Owen Sound Attack 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 2)

[Noofgoof]

I know this will bring me some flack but hey I've got broad shoulders so bring it on. On the fence fans like yourself are exactly the reason this organization will not go all in. Because they don't want to lose money for 3 years of a rebuild afterwards.

I still watched the game.. quite often do, just did not attend..and in this case I was glad I didnt go and chose to watch it from home. Ive been a fan since I was a young kid that will never change.. I am not an on the fence fan sorry. I am about as passionate and loyal as any one out there and I have the right to be displeased with the way the team has played, progressed or maybe should say regressed.

I would like to point out DD who I can say has done a pretty steady good job most times, has also been at the helm since 2007 which is an awful long time for a guy that has yet to ever go all in on a season. I would gladly support the team through its lumps if they chose to do that to show they are actually willing to try and win not only a OHL championship but a Mem cup. I realize we won the 2011 championship but that was not really an all in season either. He made great moves early on that paid off. That being said this team has been regressing all season. They had a hot start many of the fans my self included were excited and hopeful however we fizzed off and the teams that had a slow start did the opposite and turned their seasons around.. It has turned this season in to a disappointment. By no means did I expect the team to be first but I also did not for see us fighting for the bottom playoff seed. I think its this team and management owe it to the fans and especially the players just one time to try and actually fully go for it. The players must be slightly disappointed at the deadline when just a tweak or two is made but nothing to push a team over the top on a season that showed manger signs of a good one and a precursor to what is expected to be good next year. . At what point do players say ya I could go to that team and probably finish between 4th and 7th every year for my next four years or do I go to a team that might push to win once in my 4 year career.

Sorry this turned in to an extremely long post and I could go on but will stop for now.

 

[DCruickshank]

Supporting the team thru a rebuild from home does not cut it

 

[OSAttackFan88]

The players either really overachieved last year in a weird Covid season or they underperformed this year in what was supposed to be a 40 win season from all the talk at the start of the year. They need to improve on the Defense and Chenard has been a bust since his injury.. he is a very disappointing OA goalie. But I get crapped on for chirping him. I think the team needs to make a coaching change in the offseason, as for next year if George can play like he is now it should be a solid year. But guys like Lawrence and Burroughs need to be a lot better or trade them for assets in the offseason. 30 win seasons mean sweet eff all to me if we have quick exits in the playoffs..

 

[Noofgoof]

Supporting the team thru a rebuild from home does not cut it

I go to as many games as I can personally afford, generally even make a few away trips and when I cant go I purchase the online package however am always willing to go if someone wants to share their tickets.

 

[OSattackfan]

I still watched the game.. quite often do, just did not attend..and in this case I was glad I didnt go and chose to watch it from home. Ive been a fan since I was a young kid that will never change.. I am not an on the fence fan sorry. I am about as passionate and loyal as any one out there and I have the right to be displeased with the way the team has played, progressed or maybe should say regressed.

I would like to point out DD who I can say has done a pretty steady good job most times, has also been at the helm since 2007 which is an awful long time for a guy that has yet to ever go all in on a season. I would gladly support the team through its lumps if they chose to do that to show they are actually willing to try and win not only a OHL championship but a Mem cup. I realize we won the 2011 championship but that was not really an all in season either. He made great moves early on that paid off. That being said this team has been regressing all season. They had a hot start many of the fans my self included were excited and hopeful however we fizzed off and the teams that had a slow start did the opposite and turned their seasons around.. It has turned this season in to a disappointment. By no means did I expect the team to be first but I also did not for see us fighting for the bottom playoff seed. I think its this team and management owe it to the fans and especially the players just one time to try and actually fully go for it. The players must be slightly disappointed at the deadline when just a tweak or two is made but nothing to push a team over the top on a season that showed manger signs of a good one and a precursor to what is expected to be good next year. . At what point do players say ya I could go to that team and probably finish between 4th and 7th every year for my next four years or do I go to a team that might push to win once in my 4 year career.

Sorry this turned in to an extremely long post and I could go on but will stop for now.

Well said and totally agree. Regardless of what we post on this blog, good or bad, we all support the team and try to get to all home games/watch all away games. As a season ticket holder, I too would like to see this team actually go for a play-off run. I think as a fan who buys Attack gear, spends money at every game, supports all the functions, deserves to see more from management coaches and players. Yes it's Júnior hockey, a step away for some of these kids to earn good career, its also a business to the owners and we as season ticket holders should be considered as share holders who expect to see some return on our investment. As always there will be ups and downs and we expect that. Without paying fans, there is no team. As much as I'm disappointed this year, I will still invest in the team , hoping I will one day see an exciting play-off run.

 

[Bear in the Woods]

Well said and totally agree. Regardless of what we post on this blog, good or bad, we all support the team and try to get to all home games/watch all away games. As a season ticket holder, I too would like to see this team actually go for a play-off run. I think as a fan who buys Attack gear, spends money at every game, supports all the functions, deserves to see more from management coaches and players. Yes it's Júnior hockey, a step away for some of these kids to earn good career, its also a business to the owners and we as season ticket holders should be considered as share holders who expect to see some return on our investment. As always there will be ups and downs and we expect that. Without paying fans, there is no team. As much as I'm disappointed this year, I will still invest in the team , hoping I will one day see an exciting play-off run.

Earlier in the season I posted something similar. An all in season would be exciting to watch. Win or Lose.
The anticipation of what "could be" would create a buzz around town and add some flavor to, what some would consider, a rather bland organization.

 

[leafsrdue]

After 2011, we all know that long playoff run is possible, I think that keeps people coming back. There were some really lean years where the team had little OHL ready talent. This season is frustrating because there seems to be a lot of talent, but the team is not quite getting it together and a few players have not taken their game to the next level. I'll keep coming back, still enjoy the rink even on the bad nights.

 

[KFawcett]

I still watched the game.. quite often do, just did not attend..and in this case I was glad I didnt go and chose to watch it from home. Ive been a fan since I was a young kid that will never change.. I am not an on the fence fan sorry. I am about as passionate and loyal as any one out there and I have the right to be displeased with the way the team has played, progressed or maybe should say regressed.

I would like to point out DD who I can say has done a pretty steady good job most times, has also been at the helm since 2007 which is an awful long time for a guy that has yet to ever go all in on a season. I would gladly support the team through its lumps if they chose to do that to show they are actually willing to try and win not only a OHL championship but a Mem cup. I realize we won the 2011 championship but that was not really an all in season either. He made great moves early on that paid off. That being said this team has been regressing all season. They had a hot start many of the fans my self included were excited and hopeful however we fizzed off and the teams that had a slow start did the opposite and turned their seasons around.. It has turned this season in to a disappointment. By no means did I expect the team to be first but I also did not for see us fighting for the bottom playoff seed. I think its this team and management owe it to the fans and especially the players just one time to try and actually fully go for it. The players must be slightly disappointed at the deadline when just a tweak or two is made but nothing to push a team over the top on a season that showed manger signs of a good one and a precursor to what is expected to be good next year. . At what point do players say ya I could go to that team and probably finish between 4th and 7th every year for my next four years or do I go to a team that might push to win once in my 4 year career.

Sorry this turned in to an extremely long post and I could go on but will stop for now.

I apologize for causing you to write a long post and I don't disagree with any of it really. I wasn't meaning my post at anyone directly but many people have shown that when things aren't going good they won't be there. Cash from ticket sales and concessions is what pays the bills.

 

[Millpond]

As a long time STH (1990) I've seen firsthand the best, and worst of times.
There have been moments of great enjoyment since September, just not nearly enough .

In a word, this season can only be described as disappointing.

 

[KFawcett]

Well said and totally agree. Regardless of what we post on this blog, good or bad, we all support the team and try to get to all home games/watch all away games. As a season ticket holder, I too would like to see this team actually go for a play-off run. I think as a fan who buys Attack gear, spends money at every game, supports all the functions, deserves to see more from management coaches and players. Yes it's Júnior hockey, a step away for some of these kids to earn good career, its also a business to the owners and we as season ticket holders should be considered as share holders who expect to see some return on our investment. As always there will be ups and downs and we expect that. Without paying fans, there is no team. As much as I'm disappointed this year, I will still invest in the team , hoping I will one day see an exciting play-off run.

For the record I agree with a lot of the comments and trust me I would love nothing more than going all in and adding big pieces to make a run. Bottom line though as much as people make lite of the 30 win seasons only a couple teams have done it so it is a sign of consistency also the minimum 2 playoff dates is a huge boost for a small market team, I guess we just keep praying that we catch lightning in a bottle at some time. I remember back in the Plater days my BIL and his buddies in Kitchener were giving me grief about Platers always being lower in the standings I told them OHL is a training ground for future NHL stars and Owen Sound is a training ground for future Leaf fans.

 

[TcNorth]

For any going to Flint Saturday, tickets are almost gone. Better get them today.

 

[PensFan101]

It's an extreme longshot at this point, but worth bringing up that Isaac Howard, 1st Round pick of Tampa Bay and whose OHL rights are owned by the Attack, just entered the NCAA transfer portal after a rough freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth.

If we're talking about major overhauls to the roster, Howard leaving school and reporting to Owen Sound would be a dream scenario, even if it's for now just a pipe-dream.

 

[Millpond]

It's an extreme longshot at this point, but worth bringing up that Isaac Howard, 1st Round pick of Tampa Bay and whose OHL rights are owned by the Attack, just entered the NCAA transfer portal after a rough freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth.

If we're talking about major overhauls to the roster, Howard leaving school and reporting to Owen Sound would be a dream scenario, even if it's for now just a pipe-dream.

We can dream .

 

[Stellar29]

It's an extreme longshot at this point, but worth bringing up that Isaac Howard, 1st Round pick of Tampa Bay and whose OHL rights are owned by the Attack, just entered the NCAA transfer portal after a rough freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth.

If we're talking about major overhauls to the roster, Howard leaving school and reporting to Owen Sound would be a dream scenario, even if it's for now just a pipe-dream.

Fascinating news. Most top NHL prospects only play a season or two at the NCAA level before turning pro. That might actually make the OHL more of an intriguing option as he would only play a season anyways before turning pro if that was his plan. If I'm not mistaken it would also make him a draft re-entry candidate if he didn't sign with the lightning.

From what I could find, it sounds like he's a bit of a one dimensional offensive player which would likely be better suited to the OHL level rather than a more mature NCAA system. I would imagine it would be easier to work through the defensive side of the of the game amongst your own age group.

 

[Sounder76]

Earlier in the season I posted something similar. An all in season would be exciting to watch. Win or Lose.
The anticipation of what "could be" would create a buzz around town and add some flavor to, what some would consider, a rather bland organization.

I 100% agree with this statement Bear. It would also create a buzz into the dressing room and perhaps generate that needed lift the boys always seem to lack in the mid-season. But we never see that because of the 30 win mentality and as another poster noted an overall "bland organization". This team actually has the horses to create some buzz next year, with a top ten NHL draft pick coming back for his last season. Let's use that and be in on the big-buzz players next year. If ever there was a time to do it, it is then. Imagine how much Owen Sound and region would get behind the boys!!! All in baby!

 

[Bear in the Woods]

I 100% agree with this statement Bear. It would also create a buzz into the dressing room and perhaps generate that needed lift the boys always seem to lack in the mid-season. But we never see that because of the 30 win mentality and as another poster noted an overall "bland organization". This team actually has the horses to create some buzz next year, with a top ten NHL draft pick coming back for his last season. Let's use that and be in on the big-buzz players next year. If ever there was a time to do it, it is then. Imagine how much Owen Sound and region would get behind the boys!!! All in baby!

There's also the chance that we trade Barlow...a la Suzuki and Durzi. Then we could build for the future.

 

[KFawcett]

I 100% agree with this statement Bear. It would also create a buzz into the dressing room and perhaps generate that needed lift the boys always seem to lack in the mid-season. But we never see that because of the 30 win mentality and as another poster noted an overall "bland organization". This team actually has the horses to create some buzz next year, with a top ten NHL draft pick coming back for his last season. Let's use that and be in on the big-buzz players next year. If ever there was a time to do it, it is then. Imagine how much Owen Sound and region would get behind the boys!!! All in baby!

I'm going to play Devils advocate here. Don't get me wrong I would be all in on getting a big buzz player as you call them. My question to you is how are you going to get that player? Where are the assets to aquire that player coming from?

 

[Stellar29]

I'm going to play Devils advocate here. Don't get me wrong I would be all in on getting a big buzz player as you call them. My question to you is how are you going to get that player? Where are the assets to aquire that player coming from?

I think realistically they could afford 1 big-ish add. They would be stretched to do anything beyond that I would think without moving roster players. We will have to wait and see how the 03 OA surplus shakes out. They likely won't be able to grab whoever the top options are if it gets to a bidding war but could be players in the next tier.

Two free assets possibilities with the Isaac Howard NCAA -> OHL possibility(slim as it may be, he is confirmed to be in the transfer portal which shows he's looking to change scenery) and the import draft could yield impact players.

It's a lot of what ifs and wishful thinking but I don't think it's all doom and gloom going into next year. If they can work out the blue line I'd like the team/roster a whole lot better. They look more mid pack than top tier in the west next season as it stands now in my opinion.

 

[StormWatcher]

There's also the chance that we trade Barlow...a la Suzuki and Durzi. Then we could build for the future.

Yes please.

 

[KFawcett]

I think realistically they could afford 1 big-ish add. They would be stretched to do anything beyond that I would think without moving roster players. We will have to wait and see how the 03 OA surplus shakes out. They likely won't be able to grab whoever the top options are if it gets to a bidding war but could be players in the next tier.

Two free assets possibilities with the Isaac Howard NCAA -> OHL possibility(slim as it may be, he is confirmed to be in the transfer portal which shows he's looking to change scenery) and the import draft could yield impact players.

It's a lot of what ifs and wishful thinking but I don't think it's all doom and gloom going into next year. If they can work out the blue line I'd like the team/roster a whole lot better. They look more mid pack than top tier in the west next season as it stands now in my opinion.

I'm definitely not doom and gloom I'm 100% positive. Truth is though if prices are anywhere near this season we don't have the assets to make a big splash. I would like our defense shored up with ideally if we could afford it a DelMastro type d man. I haven't checked lately but one option could be drafting a Mete,Dickinson player if there was one out there. A player that wants to be in London and that London wants could net a decent return. The other thing is we are still kinda young so next year with everyone a year older and a 2nd tier add or 2 will look different.

 

[HLLYWD99]

It looks like I am going to get my Windsor wish.

 

[Sounder76]

I think realistically they could afford 1 big-ish add. They would be stretched to do anything beyond that I would think without moving roster players. We will have to wait and see how the 03 OA surplus shakes out. They likely won't be able to grab whoever the top options are if it gets to a bidding war but could be players in the next tier.

Two free assets possibilities with the Isaac Howard NCAA -> OHL possibility(slim as it may be, he is confirmed to be in the transfer portal which shows he's looking to change scenery) and the import draft could yield impact players.

It's a lot of what ifs and wishful thinking but I don't think it's all doom and gloom going into next year. If they can work out the blue line I'd like the team/roster a whole lot better. They look more mid pack than top tier in the west next season as it stands now in my opinion.

Here are the guys I would make available next season, assuming some of them come back for OA. From the tender on out, I would be willing to move #30, 24, 9, 25, 8, and 18. I am sure we could package two or three of those and a pick or two to receive a Shane Wright/Pastujov/Morrison ( I am speaking of getting only ONE major player in return, not all three lol). Or heck, make a couple moves a la Peterborough, just don't let it affect the room the way it did for the Petes clearly. Just saying, we do have the available commodities if we choose that direction. But it would mean DD making hard decisions, and we know he doesn't like doing that. You can see that in the way he talks about having to assess players etc and how they "almost become like family...". It is those types of quotes that make me further believe he will never go all-in ever. Doesn't have the stones to trade away "his" players and would be scared it would blow up in his face. I am sorry DD, but there are times that you just have to throw it in there and see if it provides that much needed spark to the team. You'd be amazed how the team may respond. I know the city would be abuzz if we went out and got a legit superstar to play alongside Colby next year. It could be the best line in the O feasibly. Can't hurt to try my man.

 

[ktownfan]

I watched on replay this morning your game last night. I hope that Brennan is ok, he sure got hit. Although it was as clean as it could be. One thing I noticed is how out of postion your defense are, especailly as you get closer to your net. Couple goals your D were actually right beside the goal scorer. You looked physically outmatched, and my fave from his time in Kingston didn't get nearly enough ice to take away some of Sarnias physicality. You seem to play alot of little guys alot. I hope barlow and Lawrence get back in time for the playoffs.

 

[Sounder76]

I watched on replay this morning your game last night. I hope that Brennan is ok, he sure got hit. Although it was as clean as it could be. One thing I noticed is how out of postion your defense are, especailly as you get closer to your net. Couple goals your D were actually right beside the goal scorer. You looked physically outmatched, and my fave from his time in Kingston didn't get nearly enough ice to take away some of Sarnias physicality. You seem to play alot of little guys alot. I hope barlow and Lawrence get back in time for the playoffs.

Great point ktown. It all starts and ends with our "live and die with best dman". For those now knowing the quote it was our assistant coach couple months ago referring to #9. He constantly pinches, then skates back lazily, if at all. Usually he waits until there is another forward rush up the ice, instead of skating his ass off to be back in position. Then there is also his general not knowing where he is on the ice. Zero awareness from the kid and the coaches have given him a green light to do whatever he pleases to all season, for some unknown reason. Must be a real sore spot in the room if you ask me. Anyway, you are spot on about your observation, and we could also use some rough stuff back there and don't worry, most of us up here loooove Stewy's play. I cannot keep my eyes off him every shift, lol. He is a beauty for sure. Just ticked he lost the mully out back of his helmet!

 

[OSattackfan]

I've been saying this all season about #9 and have taken flack from it. #9 does have some good skills and I won't knock him for that, BUT, I th ink the coaches need to rein him in some or be accountable for his play. Are they encouraging him to play this way? I hope not. He is a better forward than defence. In my opinion he is our worst Dman. Jordon works his butt off and is not afraid to be physical. I just can't put my finger on why the coaches favour #9 as much as they do. Is there some kind of connection to the coaches / ownership?

Great point ktown. It all starts and ends with our "live and die with best dman". For those now knowing the quote it was our assistant coach couple months ago referring to #9. He constantly pinches, then skates back lazily, if at all. Usually he waits until there is another forward rush up the ice, instead of skating his ass off to be back in position. Then there is also his general not knowing where he is on the ice. Zero awareness from the kid and the coaches have given him a green light to do whatever he pleases to all season, for some unknown reason. Must be a real sore spot in the room if you ask me. Anyway, you are spot on about your observation, and we could also use some rough stuff back there and don't worry, most of us up here loooove Stewy's play. I cannot keep my eyes off him every shift, lol. He is a beauty for sure. Just ticked he lost the mully out back of his helmet!