Ok thanks. I just thought it was strange he was out so long and reported to the Steelheads right away.
Owen Sound Attack 2024-25 Season, Part I
- Thread starter SoupNazi
- Start date
He broke an appendage very early in the season .
Konnor was a great captain.
He rehabbed in OS for months, was on the ice with team mates at practice. Can't say enough good about him, and wish him well.
The plan all along was to move him if we weren't in contention. Konnor maintained a professional.positive attitude through a frustrating time with the injury. this young man is a high quality addition to any organization. I have the greatest respect for him on and off the ice he is awesome. And NO I'm not related LOL
Fastpace
The Devil's Advocate in Person
This young Attack team may not have learned all the trick of this league yet, but man, is it exciting to watch them play, they will grow as a team quick
So being an Attack fan, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Would you rather see the Attack make the playoffs and realistically get knocked out round one or would you rather them get a top 3 pick in the 2025 draft? Not sure how deep or good the upcoming draft is..
It's kind of twofold. On one hand, the team is a business and even if it is only two home dates in the playoffs, that's still revenue for the hockey team. On the other hand, the high draft pick has significant implications to the roster in the type of impact the player chosen with it may make to the franchise's success in the future seasons to come in terms of the product on the ice. The Attack likely take a hit in the pocket book this year on ticket sales etc but that kind of talent you could theoretically acquire with a top pick could help put bums in seats along with the type of talents Zurawski and Mbuyi look to be.
Just my two cents but getting a high pick makes the losing worth it this year. That's potentially a franchise type player you could be drafting to supplement what appears to be a very good 08 group with the addition of Zurawski, potentially Jet Kwajah over the summer to the already signed Mbuyi, Kindree, Roy and Arnett. Factor in Owen Sound owning their own 2nd rounder this year as well which should be a really good pick and you can sort of create a wave of talent to follow that 08 class and a fairly deep group of 07s. To me, that creates the foundation for a serious championship caliber roster and one that could have a 2-3 year window.
I know people like to debate the merits of playoff experience etc but to me, next year the team very likely ends up in the 5-8 seed range and can obtain that experience then in the season before the window opens around the 07 group's 19 year old season. Year two should have a solid 07 group for OA candidates along with the likes of Zurawski and Mbuyi's 19 year old seasons and hopefully that depth of the 09 class supporting them at 18.
I think this rebuild is going to warrant patience and a commitment to a plan to build around that window. I know there will be temptation to to try and win around George's 19 year old season and final season in the league but I think that hurts the future as you don't cash out on a prime trade piece that would greatly benefit that contention window by providing those surplus draft picks to further deepen the pick cupboard and potentially a top end 08/09 player to really push the Attack over the top. Our draft pick situation is looking pretty good for the draft itself but is lacking the additional picks that would allow the team to be buyers in the trade market with some significance to supplement their title aspirations inside of that window.
Personally, I want to see the organization hang another championship banner(one I'm actually in Owen Sound to see since I hadn't moved here yet when they won it previously) and the pieces DeGray is starting to put together and the 09 draft still to come appears to be the best path towards that goal. Whether it's the players on the roster or the coaching staff behind the bench, this to me is the most optimistic I think I've felt about the future success of the team. I'm really excited about this group moving forward.
PensFan101
Forever Champions.
Worth noting that on the 2011 championship team, Hishon had 4 games of playoff experience before the 2011 run. Wilson had 7. Mignardi, an OA and playoff MVP that season, had 0. Team missed the playoffs the season before with largely the same core. We had Blacker and Stanisz with at least OHL finals experience, but experience can be added to the roster. The team has to be good enough first.
Two reasons I'd be fine with a playoff appearance: it means the team has significantly improved its play in the second half; and the draft doesn't look like it has a clearly defined top end. They'll have to make up 5-7 points on 8th in the West. That means players are producing more, and that means we have more good OHL players who the team can keep building around in the coming years. For the draft, the thread on the OHL board suggests a forward heavy draft, but outside of a few names that consistently pop up, there isn't a sure thing and the vibe seems to be the player we get in the 3-6 range might not be too different in quality.
If the bottom falls out completely, and the team finishes last (and it was trending that way pre-deadline), I'd be worried about whether this group would have the potential to get to the high end.
Two reasons I'd be fine with a playoff appearance: it means the team has significantly improved its play in the second half; and the draft doesn't look like it has a clearly defined top end. They'll have to make up 5-7 points on 8th in the West. That means players are producing more, and that means we have more good OHL players who the team can keep building around in the coming years. For the draft, the thread on the OHL board suggests a forward heavy draft, but outside of a few names that consistently pop up, there isn't a sure thing and the vibe seems to be the player we get in the 3-6 range might not be too different in quality.
If the bottom falls out completely, and the team finishes last (and it was trending that way pre-deadline), I'd be worried about whether this group would have the potential to get to the high end.
Just my opinion but to me, it's the 08 group that is driving the bus here. You've got two high end talents in Zurawski and Mbuyi up front. Roy and Arnett on the backend and then hopefully bring in Kwajah, who correct me if I'm wrong was thought of as a 1st round talent. Kindree I think can be a useful piece and then I think Vandeven probably finds his way into the mix as a 6'5" center out of this 08 draft. That's a nice mix of potential top end guys to go with good depth as well out of one draft class.
The 07 group hasn't performed the way I had hoped but as this group of 08s gets up to speed in the league it takes some pressure/load off of them. By 19, what are Crawford/Nansi/Delisle(maybe Dec can be a bigger piece)? I think all three become good players, maybe one or two can get to that top end. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea but I'm a fan of Gabe Smith and think he's at the very least a 3rd pair shut down guy with his skating and size. Biggest question mark is in net and whether or not Koprowski can get to a high enough level to be a competent starter on a contending team. I have to think they draft a goalie in this draft reasonably early that they groom to follow in behind.
Maybe it's not a loaded top end of the draft but I think I'd still like to give the scouting staff their pick of the lot with the highest pick.
PensFan101
Forever Champions.
I agree the 08's are the ones to build around and with the deep group of 07's we have, they'll either be good enough for us to contend when the 08's are 19, or provide a very good group of overagers for the peak of the 08's.
Hopefully that timeline is sooner than later but the 07 peak is going to be competitive leaguewide with many teams adding a bunch under the new rules, and we have to factor in that, with no other goalies on the horizon, the 07 skater group could be wittled down in a scenario where Koprowski was an OA starter (but that's all so very down the road). Totally agreed one of the 2nds they have this draft should target one of the top goalies in the age group.
I think the biggest issue with the team, and its long term construction, is getting an offensive defenceman. We've got no shortage of solid defensive pieces (Bedkowski, Arnett, Smith, all defensively inclined guys who most nights are tidy enough in their own end), but no true power play guy, and as a group they struggle to move the puck. Rogers is the closest we've got and he's more of a two-way guy.
A lot of games the defence struggles to break it out, less so by skating it themselves, but moreso with breakout passes. Closest thing we have to an offensive dman on the team might be Bleicher, and he might be more of a puck rusher/two-way guy like Rogers than a real solution (and that's if he isn't bumped by an incoming import or loses his spot completely - coach doesn't seem to like him).
Long story short, this team could really use a Sedley type to help raise the ceiling on the backend.
I am on the tank for a higher pick train but still maintain the great work ethic we have seen. Curious what we might be able to acquire when we deal the best trade chip this club has ever had next season. Pair that with a top 4 pick and man we might have the makings of something great in the future.. Assuming it all goes well that is..
That's a good point about the blueline make up. They can defend well but they do lack an offensive threat. I suspect Mason Roy could help with that. If Jet Kwajah comes to Owen Sound next year, I think he solves a lot of those concerns as well. He profiles as more of an offensive defenseman who could hopefully take that PP QB role. He also shoots right handed which helps out our blueline from a left/right stand point.
I think in terms of the import situation, Varosyan has higher upside in my opinion. If we were to elect to draft a player I think it would make the most sense to replace Bleicher. Personally, I like the player but the Attack blueline projects to be deep in numbers for next year and he's likely the most expendable.
As of now, the Attack blueline would look something like:
LHD RHD
Petrovski(OA) - Bedkowski(06)
Smith(07) - Rogers(06)
Arnett(08) - (Kwajah(08)?)
Roy(08)
Bleicher(07)
Arguably, you're likely deep enough on D that if you did elect to drop Bleicher and draft a new player, you could draft an 07/08 forward instead where we would likely be better served with the add positionally. That D group would only project to lose Petrovski to graduation at the end of the year and doesn't factor in any 09 draft picks to the equation.
At Forward, the Attack have 16 players signed. Two graduate at the end of the year and there's about four others I think would be in tough to hang on to a roster spot when push comes to shove. Assuming a 14F roster then I would think theoretically you're looking at as many as four new players. Could be a new import selection, an 08 draftee cracks the roster and then two from the 09 draft class. The only OA for me off this current roster is Petrovski so two spots there the Attack could look to fill as well.
Should be a very interesting off season for the Attack. Big 09 draft and import draft coming up. Some pretty tough decisions and very likely some quality OHL players that don't make next year's team.
