Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part II
- Thread starter SoupNazi
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knowescape
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It's not, this is just fear mongering. A least gives the owner assurance that the venue isn't going to shutter its doors, unlike what happened in Hamilton.
Dogs Enthusiast
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One win in their last 5 games. If DD has plans beyond simply qualifying for the playoffs, he’ll need to improve the D core. Nothing has changed since the start of the season, the same players, making the same mistakes leading to ridiculous SOG totals.
A few weeks ago, started from the top. Here comes the rest of them…6th or 7th seems realistic.
A few weeks ago, started from the top. Here comes the rest of them…6th or 7th seems realistic.
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Dogs Enthusiast
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some observations from attending the game in Peterborough yesterday. This team has enough upfront to cause anyone problems. He, Rooboreck, Loshko all top end. Czata can chip in and watch out for Wassilyn, huge upside. As everyone has pointed out d is woeful. My take here is a little different though. A third of the way into the season why are we seeing the same mistakes? Is this more a coaching issue than we think? Coaches at this level need to be teachers and I’m not sure I see it on the backend. Decision making and positioning is questionable. You shouldn’t be seeing the same mistakes over and over by now. The talent level is minimal on D so their game has to be simplified. Also penalties based on selfishness aren’t helping! Bottom line is this is still an entertaining team worth supporting but there will definitely some moments that test you.
6 pts in 6 games over 2 weeks, a stretch of 0.500 should be expected of any team. I think a little fatigue might be setting in with Assadourian and Paris out for 16 and 21 games.
The defence does have talent and is finally an ideal age for the team imo. I think Brauti, Virgilio, Wycisk, and Cheynowski will look pretty darn good next season.
Dogs Enthusiast
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They looked real tired on Friday night. Two people said that to me and I was already thinking it.
Perhaps its a real good thing that they have 5 days off and only 2 games this coming weekend.
I don’t think a collective sigh of relief that it was Bryant traded rather than one of the OAs contributing to the team turn around had much if any effect on recent team play.
Good game and good for Bryant to remain motivated though.
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That is a huge part of it. The issues are different for each one struggling, but it’s essentially one or some combination of: lack of foot speed; inability to win puck battles; escapability under pressure; decision making; positioning. However, positioning is an area the coaches can assist the players with: unmarked players and blow-by leading to SOG (and goals) needs to be addressed. I know these kids are trying and I’m rooting for them to improve, but it’s also frustrating to see this on a consistent basis.
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This team was over achieving the first month a half of the season and reality has set in.
The analytics model I use have this has the 7th place team in the East and they are on their way there.
There is nothing special about this team and outside of He, Rooboreck, Wassilyn there just isn't much there for depth and back end is a disaster.
This team gives up way to many goals to be a contender and it's likely only to get worse as the season goes on and DD needs to balance the account.
Give it another 2 weeks and Brampton and Brantford will pass them in the standings.
The analytics model I use have this has the 7th place team in the East and they are on their way there.
There is nothing special about this team and outside of He, Rooboreck, Wassilyn there just isn't much there for depth and back end is a disaster.
This team gives up way to many goals to be a contender and it's likely only to get worse as the season goes on and DD needs to balance the account.
Give it another 2 weeks and Brampton and Brantford will pass them in the standings.
knowescape
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.400 for a team hoping to see the playoffs is horrible. The D situation has existed since the new owner took over. The solution has been to try and outscore the leaky back end, adding more to the forward lines when things look bad. The shots on net tell the story.
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Dogs Enthusiast
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That is who we are playing this weekend. I guess might find out if you are correct.
I personally feel we are in a moderate slump and we will bounce back. Especially if we get Paris and Assadorian back and don't lose any of the players you mentioned.
That is not "horrible". Its sub par at best. Horrible would be zero points. Like we saw a lot in the last 2 years.
knowescape
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If you begin to play that type of hockey consistently, and your team's goal is to make the playoffs, statistically it is horrible, in that sense. The last three seasons, the Eastern Conference final standings suggests you need to play: .441; .426; .471 hockey to finish 8th.
Section5Petes
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- Nov 14, 2022
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I agree with your offensive upside comments. I think this is a pretty good team and I think they can stay at least top 5 in the conference. Scanning through quickly looks like Paris and Assadourian are hurt correct? Add those two back into the lineup and those are two very solid additions. I do wonder if they make a d move but I think they could keep going with that they got. Anomaly game against the Petes yesterday imo because He, Roobroeck, Loshko, etc the list goes on, were inches away from breaking that game wide open imo. crete, czata, this team has a bright future. just need to stay the course
frontsfan67
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- Dec 3, 2022
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To be fair nobody had them as a top 4 team in the conference to begin with. Most had them slotted in the 5-8 range. Long season. Even Kingston I don’t think holds on to the top spot- I think by the end of the reg season they’re in 4th/5th. A team like Niagara that’s probably not going to do a lot of serious buying this deadline, and a team like Sudbury likely selling assets are 2 teams that will fall. Brampton and Brantford have both way underachieved this year. Those 2 will rise as the others fall.
That’s not to say that Niagara next year will be phenomenal though. Only thing I question is the goaltending. With Flores graduating I wonder what they do. Probably need to pick up a decent d too that can be back next year- I wonder if they do something like this at the deadline?
