Saginaw would be hard pressed to have both the roster and extra picks to look like a favourite among potential contenders for the 2024 playoffs by February 2023 when bids go in. Niagara (east last hosted 2014?) then Kitchener if not all-in this season appear best bets; maybe Saginaw or London, if they have massively successful re-tooling years.
Saginaw Spirit 2022-23 Off-Season Thread
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Saginaw would be hard pressed to have both the roster and extra picks to look like a favourite among potential contenders for the 2024 playoffs by February 2023 when bids go in. Niagara (east last hosted 2014?) then Kitchener if not all-in this season appear best bets; maybe Saginaw or London, if they have massively successful re-tooling years.
Kingpin794
Smart A** In A Jersey
Brother, what?
That’s not going to be the hurdle that keeps them from hosting I’ll tell you that right now.
HockeyPops
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Brother?
Maybe I overlooked some players. I don’t see the path to 8-10 mostly high end ‘04 born and ‘03 OAs.
Yes. Thank you. I hate that place. I have free tickets and still rarely go. Plus it’s Saginaw. I mean c’mon. It will be a long time before Flint or Saginaw are even remotely considered no matter what the arena situation is.
Kingpin794
Smart A** In A Jersey
You mean 05's and 04's. And then 06/05 for 24/25. You don't build around OA's, they're supplementary. Also guess it depends on what you mean by "high end". I think you need 3/4 "high end" guys and then another good chunk of good OHLers. That's what the usual make up of what a contender is depending on what one considers high end.Brother?
Maybe I overlooked some players. I don’t see the path to 8-10 mostly high end ‘04 born and ‘03 OAs.
I meant 2004 born and 2003 born OAs for 2023-24 season.
Compare the spirit’s potential (all-in) roster with what Kitchener & Niagara will try selling to the memorial cup committee. Teams being considered will be at least middle of the pack in February and safe to project as contenders next season.
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Kingpin794
Smart A** In A Jersey
-I know what year you meant. I’m saying you’re not focusing on the right players. For 23/24, a team’s 05’s and 04’s will dictate their success.
-I’d definitely guess we’re better than both Kitchener or Niagara next season. Owen Sound? Probably not. But they don’t bid.
-Saginaw finished under 500 and was bounced in the first round in 2017-18. But most of everyone expected them to contend the next season. And they did. Same idea this year, although this team is better than 17/18.
I understand it will be a cold day in hell before Saginaw ever gets a bid but at least try.
Its the nicest OHL rink in Michigan so hey got that going for us.
Seriously whoever can guarantee the most money in return will win the bid. Roster only matters if you wont be competitive at all. Right now Saginaw has arguably the best 07 in the world who is also the CHLs biggest marketing opportunity for next season. If Saginaw was in Canada they would have the Memorial Cup on lock. But zero chance it happens
Niagara has a chance to host because the east is due, 5500 tickets per game is near certainty, the falls, casino $, but will only be awarded if the memorial cup committee believes the Icedogs can compete for the cup.
Flints premium seating are literal folding chairs with no cupholders. Scoreboard is worse and while the player facilities are nice Saginaws are newer. Plus in Saginaw you dont have to park in a high barbwire fenced paid lot
Oh you haven’t been there since EVERY seat in the building was upgraded? Neither facility is luxurious state of the art but Saginaw doesn’t even have a Pro Shop on site, I can’t stand that style scoreboard it just looks cheap to me. Sudbury just got the same style. You have to skate to the corners to even go to the locker rooms like it’s some kind of vintage rec rink. I can’t stand arenas where you can’t do some kind of a lap of the concourse. Saginaw’s player facilities could have been put in yesterday but their still nowhere to the level of Flint. Even visiting players comment on their room being slick.
You think a run to a Memorial Cup is going to be lead by who though? A kid who will be 16? I know he’ll be good if he avoids injuries and transitions to the league well but….. I’m a believer in Oke too but a MC run at 18? Maybe but I wouldn’t be completely confident of that. Saginaw has a legit run coming up but I don’t think it’s next year.
Kingpin794
Smart A** In A Jersey
McNamara is going to be 70-80 pt player, Gervais will be solid, Mangone will likely be near PPG, same with Loukas. Misa should be PPG. I fully believe they land Misiak. Sapovaliv could be back unless he decides to go back to Europe, so he’ll be a premier center. Codd, if healthy, is prime to be a high quality OA. People are sleeping on Forgione. Parekh will be a top sixty pick in 2024. They’re going to have a top end offense, good defense, and good goaltending. They should be contending next season and management has hinted as much that this is the goal.
And thats with the ? that is Jovanovic. He was a 1st round NHL caliber Dman prospect before his injury. If he can even remotely return to form hes a huge addition on the back end. Plus the 06 or top end 05 they get back in the Mintyukov and Bloom deals.
TcNorth
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Kingpin794
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-Misa comes as advertised. You can tell he oozes hockey IQ.
-Mintyukov is a monster. Could legit challenge for a scoring title from the backend.
-Lennox was ok. If that’s what he consistently shows, better to move onto Oke full time. But it’s game one. See if he settles in.
-The refs were atrocious (Hutchinson). Bad/weird calls on both sides got everyone agitated and then they lose control of things in the third. That could have got a lot uglier than it was.
-Mintyukov is a monster. Could legit challenge for a scoring title from the backend.
-Lennox was ok. If that’s what he consistently shows, better to move onto Oke full time. But it’s game one. See if he settles in.
-The refs were atrocious (Hutchinson). Bad/weird calls on both sides got everyone agitated and then they lose control of things in the third. That could have got a lot uglier than it was.
Defense still has lapses more than they should and took some dumb penalties at the end but really liked how the team played offensively. Really underrated 3 lines that can score. Mangone may be one of the most underrated offensive players in the league and Sapovaliv is the same as a 2 way forward. Really hope Mangone can get drafted at his size.
Misa is the real deal. Looked 100x times more comfortable once he scored. I think him and Bloom going to put up big points if they play together 5 on 5 like last night.
Plus Mintyukov is on pace for a 300+ point season /s
Misa is the real deal. Looked 100x times more comfortable once he scored. I think him and Bloom going to put up big points if they play together 5 on 5 like last night.
Plus Mintyukov is on pace for a 300+ point season /s
Michael Misa ‘exceptional’ in OHL debut for Saginaw Spirit
Michael Misa ‘exceptional’ in OHL debut for Saginaw Spirit
Misa scored two goals in the Spirit's 10-6 season-opening win over Guelph.
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