Kingston Frontenacs 2024 25 Season Thread Part Iii

[leafs4life94]

Beast? That time of year again when you make comments about the Fronts roster without having a clue? Last off season you kept putting players on that had been released or moved to other teams, like Budnick and Schneider.
Now you have 5 overagers listed

And hopefully they way you listed the D is no type of an attempt to rank them.

Also missing lots of young guys that played this year - Clarke, Wright, Kelly, Mondoux and now our two new first rounders.

Pretty sure people can stop listing Miedema as being back as an OA.

This is my early guess for the roster knowing a ton can and will change:

Battaglia	Hopkins	Soto
Clark	Dervin	?Wright
McCuaig	Buttar	Kelly
Kuzma	Kulemin
Shewfelt	Sled
McGowan	Uens
Mondoux	Williamson
Nettleton	Moore
Henderson
Betts
Vaccari

Vaccari's on there as a 4th OA based on the rumours floating around the boards that goalies won't count towards the OA total.

Wright has a question mark because he's still listed as a U Maine commit for this fall - although realistically I think he'll be back.

They'll have potentially 3 imports coming as well - I'd guess 2 RWs and a D - one older RW and then a young RW/D.

 

[OHL4Life]

This is my early guess for the roster knowing a ton can and will change:

Battaglia	Hopkins	Soto
Clark	Dervin	?Wright
McCuaig	Buttar	Kelly
Kuzma	Kulemin
Shewfelt	Sled
McGowan	Uens
Mondoux	Williamson
Nettleton	Moore
Henderson
Betts
Vaccari

Vaccari's on there as a 4th OA based on the rumours floating around the boards that goalies won't count towards the OA total.

Wright has a question mark because he's still listed as a U Maine commit for this fall - although realistically I think he'll be back.

They'll have potentially 3 imports coming as well - I'd guess 2 RWs and a D - one older RW and then a young RW/D.

was wright any good? i never saw them much

 

[frontsfan67]

I think the reason Schultz didn't go for ES is because they have some other developmental rule now where if the kid played up a full year, they could play up to 34 games in the WHL as a 15 year old.

That too but also because of family I believe I saw somewhere. Certainly helps he plays the in the same city that drafted him.

It'd be interesting to see the OHL adopt that - if a 15 year old plays full time in U16, maybe they're eligible to be drafted? I have no idea how many people that would cover but it's an interesting thought.

They gotta do something like how the WHL does it. Their rookies are usually better prepared and have bigger years I find.

Again within the 3 leagues- I wish they all had the same rules regarding trades/drafting/suspensions etc

 

[frontsfan67]

was wright any good? i never saw them much

Nope. Definitely needs atleast 1 more year in the OHL before he goes to the NCAA.

Any idea if it easy for the kids to push their commitments back a year or two? I feel as if wright who is from Belleville would seriously benefit from atleast 1 more year. He is a very raw player still. Great skating ability but that’s about it.

 

[leafs4life94]

was wright any good? i never saw them much

He had a few flashes but it's tough to say because he didn't get a ton of opportunity since when he did play he was mostly on the 4th line, and he only played 4 games in March, and none in the playoffs.

Good speed and decent shot - but I don't think he's NCAA ready. He's probably a middle six winger on Kingston next year.

 

[frontsfan67]

He had a few flashes but it's tough to say because he didn't get a ton of opportunity since when he did play he was mostly on the 4th line, and he only played 4 games in March, and none in the playoffs.

Good speed and decent shot - but I don't think he's NCAA ready. He's probably a middle six winger on Kingston next year.

Absolutely. I can see Adam Kelly playing more than him. And obviously Battaglia and Soto (unless Soto gets traded in off season, and I’m sure he’s gone by deadline)

Kuzma is a big wild card for me. The 5 players I’m most excited to see for next season.

1- Henderson
2- Kulemin
3- Kelly
4- Kuzma
5- Betts

Should be a young and exciting team. Don’t care if they end up 1st or last I have the bar very low for them.

 

[OHL4Life]

Nope. Definitely needs atleast 1 more year in the OHL before he goes to the NCAA.

Any idea if it easy for the kids to push their commitments back a year or two? I feel as if wright who is from Belleville would seriously benefit from atleast 1 more year. He is a very raw player still. Great skating ability but that’s about it.

i think most committed players will be pushed back until they are 20. chl 05s will be recruited ahead of them.

 

[frontsfan67]

i think most committed players will be pushed back until they are 20. chl 05s will be recruited ahead of them.

Good to know. You think Dervin pushes his back until he’s 20 as well? Thing about him is that he’s going to Penn State which is on the rise and he’s much MUCH better than Landon wright. Also coming from st Andrew’s obviously too

 

[ScoutLife4]

This is my early guess for the roster knowing a ton can and will change:

Battaglia	Hopkins	Soto
Clark	Dervin	?Wright
McCuaig	Buttar	Kelly
Kuzma	Kulemin
Shewfelt	Sled
McGowan	Uens
Mondoux	Williamson
Nettleton	Moore
Henderson
Betts
Vaccari

Vaccari's on there as a 4th OA based on the rumours floating around the boards that goalies won't count towards the OA total.

Wright has a question mark because he's still listed as a U Maine commit for this fall - although realistically I think he'll be back.

They'll have potentially 3 imports coming as well - I'd guess 2 RWs and a D - one older RW and then a young RW/D.

Missing Bishop

 

[OHL4Life]

Good to know. You think Dervin pushes his back until he’s 20 as well? Thing about him is that he’s going to Penn State which is on the rise and he’s much MUCH better than Landon wright. Also coming from st Andrew’s obviously too

the better he is the less change they would push him back. 19 would be the earliest theyd take him.

 

[leafs4life94]

Missing Bishop

I'm assuming he'd be one of the OAs that wouldn't be back along with Pickell and Miedema - keeping McGowan/Uens/Soto and possibly Vaccari (if OA goalies don't count).

Really though it could be any of the 2 D but I think it'll be McGowan as the best, and Uens as a local glue guy.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I'm assuming he'd be one of the OAs that wouldn't be back along with Pickell and Miedema - keeping McGowan/Uens/Soto and possibly Vaccari (if OA goalies don't count).

Really though it could be any of the 2 D but I think it'll be McGowan as the best, and Uens as a local glue guy.

They will keep pickell over soto if both are willing to come back.
There is also no way they let Bishop walk after paying that haul to get those saginaw players.

I can see a situation where McGowan is traded to a team closer to the GTA

 

[leafs4life94]

They will keep pickell over soto if both are willing to come back.
There is also no way they let Bishop walk after paying that haul to get those saginaw players.

I can see a situation where McGowan is traded to a team closer to the GTA

Ah yeah good point - I'd have to think who they keep would also depend on what they'd be able to get back in a trade - although I have a feeling OA trade values are going to be fairly low, since a lot of the quality ones are now heading to the NCAA.

 

[frontsfan67]

I can see a situation where McGowan is traded to a team closer to the GTA

Kitchener

 

[armchaircoaches]

Kitchener

Peterborough

 

[frontsfan67]

Peterborough

Could see that too. Definitely don’t think they send him to Oshawa lol.

Kitchener/Peterborough prob front runners with also Guelph/Brantford in mix.

Cannot see Oshawa or Brampton, and they both should be rebuilding/retooling.

 

[FrontalLobe]

This is my early guess for the roster knowing a ton can and will change:

Battaglia	Hopkins	Soto
Clark	Dervin	?Wright
McCuaig	Buttar	Kelly
Kuzma	Kulemin
Shewfelt	Sled
McGowan	Uens
Mondoux	Williamson
Nettleton	Moore
Henderson
Betts
Vaccari

Vaccari's on there as a 4th OA based on the rumours floating around the boards that goalies won't count towards the OA total.

Wright has a question mark because he's still listed as a U Maine commit for this fall - although realistically I think he'll be back.

They'll have potentially 3 imports coming as well - I'd guess 2 RWs and a D - one older RW and then a young RW/D.

That looks far more accurate!

 

[FrontalLobe]

That looks far more accurate!

Although with the culture they have engrained over the past year, I would almost argue keeping Bishop or Pickell over Soto if they could trade Soto.

 

[ScoutLife4]

Although with the culture they have engrained over the past year, I would almost argue keeping Bishop or Pickell over Soto if they could trade Soto.

Here's how i see it in the current moment:

2005's:
Bishop-
McGowan -trade bait
Uens - Chance he returns to run the locker room
Pickell-- Chance he returns to run the locker room
Willis -Signed but -Doesn't appear ready to make Pro leap. -Don't rule this out yet.

Players I think are gone:
Soto-May start the season but I don't see it. No trade value there.
Miedema -trade bait -I believe both sides mutually want change.
Vaccari-Not an OHL goalie / cannot take up a OA spot. -no trade value there

Reminder:
Uronen is still unsigned -Somehow.

Players confirmed gone:
Hay-Gone
Burns-Gone
Pieniniemi -Gone

 

[FrontalLobe]

Here's how i see it in the current moment:

2005's:
Bishop-
McGowan -trade bait
Uens -
Pickell-
Willis -Signed but -Doesn't appear ready to make Pro leap. -Don't rule this out yet.

Players I think are gone:
Soto
Miedema -trade bait
Vaccari

Reminder:
Uronen is still unsigned -Somehow.

Players confirmed gone:
Hay-Gone
Burns-Gone
Pieniniemi -Gone

As good as Uronen is it is extremely rare to use a euro card and an oa card on the same player. Perhaps a three euro rule might change the thinking on that? But still suing two key cards on one player as opposed to two.

Good point on Willis. Might have some trade value if he returns?

Miedema is definitely not returning.

 

[ScoutLife4]

As good as Uronen is it is extremely rare to use a euro card and an oa card on the same player. Perhaps a three euro rule might change the thinking on that? But still suing two key cards on one player as opposed to two.

Good point on Willis. Might have some trade value if he returns?

Miedema is definitely not returning.

So many unknowns right now.
Will be a couple months before there is a clear picture.

 

[leafs4life94]

Here's how i see it in the current moment:

2005's:
Bishop-
McGowan -trade bait
Uens - Chance he returns to run the locker room
Pickell-- Chance he returns to run the locker room
Willis -Signed but -Doesn't appear ready to make Pro leap. -Don't rule this out yet.

Players I think are gone:
Soto-May start the season but I don't see it. No trade value there.
Miedema -trade bait -I believe both sides mutually want change.
Vaccari-Not an OHL goalie / cannot take up a OA spot. -no trade value there

Reminder:
Uronen is still unsigned -Somehow.

Players confirmed gone:
Hay-Gone
Burns-Gone
Pieniniemi -Gone

Willis returning would be interesting - admittedly I was a little surprised he got signed because he wasn't overly impressive aside from a few games but once he was I'd ruled him out - I'd have to imagine he'd be another piece of trade bait.

It just crossed my mind - since Uronen was drafted out of Finland, Vegas has another two years holding his rights (confirmed on Puckpedia) - I think it's more likely he goes back to Finland than comes back for an OA year, but especally with Kingston having no returning imports, none on the "frozen list", and the extra import slot this year, the chances are much higher than I would've said a few weeks ago - he could either be their best player or he could be a good trade chip.

Have you heard anything about this rumoured "goalie can be a 4th OA" rule? They don't really have anyone beyond Betts so I'm even if he's not a great goalie having Vaccari to help Betts transition full time I think would be great.

 

[frontsfan67]

Here's how i see it in the current moment:

2005's:
Bishop-
McGowan -trade bait
Uens - Chance he returns to run the locker room
Pickell-- Chance he returns to run the locker room
Willis -Signed but -Doesn't appear ready to make Pro leap. -Don't rule this out yet.

Players I think are gone:
Soto-May start the season but I don't see it. No trade value there.
Miedema -trade bait -I believe both sides mutually want change.
Vaccari-Not an OHL goalie / cannot take up a OA spot. -no trade value there

Reminder:
Uronen is still unsigned -Somehow.

Agree with all 100% Soto maybe gets traded for a cheap package if someone wants to take a chance on him with new scenery.

Baffles me Uronen isn’t signed. Doesn’t he have until June 1st or something?

What if Uronen went NCAA next year, is that a possibility?

Or if he returned as an OA/Import and we drafted his 2 twin younger brothers and he plays with them for 1 year here.

Tons of uncertainly

 

[beastintheeast]

As has been stated, I don't see them tying up an Import and Euro on Uronen/ At best, with this team, he would be a dead-lime trade piece but taking up 2 spots lowers his value.

I also do not see Kington getting both of his brothers this year. Remember, this is not an OHL draft but a CHL, which means a lot of teams will be looking.

The best thing for Uronen is to find an AHL, ECHL, or Euro men's league team. Remember once Vegas gives up signing him he is a free agent, and I am sure he will make an AHL team somewhere.

I would forget about the fourth OA goalie or the third import. The league has bigger issues to sort out, and I think they will come into effect as soon as possible next season.

You have to remember that importing players costs money.

Also I am not sure if Vaccari would be willing to come back as a back up for an OA year. He may just go the uni route.

I don't see anyone in a hurry to trade for OA players at least until camp, because everyone except 2 has an overabundance that they have to clear.

Soto I think, will simply be waived but at best, he will be an 11th round pick

 

[frontsfan67]

I also do not see Kington getting both of his brothers this year. Remember, this is not an OHL draft but a CHL, which means a lot of teams will be looking.

Well the teams won’t let one go to Victoria and the other one go to Charlottetown otherwise they won’t commit. Splitting up brothers would be a MASSIVE mistake. Telling ya beast whoever drafts the first one will get the second one too. Crap ton of imports out there- kingston should end up with Eelis and Anttoni unless they stay overseas.

Also I am not sure if Vaccari would be willing to come back as a back up for an OA year. He may just go the uni route.

He’s a sub 6’ average or below average goalie. Brainiac for sure but doubt an NCAA team signs him. Probably plays here for another year getting schooling paid for and goes USPORTS