Sarnia Sting 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[stingwagoner]

Coaching is accountability. A soft coach like letang is a friend rather than a leader. This young team needed a coach like Walter's but we already had Letang an unproven resume type coach.
I'm not saying it's all in him but when you play the same kids over and over with no accountability for making mistakes is squarely on coaches. Allowing this PP coach to keep coaching is on Letang and DS and essentially Legwand.
Walter's goes to young team windsor and look and what he does? Just saying letang has the best resume as a coach available until Walter's was available but we dropped the ball there. Let's move on and hold coaches accountable for what they continue to do.
Learning for these young guys doesnr come from putting them into fire no matter what they do. Di iorio needs to earn all his icetime for the development of his game. Johnston, moses, kostuch franchesschetti etc players need to play according to what they bring each game. That's how you get most out of every player to help a team succeed. That is what good coaches do.
Agree or not this team has prospect to be really good really soon but not at this rate. Being -5 and -4 in a game shows hey maybe the player is off today and shouldnt play 20 mins and pp and pk etc nit with this staff it's the letang arrogance that effects players from getting to where they hunger for quicker as they are handed on silver platter. Accountability from this staff is totally missing and uts key to a teams development and success, period. Message sent!!!!

 

[davewheeler]

So who would you people replace the coaching staff with???? Because from what I see there isn’t much options out there, and if you think someone new will come and turn this team around into a great hockey team right away your truly mistaken. The coaching staff can’t strap on the skates and play for these players so not everything falls on the coaches. Yes there are things that fall on the coaches but alot of it is on the players to put in the effort on the ice. I didn’t hear many people complain about the coaches when they were doing good at the beginning of the year or when we went on the playoff run a few years ago. We have to be reasonable and look at the players and not just the coaches. Remember we are the 2nd youngest team in the league and really didn’t have much expectations from this year other than continuing to build to the future, Which I’m excited

lol to be fair many people weren't happy with how Letang coached during the playoff run. Even with the best team, on paper we struggled in rd1 and 2 ultimately losing to LDN without much push back. Also, effort is a direct correlation of the coaching staff imo.

 

[JAMER]

Something else I've found odd this year. Is that Letang isn't doing post games presser at least not up to this point. He use to do alot last year but not this year for some reason.

 

[davewheeler]

Coaching is accountability. A soft coach like letang is a friend rather than a leader. This young team needed a coach like Walter's but we already had Letang an unproven resume type coach.
I'm not saying it's all in him but when you play the same kids over and over with no accountability for making mistakes is squarely on coaches. Allowing this PP coach to keep coaching is on Letang and DS and essentially Legwand.
Walter's goes to young team windsor and look and what he does? Just saying letang has the best resume as a coach available until Walter's was available but we dropped the ball there. Let's move on and hold coaches accountable for what they continue to do.
Learning for these young guys doesnr come from putting them into fire no matter what they do. Di iorio needs to earn all his icetime for the development of his game. Johnston, moses, kostuch franchesschetti etc players need to play according to what they bring each game. That's how you get most out of every player to help a team succeed. That is what good coaches do.
Agree or not this team has prospect to be really good really soon but not at this rate. Being -5 and -4 in a game shows hey maybe the player is off today and shouldnt play 20 mins and pp and pk etc nit with this staff it's the letang arrogance that effects players from getting to where they hunger for quicker as they are handed on silver platter. Accountability from this staff is totally missing and uts key to a teams development and success, period. Message sent!!!!

Many of Windsors young guys have taken the next step, so far. Example Jack Nisbett... hes already reached his rookie year point production in 20 games. Where as Brown, Koctuch haven't taken that next step.

 

[StingUpdates]

Many of Windsors young guys have taken the next step, so far. Example Jack Nisbett... hes already reached his rookie year point production in 20 games. Where as Brown, Koctuch haven't taken that next step.

I do get the point & agree to an extent but it does help having Greentree, Protas, Abraham, Spellacy to play with haha.

While brown Kostuch have had rookie C's & interchanging RWs with them.

 

[HkyBeegs3]

It's funny, no one has really said what letangs coaching style and strategies are. He was a defenceman when he played , right? you'd think at the very least defence first would be coached with responsibility and discipline being drilled into a young teams head, i don't see that at all. These young guys have no opportunity to gel when he is constantly changing the lineups. Sends the wrong messages to young guys. He's most likely lost or about to lose the players attention by treating them this way

 

[davewheeler]

I do get the point & agree to an extent but it does help having Greentree, Protas, Abraham, Spellacy to play with haha.

While brown Kostuch have had rookie C's & interchanging RWs with them.

Yup, good point.

 

[ohloutsider]

I do get the point & agree to an extent but it does help having Greentree, Protas, Abraham, Spellacy to play with haha.

While brown Kostuch have had rookie C's & interchanging RWs with them.

Except he plays with Davis and Outwater and is the catalyst of the 3rd line. He does play on the first PP thought so that helps LOL.

 

[StingUpdates]

Except he plays with Davis and Outwater and is the catalyst of the 3rd line. He does play on the first PP thought so that helps LOL.

Start of the yr he was up higher & Davis is still a really good player! Haha.

But point taken. Not discrediting him. He definitely has taken a big step. Love to see it from the Sarnia native.

Best period in weeks. Ton of energy. Winning battles. Not letting them do whatever they want. Would've really liked a lead tho.

 

[NBBFan]

Kostuch, 4th line, 2 min played in the period. Favourites double shifting. Moses up on the 2nd line. In all honesty, for Kostuch’s sake, I hope he requests a trade out of Sarnia. Folks on here wondering why Kostuch hasn’t found his game yet - this is why. How can any player produce sitting on the bench playing 6 minutes a game. It’s clear he lacks confidence. Letang has done this. Could also see him exploring the NCAA if he’s not traded or given more ice time. Really sucks to see it.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Best I've seen from the forecheck and the PK in weeks. Made a ton of nice plays denying them at the line on the PK. Karimov had a good period. Nice chance from in tight and then a good setup to Di Iorio late in the period. Nice stops by Surzycia on the breakaway and on Romano

 

[StingUpdates]

And back to normal. Not one scoring chance that period and 3 goals against. Hate to see that first goal go in to get kitchener going from such a crap angle. Simpson on PP1 is absolutely comical stuff too.

Time for some more line shuffling Alan!!

 

[JAMER]

That's 3 games in a row now where we've allowed a goal in the final minute of the 2nd.

 

[JAMER]

Well in are last 4 games we've been shutout twice and out scored 23-6. We're now a 3rd through the season and something needs to happen now before this hole get to deep to climb out of.

 

[StingUpdates]

Parsons will never have an easier shutout in his life. He could've kicked his feet up in the 2nd & 3rd & not been beat. That was about as boring & ugly as any game last year if not worse. There isn't one single positive to take from that 60 minute game. None.

This next week is the biggest week of their season.
They have to get back on track.
They have to find an identity.
They can't let this derail the season.

If they don't this team is in serious trouble & the coaching staff should be on the hot seat. The constant line juggling is ridiculous. The PP alignment is ridiculous. The demotion of one promising player to the 4th line every game is ridiculous.

Time to see what this team & staff is made of & if watching the rest of the season is even worth it.

 

[davewheeler]

10 shots in the final two periods combined ... who the hell is Simpson and why was he on the power play ?... is it too soon to start talking about the draft ?...This barn is going to be empty come January.... a young team is allowed to lose but damn this team doesn't do anything noteworthy....This team needs some sort of shake up other than juggling lines... Management cant just sit around the entire year watching these type of performances.

 

[Stingfan91]

Again, I think we are expecting this team to be something they aren’t…the 2nd youngest team in the league and have only one nhl prospect compared to other weaker teams from last year, which makes a huge difference…I just don’t see a coaching change mid season making a huge difference and propelling this team any farther then what letang and the current staff are doing…the off season is a different story

 

[Stingfan91]

lol to be fair many people weren't happy with how Letang coached during the playoff run. Even with the best team, on paper we struggled in rd1 and 2 ultimately losing to LDN without much push back. Also, effort is a direct correlation of the coaching staff imo.

Struggled against a sneaky good Guelph team and struggled in round 2 by sweeping Saginaw??? And then lost to an NHL calibre and arguably the best ohl/chl coach of all time?? I beg to differ about effort being directly connected to coaching staff…like the old saying, you can bring a horse to water, but you can’t force it to drink…

 

[StingUpdates]

Again, I think we are expecting this team to be something they aren’t…the 2nd youngest team in the league and have only one nhl prospect compared to other weaker teams from last year, which makes a huge difference…I just don’t see a coaching change mid season making a huge difference and propelling this team any farther then what letang and the current staff are doing…the off season is a different story

Nobody had high expectations. Most of us had them finhsing 6th or 7th. Which is still doable. But it's on the coach to maximize the roster he has & Letang has struggled to do that last year & now this year.

I've been a big defender of him on here. I think he's been a solid coach, but this hasn't been a good season for him. Awful starts, awful special teams, awful lineup decision, questionable deployment all fall on the coach.

The biggest issue is seeing our 17 year olds who had strong rookie years stagnating in development this season. That can't happen. Not this many all at once. That's a major red flag.

I also don't foresee a firing mid season. Not something Sarnia ever does. Not sure if Seca would ever do it frankly. But if this slide continues a proper organization would do it.

 

[davewheeler]

Struggled against a sneaky good Guelph team and struggled in round 2 by sweeping Saginaw??? And then lost to an NHL calibre and arguably the best ohl/chl coach of all time?? I beg to differ about effort being directly connected to coaching staff…like the old saying, you can bring a horse to water, but you can’t force it to drink…

Yes, they struggled. Against Guelph they won 2 games in overtime... That series probably should've went 7 games... which is a struggle. Yah Buzz swept round 2 but I wasn't impressed with the on ice play.. bad habits from that series crept into the LDN series ... As for LDN there were zero adjustments made... none.. crappy power play .. Letang got outsmarted by a LDN strategy that was to flick the puck in the air....He couldn't even pull the goalie right....same stuff we've been seeing this year.... Ive never heard of a team that didn't try for a coach they liked.

 

[davewheeler]

I dont think a mid season change is the answer either... Usually when a team makes a mid-season change they promote from within till they fill the position in the off season.... we cant do that for obvious reasons.... We'll see ..but if this continues an off-season coaching change might be needed.

 

[Stingfan91]

Yes, they struggled. Against Guelph they won 2 games in overtime... That series probably should've went 7 games... which is a struggle. Yah Buzz swept round 2 but I wasn't impressed with the on ice play.. bad habits from that series crept into the LDN series ... As for LDN there were zero adjustments made... none.. crappy power play .. Letang got outsmarted by a LDN strategy that was to flick the puck in the air....He couldn't even pull the goalie right....same stuff we've been seeing this year.... Ive never heard of a team that didn't try for a coach they liked.

So the expectation was for the team to go 16-0 in the playoffs that year? Again if there is another option available out there for a head coach to come in and change this around right now then it will prove me wrong but I’ll believe it when I see it

 

[Stingfan91]

Nobody had high expectations. Most of us had them finhsing 6th or 7th. Which is still doable. But it's on the coach to maximize the roster he has & Letang has struggled to do that last year & now this year.

I've been a big defender of him on here. I think he's been a solid coach, but this hasn't been a good season for him. Awful starts, awful special teams, awful lineup decision, questionable deployment all fall on the coach.

The biggest issue is seeing our 17 year olds who had strong rookie years stagnating in development this season. That can't happen. Not this many all at once. That's a major red flag.

I also don't foresee a firing mid season. Not something Sarnia ever does. Not sure if Seca would ever do it frankly. But if this slide continues a proper organization would do it.

Yea I agree the regression of our 07 group is concerning, but also bring me back to my point of having top talent playing around them, prime examples are the Pete’s who have 4 first round 07’s on there team but none of them have really jumped off the page this year and but has no star power around them..where as Windsor has an 07 like Nesbitt but has top nhl talent around him which makes him play better

 

[HkyBeegs3]

Yea I agree the regression of our 07 group is concerning, but also bring me back to my point of having top talent playing around them, prime examples are the Pete’s who have 4 first round 07’s on there team but none of them have really jumped off the page this year and but has no star power around them..where as Windsor has an 07 like Nesbitt but has top nhl talent around him which makes him play better

We all knew this season was going to be a trying one with so many young unexperienced players and a lack of supporting players for the young guys to play with but it still doesn't excuse the effort, structure and line combinations that are being put out on a nightly. in letangs presser he kept saying the guys need to all be on the same page yadayadayada, sounded to me like he was blaming the guys. Take some ownership letang, maybe he's just not the kinda coach that can take a young team to the next level by building good habits. He said that it all started with practice habits bleeding into the games, sounds like a coaching issue to me. Get a grip on this team and teach and discipline and be a leader they can learn from.

 

[davewheeler]

So the expectation was for the team to go 16-0 in the playoffs that year? Again if there is another option available out there for a head coach to come in and change this around right now then it will prove me wrong but I’ll believe it when I see it

I feel like ur not getting the point lol That team on paper should have dominated the first two rounds... they really didn't... they played sloppy and it carried over to LDN... and also im not saying fire him now but if Legwand wants to step in id be all for it.