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Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part I
- Thread starter SoupNazi
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Dogs Enthusiast
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The IceDogs won because of Flores and their PP but I didn’t think their overall game was that great. However, it was the first game and you need a few weeks before you can really see what this team will be.
Mcnotloilersfan
I'm here, I'm bored
I maintain that I think Niagara can out-score a lot of their problems this year to fight for those 7-8 seeds, especially as Roobroeck, Czata and Wassilyn get going.
Next year if they want to contend, they have to add 2 defensemen far superior to what they have now. Brauti, Chenowski, Virgilio and Frasca will be fine if they have 2 guys much better leading the way.
The only hope of accomplishing this is finding 1 in the import draft - then trade Loshko at this deadline for picks, and use those picks along with whoever we take in the first round next summer, at next seasons deadline for that other defenseman.
Being that Loshko is both an OA and import, that will limit the teams who are interested in him. I don’t think the return will be very much.
knowescape
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Niagara's strategy has been to attempt to out-score a leaky back end. It doesn't work but it's more glamourous buying goal scorers.
Mcnotloilersfan
I'm here, I'm bored
It works far more often in Junior than it does in the big leagues. Niagara just didn't have the offense to pull this off until recently. You even saw it start to come through at the end of last year. They even took some high end teams with them in barn burners, being on the winning side of a few.
It isn't a recipe for success in the playoffs, but it just might get them this year with their fire power (assuming the guys I mentioned do find that next level). They will of course go down in 4 (or 5 if they get lucky once) in the first round if they make it.
knowescape
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Kevin He!
I’ll never understand why a 2nd round NHL talent fell all the way to the 4th round.
I’ll never understand why a 2nd round NHL talent fell all the way to the 4th round.
frontsfan67
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- Dec 3, 2022
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Icedogs rally to beat Kingston 5 to 2 behind He two goals Flores the winning goalie 2,908 announced attendance looked smaller next up a trip to Oshawa Friday night.
Mcnotloilersfan
I'm here, I'm bored
You build from the draft. BPA. If you do it right and your team is unbalanced, you should have the assets to make the moves and balance the roster. Unfortunately, our guy will never get it
From what I understand, many scouts saw him at the start of the season when he was not only struggling offensively, but he was a perimeter player. In the back half of the season, he started to find his confidence and drive the net.
He's likely a steal in the 4th round, but I think there were just a lot of solid options in round 2 that maybe showed more determination in their game all year.
Dogs Enthusiast
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What a great 3rd period. He with that second goal, wow.
Two road wins to start the season. Way to go Dogs.
Two road wins to start the season. Way to go Dogs.
Average sized, hits like he is bigger
His draft position was affected by the team being nowhere near making the playoffs last year
frontsfan67
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- Dec 3, 2022
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Thought he was about 5’9. Never looked at his height online before- that is surprising for me.
Even if he was 5’9 though teams are always wrong about players that size. Look at Justin Poirier last year.
The GM or whomever did make the roster more balanced by adding two more to make three ‘06 D.
That is the exact opposite take from those who cover the team locally (and fans following the team closely). They actually speak of the team’s ODD imbalance among the D and also in relation to the team’s core Fs (this year and going forward).
A balanced D, would be: 1 OA-04; 2 - 05s; 2 - 06s, 2 - 07s and 1 - 08;
IceDogs currently have 1 OA-04; 0 - 05s; 3 - 06s, 0 - 07s and 1 - 08;
In relation to the F, its best Fs are: 1 OA; 1 - 06 and a group of 5 - 07s and 08s, in comparison to the D, which is primarily anchored by 1 - 04 and 3 – 06s.
In terms of "team balance", it’s a very odd OHL construct. The imbalance becomes more pronounced as each year move forward.
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Mcnotloilersfan
I'm here, I'm bored
Yes and No. Don't get me wrong, they seem like decent additions.
But I mean balance more as in, they have a lot of guys who are either top 6 forwards now, or will be by season end. Roobroeck and Wassilyn have a very high chance at being 2026 nhl first round picks.
The defense group doesn't come close to that potential. They definitely need 2 guys who are better than Brauti if they want a run at it next year.
It's nice to see the IceDogs get some points early, so it keeps DD inactive! He has trades cooking, if they don't get off to a good start.
As I've said all along the IceDogs will make the playoffs 7th or 8th is almost a sure thing. NB will be selling soon and Ottawa will do the same at some point between now the trade deadline.
There are; 6-‘05s, 6-‘06s. 5-‘07s. That is pretty balanced. I think it is preferable to have weight of the older players skewed a bit on the defence and goaltending side since it generally more takes time before they thrive in the OHL.
Virgilio. Brauti, Cheynowski willl just continue to get better this season, the next, and again in likely OA seasons as Czata, Roobroek, Wassylin, and Crete hopefully develop into star players at 18-19.
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Mcnotloilersfan
I'm here, I'm bored
I don't doubt that, but right now I don't see any of them becoming elite players. I could be wrong. We need 1 or 2 elite defenders to go for it.
None of those 05s and 06 F (aside from He) are strong enough players to consider this a balanced lineup. Their elite F are 07 and 08 and their strongest and only D are older. They are without any notable 05 and 07 D. Not sure why you are disputing something any fan can clearly see by reviewing the roster and talent level in each age group
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