Oshawa Generals 2024 25 Season Thread Part Ii

[Donnie740]

They lack the “killer” instinct so important in the playoffs. Sudbury sat a lot of their key players. Oshawa should have dominated; didn’t.

Again, I hope I am wrong, but I give them a 60% chance of winning the first round. If they get through, a 20% chance to win the second round.

I completely agree that Oshawa played down to the level of competition against a badly undermanned Sudbury team.

Just looking at the stat sheet and seeing Oshawa outshot Sudbury 53-15 it would seem like a “dominant ” performance, but if you actually watched the game it was obvious that the majority of Oshawa’s shots were from bad angles or from distance without any traffic in front of the net. Even a Junior B goalie is going to stop those.

Oshawa wasn’t getting shots from breakaways or odd man rushes and it was the exact same situation against the Soo - - outshot them 45-28 but needed a shoot out to escape with the win. And if not for some miraculous saves by Gravelle in OT, it wouldn’t even have made it to the shoot out.

There’s absolutely no semblance of a cohesive team or a structured system. Hasn’t been all season. And that shouldn’t be surprising to anyone considering how atrocious the coaches have been.

Look at how pathetic the power play is despite all those superstars up front. Oshawa had SIX (6) power plays - - including a 4min double minor - - against Sudbury and couldn’t score once. Meanwhile, Sudbury goes 1-for-2 on their power play.

This has been one of the most disappointing underachieving Oshawa teams in a long time. Last week, I put down almost $1,500 on playoff tickets but I’ll be shocked if Oshawa survives for four rounds.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I completely agree that Oshawa played down to the level of competition against a badly undermanned Sudbury team.

Just looking at the stat sheet and seeing Oshawa outshot Sudbury 53-15 it would seem like a “dominant ” performance, but if you actually watched the game it was obvious that the majority of Oshawa’s shots were from bad angles or from distance without any traffic in front of the net. Even a Junior B goalie is going to stop those.

Oshawa wasn’t getting shots from breakaways or odd man rushes and it was the exact same situation against the Soo - - outshot them 45-28 but needed a shoot out to escape with the win. And if not for some miraculous saves by Gravelle in OT, it wouldn’t even have made it to the shoot out.

There’s absolutely no semblance of a cohesive team or a structured system. Hasn’t been all season. And that shouldn’t be surprising to anyone considering how atrocious the coaches have been.

Look at how pathetic the power play is despite all those superstars up front. Oshawa had SIX (6) power plays - - including a 4min double minor - - against Sudbury and couldn’t score once. Meanwhile, Sudbury goes 1-for-2 on their power play.

This has been one of the most disappointing underachieving Oshawa teams in a long time. Last week, I put down almost $1,500 on playoff tickets but I’ll be shocked if Oshawa survives for four rounds.

There's a reason Malone still has an Interim title in front of his name and Mario was brought in.
Pouliot won't stick around to be an assistant coach he is a career head coach with pro offers in Europe.
He has quite the resume and will bring structure to this team imo.
Look for him to be HC next season.

 

[Nerf27]

There's a reason Malone still has an Interim title in front of his name and Mario was brought in.
Pouliot won't stick around to be an assistant coach he is a career head coach with pro offers in Europe.
He has quite the resume and will bring structure to this team imo.
Look for him to be HC next season.

Agreed but maybe a little too late to turn this around for the playoffs

 

[ScoutLife4]

Agreed but maybe a little too late to turn this around for the playoffs

Oshawa is able to out skill teams even know the structure isn't great.
I think it's more that they identified a need to be able to compete with the London, Barrie, Windsor type teams.
They have a good month or so before they run into a real tough playoff series.
Lots of time to get use to any changes made (if any)

 

[Nerf27]

Oshawa is able to out skill teams even know the structure isn't great.
I think it's more that they identified a need to be able to compete with the London, Barrie, Windsor type teams.
They have a good month or so before they run into a real tough playoff series.
Lots of time to get use to any changes made (if any)

Brampton is no slouch

 

[ScoutLife4]

Brampton is no slouch

I don't see them getting through Oshawa unless Oster goes down.

 

[yessir29292]

disagree on not going for it . Ritchie is one of the top point per game guys in the league. Since you may just look at the stat line. He makes every one better around him and is a 200 foot centre with skill. Hence a first round pick. He has made great progress in playing the full game. Senneke can turn a game around by himself. Again playing along the boards better. Sinuvori is just as good as Kump. In fact his compete level is much higher. He’s always going where games would go by you didn’t notice Kumpulainen. Agree Sovzil was not good. Agree we did not have great coaching especially since Malone took over. His constant line juggling is why Sennekes stats are not even higher. When you get a shot at a Barlow you take it. He is 30 plus goal scorer and will be a tremendous weapon come playoffs. I’d rather Hunt go for it when you have great talent than as you say sell sell sell. No guarantees draft picks are top line players. This team is as good as any team when they are playing as they can. It’s up to the coach to institute consistency. I’d agree that Danford hasn’t impressed yet look when he’s out of the lineup. Gibson is very good and not a comparable player to Punnet. Punnet is a guy who will probably never make the NHL and Gibson has a shot. Oster can make timely saves and would be a goalie Id be afraid of in the playoffs.
So whether we see the team that can dominate or not is up in the air but I sure hope Pouliot can instil some consistency. I’m not saying your opinion is wrong I’m just not in agreement.

I understand Ritchie is an amazing player, one of the best in the OHL, but he was also last year. Even though he is a better player this year, he hasn't made a huge leap, and his ppg production is down from last year. My point is that even though Ritchie, Sennecke, and Danford are great players, they haven't taken the steps forward to replace the guys who left the team.

I agree with Barlow. I thought he was going to be dominant this year. I always feared him when the Gens played OS. He's a good player, but he's not playing like an NHL first-rounder d+2. It feels like he can't hit the net. How many goals has he scored on amazing shots this year?

100% Punnet does not have nearly as good of a career trajectory as Gibson. I do think last year Punnet was better at the OHL level than Gibson is this year. He controlled the games, slowed everything and was flat-out dominate and probably the Gens most important player. We've yet to see this from Gibson.

I know this team has amazing talent and I hope they prove me wrong. That said, I think next January Gens will regret that they have to trade by far the best player they've had since JT, a 20 year old, 3rd overall NHL pick Beckett Sennecke who is going to absolutely torch the OHL.

 

[TuckerFan1]

There's a reason Malone still has an Interim title in front of his name and Mario was brought in.
Pouliot won't stick around to be an assistant coach he is a career head coach with pro offers in Europe.
He has quite the resume and will bring structure to this team imo.
Look for him to be HC next season.

Agreed. This team has some tough years ahead. Can’t have Malone being in charge of a rebuild.

I know this team has amazing talent and I hope they prove me wrong. That said, I think next January Gens will regret that they have to trade by far the best player they've had since JT, a 20 year old, 3rd overall NHL pick Beckett Sennecke who is going to absolutely torch the OHL.

Roger Hunt understands the cycle of junior hockey. He’ll be upset if they don’t win with Sennecke, but I don’t think there’s going to be any regrets in trading him next year. He should be one of the more sought after players. Just have to hope we get a promising rookie in return. Can’t have another Dal Colle for Robbie Burt fiasco.

 

[Donnie740]

What an ugly game for Oshawa, certainly not the kind of debacle you want to see with the playoffs starting next week. Once North Bay made it 3-1, Oshawa pretty much just gave up. It looked like a combination of frustration and disinterest.

Once again the power play was totally inept. Couldn’t even get anything established with the 6-on-4 advantage late in the third period.

If we’re grasping at straws to find anything positive from this game, Oshawa outshot North Bay 39-29 but that was very misleading and certainly not indicative of a “dominant” performance by Oshawa.

The brain trust FINALLY decided to reunite Sennecke and Ritchie. It’s unbelievable how badly those two have been struggling for the past month.

Ritchie has 1 goal and 4 assists over his past 10 games. Sennecke has 1 goal and 7 assists over his past 10 games. It’s incomprehensible how the coaches can’t seem to figure out how to get them going offensively.

 

[zaluty]

Oshawa-Brampton will be a good series

 

[frontsfan67]

What an ugly game for Oshawa, certainly not the kind of debacle you want to see with the playoffs starting next week. Once North Bay made it 3-1, Oshawa pretty much just gave up. It looked like a combination of frustration and disinterest.

Once again the power play was totally inept. Couldn’t even get anything established with the 6-on-4 advantage late in the third period.

If we’re grasping at straws to find anything positive from this game, Oshawa outshot North Bay 39-29 but that was very misleading and certainly not indicative of a “dominant” performance by Oshawa.

The brain trust FINALLY decided to reunite Sennecke and Ritchie. It’s unbelievable how badly those two have been struggling for the past month.

Ritchie has 1 goal and 4 assists over his past 10 games. Sennecke has 1 goal and 7 assists over his past 10 games. It’s incomprehensible how the coaches can’t seem to figure out how to get them going offensively.

I know people don’t like Malone on here but them adding a coach and probably making changes to their system is something they could’ve done all year. Does not make any sense why they did it so late in the season. That’s probably what players are struggling with right now. If it carries over into the playoffs vs a Brampton team that is coming for peoples throats- look out!

Pretty sure with the fronts win and gens loss today that means you guys are officially playing the steelheads.

 

[Donnie740]

I know people don’t like Malone on here but them adding a coach and probably making changes to their system is something they could’ve done all year. Does not make any sense why they did it so late in the season. That’s probably what players are struggling with right now. If it carries over into the playoffs vs a Brampton team that is coming for peoples throats- look out!

Pretty sure with the fronts win and gens loss today that means you guys are officially playing the steelheads.

That’s correct - - Oshawa has officially “clinched” fourth place in the conference. What a massive disappointment that is.

Although not really surprising given how terrible their coaching has been this year. Very similar to the Maple Leafs situation over the past five years - - a roster loaded with talent but a hopelessly inept coach holding them back.

Bringing in Pouliot so late in the season is essentially an admission that Malone is way out of his depth trying to coach at this level. I have no earthly idea how Oshawa could ever bring Malone back as the coach next year, but since they’ll be rebuilding for the next two years it won’t really matter if it’s Malone or the mascot coaching.

 

[yessir29292]

Roger Hunt understands the cycle of junior hockey. He’ll be upset if they don’t win with Sennecke, but I don’t think there’s going to be any regrets in trading him next year. He should be one of the more sought after players. Just have to hope we get a promising rookie in return. Can’t have another Dal Colle for Robbie Burt fiasco.

This is true, Hunt deserves the benefit of the doubt. That said it is hard not to build off last year when the whole core is back. But the Gens had to be expecting one of Kumpulainen or Roobroeck back. Getting neither of them back and losing Laxdal last minute was a huge blow. And personally, I think they should have pivoted and pushed their plans up a season.

Especially when 7 teams in the east are going for it. What's their most likely path to winning the East? Brampton, Brantford then Barrie? I think all 3 of those teams are better than North Bay, the best team they beat last year. And I don't think this version of the Gens is as good as last years version.