Sarnia Sting 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[StormWatcher]

WOW. Imagine how much NB could get for Dom if that's the bar set on Goalie return.

 

[davewheeler]

Have made it pretty obvious my happiness level with Seca as GM but decided to look back thru his work

Since we started to sell off 2 seasons ago (his first season as GM) here's what he's done.

Got Ethan Ritchie for a 6th
- A+.

Moldenhauer trade
- Idk. C? Like the gamble but didn't work.

Cam Supryka to GUE for 9th
- C. Whatever trade.

Justin Nolet to KIT for 8th
- D. Should've been the OA they kept at camp.

Got Romeo for 2&3
- D+/C-. They improved him greatly, but my thoughts on the deal never really changed.

Guy & Reesor to GUE for Sikic & 3rd.
- A. Two solid but not great OAs for 2.5 years of Sikic & a 3rd. Great value.

Tarasevich for 8th (became Omeri)
- C. Whatever trade.

End of season:

Thornton for 2, 3, 5
- B+. Solid value. Looks like it was maybe just for one season too. But did they get rid of the wrong goalie?

Dann for 2, 3, 5
- A-. Dann was horrid for NIA. Gave us the ammo for future big deals.

Hill for 4, 4, 11
- B+. Really solid value for a 3rd line OA C.

Got Hoover for 5th+7th
- Tough. IMO would've been an A cause 3 full years of Hoover for those picks is fantastic. But unfortunately he's the unluckiest player in the OHL. So i guess it's a C.

Got Young for 6th
- B. Gonna be fair that it's to small a sample to say it's an A as of now. But early returns suggest this was a home run.

Got Way + 8th for McIntyre
- B+. Got a pretty significant upgrade in our B6 & got a pick.

Got Pastujov for Max + 2 + 3 +5.
- A-. Both teams made out well. But there was no better add via trade at F than Sasha. Team completely changed the moment he arrived. 100+PT pace with us.

Got Kyrou for Daviault + 2, 2, 3, 4, 5
- B-. I personally loved Kyrou. But in hindsight didn't need to get him AND Del Mastro.

got EDM+DelBel for Angus + Martone, 2, 4, 4.
Torn. It's not gonna age well. But it never was going to. I'll say - B.

Romeo & 2026 2nd for 2023 2nd (Barr) + 2023 4th (Hurt)
- B. In hindsight boy this looks unreal eh? Barr & Hurt from it. But can't go based on that. Thought it was a savvy move tho.

Got Andersen for 6th
- C. Wanted someone better with our last trade. He was fine for a 6th.

End of season:

Got Twins for 5, 6, 14, 15
- To early to say. But early returns suggest this was a terrific deal.

Campbell for 5th & 8th
- B+. Think we all liked this. Got passed up by the rooks & struggles to stay healthy.

Got Moses for 12th
- To early, but looks like a really solid deal.

Gaudreau for 3, 4, 5, 6
- A. Better return than i think any of
us expected. Especially given we were in a pinch ourselves with 3 Gs.

Seca & Co are clearly becoming very good at finding guys who are under utilized by their teams that they feel would flourish with them in a different, bigger role. Ritchie, Twins, Moses, Young, Hoover (before inj), & even Romeo did become fairly solid for us. Really good thing to be good at. Could help them become a place a guy struggling/needing a change of scenery wants to come too when there's a track record of those guys turning it around.

I've loved the returns he gets on guys he trades away. Been a couple misses with adding guys, but for the most part been quite pleased with what he's given up in deals.

Adding in their drafts, imports etc i continue to be incredibly pleased with Seca as GM. I had many doubts when he was named GM, especially with rumors he was just gonna be a puppet to Hatcher, Legwand, but glad i was dead wrong it appears. He's aggressuve but methoidcal about his moves. See if he has anything in store for us the rest of the season

wow good work on this post..... I know i'm mostly negative (do you blame me) but I think this team could be sneaky good next year... weve got our first 4 picks this year all looking good thus far and if we can convince Kosiba to come over next year ..... mixed in with the 2nd and 3rd year guys we have now that are also playing good.... watch out.

 

[StingUpdates]

wow good work on this post..... I know i'm mostly negative (do you blame me) but I think this team could be sneaky good next year... weve got our first 4 picks this year all looking good thus far and if we can convince Kosiba to come over next year ..... mixed in with the 2nd and 3rd year guys we have now that are also playing good.... watch out.

Thanks. Haha i do not blame anybody for being negative. I sure was all summer & even in camp. I mean i thought we were gonna be a 18-20 win team for a while. Still could be the case, but the 5 pre season games + the 5 regular season games have been a pleasant surprise.

Still think playoffs will be iffy cause i do think Erie will get going to some degree & both FLT, WSR are better than they've played thus far. But one thing we have over those teams at least early on is work ethic & that can take you a long way, especially if we keep getting good goaltending.

Such a long way to go, but we've talked at length about how good they look on D going forward. Fishcer, Young, Barr, Hurt has more upside as a top-4 than we've had in sometime (talking homegrown D). Obviously gotta see how they hold up, but if there's one area we should have confidence in with Letang it's how he develops Dmen.

Ritchie took huge strides. Romeo did in just 1 yr here. Mast took big steps. Dillingham improved drastically. The difference in Kyrou's defensive play from when we got him in DEC to where he finished in may was pretty absurd growth.

Fingers crossed Chartier is legit. be so so big for us moving forward. Biggest issue next yr i think you've mentioned before is just proven T6 OHLers. Filak/LeBlanc/Kukumberg/Wainwright should be solid but not elite. Can't expect Brown to be overly great at 17.Can't guarantee how Moses, Doherty, SIm, Luecke, Hall will be.

So be wait & see up front, but in saying that hasn't that been London this yr & last yr? Good in net, great on D, rather pedestrian up front. NOT saying we are gonna be them lol, just more so that there's a blueprint you can look at that very clearly works.

When i was looking into teams for my predictions for this yr i didn't really see many "next year" teams. SAG, LDN, OS gonna go for it. SSM likely gonna add then retool for when their top rooks are 18-19. If GUE gets Potrias back they'll go for it. KIT similar to us, WSr will be rebuilding, FLT i dont see it & Erie.. Who knows.

 

[rve24]

Very good value in flipping the OA tender.
Well played for sure.

 

[Ferda11]

Have made it pretty obvious my happiness level with Seca as GM but decided to look back thru his work

Since we started to sell off 2 seasons ago (his first season as GM) here's what he's done.

Got Ethan Ritchie for a 6th
- A+.

Moldenhauer trade
- Idk. C? Like the gamble but didn't work.

Cam Supryka to GUE for 9th
- C. Whatever trade.

Justin Nolet to KIT for 8th
- D. Should've been the OA they kept at camp.

Got Romeo for 2&3
- D+/C-. They improved him greatly, but my thoughts on the deal never really changed.

Guy & Reesor to GUE for Sikic & 3rd.
- A. Two solid but not great OAs for 2.5 years of Sikic & a 3rd. Great value.

Tarasevich for 8th (became Omeri)
- C. Whatever trade.

End of season:

Thornton for 2, 3, 5
- B+. Solid value. Looks like it was maybe just for one season too. But did they get rid of the wrong goalie?

Dann for 2, 3, 5
- A-. Dann was horrid for NIA. Gave us the ammo for future big deals.

Hill for 4, 4, 11
- B+. Really solid value for a 3rd line OA C.

Got Hoover for 5th+7th
- Tough. IMO would've been an A cause 3 full years of Hoover for those picks is fantastic. But unfortunately he's the unluckiest player in the OHL. So i guess it's a C.

Got Young for 6th
- B. Gonna be fair that it's to small a sample to say it's an A as of now. But early returns suggest this was a home run.

Got Way + 8th for McIntyre
- B+. Got a pretty significant upgrade in our B6 & got a pick.

Got Pastujov for Max + 2 + 3 +5.
- A-. Both teams made out well. But there was no better add via trade at F than Sasha. Team completely changed the moment he arrived. 100+PT pace with us.

Got Kyrou for Daviault + 2, 2, 3, 4, 5
- B-. I personally loved Kyrou. But in hindsight didn't need to get him AND Del Mastro.

got EDM+DelBel for Angus + Martone, 2, 4, 4.
Torn. It's not gonna age well. But it never was going to. I'll say - B.

Romeo & 2026 2nd for 2023 2nd (Barr) + 2023 4th (Hurt)
- B. In hindsight boy this looks unreal eh? Barr & Hurt from it. But can't go based on that. Thought it was a savvy move tho.

Got Andersen for 6th
- C. Wanted someone better with our last trade. He was fine for a 6th.

End of season:

Got Twins for 5, 6, 14, 15
- To early to say. But early returns suggest this was a terrific deal.

Campbell for 5th & 8th
- B+. Think we all liked this. Got passed up by the rooks & struggles to stay healthy.

Got Moses for 12th
- To early, but looks like a really solid deal.

Gaudreau for 3, 4, 5, 6
- A. Better return than i think any of
us expected. Especially given we were in a pinch ourselves with 3 Gs.

Seca & Co are clearly becoming very good at finding guys who are under utilized by their teams that they feel would flourish with them in a different, bigger role. Ritchie, Twins, Moses, Young, Hoover (before inj), & even Romeo did become fairly solid for us. Really good thing to be good at. Could help them become a place a guy struggling/needing a change of scenery wants to come too when there's a track record of those guys turning it around.

I've loved the returns he gets on guys he trades away. Been a couple misses with adding guys, but for the most part been quite pleased with what he's given up in deals.

Adding in their drafts, imports etc i continue to be incredibly pleased with Seca as GM. I had many doubts when he was named GM, especially with rumors he was just gonna be a puppet to Hatcher, Legwand, but glad i was dead wrong it appears. He's aggressuve but methoidcal about his moves. See if he has anything in store for us the rest of the season

Great post - thanks for breaking it all down.

 

[StingUpdates]

Great post - thanks for breaking it all down.

As long as I can have a better good post% than Vilmanis has shots that hit the net% I'll be happy. Not setting the bar high I know

Seca says he will look to add an OA in a "flooded market" of them. At the very least I hope it's cheap like we saw with Lawrence (went for an 8th). Don't love it because Wainwright & Hall will comeback in a few weeks then what. You'd be sitting Sim, Doherty & Lominac or Hall. Be stupid. I guess u could get an OA D but why would u wanna sit Barr or Hurt and push Omeri down even farther.

 

[JAMER]

As long as I can have a better good post% than Vilmanis has shots that hit the net% I'll be happy. Not setting the bar high I know

Seca says he will look to add an OA in a "flooded market" of them. At the very least I hope it's cheap like we saw with Lawrence (went for an 8th). Don't love it because Wainwright & Hall will comeback in a few weeks then what. You'd be sitting Sim, Doherty & Lominac or Hall. Be stupid. I guess u could get an OA D but why would u wanna sit Barr or Hurt and push Omeri down even farther.

I have a feeling it will be a forward. Just because are D are doing well. I have a feeling you will see one of our 04s moved for an OA.

 

[robp1219]

I have a feeling it will be a forward. Just because are D are doing well. I have a feeling you will see one of our 04s moved for an OA.

I would bring in an OA and send one of the rookies to the legionnaires to play big minutes. Knights do it all the time, why don’t we?

 

[JAMER]

A few names I could see as a possible OA fit.

Justin Ertel North Bay

Oliver Peer Windsor

Matthew Sop Kitchener

 

[OHL4Life]

A few names I could see as a possible OA fit.

Justin Ertel North Bay

Oliver Peer Windsor

Matthew Sop Kitchener

your reseting, why spend on any overages? ertel maybe but peer will be alot

 

[StingUpdates]

your reseting, why spend on any overages? ertel maybe but peer will be alot

Yah agreed. Peer be a bit to pricey. Sop too. Ertel wouldn't be bad, but that becomes more of a possibility if Zito returns for NB.

Honeslty looking around I don't see many options. Everyone is down to 3 (except WSR & maybe NB.)

Likely scenario would be a team going for it wanting to upgrade their current OAs so that's KGN (Callens or Savard), SBY (Larmand & maybe McCallum).

I just don't see the point. I don't disagree with you Rob about sending a guy down like Sim, but Wainwright & Hall return so that alone moves Sim & Doherty out of the lineup. I don't wanna send a 3rd rookie out. We are rebuilding. Don't want more than half the F lineup being 19&20 let alone not even that good of 19 & 20 yr olds.

 

[robp1219]

Yah agreed. Peer be a bit to pricey. Sop too. Ertel wouldn't be bad, but that becomes more of a possibility if Zito returns for NB.

Honeslty looking around I don't see many options. Everyone is down to 3 (except WSR & maybe NB.)

Likely scenario would be a team going for it wanting to upgrade their current OAs so that's KGN (Callens or Savard), SBY (Larmand & maybe McCallum).

I just don't see the point. I don't disagree with you Rob about sending a guy down like Sim, but Wainwright & Hall return so that alone moves Sim & Doherty out of the lineup. I don't wanna send a 3rd rookie out. We are rebuilding. Don't want more than half the F lineup being 19&20 let alone not even that good of 19 & 20 yr olds.

I get what you are saying, imagine if we had a real young team and brought in an OA like London did last year with diaco and we made it to the second round in our “rebuild” year. Send a 16 year old to junior b to play big minutes along with practising with the sting that kid would still develope. Even to lose in round 1 in 6 or 7 games would be ok. Be rebuilding and developing while still being very competitive… win win.

 

[StingUpdates]

I get what you are saying, imagine if we had a real young team and brought in an OA like London did last year with diaco and we made it to the second round in our “rebuild” year. Send a 16 year old to junior b to play big minutes along with practising with the sting that kid would still develope. Even to lose in round 1 in 6 or 7 games would be ok. Be rebuilding and developing while still being very competitive… win win.

I think we are just gonna disagree here. We are at a different stage than LDN was last yr. They gave up a 2nd & 3rd in that deal. I'd be irate if we did that w/our cupboard & ceiling as a team. LDN had high end talent w/Mailloux, Brochu, George. They had elite youngsters in Barkey, Cowan, Dickinson, Bonk. + multple really solid vets in Edward, McCue, McGurn, Sim, McKinnon, Gazizov.

We don't have anywhere NEAR as much talent as that. Outside McCue & McKinnon they'd all be top line or top pair on our team right now.

So it made sense that young players couldn't get ice time. Especially when they added Diaco. They came 1st & made the finals. It be shocking if we got 6th let alone winning a round.

Say we added a legit T6, point per game F (would cost us picks that we don't have many of) would your POV of this team really change? Our F depth would still be weak. Our D is still the youngest in the conference. We still have no clue what Chartier is. Surzycia has been great but it's been 5 games.

Giving up anything more than a 6th I'd be annoyed at. We need to stockpile picks. Not get rid of them. We need to play the kids not bench them. To me Doherty needs to play OHL games. Lominac the same. Sim send down, tho I don't think he's looked terrible so far.

You could be right, but I'd rather keep our picks, especially cause it's no guarantee we are gonna get many more & I'd rather have the rookies play. I have no appetite to watch Three OAs, Moses, Vilmanis, Filak, LeBlanc, Doucette play while Brown & Hall barely do & Lominac/Doherty take turns sitting.

 

[robp1219]

Haha I wasn’t saying we were where London was at this time last year. They clearly had a better team than we do this year, but I don’t see anything wrong with bringing in an OA forward young guys can learn off of, and sending a guy down to play big minutes. Would I spend a 2nd or 3rd ? No. I was just saying bringing in another OA that can help score which we will have problems with, will definitely help us make playoffs and compete when we get into playoffs and maybe steal a round. Which would be nice in a rebuild year.

 

[StingUpdates]

Haha I wasn’t saying we were where London was at this time last year. They clearly had a better team than we do this year, but I don’t see anything wrong with bringing in an OA forward young guys can learn off of, and sending a guy down to play big minutes. Would I spend a 2nd or 3rd ? No. I was just saying bringing in another OA that can help score which we will have problems with, will definitely help us make playoffs and compete when we get into playoffs and maybe steal a round. Which would be nice in a rebuild year.

I see what your saying. I just don't see us being able to add an OA that moves the needle for a mid round pick. If they could get Maillet from Windsor for a 5th as example then fine. Help out the kids & helps us.

But from looking around I don't see many options especially ones that could play T6, be productive & not cost at least a 3rd or multple picks which for me is a no go.

 

[cupcrazyman2]

Anyone have an updated ohl draft data base list ?

 

[StingUpdates]

Anyone have an updated ohl draft data base list ?

If what ohl4life said was accurate before the yr (they have access to the actual OHL pick board) I believe we have ~

2024 - 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th x2, 10th, 11th x3, 12th, 13th

2025: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th x2, 8th x2, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th

2026: 1st, 3rd, 5th (KIT) 6th, 8th (KIT) 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th

2027: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th x2, 6th x2, 7th, 8th, 9th,.10th, 11th,.12th, 13th, 14th, 15th

 

[JAMER]

If what ohl4life said was accurate before the yr (they have access to the actual OHL pick board) I believe we have ~

2024 - 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th x2, 10th, 11th x3, 12th, 13th

2025: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th x2, 8th x2, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th

2026: 1st, 3rd, 5th (KIT) 6th, 8th (KIT) 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th

2027: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th x2, 6th x2, 7th, 8th, 9th,.10th, 11th,.12th, 13th, 14th, 15th

We have a 2nd this year.

 

[davewheeler]

I would bring in an OA and send one of the rookies to the legionnaires to play big minutes. Knights do it all the time, why don’t we?

I feel like there is a big disconnect between the Sting and Legionnaires. The Legionnaires have been a bottom team the last 5-6 years or whatever while London has been a top team... I don't think there is trust that the Legionnaires will do the job properly.

 

[davewheeler]

Wow..... knew it was coming but not this soon..... congrats to Letang.

Team Canada announces coach and management for U20 team | TSN

Alan Letang will serve as head coach for Team Canada this year's World Juniors, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. Dreger adds that Pete Anholt and Brent Seabrook will form the management team for Canada's U20 squad,

www.tsn.ca

 

[Ferda11]

Wow..... knew it was coming but not this soon..... congrats to Letang.

Team Canada announces coach and management for U20 team | TSN

Alan Letang will serve as head coach for Team Canada this year's World Juniors, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. Dreger adds that Pete Anholt and Brent Seabrook will form the management team for Canada's U20 squad,

www.tsn.ca

Yeah no kidding. What a quick climb through the Hockey Canada ranks for Letang. Huge feat for this organization.

 

[StingUpdates]

Says a lot for him this will be what his 4th or 5th time representing them. HC for U18s now this. Hopefully he does well! Not be the HC for one of those canada teams that totally stinks lmao.

Not sure the crop he'll have to work with. Good stuff.

 

[davewheeler]

Says a lot for him this will be what his 4th or 5th time representing them. HC for U18s now this. Hopefully he does well! Not be the HC for one of those canada teams that totally stinks lmao.

Not sure the crop he'll have to work with. Good stuff.

from first glance it appears the Americans are gonna have a juggernaut team. Canada, not so much. A bit of bad news for the Sting as it appears Letang won't be in the O for much longer.

 

[StingUpdates]

Definitely be interesting to see. He came to Sarnia to be with his family. Pretty sure his kids are still pretty young so he may hold out a couple years, but if a big job comes along he'll have a hard time passing it up id imagine.

Be an interesting one tonight. Flint got back some heavy hitters in the last week. Hayes, Pitre & Kressler. Full week under their new coach. Gotta think they'll show some desperation as you don't wanna start 0-5.

Hoping Chartier starts. Hopefully he won't be too rusty & or nervous. First OHL game & first game action in a month.

Looking for Filak & Vilmanis to get going a bit. See if they can keep it up & make it 3 straight!

 

[OHL4Life]

Definitely be interesting to see. He came to Sarnia to be with his family. Pretty sure his kids are still pretty young so he may hold out a couple years, but if a big job comes along he'll have a hard time passing it up id imagine.

Be an interesting one tonight. Flint got back some heavy hitters in the last week. Hayes, Pitre & Kressler. Full week under their new coach. Gotta think they'll show some desperation as you don't wanna start 0-5.

Hoping Chartier starts. Hopefully he won't be too rusty & or nervous. First OHL game & first game action in a month.

Looking for Filak & Vilmanis to get going a bit. See if they can keep it up & make it 3 straight!

he may take over london when the hunters retire. the hunters have a big say with the u20, u18 and u17 teams. as soon as mark hunter got involved in hockey canada, alan letang was brought in.