Windsor Spitfires 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 8)
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punch1943
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The #OHL trade window should be open again beginning today for the month of June where teams can swap players and/or picks!
There are usually some deals made during this month long window but there hasn't been a regular one for a few years due to COVID.
Generals Live
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Jun 1
Apparently Niagara is making a trade today sending out 2 guys they just got midway through last season
OHLTG
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Quebec Memorial Cup champions.
They played great "defense " through the whole year...
They played great "defense " through the whole year...
punch1943
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Looks as if the OHL trade window has opened today with a couplr of trades listed on Twitter. Nada from the Spits as yet.
punch1943
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A couple of the deals involve the Ice Dogs…with all the shenanigans going on you can imagine players wanting out.
OHLTG
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The summer is one of patience. Niagara's been the exception to most trade rules/concepts for the last season or two. I expect Windsor to make deals but no real rush.
In the last six seasons since they last won the OHL Championship in 2016 London has not been the model of success. They have had some success in the regular season finishing either 1st, 2nd or 3rd in their division but have only won the conference twice in 2018-2019 and in the Covid cancelled season in 2019-2020. In the other seasons they have finished between 2nd and 5th in the conference. They have not had that much success in the playoffs in that time frame. They have been eliminated in the 1st round in 2017 and 2022 and were eliminated in the 2nd round in 2018 and 2019. They made it to the conference final and the league final this year losing to Peterborough in six games. They are not the same London Knights of a decade ago.
My only point is they seem to avoid full on "rebuilds" and ice a highly competitive team. The Spits can follow a similar model. That's all. Why forecast to your fans and young players. Well boys , this is a wasted year because we need to rebuild. Pretty demoralizing to players committed to playing their best. Not that Bowler has stated that, but the fans on here have sure taken that stand that we are in a rebuild year. Rebuild what, to get to the playoffs as a number 1 seed or win a playoff series? Winning a series this coming season is a success compared to our pathetic exit this year. Congrats to the Petes. Great year, so close to the cup. 1 game knockouts are great when you win and suck when you lose. Still like to see a 2 of 3 final for the cup. Reduces the intangibles like a hot goalie for 1 game or a bad call.
OHLTG
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Junior hockey has always (or at least often) been cyclical. You build, you compete, you tear down... rinse and repeat. Some organizations can maintain a higher level season-after-season but it's not easy. If you come into the OHL thinking you're going to win every season and avoid the rebuild, to whatever extent, that's not always good. Frankly, if I was a player and found out my team was going for the rebuild, I'd take that as an opportunity. You're going to get the spotlight on you to see how you perform under these conditions. If the Spitfires do a rebuild this season, guys like Cristoforo, Spellacy, Greentree, Abraham, DeA, Costanzo, etc all have a chance to step up and show they can lead the team.
Agree there are soft years where a total overhaul is required. Just this upcoming season with the quality of rookies who already stood up last year as rookies and our returning quality OA group, this team should be and can be quite competitive while still recouping assets/ and or roster players for the extra OAS.
OHLTG
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I don't see this club being near the bottom of the standings but I also don't see them battling for first, either. If Bowler can play his cards right, there's no reason they can't compete for home ice. Call it a reload, if you will. Getting Spellacy/Greentree/Cristoforo last season really helped, too. Savard's "work hard and you'll play" approach helps in a situation like this.
OHLTG
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ohloutsider
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So rebuild/retool/standpat. All really define the same thing. A team not willing to commit to championship run. None of these are bad in a down year.
Is Windsor going to be bad this year? Nope. The problem is their coffers are empty to "get better" . IMHO they will have to move at least one good OA to help with this but it also takes a player away that makes them good. It is really a no win situation for the Spits. There really is very little option other than playing it out and excepting that there is no run attempt this year. Take the lumps, sell older not returning players and be good in the year after the OHL hosting the cup. Good year to be a strong team.
Just looking at my predictions ( way early predictions) .
London/ Saginaw are 1-2 in the conference in no particular order.
Owen Sound/ Guelph 3-4 no particular order
Kitchener/ Sarnia duke it out for 9-10
The rest mesh in between 5-8 - where do the Spits fit?
My crystal ball tells me they move a few players and still hang onto a playoff spot. A retool/ rebuild/ standpat year is exactly what this team needs and will likely do.
Go Spits Go!!!
Is Windsor going to be bad this year? Nope. The problem is their coffers are empty to "get better" . IMHO they will have to move at least one good OA to help with this but it also takes a player away that makes them good. It is really a no win situation for the Spits. There really is very little option other than playing it out and excepting that there is no run attempt this year. Take the lumps, sell older not returning players and be good in the year after the OHL hosting the cup. Good year to be a strong team.
Just looking at my predictions ( way early predictions) .
London/ Saginaw are 1-2 in the conference in no particular order.
Owen Sound/ Guelph 3-4 no particular order
Kitchener/ Sarnia duke it out for 9-10
The rest mesh in between 5-8 - where do the Spits fit?
My crystal ball tells me they move a few players and still hang onto a playoff spot. A retool/ rebuild/ standpat year is exactly what this team needs and will likely do.
Go Spits Go!!!
OHL 17
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Maybe they have nothing else to say! ..Ya gotta admire the consistancy.
bobber
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Al Bundy put a level on Bud's head once and said " The boy ain't right".
Teflon
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- Jan 6, 2018
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Best thing about jr hockey predictions? Hardly ever are they right! Spits shouldnt have gave Hammy a run but did. Spits shoulda been finals contenders this year but shit the bed. Goes for lots of teams every year.
The spitfires 2005 born consists of Costanzo? At this time for the ‘24, ‘25, and ‘26 drafts; the team has one 4th, and *4th, *5th for rounds 2-5. I don’t see a way the spits can be a strong team 2024-25.
ohloutsider
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Have a glance at Brock's top 10 for next year's draft. He has mentioned 4 Spits to potentially be a top 10 pick from the OHL. That solid group plus a couple of moves out for picks this year will put them in a strong position for the next couple of years , after this year.
I’m aware that that the spits have a very good group of 2006s.
In 2024-25 they could be similarly good as the battalion 2004 lead by DiiVincentis & Nelson in their 3rd year of eligibility. Though the battalion were a strong team because they also had 11 2002-03 born. I don’t see how the spits get to ~10 fourth and fifth year players in 2024-25.
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GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
4? Who’s the fourth?
Spellacy, Cristoforo and Greentree are the only one‘s from my estimation.
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