SSM Greyhounds 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[DWI Dale]

Don’t think that closes the gap between us and London/barrie/oshawa.

Totally rational. Although if you don't think you can close the gap on those teams, doesn't it make sense to sell veterans to build around hopkins? I get the sense Kingston fans are half in, half out, and from what I've seen that mentality doesn't work out well in the short-term or the long-term.

We've watched this episode on re-run for the past 6 years in the Soo. We have a decent team most years, we wonder if they'll be buyers or sellers, then they do something in between that doesn't build a contender in the present, or build towards a future contender. I'd suggest it will be very difficult to be a contender this year, AND build a contender around Hopkins, and the team should choose one.. But like I said, we've been living that sort of reality in the Soo since 2018

 

[leafs4life94]

Totally rational. Although if you don't think you can close the gap on those teams, doesn't it make sense to sell veterans to build around hopkins? I get the sense Kingston fans are half in, half out, and from what I've seen that mentality doesn't work out well in the short-term or the long-term.

We've watched this episode on re-run for the past 6 years in the Soo. We have a decent team most years, we wonder if they'll be buyers or sellers, then they do something in between that doesn't build a contender in the present, or build towards a future contender. I'd suggest it will be very difficult to be a contender this year, AND build a contender around Hopkins, and the team should choose one.. But like I said, we've been living that sort of reality in the Soo since 2018

Kingston is too built around the '05 age group to forgo this year - they have 9 daily '05s plus an '05 back-up goalie. They absolutely were half-in half-out last year, spending picks to upgrade an OA and by not trading Ludwinski when they were never a true contender, and if they had a Ludwinski's worth of picks they'd have been able to outbid pretty much everyone with picks this year.

Kingston doesn't have the luxury of building around Hopkins because the rest of the '07 class hasn't really shown anything, and we don't have an '08 first, so if anything a rebuild likely will end ups being centered on their two '09 firsts (wow 2009 born - damn I feel old). I still think Hopkins contributes too much now to move and if they do move him I will not be happy - unless the results prove me wrong.

 

[frontsfan67]

Totally rational. Although if you don't think you can close the gap on those teams, doesn't it make sense to sell veterans to build around hopkins? I get the sense Kingston fans are half in, half out, and from what I've seen that mentality doesn't work out well in the short-term or the long-term.

We've watched this episode on re-run for the past 6 years in the Soo. We have a decent team most years, we wonder if they'll be buyers or sellers, then they do something in between that doesn't build a contender in the present, or build towards a future contender. I'd suggest it will be very difficult to be a contender this year, AND build a contender around Hopkins, and the team should choose one.. But like I said, we've been living that sort of reality in the Soo since 2018

Personally I know we have a pretty good team but it’s not a great team. I’d like to tear down and start new building around the 2 firsts we get next year + the inevitable 1st 08 or 09 we get when we trade Battaglia.

However I’ve heard from a billion people that’s not what is happening so I’m trying to figure out the best way to build competitive team with the assets we have and what our needs are. Some are on board with that and some think the opposite we should put all our chips in. Reality is there is a lot of uncertainly and I don’t doubt in my mind we could win a round at this point but I don’t think we go beyond 2 without addressing goaltending and getting a good d man that can play top 2-4

Anyways less about the fronts and more about the greyhounds- not trying to high jack your board. But Gibson is a great player- really hope Oshawa doesn’t get him but reality is they’re probably the front runners for him asset wise if we don’t dispose of Hopkins.