Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season Thread, Part III

[dirty12]

Oh wow! A compete swing and miss on that reply.

Show me the evidence where these teams only drafted and did not buy or sell over the last three seasons

Better yet, I said some of those teams sold to kick start a re-tool and then added 2-3 years later; yet still did not finish at least 4th and win at least one playoff round.

 

[dirty12]

How is making an educated prediction the same thing as "hoping". I certainly hope Niagara wins the conference this year. Based on injuries and other strong teams buying players, I doubt they will. So to recap in case you take my earlier post out of context and misquote it too... I hope they come in first, I think third or fourth is more likely.

Maybe even a bit optimistic. If the IceDogs can just finish a perfectly middling 5-6 in conference / 10-11 overall after all the crying by some the team was ‘all-in’ just to squeak into the playoffs, it will have been a very good year imo.

 

[knowescape]

Maybe even a bit optimistic. If the IceDogs can just finish a perfectly middling 5-6 in conference / 10-11 overall after all the crying by some the team was ‘all-in’ just to squeak into the playoffs, it will have been a very good year imo.

I am still fairly confident on a third or fourth. That's up from my prediction of fifth or sixth at the start of the season. I'm hoping those that added take some time to gel and that any illness or injury on the IceDogs team is short-term.

 

[beastintheeast]

I was quoting Sam. Who apparently still thinks there is a "good chance" the first place team in the Conference will drop to 5th.

Dropping to 5th is not a bad thing. I say that because Brantford, Kingston Oshawa Barrie and Sudbury are all going to be fighting for first and if not the home ice advantage.

That is ice on the stat sheet for the end of the season.

The thing about it is that as soon as the season is over, who really cares?

The healthy team that comes in with well-rested goalies and star players will be hard to beat.

Niagara needs to protect it's greatest asset Flores.

In a seven-in-ten-day playoff, it is very hard for the stars to manage their aches and pains. Also, teams start to notice those players and will take advantage.

If coming in 5th allows Boudreau to rest and prepare his team for the playoffs, then all the better. When playing the 4th place team, it does not matter who gets the home ice advantage. You are going to play them whether you are a healthy 5th or banged up 4th

I really expect to see Flores get fewer games as it gets closer to the playoffs