Sarnia Sting 2023-24 Off-Season Thread

[stingwagoner]

In other news Micheal Denney with 2 goals tonight and Cassey Bridgewater with 4 assist's hope to see both of them soon.

When Fischer goes hope bridgewater plays but there is a Huge difference in speed from Jr B. I'd love to see mailet play.Goal for us
Love to see denney as well but only if gets to play atleast 3rd line minutes or don't waste his time.

 

[DarkRedxJ]

Watching the post game with Letang I'm sorry but he is out of touch.
Needs his vets.
they have worst +/- how are they going to carry the load it makes zero sense to me. Been around game a long time cant keep playing guys because they are oldest.

Agreed are vets don't have the talent to carry this team. I'm also tired of every time we get blown out it's just the same excuse of it's the vets fault. How about the coaching staff looks at them selves for once. Also are priority should be on getting a high pick in the draft not playoffs. This team desperately needs to and top end talent not worry about playoffs.

 

[StingUpdates]

When Fischer goes hope bridgewater plays but there is a Huge difference in speed from Jr B. I'd love to see mailet play.Goal for us
Love to see denney as well but only if gets to play atleast 3rd line minutes or don't waste his time.

I believe Maillet was with the other scratches tonight. Barr had a cast on which sucks. Might be broken hand or wrist. Wonder if we see Maillet tomorrow or if he's just practicing with them.

Great to see from Bridgewater! Puts him at 5G/19A in 29 games. Tied for 4th in rookie D scoring. Been watching Stratford's highlights & he seems to be real good at running a PP. Elite skater. Laterally too. Pretty good shot for a slightly smaller guy.

Denney is still 1st in the league in goals with 27 now in 36 games.

 

[stingwagoner]

Letang and staff are a big part of the problem for lack of scoring. If they cant see the lines they have and them being " watered down" for offense that is the big issue.
our vets other than maybe 15 have never in their career been top or offensive players in careers, what makes them offensive this year at 20? Does this make sense?
Besides 15(20) 11 25(19) 12(18) if you consider him a vet still young. If they don't put 25 and 15 with 12 for a true 1st line and then 23 with 11 and 18 for the future we wont be able to set up well for the future IMO, just don't give our offensive guys the support to get to next level for the next year. Who cares about 20 year olds other than in roles to help team develop win/compete/ and surround our future. Let's not wait til next year to give 12 23 18 25 support for offense.
been saying this most of year let's get guys playing minutes to where we can build a line that's dangerous next year when all our ice eating 20 year olds are gone will leave Letang with bunch of rookies yet again that need to carry the load. Just would love to see top line in this team for future.
our reality of making playoffs for who, letangs stats? He doesnt want to develop a team for next year? This will hurt our next season you heard it here.

25 12 23 18 need to carry the load going home here and be ready for next years offensive load
15 could help 12 and 25s 23 and 18 next year. Also need 16 5 and 27 on pp. Look at their game (offensive) just don't see why the arrogance and selfishness of staff can't see past playoffs? Me as a sting fan, would rather see past playoffs. I want to believe in staff that they have future in mind as well as present, but what else at this point would be more exciting for sting fans but to see the future start exciting fans on rebuild isn't that the point?
9 20 playing 1st/ 2nd line minutes isn't getting me excited at all actually I'm getting depressed at outlook of next year crew already and losing faith in Letang and staffs ability to put players where they can succeed. Feel its just time to rely on 12 25 23 18 upfront and 11 and 15 to support them to get there.
I dont see 20 or 9 supporting any offensive tutoring of this crew they would be perfect checking type guys for supporting 24 and 10 help them take that role for future. Regardless of age 20 and 9 are checkers 3rd line guys, it isn't a bad thing that's what they are, use them for what they can help team with. Not saying don't use 20 on pp or 9 on pk to help guys there, just saying support the future and put aside this goal of getting to playoffs and look to next year then year after. Playoffs means nothing if back at square one next year with hoping someone can step up when didn't give them tools to step up. Time is now focus needs to shift in hurry here.
Letang needs to stop blaming vets for losses when he puts them in unfair offensive positions and expects them to succeed, just not fair for our vets.
That's what I see now, agree or not can't get blood from a stone can't get offense from a career successful checker.
Same old same old, for next game. Letang WILL go back to line up when beat mississauga or played guelph tough, I don't think Letang right vision at all and I fear for more of same same rest of year.
Just keeping finger's crossed a light buld turns on in one of staff's heads ot DS.
I'm arm chair guy but I feel my points are concerning at this point.
Sorry for the length of thoughts just lots of concerning things I've been seeing and isnt changing

 

[stingwagoner]

I'd be super pumped to see Denney and Bridgewater in black and gold too let's make this stuff happen coach/GM

 

[DarkRedxJ]

So I'm going to share something I was told at the game last night. Now I'm not saying this is 100% true but the person that told me this hasn't lied to me yet. So apparently Steve Yzerman was at the last LDN game. Now that I know is true. We'll apparently before the game Yzerman went to r coaching staff and told them he was there to watch Fischer. Now we all know Fischer was benched in the 3rd. Well apparently after the game Yzerman went to the coaching staff and ripped them a new hole for benching him. And I was told after that he went to Legwand and told him he needs to do something about the coaching staff because they're incompetent. Now I'm not saying that's 100% true so please don't shoot the messenger.

 

[stingwagoner]

Let's hope this is true and all eyes are on Letang and staff. Maybe someone that matters will see the same things as we see with Staff

 

[sbpointer]

So I'm going to share something I was told at the game last night. Now I'm not saying this is 100% true but the person that told me this hasn't lied to me yet. So apparently Steve Yzerman was at the last LDN game. Now that I know is true. We'll apparently before the game Yzerman went to r coaching staff and told them he was there to watch Fischer. Now we all know Fischer was benched in the 3rd. Well apparently after the game Yzerman went to the coaching staff and ripped them a new hole for benching him. And I was told after that he went to Legwand and told him he needs to do something about the coaching staff because they're incompetent. Now I'm not saying that's 100% true so please don't shoot the messenger.

Well none of this would be wrong if he did in fact say it...

 

[StingUpdates]

I'd have a hard time believing Steve Yzerman would be so mad he'd go down & yell at people, coaches he doesn't know. Fischer was -5 in that game. He also did play in the 3rd as he was on the ice for multiple LDN goals in the period.

As for telling Legwand stuff he'd have to yell it in front of ppl or Legwand would have to go tell ppl what he said to him. Both would be pretty hard to believe. Both be unbelievably unprofessional from 2 ultimate professionals.

Idk what ppl fricken want. The team is god awful. Atrocious. Maybe the worst in the league. He has Brown, Kostuch, Barr, Hurt playing legitimate, good minutes. Omeri
been playing more & more. Fischer is only 17. Young in his 2nd season. The vets are below average & EVERY team rides there vets. Including Windsor, Peterborough pre deadline, Barrie etc. it's how the league works.

U don't just have your top 6 all be rookies. They'll go -100 & be demoralized & lose all confidence in this league. I'd rather Way, Doucette, Sikic get caved in than the guys who will be here long term. There's literally no one else next year. They are gonna play a ton. Sheltering them now is fine & the right way to go about it.

 

[stingwagoner]

Sheltering the forwards but obliterating the D that's fine? Rebuild is rebuild so d will be better off getting shattered than forwards? Guys like Fischer/young going -3/-5 in games? That's fine but shelter the forwards. I see it different.
Use a Vet to insulate the Forwards of the future in this league, it's all about game time to get to next level.
As I see it brown/kostuch/lomanic/sim/ etc aren't exactly tasting the key minutes against the top lines. If you have played hockey in order elevate your game you need to be challenged game in game out. I do think brown/wainwright/kostuch playing with sikic and doucette filak would be better off than playing with moses/ hall/ doherty for next years to come development.
Generate next year's chemistry that takes 15 games to generate, to get used to how players play tendencies and style are.
It's not obliterating is allowing offensive guys to be offensive without playig them in defensive role with a checker.
Just 2 cents and see a path they are taking that isn't going to get it done for development. Again from a hockey standpoint.
Chemistry takes time burke ans voit werent just thrown together than played 2 years together and what happened?
Can't just expect guys to gel its takes time.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Line shakeup again for tonight. Surzycia starts and Omeri moves up to the top D pairing.

Schwindt-Sikic-Doucette
Kostuch-Way-Filak
Brown-Wainwright-Kukumberg
Lominac-Hall-Moses
Doherty

Fischer-Omeri
MacDonald-Young
Hurt-Cajkovic

Surzycia

 

[Flyers 1st]

I'd have a hard time believing Steve Yzerman would be so mad he'd go down & yell at people, coaches he doesn't know. Fischer was -5 in that game. He also did play in the 3rd as he was on the ice for multiple LDN goals in the period.

As for telling Legwand stuff he'd have to yell it in front of ppl or Legwand would have to go tell ppl what he said to him. Both would be pretty hard to believe. Both be unbelievably unprofessional from 2 ultimate professionals.

Idk what ppl fricken want. The team is god awful. Atrocious. Maybe the worst in the league. He has Brown, Kostuch, Barr, Hurt playing legitimate, good minutes. Omeri
been playing more & more. Fischer is only 17. Young in his 2nd season. The vets are below average & EVERY team rides there vets. Including Windsor, Peterborough pre deadline, Barrie etc. it's how the league works.

U don't just have your top 6 all be rookies. They'll go -100 & be demoralized & lose all confidence in this league. I'd rather Way, Doucette, Sikic get caved in than the guys who will be here long term. There's literally no one else next year. They are gonna play a ton. Sheltering them now is fine & the right way to go about it.

Fischer was not playing against top lines last year and is seeing this year just how good you have to be to shut them down . Is frustration causing him to take senseless penalties? The skilled players are getting the minutes to play and size being what it is , you just can't have them out there all the time getting physically pounded by teams like the 'Hounds , Wolves and Rangers . Sorry but players like 92 &93 don't rate more minutes

 

[stingwagoner]

Not point the I was making. Point is 23 12 18 25 are going to be next years offensive guys playing them in checking roles line and playing them 13 mins game isn't going to get them where next season needs them to be.
Just saying 12 23 15
And 25 11 18 top 2 lines with checkers playing other teams top lines (playoff hockey) getting alot of minutes but in a shut down we arenr going to get mich from 20 and 9, 5 on 5 unless in huge defensive role shutting down top lines.

 

[stingwagoner]

OmG Is 21 ever aweful. More I see worse he is isn't this calibre at all

 

[StingUpdates]

Disgustingggggg Kostuch. What a fricken goal. Nasty set of hands & what a finish. Wowza! Hes looking better every game.

Offensive explosion this period. Some nice passing.

 

[DarkRedxJ]

The Flint announcer is reminding me of the Missy announcer.

 

[DarkRedxJ]

So Flint hurts r player then they punch Way and take his helmet off. And we get the extra penalty OK.

 

[StingUpdates]

The 1st period yesterday & the game tonight is what this team will be the next 24 games & next year if they want success.

Gritty, chippy, relentless, annoying etc. Young team so comes & goes but they've shown more glimpses since that LDN debacle & the 3rd yesterday.

Love to see Kostuch score a beauty. Hurt gets 1A & goes +4. He was a beast tonight. Kid is gonna be a monster as he adds muscle.

Surzycia rock solid in B2B starts. Love when Moses plays like he did tn. Can be such a wrecking ball.

Good response from the vets. Doesn't get any easier with GUE/SSM/OTT in 3 of the next 4.

 

[StingUpdates]

Chris Soares with a goal tonight. Puts him at 17G/16A in 43 games. Interesting to note he's 43rd in league scoring but among '06 born & '07 born he's 5th in goals & points.

Much older league than the GOJHL. Not many 16/17 yr olds produce at a great rate in it. 15G/15A have come 5on5 or shorthanded, too.

U18 F talent going into next year at camp:

'06 ~ Soares, Denney, Hall, Doherty, Lominac

'07 ~ Brown, Kostuch, Sim, Luecke.

'08 ~ Probably draft 3-4 Fs first 5-6 rounds.

Wildcard ~ 1, maybe 2 import picks. Be truly dumbfounded if at least 1 isn't used on a F if not both.

Obviously not all will pan out or be OHLers. but they need to hit on some of these guys/picks to help Brown/Kostuch who look really promising.

 

[HockeyPops]

Just an observation, but on a rebuilding team you don't normally see a vet on every line to "shelter" the rookies. Rebuilding teams play more defense than offense, and a line is only as good defensively as their weakest link. A much better way of sheltering the rookies is to typically have a couple of vet lines to take the tough minutes, and roll out the rookies in better matches. JMO.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Some more good nights for Sting prospects:

Evan Maillet - 33/35 saves. That pushes his save percentage up to .913 on the year

Carter Timmins - 2A. He's picking up his play lately with 9 PTS in his last 9 games

Chris Soares - 1G. His 18 goals on the season are the second most by a U18 player in the OJHL

Casey Bridgewater - 1G. He has a 1G/6A over his current four game point streak

 

[StingUpdates]

Some more good nights for Sting prospects:

Evan Maillet - 33/35 saves. That pushes his save percentage up to .913 on the year

Carter Timmins - 2A. He's picking up his play lately with 9 PTS in his last 9 games

Chris Soares - 1G. His 18 goals on the season are the second most by a U18 player in the OJHL

Casey Bridgewater - 1G. He has a 1G/6A over his current four game point streak

Camp next yr should be pretty intense. Gonna be a ton of internal battling/pushing for spots.

Honestly just praying we don't get 8th. It'll be vs London. As much as it would pain me no way I'm buying tickets to those massacres. Top 4 pick would be so fricken big. Be even more annoying because Windsor and Flint (2 division teams) would be the teams picking T4.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Camp next yr should be pretty intense. Gonna be a ton of internal battling/pushing for spots.

Honestly just praying we don't get 8th. It'll be vs London. As much as it would pain me no way I'm buying tickets to those massacres. Top 4 pick would be so fricken big. Be even more annoying because Windsor and Flint (2 division teams) would be the teams picking T4.

A top 4 pick would certainly help but getting that playoff experience and getting the young guys to understand what it takes to beat a top team is also important. Also worth considering that over the last two years some of the best players have been taken outside of the top 4: Martone (5th), Parekh (19th), Greentree (2nd round), Leenders (2nd round), George (3rd round), Ivankovic (7th), O'Brien (8th), Reid (10th), and Lam (2nd round). They've all become great players and not all the top 4 picks have. Ultimately I think the understanding of what it takes to win in the playoffs is more important

 

[Flyers 1st]

Camp next yr should be pretty intense. Gonna be a ton of internal battling/pushing for spots.

Honestly just praying we don't get 8th. It'll be vs London. As much as it would pain me no way I'm buying tickets to those massacres. Top 4 pick would be so fricken big. Be even more annoying because Windsor and Flint (2 division teams) would be the teams picking T4.

maybe the boys need this kick in the ass to get some playoff revenge ? against the Knights. Sure they are just cannon fodder , but the playoffs means you had some success as a team , even if you go 0-4 . its all about small steps for those who weren't around last year

 

[StingUpdates]

Both make good points & part is because it'll likely be London haha. Losing to them in the playoffs last yr is good enough to last at least a decade let alone B2B years haha.

But definitely true that they could learn a ton from playing them in the playoffs. Take a lot of lessons. And everyone had us coming last so 8th would actually be a bit of a surprise/mini achievement for them I guess.

I also want a top 4 just from what I've read about the draft. Seems to be a fairly big gap from the top few guys to the rest. Can't say I know that for a fact just what I've read. But I have full faith if they pick 1st, 4th, 6th wherever they'll get a good player. We'll see how it all plays out!