Sarnia Sting 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part II

[StingUpdates]

Can we officially call the Sting a lottery team ?

You really cant. They'd have to truly fall off the map to miss the playoffs. They are still 5 points ahead of SSM & 7 ahead of OS with only 16 games left. Certainly cant write it off they don't choke it away, because it's Sarnia & this team when they are off have been truly horrific, but just 5 wins out of the 16 would likely get them in as OS is unlikely to win 9 games out of their 17 left & SSM has been struggling mightily so them winning half their games left would be a surprise too.

But they've certainly gone from can they get into 5th, or put a scare into KIT in 6th too how bad will the ass whooping be from WSR. Frankly not even gonna go to the games if its London in the 1-8 matchup.

 

[robp1219]

I can almost guarantee Legwand will be on the bench next season. I think he will let these guys finish the year then DJ and Letang are gone, he will bring in another coach to run the forwards, and probably leave matsos

 

[StingUpdates]

This can coincide with being a rebuilding team/lacking talent/veterans, but if I had one thing to really nitpick/be on Seca about it's how bad of a job he's done filling out their Fs the last 2 years.

I am ok with wanting grit, but I'd like them to have some semblance of skill/talent/offensive ability or for them to at least be really useful on face offs, PK, strong 2way play like Way was his 19 yr old season.

Franceschetti is 19 & has 0 Goals & 1 Assist in 28 games.
Moses is 19 & has 6 Goals & 4 Assists in 44 games. Most of those points came playing L1 early on.
Chamberlain is 16 & has 0 Goals & 0 Assists in 17 games. He should've been sent down.
Hall is 18 & has 0 Goals & 0 Assists in 19 games. He should've been cut with Sim & Lominac

Now maybe this is on Letang. Maybe he told Seca he wanted size, physicality, snarl on his 4th line. Maybe he hasn't & this is DS decision. Regardless this team intentionally/purposely made their 4th line worse & I think it's cost them.

They traded away Doherty because he didn't fit what they wanted on L4. He has 12 Goals this yr for NIA. Now I'm still fine with dealing him, but he most certainly would've made more of an impact than Moses/JJ/Chamberlain/Hall.

Owen King who I raved about all camp leads the NOJHL in goals with 39 in 41 games. Elite speed with good finishing ability. Boy couldn't they use that? Obviously he wouldn't be lighting the O up like that, but if he had say 8G/6A that alone would be a significant jump from what we've gotten.

They chose to trade Doherty & cut King to sign Franceschetti & keep Moses while also keeping Chamberlain up. This team has lost 18 games by one goal (counting OTL/SOL + games where they allowed an empty netter to lose by 2).. If those guys just contributed a couple points apiece in those games that could be the difference between 18 1 goal losses & maybe 3-4-5 extra wins & being on ERs tail for 5th.

I'm fine keeping one of JJ or Moses, but they shouldn't of kept both, they shouldn't of kept Chamberlain up & they shouldn't of kept Hall. It's made them have the worst 4th line in the league & in tight games it makes them shorten the bench drastically which hurts during busy stretches where guys get tired + you have more flexibility with the roster because those guys have some skill so they can go to L2/L3 & be fine.

Two seasons in a row where they've basically been a 3 line team & when you don't have elite T6/T9 talent it REALLY stands out/hurts you.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

This is a good reminder that junior hockey is unpredictable. This team went 2-18 and followed that up by beating Brantford, Kitchener, and London earlier this season. I'm not going to hop off the bandwagon because of a bad stretch. They can find their way out of this.

I went back to the offseason board and looked at the predictions that we all made during the preseason. Most said of us said that the Sting would finish 6th or 7th with a few saying 5th. The team is well within reach of 6th place. They're only two points behind Flint with three games left against them. They're right in the ballpark of what we all expected

Can we officially call the Sting a lottery team ?

It's far too early to be calling them a lottery team. They don't have a gauntlet of a schedule down the stretch. 10 of the 16 games left are winnable. Talk to me if they again about it if they lose to SOO, NB, and FLT over the next few weeks

 

[StingUpdates]

This is a good reminder that junior hockey is unpredictable. This team went 2-18 and followed that up by beating Brantford, Kitchener, and London earlier this season. I'm not going to hop off the bandwagon because of a bad stretch. They can find their way out of this.

I went back to the offseason board and looked at the predictions that we all made during the preseason. Most said of us said that the Sting would finish 6th or 7th with a few saying 5th. The team is well within reach of 6th place. They're only two points behind Flint with three games left against them. They're right in the ballpark of what we all expected

It's far too early to be calling them a lottery team. They don't have a gauntlet of a schedule down the stretch. 10 of the 16 games left are winnable. Talk to me if they again about it if they lose to SOO, NB, and FLT over the next few weeks

My issue is you shouldn't be reverting back to OCT/NOV habits & level of play in February especially when your pretty healthy compared to some.

And more so who they've lost too. 7-2/8-2 Ls to Windsor don't bother me much at all. They are a far, far superior team. But losses to OS PBO GUE with multiple goal leads when your chasing Flint is inexcusable.

The fall off can't be this drastic. Like vs KGN we applauded that they looked a bit tired & things weren't clicking but they managed to stay stingy, hard to play against. That's gone right out the window since that game.

Might be 2 back now but Ls vs bad teams will kill them in the coming weeks when they have to play LDN WSR BAR KIT while Flint gets those bad teams & likely build on the 2 point gap

 

[SarniaStingFan]

My issue is you shouldn't be reverting back to OCT/NOV habits & level of play in February especially when your pretty healthy compared to some.

And more so who they've lost too. 7-2/8-2 Ls to Windsor don't bother me much at all. They are a far, far superior team. But losses to OS PBO GUE with multiple goal leads when your chasing Flint is inexcusable.

The fall off can't be this drastic. Like vs KGN we applauded that they looked a bit tired & things weren't clicking but they managed to stay stingy, hard to play against. That's gone right out the window since that game.

Might be 2 back now but Ls vs bad teams will kill them in the coming weeks when they have to play LDN WSR BAR KIT while Flint gets those bad teams & likely build on the 2 point gap

Those games may end up costing the Sting but most teams in the league lose games that they shouldn't.

Oshawa had a five-game losing streak around this time last year where they lost to bottom-tier teams like Flint, Kingston, Niagara, and Owen Sound. They still went on to the OHL Finals. Bad habits can rear their ugly head for any team at any point.

It's the coaches job to get them back on track. If we don't see improvement in the next four/five games then I'd be willing to hit the panic button.

Flint still has BFD, LDN, SAG (x3), and WSR on their schedule. It's fairly similar to Sarnia's so I don't see them building up their lead because of that. 6th will be dependant on who plays better down the stretch and how the three remaining games between the Firebirds/Sting play out

 

[stingwagoner]

Well if that's the case Letang should go now with jeffery!!! Get rid of the rotten meat and DS needs to take over rest of season if wants ro save his job too. But it sure looks like it's, LOTTERY again for the Buzz at this moment as much as it hurts me to say, way better than that. Legwand needs to protect his investment, or sell team to local guys that have Pride and are invested in winning. Right now direction looks Lost.

 

[stingwagoner]

Just do see much fight in fischer really over last 4 games. Lost teams identity IMO and that comes from top down.
Something needs to change in hurry.

 

[Knownothing]

Those games may end up costing the Sting but most teams in the league lose games that they shouldn't.

Oshawa had a five-game losing streak around this time last year where they lost to bottom-tier teams like Flint, Kingston, Niagara, and Owen Sound. They still went on to the OHL Finals. Bad habits can rear their ugly head for any team at any point.

It's the coaches job to get them back on track. If we don't see improvement in the next four/five games then I'd be willing to hit the panic button.

Flint still has BFD, LDN, SAG (x3), and WSR on their schedule. It's fairly similar to Sarnia's so I don't see them building up their lead because of that. 6th will be dependant on who plays better down the stretch and how the three remaining games between the Firebirds/Sting play out

What does 6th get you except a lower draft spot? Kitchener and Windsor are comparable teams and the rags have Parsons.

 

[StingUpdates]

What does 6th get you except a lower draft spot? Kitchener and Windsor are comparable teams and the rags have Parsons.

Windsor is a straight up physical mismatch. They are too big & they have maybe the best line in the league. Sarnia cant handle it. They'd get smoked in 4 games. Wouldn't be fun or entertaining. KIT meanwhile is more of a structured, smart, deep team that doesn't really blow teams out.

They wouldn't beat KIT, but I can see them keeping games close & maybe stealing a game, maybe 2 if Surzycia stood on his head. Be better experience for the players to play in tight playoff games then it being 6-1 entering the 3rd every game vs WSR.

Could be wrong & KIT beats them in 4 & it aint remotely close, but I feel they matchup better with KIT from a size, speed perspective.

Doesnt matter tho if they keep playing like this

 

[howler2]

Windsor is a straight up physical mismatch. They are too big & they have maybe the best line in the league. Sarnia cant handle it. They'd get smoked in 4 games. Wouldn't be fun or entertaining. KIT meanwhile is more of a structured, smart, deep team that doesn't really blow teams out.

They wouldn't beat KIT, but I can see them keeping games close & maybe stealing a game, maybe 2 if Surzycia stood on his head. Be better experience for the players to play in tight playoff games then it being 6-1 entering the 3rd every game vs WSR.

Could be wrong & KIT beats them in 4 & it aint remotely close, but I feel they matchup better with KIT from a size, speed perspective.

Doesnt matter tho if they keep playing like this

Totally agree, but this has been our story for 25 years .We have had numerous coaching changes , 3 owners and many players the results haven't changed . the really strange thing is we are selling 4,000 seats most nights. Go figure .

 

[StingUpdates]

Totally agree, but this has been our story for 25 years .We have had numerous coaching changes , 3 owners and many players the results haven't changed . the really strange thing is we are selling 4,000 seats most nights. Go figure .

Not 25, 30! haha. Yah the surge in attendance has been surprising & very nice to see. They've legitimately been the worst org in the OHL & that isn't a woah is me/us thing its an actual fact lol.

What can go wrong usually does. They find ways to lose no matter how good or bad the team is.

It's quite remarkable & quite tiring. Especially when the teams around us (London, Windsor, Saginaw) have so much success.

Every time we think they may have gotten it right with GMs/Coaches we find out after 2-3-4 years they in fact did not get it right. I still believe Seca is a good GM, but Letang has really gotten on my nerves this year & we have legitimately the worst F/PP coach in the CHL + Had Haley who was out of his depth as our D coach for 3 months..

 

[davewheeler]

Not 25, 30! haha. Yah the surge in attendance has been surprising & very nice to see. They've legitimately been the worst org in the OHL & that isn't a woah is me/us thing its an actual fact lol.

What can go wrong usually does. They find ways to lose no matter how good or bad the team is.

It's quite remarkable & quite tiring. Especially when the teams around us (London, Windsor, Saginaw) have so much success.

Every time we think they may have gotten it right with GMs/Coaches we find out after 2-3-4 years they in fact did not get it right. I still believe Seca is a good GM, but Letang has really gotten on my nerves this year & we have legitimately the worst F/PP coach in the CHL + Had Haley who was out of his depth as our D coach for 3 months..

I made a comment about this awhile back. Sarnia easily has the most loyal/supporting fan base in the O... Give LDN our 30 year history and that franchise would have been in Brantford 10 years ago. You'd think after 30 years Sarnia would have the stars align just once .... but no... not even remotely close. It's truly a remarkably bad franchise. That's why Letang got away with his inept coaching performance 2 years ago because he could say ... well I got us further than anyone before. I also remember someone saying that we, on here, should run the team.... There is no doubt in my mind we could run the Sting better than what it has been... The funny thing is ... we really haven't been that unlucky... just bad.

 

[StingUpdates]

I made a comment about this awhile back. Sarnia easily has the most loyal/supporting fan base in the O... Give LDN our 30 year history and that franchise would have been in Brantford 10 years ago. You'd think after 30 years Sarnia would have the stars align just once .... but no... not even remotely close. It's truly a remarkably bad franchise. That's why Letang got away with his inept coaching performance 2 years ago because he could say ... well I got us further than anyone before. I also remember someone saying that we, on here, should run the team.... There is no doubt in my mind we could run the Sting better than what it has been... The funny thing is ... we really haven't been that unlucky... just bad.

They've had some unlucky moments like Konecny the prized addition getting hurt in G2 of round 1 vs SSM & Galchenyuk missing an entire season in 2012 along with guys like Chychrun, Zacha, Konecny, Rymsha, Pezzetta making the NHL when most thought they'd be back (Zacha might be a stretch for that) & now potentially Kostuch, but for the most part you are right.

It's mostly them being either not good enough, or choking when it matters like 2 years ago vs LDN or in RD2 vs KIT in '18 with better rosters IMO. Or being absolute morons & not surrounding Stamkos well enough.

It aint the loudest barn in the O, but I certainly applaud that for whatever reason it's become one of the most consistent arenas for getting packed since covid.

And idk we might all clash on what we want hahah. Sometimes it definitely feels like it though. Hatcher's stubbornness drove us all insane & hurt them badly vs KIT & now it's getting that way with Letang for me (you were calling it 2 years ago)..

My buddy & I actually talked during that hall of fame game about who the hell could they even induct that was a former coach or GM? genuinely? The list is beyond pathetic. Who's done a legitimately great job deserving of it? You could argue nobody. 30 years. Not one elite GM or Head Coach. How is that even possible. And to think the Hunters dynasty/reign of dominance could've been happening here. What a sick joke lmao.

 

[EastVsWest]

Wolves win tonight helps the Sting … for now

 

[StingUpdates]

Well they better win today vs SSM. Really no way around it. Lose this & it's 6 in a row with SAG & WSR up next.

I'd like to think Letang saw how goddamn awful his lineup decisions were in WSR & he'll revert back or change it up entirely, but as we've learned better off not holding out for common sense. If it were up to me we'd see

Brown-Beamish-Doucette
Wainwright-Di Iorio-Karimov
Filak-Edwards-Manza
Franceschetti-Hall-Moses

Fischer-O'Brien
Hurt-Young
Bridgewater-Barr

Time to split up 23/40/11 as a trio. Put 25s speed & finishing with 23-40.

Give Karimov a shot in T6. His size, strength & nose for the net would be useful w/Di Iorio who makes plays & has good chemistry w/Wainwright who can push the D back with his speed.

Filak would be good for 81&55. He'd help down low, along the board, in own end as they both like making plays in open ice.

13-6 should be a good shutdown pair.
5-72 gives the 2nd pair a puck mover & they've been strong together before.
Bodin is hurt. Omeri shouldn't be in over either guy. So 16-43 it is.

 

[robp1219]

Totally agree, but this has been our story for 25 years .We have had numerous coaching changes , 3 owners and many players the results haven't changed . the really strange thing is we are selling 4,000 seats most nights. Go figure .

I think the sting are selling alot of tickets because of the major arena improvements and the marketing and game day coordination improvements, and when the sting went on that run a lot of new fans had a blast going to those games and they came back the following year when we were god aweful and even this year when we are below the middle of the pack. Hopefully we can get above middle of the pack next season bring even more fans out. I truly think the arena improvements and marketing and game day improvements have gone a long way and it’s showing in the stands, because you can’t say it’s the product on the ice.