Windsor Spitfires 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 7)

[RayzorIsDull]

Kinda had a point. And avoided by you as well lol. As did Nelli, without a correlation to future success.......
Sure RGs can be a factor but as Windsors regular season success showed this year it isn't always the case. They did great during the season without being at the top of RGs ( granted I may be wrong with that, just going off memory) If ya need that hope to carry you thru this disappointment I get it. So many factors go into the next seasons success at this level its hard to pin on 1 thing.
GS and OI posted recently about the digs given as well when they had opinions that countered yours, as have T and many others. Oh well, all good. Glad to see you showed up to post after the PO loss. I definitely would not have guessed it a d didn't lol. Nor did almost anyone

My big question if I were a Spits fan was what happened in philosophy from last years build something sustainable n competitive year over year to an all in, use every pick philosophy. Not saying it was wrong but just a question as to why they changed it up after 1 year.

I don't think the Spits turning it over quickly is out of the question at all if done right.

It's been good to see them back revelant the last 2 years and a big factor in the West. Did BB strike gold once or is it sustainable with him in charge. Time will tell. I'm kinda with Teflon on the person at the top needs to own any shortcomings.

Again glad to see Windsor back. West is always fun with KTown/Windsor n London competitive with a couple other teams each year.

The biggest difference between this year and last year was they had pros in Johnston and Cuylle. One performing at a high level in the NHL, one on the AHL. This group lacked that with their 19 year Olds. Maggio still has a long ways to go. If your goal is championships you need pros. People want to blame Savard but geez how many pros does he have? I find it interesting the narrative was goaltending and I said it didn't really matter. As it turned out it didn't. Bowler probably has carter Blanche but he should have this year to figure it out. You biff the import draft for a 3rd straight year you can't come back.

 

[rangersblues]

Million Dollar question one that will be asked lots I'm sure in the Spits head office. I have no reasonable answer as I didn't watch any of the games. However I will say Kitchener rested a lot of players in there last game of the season losing to London to secure 8th spot. The Rangers GM / Coach seems to have saw something he liked in the Spits? Hmm ..... Good Luck or Great Prediction?

Kitchener rested their players against London because they honestly didn't care who they played. I don't believe otherwise for a second. If they were going to have a successful run they eventually have to go through the Windsor, London Sarnia gauntlet in no particular order.

Kitchener finally got a coach when Mackenzie took over in February. Up to then they had a talented roster on paper that didn't develop one iota under the previous head coach. Enter Mackenzie and the development curve was off the charts, as it should be in junior hockey.

Kitchener was healthy. Not an injury. That's a huge bonus this time of year.

Kitchener just seemed to be hungrier. They won the vast majority of puck battles. They shut down almost every Windsor opportunity before it had a chance to develop into something dangerous or sustained. That's something I or most Rangers fans never expected in a hundred years. The transition game was phenomenal. They had way way more scoring chances than Windsor. Rangers although not overly physical definitely held the upper hand. Windsor didn't seem willing to engage.

In short, although Kitchener finished in 8th place, they weren't and didn't play like an 8th place team, no matter what some people say. Definitely peaked for this series. We'll see if it can be sustained.

 

[Cherrydon]

Kitchener rested their players against London because they honestly didn't care who they played. I don't believe otherwise for a second. If they were going to have a successful run they eventually have to go through the Windsor, London Sarnia gauntlet in no particular order.

Kitchener finally got a coach when Mackenzie took over in February. Up to then they had a talented roster on paper that didn't develop one iota under the previous head coach. Enter Mackenzie and the development curve was off the charts, as it should be in junior hockey.

Kitchener was healthy. Not an injury. That's a huge bonus this time of year.

Kitchener just seemed to be hungrier. They won the vast majority of puck battles. They shut down almost every Windsor opportunity before it had a chance to develop into something dangerous or sustained. That's something I or most Rangers fans never expected in a hundred years. The transition game was phenomenal. They had way way more scoring chances than Windsor. Rangers although not overly physical definitely held the upper hand. Windsor didn't seem willing to engage.

In short, although Kitchener finished in 8th place, they weren't and didn't play like an 8th place team, no matter what some people say. Definitely peaked for this series. We'll see if it can be sustained.

Your Rangers certainly didn't play like a 8th seed. Congratulations for a perfectly executed game plan. Seriously. At the same time Windsor didn't play like a conference champion. Next round will either show how good Kitchener is or how bad Windsor really was.

 

[Savard18]

Savard

And maybe can remind us Spits fans how your team is doing in playoffs this season so far,4th highest scoring team in the league and an OA goalie now a backup and while you are at it please tell us what happened last year up 3-2 conference finals vs Windsor and Flint lumped last 2 games and Windsor wins Conference Championship.
Fast forward to the last draft tell us all how that's worked out for you and you guys picked ahead of Windsor
Your 1st 3 picks had 9G,8A this season combined,Pitre, Aspinall and Gee drafted 18th,33rd and 46th,while Windsor's 3 picks drafted had 38G,65A this season combined and they were drafted 22nd Christoforo, 34th Greentree and Spellacy 62nd, not even close I eagerly await your response lol
For further clarity both teams drafted 2F,1D with their 1st 3 picks.

I crunched some numbers for you. Here’s what I came up with. It turns out that neither team will get any points in the standings next year for what happened in 21-22. Flint will be returning zero players next year who know what it’s like to get swept in a 7 game series. They will be returning zero players who were part of the biggest choke job in the history of the OHL. Zero. They have zero ‘05 goalies returning who’ve lost every OHL playoff game they started and then lost the starter’s role. Flint will be returning zero HFBoards posters who run around to every thread attacking negative Firebird posts while vomiting a phonebook worth of useless numbers as evidence of how great they are and how they are sure to outscore everyone in the playoffs and then continue to use the exact same methodology that was just proven completely useless in the most dramatic and embarrassing manner in the history of the league. I mean if they did that would imply they struggle to learn from their past mistakes and make corrections. I’m trying to remember what that’s called.

 

[spits]

I crunched some numbers for you. Here’s what I came up with. It turns out that neither team will get any points in the standings next year for what happened in 21-22. Flint will be returning zero players next year who know what it’s like to get swept in a 7 game series. They will be returning zero players who were part of the biggest choke job in the history of the OHL. Zero. They have zero ‘05 goalies returning who’ve lost every OHL playoff game they started and then lost the starter’s role. Flint will be returning zero HFBoards posters who run around to every thread attacking negative Firebird posts while vomiting a phonebook worth of useless numbers as evidence of how great they are and how they are sure to outscore everyone in the playoffs and then continue to use the exact same methodology that was just proven completely useless in the most dramatic and embarrassing manner in the history of the league. I mean if they did that would imply they struggle to learn from their past mistakes and make corrections. I’m trying to remember what that’s called.

You really don't like Windsor eh? Must be salty from last year's playoff loss.

 

[rve24]

1 thing a coach can't do based on my limited experience is make a kid want it, jack up the GAF meter, make them pay the price to make plays. A coach can support it or help bring it out IF the kid has it in them.....if they don't have it a coach can't manufacture it. Just going based on posts here over the last week Kitchener had more of those players who would go to dirty areas n pay a price. Not a knock on the players at all, some have it some don't when push comes to shove. More just a support of coaches in general. It isn't always their fault the players don't play with intensity. JMO.

 

[hockeylegend11]

I crunched some numbers for you. Here’s what I came up with. It turns out that neither team will get any points in the standings next year for what happened in 21-22. Flint will be returning zero players next year who know what it’s like to get swept in a 7 game series. They will be returning zero players who were part of the biggest choke job in the history of the OHL. Zero. They have zero ‘05 goalies returning who’ve lost every OHL playoff game they started and then lost the starter’s role. Flint will be returning zero HFBoards posters who run around to every thread attacking negative Firebird posts while vomiting a phonebook worth of useless numbers as evidence of how great they are and how they are sure to outscore everyone in the playoffs and then continue to use the exact same methodology that was just proven completely useless in the most dramatic and embarrassing manner in the history of the league. I mean if they did that would imply they struggle to learn from their past mistakes and make corrections. I’m trying to remember what that’s called.

It's called winning a conference title something totally foreign to you

You really don't like Windsor eh? Must be salty from last year's playoff loss.

Yes he has no answer for his team

You really don't like Windsor eh? Must be salty from last year's playoff loss.

You got that right,he cant get over last year's choke job up 3-2 in conference final then bye bye next 2 games,now down 3-1 in this year's playoffs and then huffing and huffing on this site.
No response to their drafting this year despite higher picks then Windsor, then no class appearance on this site ,unprovoked, I dont troll on their forum not sure why it happens here.

 

[2023]

The biggest difference between this year and last year was they had pros in Johnston and Cuylle. One performing at a high level in the NHL, one on the AHL. This group lacked that with their 19 year Olds. Maggio still has a long ways to go. If your goal is championships you need pros. People want to blame Savard but geez how many pros does he have? I find it interesting the narrative was goaltending and I said it didn't really matter. As it turned out it didn't. Bowler probably has carter Blanche but he should have this year to figure it out. You biff the import draft for a 3rd straight year you can't come back.

I don’t agree with your statement. The reason we went far last year is because the kids wanted to win and played with heart.

 

[OHLTG]

Flint will be returning zero players next year who know what it’s like to get swept in a 7 game series.

Are they returning anyone who remembers what it's like to lose Game 6 and 7 in the WCF? I give you credit, though, you're really trying lol A+ for effort

 

[ohloutsider]

Wright assigned to the AHL. That didn't take long.

 

[windsor7]

Wright assigned to the AHL. That didn't take long.

Enjoy for along while...

 

[rve24]

You really don't like Windsor eh? Must be salty from last year's playoff loss.

I think it's more an individual thing lol. Nothing to do with a single PO loss as history would suggest if ya look into it Pretty solid informative poster actually. JMO.
He has made his bed with his unbiased great Spits posters, Spits fans who are occasionally critical, hockey people actually involved and in the know who try and contribute here and opposing fans.
Thump your chest, call out any who doesn't tow the company line n kiss azz, make excuses, change goalposts, attack all who dont agree with them, start up with dozens of posters, be the common denominator in almost every spat on here......Self proclaiming yourself as an authority, sheriff, know and attacking so many posters.... it all says a lot. Reeks of........fill in the blank.

I get it and know why he does it. Just hurts the board and moves him further from what he wants

If your going take shots at almost everyone personally, never engage in mature discourse, claim to know all and dig at anyone who doesn't bow down to you better expect people calling you out when wrong.
The positive is moving the goalposts after being arrogant, dismissive....must be a good workout.

Most posters here are awesome.

 

[rve24]

It's called winning a conference title something totally foreign to you

Yes he has no answer for his team

You got that right,he cant get over last year's choke job up 3-2 in conference final then bye bye next 2 games,now down 3-1 in this year's playoffs and then huffing and huffing on this site.
No response to their drafting this year despite higher picks then Windsor, then no class appearance on this site ,unprovoked, I dont troll on their forum not sure why it happens here.

One could also add 1 year with a PO series win in how many years HL? Is it at 13 yet? That screams successful organization. ( Your response would usually be.. but bit but we won as host- countered by you slammed London as a back door host after losing in rd 2 lol BEFORE the tourney , but change the measuring stick when the Spits couldn't win a round as hosts and claimed they belonged ) be a hypocrite and your going to get called out.

One could ask if your upset that only once since 2011 that the Spits have outperformed London in the OHL. You used to bring them up so often in insulting ways cause they wrre in your head.

I'll leave you to fact check, move goalposts etal.

 

[hockeylegend11]

I think it's more an individual thing lol. Nothing to do with a single PO loss as history would suggest if ya look into it Pretty solid informative poster actually. JMO.
He has made his bed with his unbiased great Spits posters, Spits fans who are occasionally critical, hockey people actually involved and in the know who try and contribute here and opposing fans.
Thump your chest, call out any who doesn't tow the company line n kiss azz, make excuses, change goalposts, attack all who dont agree with them, start up with dozens of posters, be the common denominator in almost every spat on here......Self proclaiming yourself as an authority, sheriff, know and attacking so many posters.... it all says a lot. Reeks of........fill in the blank.

I get it and know why he does it. Just hurts the board and moves him further from what he wants

If your going take shots at almost everyone personally, never engage in mature discourse, claim to know all and dig at anyone who doesn't bow down to you better expect people calling you out when wrong.
The positive is moving the goalposts after being arrogant, dismissive....must be a good workout.

Most posters here are awesome.

Sticking up for someone who comes after me 1st is wrong

One could also add 1 year with a PO series win in how many years HL? Is it at 13 yet? That screams successful organization.

One could ask if your upset that only once since 2011 that the Spits have outperformed London in the OHL playoffs?

Or one can ask you if you are upset that since 2009 that Windsor has won 3 Mem Cups and London has won 1,and you guys hosted too since that time but I wont remind u what happened there.
So no based on my above info I am not.

 

[OHL 17]

1 thing a coach can't do based on my limited experience is make a kid want it, jack up the GAF meter, make them pay the price to make plays. A coach can support it or help bring it out IF the kid has it in them.....if they don't have it a coach can't manufacture it. Just going based on posts here over the last week Kitchener had more of those players who would go to dirty areas n pay a price. Not a knock on the players at all, some have it some don't when push comes to shove. More just a support of coaches in general. It isn't always their fault the players don't play with intensity. JMO.

 

[rve24]

To all the solid posters here I was shocked at the early exit as it seems a bunch else were. Kudos to the Ramgers. I enjoy your posts and unbiased non self serving thoughts and banter.
The org has had a couple very good years with 1 big disappointment. With prudent leadership it can be sustained. And I hope it is.

 

[spits]

I think it's more an individual thing lol. Nothing to do with a single PO loss as history would suggest if ya look into it Pretty solid informative poster actually. JMO.
He has made his bed with his unbiased great Spits posters, Spits fans who are occasionally critical, hockey people actually involved and in the know who try and contribute here and opposing fans.
Thump your chest, call out any who doesn't tow the company line n kiss azz, make excuses, change goalposts, attack all who dont agree with them, start up with dozens of posters, be the common denominator in almost every spat on here......Self proclaiming yourself as an authority, sheriff, know and attacking so many posters.... it all says a lot. Reeks of........fill in the blank.

I get it and know why he does it. Just hurts the board and moves him further from what he wants

If your going take shots at almost everyone personally, never engage in mature discourse, claim to know all and dig at anyone who doesn't bow down to you better expect people calling you out when wrong.
The positive is moving the goalposts after being arrogant, dismissive....must be a good workout.

Most posters here are awesome.

I haven't moved any goalposts, I called it the most embarrassing playoff series in teams history. Other than the Downie incident and the sanctions this was the most embarrassing event in franchise history. I want them to clean house with the coaching staff lol. EDIT: Oops realized you werent' referring to me lol.

 

[hockeylegend11]

I haven't moved any goalposts, I called it the most embarrassing playoff series in teams history. Other than the Downie incident and the sanctions this was the most embarrassing event in franchise history. I want them to clean house with the coaching staff lol.

He wasn't referring to you Spits,it was me as usual,same boring attack,water off a duck for me.

 

[rve24]

Sticking up for someone who comes after me 1st is wrong

Or one can ask you if you are upset that since 2009 that Windsor has won 3 Mem Cups and London has won 1,and you guys hosted too since that time but I wont remind u what happened there.
So no based on my above info I am not.

Unlike you BK I'll answer lol. Something YOU NEVER do lol.
Nope I'm not upset. Windsor earned the back to back.
Using your criteria thou ( until it affected your yeam) Windsor was not deserving of the host title Your words n thoughts when the same criteria u used to bash other teams in the same boat or better. But again I get it you can't take a stance and keep it lol.

I on the other said they won the Cup and earned it lol. Keep trying BK. Keep reaching, keep changing direction.
You flip flop, move goalposts. All good here.
I'm pretty consistent in my views on the game n league.... you are not.

I haven't moved any goalposts, I called it the most embarrassing playoff series in teams history. Other than the Downie incident and the sanctions this was the most embarrassing event in franchise history. I want them to clean house with the coaching staff lol.

Ya missed the point n context, sorry.

 

[OHL 17]

As previously stated, IMO the team was worn out, and many playing injured. Playing short handed, and far too many minutes down the stretch, left very little resistance to The Rangers excellent game plan.
Windsor was too small, and did not want to go to the dirty zones.

 

[rve24]

Sticking up for someone who comes after me 1st is wrong

Or one can ask you if you are upset that since 2009 that Windsor has won 3 Mem Cups and London has won 1,and you guys hosted too since that time but I wont remind u what happened there.
So no based on my above info I am not.

HL by first do you mean today or your posts previously. You made your bed by attacking everyone but we should all forget that right lol. And now wanna cry foul, that's rich sir. You are the common denominator with 90% of the crap on here. But hey it's everyone else right?

He wasn't referring to you Spits,it was me as usual,same boring attack,water off a duck for me.

Obviously not if ya keep responding

 

[Knights Watcher]

Knights fan here. I come in peace!
I really wanted London to trade for Wright and/or Harrison and was disappointed when we couldn't land either. At the time our big gets were Ryan Winterton and Ryan Humphrey from Hamilton. But even with you guys loading up there was never any fear on this side that Windsor would go far in the playoffs due to 3 simple reasons: D, goaltending and coaching. All that was proven true in this series. What shocked me was that your Offense dried up as well. Where was the highest scoring team in the league? I just don't feel your bench bosses put this team in a position to win. If anyone is to blame, it's definitely not the players....they all played their hearts out. Blame the executive office from the GM on down. They are truly the ones that failed this team. We now get to play these pesky Rangers and see how good (or bad) we really are. I'm optimistically hopeful but IMO the Western Conference championship runs through Sarnia this season. They are built to win and are loaded from the top on down.
Anyway, the Spits had a terrific season and there's some pride to be had in finishing First overall in the conference. No easy feat.
Enjoy the offseason and we'll see you again come September.

 

[dmead]

Knights fan here. I come in peace!
I really wanted London to trade for Wright and/or Harrison and was disappointed when we couldn't land either. At the time our big gets were Ryan Winterton and Ryan Humphrey from Hamilton. But even with you guys loading up there was never any fear on this side that Windsor would go far in the playoffs due to 3 simple reasons: D, goaltending and coaching. All that was proven true in this series. What shocked me was that your Offense dried up as well. Where was the highest scoring team in the league? I just don't feel your bench bosses put this team in a position to win. If anyone is to blame, it's definitely not the players....they all played their hearts out. Blame the executive office from the GM on down. They are truly the ones that failed this team. We now get to play these pesky Rangers and see how good (or bad) we really are. I'm optimistically hopeful but IMO the Western Conference championship runs through Sarnia this season. They are built to win and are loaded from the top on down.
Anyway, the Spits had a terrific season and there's some pride to be had in finishing First overall in the conference. No easy feat.
Enjoy the offseason and we'll see you again come September.

Wow. That was almost too nice, but yeah, congrats on regular season.

 

[Otto]

HL,
Your "goals projected to return" stat is one that I find interesting. I think you've done it for a number of seasons. Thanks, it takes a lot of effort. What I'm wondering is when you look back, how reliable an indicator is it towards predicting the success of a team? For instance, if Team X will be returning the most goals, does that mean Team X will find themselves near the top of the standings? That's the important question.

I've asked this before. You'll never get an answer and because no such comparison is done it really makes it a useless stat.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Knights fan here. I come in peace!
I really wanted London to trade for Wright and/or Harrison and was disappointed when we couldn't land either. At the time our big gets were Ryan Winterton and Ryan Humphrey from Hamilton. But even with you guys loading up there was never any fear on this side that Windsor would go far in the playoffs due to 3 simple reasons: D, goaltending and coaching. All that was proven true in this series. What shocked me was that your Offense dried up as well. Where was the highest scoring team in the league? I just don't feel your bench bosses put this team in a position to win. If anyone is to blame, it's definitely not the players....they all played their hearts out. Blame the executive office from the GM on down. They are truly the ones that failed this team. We now get to play these pesky Rangers and see how good (or bad) we really are. I'm optimistically hopeful but IMO the Western Conference championship runs through Sarnia this season. They are built to win and are loaded from the top on down.
Anyway, the Spits had a terrific season and there's some pride to be had in finishing First overall in the conference. No easy feat.
Enjoy the offseason and we'll see you again come September.

Agree with some parts of your post,ie Windsor's offense drying up,and yes Windsor did have a great regular season winning the conference again which I didn't expect to be honest at the start of the season,only part I respectfully disagree with is your goaltending remark,Costanzo was 5th in the league both in save percentage and goals against not bad for a 17 year old tender in his 1st full year, and if a team is averaging 4.70 goals per game and your best goalie Costanzo is at 3.03 there should be no concerns and there weren't any for me going into the playoffs,now Onuska another story and I would understand if that's who u meant,after all he averaged 4.54 against and save percentage of 868 it's a miracle Winds won that many games with him in goal most of the time.
Both goalies overall were fine Costanzo only allowed 4 even strength goals in 2 outings,while Onuska actually played well in his 1st 2 periods of each start,3rd period not so much,end of the day Windsor didn't score for the most part enough and certainly slumped at the wrong time much to my surprise and Kitchener deserved the series win.
Hopefully they will do the same against London in their series,and with them being an 8th seed underdogs,like last year when Kitchener was 7th and London 2nd and Kitchener won games 6 and 7 after trailing in the series 3-2,will be interesting to see what happens this year.