Sarnia Sting 2022 Off-season Thread

[Ferda11]

Went on to say Reinbacher will need some work to bring over. Very excited to see Vilmanis he brings size, speed & scoring ability. Things we need + adds more speed to a team that should be very fast, quick.

Get an American or two over and we might have something brewing here.

 

[StingUpdates]

Get an American or two over and we might have something brewing here.

I think the current team will be top 4 in the conference with their depth on F&D + Gaudreau. Add 1or2 high end pieces whether that's thru USA/trades & yah we might have something to be excited for before the eventual choke job

Jokes. To early to be so negative haha. I like where the team is at! Especially after adding 3 solid picks + whatever they'll get for Hill (Malyavin going probs means Dillingham is the 3rd)

 

[StingUpdates]

Sting land high-scoring Latvian forward Vilmanis in import draft

The Sarnia Sting landed a player they’d been eyeing for a while in the first round of the Canadian Hockey League import draft Friday.

www.theobserver.ca

Seca very open on Malyavin's release here. What a difference he is to Sinclair lol. Clearly very excited for Vilmanis & also said Reinbacher is a 23-24 season hope as he's staying overseas this yr.

The way he said things also leads me to believe either Marcus Limpar Lantz (last years import pick) is coming or that they will attempt to trade for another at some point. You can tell there's a real expectation that this upcoming season is a big one & that they are gonna be aggressive.

 

[robp1219]

I like the picks we made yesterday, I just wish we drafted a big Centre, we desperately need to get bigger at centre. Not an ideal to have all 4 centres under 5’10.

really hope we can get Moldenhauer to come over, and projected opening night line ups now that the import draft is done.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Good import picks yesterday. Size was clearly something management needed to address in the offseason and they continued to address that with the pick of Sandis Vilmanis. I don't mind taking the shot on the 2nd pick. Reinbacher is projected to be a late 1st round/early 2nd Round NHL draft pick in 2023. If we can get him it would be huge. It will be interesting to see where Vilmanis gets drafted next week at the NHL Draft.

 

[StingUpdates]

I like the picks we made yesterday, I just wish we drafted a big Centre, we desperately need to get bigger at centre. Not an ideal to have all 4 centres under 5’10.

really hope we can get Moldenhauer to come over, and projected opening night line ups now that the import draft is done.

Yah preference was definitely C but going best player available was the right move. Especially because Vilmanis ticks both boxes of size & scoring ability.

I also wish our C group was a bit bigger but you can still make it work. If it's Voit-Namestnikov-MacDonell it'll be one of the fastest C groups the league has. Plus now they have size to play with. Sikic, Burke, Vilmanis, Filak, Martone. That's 5 big wingers in the top-9 compared to last year's 2.

I'm really liking how the F unit is lining up with some super speedy playmakers (Voit, Namestnikov), some snipers (Dann, Vilmanis) & then some bigger, stronger Fs in Burke, Sikic, Filak, Martone & tho he's small MacDonell is a dog that wins far more battles than he loses.

Then line 4 might be Cooksey-Wainwright + one of the other guys. So you got two 17 yr Olds who have a ton of promise, skill, speed. Very excited to see this F group as a whole. Think it has very good potential.

 

[StingUpdates]

My lines right now would be:
Burke-Voit-Dann
Vilmanis-Namestnikov-Sikic
Filak-MacDonell-Martone
Cooksey-Wainwright-McIntyre

X: Lalkin, Vogelsberg, Harper, Degelas, Doherty.

I'd be surprised if that's isn't one of the deepest lineups in the league. Especially if Martone is as impactful as people think he'll be. Also think it'll be one of the fastest & thankfully it has actual size with 6 guys over 6'0"

 

[robp1219]

My lines right now would be:
Burke-Voit-Dann
Vilmanis-Namestnikov-Sikic
Filak-MacDonell-Martone
Cooksey-Wainwright-McIntyre

X: Lalkin, Vogelsberg, Harper, Degelas, Doherty.

I'd be surprised if that's isn't one of the deepest lineups in the league. Especially if Martone is as impactful as people think he'll be. Also think it'll be one of the fastest & thankfully it has actual size with 6 guys over 6'0"

Ya good mix might need to bring in a bigger forward at the deadline if we are in position to go for it.

 

[StingUpdates]

Ya good mix might need to bring in a bigger forward at the deadline if we are in position to go for it.

Yah for sure. If come deadline they are rolling a true dominant 1C will be the move then shift Voit back to wing & move Burke down so the B6 isn't all youngsters. Open import spot to work with too.

Pretty happy how the defence looks with Mast/Ritchie/Dillingham/Daviault/Romeo/MacDonald/Campbell. Has a bit of everything & should be able to move it well. But similar to F a true #1 may be a need but I wouldn't be surprised if Ritchie has a huge OA season & Mast with a good summer could be a beast back there.

 

[dirty12]

My lines right now would be:
Burke-Voit-Dann
Vilmanis-Namestnikov-Sikic
Filak-MacDonell-Martone
Cooksey-Wainwright-McIntyre

X: Lalkin, Vogelsberg, Harper, Degelas, Doherty.

I'd be surprised if that's isn't one of the deepest lineups in the league. Especially if Martone is as impactful as people think he'll be. Also think it'll be one of the fastest & thankfully it has actual size with 6 guys over 6'0"

Because there was little player movement while the league was shut down, there are several teams with too many talented 2004-06 born to use all appropriately while trying to win now. See how Flint, Barrie, Niagara, NB, OS stack up as compared to Sarnia.

 

[StingUpdates]

Because there was little player movement while the league was shut down, there are several teams with too many talented 2004-06 born to use all appropriately while trying to win now. See how Flint, Barrie, Niagara, NB, OS stack up as compared to Sarnia.

For sure. Owen Sound & Flint to me look like they'll be very good. Kitchener is building a good team too especially if they get Mesar or Gauthier over after the draft.

 

[StingUpdates]

Here is Sarnia's draft board for the next 5 years (I believe) after the Thornton deal.

2023-
1st
2nd (FLT)
No 3rd or 4th
5th* (Moldenhauer), two 6ths
No 7th
Have all 8-15 picks + a conditional 15th (Nolet, KIT) but it wasn't released what that became or what the condition was.

2024-
1st
2nd* (Moldenhauer), 3rd* (Moldenhauer), 3rd (NIA)
4th, 5th, No 6th
7th, 8th, Two 9ths, 10th, Two 11ths, 12-15

2025-
1st
2nd* (Moldenhauer), 3rd* (Moldenhauer), 4th* (Moldenhauer)
5th, 6th, Two 7ths, Have all 8-15

2026-

Have every pick + BAR 5th but we sent a conditional 5th back to BAR which I assume is based on if Thornton back as OA & if he isn't we swap 5ths.

2027-
Have every pick

From a drafting standpoint they are fine. Have the normal 15 picks for opening 3 rounds over the 5 & average 15 picks a draft. Problem is we have 6 picks (Four 2nds/3rds) glued to Moldenhauer that we can not trade. Gotta think that'll loom large come trade deadline (if he doesnt come) as they simply won't be able match what other teams are offering with only one 2nd/one 3rd available to trade in the next 3 drafts.

One thing that they do have tho is young talent. Depending on the yr they are having Wainwright & Cooksey could make up for some picks we lack (think Ang or Dineen trade with Hinz/Henderson.) Then if your swinging big (McTavish big) u have Martone or MacDonell. Though I really dislike trading recent 1sts especially with our track record.

 

[SpaceMan81]

Ya good mix might need to bring in a bigger forward at the deadline if we are in position to go for it.

You guys always forget about McIntyre. Still 17 years old and 6'3 216..... Another summer of training. He could be like Milan Lucic was back in his junior days. Never got much ice last year but typically second year guys move up the depth chart. I'm not saying he is Tom Wilson but you can't teach size and willingness to hit and fight.

 

[StingUpdates]

You guys always forget about McIntyre. Still 17 years old and 6'3 216..... Another summer of training. He could be like Milan Lucic was back in his junior days. Never got much ice last year but typically second year guys move up the depth chart. I'm not saying he is Tom Wilson but you can't teach size and willingness to hit and fight.

He had a few things to work on (foot speed, shot mainly) that if he did/is improving then he could definitely be a good player. From all accounts he's a fantastic teammate, locker room guy + as u said he is physical, fights.

 

[robp1219]

You guys always forget about McIntyre. Still 17 years old and 6'3 216..... Another summer of training. He could be like Milan Lucic was back in his junior days. Never got much ice last year but typically second year guys move up the depth chart. I'm not saying he is Tom Wilson but you can't teach size and willingness to hit and fight.

There are a few second year guys that could get released or traded (i don’t think he will be one), yes he is big and can be used as a power forward, but if he wants that to happen he will need to use his size more and play a lot more physical. And yes he needs to improve foot speed.

 

[JAMER]

Cassey to New Jersey at 46th

 

[JAMER]

Cassey to New Jersey at 46th

Moldenhauer to Toronto at 95 be interesting if he comes now with Voit drafted by Toronto as well

 

[JAMER]

Moldenhauer to Toronto at 95 be interesting if he comes now with Voit drafted by Toronto as well

Morden to Arizona at 131

 

[JAMER]

Morden to Arizona at 131

Be interesting to see if a bug gets put in Mordens ear about the Sting considering there are 5 former Sting players there as of now

 

[JAMER]

Be interesting to see if a bug gets put in Mordens ear about the Sting considering there are 5 former Sting players there as of now

Sandis Vilmanis 157 to the Panthers

 

[cupcrazyman]

Maybe there is a Santa Claus !

 

[robp1219]

I can definitely see Moldenhauer coming now, Toronto would have two prospects getting to know one another and possibly playing with each other and getting chemistry. Also they could come and check out two of their prospects on the same team which would make life easier on the scouts. Morden is a long shot but it would be nice, I think he’s commited to getting a good education at Harvard. Very nice seeing valmanis go in the 5th round! Go sting go!

 

[Ferda11]

Sad day for the organization when only your prospects get drafted and no one on your current roster lol.

 

[robp1219]

Sad day for the organization when only your prospects get drafted and no one on your current roster lol.

From what I’ve heard vilmanis is guaranteed coming next year so we had one guy drafted lol.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Sad day for the organization when only your prospects get drafted and no one on your current roster lol.

Especially considering we had the 3rd overall pick in the 2020 draft.