With the confirmation of several recruits, it's a good time to look at how the 2024/2025 roster currently looks:
GONE (1 G + 2 D + 4 F)
G - Griffen Outhouse
D - Kade Landry
D - Patty Kyte
F - Austen Keating
F - Brady Gilmour
F - Jason Willms
F - Isaac Nurse
ELIGIBLE TO RETURN (2 G + 6 D + 10 F)
G - Samuel Richard
G - Tanner Somers
D - Adam McCormick
D - Kale McCallum
D - Colton Kammerer
D - Justin Nolet
D - Sam McGinley
D - Nicolas Savoie
F - Benjamin Corbeil
F - Cody Morgan
F - Macauley Carson
F - Nick Blagden
F - Camaryn Baber
F - Emmett Sproule
F - Cole MacKay
F - Michael Petizian
F - Sean McGurn
F - Sam King
CONFIRMED RECRUITS (1 D + 3 F)
D - Oscar Plandowski
F - Jax Dubois
F - Drew Elliot
F - Peter Reynolds
- If everyone returns who is eligible (16 skaters) + the 4 announced recruits so far they are at 20 skaters....room to add four more skaters. As usual, have to assume they will leave a spot or two for Christmas so I see them adding, at most, three more skaters this summer.
- Very curious how the goaltending situation is going to play out. I thought I had heard Somers was done as well, so they may be looking for two guys. Was really hoping they could land one of the top CHL guys to backup Richard for a year before moving into the starting role the following season but, as mentioned, the pickings are pretty slim from the CHL overage group now. Perhaps they look at a former pro ala LaCosta/Marcoux/Shantz/Carrozzi to bridge the gap for a couple years.
- If they begin the the season with those seven guys on defence I wouldn't have any issue whatsoever as it's still arguably the best group in the country. Certainly wouldn't hate adding another guy before the season starts as insurance in case injuries strike. I heard McCormick was looking at options overseas so losing him at this point in the summer would be tough. I'd like to see Nolet get regular playing time as he always seems to produce when he is in there. I know MacDougall was very high on McGinley so hopefully he takes that next step this season.
- Although I think the three forwards announced are suitable replacements for Gilmour/Willms/Nurse, I would feel a lot better about the group if they are somehow able to land that 30 goal/70+ point guy that can slot right into a top-6 role to help offset the loss of Keating. From what I can tell there are about 15 overagers who had over 70 points last season that haven't signed/committed to anyone for next season (but only 8 of them are from the Q/OHL). If not, they will have to rely on the returning guys to step up and take on a bigger role. Carson is one player in particular who I think could play himself into a bigger role. I thought it was said Sproule was having shoulder surgery after the last season...is he expected to be fully healthy for the beginning of the season? If he stays healthy for the whole season he is probably one of their top scorers, but I'm not sure how much you can rely on him having an injury-free season.
