Sudbury Wolves 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV

[DidiometesFist]

Projecting: At NHL level, is Villie Top 6, Middle 6 or bottom 6? He has so much more value than fighting…I see him as a solid middle 6 player. Peaks out as a strong 2nd line guy or a perfect 3rd line Center. The toughness and fearlessness is a big part of his game, but there is so much more..

I'm biased because I love players with his style, but I can see him being a solid 2nd line guy in the future. Even as a young player, he will make an impact on 3rd/4th line with his hits/fights and tenacity. The thing with him is his teammates will run through a wall for a guy like him, and the culture will be built. Needs to work on his discipline but he's young so that'll come. IMO you don't win cups without players like him.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

I'm biased because I love players with his style, but I can see him being a solid 2nd line guy in the future. Even as a young player, he will make an impact on 3rd/4th line with his hits/fights and tenacity. The thing with him is his teammates will run through a wall for a guy like him, and the culture will be built. Needs to work on his discipline but he's young so that'll come. IMO you don't win cups without players like him.

110% AGREE.

 

[ScoutLife4]

View attachment 1010436

Musty not playing tn... Villy already a fan favourite lol

He got the absolute shit kicked out of him last night.
Why would that make him a fan favourite?

 

[Corrupt University]

He got the absolute shit kicked out of him last night.
Why would that make him a fan favourite?

Because in his limited minutes, he was visibly noticeable on the ice and how hard he was playing. In his 5-6 or something shift, he went at the toughest guy on the ice which everyone one else in the Ahl had already written off getting into it with him earlier in the season because he rocks the sh*t out of people.

He got destroyed, yes but the fans responded well had a good scoring chance at the net too, too

 

[DidiometesFist]

Because in his limited minutes, he was visibly noticeable on the ice and how hard he was playing. In his 5-6 or something shift, he went at the toughest guy on the ice which everyone one else in the Ahl had already written off getting into it with him earlier in the season because he rocks the sh*t out of people.

He got destroyed, yes but the fans responded well had a good scoring chance at the net too, too

People have been on social media too much to think you have to win every fight to earn respect. Men respect anyone who's ready to throw down for their team, especially on the ice. At one point Mathieu Olivier (best fighter currently in NHL), got his shit kicked in juniors before he learned how to fight properly.

 

[Corrupt University]

People have been on social media too much to think you have to win every fight to earn respect. Men respect anyone who's ready to throw down for their team, especially on the ice. At one point Mathieu Olivier (best fighter currently in NHL), got his shit kicked in juniors before he learned how to fight properly.

And he’s an 18 year old (19soon) going at someone who I think is over 30?

He did get kind of unlucky in a way, as Sabourin is left handed and Nate is holding down his right arm lol… still gets smoked but he took it and was still jawing at Sabourin in the box and the rest of the game.


He also did that second period interview, and it was kind of cool because they did live and it was on the Jumbotron and the audio went through the arena so everyone heard it and he was getting lots of cheers.

Kind of disappointed because I heard from the billets that musty was going to be playing on Wednesday so this was a must watch. I’m not sure if he was scratched or there was still that lingering injury, but I was pretty disappointed facing off against each other in their first AHL games (I think it’s both of their first AHL game
)

The way it shakes out from what I understand is that these 2 teams are likely to meet each other in the playoffs so more chances to see the h2h

 

[Lycanthrope]

Have not had the success everyone wants? I think as single round 2 game win in his entire tenure is a pretty reasonable frustration is it not? Have some standards for the team we cheer for.

Exactly! Not sure how long Wolf on a Wire has been following the team but for some us it’s been an eternity since we’ve had any real measure of success. How can you possibly excuse not making it past the second round since 2007! Brutal!

 

[Lycanthrope]

Let’s hurry up and fire all the Wolves Scouts! I’m gonna guess not many 6th round picks from last NHL draft are signing ELC. Congrats to Keiron Walton.

I wish him all the luck in the world but he’s got a whole lot improve on if he has any chance to play in the bigs.

 

[Lycanthrope]

100% Agree we need to have playoff success beyond one round!
Every fan would agree with this desired goal. This year’s team’s goal was to make the playoffs after losing Goyette, Dvorsky, and company. Collectively I think our expectations were set too high after a very strong start with a new coaching staff and a weaker schedule. IMO we should have sold Musty and at least one OA D at deadline, but we didn’t. Bad timing with injuries and inexperience didn’t service us well this past playoff. Look, if the owner feels the need to fire everyone and start over that’s his prerogative.
I’ve been around long enough to realize that after a 4 game sweep die hard fans are gonna vent out of frustration but my main point was to recognize the great job the Wolves scouts do recognizing NHL talent. I mention the scouts particularly because some wanted them all fired.

Correction, three second round sweeps in a row and at home to boot! Correction again, sweep against the Pete’s was in the FIRST round!

 

[Lycanthrope]

That's the point, we haven't put an effort in getting one of the top goalies available. Since 2016 the highest drafted goalie we had was Gaulton at 43rd of the 2nd rd outside of that its been 5th or later. Our best goalies in the period drafter by us has been UPL (import), weeks (U18) and krawchuck (U18).

Gaulton got unlucky with missing most of his 16 year old season in Espanola due to injury.

Like i said if we were lucky we could pull that off. You would know the rankings better than me

Add to that UPL was the only goalie that was championship calibre.

 

[Lycanthrope]

you had to know with ken as well. thats too bad, that was the best team sudbury has had in a decade.

More than a decade, but with shite goaltending.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Another one signs. Congrats to Villie.

Now there’s a hockey player!

 

[Lycanthrope]

the don’t believe me I really won’t loose sleep over it.

He sure played like it. Robert’s that is.

 

[Lycanthrope]

He got the absolute shit kicked out of him last night.
Why would that make him a fan favourite?

Give him time!

 

[agillarda]

We moved back 4 spots in the draft to turn an 8th round pick into a 5th round pick.

To Flint
2025 Sudbury 2nd (33)
2025 Windsor 8th
2028 Sudbury 4th
2028 Sudbury 9th

To Sudbury
2025 Oshawa 2nd (37)
2025 Sarnia 5th
2026 Flint 7th
2026 Flint 10th

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

110% AGREE.

Exactly! Not sure how long Wolf on a Wire has been following the team but for some us it’s been an eternity since we’ve had any real measure of success. How can you possibly excuse not making it past the second round since 2007! Brutal!

80s. I lived thru some lean Burgess years cheering for the Wolfers. We have a very long history of poor coaching and a difficulty putting together winning rosters. Exception being the Marc Stahl era.
We definitely blew it last year and that was very disappointing. Goaltending, Coaching, culture or all three; we were going in against a wounded NBay team and got out coached and out played. Happens unfortunately.
This year it appears the team may have found great coaches and with so many players leaving (from the previous year) the team/kids played very well in first half of season. Second half of the season definitely had some speed bumps.
I wanna win like any fan (new or old), we deserve it. Dario deserves it.
Nothing stays the same, everything changes and I do have faith in this coaching staff so go get the players who wanna be here that have a combo of skill and character. Add more Villie/Henderson/Clayton/Chitter/Blonda/Kearns and Smith types (high engine/character) and we will all be happy again.

 

[Corrupt University]

Need to put up or shut up when it comes to the scouting staff and facilities for the players.Spend the damn money and for god sakes get the arena done or upgrade the facilities for the players. It is way more paramount to have a top tier scouting and development system than compared to the show. With the cost to make trades or bring in talent, it’s incomprehensible this is where corners are cut.

An OHL team with good scouting and development would have unimaginable wealth and talent to keep or sell off for a kings ransom.

From the top down, let’s bring guys in who bring the best guys (and girls) in. Please no more of the I know a guy who knows Northern Ontario guy when 85% of the talent in Ontario play in the GTA.

 

[I Loveallsports]

We moved back 4 spots in the draft to turn an 8th round pick into a 5th round pick.

To Flint
2025 Sudbury 2nd (33)
2025 Windsor 8th
2028 Sudbury 4th
2028 Sudbury 9th

To Sudbury
2025 Oshawa 2nd (37)
2025 Sarnia 5th
2026 Flint 7th
2026 Flint 10th

They now pick 37th and 38th in the 2nd round. No 3rd.

 

[agillarda]

They now pick 37th and 38th in the 2nd round. No 3rd.

No 3rd to start with

 

[I Loveallsports]

No 3rd to start with

No

 

[cub]

They now pick 37th and 38th in the 2nd round. No 3rd.

I like the back to back pick, important to capitalize

 

[I Loveallsports]

I like the back to back pick, important to capitalize

Me too. Softens the blow not having a 3rd.
Just not sure to whom and when the 3rd pick went too.

 

[cub]

this is the first time I'm cheering for Barrie.

 

[I Loveallsports]

this is the first time I'm cheering for Barrie.

Same. I picked Barrie' in 5. Although I'd like to see a sweep

 

[Fredoink]

Exactly! Not sure how long Wolf on a Wire has been following the team but for some us it’s been an eternity since we’ve had any real measure of success. How can you possibly excuse not making it past the second round since 2007! Brutal!

I'm pretty sure I will get crucified for this but there are very few businesses that rely on an educated guess about how a fifteen year old will turn out as a nineteen year old. That's the starting point and then it gets complicated from there. Yes, we all want to win so it's safe to say nobody is focused on how to lose. The Woves do a lot of very, very good things both on and off the ice, there's lots to be happy about. No, I don't work for the Wolves, not related to anyone that does and yes, I'm looking forward to 2025-2026. Fire away!