Owen Sound Attack 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[StingUpdates]

I must say your GM drives me nuts. I swear every year at this time I read an article from him saying asking prices were "crazy" or "ridiculous". As if it ever changes this time of year.

Especially when he kicked off the week being the first GM to trade an 07 for two good not elite players.

Simply put do you wanna win or not? Not sure a team has ever won doing much of nothing while there opponents stack up.

As an outsider I've always thought u guys had this elite young core thats been building yr by yr for this season to go all in with Barlow being able to be flipped next yr to recoup what u spend.

 

[Bear in the Woods]

I must say your GM drives me nuts. I swear every year at this time I read an article from him saying asking prices were "crazy" or "ridiculous". As if it ever changes this time of year.

Especially when he kicked off the week being the first GM to trade an 07 for two good not elite players.

Simply put do you wanna win or not? Not sure a team has ever won doing much of nothing while there opponents stack up.

As an outsider I've always thought u guys had this elite young core thats been building yr by yr for this season to go all in with Barlow being able to be flipped next yr to recoup what u spend.

Every Year.

 

[DCruickshank]

Every Year.

Soooo....what would you of done??

 

[Krangers08]

They’ll get picks for Barlow next year anyways why not make a move

 

[Bear in the Woods]

Soooo....what would you of done??

I'm ok with Dales moves.
We should be able to win at least 12 of our next 31 games.
Which means we will achieve our yearly target.

 

[ktownfan]

I'm ok with Dales moves.
We should be able to win at least 12 of our next 31 games.
Which means we will achieve our yearly target.

lol, Every year this happens, the trades are crazy. It's Jr hockey. It will never make sense, except for the one left standing at the end. They will always be right. The rest will not have done enough. Your Gm falls into the latter category always

 

[DCruickshank]

I'm ok with Dales moves.
We should be able to win at least 12 of our next 31 games.
Which means we will achieve our yearly target.

Good

lol, Every year this happens, the trades are crazy. It's Jr hockey. It will never make sense, except for the one left standing at the end. They will always be right. The rest will not have done enough. Your Gm falls into the latter category always

Dale has been here 17 years....do you not think he has ownership blessing?? Shows me you do not (like ALOT) understand the unique situation in Owen Sound

 

[CatchyTune]

I must say your GM drives me nuts. I swear every year at this time I read an article from him saying asking prices were "crazy" or "ridiculous". As if it ever changes this time of year.

Especially when he kicked off the week being the first GM to trade an 07 for two good not elite players.

Simply put do you wanna win or not? Not sure a team has ever won doing much of nothing while there opponents stack up.

As an outsider I've always thought u guys had this elite young core thats been building yr by yr for this season to go all in with Barlow being able to be flipped next yr to recoup what u spend.

Yep. Drives me nuts too. Theres no issue with going all in this year with this core then selling off remaining pieces next year.

 

[PensFan101]

Good


Dale has been here 17 years....do you not think he has ownership blessing?? Shows me you do not (like ALOT) understand the unique situation in Owen Sound

If it's a mindset shared by ownership and endorsed by management, it's a small town mindset that is holding this team back from achieving more, plain and simple. Also the idea that our market is so fickle that the fans won't tolerate a losing season or the team can't financially handle a bad season is just not borne out in any rational examination of the local support here.

And the thing is, if we went back and broke down a lot of Dale's moves the last 3-4 years, I'm fairly confident it would show that at times the team is willing to pay the price on guys. He just fritters it away in smaller moves, and so we never have the poker chips to buy in, or cash out, when we need to.

Just last year he traded a 2nd and 3rd round pick for Teddy Sawyer for 55 games of service (regular season and playoffs), and now he's no longer playing competitive hockey. The team then trades a first round pick and a future 3rd for a defender to fill the same role Sawyer had, and who we will be lucky to get 40 games out of if he turns pro next year.

I know I won't change any minds on here, but I at least appreciate seeing the divide in this forum.

 

[Millpond]

I hope for you guys he is, had 28 last year and 8 this year so far

Thank you

 

[Bear in the Woods]

Yep. Drives me nuts too. Theres no issue with going all in this year with this core then selling off remaining pieces next year.

I'm ok with selling to build for the future as well. We could have gone either direction this year.
But here we are....stuck in the middle again.

 

[Bear in the Woods]

If it's a mindset shared by ownership and endorsed by management, it's a small town mindset that is holding this team back from achieving more, plain and simple. Also the idea that our market is so fickle that the fans won't tolerate a losing season or the team can't financially handle a bad season is just not borne out in any rational examination of the local support here.

And the thing is, if we went back and broke down a lot of Dale's moves the last 3-4 years, I'm fairly confident it would show that at times the team is willing to pay the price on guys. He just fritters it away in smaller moves, and so we never have the poker chips to buy in, or cash out, when we need to.

Just last year he traded a 2nd and 3rd round pick for Teddy Sawyer for 55 games of service (regular season and playoffs), and now he's no longer playing competitive hockey. The team then trades a first round pick and a future 3rd for a defender to fill the same role Sawyer had, and who we will be lucky to get 40 games out of if he turns pro next year.

I know I won't change any minds on here, but I at least appreciate seeing the divide in this forum.

I can appreciate the investment ownership has committed to this team. It is a substantial amount of money. Protecting your investment is crucial.
But every year you should review your strategies and make sure you are on target for the future.
The Attack are on a steady decline when it comes to attendance. This year is on track to be the lowest average attendance in the last 10 years. (with the exception of the covid season).
Somewhere along the line they have to notice this. Will they blame the "fickle market"?
I don't think so......but who knows.
I have said before..... all in, or sell off and build something special. Both options are exciting for fans.
I am sure the owners struggle with these decisions every year. It can't be easy.

 

[Millpond]

I must say your GM drives me nuts. I swear every year at this time I read an article from him saying asking prices were "crazy" or "ridiculous". As if it ever changes this time of year.

Especially when he kicked off the week being the first GM to trade an 07 for two good not elite players.

Simply put do you wanna win or not? Not sure a team has ever won doing much of nothing while there opponents stack up.

As an outsider I've always thought u guys had this elite young core thats been building yr by yr for this season to go all in with Barlow being able to be flipped next yr to recoup what u spend.

The reality of OHL hockey in the smallest market.

I can appreciate the investment ownership has committed to this team. It is a substantial amount of money. Protecting your investment is crucial.
But every year you should review your strategies and make sure you are on target for the future.
The Attack are on a steady decline when it comes to attendance. This year is on track to be the lowest average attendance in the last 10 years. (with the exception of the covid season).
Somewhere along the line they have to notice this. Will they blame the "fickle market"?
I don't think so......but who knows.
I have said before..... all in, or sell off and build something special. Both options are exciting for fans.
I am sure the owners struggle with these decisions every year. It can't be easy.

It's their money.

 

[CatchyTune]

If it's a mindset shared by ownership and endorsed by management, it's a small town mindset that is holding this team back from achieving more, plain and simple. Also the idea that our market is so fickle that the fans won't tolerate a losing season or the team can't financially handle a bad season is just not borne out in any rational examination of the local support here.

And the thing is, if we went back and broke down a lot of Dale's moves the last 3-4 years, I'm fairly confident it would show that at times the team is willing to pay the price on guys. He just fritters it away in smaller moves, and so we never have the poker chips to buy in, or cash out, when we need to.

Just last year he traded a 2nd and 3rd round pick for Teddy Sawyer for 55 games of service (regular season and playoffs), and now he's no longer playing competitive hockey. The team then trades a first round pick and a future 3rd for a defender to fill the same role Sawyer had, and who we will be lucky to get 40 games out of if he turns pro next year.

I know I won't change any minds on here, but I at least appreciate seeing the divide in this forum.

Yep. Then you add up the Prices for Sawyer and Smith/McCue and you realize its almost the exact package star players get (like Becks package this year)

 

[OSMike]

I wish that the trade deadline frenzy wasn't allowed or there were limits applied. To me a team doesn't win but a collection of allstars assembled for a couple months does. It just doesn't seem right.

 

[Noofgoof]

As much as I really want to be I am just not overly optimistic about the current state of the team.. I really really want them to figure it out but it's hard to see it at least for now. I'm certain we will have some good days because the line up can be potent but I feel like it's not what we were sold on at the start of the year and it's going to take a ton of work to get to that spot If ever. I must say McCue has been a welcome treat. If it wasn't for him the last few games would of been even worse..
Part of me wonders if we should bring in another coach to help out. I would like to think Dale has explored the options but may not hurt to help maximize our teams output and help free up Rumble so he can focus more on specifics or even just another set of eyes for some video footage or anything.

Praying to the hockey gods the boys figure it out. Maybe just maybe it can happen.

 

[ktownfan]

That was another poor game. Flint is another team lower in the standings and you can't hold a lead again. I saw most, but not all of it. To me it looks like they are not motivated at all. The coach gives ice time to guys who don't seem to be moving or know if they have a bad shift they can go back out and do it again. Maybe this interim coach is just that, an interim. I still maintain something is wrong with Barlow, he just dioesn't seem right. You are quickly falling in the standings, the bottom isn't that far away. They need to get it figured out

 

[OSattackfan]

Good


Dale has been here 17 years....do you not think he has ownership blessing?? Shows me you do not (like ALOT) understand the unique situation in Owen Sound

Just a question. What is the unique situation in OS? Just want to understand this, don't want to be criticized. I've heard this quote a couple of times

 

[ktownfan]

I'm new to watching this team and from what I can gather is that there is an acceptance of mediocrity. THe owners are content with providing a decent entertainment product for the small city of Owen Sound. Without these owners there would not be a team in OS, that is for sure, but there seems to be no drive to build a true winner. Just because the OS fans are a small town fan base, I don't think we can sell them short and say they don't want, or understand the things that it takes to be a winner. Like trading fan favorites, future NHLers for the betterment of the program. In my opinion, this is what they mean.

 

[Noofgoof]

I'm completely curious if there is stats on on fans watching from home. I know that numbers in the seats have maybe took a dip this season which is where the big revenue comes from but maybe more people are saying it's worth the money for the season pass online and just watching at home where beverages are just at cost and you can have all the snacks you can supply. I know I used to go avidly and have found my self at much fewer games just for that reason.

 

[Stellar29]

I'm completely curious if there is stats on on fans watching from home. I know that numbers in the seats have maybe took a dip this season which is where the big revenue comes from but maybe more people are saying it's worth the money for the season pass online and just watching at home where beverages are just at cost and you can have all the snacks you can supply. I know I used to go avidly and have found my self at much fewer games just for that reason.

The current cost of living situation is absolutely a factor. People generally have less disposable income to spend on entertainment etc and certainly the ability to watch from home becomes more appealing from a cost perspective. That's not exclusive to Owen Sound either but Owen Sound does have a smaller population base to draw from for attendance. Costs for admission and concessions aren't getting any cheaper either.

I know for me personally, I attend around a dozen games every year, schedule permitting. I know a lot of people aren't as fortunate though and have had to cut back. I think that's just our current reality.

 

[ktownfan]

These are all very true statements, but what about the contentment of being mid to low pack?

 

[Millpond]

These are all very true statements, but what about the contentment of being mid to low pack?

Just curious, as an outsider, what do you see they can do to improve things on ice, within the team's framework ?

 

[AttackBeacher]

I'm new to watching this team and from what I can gather is that there is an acceptance of mediocrity. THe owners are content with providing a decent entertainment product for the small city of Owen Sound. Without these owners there would not be a team in OS, that is for sure, but there seems to be no drive to build a true winner. Just because the OS fans are a small town fan base, I don't think we can sell them short and say they don't want, or understand the things that it takes to be a winner. Like trading fan favorites, future NHLers for the betterment of the program. In my opinion, this is what they mean.

The owners have won a championship using that methodology in 2011. In that time period, teams like Kitchener, Windsor, Ottawa, etc have not won. You may not believe that this is the proper business model, but there is no proof that the other way is a true bullet proof business model either.

The current cost of living situation is absolutely a factor. People generally have less disposable income to spend on entertainment etc and certainly the ability to watch from home becomes more appealing from a cost perspective. That's not exclusive to Owen Sound either but Owen Sound does have a smaller population base to draw from for attendance. Costs for admission and concessions aren't getting any cheaper either.

I know for me personally, I attend around a dozen games every year, schedule permitting. I know a lot of people aren't as fortunate though and have had to cut back. I think that's just our current reality.

Im blessed that Im retired so I can control much of my day to day income, but i know tons of people who are struggling, no doubt that tickets and other entertainment expenses are the first to go. If it comse down to paying your living expenses vs going to an Attack game, the Attack game goes by the wayside.

 

[AttackBeacher]

Just a question. What is the unique situation in OS? Just want to understand this, don't want to be criticized. I've heard this quote a couple of times

Smallest market in the CHL with one of the smaller areans, concession, etc. There is a reason that the Attack have the smallest front offices in the OHL and a lean hockey operations staff. Its what they need to do to keep the lights on.