Sarnia Sting 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part II

[robp1219]

Next year will be such an intriguing year ... There should be a lot of optimism with the team and individual players with Edwards and Di Lorio being 1st round prospects and Brown being a 2-4 round guy with Fischer possibly being on the USA world jr team..... I feel like in the West it's WSRS to lose followed by KIT.... but outside of that theres no reason why the buzzers cant slide into the 3-4-5 seed... Obviously a lot is up in the air with LDN and SAG.... I wonder if there is any shot at all that the buzz could pull a rabbit out of a hat and somehow get Fischer back for his OA year in 2027 ... I know im looking way way into the future now but 2028 we could have Edwards, Di Lorio back for year 4 ....The point is there is a real opportunity for the Buzz to reach sustained levels of success we've never seen before .... if they play their cards right.

I think there is about a 5% chance Fischer is back for his OA year, unless he misses a lot of games due to injury he will be in the AHL.

 

[davewheeler]

I think there is about a 5% chance Fischer is back for his OA year, unless he misses a lot of games due to injury he will be in the AHL.

yeah man I agree its probably not going to happen... Was just spit balling some stuff.

 

[StingUpdates]

It's a good, but tough spot to be in for Seca

2025-2026 lineup (age above name)


18. 18. 18
Brown-Beamish-Kostuch (?)

20. 17. 18
Wainwright-Di Iorio-Manza

18. 17. 18
Karimov-Edwards-Luecke

17. 17. 17
Simpson-Chamberlain-Gaughan

19. 20
Fischer-Young

18. 20
Hurt-O'Brien

18. 18/19
Bridgewater-Barr/Bodin
18
Andersen

Will add: 2025 1st, Two 2025 2nds & maybe an import depending Bodin's play.

19
Maillet
17
Grovestine?

2026-2027 mock lineup WITHOUT Beamish, Manza

19. 18. 19
Brown-Di Iorio-Kostuch

19. 18. 19
Karimov-Edwards-Luecke

18. 18. 18
Simpson-Chamberlain-Gaughan

???-???-???

19. 19
Hurt-Barr

19. 19
Bridgewater-Andersen

???-???

20
Maillet
18
Grovestine?

Add whoever they take in the coming draft & whoever they take in the 2026 draft + an import.

 

[StingUpdates]

You sorta see the dilemma Seca is in IMO. Beamish & Manza can leave after next season & we don't know Kostuch' status & if he returns how he plays. Those are huge pieces that can alter his decision making.

The 2025-2026 team looks pretty damn solid outside the ? in net to me. That projects as a strong top-9 & we'll see if any of Simpson, Gaughan, Chamberlain, Denes develop & are solid players to fill out line 4. We quite literally never take a D round 1 (this might be the yr to do it) so say they take a F who either plays L3 over Luecke, or plays L4. + have two 2nds & maybe an open import spot if they let Bodin go.

I'd say the hope would be pretty much the entire top-9 scores 20+ goals next yr except Luecke & TBD on how Kostuch looks if/when he plays-

Edwards likely scores 30+
Brown 25-35
Wainwright 25-35
Di Iorio 25-30
Beamish 25-35
Karimov 20-30 (sleeper for more if he plays legit mins start tofinish)
If Kostuch returns close to what he was, 20-25
I'll say 15-25 for Manza, but obvisouly to early to say with any certainty

+ Young & Fischer should put up some pretty good offensive #s.


On D I think we'll be really strong. Fischer-Young could be a premiere D pair in the league led by Fischer who can be a top 5-6-7 D in the league. Hurt-O'Brien aren't flashy, or point getters, but they have been so strong/reliable for us that adding a yr will only make what is a solid 2nd pair even stronger. Bridgewater has slowly become such a solid 3rd pair Dman for them & believe he still has plenty more to give offensively. Bodin TBD, Barr needs a big summer.

Regardless if a 6th guy (Barr, Bodin, Andersen, Nesusteter 2025 draft pick) takes a big step im pretty confident in those 5, especially the top-4 to be a strong unit.

Far & away the biggest issue is goalie. Maillet is an OHL goalie, but you cant say with any confidence/certainty he's a starter. Simply hasn't played enough. No sure thing for a backup with Grovestine or Osipenko.

After WSR could they contend for 2nd best? If they figure out the G position (big if) I cant see why not.

KIT - will be good but lack 19-20 yr old talent. Lose top pair, best goalie in OHL, two PPG OAs, Pridham who's been elite.
SAG - final yr w/Misa, Parekh. Do they sell them for the farm, or try & go for it? TBD on that. They have more holes, but have the superstar talent.
LDN - finally lose Cowan, Bonk, Barkey, Halttunnen, Sim, Julien & strong possibility Dickinson. It's LDN they'll remain good, but they'll take a step back (famous last words)
GUE - rebuilding
OS - rebuilding
ER - Probably the same as now. Just fine/ok. If Schaefer makes NHL, rebuild.
FLT - honestly no clue. Maybe good? Maybe not.
SSM - Better than now, but they'll keep building for 26-27

Theres always a surprise team, but it's shaping up to be a weaker conference again so getting top 3-4 is definitely a goal I'd have.

 

[StingUpdates]

The 2026-2027 team could be loaded up front IF Beamish/Manza stay for their 19 year old seasons. We'd have a great 19 yr old group with Brown/Kostuch/Beamish/Manza/Karimov/Luecke + two absolute stud 18 yr olds in Edwards/Di Iorio. Thats 7 deep from the get go with legit star power (hopefully)

+ Whoever they take in the coming draft who will be going into yr 2 + an import if they took a F to replace Bodin. That would be as strong a F unit to start a season I can remember for this team if the guys keep developing how they are.

Issue on that roster is they come off losing Fischer, Young, O'Brien.. I love Hurt's play, but he wont be anything more than a good #2. Bridgwater maybe becomes a solid 2nd pair guy. Same goes for Barr, but those are unknowns. They'd need to add a few D for sure & those don't come cheap, especially a #1 D. Why im pretty open to them finally taking a D round 1 this year come the draft.

Hopefully however they solve the G issue next yr holds for 26-27. So whether that's Maillet being better than I think, Grovestine being a stud, or them trading for an Egerov/Hrebik type goalie who looks legit & is 19..

But see what im getting at? You wish so badly Fischer was a yr younger lol. Because you wanna go for it when Edwards, Di Iorio, Brown, Karimov, Kostuch are at their peaks in the O. But does the roster align for it? If Manza, Beamish stay I say yes, but if they leave for NCAA Seca would have to do what we did 2 years ago & go trade for 2-3 Fs & 2-3 D & spend everything we have & do we wanna do that again? Bright side is for once we'd probably be returning Di Iorio/Edwards & could flip them for a haul to speed up the rebuild if they did that in 27-28 (getting REAL far ahead now lol)

It's a very longwinded way of saying to me it comes down to Beamish & Manza lol. If they (even just Beamish) say we wanna stay until our OA years then I think im going for it twice. Go get an elite 18 yr old F next yr who returns in 26-27, another good 19 yr old. Don't gotta touch the D really. Add a goalie in some way. Import draft or trade. Someone who's here both seasons.

Also don't discount adding more BCHL/USHL guys over this summer who could figure into their plans or ease the blow of Manza &/or Beamish leaving.

LDN was led by U18s up front when they beat us with a couple vets (WInterton, Diaco) to take L1 mins & a stout Dcore. Follow that blueprint.

If they say they are NCAA bound after next yr you either push the chips in early because you fear the roster around Brown/Kostuch/Karimov/Edwards/Di Iorio wont be good enough, or trade Fischer, Young, Wainwright (+Beamish, Manza as rentals) to add as many assets as possible to fill the holes we'll have in 26-27.

Thing that sucks the most is the total uncertainty for us as fans. Unless Seca comes out & says it we have no idea what Beamish/Manza are planning.

How I see it all anyways.. Apologies for the rambling. Blame @davewheeler for getting the gears going in my head lmao.