Sarnia Sting 2022-23 Season Thread

[Ferda11]

Hahaha. I think the fact that Max has ZERO assists so far is a pretty accurate measure of his passing game and ice awareness. Vilmanis is a different player when he’s on the ice with the power play personnel.
This team still depends on goaltending to make key saves at key times. Ben couldn’t come up with that last night. Mast’s floundering didn’t help either. These are key guys and the boys won’t win many unless they are on their game.
The shootout really showed how little pure goal scoring snipe exists on this team. They live & die on great passing (read “Voit”) and a lot of tap-ins.
I still have no idea if this team is any good or not.

Agree 100%

I feel for Vilmanis. It must be incredibly frustrating for him being stuck with players who are no where near his skill level. They absolutely need to find him someone to play with. It's evident that Namestnikov and Sikic are NOT going to be those guys...and it's not even close at this point.

I hope StingUpdates is correct about the picks we potentially have to play with. We are going to need them all to create a contending top 6.

 

[Ferda11]

I wouldn’t mind 19 year old Zhilkin from Guelph. 6’2 199, he’s a 200ft player, he plays PP and PK. Fast, nice hands and good shot. He can set up plays and score. I’d keep the top line the same. Get him Zhilkin to centre the second line with Vilmanis. Also pick up Francesco arcuri. Try and trade abunch of draft picks for one player, then package a younger namestnikov and a few picks in the other deal. Or instead of namestnikov use wainwright if you have to. Then try and get another top 4 defenceman by trading a younger defenceman out with picks.

Burke-Lantz-Voit
Arcuri-Zhilkin-vilmanis
McDonnell-Filak-Sikic
Wainwright-Way-Martone
Doucette-Harper-Doherty.

I'm fine with the D core when healthy. We need scoring. Statistically, we have been a good team defensively. Our top 4 is pretty solid in Dilly, Mast, Romeo & Ritchie. Hoover will only get better and Daviault will hopefully figure things out sooner rather than later, I feel like his issues are more mental than anything.

 

[HkyBeegs3]

Any thoughts on when or if a trade or two will be made to upgrade our top 6 forward group. I definitely thing we dangle namestnikov and Wainwright and see what bites. Both players have some upside that just isn't being fulfilled here in sarnia atm. Also never seen what happened to Hoover last night, is he going to be out long?

 

[StingUpdates]

Any thoughts on when or if a trade or two will be made to upgrade our top 6 forward group. I definitely thing we dangle namestnikov and Wainwright and see what bites. Both players have some upside that just isn't being fulfilled here in sarnia atm. Also never seen what happened to Hoover last night, is he going to be out long?

He took a slapshot to the head at the end of the game. Stayed down for quite awhile. Hopefully is ok.

I always prefer doing trades earlier, but for the most part teams wait to trade their big pieces until December/January.

 

[StingUpdates]

I'm fine with the D core when healthy. We need scoring. Statistically, we have been a good team defensively. Our top 4 is pretty solid in Dilly, Mast, Romeo & Ritchie. Hoover will only get better and Daviault will hopefully figure things out sooner rather than later, I feel like his issues are more mental than anything.

Drives ya nuts that they are probably top 3 in the league for shots against. Only 1 team has hit 30 shots, most of them kept below 25.

Last night I'm sure sure GUE had 10 scoring chances (Surzycia didn't face a shot for 15+ mins) yet 5GA. Same thing happened vs SAG.

I didn't think Gaudreau was at fault last nigbt but he has to be more consistent. I'm not sure he got pulled 3 times last yr. Already has 13 games in. No team is gonna win when ur starter has an 0.870.. unfortunately for him I don't see it improving with wsr/flt/os as the next 3 games..

 

[Ferda11]

Any thoughts on when or if a trade or two will be made to upgrade our top 6 forward group. I definitely thing we dangle namestnikov and Wainwright and see what bites. Both players have some upside that just isn't being fulfilled here in sarnia atm. Also never seen what happened to Hoover last night, is he going to be out long?

Mention of Kingston's GM being in attendance last night was made on the broadcast. Let your imagination run free lol.

 

[StingUpdates]

Mention of Kingston's GM being in attendance last night was made on the broadcast. Let your imagination run free lol.

Oh it running. Hahaha. Very interesting though. In Elliott Friedman's 32 thoughts he talked about Shane Wright.

He really seemed to indicate that Seattle doesn't want him back in Kingston. They want him on a contender & that if KGN was proactive he could be back sooner than later.

 

[Ferda11]

Oh it running. Hahaha. Very interesting though. In Elliott Friedman's 32 thoughts he talked about Shane Wright.

He really seemed to indicate that Seattle doesn't want him back in Kingston. They want him on a contender & that if KGN was proactive he could be back sooner than later.

So a blockbuster deal of Wright and Acuri to Sarnia is what you're saying? lol

 

[StingUpdates]

So a blockbuster deal of Wright and Acuri to Sarnia is what you're saying? lol

That would be all the picks I mentioned yesterday gone along with Martone... but might be worth it .

Wouldn't even have to put Wright on line one with how prolific they've been.

Burke-Lantz-Voit
Arcuri-Wright-Vilmanis
MacDonell-Sikic-Namestnikov
Wainwright-Filak-Way
Doucette

Be 2 elite lines, high-end lines with a solid B6. Fun to think about lol but very unlikely I'd imagine.

 

[HkyBeegs3]

That would be all the picks I mentioned yesterday gone along with Martone... but might be worth it .

Wouldn't even have to put Wright on line one with how prolific they've been.

Burke-Lantz-Voit
Arcuri-Wright-Vilmanis
MacDonell-Sikic-Namestnikov
Wainwright-Filak-Way
Doucette

Be 2 elite lines, high-end lines with a solid B6. Fun to think about lol but very unlikely I'd

Really hope if Martone is included in any deals that it returns a stud player(s) that will be with the team for at least two seasons. If not then I'm not too sure I'd be too willing to give him up for a one and done kinda player. Martone seems to me like the kind of player that you build around . He's gonna be really good I think

 

[StingUpdates]

Really hope if Martone is included in any deals that it returns a stud player(s) that will be with the team for at least two seasons. If not then I'm not too sure I'd be too willing to give him up for a one and done kinda player. Martone seems to me like the kind of player that you build around . He's gonna be really good I think

Always such a tough decision. I also am a massive fan of Martone & his upside, especially when he's 18 & 19. Think he'll be a force. Problem is teams rarely trade elite 18 year olds unless the following year also looks really underwhelming & even then they probably don't wanna do it.

Wright is the only player I'd discuss trading him for that will be available. He'll arguably be the best player in the entire league & is a C. KGN wants to host the memorial cup next year & will covet players who will be impactful next year.

When looking around the league at teams who may also want him I don't think their '06 is as good as Martone which would give us a major leg up in negotiations. KIT doesn't have one, FLT reached for Pitre (from what I read), Can't see OS doing it this year, he's better than Beaudoin (BAR), better than Van Volsen (PBO) + doubt they'd do that big a trade in division. MISS has no picks.

Leaves OTT & WSR. OTT is also in division, but have the picks + good '06. But Mews (the '06) did put up a stink at the draft so he seems like someone that may not want go anywhere. WSR definitely could. Have the picks & their '06 is a stud. Even if they didn't wanna part with him (Christiforo) they could offer Miedema ('05 1st) & KGN would probably really like that.

I really do think if Seca & Co sat down & said we want Shane Wright they'd get him. They have the ammo for it. But we don't know what type of GM Seca is yet for moves like this. Sinclair would make it 10 out of 10 times. We saw what happened when he did it for Konecny. We lost (as usual) & it set us back years. Seca seems aggressive but also pretty smart. So he may as we r going for it but not at the expense of the next 3-4 years & he'll only deal picks & wainwright or Namestnikov. & settle for 2 solid additions like Arcuri/Harrison/Bloom, etc.

 

[StingUpdates]

As for the game tonight doesn't look good.. Only 5 D as Dillingham, Romeo & Hoover are all out. Filak, Martone out up front. 5 players who all play meaningful minutes for us vs the highest scoring team. Gonna be tough. Lines are-

Burke-Lantz-Voit
Namestnikov-Sikic-Vilmanis
MacDonell-Wainwright-Harper
Doucette-Way-Doherty

Daviault-Ritchie
Mast-MacDonald
Campbell

Gaudreau in net.

 

[Ferda11]

Yikes, we are going to need Gaudreau to do what DiPietro did for Windsor many of times. Goaltending and special teams will need to be buzzing. Might be an ugly one.

 

[Ferda11]

Hot start

Windsor is bullying us. This is gonna be a looooooong game.

 

[StingUpdates]

Hot start

Gonna be a long night. Asking MacDonald, Campbell to play big minutes. Look overwhelmed already.

Could be a long couple weeks if all 3 r out. Crazy we add depth & still end up shorthanded 4 weeks in.

 

[JAMER]

Well that was hard to watch

 

[StingUpdates]

Well that was hard to watch

Think I'm gonna turn it off for the night lol. Windsor's to good to be missing half your dcore.

Hopefully some r back by Sunday.. if not maybe gotta add another D lol.

 

[StingUpdates]

Sikic & Namestnikov couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. Like Jesus christ man. Sikic must have 6-7 breakaways this yr & he's scoreless on them.

Vilmanis has really found his groove now. One man show on L2.

LOL & Namestnikov gets a wonderful pass from Voit, wide open net & misses.

 

[JAMER]

Anyone know what's going on with Mast

 

[StingUpdates]

Anyone know what's going on with Mast

Was about so say to make matters worse I haven't seen him on the ice on some time. This is ridiculous. Could argue our 4 best defenders all out now. Always something stupid with this team.

 

[StingUpdates]

Hard to be mad about that one. Lost by 2 to the top team while missing 4 of our best 6 D. Sounds like Mast actually didn't play at all tonight. So that's just fantastic.

team is absolutely screwed. just our luck.

 

[JAMER]

Hard to be mad about that one. Lost by 2 to the top team while missing 4 of our best 6 D. Sounds like Mast actually didn't play at all tonight. So that's just fantastic.

team is absolutely screwed. just our luck.

I think the sting need to do something by Sunday or they could be in real trouble

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Hard to be mad about that one. Lost by 2 to the top team while missing 4 of our best 6 D. Sounds like Mast actually didn't play at all tonight. So that's just fantastic.

team is absolutely screwed. just our luck.

Have to wonder whether we see some signings in the next few days to help fill the void left by all the injuries. Some options would be Will Bray ('21 9th rounder, in GOJHL with Niagara Falls), Liam Eveleigh ('20 6th rounder, in GOJHL with Elmira), David Green ('22 5th rounder, in OJHL with St. Michael's Buzzers), Nathan Omeri ('22 8th rounder, in GOJHL with Hamilton), Brock Reinhart ('21 U18 1st rounder, in GOJHL with Elmira), and Mitch Young (acquired by the Sting before the season, in OJHL with Wellington)

 

[StingUpdates]

Have to wonder whether we see some signings in the next few days to help fill the void left by all the injuries

Who though. Outside of Young they don't have much outside of other 15/16 yr olds who probably aren't ready.

Tough tough spot. Ridiculous luck this organization has. Go out & add depth & the whole god damn defence gets hurt 5 weeks in.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Who though. Outside of Young they don't have much outside of other 15/16 yr olds who probably aren't ready.

Tough tough spot. Ridiculous luck this organization has. Go out & add depth & the whole god damn defence gets hurt 5 weeks in.

For sure it's a really tough spot. Eveleigh looks like the best option. 10 points in 10 games in the GOJHL with Elmira this season.