Thunderbirds 2024-25

[ChicagoBlues]

2025 Calder Cup Playoff Primer

Springfield looks like a likely playoff team at this point. The top 6 teams in their division make the playoffs, they are in 6th, but 11 points ahead of 7th with 2 games in hand. They are only 9 points behind 1st in the division, so the top 6 are pretty close to each other, and by points %, they are 5th.

So, to repsond to my last post, I could see the Blues having Springfield ride Ellis the rest of the way and see how far he can carry them. I'd also be curious if Snuggerud would stay with the Blues or be apart of Springfield's playoff run.

I just checked with JR and he is reporting that there is a chance the Thunderbirds will make the playoffs and that there is a chance they won’t.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Springfield getting beat like a rented mule early. Hello? Help your goalie!

 

[LetsGoBooze]

2025 Calder Cup Playoff Primer

Springfield looks like a likely playoff team at this point. The top 6 teams in their division make the playoffs, they are in 6th, but 11 points ahead of 7th with 2 games in hand. They are only 9 points behind 1st in the division, so the top 6 are pretty close to each other, and by points %, they are 5th.

So, to repsond to my last post, I could see the Blues having Springfield ride Ellis the rest of the way and see how far he can carry them. I'd also be curious if Snuggerud would stay with the Blues or be apart of Springfield's playoff run.

Based on a previous interview DA already promised Snuggy a run on the main roster, once his college season ends.

 

[aceoutdoor]

I have not watched him a ton. How is Ellis's puck handling? Thanks

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

I have not watched him a ton. How is Ellis's puck handling? Thanks

He looks like an NHL goalie. I don’t see any flaws in his game at this point. Just my honest opinion.

 

[Mike Liut]

Based on a previous interview DA already promised Snuggy a run on the main roster, once his college season ends.

I just want him to sign

 

[aceoutdoor]

To clarify I meant as far as handling the puck behind the net and passing to skaters. Both Binny and Hofer are above average, how is Ellis?

 

[Memento]

Ellis - and honestly, Zherenko - are ready to be NHL goalies. I want to sign them both with the expectation that they can become a tandem.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Zherenko has been terrible.

 

[Memento]

Zherenko has been terrible.

He's still recovering from his injury. For a goalie, that's huge.

 

[bleedblue1223]

He's still recovering from his injury. For a goalie, that's huge.

Sure, but that doesn't make him ready to be a NHL goalie right now.

 

[Memento]

Sure, but that doesn't make him ready to be a NHL goalie right now.

When he recovers, I want to see him get the bulk of the AHL starts when Ellis inevitably starts in the NHL.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

When he recovers, I want to see him get the bulk of the AHL starts when Ellis inevitably starts in the NHL.

Where is Binner/Hofer in your scenario?

 

[Memento]

Where is Binner/Hofer in your scenario?

Binnington (and Suter) are traded to Edmonton during the trade deadline for a first, Akey (a necessary right-handed defense prospect), Vinni (that's what I saw from the trade proposal by an Edmonton fan; I have zero clue who Vinni is. Apparently, he's a prospect or young player of some kind, not a cap dump, but I don't know Edmonton's system as well as ours.), Stuart Skinner, and another cap dump (they suggested Jeff Skinner, but there's no way I'll ever take a guy who got suspended for purposely kicking at another player on my team. I'd take Henrique, though.), while Hofer is traded over the offseason.

Or we could keep Hofer and Zherenko gets the AHL starts along with Skinner? I don't truly know.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Delete. Pulled a Robb.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

When he recovers, I want to see him get the bulk of the AHL starts when Ellis inevitably starts in the NHL.

Z isn’t playing anywhere close to Ellis. That’s definitely not what I would do.

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

 

[stl76]

@MortiestOfMortys hey now!

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Wow! Kaski to Peca incredible pass! Up 2 to 1

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

@MortiestOfMortys hey now!

You joke, but this is entirely my typa shit.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Loof just totally Kasparitised Merkulov. Wow!

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Ellis is the man! Turned aside 40 in a 2-1 win!

 

[STL fan in MN]

Wow, this is actually a pretty big pickup.

This guy spend the bulk of the last 4 years in the NHL and he’s on an AHL only deal. Whose cheerios did he piss in to not get a two-way contract this season??

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Reasons why adding Addison is an unambiguous good:

• Power play specialist. CA pretty much single-handedly had the bottom-feeder Silver Knights clicking at a 20% pp rate.
• He’s 24 and has ~150 NHL games under his belt.
• He adds balance to the lefty-dominated blue line as a righty, allowing our prospects to play their natural positions.

We want SPR to make the playoffs and do well in them. We want Dvorsky and Stenberg and Robertsson and the rest of them to get that experience, and to play meaningfully competitive games against good competition. We want them to have a fighting chance against teams that are likely to be many years older than them. Addison helps all of that. He is a true PP QB from the blue line, and that’s pretty much all he is. But that’s a good thing to have, and we got him for free.

All I’m saying in general is that what happens in SPR is important, and we should be trying to make them better so that our prospects don’t develop thinking it’s ok to lose a bunch of games as long as they do well. That breeds “me-first” play that is a disease for up-and-coming players. It doesn’t take much to keep that from happening, as this acquisition shows, but it is worth doing it.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Ellis is now tied for 1st in AHL in save %.