Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part I

[bigsportsfan]

I listened to the OHL podcast where they gave their Eastern Conference predictions. The one host had the IceDogs dead last in the conference while the other host had them just squeaking into the playoffs at 8. They do a good job explaining the rationale behind their prediction. If you go to YouTube and search OHL podcast you can give it a listen. It’s the Sept 16 show.

 

[Sam14]

Who’s being traded now and to where?

No specific name was mentioned. Only that they are “actively looking” to add another forward.

 

[Sam14]

Niagara vs Windsor full game




Only a preseason game, however: Wassilyn and Crete (despite limited 4th line min.) are going to be fan favourites; Brauti is solid (worthy of a 2nd, 3rd, 3rd including Frolov was an overpay or as one OHL executive, that has to remain nameless, said, “Barrie acquired Bertucci and got Niagara to pay for it”); Cheynowski a possible breakout year candidate; watching him play for the first time, one would assume Joey Wassilyn will be reassigned to NYR; hopefully just the preseason but Roobroeck’s play thus far has been reminiscent of his play in the final 2 months of his u16 season (disinterested and disengaged in 5 on 5 hockey); Charlie Robertson played well; Flores continues to seek out a fight; only first impression, but the last time I saw Sean Doherty play was u16 and he was a much faster skater back then (sting fans?)

 

[dogs777]

No specific name was mentioned. Only that they are “actively looking” to add another forward.

They don’t need another forward (unless someone asked out) if they need anything it’s D or even a goalie

 

[Sam14]

They don’t need another forward (unless someone asked out) if they need anything it’s D or even a goalie

It's a F they are looking for.

This is a team determined to make the playoffs at any expense, they need need upgrades up and down this line up if they want to finish 7th or 8th. This roster doesn't compare to the vast majority of teams in the East. I'll post an Eastern Conference roster breakdown soon so ID fans can see where the team stands comparatively.

 

[dogs777]

It's a F they are looking for.

This is a team determined to make the playoffs at any expense, they need need upgrades up and down this line up if they want to finish 7th or 8th. This roster doesn't compare to the vast majority of teams in the East. I'll post an Eastern Conference roster breakdown soon so ID fans can see where the team stands comparatively.

You’re right they’d need upgrades if they want to be higher up in the standings but I don’t think they need much if they’re ok with 8th

 

[bigsportsfan]

Brauti is solid (worthy of a 2nd, 3rd, 3rd including Frolov was an overpay or as one OHL executive, that has to remain nameless, said, “Barrie acquired Bertucci and got Niagara to pay for it”);

That is hilarious. Maybe Niagara just wants to help the other teams be successful. lol

 

[Sam14]

You’re right they’d need upgrades if they want to be higher up in the standings but I don’t think they need much if they’re ok with 8th

At this moment, the only team this roster (whose 19 yr olds F are Assadorian, Levin and Paris) is stronger than in the East is the Petes.

Only when Ottawa and NB sell enough top talent will they be the favourites to finish in the playoffs. However, DD’s trades made and will make is to assure that 8th or 7th is not dependent on how much they sell. No one is safe. Hope for a fast start to get DD’s hand off the trigger.

 

[knowescape]

That is hilarious. Maybe Niagara just wants to help the other teams be successful. lol

Or maybe a little brown envelope ventured south on Hwy 400?

 

[knowescape]

Preseason done Windsor 5 Niagara 3

Niagara continues their losing tradition. I know, I know, the preseason is about seeing new players perform and assembling line combinations. But when was the last time you remember Niagara performing well in the preseason, to the point that you felt at all confidential about the ensuing six months?

 

[knowescape]

The Icedogs do a horrible job of updating their website.

Betting the intern responsible has an early bedtime and his mom won't let him stay up to work on it. When are those OHL standards coming?

 

[dogs777]

Betting the intern responsible has an early bedtime and his mom won't let him stay up to work on it. When are those OHL standards coming?

They did a terrible job even before the owners changed

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

They did a terrible job even before the owners changed

This is very true.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

and just like that ... they update their roster page

Niagara IceDogs

chl.ca

 

[knowescape]

and just like that ... they update their roster page

Coincidence? Or are they secretly reading (Sell the team Darren).

 

[Sam14]

A season preview specifically for IceDog fans. As of September 25th, there are six teams that are significantly stronger and a lock for one of the top six playoff spots. The teams battling for those final two playoff spots are Ottawa, North Bay and Niagara. The fate of the IceDogs relies on, first and foremost, their own play and secondly, how many high-end players Ottawa and North Bay decide to sell.

The Eastern Conference has never been stronger, thus, IceDog fans should temper their 24-25 expectations. This makes their decision to trade the future (players and draft picks) for the present all that more puzzling.

HOWEVER, a few things are absolutely certain this season: First, the IceDogs will squeeze into the playoffs! At what cost and what additional damage to the team’s future, will depend on where they sit in the standing after the first couple of months. No move is off limits. Second, after the improbability of an OHL franchise finishing dead last two years in row, IceDogs hockey ops will celebrate 7th or 8th as some incredible “against all odds” accomplishment.

Here is what the IceDogs are up against in 2024-2025

TOP SIX
FYI. I took the liberty to go ahead and make the expected trades (Eliasson to Barrie and Barlow to Oshawa) on this report.

BRAMPTON: 6 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:
04 D - Stevie Leskovar (NHL MIN 24 RD 6); Spencer Sova

05 F - Carson Rehkopf (NHL SEA 23 RD 2); Angus MacDonell (NHL DAL 23 RD 6); Luke Misa (NHL CAL 24 RD 5); Mason Zebeski; Adam Zidlicky; D – Finn Harding (NHL PITT 24 RD 7);

06 – F Porter Martone; Jack Van Volsen; Lucas Karmiris; Martin Vaculik IMPORT; D – Parker Von Richter; Jakub Fibigr IMPORT (NHL SEA RD 7)

07 - G Jack Ivankovic

REPORT: Brampton has: an extremely strong 05 core; an equally strong 06 core; a stocked draft cupboard. Steelheads are serious contenders this season and next season.
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: HIGH



BRANTFORD: 7 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:
OA-04 F PatrickThomas (NHL WSH 23 RD 4); Ben Bujold; Zak Lavoie;

05 F Nick Lardis (NHL CHI 23 RD 3); Cole Brown (NHL NJ 23 RD 6); D Noah Roberts

06 F Marek Vanacker (INJ Dec) (NHL CHI 24 RD 1); Luca Testa; D Owen Protz (NHL MON 24 RD 4); Adam Jiricek IMPORT (NHL STL 23 RD 1); G – Ryerson Leenders (NHL BUFF 24 RD 7); G David Egorov

07 F Jake O’Brien; Adrien Bartovic (UNSIGNED IMPORT)

REPORT: Brantford has: a strong 04-OA core; a few elite 05s; an impressive 06 core. The Bulldogs are serious contenders this season and next season.
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: HIGH



OSHAWA: 6 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:
OA-04 F *Dyan Roobroeck (NHL NYR 23 RD 6); D Luca D'Amato; G Jacob Oster;

05 F Colby Barlow (NHL 23 WINN RD 1); Calum Ritchie (NHL COL 23 RD1); Luca Marrelli (NHL CLB 24 RD 3); Matthew Buckley; D Zachary Sandu

06 F Beckett Sennecke (NHL ANA 24 RD 1); Lauri Sinivuori IMPORT; D Ben Danford (NHL TOR 24 RD 1); David Bedkowski; David Svozil IMPORT

REPORT: Oshawa loses several key players from their Eastern Conference championship team. Despite having limited draft assets it appears they will be acquiring Colby Barlow when/if returned to the OHL. Assuming Roobroeck is also returned, for the most part, Oshawa returns a strong core of their 23-24 Eastern Conference championship team.
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: LOW (post Barlow trade)



KINGSTON: 7 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:
04 *G Nolan Lalonde (NHL CLB ELC); Cedrick Guindon (NHL MON 22 RD 4)

05 F – Ethan Miedema (NHL BUF 23 RD 4); Luke McNamara; Matthew Soto; Tuomas Uronen IMPORT (NHL VGK 23 RD 6); 05 D Quinton Burn (NHL STL 23 RD 3); Cal Uens; Maleek McGowan; Emil Pieniniemi IMPORT (NHL PITT 23 RD 3); G Mason Vaccari

06 F Jabob Battaglia (NHL CAL 24 RD 2); D Vann Williamson

REPORT: Kingston rosters the largest number of 05s (4 of them NHL drafted); Kingston is a team looking to contend in 24-25.
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: HIGH



BARRIE: 7 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:
04 F Jelsma, Beau (AHL Contract); Roenick Jodoin; Zach Wigle; Tai York,

05 F Brad Gardiner (NHL DAL 23 RD 3); D Beau Akey (NHL EDM 23 RD 2); Tristen Bertucci (NHL DAL 23 RD 2); Grayson Tiller; G Sam Hillebrandt

06 F Cole Beaudoin (NHL UTAH 24 RD 1); Riley Patterson (NHL VAN 24 RD 4); Emil Hemming IMPORT (NHL DAL 24 RD 1); Bode Stewart; Carter Lowe; D Kashawn Aitcheson; Gabriel Eliasson IMPORT (NHL OTT 24 RD 2)

REPORT: Barrie’s impressive core of 05s and 06s (6 NHL DRAFTED post Eliasson trade), along with a potentially talented 04 group, has the Colts setup to be a highly competitive team battling for a top 4 seed.
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: MID/LOW



SUDBURY ROSTER: 4 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:
04 F Kocha Delic; Nick DeAngelis; Donovan McCoy;

05 F Quentin Musty (NHL SJ 23 RD 1); Alex Pharand (NHL CHI 23 RD 4); D - Gavin Ewles

06 F Nathan Villeneuve (NHL SEA 24 RD 2); Kieron Walton (NHL WINN 24 RD 6); D Nolan Jackson;

07 F Jan Chovan (UNSIGNED IMPORT); D Adam Nemec (UNSIGNED IMPORT)

REPORT: Sudbury has: a competitive returning core provided Q.Musty returns; a collection of high-end 04-OAs; and a significant amount of draft capital. Sudbury owner Dario Zulich is on record stating, “…we are making important moves to strengthen our team and position ourselves for a deep run this season. Our shared goal is clear: to go deep into the playoffs and bring home a championship.”
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: HIGH



BATTLING 7 - 10

OTTAWA: 5 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:
OA-04 D Matt Mayich (NHL STL 23 RD 6), D Thomas Sirman; F Will Gerrior; *Brady Stonehouse (EDM FA); G Collin MacKenzie

05 F Luca Pinelli (NHL CBJ 23 RD 4); Cooper Foster (NHL PIT 23 RD 6); Chris Barlas; Jack Devers

06 F Filip Ekberg IMPORT; D Frankie Marrelli; Henry Mews (NHL CAL 24 RD 3); Joshua Brady

REPORT: Ottawa returns a noteworthy core of OAs, 05s and O6s talent to make them legit playoff contenders (7th or 8th). However, their lack of draft capital will most likely force them to unload some of their elite talent to fill-out their draft cupboard.
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: LOW



NORTH BAY: 3-4 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:
04 ? G Dom DiVincentiis (NHL WPG 22 RD 7); F – Owen Van Steensel; Dalyn Wakely (NHL EDM 24 RD 6); Andrew LeBlanc; Jacob LeBlanc;

05 F Anthony Romani (NHL VAN 24 RD 6); D Bronson Ride; Wyatt Kennedy

06 F Ethan Procyszyn (NHL ANA 24 RD 3); Jabob Therrien; Natan Teshome IMPORT; Ihnat Pazii IMPORT; D Brayden Turley; G Mike McIvor

REPORT: Lack of draft picks dictates NB will be sellers, despite returning a team capable of being playoff contenders (7th or 8th), how much they sell will dictate where they finish. SELLERS
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: VERY LOW



NIAGARA: 2 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:
04 F Gavin Bryant (INJ); Andrei Loshko (NHL SEAN 23 RD 4); D Noah Van Vliet; G Owen Flores

05 F Alex Assodorian; M.Levin; M.Paris; D 05 Andrew Wycsik (INJ); G Charlie Robertson

06 F Kevin He (NHL WINN 24 RD 4); D Jack Brauti; Matthew Virgilio; Callum Cheynowski; Blair Scott;

07 F Ryan Roobroeck; Ethan Czata, Ivan Galiyanov;

08 F Braidy Wassilyn, Max Crete

REPORT: Niagara was rebuilding towards a championship and Mem-Cup bid in 26-27, however, they averted that rebuild plan, prioritized a final playoff spots (electing to trade 07 Frolov and numerous high draft picks in attempt to accomplish this season’s hockey ops’playoff mandate). “I think it’s gonna be really big as an organization to (make the playoffs).”
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: LOW/MID



PETERBOROUGH: 0 NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
CORE PLAYERS:

04 G Liam Sztuska; F Jonathon Melee; F Chase Lefebvre

05 G Zach Bowen;

06 F Braydon McCallum; D Grayden Strohack;

07 F Caden Taylor; Aiden Young; Nico Addy; D – Carson Cameron; Liam Ladds; Adam Novotny (UNSIGNED IMPORT)

08 F Colin Fitzgerald, D - Blake Gowan

REPORT: The Petes are fully committed to building around high end core of 07s (featuring 4 1st rd players) and 08’s for a 26-27 championship run. Without a single NHL drafted player, a lottery pick looks more likely than the final playoff spot, but you never know.
# AVAILABLE DRAFT PICKS: MID/HIGH

 

[OHL4Life]

they got a 3rd for the import, better then i thought

 

[the dog]

Should of got more

 

[LDN]

Will they be in the market for an import? Gazizov from London is an OA and would really add to your top 6

 

[Kingpin794]

Will they be in the market for an import? Gazizov from London is an OA and would really add to your top 6

Why in the world would Gazizov want to put up with this clown show? He could go back to Russia and make decent money playing pro instead.

 

[OHL4Life]

Should of got more

sure but thats every trade they make

 

[Sam14]

Darren Dedobbalear is a complete buffoon! This is a ridiculously horride return for Gabriel Eliasson! Each year and each move DD makes continues to drive this fan base away. What a complete embarrassement this is to the hockey fans in Niagara.

 

[dogs777]

Will they be in the market for an import? Gazizov from London is an OA and would really add to your top 6

They might want to add another import but can’t see it being another OA they have to get rid of one already

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

They might want to add another import but can’t see it being another OA they have to get rid of one already

You have to figure it will be Flores who we trade, when Bryant returns.

 

[dogs777]

You have to figure it will be Flores who we trade, when Bryant returns.

I think that’s the obvious choice which makes me think that won’t happen