Sarnia Sting 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

StingUpdates

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Jan 12, 2019
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Didn't deserve to win & didn't. This coaching staff f*cking sucks. We suck on the PP. We suck on the PK. We suck 4on4. We suck at 3on3. Don't take any risks. Don't try anything dangerous & if u do ur sent to the 4th line.

2 mins PP to win the game to end the 3rd they for some reason don't use a timeout even tho it's a new unit, don't get a shot, nearly allow the GWG and piss away a great opportunity. Same zone entry all year. Never try seem passes to open up the PK. Never go down low. As basic as it can get.

Then in OT they spend it defending because a tired unit couldn't get off because Letang doesn't use the timeout that apparently is now oh so precious to him.

Karimov Kostuch Brown Bridgewater can't get OT shifts to save there life and Beamish gets one in his 1st game & as you'd expect had no idea how to play it with Di Iorio and Fischer.

More pissed off about this game than maybe any other this yr. That was awful.
 
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stingwagoner

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Dec 31, 2023
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Pathetic. Utterly pathetic. Letang uses his TO all the time to set stuff up but with a new unit he doesn't when if u score u win the game.

Seriously mind numbing & had Clattenburg scored I think I would've sold my tickets for this weekend's games.

First shift of OT they use Bodin instead of Fischer lmfao. Bodin would've had a breakaway but fumbled with it. Sure wish that was Lukas!

Then Doucette ices it with a tired group out and Letang doesn't use his timeout and they spent 3 minutes straight defending.

Awful. So goddamn awful.

Yes those coaching details are not used proper or sometimes I feel Letang isnt even watching the game just leaning on wall looking at who is next. Just baffling to me, maybe letang thinks he can carry over the time outs if he doesnt use them.
In no world is bodin on my blue line in OT rather have hurt or barr or even bridgewater. Anyway he picked right shooters but wrong order... wainwright is better when pressure situation shot, thought karimov would have been my 1st pick. Then I would have went fischer then wainwright tonight and 4th shooter would have been beamish
 

stingwagoner

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Dec 31, 2023
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Isn't rocket science. Tired player late in game take timeout get fresh guys out. Hockey 101, Letang let's go!
Johnston benched 5 mins into 3rd should have been after 1st just as in the way out there ruined his line for 2 periods. 2 out of the last 3 games he has been benched doesnr look good for his days in black in gold especially with beamish here needing more ice.

Was happy with karimov and wainwright shooting but would have 0ocked fischer on his return... give him 3rd shot tonight.
Would have went karimov wainwright Fischer!
1 point is 1 point now tied with Flint
 

stingwagoner

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Dec 31, 2023
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Didn't deserve to win & didn't. This coaching staff f*cking sucks. We suck on the PP. We suck on the PK. We suck 4on4. We suck at 3on3. Don't take any risks. Don't try anything dangerous & if u do ur sent to the 4th line.

2 mins PP to win the game to end the 3rd they for some reason don't use a timeout even tho it's a new unit, don't get a shot, nearly allow the GWG and piss away a great opportunity. Same zone entry all year. Never try seem passes to open up the PK. Never go down low. As basic as it can get.

Then in OT they spend it defending because a tired unit couldn't get off because Letang doesn't use the timeout that apparently is now oh so precious to him.

Karimov Kostuch Brown Bridgewater can't get OT shifts to save there life and Beamish gets one in his 1st game & as you'd expect had no idea how to play it with Di Iorio and Fischer.

More pissed off about this game than maybe any other this yr. That was awful.

Well maybe people starting ro see what I've said all along Letang isnt a head coach maybe an assistant but not a leader. Pp ok Jerry should be fired not sure how DS watching that doesnt see how p14 style that pp set up is.and the pk we dont pressure and take any risks... should have that on this pk forsure same pk I've seen since letang has come.
Develop him self and learn how to change and how to accept things are not working and change. Pissed off fan.
 
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JAMER

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Nov 13, 2019
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We didn't deserve to win this game.
Didn't deserve to win & didn't. This coaching staff f*cking sucks. We suck on the PP. We suck on the PK. We suck 4on4. We suck at 3on3. Don't take any risks. Don't try anything dangerous & if u do ur sent to the 4th line.

2 mins PP to win the game to end the 3rd they for some reason don't use a timeout even tho it's a new unit, don't get a shot, nearly allow the GWG and piss away a great opportunity. Same zone entry all year. Never try seem passes to open up the PK. Never go down low. As basic as it can get.

Then in OT they spend it defending because a tired unit couldn't get off because Letang doesn't use the timeout that apparently is now oh so precious to him.

Karimov Kostuch Brown Bridgewater can't get OT shifts to save there life and Beamish gets one in his 1st game & as you'd expect had no idea how to play it with Di Iorio and Fischer.

More pissed off about this game than maybe any other this yr. That was awful.
Like I've said before. Where not improving at all. While everyone else is. If we don't turn this around by the Christmas break this season is over IMO.
 

StingUpdates

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Frustration aside (and there's a lot of it) few positives..

I liked Beamish game quite a bit. Looked great on draws. He was winning them clean. 10/14. Spent the entire game in OZ it felt like. Also noticed him on the bench trying to fire up the team midway thru the 3rd which is great to see in his 1st game.

Karimov 2 sweet goals. I tell yah it's crazy what happens when he gets good ice time! Might be their most skilled player.

Fischer had a pretty strong return. Not a coincidence least amount of bad turnovers & D breakdown we've seen in some time in front of Surzycia who was once again great in net.

Thought Kostuch looked really strong again. Skating great these last 3-4 games. Getting more ice time which is nice to see.

If Johnston was benched it's the best decision Letang has made all yr & it took long enough to do it. He's Gotta earn that ice time back because his effort the last month has been putrid.
 
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StingUpdates

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We didn't deserve to win this game.

Like I've said before. Where not improving at all. While everyone else is. If we don't turn this around by the Christmas break this season is over IMO.
My patience has run thin. If they lose both this weekend, especially if they are one-sided, Seca as to start looking around. A coaching change mid season as others have said is very tough on a JR team, but if there's one time to do it its during Christmas break where they get a week off to learn new systems, structure.

Sarnia has obviously been a terrible franchise in it's history, but since I started watching back in 2008 they've never missed the playoffs in a season they are expected to make it. It can not happen this year under any circumstance. This team may not be good, but it aint worse than OS/GUE & FLT looks totally lifeless.
 
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SarniaStingFan

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They looked lifeless again. Is everyone else getting the feeling that the team has given up on Letang over the last little bit? The Niagara game was probably the last good effort that they had. PP continues to be a massive issue. The best chance on any of our PP's was Clattenburg's breakaway at the end of the game. Glad they finally benched Johnston. Hasn't been playing well and hasn't been putting in the enough effort to get out of his slump. He should be on the fourth line on Friday.

Surzycia was great again and earned them another point they didn't deserve. Really stepped up his game late in third and in OT when Flint started to get more quality scoring chances. Karimov's goals were both beautiful. After his second goal the puck seemed to be following him. Yet he couldn't get a shift in OT lol. I agree on Beamish. Showed the most heart of any Sting player. Made a couple of nice plays on the PK. Was forechecking and backchecking hard all night long. Got a couple of takeaways too. He played a solid game all around.

Missing the playoffs seems very possible at this point. Not beating teams like Owen Sound and Flint is ringing the alarm bells. Letang has no excuses now. Fischer is back. Managment got you another good forward in Beamish. Schedule isn't as busy. This needs to get back on track in the next few weeks. If it doesn't and they're in danger of missing the playoffs by the Christmas break they have to strongly consider making a coaching change. Can't miss the playoffs two years in a row. They'll lose the fanbase if that happens
 

StingUpdates

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They looked lifeless again. Is everyone else getting the feeling that the team has given up on Letang over the last little bit? The Niagara game was probably the last good effort that they had. PP continues to be a massive issue. The best chance on any of our PP's was Clattenburg's breakaway at the end of the game.
If this was an NHL team you'd be saying they look like they are quitting on the coach after those first 2 periods. Don't say it or see it as often in Jr with the constant player movement, but that was as close to it as I've seen in many years with this team. Dates back to a few efforts late in Hatcher's tenure.

They weren't even body checking. They usually block a fair bit of shots but that was totally non existent too. Flint would give them little jabs after whistles & they'd just accept them & skate away.

If that doesn't ring off every alarm bell in Seca's head nothing will. In a divisional game vs a rival who your 1 point ahead of witn your captain returning?? How isn't that a game you are absolutely fired up to play in?

I'm not even sure what to say about the PP anymore. 10%. It's genuinely the worst I've ever seen. U get handed a gift to win the game with a PP for the final 2 minutes & u not only don't get a shot u give up a breakaway.

There's 0 adjustments being made. They don't try high danger plays. They don't force the PK to spread out. They don't use the guys down low. They don't use the guy in the middle. This is something a minor hockey team can do & this is the 2nd season in a row it's not just bad its comically bad with 0 strategic changes.

2 seasons. They are 58/378. Which is 15%. They've given up 16SHGA. So they are +42 on their own PP which is 11%. Eleven. Percent. I don't care what talent you have. That's unacceptable & inexcusable & it falls on the coaches.

To me it's these 2 games & the eastern trip. They simply have to win at least 3 of those games. if it's 1-4 or 0-5 he needs to be fired. No way around it.
 

stingwagoner

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Dec 31, 2023
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There are coaches kicking around, I dont know if it's Letang as much as Jeffery, hate to blame 1 guy but jeffery is running special teams. Last year Haley did and we were a worse team for talent and a better pp. Exact same PK which is where it boils my blood and always have if we just stay in position and don't pressure we get picked apart. We have crazy speed like wainwright and doucette yet we never cheat and try to get breakaways like london. Our guys are faster than cowan and barkey yet we play a block the shot get in lane type of weak pk.
The pp gets set up but we play around at top the D usually shoots a weak shot no 1 times no down low. Does letang and jefferies watch hockey at all pick a pp in NHL and implement it pretty simple. Tampa bays is pretty simple down low to bumper in middle for chance opens up top of circle guys. I've seem many coaches like this, their arrogance and unwilling to admit their system sucks. Well look at both stats and friggin watch video. I think it goes back to personelle on pp and where they play.. doucette in the shorter spot needs a change been there for 2 years and has maybe 8 ppgs in 2 years that spot needs to change also filak in front just doesn/t give enough effort getting any lose puck.
Lots of issues with it I can go on and on yet feel letang is not setting up team for success keeps playing same system over and over and expecting better/different result(definition of insanity). Players can only do what they are shown in practice, all have to be on same page but its jefferies page(awful) think DS will make some player changes hoping that helps but at end of day it won't cause jefferies is still running special teams and Letang has the inability to recognize any changes needed and make those changes. He will put this all on his players having to be better those little details want to win etc. I THINK opposite the players are playing how they are being told and that's not helping them succeed. Players can only try and try and try so much before they realize they are being setup for failure with this staff. Local guy whatever, they need a strong head /assistant coach like Staubitz was. Like sullivan was (clashed with Letang as it's his way or the Highway and sullivan left)
I've been ringing alarm bells for 2 years now--Letang just isn't the guy, not a Head coach, not enough in his tank and too arrogant to learn and adjust.
If I were DS, I'd feel so stupid I put trust in this guy, brought in players to make this team into a force and Letang ruining that.
I'll give 1 more example, johnston comes in playing stretch and risky Offense and hint way London plays, guess what, have 3 goals 2 games and bunch of points led tha league in preseason for london came in with their coaching style high risk high reward and guess what, he now has to play Letangs system and stuff look aweful Johnston worst player on team, like a bag of crap waste of trade etc letang did that to him. That's why the guys coming in on this team look good in early games as Letang hasn't had time to mess them up and change their game. Give beamish 10 games, Letang will confuse him too. That is exactly what we don't want to see happen.
I'd like to see a coaching entire staff change or demote Letang to D coach and bring in Head coach a PP specialist coach. Sooner the better we need change now.
Hope DS doesn't sit on hands too long or this season will get flushed down the season by christmas break.
Think we have great peices on this team to be mid pack team this year and top end the next few.. that was exciting to see what this has become, is ripping my heart out for these boys.
Please do something before this energy the fans reverts back to a same old sarnia organization. We deserve alot better than what we are getting.
Tell me I'm wrong?
 
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Stingfan91

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Sep 23, 2024
14
12
My patience has run thin. If they lose both this weekend, especially if they are one-sided, Seca as to start looking around. A coaching change mid season as others have said is very tough on a JR team, but if there's one time to do it its during Christmas break where they get a week off to learn new systems, structure.

Sarnia has obviously been a terrible franchise in it's history, but since I started watching back in 2008 they've never missed the playoffs in a season they are expected to make it. It can not happen this year under any circumstance. This team may not be good, but it aint worse than OS/GUE & FLT looks totally lifeless.
It doesn’t take a week to learn new systems and structure, takes about a month if not 2, especially mid season. And to be honest, the only people who expected us to make playoffs this year is us sting fans. A lot of experts predicted us and Owen sound would be at the bottom and it’s showing. Guelph is a surprise to be at the bottom with the talent they have. It all comes down to us being the 2nd youngest team in the league and that clearly shows that is a huge difference in this league.
 

Stingfan91

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Sep 23, 2024
14
12
There are coaches kicking around, I dont know if it's Letang as much as Jeffery, hate to blame 1 guy but jeffery is running special teams. Last year Haley did and we were a worse team for talent and a better pp. Exact same PK which is where it boils my blood and always have if we just stay in position and don't pressure we get picked apart. We have crazy speed like wainwright and doucette yet we never cheat and try to get breakaways like london. Our guys are faster than cowan and barkey yet we play a block the shot get in lane type of weak pk.
The pp gets set up but we play around at top the D usually shoots a weak shot no 1 times no down low. Does letang and jefferies watch hockey at all pick a pp in NHL and implement it pretty simple. Tampa bays is pretty simple down low to bumper in middle for chance opens up top of circle guys. I've seem many coaches like this, their arrogance and unwilling to admit their system sucks. Well look at both stats and friggin watch video. I think it goes back to personelle on pp and where they play.. doucette in the shorter spot needs a change been there for 2 years and has maybe 8 ppgs in 2 years that spot needs to change also filak in front just doesn/t give enough effort getting any lose puck.
Lots of issues with it I can go on and on yet feel letang is not setting up team for success keeps playing same system over and over and expecting better/different result(definition of insanity). Players can only do what they are shown in practice, all have to be on same page but its jefferies page(awful) think DS will make some player changes hoping that helps but at end of day it won't cause jefferies is still running special teams and Letang has the inability to recognize any changes needed and make those changes. He will put this all on his players having to be better those little details want to win etc. I THINK opposite the players are playing how they are being told and that's not helping them succeed. Players can only try and try and try so much before they realize they are being setup for failure with this staff. Local guy whatever, they need a strong head /assistant coach like Staubitz was. Like sullivan was (clashed with Letang as it's his way or the Highway and sullivan left)
I've been ringing alarm bells for 2 years now--Letang just isn't the guy, not a Head coach, not enough in his tank and too arrogant to learn and adjust.
If I were DS, I'd feel so stupid I put trust in this guy, brought in players to make this team into a force and Letang ruining that.
I'll give 1 more example, johnston comes in playing stretch and risky Offense and hint way London plays, guess what, have 3 goals 2 games and bunch of points led tha league in preseason for london came in with their coaching style high risk high reward and guess what, he now has to play Letangs system and stuff look aweful Johnston worst player on team, like a bag of crap waste of trade etc letang did that to him. That's why the guys coming in on this team look good in early games as Letang hasn't had time to mess them up and change their game. Give beamish 10 games, Letang will confuse him too. That is exactly what we don't want to see happen.
I'd like to see a coaching entire staff change or demote Letang to D coach and bring in Head coach a PP specialist coach. Sooner the better we need change now.
Hope DS doesn't sit on hands too long or this season will get flushed down the season by christmas break.
Think we have great peices on this team to be mid pack team this year and top end the next few.. that was exciting to see what this has become, is ripping my heart out for these boys.
Please do something before this energy the fans reverts back to a same old sarnia organization. We deserve alot better than what we are getting.
Tell me I'm wrong?
Are we able to name a top coach that’s kicking around and sitting at home looking for a job? Because like I said before, there isn’t any, there already coaching teams somewhere, and none of them would leave halfway through a season to come join a rebuilding team. Same with a special teams coach. Now off season is a different story. A lot of those coaches are available then and are willing to leave other teams since it’s the beginning of the season. But if someone could name a top coach and assistant staff that would come in right away, then I’m all in for it, but it’s not that simple. Yes it’s frustrating going through a rebuild because we have gone through so many, but we have to face the facts that we are still an extremely young team. Yea the development hasn’t been the good, but also have to remember that we don’t have that multiple top end nhl talent in our lineup like every other team has, which makes a massive difference because once those players produce, it makes the other players on the team produce, which progresses the development faster. We will get to that point when we will have that talent in the lineup, but it takes time.
 

StingUpdates

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Jan 12, 2019
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It doesn’t take a week to learn new systems and structure, takes about a month if not 2, especially mid season. And to be honest, the only people who expected us to make playoffs this year is us sting fans. A lot of experts predicted us and Owen sound would be at the bottom and it’s showing. Guelph is a surprise to be at the bottom with the talent they have. It all comes down to us being the 2nd youngest team in the league and that clearly shows that is a huge difference in this league.
Not saying you learn it entirely in 1 week, but getting 1 week gives them a grasp on it & how the new coach wants them to play. They also then get another full week off from JAN 3rd to the 10th.

The games between DEC 21st & JAN 10th are against Saginaw, London, Brantford & Owen Sound.

Saginaw might be missing Misa, Parekh. London missing Barkey, Cowan, Bonk, Dickinson. Brantford missing Lardis, Jiricek. Owen Sound missing Goerge.

They then get another week gap between games between JAN 17th & JAN 24th. So between December 21st & January 24th they only play 8 games many vs teams missing their best players.

If there is a time to do it it'll be then. As light as the schedule can be, ton of home games, playing teams missing players.
 
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stingwagoner

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Dec 31, 2023
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Possibly Jordan smith from Soo coached around league now out west as Associate coach, could entice maybe.
Perhaps we just get a Associate pp pk specialist fire Jeffery this year, way less evasive plus that area for us is terrible so anyone coming in would do better and measure things in off season whether Letang goes too. Someone has to get chopped.
 
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StingUpdates

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.erhaps we just get a Associate pp pk specialist fire Jeffery this year, way less evasive plus that area for us is terrible so anyone coming in would do better and measure things in off season whether Letang goes too. Someone has to get chopped.
Bare minimum this needs to happen. This is the single worst powerplay I've ever seen. That PP last night to win the game was shockingly bad. Didn't even set up and allowed a breakaway.

It's costing them wins & points consistently. Even if it was 17% which still isn't great they'd probably have 3-4 more wins.
 

JAMER

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Nov 13, 2019
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Possibly Jordan smith from Soo coached around league now out west as Associate coach, could entice maybe.
Perhaps we just get a Associate pp pk specialist fire Jeffery this year, way less evasive plus that area for us is terrible so anyone coming in would do better and measure things in off season whether Letang goes too. Someone has to get chopped.
Someone who could be interesting is Jordan Hill. If they could convince him. He's got expirence Sarnia guy and has worked with Letang in Owen Sound.

Something else I could see is possible. Is them firing Letang and have Legwand or Seca take over the rest of the year.
 

JAMER

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Saw a rumor that Martone might leave Brampton for Michigan. Wouldn't be to surprised if it happened. Especially the way Bramptons been doing. If that happens I wonder if Brampton would become sellers.
 
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StingUpdates

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Someone who could be interesting is Jordan Hill. If they could convince him. He's got expirence Sarnia guy and has worked with Letang in Owen Sound.

Something else I could see is possible. Is them firing Letang and have Legwand or Seca take over the rest of the year.
Gotta say I'm officially over taking on guys with little experience. Want a veteran behind the bench with a proven track record.

Letang had a bit of that, but it's like losing to London 2 years ago has totally changed him as a coach & for the worst. He wasn't an elite coach then, but he still made significantly better lineup decisions, PP alignments, late game decisions etc.

I've been legitimately shocked at his decision making this yr. Karimov stapled to L4 when he consistently creates. Kostuch getting 0 OT time. Brown no OT time. Bridgewater no OT time. Using Bodin on the PP. Using Doucette as a main puck handler on the PP. Timeout usage or lack thereof some nights. Goalie pulling or not pulling. Moses staying on L1 for so long. Johnston playing T6 for so long.

These are all things we as fans picked up on almost immediately & he somehow didn't see it or didn't want to see it.
 
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Sting 4 Life

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Sep 5, 2024
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I would love to see Jason Williams get a chance with the Sting next year. He's done a great job coaching the Strathroy Rockets. He played in the NHL for 10 years and won a Cup. My son played for him two years ago and said he's the best coach he's ever had.
 

StingUpdates

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I would love to see Jason Williams get a chance with the Sting next year. He's done a great job coaching the Strathroy Rockets. He played in the NHL for 10 years and won a Cup. My son played for him two years ago and said he's the best coach he's ever had.
They are gonna now him extremely well considering they've sent Chartier Denes Chamberlain Gaughan all there. Cory Conacher now owns them too.

Definitely be a name to keep an eye on even as an assistant.
 
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stingwagoner

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Dec 31, 2023
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Well the pp 2 years ago was run my Staubitz. Last year haley, this year jeffery.
Seems like no experience coaching this staff has no in game adjusting. Horrible line decisions actually Letangs body language on bench is of a quiting on players coach leaning against back wall type coach just pouting. The problem with po, is set up and where shots are coming from. If we wait much longer we might set back development another year. Development D is aweful

Barr, hurt and now bodin showing red flags of regreasion or bodin who was great at camp now shows signs of what this staff if promoting.
Might be time to sell some assets and set up for future with new coach either mid season or in off season. This is disheartening that all the hype and such good early season headed this way with bad direction.
 
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HkyBeegs3

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Mar 18, 2009
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Sarnia
Are we able to name a top coach that’s kicking around and sitting at home looking for a job? Because like I said before, there isn’t any, there already coaching teams somewhere, and none of them would leave halfway through a season to come join a rebuilding team. Same with a special teams coach. Now off season is a different story. A lot of those coaches are available then and are willing to leave other teams since it’s the beginning of the season. But if someone could name a top coach and assistant staff that would come in right away, then I’m all in for it, but it’s not that simple. Yes it’s frustrating going through a rebuild because we have gone through so many, but we have to face the facts that we are still an extremely young team. Yea the development hasn’t been the good, but also have to remember that we don’t have that multiple top end nhl talent in our lineup like every other team has, which makes a massive difference because once those players produce, it makes the other players on the team produce, which progresses the development faster. We will get to that point when we will have that talent in the lineup, but it takes time.
Zero progression whether on a championship team or a rebuilding team such as the sting equals change imo . Letangs days are numbered. No progression, no passion, bad decision making at critical times. Time for a change
 
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HkyBeegs3

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Sarnia
108 goals against thus far. Also, 4.15 goals per game allowed lol and some posters are worried about learning a "new" system midway through the year.
 

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