Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part I

[Sam14]

OA decisions are often difficult. I get that he hadn't played so the value in return would always be a question mark. There's always a business aspect. I just read that Bryant was caught off guard by this. So the communication wasn't there, which seems bush league to me given that he was the captain and had strong community involvement.

100%

If IceDog fans think Gavin is not extremely upset that he was completely disrespected and blindsided by this organization, you are giving DDD a pass he DOES NOT deserve!

That is a fact not opinion!

 

[Sam14]

Who’s the right one to trade then your #1 goalie or the #1 D and probably get even less for him

I’ve been saying this since training camp NVV is just too slow to be anything more than average at best. To lose a top 3 F for NVV is ludicrous. Good luck to Darren trying to find a top 3 F for this team with that 3rd he got in this deal.

 

[dogs777]

I’ve been saying this since training camp NVV is just too slow to be anything more than average at best. To lose a top 3 F for NVV is ludicrous. Good luck to Darren trying to find a top 3 F for this team with that 3rd he got in this deal.

I agree losing any of the 3 (Loshko Bryant or Flores) instead of NVV sucks but it is what it is as for him being a top 3 F on this team maybe he is but realistically we don’t know what he looks like this year yet as for him being disrespected and upset I understand that but he shouldn’t be blindsided by it he knew they have 4 OA and he’s the only one not playing so that increases his chances of going especially with the team playing like they are

 

[dogs777]

IceDogs Name Kevin He as 18th Captain In Franchise History and Jack Brauti to Assistant Captain - Niagara IceDogs

NIAGARA, ON – The Niagara IceDogs have announced that Kevin He will serve as the 18th Captain of the team, with Jack Brauti named as Assistant Captain. “Kevin is the future of our franchise right now. He is our first NHL Draft pick in 6 years and signalizes that we are on the upswing as…

chl.ca

He’ll be move in January next season

 

[dirty12]

I’ve been saying this since training camp NVV is just too slow to be anything more than average at best. To lose a top 3 F for NVV is ludicrous. Good luck to Darren trying to find a top 3 F for this team with that 3rd he got in this deal.

Van Vliet has more on ice value to the IceDogs than Bryant. Flores has zero trade value, and is the coach’s choice.
I was on the side of seeing how Robertson fared in a handful of games with Bryant in the line up before making a trade, but there is really nothing controversial about the trade.
Maybe, making the trade now saved the team from distraction over the next two weekends.

 

[three dog night]

He’ll be move in January next season

Doubt it

 

[dogs777]

Doubt it

Yea I might be wrong but if they aren’t expecting to win it all next year I’d be moving him and maybe even RR if you think he’s going high in the draft and might not come back

 

[Sam14]

Van Vliet has more on ice value to the IceDogs than Bryant. Flores has zero trade value, and is the coach’s choice.
I was on the side of seeing how Robertson fared in a handful of games with Bryant in the line up before making a trade, but there is really nothing controversial about the trade.
Maybe, making the trade now saved the team from distraction over the next two weekends.

NVV has LESS on ice value then Bryant. You obviously don’t watch IceDogs games and are unfamiliar with bottom 2-3 skaters. So keep your head buried Troll.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

NVV has good value because we don't have extra D men. He is important to our team.

 

[Sam14]

Flores is marginally better than Robertson. Bryant is a huge upgrade over the 12th forward.

Trading Bryant for at least as much as Guindon would give the IceDogs a real pick surplus, and allow the team to shop Robertson later for more picks to use over the following two seasons.

Keeping Bryant improves the team offensively and defensively now. The first line could be put out against any line, and I think the over all depth would be pretty impressive.

Interesting...flip flop today. Just making stuff up as you go along about a team you don’t even follow. It’s embarrassing that you post on here! You are a TROLL on this IceDogs page.

 

[Sam14]

NVV has good value because we don't have extra D men. He is important to our team.

You’re correct in saying NVV value is in “numbers” but he is not more talented than the other 3 OAs.

 

[Bennyboy]

Bryant coming back would have created a log-jam at centre - Loshko, Assadourian, Czata and Wray - one of them would have needed to move to the wing and another 4th line C minutes.

If Paris is coming back then the forward group looks good enough to keep this team competitive.

Maybe a better trade would have been to package Assadourian with NVV for a decent big body 06/05 defence - if that would even be possible

 

[dirty12]

Interesting...flip flop today. Just making stuff up as you go along about a team you don’t even follow. It’s embarrassing that you post on here! You are a TROLL on this IceDogs page.

flip-flop how? Bryant is a huge upgrade over the 12th forward. That’s why I was on the side of seeing how Robertson fared with Bryant in the line-up before making a trade. At the same time I could understand trading Bryant for the pick(s) so the developing players would not lose TOI

 

[Sam14]

flip-flop how?

Please just stop embarrassing yourself. Move onto your own fan page.

 

[mattommy98]

NVV has NOT been very good at all and has not helped the current situation of our weak D core. And Not good enough to justify trading your team’s leading goal scorer last year for (and a trade that’s net result is another loss in picks and one of your best F.

Take a rest, man, Jesus Christ you are negative are you even watching the games in person? Seriously I have season tickets. I watch every game and have a positive outlook as many do in person. Can you have any sign of light?

 

[mattommy98]

27 is better than 19 Flores is better than Robertson and Vanvleet fits well adding physicality to a small defence they made the right choice move on

 

[dogs777]

Bryant coming back would have created a log-jam at centre - Loshko, Assadourian, Czata and Wray - one of them would have needed to move to the wing and another 4th line C minutes.

If Paris is coming back then the forward group looks good enough to keep this team competitive.

Maybe a better trade would have been to package Assadourian with NVV for a decent big body 06/05 defence - if that would even be possible

Don’t really have a log-jam if Bryant stayed Loshko is listed as a RW so you just move him over

 

[knowescape]

He’ll be move in January next season

And get taken to the cleaners in the process.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

You’re correct in saying NVV value is in “numbers” but he is not more talented than the other 3 OAs.

Forget the other OAs. It is about a lack of D men.

The last thing I want is DDD trading away our future to get another D man for this season.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

At the start of the year I expected Flores to be odd man out, but Robertson just isn't good enough this season. It's a shame, something is off with him.

Obviously it sucks to lose a great player in Bryant, but this does allow guys like Czata, Wassilyn, Galiyanov and Crete a better opportunity to find their game.

I understand Bryant's frustration. I'd be furious too. That said with the blindsided comment, and I'm not a fan of DDD, but how many players truly get told "Hey, I'm looking at trading you in a few weeks, so be ready for that."

 

[Dog Fan]

NVV has LESS on ice value then Bryant. You obviously don’t watch IceDogs games and are unfamiliar with bottom 2-3 skaters. So keep your head buried Troll.

Well Sam, we may all be wrong all the time but it was enjoyable to be in a discussion on this board. Now that you are here, not willing to accept the opinions of any fellow posters, it is significantly less enjoyable. Please take yourself less seriously when it comes to an opinion board

 

[Bennyboy]

Don’t really have a log-jam if Bryant stayed Loshko is listed as a RW so you just move him over

I wouldn't move Loshko out as He's centre,
Bryant would have been a perfect fit between Wassilyn and Roe - was looking forward to that line Czata has to dev as a centre on this team - needs the reps.
This was going to be a better forward group with Bryant for sure, just unfortunate they had to many OA's. NVV is OK, he can stand up for the team but he's average everywhere else IMO.

 

[bigsportsfan]

Well Sam, we may all be wrong all the time but it was enjoyable to be in a discussion on this board. Now that you are here, not willing to accept the opinions of any fellow posters, it is significantly less enjoyable. Please take yourself less seriously when it comes to an opinion board

I think Sam does have a lot of inside information about the IceDogs and it frustrates him to see how bad things really are with DD at the helm. Some of you may think the team is doing well now so everything is good. But that couldn't be further from the truth.

The IceDogs asset management is horrendous. If a GM of any other team made the moves that DD has made, they would be fired. We don't even have our full compliment of picks and yet the IceDogs have been out of the playoffs for 4 seasons. We should be full of 2nd and 3rd round picks.

Most of the early players they draft belong to one agent, which restricts the pool of talent. They won't draft U.S. players and they barely use the import draft.

The in-game experience is nothing like it was under the Burke's and attendance is plummeting.

Now I will admit that things have improved a little this season. DD has brought in a solid coaching staff and it appears he is spending a little more on the players this season. The in-game experience seems to have slightly improved over last season and the summer fan fest at least shows he is trying to win the fans. But DD still has a long way to go (doing real media interviews and being honest with the fans would help).

I am enjoying the winning this season but to be honest, I am extremely worried about the future of the IceDogs here in Niagara. Sometimes once a team starts losing fans, it snowballs and the team can't be saved.

 

[dirty12]

I think Sam does have a lot of inside information about the IceDogs and it frustrates him to see how bad things really are with DD at the helm. Some of you may think the team is doing well now so everything is good. But that couldn't be further from the truth.

The IceDogs asset management is horrendous. If a GM of any other team made the moves that DD has made, they would be fired. We don't even have our full compliment of picks and yet the IceDogs have been out of the playoffs for 4 seasons. We should be full of 2nd and 3rd round picks.

Most of the early players they draft belong to one agent, which restricts the pool of talent. They won't draft U.S. players and they barely use the import draft.

The in-game experience is nothing like it was under the Burke's and attendance is plummeting.

Now I will admit that things have improved a little this season. DD has brought in a solid coaching staff and it appears he is spending a little more on the players this season. The in-game experience seems to have slightly improved over last season and the summer fan fest at least shows he is trying to win the fans. But DD still has a long way to go (doing real media interviews and being honest with the fans would help).

I am enjoying the winning this season but to be honest, I am extremely worried about the future of the IceDogs here in Niagara. Sometimes once a team starts losing fans, it snowballs and the team can't be saved.

Niagara actually still has a slight pick surplus after adding three defencemen to improve the team now and future seasons. Brauti and Virgilio, as well as Cheynowski are eligible to play through the 2026-27 season. The IceDogs can return 10 of the 12 forwards currently in the line up and 6 of the 7 defencemen for the 2025-26.

 

[Sam14]

Niagara actually still has a slight pick surplus

How is this a surplus of picks? It's basically the bare mininum number of picks a team should have for any give draft year. There is no surplus of picks to acquire high-end talent (this year or next year) without severely crippling this franchise long term. Please take some time to get the facts before posting

ICEDOGS DRAFT CAPITAL
25: - , 3, 4, 4
26: 2, 3, 3, 4
27: 2, 3, 4, 4
28: 2, 3, 4



This is a surplus…that allow teams the flexible to add high-end talent to compete for championships if they choice to do so.

BRAMPTION DRAFT CAPITAL
25: 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5
26: 2, 2, 3, 3, 5
27: 3, 4, 5, 5
28: 2, 2, 5

BRANTFORD DRAFT CAPITAL
25: -, 3
26: 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5
27: 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5
28: 3, 4, 5

KINGSTON DRAFT CAPITAL
25: -, 3, 4, 5
26: 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5
27: 2, 3, 5, 5
28: 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4

SUBBURY DRAFT CAPITAL
25: 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5
26: 3, 3, 4, 5, 5
27: 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5
28: 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5