Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Off-Season Thread (Part 2)

[windsor7]

The next 72-hours have the potential to be nuts. Having the first overall pick means a really poor season but, right now, it's also really good for Windsor. They get their pick out of the way and then watch as the chaos unfolds.

Chaos only if "u" want it to be.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Not sure if you are following the 2008 draft thread or not but Windsor is very lucky to be picking first this year, after that the drafting gets real messy with a lot of high end players trying to manipulate the draft. Should be real interesting to see how this year's draft plays out.

I'm not necessarily sure if it helps. Depends if those top tier guys are just playing games and they fall to the upper tier teams.

Eg.
Valentini falls to Brantford
Fitzgerald falls to Kitchener/Soo/London

All of a sudden this idea of the good teams taking a huge hit might not be reality.

Or if it's all true the idea of Windsor getting guys at 22-24 they covet may not be there.

A deeper draft pool will help when you have more picks at the top and need to improve. Deleting Nyman/Valentini/Fitzgerald etc isn't a good thing. You always want more players available.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Article says Eichler as one of the expected returns for next season. Bowler should look close with tge import draft. . Eichler was chosen 52 last year. With a bunch of Russians available, 3 years worth of potential Russians wanting to come over. Bowler could easily improve on Eichler with the right connections. Will all teams make a 1st round selection? Nothing personal against Eichler, but Bowler's job is to make his team the best he can. Eichler is still small as is Cristoforo and Woodall.

What's ironic is he's saying that the first 3 picks should be instant impact guys. Last year Nesbitt was a higher pick than 22 and 24 but he never said that about him. Either he thought the lineup going in last year was much better or he never thought much of Nesbitt to help...

The two import picks based on the last 3 import drafts if they passed on Eichler it ends up being 2 top 56-57 picks. I don't think there's any harm in letting him go.

Option 1

Select 3rd Overall, 63rd overall (really 57th) take a big shot for 25-26. Keep Zhugin, release Eichler.

Option 2

Select 3rd, keep Eichler, pass on 57th. Next year you select in the 20s and hopefully have your #3.


I think we know the best option but....

 

[LeProspector]

What's ironic is he's saying that the first 3 picks should be instant impact guys. Last year Nesbitt was a higher pick than 22 and 24 but he never said that about him. Either he thought the lineup going in last year was much better or he never thought much of Nesbitt to help...

The two import picks based on the last 3 import drafts if they passed on Eichler it ends up being 2 top 56-57 picks. I don't think there's any harm in letting him go.

Option 1

Select 3rd Overall, 63rd overall (really 57th) take a big shot for 25-26. Keep Zhugin, release Eichler.

Option 2

Select 3rd, keep Eichler, pass on 57th. Next year you select in the 20s and hopefully have your #3.


I think we know the best option but....

If Eichler wasn’t an import, he’d he a good piece like Thomas Stevenson was. But he’s not a player worth a import slot,

 

[Teflon]

Is there a big body touring wfcu center?

 

[Knownothing]

Is there a big body touring wfcu center?

Is there a big body with reservations at the Casino?

Phone call away.

 

[punch1943]

Is there a big body with reservations at the Casino?

Phone call away.

Too young

 

[cupcrazyman2]

I'm not necessarily sure if it helps. Depends if those top tier guys are just playing games and they fall to the upper tier teams.

Eg.
Valentini falls to Brantford
Fitzgerald falls to Kitchener/Soo/London

All of a sudden this idea of the good teams taking a huge hit might not be reality.

Or if it's all true the idea of Windsor getting guys at 22-24 they covet may not be there.

A deeper draft pool will help when you have more picks at the top and need to improve. Deleting Nyman/Valentini/Fitzgerald etc isn't a good thing. You always want more players available.

Is too much stock being put into OHL Cup performance ?

 

[Cherrydon]

Is too much stock being put into OHL Cup performance ?

Always has been an issue. Not saying this year in particular, but one great tournament can rise and fall one's stock. Kids growing like weeds at that age.

 

[Knownothing]

Too young

Parents

Pretty obvious.

 

[OHLTG]

Too young

Not that it really matters but minors are allowed in the hotel.

 

[ohloutsider]

Too young

Kids can stay in the Casino West tower. Just can't go anywhere else. The visit teams stayed there for the memorial Cup and most of the events were there .

 

[rve24]

Is there a big body with reservations at the Casino?

Phone call away.

There goes the suspense

 

[Slowpace]

I don't have Facebook or Your TV so hopefully somewhere else lol.

CHLTV also.

 

[tomschman]

Just curious, does anyone have a line on the U17 draft. I don't usually put much weight on it, but with the 1st pick, there may have been 1 or 2 players that unexpectedly developed in the last year.

 

[cupcrazyman2]

Always has been an issue. Not saying this year in particular, but one great tournament can rise and fall one's stock. Kids growing like weeds at that age.

Not all top kids played in this tournament.

Some kids in the top 10 are saying they won’t report.

 

[OHLTG]

Just curious, does anyone have a line on the U17 draft. I don't usually put much weight on it, but with the 1st pick, there may have been 1 or 2 players that unexpectedly developed in the last year.

I don't know much about the U18 circuit but EP has some info on the OMHA U18 teams. For instance, 6' 160lb C Trent Gates went from about a point per game (pure goal scorer) to 82 points in 34ish games this season. He's undrafted to the OHL from the looks of it. Again... he could be going elsewhere, I don't know, but there are some nice stats on EP to look at.

 

[punch1943]

Kids can stay in the Casino West tower. Just can't go anywhere else. The visit teams stayed there for the memorial Cup and most of the events were there .

I don't know much about the U18 circuit but EP has some info on the OMHA U18 teams. For instance, 6' 160lb C Trent Gates went from about a point per game (pure goal scorer) to 82 points in 34ish games this season. He's undrafted to the OHL from the looks of it. Again... he could be going elsewhere, I don't know, but there are some nice stats on EP to look at.

JUST A BIT OF HUMOR..I’ve been/stayed a goodly number of times.

 

[nelli27]

Wylie Birkett is averaging 2 pts per game in the Jr. B playoffs.

 

[Knownothing]

Nice for perspective

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Just over an hour away, folks. Excited to get an idea of the direction the club is headed in, and then to further speculate until the draft tomorrow about what comes next.

Anybody hearing anything?

 

[Teflon]

My info all points to Belch. BB is tge wild card tho. Im hearing hes feeling some heat so he’s listening more to others. We’ll see.

 

[SpItFiReZ]

I’d rather Valentini (potentially tendering to USHL) or Wassilyn personally but Evola seems to make some solid picks.

 

[Teflon]

Evola makes solid recommendations… BB makes the decision. Often they arent in lockstep! This year MAY be different. Player MUST have a high compete energy with an edge, team desperately needs that.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Part of me feels like Valentini has less bust potential, and has a tonne of high end skill. He may be a more “safe” pick, without the word “safe” having the lower ceiling connotation it that usually accompanies it.