Saginaw Spirit 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[ohloutsider]

Saginaw and Soo everyone saying has the best D. Wondering if someone can give a rating on players. Just wondering how Kitchener stacks up.

Kitchener in order D depth (rating based on talent for age group not OHL overall)
Bruz 2004 A+
Ando 2005 A
Motew 2003 B
Savard 2005 B (my guess - new player)
Reid 2007 A+ (awesome but young)
Campbell 2006 B-
7th D - Dirracolo 2006 C-

I think London has the best D.

 

[Jives]

I think London has the best D.

Ya…I forgot about them. They are in the mix for sure. Kitchener imo is a step behind all 3 in D depth.

 

[Houndzfan20]

Saginaw and Soo everyone saying has the best D. Wondering if someone can give a rating on players. Just wondering how Kitchener stacks up.

Kitchener in order D depth (rating based on talent for age group not OHL overall)
Bruz 2004 A+
Ando 2005 A
Motew 2003 B
Savard 2005 B (my guess - new player)
Reid 2007 A+ (awesome but young)
Campbell 2006 B-
7th D - Dirracolo 2006 C-

only really works if each team has an unbiased rating system lol. everyone always sees their players differently. like Reid. A+? at 16? kid is good, but maybe at 18 or 19 but right now?

 

[donjohnson]

only really works if each team has an unbiased rating system lol. everyone always sees their players differently. like Reid. A+? at 16? kid is good, but maybe at 18 or 19 but right now?

Plus there's different styles and systems that they play in. For example, Saginaw may have the most gifted offensive defensemen (Parekh, Dionocio, Donovan) but they are lacking in "shut-down" defensemen. In another system, that could be a bad thing but in Lazary's system, he wants them active so it fits us well. Very tough to rank from team to team and there's a lot of great defensemen out there.

 

[Kingpin794]

Yeah I would never say we have the best D. Still think that’s London or the Soo. I think we have a defense that’s works for us.

 

[bcspragu]

Yeah I would never say we have the best D. Still think that’s London or the Soo. I think we have a defense that’s works for us.

Best offensive d yes. Best d no. I would put our centers up against anyone in the league though and honestly I don’t think it’s that close

 

[Jives]

only really works if each team has an unbiased rating system lol. everyone always sees their players differently. like Reid. A+? at 16? kid is good, but maybe at 18 or 19 but right now?

The rating says rating is based on age not ohl talent. Reid is a top 3 16 year old dman in the OHL. That warrants a A+ rating.

 

[Jives]

I was just trying to gauge what age your D are and what a general rating would be for that age level. Just trying to see the depth Saginaw has to what a lot see (myself incuded) as a D depth issue in Kitchener. I’m sure someone can give a rough idea on a players age rating?

 

[Houndzfan20]

Plus there's different styles and systems that they play in. For example, Saginaw may have the most gifted offensive defensemen (Parekh, Dionocio, Donovan) but they are lacking in "shut-down" defensemen. In another system, that could be a bad thing but in Lazary's system, he wants them active so it fits us well. Very tough to rank from team to team and there's a lot of great defensemen out there.

perfect response. In the Soo, we have a great mix of D that are offensive (Karki, Kirill), defensive (Kirill, Gibson, Carlisle), and a good crop of 17 year olds. None of them are the best at anything, but in the system taht the Hounds play, they all excel because you don't have to be the best to look good in that system.

idk if that made sense or not but it did to me haha.

shortened version, great post donjohnson.

 

[Kingpin794]

Will probably be a few games before lines are settled but 4 very balanced set of lines for tonight

 

[Kingpin794]

The strategy seems to be short shifts and suffocate the opponent with that lineup. One or two lines can have an off night but that would be really hard to shut down 4 lines like that. That really is how Lazary wants things too. Everyone a possibility to be a threat. Would rather have 10 50-60 pt guys than 3 80+ pt guys. See how it works this week.

 

[bcspragu]

Safe to say Beck is enjoying Saginaw so far. 6 points tonight with time left in the 3rd

 

[Fischhaber]

Best offensive d yes. Best d no. I would put our centers up against anyone in the league though and honestly I don’t think it’s that close

McConnell-Barker, Allard, and Frasca are pretty good.

I'm not sure who you are counting as the 3 centers on the Spirit, but if Hay is one of them then there's a debate to be had. He's been absolutely lit up defensively every game I have seen him. He's just not good in his own end at all. Beck is definitely the best though.

 

[LDN]

Ya…I forgot about them. They are in the mix for sure. Kitchener imo is a step behind all 3 in D depth.

LOL in the mix oh wow that’s funny

Spanking Windsor!

 

[bcspragu]

McConnell-Barker, Allard, and Frasca are pretty good.

I'm not sure who you are counting as the 3 centers on the Spirit, but if Hay is one of them then there's a debate to be had. He's been absolutely lit up defensively every game I have seen him. He's just not good in his own end at all. Beck is definitely the best though.

Hay is the 4th center. Haight, Beck, and Sapovaliv centered the top 3 lines tonight

 

[Kingpin794]

Sounds like good news. Stretcher was probably more precautionary. Hope it only minor.

 

[Kristina Hazzard]

Sounds like good news. Stretcher was probably more precautionary. Hope it only minor.

I hope so that was scary That kid had no idea where he was

 

[Jives]

LOL in the mix oh wow that’s funny

Spanking Windsor!

Windsor……

 

[dirty12]

McConnell-Barker, Allard, and Frasca are pretty good.

I'm not sure who you are counting as the 3 centers on the Spirit, but if Hay is one of them then there's a debate to be had. He's been absolutely lit up defensively every game I have seen him. He's just not good in his own end at all. Beck is definitely the best though.

It’s not close.

 

[Fischhaber]

Hay is the 4th center. Haight, Beck, and Sapovaliv centered the top 3 lines tonight

Those guys ranked for me are:

1. Beck (best defensively + faceoffs)
2. Allard (second best defensively)
3. Sapovaliv (strong all around)
4. McConnell-Barker ( same as above)
5. Frasca (biggest player, faceoff specialist)
6. Haight (poorest defensively of the group)

I give the edge to the Spirit due to the Beck addition and McConnell-Barker's injury concerns, but it's very close. I really like Sapovaliv's game, which was the deciding thing for me.

 

[dirty12]

Those guys ranked for me are:

1. Beck (best defensively + faceoffs)
2. Allard (second best defensively)
3. Sapovaliv (strong all around)
4. McConnell-Barker ( same as above)
5. Frasca (biggest player, faceoff specialist)
6. Haight (poorest defensively of the group)

I give the edge to the Spirit due to the Beck addition and McConnell-Barker's injury concerns, but it's very close. I really like Sapovaliv's game, which was the deciding thing for me.

It is not close. Beck and Sapovaliv are arguably the best two 2-way centres in the league.

 

[Fischhaber]

It is not close. Beck and Sapovaliv are arguably the best two 2-way centres in the league.

If it's not Sapovaliv in second then it's certainly Allard.

 

[dirty12]

If it's not Sapovaliv in second then it's certainly Allard.

Allard is a top ten OHL centre I believe, quite possibly the best LW option for Canada WJC team than any other centre.

 

[Kingpin794]

Hay will be out for the weekend after last nights shenanigans

 

[HockeyPops]

4th fight?