Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part II

[bigsportsfan]

So those of you who think the management is clueless and constantly reactionary (which has been my main complaint) are probably wrong.

Yep, management is amazing. 4 different coaches over the last 3 seasons. Combined 19 wins over DD’s first 2 seasons. Attendance falling from around 4800 per game to 3200 a game. Multiple players refusing to report to the team. Sounds like their plan is working out perfectly.

Look, they have been in last place for the last three seasons. That allowed them to pick early first round players. They got Loshko off waivers because they finished in last place. Finishing in last place has its benefits. They got lucky with Flores as he has developed into a top goalie. And it was rumoured they were trying to trade him last season but a deal couldn’t be worked out, which again was lucky for the IceDogs.

The question is can the IceDogs season after season play well despite not having a proper GM, only having 5 scouts, relying on one agent for most of their players and having one of the lowest budgets in the OHL. You may think that DD is so smart that he can spend less than what the other 19 teams spend and still build quality teams. I don’t. There is a reason why the top teams like London spend so much. But maybe you think the Hunters are fools and DD is going to show them all up.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

there is no evidence they currently have a long term plan in place

The evidence is I heard those words come out of the coaches mouth this morning.

Niagara Sports Report - Ben Boudreau - Niagara IceDogs Head Coach - Niagara Sports Report with Rod Mawhood | iHeart

www.iheart.com

Listen to it when you get a chance. He says it in the fist couple of minutes.

Yep, management is amazing.

I never said this. I don't feel that way all at. The last 3 seasons were a dumpster fire.

 

[bigsportsfan]

They have done something correct. And it is not just one thing. It can't all be luck.

I agree DD is doing some things better. He now has a good coaching staff and is apparently allowing the players to stay in hotels and has paid for some team building activities. But shouldn’t he have done these things from day 1. If it takes him a couple years to figure this out, sorry I don’t have confidence in our owner.

But there are still a lot of short comings that need to be addressed.

 

[dirty12]

No one will argue their first half short term success but there is no evidence they currently have a long term plan in place
IceDogs have no draft capital surplus; no 2nd pick in 2025; an imbalance long term roster with no 07 or 08 D to complement their impressive 07 and 08 F. Until they address those issues, there is no long range plan. So that complaint remains nothing has changed in that respect since the start of the season

The IceDogs roster is competitive now, and will be next season, and probably the season after that. Seven of eight defensemen to play this season can, most likely will return for at least one more season. Thirteen of the team’s top fourteen scorers can, twelve most likely do return for at least one more season. And, there is still a full compliment of picks.

 

[IceDogs452]

No one will argue their first half short term success but there is no evidence they currently have a long term plan in place
IceDogs have no draft capital surplus; no 2nd pick in 2025; an imbalance long term roster with no 07 or 08 D to complement their impressive 07 and 08 F. Until they address those issues, there is no long range plan. So that complaint remains nothing has changed in that respect since the start of the season

The 07 draft class for D outside of 1st round picks was pretty bad and the IceDogs picked Frasca and McMahon in the 08 draft class to hopefully develop this year and become solid OHL players. I think the IceDogs focusing on Brauti Virgilio Arrowsmith demonstrates the desire to get 2-4 year players. Yes they got NVV and Scott as well but the D was so bad last year they had to make huge changes and they did and it’s gotten better. The moves made since the end of last season shows much more of a clear vision to make a push for 25-26 or 26-27 for the mem cup. Those moves show their long term plan (3 years) and yes they’ve lost picks but they’ve lost picks to go get the guys that they want to have for that push (06’s 07-‘s)

 

[knowescape]

The evidence is I heard those words come out of the coaches mouth this morning.

Listen to it when you get a chance. He says it in the fist couple of minutes.

I never said this. I don't feel that way all at. The last 3 seasons were a dumpster fire.

Saying it doesn't make it true.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Well, I was laughed by some non ice dogs fans when I said the team had too much offensive fire power to miss the playoffs this year.

1st in goals forward in the league, and have also allowed the 3rd most goals in the league.

The recipe for the run next season is to focus on goaltending and D first

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

next season is to focus on goaltending and D first

Absolutely.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

Czata is plus 14 and averaging a little more than a point a game. I remember when we were all disappointed when we took him as our compensatory pick at 5. He was widely regarded as a reach because nobody else would report here.

That worked out well for us!

 

[frontsfan67]

Czata is plus 14 and averaging a little more than a point a game. I remember when we were all disappointed when we took him as our compensatory pick at 5. He was widely regarded as a reach because nobody else would report here.

That worked out well for us!

Was thinking that yesterday what a pick that turned out to be

 

[Fastpace]

I’ll go 5-3 dogs.

What are people’s opinions on Mike Levin? Obviously he has a great shot and can be a good distributor but he is small (5 foot 8 157 pounds according to EP). He cheats a lot in the defensive zone where I see him hanging around by the blue line hoping for a counter. He has the worst +/- on the team. I don’t think he will be back as an OA but with 8 goals 11 assists he has value in a trade to a team looking for a 3rd line LW. If there was one player in a soft sell that would make the most sense it would be him IMO. A team like Kingston would make sense to play behind Miedema and Battaglia as the 3rd line LW. Still think Ethan Weir would be a good cheap get as a R shot 07 who has played with Roobs and is in a dire need of a scenery change.

Not sure on the logic of this post above

Does worst +/- on the team mean all the goals scored against were sole Levin's responsivity whilst on the ice, waving all errors from his teammates on the same ice sheet?

What information do we possess regarding Levin's assigned role by his coaches in his defensive zone?

How much value should other GMs allocate towards the team's worst +/- player?

 

[knowescape]

How much value should other GMs allocate towards the team's worst +/- player?

Great question. A few days ago someone was trying to compare a LW to a D, as to who was the better player. So I looked there. It's a stat that tries to suggest a level playing field. Generally speaking it's a horrible stat between teams losing teams have poorer +/-) but not a bad one within a team or to compare lines. I like looking at it and then watching the player to see what they're actually doing. A GM would have the inside track as to what role was given to the player. So as long as the +/- is viewed as "something" but not everything, it is interesting.

 

[Sam14]

Czata is plus 14 and averaging a little more than a point a game. I remember when we were all disappointed when we took him as our compensatory pick at 5. He was widely regarded as a reach because nobody else would report here.

That worked out well for us

After a rough first season and first few weeks, Czata is putting together a terrific year and getting better every game. However, that doesn’t change the fact that when player agent John Walters made the pick it was a reach (projected late first early second round). It’s irrelevant now because in his second season, Czata is developing into one of the better 07s in the OHL. As you mentioned, it has worked out well for us.

 

[IceDogs452]

Not sure on the logic of this post above

Does worst +/- on the team mean all the goals scored against were sole Levin's responsivity whilst on the ice, waving all errors from his teammates on the same ice sheet?

What information do we possess regarding Levin's assigned role by his coaches in his defensive zone?

How much value should other GMs allocate towards the team's worst +/- player?

No, worst +/- doesn’t meant that all of the goals are his fault. Nor do I have any inside scoop on what coaches assign him role wise. I would say that I notice Levin more than anyone else trying to anticipate a counter while in the defensive zone sometimes while the other team still has the puck sometimes when the puck is loose and I would say that in some instances the team has been made to pay.

Points wise he isn’t having a bad year and would have more trade value than someone like Paris while someone like Assadourian will likely be kept as an OA.

So since this year is not the IceDogs go for it year, if someone offered something more valuable than a half season of Levin I would say why not take it? I’m not saying that he should be shopped or anything. I am fine with him staying as a 3rd line LW and just aging out an IceDog. If anyone were to be sold in a soft sell Levin would just be the most likely candidate off the top of my head.

The IceDog are hot right now so maybe just don’t mess with the mojo and leave it as is. Was more just thinking out loud that if they did a soft sell who would be sold.

Who knows what will be done at the deadline. A fun time to be an IceDog fan.

 

[Dog Fan]

I think they may take a run at a defenseman. One injury to a defenseman or a goalie and depth is pretty poor. One injury to a scoring forward and we won't be able to score our way to victories.

 

[dogs777]

I think they may take a run at a defenseman. One injury to a defenseman or a goalie and depth is pretty poor. One injury to a scoring forward and we won't be able to score our way to victories.

How many teams in the league have good goalie depth though? You could make that scoring forward comment about a few teams as well. If they did anything I’d be going for a forward and maybe get a younger Robertson (backup) if you think he’s not going to be the guy next season

 

[dirty12]

How many teams in the league have good goalie depth though? You could make that scoring forward comment about a few teams as well. If they did anything I’d be going for a forward and maybe get a younger Robertson (backup) if you think he’s not going to be the guy next season

yeah, an '06 goalie or 2006-07 RW; if anything. That can be addressed in the off-season and import draft, so no need to force anything imo.

 

[knowescape]

The IceDog are hot right now so maybe just don’t mess with the mojo and leave it as is..

Ask yourself, does this sound like DDD?

 

[three dog night]

Merry Christmas Happy Hoildays to the Members of the Niagara Icedogs and fans.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

I think they may take a run at a defenseman. One injury to a defenseman or a goalie and depth is pretty poor. One injury to a scoring forward and we won't be able to score our way to victories.

If they can bring in a dman that will be here next year as well, without moving any of Roobroeck, Wassilyn, He or Czata, then I say go for it.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

I hope they don't do anymore trades. I like the team as it is. I do understand the argument that a key injury with a Dman will be terrible if we don't get some depth.

 

[IceDogs452]

View attachment 950319
Ethan Czata moved up to 56 overall (Late 2nd round) in Brock’s rankings.