Kingston Frontenacs 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[frontsfan67]

Tough spot for Oshawa - - Friday night in Ottawa, Saturday night in Barrie and not likely home before midnight, now 2pm on Sunday.

Oster starting all three really highlights Oshawa’s need for a competent back up goalie.

Not gonna be too many better goalies to learn from than Oster. I’m sure gravelle is learning lots.

 

[ottsabrefan]

I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again. If they pushed all their chips in this year to make the finals EVEN IF THEY LOST it would still be a huge win for the franchise. Can’t be any worse than it was for Oshawa last year. Only 2 teams I believe that haven’t been to a finals- Sarnia and Kingston.

Also when was last time they were ranked in the chl top 10? Probably the Bennett year I assume? That brings fans too. If they could consistently be in the chl top 10 ONE year they’d probably gain a lot of fans from even that.

I have no issues with the boom and bust years but they need to win in the boom years, and that has legit been the issue with the Fronts for decades and what has separated them from the Petes, Gens, bulldogs, etc. who have won in the boom years.

 

[frontsfan67]

Kingston likes their backup so much they played him over half the game really highlights the need for a starter in Kingston

Lalonde isn’t great but he isn’t horrible. If they do have championship aspirations I would definitely upgrade though. Played horrible today but usually pretty steady was 4th In league in GAA prior to today

I have no issues with the boom and bust years but they need to win in the boom years, and that has legit been the issue with the Fronts for decades and what has separated them from the Petes, Gens, bulldogs, etc. who have won in the boom years.

Oh absolutely I’m a strong believer if you’re not going to be a top 3/4 team you should consider a light sell unless you’re a young team that needs that experience.

 

[beastintheeast]

Lalonde isn’t great but he isn’t horrible. If they do have championship aspirations I would definitely upgrade though. Played horrible today but usually pretty steady was 4th In league in GAA prior to today

If you can get an offer for Vaccari, would you trade him and either move Betts up or find a 19-year-old who is better suited to back up LaLonde?

Just wondering.

Oh absolutely I’m a strong believer if you’re not going to be a top 3/4 team you should consider a light sell unless you’re a young team that needs that experience.

One of the things that Cooper has to look at is how the other teams are doing. Barrie, Brampton, and Brantford have the assets to make pretty good offers. Oshawa has a good team, but I am not sure they have the assets to improve with trades.

Looking at the fronts, I'm not sure who you have to offer in a trade that will yield a good return. It is going to be interesting to see what he does and how the deadline deals start to unwind.

You definitely have a good team and it should be competitive if you make the right moves.

That brings up the question

What is the right move? I think that a player like Mews, who will be here next year, would be a perfect mate for Pie on the powerplay.

 

[dirty12]

If you can get an offer for Vaccari, would you trade him and either move Betts up or find a 19-year-old who is better suited to back up LaLonde?

Just wondering.

One of the things that Cooper has to look at is what are the other teams doing. Barrie, Brampton and Brantford have the assets to make pretty good offers. Oshawa has a good team, but I am not sure they have the assets to improve with trades.

Looking at the fronts, I'm not sure who you have to offer in a trade that will yield a good return. It is going to be interesting to see what he does and how the deadline deals start to unwind.

As the deadline to move graduating players approaches, teams will back off their demand for Hopkins; or, offer a package for Hopkins that Kingston cannot refuse.

 

[beastintheeast]

As the deadline to move graduating players approaches, teams will back off their demand for Hopkins; or, offer a package for Hopkins that Kingston cannot refuse.

I can see trading him for a rental player but my question is what happens next year for a center

 

[dirty12]

I can see trading him for a rental player but my question is what happens next year for a center

If Kingston received a package worth 2.5 seasons of Hopkins, I think no one would really care about next season.
I can’t imagine a suitable offer TBH. I doubt Kingston would go for Allard, Gibson if having to give Heyes, Hopkins, pick(s). Maybe if SSM offered the flexibility that would come with Miller, but that makes less sense for SSM. It would have to be something obscene like Gibson, Allard, Cloutier/Mignosa

 

[beastintheeast]

If Kingston received a package worth 2.5 seasons of Hopkins, I think no one would really care about next season.
I can’t imagine a suitable offer TBH. I doubt Kingston would go for Allard, Gibson if having to give Heyes, Hopkins, pick(s). Maybe if SSM offered the flexibility that would come with Miller, but that makes less sense for SSM. It would have to be something obscene like Gibson, Allard, Cloutier/Mignosa

If the trade is good and the team is a winner and makes at least the second round, you may be right. But is one player going to make enough of a difference?

Right now your top line stats wise (not actual lines) would be Battaglia Guindon and Uronen then there is Miedema Hopkins and Soto
There really is no 3rd or 4th line.

I know this is a dead horse, but Malhorta is the missing piece that would have solved all the team's problems.

I might suggest finding a player to make the 3rd line Mcnamara Heyes a complete line would be an option and adding a RD and the other obstacle is you really can not make a trade of an OA. If the rumours of Mews wanting out of Ottawa are true, depending on what the rest of the league is looking at, he may be a good choice at a price that wouldn't kill the budget.

As much as Cooper wants to pursue it, he may find that his hands are tied unless you get rid of Lalonde or Heyes.

 

[dirty12]

If the trade is good and the team is a winner and makes at least the second round, you may be right. But is one player going to make enough of a difference?

Right now your top line stats wise (not actual lines) would be Battaglia Guindon and Uronen then there is Miedema Hopkins and Soto
There really is no 3rd or 4th line.

I know this is a dead horse, but Malhorta is the missing piece that would have solved all the team's problems.

I might suggest finding a player to make the 3rd line Mcnamara Heyes a complete line would be an option and adding a RD and the other obstacle is you really can not make a trade of an OA. If the rumours of Mews wanting out of Ottawa are true, depending on what the rest of the league is looking at, he may be a good choice at a price that wouldn't kill the budget.

As much as Cooper wants to pursue it, he may find that his hands are tied unless you get rid of Lalonde or Heyes.

With that as top six, Kingston would be left with McMamara and Heyes on line 3. A LW/C that can be had with picks would create a line that could play against the 3rd lines in the top half of the league imo. But it does not appear Mann intends to alter his lines any time soon; so, that is irrelevant.

Yeah, one player can make a difference; Allard would change the complexion of the steelheads’ top six.

 

[beastintheeast]

With that as top six, Kingston would be left with McMamara and Heyes on line 3. A LW/C that can be had with picks would create a line that could play against the 3rd lines in the top half of the league imo. But it does not appear Mann intends to alter his lines any time soon; so, that is irrelevant.

Yeah, one player can make a difference; Allard would change the complexion of the steelheads’ top six.

The difference, though, is that the Steelheads already have a pretty good team. They are lacking a leader to wake them up.

I see Cooper looking for a 2006 player who can fill a hole either on defence, forward or goal. I think that Lalonde may have replaced Vaccari as a starter. Not sure bout that but if a better goalie came open you never know.

But whoever it is has to be going to fit into Mann's system.

 

[dirty12]

Actually, the steelheads have a very talented but flawed roster; and Kingston has a team that is performing near the top of the conference in goal differential, PP, and PK.
I will go out on a limb to state it is easier to compliment a good team than fix a flawed roster. Kingston attracting Wakely, Musty, …getting sellers to back off their demand of Hopkins is an issue at this time.

 

[frontsfan67]

If you can get an offer for Vaccari, would you trade him and either move Betts up or find a 19-year-old who is better suited to back up LaLonde?

Me personally I’d trade Lalonde if they can get parsons from Kitchener. If not then I’d keep him.

Trading vaccari would be great for Betts this year but Betts would be getting hung out to dry next year- 0 idea who backup would be. Risky move for the fronts so I don’t see it but if they can get that backup goalie for Betts and Betts proves he has a future as a starter here in this league I’d try and figure out a way to do this.

What is the right move? I think that a player like Mews, who will be here next year, would be a perfect mate for Pie on the powerplay.

Mews makes perfect sense and always has. Unfortunately we are in the same division as the 67s and we would have a kings ransom to pay for him.

 

[frontsfan67]

Actually, the steelheads have a very talented but flawed roster; and Kingston has a team that is performing near the top of the conference in goal differential, PP, and PK.
I will go out on a limb to state it is easier to compliment a good team than fix a flawed roster. Kingston attracting Wakely, Musty, …getting sellers to back off their demand of Hopkins is an issue at this time.

I wouldn’t trade musty or wakely for Hopkins that’s a trade that inevitably backfires. Got a good hard working kid in Hopkins with a bright future as a 2 way player in the league for not only this year but 2 more.

Musty has an attitude and isn’t very team orientated and Wakely is already on Barrie so obviously not getting him. Only player I’d trade Hopkins for is Luchanko

 

[beastintheeast]

Me personally I’d trade Lalonde if they can get parsons from Kitchener. If not then I’d keep him.

Trading vaccari would be great for Betts this year but Betts would be getting hung out to dry next year- 0 idea who backup would be. Risky move for the fronts so I don’t see it but if they can get that backup goalie for Betts and Betts proves he has a future as a starter here in this league I’d try and figure out a way to do this.

How memory fades. LOL It was not tht long ago that you were wondering how they were going to support Vaccari' Goalies will be avail next year after the season is over just like Lalonde was.

Trading Vaccari, if a better non-OA goalie is available, would be the best option. Lalonde is playing better, and Vaccari has had a hard time being the complete go-to guy. The non-OA would also be here next year if Betts does not have the ability to be a starter same as Vaccari would have been.

Mews makes perfect sense and always has. Unfortunately we are in the same division as the 67s and we would have a kings ransom to pay for him.

It is funny, but in this league, you never know, and as Kingston is going for it and Ottawa is building, it might not be that hard, but yeah, the price is going have to be right, not just because of the 2 teams, but I am willing to bet a lot of tems wil be bidding.

 

[dirty12]

I wouldn’t trade musty or wakely for Hopkins that’s a trade that inevitably backfires. Got a good hard working kid in Hopkins with a bright future as a 2 way player in the league for not only this year but 2 more.

Musty has an attitude and isn’t very team orientated and Wakely is already on Barrie so obviously not getting him. Only player I’d trade Hopkins for is Luchanko

At no point did I suggest trading Hopkins for any one forward. Um Ritchie straight up for Hopkins, sure.
You can form the opinion that Musty has an attitude and is not a team oriented player based on an insecure Sudburian wolves homer upset about Musty wanting something more fitting of his current desires. I however think it is very wrong to assume Musty, Martone, Barlow, Rehkopf are not team oriented players because they have not figured out how to even try to compete defensively on a level of Cowan, Ritchie, He, Spence. They may not figure it out until retiring from hockey and seeing the game from a different perspective.

 

[frontsfan67]

How memory fades. LOL It was not tht long ago that you were wondering how they were going to support Vaccari' Goalies will be avail next year after the season is over just like Lalonde was.

Trading Vaccari, if a better non-OA goalie is available, would be the best option. Lalonde is playing better, and Vaccari has had a hard time being the complete go-to guy. The non-OA would also be here next year if Betts does not have the ability to be a starter same as Vaccari would have been.

For sure my my thinking is what backup 18/19 year old goalies who are as good or better than vaccari are available? Not many I’d imagine so you’d be better off trying to maybe get a better OA goalie like parsons or if some top goalie who will be here this year and next is made available then go for them.

It is funny, but in this league, you never know, and as Kingston is going for it and Ottawa is building, it might not be that hard, but yeah, the price is going have to be right, not just because of the 2 teams, but I am willing to bet a lot of tems wil be bidding.

Oh for sure. Lots of teams like London that don’t even need him will be driving up the price. Then an extra fee to teams in the own division I’d imagine.

At no point did I suggest trading Hopkins for any one forward. Um Ritchie straight up for Hopkins, sure.
You can form the opinion that Musty has an attitude and is not a team oriented player based on an insecure Sudburian wolves homer upset about Musty wanting something more fitting of his current desires. I however think it is very wrong to assume Musty, Martone, Barlow, Rehkopf are not team oriented players because they have not figured out how to even try to compete defensively on a level of Cowan, Ritchie, He, Spence. They may not figure it out until retiring from hockey and seeing the game from a different perspective.

Ritchie sure, Cowan sure etc but they aren’t going to be made available that’s why I never mentioned them lol.

With all due respect I’ve heard from multiple people Musty has an attitude. And it’s not just because he held out with the wolves for over a month. It’s not me forming an opinion- it’s others with connections telling me.

I never said martone, Barlow or Rehkopf weren’t team orientated players lol. Just musty.

 

[OMG67]

I think Kingston is somewhat handcuffed with respect to what they can and cannot do.

The reality is, they have draft picks for sale. The younger “expendable” players dont’ seem to have a high ceiling. That makes it difficult to include them in any deals.

Additionally, the goaltending is good enough to get by and the upgrade cost would likely be prohibitive since the goaltending is adequate enough.

Kingston is scoring but they haven’t hit the rough section of the schedule quite yet. So, it is tough to really say if their offence translates to playoff ready.

It is still a little too early to fix a strategy but from my perspective, getting that 1st pairing D-Man with some leadership is ideal. That points more to Andonovski and Gibson. The question is whether draft picks can get either of those deals done. But, for me, if Kingston can only get one deal done, this is where they should focus their assets. If they can acquire a depth forward (preferably a centre) to play middle six then perfect.

It makes zero sense to move Hopkins. If they move him, they need to replace his production in another deal. Seems silly to me.

Things may change a bit leading up to the Holiday break but as of right now, this is what I think is needed. Anything else is just a cherry on top.

 

[dirty12]

For sure my my thinking is what backup 18/19 year old goalies who are as good or better than vaccari are available? Not many I’d imagine so you’d be better off trying to maybe get a better OA goalie like parsons or if some top goalie who will be here this year and next is made available then go for them.

Oh for sure. Lots of teams like London that don’t even need him will be driving up the price. Then an extra fee to teams in the own division I’d imagine.


Ritchie sure, Cowan sure etc but they aren’t going to be made available that’s why I never mentioned them lol.

With all due respect I’ve heard from multiple people Musty has an attitude. And it’s not just because he held out with the wolves for over a month. It’s not me forming an opinion- it’s others with connections telling me.

I never said martone, Barlow or Rehkopf weren’t team orientated players lol. Just musty.

Barlow requested a trade. Rehkopf manipulated the OHL draft.
Musty went to Sudbury when a first line spot on the USNTDP was waiting for him; and gave the wolves three years. No one would describe the wolves as OHL utopia.

A lot of kids want to choose where they play. A lot OHL stars don’t seem able to deliver defensive play equal to their ability. What is it that makes Musty the bad apple; speculation? Someone with connections told you use Musty and Merkley in the same sentence? I’ve seen interactions of Musty and teammates, they enjoyed being around one another.

 

[Fischhaber]

Me personally I’d trade Lalonde if they can get parsons from Kitchener. If not then I’d keep him.

Trading vaccari would be great for Betts this year but Betts would be getting hung out to dry next year- 0 idea who backup would be. Risky move for the fronts so I don’t see it but if they can get that backup goalie for Betts and Betts proves he has a future as a starter here in this league I’d try and figure out a way to do this.

Mews makes perfect sense and always has. Unfortunately we are in the same division as the 67s and we would have a kings ransom to pay for him.

I think you could get the league's top goalie, Charlie Schenkel, for a package of picks.

He would almost certainly have a bigger impact for the cost than any other player you could add, given that it's a substantial upgrade and OA's are usually a bit cheaper.

Just a guess but Lalonde + 2,2,3 would probably be in the ballpark

 

[ScoutLife4]

Kingston is not entertaining trade talks on Hopkins and it has complicated acquiring high end players that they have pursued.
Hopkins is not a discussion point for a trade.

Lalonde isn't going anywhere either Cooper is a family friend and has worked with him since he was a child.

 

[dirty12]

I think you could get the league's top goalie, Charlie Schenkel, for a package of picks.

He would almost certainly have a bigger impact for the cost than any other player you could add, given that it's a substantial upgrade and OA's are usually a bit cheaper.

Just a guess but Lalonde + 2,2,3 would probably be in the ballpark

That seems like a lot to ask. I honestly do not know; has there been an OA goalie go for that amount since trading picks was limited to four years.

 

[dirty12]

Kingston is not entertaining trade talks on Hopkins and it has complicated acquiring high end players that they have pursued.
Hopkins is not a discussion point for a trade.

Lalonde isn't going anywhere either Cooper is a family friend and has worked with him since he was a child.

I would agree on both counts. If making a commitment to an OA stick to it, especially when delivering what should have been expected.