Sudbury Wolves 2024-25 Season Thread, Part II

[Wolf on a Wire]

UWhy would Papineau go all in this year when he didn’t last year at the deadline,does he really believe this years team is a better team? Nothing would surprise me with this guy.

Weird to say, but yes this team is better than last years.
Better defensively, more balanced and everyone contributes, more disciplined (for the most part), better systems, better Special Teams, better Chemistry, better work ethic, better goaltending and lastly: Better Coached!
I know logically this isn’t our year, but the way this team shows up every game and competes is so impressive. In fact, this team is winning the hearts of the fans. In last nights game they had to block at least 10 shot’s sacrificing their bodies (DeAngelis 3 in a row off #77 on PK).
So is their more individual talent than last season? Probably not but it’s close, but more importantly (to answer your question) it is 100% a better TEAM.
I feel they deserve to be supported by acquiring depth pieces. I don’t believe they deserve a sell off.
IMHO

 

[dirty12]

The east is very competitive right now. In any other year, the roster the wolves have would be considered a top contender with two added D and a middle six RW. If willing to part with picks, Blonda, Chitaroni, Jackson; they could imo be a top two contender in the conference (top 3 in standings).

Barrie is a top contender.
Sudbury, Kingston, Oshawa, and Brantford are good teams that can be serious contenders if fortunate enough to acquire the players they need.
Niagara is also very good, but a bit young and small with no playoff experience. Brampton now on goalie #4 won’t change unless deleting a couple of forwards. That team is probably no better than the wolves last season. Injuries are a nice excuse, excuses always seem nice.

 

[agillarda]

Or and just a thought here, you reward the players that will be here next season and the year after with more opportunity to play and develop.

There are 3 options in front of Paps this week. You can sell completely, you can soft buy/sell or you go all in.

All in means no Blonda, Jackson, Chitironi, Clayton maybe O'Dell depends how much you want to alter the defence and a low level of picks.

Sell is a tank with playoffs and more ice time for our young players to see what they can do with it.

Buy/sell is what Flint did last year and hey look at them now.

A good GM looks at his team realistically and examine what needs to be improved, in our case that's a back up, atleast 2 defenders and 3 or more forwards that's 6 players and a quarter of the teams so you are moving off young players to reward the players that for the most part were here last season.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

The east is very competitive right now. In any other year, the roster the wolves have would be considered a top contender with two added D and a middle six RW. If willing to part with picks, Blonda, Chitaroni, Jackson; they could imo be a top two contender in the conference (top 3 in standings).

Barrie is a top contender.
Sudbury, Kingston, Oshawa, and Brantford are good teams that can be serious contenders if fortunate enough to acquire the players they need.
Niagara is also very good, but a bit young and small with no playoff experience. Brampton now on goalie #4 won’t change unless deleting a couple of forwards. That team is probably no better than the wolves last season. Injuries are a nice excuse, excuses always seem nice.

Agreed.
Barrie and London have the best goaltending in the OHL. London is loaded with talent and potential to win the a west and league.
Barrie is very good and is the strongest team in the East, but not as balanced as London and could use some added scoring.
Oshawa also have potential but aren’t as strong in net or defensively. Same as Kingston. Brantford is sitting in the weeds and it will be interesting to see what they do. Brampton looks like they are going for it and will add talent to an already talented line-up so if they can get it together in the second half they will contend.
My personal expectations for the Wolves have already been surpassed, but boy they as a team (with the right additions added with or without Musty) won’t be fun to play against come playoff time. Playoff experience will help this younger core.

 

[dirty12]

Or and just a thought here, you reward the players that will be here next season and the year after with more opportunity to play and develop.

There are 3 options in front of Paps this week. You can sell completely, you can soft buy/sell or you go all in.

All in means no Blonda, Jackson, Chitironi, Clayton maybe O'Dell depends how much you want to alter the defence and a low level of picks.

Sell is a tank with playoffs and more ice time for our young players to see what they can do with it.

Buy/sell is what Flint did last year and hey look at them now.

A good GM looks at his team realistically and examine what needs to be improved, in our case that's a back up, atleast 2 defenders and 3 or more forwards that's 6 players and a quarter of the teams so you are moving off young players to reward the players that for the most part were here last season.

The wolves ‘need’ three forwards?!

Odds of the wolves willing to pay the crazy asking prices, actually acquire the exact players needed, and get out of the east are not great. So, there is that.

But just a thought here:
The next time the wolves have 20 (2-5) picks; 1st, 2nd, 2nd selected OAs; #1 and top 15 picked 19 yr olds; a #3 selected in addition to a break-out 18 yrs old might be [(NEVER)].

 

[jamo27]

First game in overtime last game 6 to 3 for the Dogs

Have the ice dogs moved back to Mississauga? Everytime I tune in a Niagara home game it looks as well attended as it did there…

 

[three dog night]

Have the ice dogs moved back to Mississauga? Everytime I tune in a Niagara home game it looks as well attended as it did there…

Won’t happen last game sold out

 

[agillarda]

The wolves ‘need’ three forwards?!

Odds of the wolves willing to pay the crazy asking prices, actually acquire the exact players needed, and get out of the east are not great. So, there is that.

But just a thought here:
The next time the wolves have 20 (2-5) picks; 1st, 2nd, 2nd selected OAs; #1 and top 15 picked 19 yr olds; a #3 selected in addition to a break-out 18 yrs old might be [(NEVER)].

I see the team needing atleast another top 6 forward, with no timetable on Musty, it has been a rotating door beside Molnar and Villy and even Molnar is up and down, I have seen him on 4th at times. Need to improve on Digi been OK but for a run need to replace him. Also need a 3C. Cost of all that likely includes Chitironi so he needs to be replaced too. Can you go deep with Street or is there an upgrade on him. So top 6 forward, 3C, replace Digi, Chitironi and Street to go for it?

 

[Voice from the North]

The wolves ‘need’ three forwards?!

If Musty is sticking around, the Wolves need two forwards. It could be as simple as filling the Euro spot up front (Nordh was a good suggestion) and a big body, physical player in the bottom six. If Digiantomaso and Street are playing regularly in the playoffs, then you haven't done enough to win.

Defense is a bigger concern. If McCoy and/or Deangelis go down they are in trouble.

 

[dirty12]

If Musty is sticking around, the Wolves need two forwards. It could be as simple as filling the Euro spot up front (Nordh was a good suggestion) and a big body, physical player in the bottom six. If Digiantomaso and Street are playing regularly in the playoffs, then you haven't done enough to win.

Defense is a bigger concern. If McCoy and/or Deangelis go down they are in trouble.

Agree with the wolves needing two middle six forwards, one RW and a RW or C.
With the exception of Barrie, an injured top D would be a serious concern for all wannabe contenders.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Oshawa also have potential but aren’t as strong in net or defensively.

Oshawa has the reigning OHL goalie of the year in net. He's been slightly off this year, but he'll be ok.

If the rumoured Gibson trade goes through, they'll be stout on D as well.

 

[WolvesFan705]

If Musty is sticking around, the Wolves need two forwards. It could be as simple as filling the Euro spot up front (Nordh was a good suggestion) and a big body, physical player in the bottom six. If Digiantomaso and Street are playing regularly in the playoffs, then you haven't done enough to win.

Defense is a bigger concern. If McCoy and/or Deangelis go down they are in trouble.

I think we should do all we can to get Chovan to Sudbury after the World Jrs. If he were to come over, it fills the import spot without a trade, and gives Molnar another Slovak in the locker room which can only help settle him in. Helps Chovan get more eyes on him before the draft to raise his stock, and I believe Dvorsky is a good friend of his as well.

 

[billoink]

I have hope for you..

Thank you Wolf, it is like having to cope with being blind

 

[dirty12]

I see the team needing atleast another top 6 forward, with no timetable on Musty, it has been a rotating door beside Molnar and Villy and even Molnar is up and down, I have seen him on 4th at times. Need to improve on Digi been OK but for a run need to replace him. Also need a 3C. Cost of all that likely includes Chitironi so he needs to be replaced too. Can you go deep with Street or is there an upgrade on him. So top 6 forward, 3C, replace Digi, Chitironi and Street to go for it?

The short answer is yes.
If the wolves cannot get Gibson + having Blonda, Chitaroni, and SSM likely wanting to draft ‘09 Chitaroni; the wolves have a serious issue.
If Papineau is unable to win with the draft capital used and still available, he cannot be anywhere near the rebuild. I would be fine with that.

 

[agillarda]

The short answer is yes.
If the wolves cannot get Gibson + having Blonda, Chitaroni, and SSM likely wanting to draft ‘09 Chitaroni; the wolves have a serious issue.
If Papineau is unable to win with the draft capital used and still available, he cannot be anywhere near the rebuild. I would be fine with that.

We will see on Gibson in the next day or so I imagine but Kingston, Oshawa, and Brampton already are in hard on him. Also not every team is let's bring a bunch of local boys home. We aren't the only ones with capital and other teams may be more appealing that's a big part of the problem.

 

[dirty12]

Oshawa has the reigning OHL goalie of the year in net. He's been slightly off this year, but he'll be ok.

If the rumoured Gibson trade goes through, they'll be stout on D as well.

Oster is a middling talent. Gibson could help do what Punnet with Ritchie did for a mediocre goalie.

We will see on Gibson in the next day or so I imagine but Kingston, Oshawa, and Brampton already are in hard on him. Also not every team is let's bring a bunch of local boys home. We aren't the only ones with capital and other teams may be more appealing that's a big part of the problem.

Blonda was the first D selected in the last OHL draft. The ‘09 Chitaroni is supposedly a prize.
If the wolves want Gibson, but are not the front runner; the wolves have a serious issue.

 

[WolvesFan705]

We will see on Gibson in the next day or so I imagine but Kingston, Oshawa, and Brampton already are in hard on him. Also not every team is let's bring a bunch of local boys home. We aren't the only ones with capital and other teams may be more appealing that's a big part of the problem.

Kingston has a decent slew of future picks based on the database, I feel they'd be tough to out-trade

OHL draft pick database

 

[leafs4life94]

Kingston has a decent slew of future picks based on the database, I feel they'd be tough to out-trade

OHL draft pick database

The issue with Kingston is they only have picks. No 08 first, they're not moving Hopkins and none of the other 07s really move the needle. If Kingston misses out on players it'll be because they whiffed on Malhotra.

 

[billoink]

With no timeline on Musty it is hard to predict which way to go,if you keep him soft sell, backup goalie and fill euro spot. Moving him you hard sell, Delic, McCoy, for hopefully a firstie and 18 yr olds may be the way to go. Adding the right roster players in a hard sell can still keep us somewhat competitive

 

[agillarda]

Oster is a middling talent. Gibson could help do what Punnet with Ritchie did for a mediocre goalie.



Blonda was the first D selected in the last OHL draft. The ‘09 Chitaroni is supposedly a prize.
If the wolves want Gibson, but are not the front runner; the wolves have a serious issue.

So you are ok with Blonda, Chitironi and 3x 2nd and 3x 3rds for 1 player? That's half our high-end value assets for 1 player and you still have other holes to fill. Leaves you with Jackson and Clayton if someone likes him, plus 4x 2nds and 2x 3rds

 

[djscooter]

Wolves record against the 6 teams ahead of them in the point standings currently

London - Yet to play
Windsor - 1-0
Kitchener - 0-2
Barrie - 2-5
Niagara - 1-2
Oshawa - 0-1

 

[agillarda]

And for the record, Kingston currently has 7x 2nds and 8x 3rds to our 7x 2nds and 5x 3rds

 

[Isaac Nootin]

The issue with Kingston is they only have picks. No 08 first, they're not moving Hopkins and none of the other 07s really move the needle. If Kingston misses out on players it'll be because they whiffed on Malhotra.

That was a major whiff.

Zero chance Malhotra was reporting to a program like Kingston.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Wolves record against the 6 teams ahead of them in the point standings currently

London - Yet to play
Windsor - 1-0
Kitchener - 0-2
Barrie - 2-5
Niagara - 1-2
Oshawa - 0-1

2-3-2 vs Barrie
0-1-1 vs Kitchener
1-1-1 vs Niagara

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

Oster is a middling talent. Gibson could help do what Punnet with Ritchie did for a mediocre goalie.



Blonda was the first D selected in the last OHL draft. The ‘09 Chitaroni is supposedly a prize.
If the wolves want Gibson, but are not the front runner; the wolves have a serious issue.

No matter what we do from here on until the priority, there is no way we will be in a position to draft 09 Chitaroni. He will be selected in top 5. We will be picking in the 9-14 range. I don’t see us trading an 07 player unless another more talented comes back with added picks attached.
Some 06 players could be useful for next years group.
Again, IMO Musty is the Pivot point on what Paps will do…
Maybe Musty expands the teams he’s willing to be traded to and we can get an 08 prospect with an 07 prospect and picks. Big question: Where does #27 wanna play his last 4 months of CHL hockey?