Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV

[bigsportsfan]

I see the Niagara River Lions ownership group has sold part of the team to Darren Peters of Fort Erie. I have heard in the past that the River Lions owners have at least discussed the possibility of purchasing the IceDogs. Could the River Lions owners be freeing up cash to purchase the IceDogs.

On the surface, someone owning both the River Lions, who play basketball in the spring/summer, and the IceDogs makes sense. They could share the same office and much of the same office staff and even use the same IceDogs dressing room, which would be a huge upgrade from the River Lions current dressing room at the Meridian Centre.

There would also be opportunities to cross promote each other at the games.

This would be similar to how the Sudbury Wolves and Sudbury Five basketball team are owned by the same individual.

Here is an article on the River Lions ownership change.

The Niagara Independent

niagaraindependent.ca

 

[Dog Fan]

I see the Niagara River Lions ownership group has sold part of the team to Darren Peters of Fort Erie. I have heard in the past that the River Lions owners have at least discussed the possibility of purchasing the IceDogs. Could the River Lions owners be freeing up cash to purchase the IceDogs.

On the surface, someone owning both the River Lions, who play basketball in the spring/summer, and the IceDogs makes sense. They could share the same office and much of the same office staff and even use the same IceDogs dressing room, which would be a huge upgrade from the River Lions current dressing room at the Meridian Centre.

There would also be opportunities to cross promote each other at the games.

This would be similar to how the Sudbury Wolves and Sudbury Five basketball team are owned by the same individual.

Here is an article on the River Lions ownership change.

The Niagara Independent

niagaraindependent.ca

Great idea if true...with one flaw. The new owners name is Darren

 

[bigsportsfan]

Also today, the River Lions just announced a new president. Not sure if the old president left or is being reassigned as I thought he was part of the ownership group.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

There certainly could be some cost savings by owning both teams. Plus it means your steam of revenue is more even over the course of a year. In theory is a great plan.

 

[Sam14]

There certainly could be some cost savings by owning both teams. Plus it means your steam of revenue is more even over the course of a year. In theory is a great plan.

The Riverlions ownership team were one of the bidders for the IceDogs in 2022, for all the reasons bigsportsfan mentioned. Perhaps, they circle back and try again.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

The Riverlions ownership team were one of the bidders for the IceDogs in 2022, for all the reason bigsportsfan mentioned. Perhaps, they circle back and try again.

Interesting.

I read the article on adding a new owner to their group. Speaking as a professional capitalist, you would only do this if you were trying to pay down debt or maneuvering to purchase something else.

 

[Sam14]

If you were GM who are you taking out of your 6 they should consider taking (pretending all were still available)

Who would be a legitimate 10th overall pick for the IceDogs?

If we assume that the following players are the first ones off the board (McGregor, Wycisk, Chitaroni, Lammens, Delisle, Warren, Murata), that still leaves some outstanding players for picks 8, 9 and 10, even with Barch and Thibodeau US NTDP players. So, if he were available at 10, I would select Ryerson Edgar. If Edgar is off the board, the IceDogs must take a top 8-15 talent, such as Laus, Ardagh, Raynor, Bennett, Freeman, Harris, otherwise, it will speak volumes to the state of this franchise.

Not what we want to see the IceDogs do with the 10th overall pick, however, if the IceDogs draft out of positional need and reach for a D: Forrest (calls St. Catharines home and currently playing for the Falcons), Buchman, Green, Kunopaski, Perreault, Johnson, Nutting are some of their better options.

Of course, if the IceDogs had a 2nd round pick, they could draft a top-end F at 10 and address the need for D with their 2nd round pick. Apparently, they are actively trying to acquire a 2025 2nd, so lets see if they can get done, something they shouldn't have had to do in the first place.

 

[Sam14]

delete

 

[Dog Fan]

Who would be a legitimate 10th overall pick for the IceDogs?

If we assume that the following players are the first ones off the board (McGregor, Wycisk, Chitaroni, Lammens, Delisle, Warren, Murata), that still leaves some outstanding players for picks 8, 9 and 10, even with Barch and Thibodeau US NTDP players. So, if he were available at 10, I would select Ryerson Edgar. If Edgar is off the board, the IceDogs must take a top 8-15 talent, such as Laus, Ardagh, Raynor, Bennett, Freeman, Harris, otherwise, it will speak volumes to the state of this franchise.

Not what we want to see the IceDogs do with the 10th overall pick, however, if the IceDogs draft out of positional need and reach for a D: Forrest (calls St. Catharines home and currently playing for the Falcons), Buchman, Green, Kunopaski, Perreault, Johnson, Nutting are some of their better options.

Of course, if the IceDogs had a 2nd round pick, they could draft a top-end F at 10 and address the need for D with their 2nd round pick. Apparently, they are actively trying to acquire a 2025 2nd, so lets see if they can get done, something they shouldn't have had to do in the first place.

Peter Green please

 

[Sam14]

Peter Green please

It’s very F driven at the top of the board BUT With the influx of US players in play and some goalies, there is the possibility of Green or someone of his ability available to the IceDogs in the 2nd round. Unfortunately, you need a 2nd round pick to make that a possibility. Wes get on your “Sell Phone” and close the deal on a 2nd round pick

 

[OHL4Life]

Perreault is a name that keeps coming up

 

[Sam14]

Perreault is a name that keeps coming up

An interesting late 1st round reach after Realtor Wes has acknowledged that Fs dominate the top half of the board. Good player. Can we assume John Walters is his agent? Word circulating is that several agents are steering their players away from Niagara.
So Friday should be IceDog-interesting

 

[Howard]

If there was ever a draft where more than just hockey ability was important this is it. They have to get more character in that room.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

An interesting late 1st round reach after Realtor Wes has acknowledged that Fs dominate the top half of the board. Good player. Can we assume John Walters is his agent? Word circulating is that several agents are steering their players away from Niagara.
So Friday should be IceDog-interesting

Ya but ... I remember we were told players/parents were avoiding us 2 years ago. Then we pulled off one of the best drafts since I became a fan.

 

[Sam14]

Ya but ... I remember we were told players/parents were avoiding us 2 years ago. Then we pulled off one of the best drafts since I became a fan.

IceDogs hockey ops hasn’t done anything. All their drafts are player agent John Walters selecting his clients for Niagara. Question remains did the Frasca incident sour their relationship. That I don’t know.

 

[Sam14]

Not a good year to be picking 10th when your primary need is a D in a top-heavy F draft class and you don’t have a 2nd.

As a result, the IceDogs could possibly be without an impactful 07, 08 and 09 D-man on their roster heading into the 25-26 season.

Too bad you can’t trade down in the OHL.

 

[Jawk]

Not a good year to be picking 10th when your primary need is a D in a top-heavy F draft class and you don’t have a 2nd.

As a result, the IceDogs could possibly be without an impactful 07, 08 and 09 D-man on their roster heading into the 25-26 season.

Too bad you can’t trade down in the OHL.

Imagine if DD was allowed to move his 1st round picks...

 

[bigsportsfan]

I thought that the OHL might announce the sanctions against the IceDogs before the draft, especially if DD is being banned from having any involvement on the hockey ops side and the OHL is assigning someone to run the team. An announcement like this might influence players to come here if drafted by the IceDogs.

 

[dogs777]

I thought that the OHL might announce the sanctions against the IceDogs before the draft, especially if DD is being banned from having any involvement on the hockey ops side and the OHL is assigning someone to run the team. An announcement like this might influence players to come here if drafted by the IceDogs.

They could still announce it tomorrow or Friday but I don’t think the announcement would really change who may or may not be willing to come. Maybe they’re in the process of a sale which could delay or eliminate the sanctions

 

[bigsportsfan]

They could still announce it tomorrow or Friday but I don’t think the announcement would really change who may or may not be willing to come. Maybe they’re in the process of a sale which could delay or eliminate the sanctions

A sale would definitely be the best scenario!

 

[SELLTHETEAM]

They could still announce it tomorrow or Friday but I don’t think the announcement would really change who may or may not be willing to come. Maybe they’re in the process of a sale which could delay or eliminate the sanctions

I think you pick the best kids and hopefully a new, quality owner can convince them to come.

 

[Sam14]

I think you pick the best kids and hopefully a new, quality owner can convince them to come.

Agree. Mentioned this before but It would be in our franchise’s best interest to select the BPA with the 10th overall pick regardless, rather than reach for a late 1st or 2nd round talent who is willing to sign. It would give a potential new owner the opportunity to convince him to sign or declare him defective; collect the draft picks and compensatory 2010 1st round pick. The new owner would then have two first round picks in 2026 OHL draft and a surplus of draft picks

 

[dogs777]

Agree. Mentioned this before but It would be in our franchise’s best interest to select the BPA with the 10th overall pick regardless, rather than reach for a late 1st or 2nd round talent who is willing to sign. It would give a potential new owner the opportunity to convince him to sign or declare him defective; collect the draft picks and compensatory 2010 1st round pick. The new owner would then have two first round picks in 2026 OHL draft and a surplus of draft picks

That would be in the teams best interest but IF DDD is actually going to move on (I’m still not sure he will) I could see him wanting to leave a big FU on the way out by drafting randomly and making some weird trades before it’s done

 

[knowescape]

Agree. Mentioned this before but It would be in our franchise’s best interest to select the BPA with the 10th overall pick regardless, rather than reach for a late 1st or 2nd round talent who is willing to sign. It would give a potential new owner the opportunity to convince him to sign or declare him defective; collect the draft picks and compensatory 2010 1st round pick. The new owner would then have two first round picks in 2026 OHL draft and a surplus of draft picks

Drafting the BPA is always the best bet, every round. The only caveat is when you are trying to fill a positional hole which may result in reaching down a few places, or trading picks to move ahead in the line. One would think if DDD was considering a sale, or in the throes of one a bargaining chip would be to allow the incoming regime to run the draft. The notion that any outgoing owner would tank a draft only devalues the franchise and takes money out of his pocket.

 

[Sam14]

“We feel strong though regardless with the 10th pick that we’ll get a good hockey player.”

What the IceDogs won’t likely get is what they need the most — a defenceman.

“It’s forward-heavy up top and if something out of the ordinary happens before us, we’ll see,” Consorti said.

Consorti said he has explored trading for a pick in the second round.

“I had a few conversations with some teams. Nothing really concrete, but we’ll see where that goes,” he said. “You’d love to have a second round pick every year, but just trying to see if it makes sense for the future too and how much it costs and there are lots of other factors in that.”




No sh$t. They just figured it out a few days before the draft…

A 2025 2nd has considerable value and are expensive to obtain and yet the IceDogs foolishly traded theirs away, without exercising any forward thinking back in August.

Useless and Clueless in Niagara.