Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part II

[dogs777]

Moving a couple or a few players like, Loshko, NVV, Virgilio, Flores at the deadline is what the IceDogs should be doing but you and I both know that will NEVER happen! Mark my words DD will be some version of an outlier buyer at the deadline. It will get weird.

Without an abundance of NHL drafted talent in combination with a lack of draft capital to facilitate a go for it year, is not a receipt for a championship run anytime soon. DD’s plans to bid on the Mem Cup in 26-27, can only, in part, be accomplished by trading NHL talent Kevin He next year. Really has no choice. However, I will shocked if does that too. Nothing DD decides to do over the next few years is going to make sense to the fan that fully understand the business of the OHL.

I agree with moving Loshko NVV and Flores but Virgilio wouldn’t be the other D I’d move I would move Wysick or Scott and up front I’d move Paris or Levin to somewhat sort out the OAs for next year

 

[dirty12]

Moving a couple or a few players like, Loshko, NVV, Virgilio, Flores at the deadline is what the IceDogs should be doing but you and I both know that will NEVER happen! Mark my words DD will be some version of an outlier buyer at the deadline. It will get weird.

Without an abundance of NHL drafted talent in combination with a lack of draft capital to facilitate a go for it year, is not a receipt for a championship run anytime soon. DD’s plans to bid on the Mem Cup in 26-27, can only, in part, be accomplished by trading NHL talent Kevin He next year. Really has no choice. However, I will shocked if does that too. Nothing DD decides to do over the next few years is going to make sense to the fan the fully understand the business of the OHL.

Unless requesting a trade, trading Virgilio at the deadline would be really dumb imo. What do you hope to get for the 3rd year D, a third string goalie & 2(3,4) picks like 18 year old Ride returned last season? That might be enough to acquire yet another D to trade at 18 again the year after?

The IceDogs should not be trading ‘06 born players anymore than they should be trading their first two ‘07 picks imo.

 

[Sam14]

Unless requesting a trade, trading Virgilio at the deadline would be really dumb imo. What do you hope to get for the 3rd year D, a third string goalie & 2(3,4) picks like 18 year old Ride returned last season? That might be enough to acquire yet another D to trade at 18 again the year after?

The IceDogs should not be trading ‘06 born players anymore than they should be trading their first two ‘07 picks imo.

Believe me I’m fully aware of why they should not be trading any 04, 05 or 06s you would want to trade. Aside from Kevin He, they really have little trade value, which only reinforces the fact that the IceDogs overpaid for NVV and Virgilio and the return would be pathetic.

However, if some team(s) can be conned into giving the IceDogs back a 2,3,4 for Virgilio right now, I would do that before his value continues to diminish any more.
Same for NVV, if some team is foolish enough to offer the IceDogs back a 3,4,5, take it! IceDogs are not winning a championship, so recovering those picks (2,3,3,4,4,5 along with the return for Kevin He next year) would go a long way to trying to move this franchise forward.

As you said, "what can you hope to get..." definitely not what you paid for them! 100% guaranteed! I went back to read comments regarding both those player, on their team forum from last year, it seems that what we see, is what we get. Did the IceDogs not scout them at all prior to trading for them? It only took fans, at the arena, a few viewing to see some immediate red flags in their play.

 

[dirty12]

Believe me I’m fully aware of why they should not be trading any 04, 05 or 06s. Aside from Kevin He, they really have little trade value, which only reinforces the fact that the IceDogs overpaid for NVV and Virgilio and the return would be pathetic.

However, if some team(s) can be conned into giving the IceDogs back a 2,3,4 for Virgilio right now, I would do that before his value continues to diminish any more.
Same for NVV, if some team is foolish enough to offer the IceDogs back a 3,4,5, take it! IceDogs are not winning a championship, so recovering those picks (2,3,3,4,4,5 along with the return for Kevin He next year) would go a long way to trying to move this franchise forward.

As you said, "what can you hope to get..." definitely not what you paid for them! 100% guaranteed! I went back to read comments regarding both those player, on their team forum from last year, it seems that what we see, is what we get. Did the IceDogs not scout them at all prior to trading for them? It only took fans, at the arena, a few viewing to see some immediate red flags in their play.

You want to bail on both 2024-25 & 2025-26 seasons already? A day after trading He, Roobroek begs out; then it’s 2022 draft all over.

 

[Sam14]

You want to bail on both 2024-25 & 2025-26 seasons already? A day after trading He, Roobroek begs out; then it’s 2022 draft all over.

Fans have seen enough of both to safely say Trading NVV and Virgilio, for what they traded them for, will hardly have an earth shattering effect on this year (getting bounced round one with or without them) and definitely does not affect them next year AT ALL! Other than they’d have a nice collection of picks to build off of.

What it does show is some direction and forward thinking. Pick an age group, a year (any year they want) and begin making moves towards that year. That is not too much to ask. Everyone other team does it!

Do that and STH will return. This vortex the IceDogs are in has only one successful outcome….make the playoffs. Full stop.

 

[dirty12]

Fans have seen enough of both to safely say Trading NVV and Virgilio, for what they traded them for, will hardly have an earth shattering effect on this year (getting bounced round one with or without them) and definitely does not affect them next year AT ALL! Other than they’d have a nice collection of picks to build off of.

What it does show is some direction and forward thinking. Pick an age group, a year (any year they want) and begin making moves towards that year. That is not too much to ask. Everyone other team does it!

Do that and STH will return. This vortex the IceDogs are in has only one successful outcome….make the playoffs. Full stop.

Ages to build around may have already been picked. Wray, Cheynowski, Brauti, Virgilio, Doherty; all the same age as He. A few of them will be around for the 18 & 19 year old season of the ‘07s & ‘08s.

 

[Sam14]

Ages to build around may have already been picked. Wray, Cheynowski, Brauti, Virgilio, Doherty; all the same age as He. A few of them will be around for the 18 & 19 year old season of the ‘07s & ‘08s.

Oh great only one of those guys is a player good enough to be on a championship calibre team (and he’ll probably be playing NCAA by then). Better have a boat load of picks to add a lot more NHL talent otherwise it will be one of the worst attempts at a MemCup team.

Serious question for you don’t dodge this one too. When was the last time you attended an IceDogs game at the MC?

 

[dirty12]

Oh great only one of those guys is a player good enough to be on a championship calibre team (and he’ll probably be playing NCAA by then). Better have a boat load of picks to add a lot more NHL talent otherwise it will be one of the worst attempts at a MemCup team.

Serious question for you don’t dodge this one too. When was the last time you attended an IceDogs game at the MC?

Never dodge any question, really. One tiime ‘17 or ‘18, does that matter?

 

[Sam14]

Never dodge any question, really. One tiime ‘17 or ‘18, does that matter?

Never dodge question? Do you want me to repost them all?

Yes it. 100% matters!! My goodness!
You called out scout4life to “Heed your own advice from a different thread to get off the internet to watch games of teams you are going to critique.”

It’s obvious you don’t know this team’s strength and weaknesses very well as a result of that. It’s becoming abundantly clear the more and more you post. That’s just an honest comment not intended to be disrespectful.

 

[knowescape]

I'd love to tell everyone that DDD will stand pat at the trade deadline or try to recoup some of the missing draft currency he already lost. My fear is that he will spend like a drunken sailor with the limited number of pics he has remaining in some vain attempt to "go for it".
While I love the progress of the team so far this year, I worry that we are an injury or two away from it disappearing. So kudos to the boys for playing hard so far this year, but I'll wait on games 34 and up before I cast my vote. I'd love to be wrong and they sail into the playoffs in one of the top two places, I just don't see them contending as other teams load up.

 

[dogs777]

I'd love to tell everyone that DDD will stand pat at the trade deadline or try to recoup some of the missing draft currency he already lost. My fear is that he will spend like a drunken sailor with the limited number of pics he has remaining in some vain attempt to "go for it".
While I love the progress of the team so far this year, I worry that we are an injury or two away from it disappearing. So kudos to the boys for playing hard so far this year, but I'll wait on games 34 and up before I cast my vote. I'd love to be wrong and they sail into the playoffs in one of the top two places, I just don't see them contending as other teams load up.

I think you can say that injury comment about Sudbury NB Ottawa Kingston and maybe even Brantford they won’t finish top 3 and most likely not even 4 but 5-6 could be a possibility if they put up enough points before the deadline

 

[knowescape]

I think you can say that injury comment about Sudbury NB Ottawa Kingston and maybe even Brantford they won’t finish top 3 and most likely not even 4 but 5-6 could be a possibility if they put up enough points before the deadline

Becomes a question of depth and resilience.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

I think the Dogs will finish 2nd, 3rd for 4th in our Conference. Only because some teams will get some key trades for a playoff run and they may pass us in the second half of the season.

What I do find funny..

Former STH for 3 years: "DD trades too much"

Now "DD needs to trade away some important players and tank the season"

 

[knowescape]

What I do find funny..

Former STH for 3 years: "DD trades too much"

Now "DD needs to trade away some important players and tank the season"

The last three years DDD had zero hope of contending yet he spent picks like he had an unlimited supply. He bought players at a premium and sold them cheaply. Now he has few picks left and this is not "the year".

I know you understand the difference.

 

[Kingpin794]

I think the Dogs will finish 2nd, 3rd for 4th in our Conference. Only because some teams will get some key trades for a playoff run and they may pass us in the second half of the season.

What I do find funny..

Former STH for 3 years: "DD trades too much"

Now "DD needs to trade away some important players and tank the season"

I think 4th would be incredibly impressive. They currently have 13 wins on a goal differential of 6. Also Flores has a 3.23 GAA but a SV% 0.910. He's still seeing a ton of rubber. In other words, Niagara could just as easily be a game or two under 0.500 right now. I think they regress to the mean as the season goes on. Probably settle in at 34-36 wins. Barrie, Oshawa, and Kingston should get ahead of them. It will come down to if either Brampton or Brantford can get their crap together to determine if Niagara can be top 4.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

The last three years DDD had zero hope of contending yet he spent picks like he had an unlimited supply. He bought players at a premium and sold them cheaply. Now he has few picks left and this is not "the year".

I know you understand the difference.

All I know right now, its working out just fine. It surprises me to say it. I was only hoping we would squeak in the playoffs this year and be out in 4 or 5 games.

I stopped getting stressed about the pick cupboard a few years back. Picks are a very fluid currency in this league.

Remember what DD said at the very beginning of his ownership? His goal was to make Niagara a contender every year like London (paraphrasing here). For good or bad. I think that is what he is trying to do here. Make us a preferred destination for the best prospects in the league.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

a goal differential of 6.

This is the stat that concerns me the most. It could just mean that when we lose, we lose bad.

We have not lost back to back games yet this season. Plus it seems like every other game we mount a 2 or 3 goal comeback to win.

 

[dogs777]

I think the Dogs will finish 2nd, 3rd for 4th in our Conference. Only because some teams will get some key trades for a playoff run and they may pass us in the second half of the season.

What I do find funny..

Former STH for 3 years: "DD trades too much"

Now "DD needs to trade away some important players and tank the season"

It’s not just former STH (talking about myself here) I don’t think trading away certain players would “tank the season” they’d probably still finish where a lot expected them to. Love the confidence but I don’t think they have a realistic shot of 2-4 in the conference (MAYBE 3rd in the division)

 

[Sam14]

I stopped getting stressed about the pick cupboard a few years back. Picks are a very fluid currency in this league.

So how exactly will the IceDogs recoup draft picks, this year and/or next year? Reminder they are missing a 2nd in the 2025 draft (that is a very important pick in the OHL)

 

[Sam14]

Remember what DD said at the very beginning of his ownership? His goal was to make Niagara a contender every year like London (paraphrasing here). For good or bad. I think that is what he is trying to do here. Make us a preferred destination for the best prospects in the league.

DD has managed to accomplish the complete opposite of that.

 

[Dog Fan]

I think the Dogs will finish 2nd, 3rd for 4th in our Conference. Only because some teams will get some key trades for a playoff run and they may pass us in the second half of the season.

What I do find funny..

Former STH for 3 years: "DD trades too much"

Now "DD needs to trade away some important players and tank the season"

Former STH for 3 years have opinions too...be kind

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

How has Loshko looked? He looked better than I had expected at the Kraken Development camp and has had a pretty decent start to the season too. I am not sure if that is a product of playing next to Kevin He or if he has improved.

 

[Sam14]

How has Loshko looked? He looked better than I had expected at the Kraken Development camp and has had a pretty decent start to the season too. I am not sure if that is a product of playing next to Kevin He or if he has improved.

Loshko has been good. Great hands, excellent playmaker, however, his foot speed doesn’t translate to the NHL. Probably finds his way in one of pro leagues in Europe though.

 

[dirty12]

The last three years DDD had zero hope of contending yet he spent picks like he had an unlimited supply. He bought players at a premium and sold them cheaply. Now he has few picks left and this is not "the year".

I know you understand the difference.

The last two years; 2022-23, and 2023-24.

Now, Niagara has a small surplus of picks it can use to compliment the ‘06 born; then in the 2026 off-season, use the surplus ‘06 as OAs to compliment the 2007-08 born.
For a team that is relatively young and only getting better; and seemingly no worse than middling right now 3-2nds, 6-3rds, 6-4ths is not a bad pick situation.

 

[Sam14]

The last two years; 2022-23, and 2023-24.

Now, Niagara has a small surplus of picks it can use to compliment the ‘06 born; then in the 2026 off-season, use the surplus ‘06 as OAs to compliment the 2007-08 born.
For a team that is relatively young and only getting better; and seemingly no worse than middling right now 3-2nds, 6-3rds, 6-4ths is not a bad pick situation.

So what you are saying is basically the price tag for one elite player. And leaving the IceDogs completely stripped of every pick they own. That won’t get it done with this roster at any point over the next three years