SSM Greyhounds 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[JoeSchmo]

I’ve been going back and forth on this. I don’t think it’s due to incompetence, although you can argue the stance of never rebuilding and hanging on to valuable assets year in and year out is questionable, but that’s likely more of an ownership directive.

Are the recent blunders indicative of a lack of presence or effort? I’ve heard some STH complain that Raftis doesn’t live here and does a lot of his managing remotely. Could that be catching up to him?

I have flip flopped, I’m not going to sit here and say I haven’t. I struggled too.. and I honestly fought some people over this. I see everything those people were saying and I now am in total agreement and no “run” where we fall short again will change my mind. I don’t trust the same people that have us in this situation, to get us out. To get out of this situation, Kyle Raftis is going to have to do something he’s legitimately not done in his entire tenure in the Soo…

At what point does ownership recognize an issue and try to save their face or is this ownership philosophy and everyone is content? Something is up, in my opinion but I don’t know what. I do agree it’s likely ownership but they are the ones with a chance to prove to us they are willing to change their philosophy….( I say they but its really him)

He doesn’t live here. I’ve heard the term “ glorified scout “ used often.

 

[DWI Dale]

I’ve been going back and forth on this. I don’t think it’s due to incompetence

If it's not incompetence then what is it?

6 years ago we were a premier ohl franchise (thanks Dubas) and we've been in decline ever since.

We were told we didn't need to rebuild and the cycle of junior hockey didn't apply to us. Now we're looking like a bottom feeder for the 2nd time in 3 seasons, and just had the worst draft in franchise history.

Our cupboards are bare and there's persistent rumours we have guys on the roster that want out.

We need fresh blood and a fresh philosophy.

 

[JoeSchmo]

If it's not incompetence then what is it?

6 years ago we were a premier ohl franchise (thanks Dubas) and we've been in decline ever since.

We were told we didn't need to rebuild and the cycle of junior hockey didn't apply to us. Now we're looking like a bottom feeder for the 2nd time in 3 seasons, and just had the worst draft in franchise history.

Our cupboards are bare and there's persistent rumours we have guys on the roster that want out.

We need fresh blood and a fresh philosophy.

*nods head in approval*

 

[HoundFan]

DWI.... Bingo!

 

[Houndzfan20]

I have flip flopped, I’m not going to sit here and say I haven’t. I struggled too.. and I honestly fought some people over this. I see everything those people were saying and I now am in total agreement and no “run” where we fall short again will change my mind. I don’t trust the same people that have us in this situation, to get us out. To get out of this situation, Kyle Raftis is going to have to do something he’s legitimately not done in his entire tenure in the Soo…

At what point does ownership recognize an issue and try to save their face or is this ownership philosophy and everyone is content? Something is up, in my opinion but I don’t know what. I do agree it’s likely ownership but they are the ones with a chance to prove to us they are willing to change their philosophy….( I say they but its really him)

He doesn’t live here. I’ve heard the term “ glorified scout “ used often.

it's good to see people have changed their stance. I won't say we fought, lol, but we did argue more than once about the questionable choices the hounds made, and i respect you saying that. there are a few of us that wanted a true junior hockey cycle for the last 6 or 7 years and with the talent we had, and the capital we could have used selling a frost, or a hayton, man we could have won 2 or 3 championships. go on a run, sell off, rebuild, buy and go for it again.

the one thing i will give Raftis is the 2014/15 year when dubas gave us the best base for a team and he added ritchie, boland, bailey and d'angelo. i feel we had the best team in the league by the deadline and we should have won the OHL and went to the Mem Cup. but every other year, man we either didn't sell, or stopped to save capital. i would gladly endure 2 losing seasons to get back to the finals.

Hopefully management turns things around and e can see a banner raised

 

[Rivrfront]

Opinion :
think Raftis has done a good job.
Other then Dubas, probably one of the best GM hires in a long time, dating back to the
sherry basin days, Just look at other GM'S we have had and compare there records to
Raftis record as a gm.
Now, most likely would have won a Ohl championship if it wasn't for a guy named McDavid.
the one year that i believe really stings is when the Hamilton Buldogs beat out the Soo Greyhounds in
6 games. There was another year where hounds were real close.
i believe Covid never helped this franchise , because the year where season was cancelled, i believe
the hounds had another run in them also.
the draft lottery the following year never helped as the hounds picked later in the draft .
( the year where every team had a chance for a high pick )
Yes, there were errors on his part , like a few years when he should have sold older players but
decided to add.; one particular year i am referring to is when Sarnia was desperate to make a
deep run and they traded Porter Martone to Mississauga now Brampton. Hounds could have
done the same if they traded there top guys that year , i am sure Sarnia would have done it but
Mississauga out smarted Raftis and robbed martone from sarnia, now look at them this year,
primed to make a deep run.

 

[Houndzfan20]

Opinion :
think Raftis has done a good job.
Other then Dubas, probably one of the best GM hires in a long time, dating back to the
sherry basin days, Just look at other GM'S we have had and compare there records to
Raftis record as a gm.
Now, most likely would have won a Ohl championship if it wasn't for a guy named McDavid.
the one year that i believe really stings is when the Hamilton Buldogs beat out the Soo Greyhounds in
6 games. There was another year where hounds were real close.
i believe Covid never helped this franchise , because the year where season was cancelled, i believe
the hounds had another run in them also.
the draft lottery the following year never helped as the hounds picked later in the draft .
( the year where every team had a chance for a high pick )
Yes, there were errors on his part , like a few years when he should have sold older players but
decided to add.; one particular year i am referring to is when Sarnia was desperate to make a
deep run and they traded Porter Martone to Mississauga now Brampton. Hounds could have
done the same if they traded there top guys that year , i am sure Sarnia would have done it but
Mississauga out smarted Raftis and robbed martone from sarnia, now look at them this year,
primed to make a deep run.

IMO McDavid didn't beat us. Keefe's unwillingness to adjust lost us that series. we smoked Erie 6-0 the first game and Knobloch adapted and clogged up the neutral zone. Keefe's unwillingness to dump the puck and have to carry it over the blue line cost us that series. we were by far the best team in teh CHL that year.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

If it's not incompetence then what is it?

6 years ago we were a premier ohl franchise (thanks Dubas) and we've been in decline ever since.

We were told we didn't need to rebuild and the cycle of junior hockey didn't apply to us. Now we're looking like a bottom feeder for the 2nd time in 3 seasons, and just had the worst draft in franchise history.

Our cupboards are bare and there's persistent rumours we have guys on the roster that want out.

We need fresh blood and a fresh philosophy.

Get the feeling we’re in for more Fan Pain before we get relief.

The past draft was @$&&&@@$$) and inexcusable.

 

[DWI Dale]

Opinion :
think Raftis has done a good job.
Other then Dubas, probably one of the best GM hires in a long time, dating back to the
sherry basin days, Just look at other GM'S we have had and compare there records to
Raftis record as a gm.
Now, most likely would have won a Ohl championship if it wasn't for a guy named McDavid.
the one year that i believe really stings is when the Hamilton Buldogs beat out the Soo Greyhounds in
6 games. There was another year where hounds were real close.
i believe Covid never helped this franchise , because the year where season was cancelled, i believe
the hounds had another run in them also.
the draft lottery the following year never helped as the hounds picked later in the draft .
( the year where every team had a chance for a high pick )
Yes, there were errors on his part , like a few years when he should have sold older players but
decided to add.; one particular year i am referring to is when Sarnia was desperate to make a
deep run and they traded Porter Martone to Mississauga now Brampton. Hounds could have
done the same if they traded there top guys that year , i am sure Sarnia would have done it but
Mississauga out smarted Raftis and robbed martone from sarnia, now look at them this year,
primed to make a deep run.

i mean, if the basis of comparison is guys like Torrie, he's done good, sure.

but if you hoped he would continue the strong program Dubas rebuilt with "the Rising" (including that Dubas drafted the core of the 2015/2018 teams) then he's been a mediocre failure at best, an arrogant disaster at worst...

It began in 2018/19 where we should have had a sell off to recoup assets from legitimate championship runs in 2015 and 2018. we can argue until we're red in the face about it but imo we haven't iced a legitimate contender since. always an elite player or two short, but always a few high draft picks short of competing in the trade deadline arms race. champions add the best players available at the deadline.

Missing the playoffs or 1st/2nd round exits, shaky asset management, and now back to the old days of struggling to get players to report... it's sure starting to look a lot more like the Torrie days than the Dubas days imo.

As Schmo alluded to, Owen Allard seems to be off the Roadrunners roster... If he is sent back to junior, and refuses to report here as has been speculated, then what?

I know I'm negative, and some of you are probably sick of it, but until I'm given a reason to feel hope this is where I'm at as a hounds fan.... hopeless and fed up with the gaslighting about being perpetually competitive.

Hopefully my senators are better this year at least.

 

[DWI Dale]

if Allard was released from AHL as the roster seems to suggest why has there been no announcement he's been returned to the hounds?

 

[frontsfan67]

if Allard was released from AHL as the roster seems to suggest why has there been no announcement he's been returned to the hounds?

He’s eligible for the echl which is still lower tier professional hockey- I assume he gives that a try. If no success there then he comes back to the OHL

 

[Houndzfan20]

Martin, Hayes and Charlie were great tonight. Martin especially was on another level. What a treat to watch.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

i mean, if the basis of comparison is guys like Torrie, he's done good, sure.

but if you hoped he would continue the strong program Dubas rebuilt with "the Rising" (including that Dubas drafted the core of the 2015/2018 teams) then he's been a mediocre failure at best, an arrogant disaster at worst...

It began in 2018/19 where we should have had a sell off to recoup assets from legitimate championship runs in 2015 and 2018. we can argue until we're red in the face about it but imo we haven't iced a legitimate contender since. always an elite player or two short, but always a few high draft picks short of competing in the trade deadline arms race. champions add the best players available at the deadline.

Missing the playoffs or 1st/2nd round exits, shaky asset management, and now back to the old days of struggling to get players to report... it's sure starting to look a lot more like the Torrie days than the Dubas days imo.

As Schmo alluded to, Owen Allard seems to be off the Roadrunners roster... If he is sent back to junior, and refuses to report here as has been speculated, then what?

I know I'm negative, and some of you are probably sick of it, but until I'm given a reason to feel hope this is where I'm at as a hounds fan.... hopeless and fed up with the gaslighting about being perpetually competitive.

Hopefully my senators are better this year at least.

There is a lack of conventional wisdom in the general managing and for a small market team in the North, snubbing convention isn’t an option.

As someone who grew up with the Hounds when they entered the OHA, I can’t say I’m a fan of selloffs. I find the ‘batches’ of 2nd and 3rd round picks tossed around like popcorn shocking, still.

But selloffs are a necessity. You don’t have to move every vet - some are actually needed to help younger players develop - but there is no escaping an overhaul - or The U-Haul - at some point after flirting with contention.

Every other team does it, even teams in larger markets, so that alone means sitting on the sidelines and ‘not playing that game’ carries incredible risk.

All draft picks need to report. More of them have to develop as planned, or, as hoped.

It’s just not sustainable.

I may not necessarily like The Way it is, but it’s not that difficult to accept, bc it’s clear that’s just The Way it is. When in Rome…

 

[JoeSchmo]

He’s eligible for the echl which is still lower tier professional hockey- I assume he gives that a try. If no success there then he comes back to the OHL

He was not on the Allen Americans roster for Friday nights game

 

[OHLfan200]

He was not on the Allen Americans roster for Friday nights game

Hopefully awaiting a trade in the OHL?? . (Wishful thinking I know). At least we know that Allard has forced Raftis' hand if he returns. That's one trade that WILL happen.

 

[OHLfan200]

Brown's best period of the year so far. Nice to see.

 

[OHLfan200]

Great game! Nice to get another W. Martin and Charlie great again, Cloutier played fantastic. Starting up the blog again folks! Want to share with you! https://ohlfan2000.wixsite.com/mysite/post/welcome-to-2024-25

 

[JoeSchmo]

Finally someone mentions Owen Allard…
Isn’t it odd that there was no official announcement from Utah or the Soo Greyhounds? He’s not with the team? What’s happening here?

 

[dirty12]

it's good to see people have changed their stance. I won't say we fought, lol, but we did argue more than once about the questionable choices the hounds made, and i respect you saying that. there are a few of us that wanted a true junior hockey cycle for the last 6 or 7 years and with the talent we had, and the capital we could have used selling a frost, or a hayton, man we could have won 2 or 3 championships. go on a run, sell off, rebuild, buy and go for it again.

the one thing i will give Raftis is the 2014/15 year when dubas gave us the best base for a team and he added ritchie, boland, bailey and d'angelo. i feel we had the best team in the league by the deadline and we should have won the OHL and went to the Mem Cup. but every other year, man we either didn't sell, or stopped to save capital. i would gladly endure 2 losing seasons to get back to the finals.

Hopefully management turns things around and e can see a banner raised

There were four really, really good teams that year. I think the best two were Oshawa and North Bay.

 

[OHLfan200]

Finally someone mentions Owen Allard…
Isn’t it odd that there was no official announcement from Utah or the Soo Greyhounds? He’s not with the team? What’s happening here?

View attachment 916430

Very odd. Even if he was awaiting a trade, you figure there would be an announcement. I’d imagine he is awaiting trade I guess.. Why wouldn’t you just return either way? Even if you want out?

 

[JoeSchmo]

Very odd. Even if he was awaiting a trade, you figure there would be an announcement. I’d imagine he is awaiting trade I guess.. Why wouldn’t you just return either way? Even if you want out?

 

[DWI Dale]

Musty took a beating from fans going about a trade demand in the public eye, and choosing to sit at home. Perhaps Allard/the hounds are looking to avoid that drama by mutually remaining quiet? In other words the fans don't get mad at Allard for asking out and the fans don't criticize the organization for another refusal to report?

 

[JoeSchmo]

Musty took a beating from fans going about a trade demand in the public eye, and choosing to sit at home. Perhaps Allard/the hounds are looking to avoid that drama by mutually remaining quiet? In other words the fans don't get mad at Allard for asking out and the fans don't criticize the organization for another refusal to report?

Sounds about right

 

[Sakic fan]

Great game! Nice to get another W. Martin and Charlie great again, Cloutier played fantastic. Starting up the blog again folks! Want to share with you! WELCOME TO 2024-25

Boys played well, young team and got to like the compete and character they showed last couple of games. Martin is special, Hayes looking very good too. PP needs a spark tho.

 

[frontsfan67]

Very odd. Even if he was awaiting a trade, you figure there would be an announcement. I’d imagine he is awaiting trade I guess.. Why wouldn’t you just return either way? Even if you want out?

I can absolutely see the fronts wanting Allard if the price isn’t too steep. After missing out on Wakely they may want another good centre and Allard could be looking to redeem himself in his OA season after slowing down in the second part of last season.

Musty took a beating from fans going about a trade demand in the public eye, and choosing to sit at home. Perhaps Allard/the hounds are looking to avoid that drama by mutually remaining quiet? In other words the fans don't get mad at Allard for asking out and the fans don't criticize the organization for another refusal to report?

Bingo. Things stay quiet lots of times regarding trades etc would make perfect sense. No point in another musty or even Barlow situation