Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part II

[the dog]

Need full linkup to win game

 

[dogs777]

Brampton has more offensive potential (more good 18 yr olds) than Kingston, but Brampton forwards are poor defensively, and has a 17 yr old goalie without a strong BUG. That has and will keep that team from to the top of the standings until addressed.

Be interesting to see what they do I always thought that would be a good spot for Flores if he was moved over Bryant wonder if it still happens though

 

[dirty12]

…that is some generalization by you. So you’re saying that the other four teams’ F are all collectively and significantly stronger defensively than Brampton Fs?

Yes. Brampton looks like a smaller version of the 2023-24 wolves. Barrie and Oshawa have some outstanding 2-way forwards between them.

Be interesting to see what they do I always thought that would be a good spot for Flores if he was moved over Bryant wonder if it still happens though

Was thinking Sztuska myself.

 

[Sam14]

Hard to believe people here think Niagara is stronger then Brampton.

Glad to see someone else is equally confident that Brampton is one those legitimate top teams in the East

 

[Sam14]

Yes. Brampton looks like a smaller version of the 2023-24 wolves. Barrie and Oshawa have some outstanding 2-way forwards between them.

I personally have not see any of those teams enough (nor live more than once) to put myself out there with that strong a statement.
Have you seen them enough to make that kind of definitive a call?

Just did a quick check. 6 of their top F; all their D are 6.00 or taller

 

[Generalsupdates]

I’d swap Kingston with BRAM IMO steelheads roster is too good they have to figure it out eventually unless they turnaround and decided to sell

Yeah if Brampton wants to be good this year, they will be. They have a million picks and already the top end talent. I'm just not sure anymore if they'll add at the deadline. Could make more sense for them to trade Rehkopf for a ton and go for it next year. They really don't lose anyone after this year but the OAs and Zidlicky and would have 3 really good OAs in MacDonell, Harding and Misa as none of them are signed right now

 

[three dog night]

I heard Paris and Assadourian will be back soon not sure about Humpries .

 

[dirty12]

I personally have not see any of those teams enough (nor live more than once) to put myself out there with that strong a statement.
Have you seen them enough to make that kind of definitive a call?

Just did a quick check. 6 of their top F; all their D are 6.00 or taller

Just did a quick check using that elite prospect team comparison you referenced earlier; Brampton & Niagara are the two shortest OHL teams.
Brampton can certainly be a top team in the conference if they address their deficiencies; easier said than done though.

 

[three dog night]

Glad to see someone else is equally confident that Brampton is one those legitimate top teams in the East

Or be a big disappointment

 

[Sam14]

Just did a quick check using that elite prospect team comparison you referenced earlier; Brampton & Niagara are the two shortest OHL teams.

Brampton - F -
Martone, Porter 6.03
Van Volsen, Jack 6.02
Zebeski, Mason 6.02
Rehkopf, Carson 6.02
Zidlicky, Adam 6.00
Vaculik, Martin 6.00

Witkowski, Kieran 5.11
Eggleton, William 5.11
Karmiris, Lucas 5.11

Misa, Luke 5.10 ( but NHL Drafted)
MacDonell, Angus 5.10 ( but NHL Drafted)

Brampton - D –
Leskovar, Stevie 6.03
Sova, Spencer 6.01
Dragusica, Luke 6.01
Von Richter, Parker 6.01
Harding, Finn 6.01
Fibigr, Jakub 6.00
Gee, Reed 6.00

 

[frontsfan67]

Yeah if Brampton wants to be good this year, they will be. They have a million picks and already the top end talent. I'm just not sure anymore if they'll add at the deadline. Could make more sense for them to trade Rehkopf for a ton and go for it next year. They really don't lose anyone after this year but the OAs and Zidlicky and would have 3 really good OAs in MacDonell, Harding and Misa as none of them are signed right now

Martone if drafted by the right team I could see him in the NHL next year

Compared to Matthew and Brady Tkachuk and both guys made it straight to the NHL out of their draft years as 6th and 4th overall picks respectively. I’ve seen martone consistently ranked 2-4 with one placing him at 1 and one placing him #5

Would be pretty risky for Brampton next year especially with the NCAA thing coming into place I could see him jumping ship if not in the NHL. Who would want to play in Brampton?

 

[Generalsupdates]

Martone if drafted by the right team I could see him in the NHL next year

Compared to Matthew and Brady Tkachuk and both guys made it straight to the NHL out of their draft years as 6th and 4th overall picks respectively. I’ve seen martone consistently ranked 2-4 with one placing him at 1 and one placing him #5

Would be pretty risky for Brampton next year especially with the NCAA thing coming into place I could see him jumping ship if not in the NHL. Who would want to play in Brampton?

Toronto area guys probably don't mind playing close to home

 

[dirty12]

Brampton - F -
Martone, Porter 6.03
Van Volsen, Jack 6.02
Zebeski, Mason 6.02
Rehkopf, Carson 6.02
Zidlicky, Adam 6.00
Vaculik, Martin 6.00

Witkowski, Kieran 5.11
Eggleton, William 5.11
Karmiris, Lucas 5.11

Misa, Luke 5.10 ( but NHL Drafted)
MacDonell, Angus 5.10 ( but NHL Drafted)

Brampton - D –
Leskovar, Stevie 6.03
Sova, Spencer 6.01
Dragusica, Luke 6.01
Von Richter, Parker 6.01
Harding, Finn 6.01
Fibigr, Jakub 6.00
Gee, Reed 6.00

The 2023-24 defensively challenged wolves were a bigger stronger version of the defensively and physically challenged steelheads.
Walton 6.06 212 lbs, Pharrand 6.03 192, Musty 6.02 200, Dvorsky 6.01 201, Villeneuve 6.00 195, Yearwood 6.00 190, Konyen 6.00 180, Di Giantommaso 6.00 180 Delic 5.11 198, Coughlin 5.11 194, Goyette 5.11 181,

Collins 6.04 215, VanVliet 6.02 222, DeAngelis 6.02 188, Anania 6.01 200, Mania 6.01 190, McCoy 6.00 205; plus some 6.03-6.05 spares

 

[bigsportsfan]

Be interesting to see what happens now. I predicted an absence or two to lead to a melt down. Now it seems the melt down has caused two absences. Will the team rally under their coach, or will the spiral continue?

Any predictions?

I look at it this way. The team is now 5-5-0-0 in their last 10 games. I think that record better reflects who the IceDogs really are this season.

 

[Sam14]

You wrote: Just did a quick check using that elite prospect team comparison you referenced earlier; Brampton & Niagara are the two shortest OHL teams

You completely missed the point of my reply to what you wrote me (see above). Brampton, with players that size up and down their line up, can’t be the one of the two shortest teams in the OHL as you claimed?

 

[ScoutLife4]

Glad to see someone else is equally confident that Brampton is one those legitimate top teams in the East

All I was saying is Brampton is better than Niagara in my opinion.
Niagara is starting to fall back like I said they would.
I don’t think anyone expected Brampton to start this slow.
They will up shooting up to top 5-6 in east though I believe.

 

[dirty12]

All I was saying is Brampton is better than Niagara in my opinion.
Niagara is starting to fall back like I said they would.
I don’t think anyone expected Brampton to start this slow.
They will up shooting up to top 5-6 in east though I believe.

Brampton finishing 5-6 would have to be considered a pretty disappointing season. The steelheads should at the very least be able to acquire an OA like Allard to help with the size/defensive deficiencies in the top six. MacDonell or Misa with Rehkopf at centre as a top line will be beat. Martone just does not defend on a level of Ritchie, Wakely, Beaudoin, Cowan, He, Spence, …or better than Dvorsky last season.
The steelheads top line will not out perform the wolves line that had 3 of the top 4 ppg players, I think. The next 4-5 steelheads have nowhere near the strength of Villeneuve, Delic, Pharrand, Walton, Coughlan. The steelheads need to change it up a bit.

 

[Fastpace]

Just did a quick check using that elite prospect team comparison you referenced earlier; Brampton & Niagara are the two shortest OHL teams.
Brampton can certainly be a top team in the conference if they address their deficiencies; easier said than done though.

I am one who believe some teams reach their maximum during the season and have no more upward progress by season's end, same can be said about some players reaching their development peak before they are pro age, and also for coaches as well, they can also peak in junior rank. How do we measure up teams before the season end, can it give us with a fairly close accuracy how the playoffs will go? If we watch a team system progressing as the season move along, we can have a very good idea how well the coaching staff is doing.

How can we come up with a final ranking if we are only gauging on few players on a team and not fully analyze their team system, and it's progress throughout the season. If they reach a mid-season peak, you can bet they won't do all that well comes the playoffs, idealistic we want a strong finish to end the season. Finishing a season for a first place team at a peak level or a fourth place team finishing with the strongest upward finish of all teams, my money will be on the fourth place team

 

[dirty12]

I am one who believe some teams reach their maximum during the season and have no more upward progress by season's end, same can be said about some players reaching their development peak before they are pro age, and also for coaches as well, they can also peak in junior rank. How do we measure up teams before the season end, can it give us with a fairly close accuracy how the playoffs will go? If we watch a team system progressing as the season move along, we can have a very good idea how well the coaching staff is doing.

How can we come up with a final ranking if we are only gauging on few players on a team and not fully analyze their team system, and it's progress throughout the season. If they reach a mid-season peak, you can bet they won't do all that well comes the playoffs, idealistic we want a strong finish to end the season. Finishing a season for a first place team at a peak level or a fourth place team finishing with the strongest upward finish of all teams, my money will be on the fourth place team

Except Rehkopf and the import, these steelheads forwards have been together since Jan ‘23. I am gauging this team on parts of three seasons and on the manner in which the team was disposed of in last years playoff.
Watching ~3 central division games per week over that period, I have come to the conclusion with strong conviction that the steelheads forwards are defensively and physically deficient; and, that has to be addressed prior to the trade deadline.

 

[Fastpace]

Except Rehkopf and the import, these steelheads forwards have been together since Jan ‘23. I am gauging this team on parts of three seasons and on the manner in which the team was disposed of in last years playoff.
Watching ~3 central division games per week over that period, I have come to the conclusion with strong conviction that the steelheads forwards are defensively and physically deficient; and, that has to be addressed prior to the trade deadline.

Can't disagree with you about some Steelheads' forwards playing together for a while, but there is so much more to the game than Rehkopf's talent and the longevity of some few teammates playing together. Just them does not translate to be a powerful team, much better than average, for sure, but way too soon to determine if they will be one of the top 3 teams. I am having more confidence in Icedogs finishing ahead of them at the moment

 

[knowescape]

I look at it this way. The team is now 5-5-0-0 in their last 10 games. I think that record better reflects who the IceDogs really are this season.

And now they are going to have two games while short key players. What's that going to do to a casual fanbase who fell in love early with the number "1"? Will DDD, who is definitely NOT the GM, convince Wes to make a trade to prop the team back up, well ahead of the trade deadline?

 

[dogs777]

And now they are going to have two games while short key players. What's that going to do to a casual fanbase who fell in love early with the number "1"? Will DDD, who is definitely NOT the GM, convince Wes to make a trade to prop the team back up, well ahead of the trade deadline?

Short players and playing 3 in 3 this weekend will be interesting to see how long they wait to bring someone in if guys are expected back soon

 

[Sam14]

And now they are going to have two games while short key players. What's that going to do to a casual fanbase who fell in love early with the number "1"? Will DDD, who is definitely NOT the GM, convince Wes to make a trade to prop the team back up, well ahead of the trade deadline?

Something to consider. The vast majority of IceDogs’ trades and draft picks run through player agent John Walters. Perhaps this well-travelled road leads them to a trade for another one of John Walter’s players:

05 F - Easton Wainwright – Sarnia Sting

06 F - Luca Testa – Brantford BullDogs

06 F- Gabriel Frasca – Erie Otters

06 F - Jett Luchanko – Guelph Storm

07 D – 6.06 Haoxi (Simon) Wang - OJHL (drafted by the Oshawa Generals – Boston U commit)

 

[dogs777]

Something to consider. The vast majority of IceDogs’ trades and draft picks run through player agent John Walters. Perhaps this well-travelled road leads them to a trade for another one of John Walter’s players:

05 F - Easton Wainwright – Sarnia Sting

06 F - Luca Testa – Brantford BullDogs

06 F- Gabriel Frasca – Erie Otters

06 F - Jett Luchanko – Guelph Storm

07 D – 6.06 Haoxi (Simon) Wang - OJHL (drafted by the Oshawa Generals – Boston U commit)

Luchanko and wainwright are probably the only ones on this list that are even available I’d consider luchanko if you could guarantee me Philly doesn’t want an even longer look at him next year as for wainwright the question is would he be an upgrade on the OA situation and the answer is who knows cause I don’t even know what 3 they’d want to keep

 

[Sam14]

Luchanko and wainwright are probably the only ones on this list that are even available I’d consider luchanko if you could guarantee me Philly doesn’t want an even longer look at him next year as for wainwright the question is would he be an upgrade on the OA situation and the answer is who knows cause I don’t even know what 3 they’d want to keep

It would require moving Wassilyn to acquire Luchanko. Both players are clients of Walters and the IceDogs have seen him use his players to facilitate trades. Also, keep in mind, Wassilyn would be returning home if traded to Guelph. He is from the area.
A high risk short-sited move. With DD, this is obviously a real possibility