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

[rangersblues]

Article in the Star describes how the team will be very competitive next year due to the returning players. What they don't mention is half of those players will need to be traded to recoup picks lol. Doesn't appear there is going to be any sort of coaching change or anything which is disappointing. Kitchener fired their coach with 1 month remaining in the regular season and managed to out-coach Savard. Should be an interesting offseason.

There's a reason Dennis got fired in Kitchener. It's amazing he lasted that long. If you really want to see bad, fire Savard and hire Dennis.

 

[Cherrydon]

Until the NHL winds up and the coaches and associates are settled, Savard is up in the air. He could leave for NHL aspirations and save the argument on here. I said it after the trade deadline 4th or even 3rd place next year is realistic with the roster we know will be back. Normally only a handful of picks are ever signed from each draft meaning many of the picks are just bargaining chips on paper to appease fans that traded away players for picks. There are always a few free agents available example Peer, who was unnoticed on a loaded midget team but has skills equal to at least a high second rounder in the priority draft. Bowler is crafty as been said.

 

[rve24]

I’d rather be Hamilton where they can rebuild with a couple down years then being London where you always at the top but don’t win it all. I’m only basing this off the years since Spits mem cup in 17. During that time Hamilton has won 2 OHL championships.

Hamilton has done an amazing job of building a winning team n flipping over very quickly. Kudos earned in spades!

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Every team should be striving to copy Hamilton’s formula.

 

[OHLTG]

BTW, props to the Spitfires who were named in the OHL Coaches Poll. I believe seven in total.

 

[hockeylegend11]

BTW, props to the Spitfires who were named in the OHL Coaches Poll. I believe 7 in total

Agreed,actually there were 8 Spitfires mentioned not 7,Sarnia led the West with 9.

 

[Cherrydon]

With Maillet in
2 categories we had 9 Top 3 vote getters amongst 8 Spits players. Congratulations to those players! Little recognition never hurts especially after the playoffs soured taste.

 

[OHLTG]

Somehow I missed Peer; still great to see.

 

[spits]

There's a reason Dennis got fired in Kitchener. It's amazing he lasted that long. If you really want to see bad, fire Savard and hire Dennis.

Ya from what I read on your board, Dennis was horrible. My point is Kitchener wasn't afraid to fire the coach on an underachieving team, but here, we were dealt the most embarrassing playoff series loss in OHL history. Credit to Kitchener but zero heart or determination was displayed from the squad. Was the coaching the main problem? who knows, but I am hoping all options are being explored regarding the coaching staff.

To borrow a quote from a former Ranger himself Sheldon Keefe " They didn't play good enough to get any respect in the handshake line" lol.

Instead, we got the coaching summing it up as "a learning experience for a young group." He makes it sound like it was a rebuilding team that barely made the playoffs and got to experience playoffs for the first time lol.

 

[OHLTG]

Instead, we got the coaching summing it up as "a learning experience for a young group." He makes it sound like it was a rebuilding team that barely made the playoffs and got to experience playoffs for the first time lol.

The comment was talking about the guys who are returning using it as a lesson and it's not wrong. The team will be younger next season and the players returning can take this situation as an opportunity.

 

[EvenSteven]

Ya from what I read on your board, Dennis was horrible. My point is Kitchener wasn't afraid to fire the coach on an underachieving team, but here, we were dealt the most embarrassing playoff series loss in OHL history. Credit to Kitchener but zero heart or determination was displayed from the squad. Was the coaching the main problem? who knows, but I am hoping all options are being explored regarding the coaching staff.

To borrow a quote from a former Ranger himself Sheldon Keefe " They didn't play good enough to get any respect in the handshake line" lol.

Instead, we got the coaching summing it up as "a learning experience for a young group." He makes it sound like it was a rebuilding team that barely made the playoffs and got to experience playoffs for the first time lol.

Brother Adam was the former Ranger. Not Sheldon.

 

[tomschman]

consider Plymouth far from Detroit.

I lived about 5 miles from Compuware Arena. It is part of the Detroit Area. The major newspapers, TV and radio stations gave no coverage to the Whalers. The people in the area didn't really understand the concept of Junior Hockey.

 

[Section 103]

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.

Agree. Pretty Tough to compete when you have to dress multiple Jr.B [layers every game just to have a full bench.

 

[Section 103]

Following from a distance I hear the rumblings and where the balme lies. Everyone needs to take some of the blame, but bringing in a "superstar" doesn't always work. In the case of this "superstar" he has a habit of dividing a room. He accomplished this when he got to windsor, he took 10 of the guys out for steak dinner. Didn't iclude Maggio or Peer to name a couple. Mostly GTHL guys were in attandance. Maggio was your superstar not Wright.

I also heard from someone close to the Team that this same individual was "crap" in the Room. (and I quote this}

 

[Section 103]

Bowler has stated numerous times that he wants a competitive club every season. That doesn't necessarily mean a championship run but it could mean he doesn't want a "gut it all" full rebuild, either. I can see him figuring out the OAs in the summer for picks, and then going into camp with a "wait-and-see" approach. That has worked out well the last two seasons.

As for the coaches - the team isn't exactly known for emotional decisions. They're not going to fire their entire staff right now (or at all). Bowler's calculated and crafty. If something happens, it'll be during the summer. Why rush anything?

I would certainly entertain a new defense coach, as I felt that was the teams biggest weakness this year....

 

[yacky]

I lived about 5 miles from Compuware Arena. It is part of the Detroit Area. The major newspapers, TV and radio stations gave no coverage to the Whalers. The people in the area didn't really understand the concept of Junior Hockey.

remember 93-94 series exciting north bay win in 7 games. Paul Maurice and Peter DEBoer coachng detroit and Bert Templeton in the Bay

 

[windsor7]

The comment was talking about the guys who are returning using it as a lesson and it's not wrong. The team will be younger next season and the players returning can take this situation as an opportunity.

Will they coach to actually play defense? They sure didn't know this past season..

 

[OHLTG]

Will they coach to actually play defense? They sure didn't know this past season..

I hope so... otherwise, you're definitely going to let them hear it haha

 

[windsor7]

I hope so... otherwise, you're definitely going to let them hear it haha

I'm sure there was a lot that were unhappy with the defense. Was obvious to common fan..

 

[RayzorIsDull]

I also heard from someone close to the Team that this same individual was "crap" in the Room. (and I quote this}

Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong. This is proof of why they didn't advance though. They want to point the finger at Wright. Let's not point the finger at Maggio though. He wasn't good in the playoffs last year and he wasn't good this year. Such f'ing bs to look for a scapegoat. Oh no Shane Wright took teammates out for dinner and Maggio wasn't included oh the horror.

 

[Ward Cornell]

There's a reason Dennis got fired in Kitchener. It's amazing he lasted that long. If you really want to see bad, fire Savard and hire Dennis.

Not even I would like to see Dennis in Windsor or any team in the OHL.

 

[RangerNation]

 

[GermanSpitfire]

That settles it then, Onuska > Medina.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

That settles it then, Onuska > Medina.

Smart hockey people already knew that.

 

[OHL 17]

It's great to see that hard work pays off for the Spits overagers!