Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part II

Sam14

Registered User
Mar 28, 2018
595
492
OK, so I have seen Eliasson come up here many times but, I don't recall seeing the actual plan (or trade) that was in place. It might help give some context to the deal.

Before the Import Draft the IceDogs agreed to draft Eliasson for the Colts and in return the Colts would draft Patrik Kerkola, a goalie from Finland. Eliasson and Kerkola both agreed to the deal (Eliasson for Kerkola and a 3rd) and would report, BUT, Kerkola was offered a pro contract in Finland after the draft. That put the IceDogs behind the 8 ball in two ways.
One, they have to move Eliasson to Barrie. They had no choice.
Two, they now had an OA goalie in Flores that they couldn't trade (they had been trying since last deadline, with no takers) and no real number one goalie if they released him (Robertson wasn't going to be the number one).
It also contributed to the four OA issue to start the season as well. If Flores was gone to start the season as expected, Bryant would still be here.

Could they have held onto Eliasson and tried to get more for him, yes but why would the Colts do that? The player wasn't reporting to anyone else. Hold onto him and he doesn't report you wasted a draft pick. At least there is a chance now that Marty knows he owes the Dogs something down the line.
Kerkola would have probably been here two years and would have been a very good starter in the OHL and a nice bridge to see if Humphries would have worked out.
Thanks for that post! The information shared to me. Kerkola was not aware of any possible deal when he was drafted by Barrie. When Barrie got word that Eliasson was not signing in Niagara, they offered the IceDogs Kerkola in a swap, however, when Kerkola was told of the trade he opt to sign a pro contract in Finland instead of signing in Niagara.

In the end, it was as usual a very odd and embarrassing Import Draft for Niagara. If they really wanted that goalie, they could have avoided the middle man and selected him with 12th or even the 66th pick. Barrie didn’t select him until the 75th pick. Actually, I may be mistaken but with Eliasson being NHL drafted the IceDogs could have drafted both Eliasson and Kerkola
 
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Dogs Enthusiast

Registered User
Sep 25, 2019
282
346
St, Catharines
Finally I will say there are people looking to buy or buy into the team but ownership isn't going to take a loss on this. So people staying away are actually hurting the process.
I was talking with someone on the business side of the league and they were saying that if the building was full, the offers would increase because they are buying a viable business, but because crowds are down it's a reason to low ball the offer. They can claim there is no proof the crowds will come back.

Informative post dogfan.

Also interesting that not buying tickets is keeping the situation the same. That makes perfect sense. More fans equal more revenue means the team is worth more and will attract more buyers.
 

Dogs Enthusiast

Registered User
Sep 25, 2019
282
346
St, Catharines
Wrong. Barrie plays Owen Sound tonight. Anything can happen of course, but it takes more than winning tomorrow night.
Oh, I didn't notice that.

If they win tonight and we beat them tomorrow night. We would be tied in points but maybe have the tie breaker because of the win????

I am not sure what the order of tie breakers are in the OHL.
 

knowescape

Made you look
Jan 26, 2016
601
267
Ontario
Informative post dogfan.

Also interesting that not buying tickets is keeping the situation the same. That makes perfect sense. More fans equal more revenue means the team is worth more and will attract more buyers.
There's another way of looking at it @dogfan ... If DDD makes money, he won't sell. If he keeps bleeding money he will eventually sell, yes, even at a loss. The fans aren't coming back for him - period. No one cares if he loses money, he authored his own destruction. I'm betting he will soon be upsidedown in his investment and with his track record it will only get worse.

His best bet is to leave on a high note. Take whatever victory comes his way this year and ride off into the sunset. He won't save any money, but he can preserve a bit of dignity at least.
 

Dog Fan

Registered User
Apr 22, 2017
473
382
Oh, I didn't notice that.

If they win tonight and we beat them tomorrow night. We would be tied in points but maybe have the tie breaker because of the win????

I am not sure what the order of tie breakers are in the OHL.
This point of fact only matters after the last game of the season. Hopefully, we continue to play well...and DDD sells the team during the summer. #SELLTHETEAM
 

knowescape

Made you look
Jan 26, 2016
601
267
Ontario
Either way. Not supporting the team is going to hurt the franchise.
Only in the short term, and only financially.

If a bunch of hacks like The Naysayers® can figure out what happened to the STH, then surely the OHL Elite know what's going on. Niagara is a gold mine of opportunity. Invest in the team and care about the fans... they will be there. DDD knew better than everyone else and turned the tide against the loyal fan group himself.

Redemption is a one-year process for any new owner who knows what they are doing.
 
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dogfan

Registered User
Jun 16, 2009
111
30
Thanks for that post! The information shared to me. Kerkola was not aware of any possible deal when he was drafted by Barrie. When Barrie got word that Eliasson was not signing in Niagara, they offered the IceDogs Kerkola in a swap, however, when Kerkola was told of the trade he opt to sign a pro contract in Finland instead of signing in Niagara.

In the end, it was as usual a very odd and embarrassing Import Draft for Niagara. If they really wanted that goalie, they could have avoided the middle man and selected him with 12th or even the 66th pick. Barrie didn’t select him until the 75th pick. Actually, I may be mistaken but with Eliasson being NHL drafted the IceDogs could have drafted both Eliasson and Kerkola
In the end, I think we all hear different information from the people we talk to.
Your information could be correct. I know a few GM's/scouts that put out all kinds of stuff.
There was a GM in Niagara that used to put out three versions of a story to see which one went public so he knew who was talking to fans/media. Then he'd use them to spread dis-information without them knowing.
Also, I don't disagree with eliminating the middle man, they could have had their future in their hands but if they thought they'd get an extra pick out of it, I can see why they did it.

As for the buying or not buying tickets debate. I was simply offering information that I had heard.
You don't feel that you should spend you hard earned dollar on this team with current ownership, that's your choice. Nobody is right or wrong for choosing how to spend their money.
Personally, I think he has more dollars then people believe and he could stick it out for a couple more years if he doesn't get a good offer (I would also believe there are people looking to buy into the organization that could make this continue for the foreseeable future).
 

knowescape

Made you look
Jan 26, 2016
601
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You don't feel that you should spend you hard earned dollar on this team with current ownership, that's your choice. Nobody is right or wrong for choosing how to spend their money.
Personally, I think he has more dollars then people believe and he could stick it out for a couple more years if he doesn't get a good offer (I would also believe there are people looking to buy into the organization that could make this continue for the foreseeable future).
Well said. Sounds like we've each heard a version of the same story. I can't believe someone would leave DDD with controlling interest over the team, so maybe that's the debate.
 

bigsportsfan

Registered User
Sep 28, 2012
247
231
I think if attendance improves, DD will hold onto the team. If it doesn’t improve, he will eventually be forced to sell. With expansion coming up, the expansion fee is rumoured to be as much as $20 million. If that is the case, DD should be able to sell the team for what he wants.

On another note, there is no reason to believe DD will keep the team here when the lease expires in 2034. When he bought the IceDogs, he looked into moving the team to Brantford. I realize now Brantford has a team but if another city offers him a better deal than what he has here, I think he will leave. I don’t think he is committed to Niagara at all.
 

knowescape

Made you look
Jan 26, 2016
601
267
Ontario
On another note, there is no reason to believe DD will keep the team here when the lease expires in 2034. When he bought the IceDogs, he looked into moving the team to Brantford. I realize now Brantford has a team but if another city offers him a better deal than what he has here, I think he will leave. I don’t think he is committed to Niagara at all.
1) He won't be the owner in 2034.
2) Where would he go?
3) Another team would move here.

If they win tonight and we beat them tomorrow night. We would be tied in points but maybe have the tie breaker because of the win????
As predicted, Barrie won against Owen Sound.
 
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Dog Fan

Registered User
Apr 22, 2017
473
382
Barrie just beats us time and time again. I know, I know, they have two players gone to World Juniors but can we beat them? Tight game we will see
 

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