may challenge for the division- which I checked the other day and they only have 2 of them in the history of the team. If they added these 2 guys it would make a world of difference for them. They’re a team that just needs a few pieces imo just like Oshawa last year- add those pieces and see what happens but don’t go crazy like Peterborough a few years ago.

 

[leafs4life94]

Apparently 29 BCHL players asked for HC waivers this week - just going off Elite Prospects there's two named already Pridham to Kitchener, QMJHL 7th overall pick Enzo Lottin to VVille.

I'd have to think Cooper is working overtime with the number of guys Kingston has over there - no idea how they stack up to other teams but if they can get one or two guys they can use assets to make other moves.

 

[beastintheeast]

My vote would be for another D. Someone that could play 2nd pairing

Mews or a RD like him would be my vote. I know he would be expensive, but if you can get a 19-year-old, he will help next year as well.

Not sold on Vaccari, but as a backup to LaLonde, it seems to work.

Not sure you want to pick up a rental OA.

 

[Millpond]

Personally, I don’t think Heyes is strong enough to roll with as an OA for a team that has Championship aspirations. He’s scoring at a .7 PPG clip right now. At 6’0” 172, he is not going to be a physical presence as the playoffs wear on. I don’t think Kingston is in a position to post up an average OA. I think it is imperative for them to improve that position without a doubt.

If this were a situation where Kingston only needed one player and they are fine, maybe my opinion would be different but when you need multiple players to craft the playoff lineup you go to war with, you need the assets to do it. Kingston will struggle if they don’t upgrade the OA slot on the cheap compared to the cost of 19 year olds. Adding an ELITE OA is almost a must. That elite OA os jsut as effective and productive as the 19 year old but about 60-70% of the cost.

K Smith very likely available at deadline, but not cheap.