Sudbury Wolves 2023-2024 Off-Season Thread (Part 2)

[Lycanthrope]

Getting into the sauce early?

 

[Lycanthrope]

Getting into the sauce early?

I hope for your sake they have indoor pickle ball courts this winter…

I suffered through the entire Burgess Era and have been going regularly since 1990. A more loyal fan didn't exist. The thought of the team makes my stomach churn right now. Maybe an empty arena would send a message. Going nowhere with Papineau.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

I suffered through the entire Burgess Era and have been going regularly since 1990. A more loyal fan didn't exist. The thought of the team makes my stomach churn right now. Maybe an empty arena would send a message. Going nowhere with Papineau.

I respect your decision and dedication thus far to the Wolves. I to have experienced much of what you have, but as much as I want a winner like everyone else I’ve come to terms with what OHL hockey is. A form of winter entertainment. I love hockey,so I enjoy minor hockey, rep hockey and Junior hockey. Over the years I’ve become more passionate about the OHL than the NHL because I truly enjoy watching young prospects develop. As I get very frustrated , like others on this board, I can’t see myself surviving a northern winter without Wolves hockey. I guess I just love being a fan. I would like the Wolves to be consistently good, winning everything would be a bonus. Too me, at this level coaching is the key. Teach the kids a full 200ft game. Keep everyone accountable. Players and Coaches need to Be good community people.
To me, we draft well and made some decent trades. For many reasons it didn’t work out. We gotta break free from the “also rans” (15 teams) and get up with the London, SSM, Rangers, Ottawa and now North Bay.
In fact I wouldn’t be upset if we sold some high end talent and start the next cycle…

 

[Lycanthrope]

I respect your decision and dedication thus far to the Wolves. I to have experienced much of what you have, but as much as I want a winner like everyone else I’ve come to terms with what OHL hockey is. A form of winter entertainment. I love hockey,so I enjoy minor hockey, rep hockey and Junior hockey. Over the years I’ve become more passionate about the OHL than the NHL because I truly enjoy watching young prospects develop. As I get very frustrated , like others on this board, I can’t see myself surviving a northern winter without Wolves hockey. I guess I just love being a fan. I would like the Wolves to be consistently good, winning everything would be a bonus. Too me, at this level coaching is the key. Teach the kids a full 200ft game. Keep everyone accountable. Players and Coaches need to Be good community people.
To me, we draft well and made some decent trades. For many reasons it didn’t work out. We gotta break free from the “also rans” (15 teams) and get up with the London, SSM, Rangers, Ottawa and now North Bay.
In fact I wouldn’t be upset if we sold some high end talent and start the next cycle…

Well, you probably know I feel the same way about the winters, etc. and I’m not saying I won’t pick up a pack at some point. I’m just not ready to do it at this point.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

Well, you probably know I feel the same way about the winters, etc. and I’m not saying I won’t pick up a pack at some point. I’m just not ready to do it at this point.

If there is one thing that will drive me away from watching the Wolves at home live, is the in game experience. Ground Hog Day every game!! Please change it up a bit… years and years of the Freddie Mercury ground hog and raising the Lion King babies is cute. The FIRST TIME! Not EVERYTIME.

 

[frontsfan67]

Well it’s official for me. I sent an email stating I would not be renewing at this time and also shared the reasons why. Wondering how many others are choosing not to renew at this time.

best of luck!

 

[dirty12]

To me, we draft well and made some decent trades. For many reasons it didn’t work out.

Had to completely rebuild the back end in just over 3 months by importing goalies and 3 of the top 4 D from outside the organization because there was (not a single D drafted in the first three rounds for four straight years).

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

Had to completely rebuild the back end in just over 3 months by importing goalies and 3 of the top 4 D from outside the organization because there was (not a single D drafted in the first three rounds for four straight years).

Yes agreed, but that has changed the last two drafts with Jackson and Blonda..now we need a proven young goalie. I think DeAngelis/McCoy will help our young D till the deadline…then we see what happens.

 

[dirty12]

Yes agreed, but that has changed the last two drafts with Jackson and Blonda..now we need a proven young goalie. I think DeAngelis/McCoy will help our young D till the deadline…then we see what happens.

If DeAngelis, Delic, McCoy or Collins, and Musty play for the wolves; it will be good team. If 2-3 do not want to return, it may turn into years of no shows.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

If DeAngelis, Delic, McCoy or Collins, and Musty play for the wolves; it will be good team. If 2-3 do not want to return, it may turn into years of no shows.

To me McCoy is your next Captain, if you can get a great return for DeAngelis then you keep Collins. Musty needs to come back unless he makes the Sharks. Add Villy and Walton, Chitaroni, Dean, and Bruce…not a bad base.

 

[dirty12]

To me McCoy is your next Captain, if you can get a great return for DeAngelis then you keep Collins. Musty needs to come back unless he makes the Sharks. Add Villy and Walton, Chitaroni, Dean, and Bruce…not a bad base.

Anania or Delic should have been captain last season imo, unless there’s truth to Delic not wanting to return I hope he is acknowledged for being the longest serving and a 2-way team player.
I thought DeAngelis was the best all-around D honestly, so I’d like him kept along with Delic and one of Collins or McCoy.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

Anania or Delic should have been captain last season imo, unless there’s truth to Delic not wanting to return I hope he is acknowledged for being the longest serving and a 2-way team player.
I thought DeAngelis was the best all-around D honestly, so I’d like him kept along with Delic and one of Collins or McCoy.

Delic is dynamic but needs to stop doing circles in his own end. He needs to improve in DZ IMO. Hard work who can break open a game at any moment. Like so many of our offensive stars their DZ play needs to get better. He does deserve a letter…

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

DeAngelis was one of the most underrated trade we made last year.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

To me McCoy is your next Captain, if you can get a great return for DeAngelis then you keep Collins. Musty needs to come back unless he makes the Sharks. Add Villy and Walton, Chitaroni, Dean, and Bruce…not a bad base.

I don’t know why but I forgot Pharand. Hoping for a breakout year from him. Coughlan can also be good if he can learn to stop chipping, that might be impossible so big ? mark with him. New coach will have a say with his future on the team.

 

[djscooter]

If there is one thing that will drive me away from watching the Wolves at home live, is the in game experience. Ground Hog Day every game!! Please change it up a bit… years and years of the Freddie Mercury ground hog and raising the Lion King babies is cute. The FIRST TIME! Not EVERYTIME.

Not sure if you've gone to a Five game, but the difference in "Entertainment" experience is wild. Seems like way more effort is being put in to making the Five a great outing than the Wolves.

 

[WolvesFanInNorthBay]

Not sure if you've gone to a Five game, but the difference in "Entertainment" experience is wild. Seems like way more effort is being put in to making the Five a great outing than the Wolves

I agree. I've been to Windsor, Sarnia, Oshawa, Barrie and Owen Sound this year and apart from Owen Sound, they all have better in-game entertainment.

 

[BuffaloSabres72]

I don’t know why but I forgot Pharand. Hoping for a breakout year from him. Coughlan can also be good if he can learn to stop chipping, that might be impossible so big ? mark with him. New coach will have a say with his future on the team.

Pharand is a great guy so too McCoy but the latter was dismayed by the lack of accountability, discipline and disrespect shown the coaches. Hence the trade request. This flowed from the GM meddling and designating certain players untouchable. You ended up with guys like Musty refusing to make line changes and swearing at coaches during games and practices. It's not his fault. He's a good guy that been allowed to get away with too much. Ask his billet. Again, not his fault although the constant complaining was a cancer and could have been dealt with by the GM. McCoy witnessed this as did all the players and support staff. It was an open secret that morale was an ongoing problem due to no adults maintaining discipline and respect. Wolves are interviewing 3 potential coaches. Berehowsky apparently said no because he witnessed first hand the meddling. Dorval despite promises isn't being considered.
There were lots of questionable mgmt decisions. The team had a morale problem with far too much disrespect towards the coach and GM. Maybe some of that stemmed from the coach and GM telling the players prior to the trade deadline that some of them wouldn't be here soon and then the players seeing name tags in the lockerroom created by Papineau. Picture attached. Sort of funny but not professional and probably not helpful for morale.

 

[jamo27]

Well… it’s doubtful that papineau is going anywhere until his contract is finished. He absolutely should be fired and surely there are great people out there that can build an OHL team that can replace him.

It really comes down to whether Dario really cares about building something that the city can be proud of. This past season was embarrassing. It will be years before they ever have a chance to build a team like they could have last season. Fifth place in the east. Swept easily by our rivals from the east in the second round. Like FFS come on. This is the best you could do? If it is expect the “back to normal” empty barn moving forward. Burgess sucked as an owner and I guess Dario isn’t any better. Go Wolves Go.

 

[Lycanthrope]

If there is one thing that will drive me away from watching the Wolves at home live, is the in game experience. Ground Hog Day every game!! Please change it up a bit… years and years of the Freddie Mercury ground hog and raising the Lion King babies is cute. The FIRST TIME! Not EVERYTIME.

What a good point that is, I neglected to mention that and indeed it is as big a reason as any that I’m kind of turned off attending the games live. Between that and people walking around during the play and add to that I can’t stand anybody sitting beside me, so I basically almost need to buy an aisle seat and the seat beside it. I have a feeling we won’t have too much difficulty finding two seats beside each other this year, though. But you’re right, everything at exactly the same time during the game blah blah, blah not to mention bringing a baby to a hockey game is about the stupidest thing you could do and my blood boils every time I see it. Number one it’s way too loud for their ears, and even if they have earphones on all the noise must be frightening and they have no clue what’s going on. If you can’t get a babysitter, stay home and if you’re bringing your kid anyway you’re just an idiot, as far as I’m concerned anyway.

Well… it’s doubtful that papineau is going anywhere until his contract is finished. He absolutely should be fired and surely there are great people out there that can build an OHL team that can replace him.

It really comes down to whether Dario really cares about building something that the city can be proud of. This past season was embarrassing. It will be years before they ever have a chance to build a team like they could have last season. Fifth place in the east. Swept easily by our rivals from the east in the second round. Like FFS come on. This is the best you could do? If it is expect the “back to normal” empty barn moving forward. Burgess sucked as an owner and I guess Dario isn’t any better. Go Wolves Go.

I’d like to think Dario means well maybe he’s just clueless, but he better get a clue pretty soon. If what I read about Papineau is even half true the guy’s gotta go.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Pharand is a great guy so too McCoy but the latter was dismayed by the lack of accountability, discipline and disrespect shown the coaches. Hence the trade request. This flowed from the GM meddling and designating certain players untouchable. You ended up with guys like Musty refusing to make line changes and swearing at coaches during games and practices. It's not his fault. He's a good guy that been allowed to get away with too much. Ask his billet. Again, not his fault although the constant complaining was a cancer and could have been dealt with by the GM. McCoy witnessed this as did all the players and support staff. It was an open secret that morale was an ongoing problem due to no adults maintaining discipline and respect. Wolves are interviewing 3 potential coaches. Berehowsky apparently said no because he witnessed first hand the meddling. Dorval despite promises isn't being considered.
There were lots of questionable mgmt decisions. The team had a morale problem with far too much disrespect towards the coach and GM. Maybe some of that stemmed from the coach and GM telling the players prior to the trade deadline that some of them wouldn't be here soon and then the players seeing name tags in the lockerroom created by Papineau. Picture attached. Sort of funny but not professional and probably not helpful for morale.

I’m really inclined to believe this is all true. That would account for the disastrous end to the season.

I agree. I've been to Windsor, Sarnia, Oshawa, Barrie and Owen Sound this year and apart from Owen Sound, they all have better in-game entertainment.

I found Owen sound to not have too much loud noise for nothing, and while there was some entertainment, the focus was still on the game itself.

 

[Lycanthrope]

best of luck!

Hated those afternoon games too

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

Had to completely rebuild the back end in just over 3 months by importing goalies and 3 of the top 4 D from outside the organization because there was (not a single D drafted in the first three rounds for four straight years).

I don’t think drafting high end D has been our problem, it’s the evaluation piece I’m wondering about. Will Bishop getting a regular shift at Memorial Cup and about to make the finals on Sunday.
Trading Protz a future NHL draft pick….makes me wonder why we gave up on these guys?? I guess they weren’t gonna play in a go for it year…except Bishop. C. Walton? What’s he gonna become?

 

[dirty12]

I don’t think drafting high end D has been our problem, it’s the evaluation piece I’m wondering about. Will Bishop getting a regular shift at Memorial Cup and about to make the finals on Sunday.
Trading Protz a future NHL draft pick….makes me wonder why we gave up on these guys?? I guess they weren’t gonna play in a go for it year…except Bishop. C. Walton? What’s he gonna become?

There is close to no chance of having a defence corps that is better than middling when first selecting a defence man in round four or five in four straight drafts.
The third and fourth draft in that run Papineau traded the wolves 3rd picks for future picks, then proceeded to select forwards Assadourian and Walton in round two. The Walton pick was particularly disturbing knowing that pick could have been the first goalie selected in the draft. With his second pick of round two, he once again passes on defence; and makes a panic pick on the 4th or 5th goalie because he had traded away his 3rd pick.
Papineau should have been fired right there and then imo, at the very least strip his power to conduct the draft.

 

[Voice from the North]

What a good point that is, I neglected to mention that and indeed it is as big a reason as any that I’m kind of turned off attending the games live. Between that and people walking around during the play and add to that I can’t stand anybody sitting beside me, so I basically almost need to buy an aisle seat and the seat beside it. I have a feeling we won’t have too much difficulty finding two seats beside each other this year, though. But you’re right, everything at exactly the same time during the game blah blah, blah not to mention bringing a baby to a hockey game is about the stupidest thing you could do and my blood boils every time I see it. Number one it’s way too loud for their ears, and even if they have earphones on all the noise must be frightening and they have no clue what’s going on. If you can’t get a babysitter, stay home and if you’re bringing your kid anyway you’re just an idiot, as far as I’m concerned anyway.


I’d like to think Dario means well maybe he’s just clueless, but he better get a clue pretty soon. If what I read about Papineau is even half true the guy’s gotta go.

Dario indeed means well. He’ll be the first to tell you that he doesn’t know the intricacies of hockey. He’s a basketball guy first. He hires people he trusts and, right or wrong, lets them do their job which is the opposite of how Papineau operates

 

[Voice from the North]

Pharand is a great guy so too McCoy but the latter was dismayed by the lack of accountability, discipline and disrespect shown the coaches. Hence the trade request. This flowed from the GM meddling and designating certain players untouchable. You ended up with guys like Musty refusing to make line changes and swearing at coaches during games and practices. It's not his fault. He's a good guy that been allowed to get away with too much. Ask his billet. Again, not his fault although the constant complaining was a cancer and could have been dealt with by the GM. McCoy witnessed this as did all the players and support staff. It was an open secret that morale was an ongoing problem due to no adults maintaining discipline and respect. Wolves are interviewing 3 potential coaches. Berehowsky apparently said no because he witnessed first hand the meddling. Dorval despite promises isn't being considered.
There were lots of questionable mgmt decisions. The team had a morale problem with far too much disrespect towards the coach and GM. Maybe some of that stemmed from the coach and GM telling the players prior to the trade deadline that some of them wouldn't be here soon and then the players seeing name tags in the lockerroom created by Papineau. Picture attached. Sort of funny but not professional and probably not helpful for morale.

This is all true and not just since the deadline but almost right from the beginning of the year. There was zero discipline for certain players and an absolute lack of respect for the coaching staff from most of the team. It’s not that the coaches didn’t want to discipline guys, it’s that they weren’t allowed to. That’s not new, that’s happened in previous years with different players under this GM. Coaches with career options like Stillman and Derek MacKenzie didn’t put up with this. Their teams had discipline across the lineup, the other coaches teams did not. Either guy would have achieved much more with this years Wolves lineup