As per LoneRanger on twitter:
"While everyone looks at plucking the top players off the Otters and Spits,something big is brewing elsewhere"
"McKenzie is in talks with an eastern team for a C and D...would be huge additions if he can get this deal done"
This is a fairly specific rumour. How much do people trust LoneRanger? I know he's from the Rangersrush board. It's one thing when someone who may be close to the team is sharing things on an obscure message board (even more obscure than the OHL section buried within a corner of HF), but when someone's sharing things such as this via Twitter, under their real name, it would be pretty easy for MM to put the kibosh on that. Can anyone speak to credibility here? Are we looking at a Bob McKenzie or an Eklund? If it's the former, why would MM be ok with team business being disseminated like that?
Thanks for that Nation. Very interesting!
Brazeau and Dineen out of North Bay maybe?
Or Pezzetta and Candella out of Sudbury?
I like the idea of using the same source if we're going to be adding multiple players. It's always a gamble when bringing in new faces, as the rush to develop chemistry in time for the playoffs is on. Bringing in guys who have familiarity with each other would be a big help. If Hall is out long-term, I like the idea of adding DiPietro, as I've mentioned earlier (also would depend on OS's plans; blocking them would be a consideration). The price would be high, but some of that can be recouped next year.
I also agree with EvenSteven that Dineen would be a nice add. He brings production from the backend that we currently lack - Stanley has been great, but that's not really his game, and this is the first ~25 games of his career that he's been above average offensively. Moving Joey up front also may eliminate the need for more offence there, as well as allays the chemistry concerns I mentioned earlier.
I think this team's forward group is mostly fine. They've underachieved for the most part this year, but since adding Sherwood have been playing more up to expectations, and Mascherin is starting to get going. Hugg is looking a lot more comfortable, and I think we'll see that increase as the season wears on (same with Liska).
So I would prefer to add a bottom-sixer who brings some intangibles/an element that the young guys who mostly take up those spots don't yet bring. He would also come cheaper and would offset the DiPietro and Dineen costs as well. We'd be looking at something like this:
Gareffa-Damiani-Sherwood
Mascherin-Hugg-Bunnaman
Liska-Meireles-Henderson
McHugh-Acquisition-Carter/Yantsis/Guest/Petizian
Stanley-Dineen
Vallati-Gentles
York-Ladd
DiPietro
Richardson
If/when Hall returns, he slots in for Gentles, who then slots in for York/Ladd. I imagine Ladd/Guest/McHugh would be guys most likely to be involved in deals.