Word was pretty clear Seegar was told to come back for Tuesday, apparently he did not return. He wasn't cut according to the paper when he left, and the scoop was he was returning to iron out details with high school. Buzz around rink was he should have been signed, does anyone know what happened?
He went home to write an exam to maintain his US eligibility. He wants to play in Moncton this season and will come back if the Wildcats decide to sign him.
I like the Olivier move. Three years from now, we could build a team that can challenge for it all. Olivier was rough around the edges (only in youth) but his potential is unquestionable. And he can bury. Seegar buried too, at least in both sets of scrimmages. They gave others a pass on working their way through rookie and vet camp for that matter, and signed them. IMO they should have signed Seegar early, and took a longer look at Bower. I think both Bower and Seegar showed they were worth a spot even though they couldn't play exhibition games due to their eligibility concerns. And why would they want to give that up if they are positioned for that type of opportunity. The fact they were here, for as longs as they were, IMO, should have been a sign to get em while they're hot. Why would they tell Seegar to return, if they had no intention of signing him. Something up with that, and its nothing to do with NCAA eligibility IMO.
All three of these guys have futures and hopefully one of our rosters will soon have them all listed on it. Jacob? Come on, he's not even physically able to play without risking further injury ! Hopefully the next few months will give Cats management ability to see if their predictions pan out. Haas for Captain !!! Keep Tremaine
There have been rumblings that Mark Tremaine has been placed on waivers. I don't know if there's any truth to it but it would come as a shock. He had a decent year and really picked it up after the Christmas break. I think it would be a mistake and I'm sure another team would pounce on it.
Management hasn't made up their minds on Seeger. To me he looked good enough but you never know what their plan is. Rumble certainly appears to be making a lot of the calls on players. They probably had a meeting with him and let him know they havn't yet decided wether to sign him or not. As a precautionary he went home and made sure to complete his exams to be eligible in case things don't work out here. All indications are that he'll come back if guaranteed a spot. He wants to play in Moncton.
Matt Bower is a 97' born that's really made a case for himself. It's a really tough call on him wether it would be better for his development to spend the year in Moncton being rotated in and out of the line up or play another year of AAA. I think he'd benefit by having a good season in AAA. Good thing about this is he's a local kid that's only an hour and a half away in Saint John. I wouldn't be surprised to see him sign an affiliate card and get a few games in , maybe even get called up permanently in the second half. Playing AAA at 16 is nothing to be ashamed of , he'll be in their plans next season.
I don't know what the deal is with Alex Jacob. Mikael Lalancette , who many including myself, consider reliable seems to think he sticking. This comes to surprise to most since he's extremely small and hasn't been able to stay healthy the past couple of seasons in AAA. I don't believe for a second his father , a Wildcats' scout, has anything to do with it. Being a Moncton kid , the scouting staff , Danny Flynn and Roger Shannon have definitely watched him a lot and know what they have. He may be small but he has a great set of wheels. Look at Conor Garland last season, he proved to be a very small BUT effective player.
Last but now least , Olivier Mathieu stole someone's spot. He's exceeded everyone's expectations and made this team. Kudos to him , he was a later round steal and a very bright spot in Moncton's future. He's a potential five year player and is leading the team in pre season scoring. This kids is solid.
I guess you're right about Bower, they could access him easily enough. Great young player. They may take some games into the season to see who is performing and who is not, especially with this type of youth. Seeger is Canadian by the way; his family may have familiarity with the Canadian University System and after Q opportunities and have decided that this route is just as good as the NCAA. Seeger stayed on his own for a long time, and from all accounts was set to return Tuesday. Should have signed him early too, no reason not to, he could contribute and I would love to have seen him in an exhibition game sure (would have probably sewed it up of himself)--but after the Friendship Tournament where he played a very physical game, demonstrating grit, power, poise and vision, and having gone through rookie camp (nursing injury) and vet camp, his not playing an exhibition game shouldn't be a factor in not signing him, but I understand that Rumble would want to give those who DID play in an exhibition game, the courtesy of a contract on good performance over somebody who couldn't' play. Hopefully, they sign him, or if they wait, hopefully he comes back. Bower might be a great player to drop in an out as much as possible, with real consideration for a late roster addition. That option exists with him. He's got a taste now, he can develop for a while in Woodstock, and might be ready to jump in sooner than we think.
3 cuts yesterday were O'brien, Whitlock and Tremaine. I expect 3 of these bubble players to be the next cuts. Poirier, Curtis, Bradley ,Drover and Tibbo.
GOALTENDERS— Alex Dubeau (age 19, Wildcats) and Graham Hunt (age 18, U.S. junior A)
DEFENCEMEN— Danick Emond (age 20, Wildcats); Cam Yarwood (age 19, Ontario junior A); Jacob Sweeney (age 18, Wildcats); Garrett Johnston (age 18, Manitoba junior A); Michael Poirier (age 18, Moncton midget AAA); Tucker White (age 17, Boston Junior Bruins under-18 team); Tanner McCabe (age 17, Miramichi junior A) and Adam Holwell (age 16, Ontario minor midget)
FORWARDS— Christopher Caissy (age 20, Summerside junior A); Christophe Lalonde (age 19, Wildcats); Ryan Penny (age 19, Wildcats); Kyle Haas (age 19, Wildcats); Ivan Barbashev (age 18, Wildcats); Stephen Johnson (age 18, Wildcats); Vladimir Tkachev (age 18, Russia national under-18 team); Cody Drover (age 18, Newfoundland midget AAA); Mark Simpson (age 18, Dieppe junior A); Alex Bradley (age 18, Moncton midget AAA); Conor Garland (age 17, Wildcats); Lucas Batt (age 17, Wildcats); Josh Pugsley (age 17, Amherst junior A); Will Smith (age 17, U.S. junior A); Liam Hynes (age 17, Ontario prep school); Benji Curtis (age 17, Fredericton midget AAA); Kyle Tibbo (age 17, Ontario prep school) and Mathieu Olivier (age 16, Quebec midget AAA)
I thought that hunt played u18 islanders
I think this will be the 2013-14 Wildcats
Alex Dubeau (19)
Graham Hunt (18)
Danick Emond (20)
Cam Yarwood (19)
Jacob Sweeney (18)
Garrett Johnston (18)
Tucker White (17)
Tanner McCabe (17)
Adam Holwell (16)
Christopher Caissy (20)
Christophe Lalonde (19)
Ryan Penny (19)
Kyle Haas (19)
Ivan Barbashev (18)
Stephen Johnson (18)
Vladimir Tkachev (18)
Cody Drover (18)
Mark Simpson (18)
Conor Garland (17)
Lucas Batt (17)
Josh Pugsley (17)
Will Smith (17)
Liam Hynes (17)
Kyle Tibbo (17)
Mathieu Olivier (16)
* I expect Curtis,Poirier,Bradley to be the final cuts
Your expecting them to take 16 forwards? I would say Tibbo and possibly Drover could be cut as well.
Sounds like Barbashev is going to be late and I'm starting to doubt Tkachev is reporting at all. If he does , I'd cut Drover too. Flynn has started the season with a 25 man roster before. Instead of 2013-14 Wildcats , I should have said "opening night Wildcats"
I thought you wrote that Jacob was with them for the whole year but you didn't put him in your list???
So left in camp..
Goaltenders:
Alex Dubeau (19) - lock
Graham Hunt (18) - lock
Defence:
Danick Emond (20) -lock
Cam Yarwood (19) - lock
Jacob Sweeney (18) - lock
Garrett Johnston (18) - lock
Michael Poirier (18)
Tucker White (17) - lock
Tanner McCabe (17)
Adam Holwell (16)
Forwards:
Christopher Caissy (20) - lock
Christophe Lalonde (19) - lock
Ryan Penny (19) - lock
Kyle Haas (19) - lock
Ivan Barbashev (18) - lock
Stephen Johnson (18) - lock
Vladimir Tkachev (18)
Cody Drover (18) - lock
Mark Simpson (18) - lock
Conor Garland (17) - lock
Lucas Batt (17)
Josh Pugsley (17) - lock
Will Smith (17) - lock
Liam Hynes (17)
Kyle Tibbo (17)
Mathieu Olivier (16) - lock
I can't believe Moncton used there first pick on Holwell I have watched him twice there was lots more D available that I think are better than him.There is no way he is ready to play in the Q
JMO