Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Off-Season Thread

[ohloutsider]

Just shut it all down.

???

 

[Teflon]

Again, im told Davis is a dislocated shoulder. Is it really surprising an incoming goalies numbers have tanked??? Been saying it all along, this D and team D is far worse than anyone is seeing!! Goalies are getting no help, in turn their confidence has been destroyed. Goalies typically are odd physiologically speaking and this team has destroyed their minds. I do believe its a fixable situation thank goodness. A decent defensive team and a real goalie coach will do wonders!
I really hope the savages are listening to the folks that have supported this team for decades, its time for Bowler to go!!!!

 

[Cherrydon]

Again, im told Davis is a dislocated shoulder. Is it really surprising an incoming goalies numbers have tanked??? Been saying it all along, this D and team D is far worse than anyone is seeing!! Goalies are getting no help, in turn their confidence has been destroyed. Goalies typically are odd physiologically speaking and this team has destroyed their minds. I do believe its a fixable situation thank goodness. A decent defensive team and a real goalie coach will do wonders!
I really hope the savages are listening to the folks that have supported this team for decades, its time for Bowler to go!!!!

I've been saying the same thing for a couple of years as have others. D has come in and have gone but the same lack of detail and responsibility exists. That is on the coaches and Bowler as much as any players. I was not upset Delmore left. Problem is noone has come in and Bowler tends to draft high offensive minded smaller D, that are not forced or disciplined at all for long shifts, untimely pinching and some a total lack of any physicality in front of the crease. Goaltending is as much a team concept as it is an individual. Many goalies, some highly touted can't save this structure. Has bee bad since DiPietro.

 

[windsor7]

Again, im told Davis is a dislocated shoulder. Is it really surprising an incoming goalies numbers have tanked??? Been saying it all along, this D and team D is far worse than anyone is seeing!! Goalies are getting no help, in turn their confidence has been destroyed. Goalies typically are odd physiologically speaking and this team has destroyed their minds. I do believe its a fixable situation thank goodness. A decent defensive team and a real goalie coach will do wonders!
I really hope the savages are listening to the folks that have supported this team for decades, its time for Bowler to go!!!!

Absolutely

 

[ohloutsider]

Flint beats Saginaw so now the magic number is 4 points. it will be all over by the end of the weekend. Sad ending to a bad year. Be safe.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Hope Davis is okay, he was one of the few bright spots this season. Without him it does increase our chances of a Top 2 pick. I think the Pete's will pass us, but I still don't think we can get Niagara bad, however… If it's still 40/30/20/10, we're in a good spot at 19.

I'm not sure what to think about the Newbury hire. Bowler was pressed hard to name an assistant. He found someone willing, and did. Did he know? Probably. I doubt it was dangerous to the players here from Newbury, he may have just been around it. If those allegations and suspensions held off a month, assuming the Spitfires will be doing something other than Torres as our sole coach next season, it's likely it never would have became Spits news.
I'm sure assistant options were limited. Can't imagine Newbury is back, even without the suspension.

Our Top 6 Group Now Is… Greentree, Abraham, Spellacy and then Smith, Morneau, Nesbitt?/Zhugin?. Yikes.
I don't hate the pond hockey games if we end up on the right side in a down year, but relying on offensive heavy systems with our current offense group is a bit brutal. You don't want to push Abraham/Greentree/Spellacy too hard especially with 2 of them seeming to struggle coming off long term injuries they sustained last year.

Ride it out, take the L's. Lean on Donoso a bit to save anything resembling confidence that Joey might have and get ready for the draft.

Uhhh. Go Spirit.

The scary part is you can make a case their top 6 forwards still look better than the D. Makes you ask the question what Bowler has been doing the last 14 months. Nothing has really changed for him. Has valued forwards over D and he most likely will select a F in their 1st rounder. The D won't get better until Bowler leaves.

 

[OHLTG]

Outside of Nyman, who's a smaller offensive d-man, there aren't many (any?) Dmen rated high enough to justify taking them in the top three. If they get a top three pick, you're looking at one of the elite F. You could take a D in rounds 2, 3, and 4 and be content.

 

[Teflon]

Id agree to some point. Best available with a top 3 pick. Then it must be D. Big mobile D. Guys that arent afraid of the body or clearing the slot. Big shot would help too. Every player selected need grit! No more soft players!!!

 

[ohloutsider]

Id agree to some point. Best available with a top 3 pick. Then it must be D. Big mobile D. Guys that arent afraid of the body or clearing the slot. Big shot would help too. Every player selected need grit! No more soft players!!!

The higher the pick the better the chances in the import draft.

1st round will be BPA and will be a top talent forward.
2nd round picks which are almost back 2 back will be a top D and yes please with size and the second 2nd round pick could be either or depending on BPA.
Import pick must be a top D that can step into the lineup now and contribute. Preference to a 17 yr old pick, high end that will be around a couple of years.

Now hopefully Bowler can see this as well.

 

[windsor7]

Id agree to some point. Best available with a top 3 pick. Then it must be D. Big mobile D. Guys that arent afraid of the body or clearing the slot. Big shot would help too. Every player selected need grit! No more soft players!!!

Too many soft players drafted..

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Outside of Nyman, who's a smaller offensive d-man, there aren't many (any?) Dmen rated high enough to justify taking them in the top three. If they get a top three pick, you're looking at one of the elite F. You could take a D in rounds 2, 3, and 4 and be content.

How well has Bowler drafted D?? This will be his 5th draft upcoming. His best D pick is probably DeAngelis followed by Cristoforo. That's not going to lead a team to long term success.

 

[OHLTG]

How well has Bowler drafted D?? This will be his 5th draft upcoming. His best D pick is probably DeAngelis followed by Cristoforo. That's not going to lead a team to long term success.

What does this have to do with my comment? You said he's probably going to select a F in the first round. To which I said he almost has to because, outside of Nyman, there isn't a D that's rated high enough to justify the pick. If he wants a legit D, that's what rounds 2-4 are for. His drafting ability isn't the topic here; it's about what the team needs.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

What does this have to do with my comment? You said he's probably going to select a F in the first round. To which I said he almost has to because, outside of Nyman, there isn't a D that's rated high enough to justify the pick. If he wants a legit D, that's what rounds 2-4 are for. His drafting ability isn't the topic here; it's about what the team needs.

You skipped over the larger point. Spits have been terrible at drafting and developing D. So even in a draft year where you're getting a top 4 pick you will still be getting a forward. It shouldn't be that difficult to build a D. You dress only 6 and they can't put it together? There's no reason to trust Bowler.

 

[OHLTG]

You skipped over the larger point. Spits have been terrible at drafting and developing D. So even in a draft year where you're getting a top 4 pick you will still be getting a forward. It shouldn't be that difficult to build a D. You dress only 6 and they can't put it together? There's no reason to trust Bowler.

I'm not skipping over anything; we were literally talking about what the team is likely to draft given the available prospects.

BTW, Toure has been suspended "indefinitely" by the OHL for the actions in the Mississauga game.

 

[tomschman]

Hopefully the Spits can find a solid D in the import draft. Sobolov was a solid D. He played his position, blocked shots and nailed anyone trying to coome down his wing into the boards. Most people didn't notice him because he was not tryong to score and thus was never caught up ice.

The problem with drafting defencemen in the midget draft is that D develop later than Fs. The Spits have Christoforo, Woodall and Walton that are all 06s. Eichler is a young 07. They are way too inexperienced at D.

I remember that Logan Stanley got attacked on these boards his first 2 years.

 

[punch1943]

I'm not skipping over anything; we were literally talking about what the team is likely to draft given the available prospects.

BTW, Toure has been suspended "indefinitely" by the OHL for the actions in the Mississauga game.

Gimme that old soft shoe….it appears that Toure doesn’t have a LBI which was supposed to prevent him playing on the northern road trip, but instead has been suspended indefinitely by the OHL munchkins. What a song and dance!

 

[OHLTG]

Gimme that old soft shoe….it appears that Toure doesn’t have a LBI which was supposed to prevent him playing on the northern road trip, but instead has been suspended indefinitely by the OHL munchkins. What a song and dance!

He could still be injured.

 

[punch1943]

He could still be injured.

He could still be injured.

True, so true. Bowler reminds me of the white man Tonto said who spoke out of both sides of his mouth.

 

[windsor7]

Gimme that old soft shoe….it appears that Toure doesn’t have a LBI which was supposed to prevent him playing on the northern road trip, but instead has been suspended indefinitely by the OHL munchkins. What a song and dance!

Ship has sailed..

He could still be injured.

Still not playing..

 

[Cherrydon]

I can see a 20th place finish within grasp between the suspensions and injuries. Lottery watch in full mode

 

[windsor7]

I can see a 20th place finish within grasp between the suspensions and injuries. Lottery watch in full mode

They don't need to do anything silly last few weeks..

 

[Cherrydon]

They don't need to do anything silly last few weeks..

For sure. Now our most experienced defenseman is Toms. I'd dress Struthers and put on him on D until Eichler is back. Put 74 as a forward where he is most comfortable. Defensively as a team can't be any worse for wear with the proposed adjustment. With no Toure suited up, other teams could take liberties without much pushback.

 

[windsor7]

For sure. Now our most experienced defenseman is Toms. I'd dress Struthers and put on him on D until Eichler is back. Put 74 as a forward where he is most comfortable. Defensively as a team can't be any worse for wear with the proposed adjustment. With no Toure suited up, other teams could take liberties without much pushback.

Other teams have taken liberties all season long..

 

[HockeyPops]

Put 74 as a forward where he is most comfortable.

This is sheer crazy talk. This is a development league. It's a 17 year old defenseman on a team destined to miss the playoffs. There is 0 reason to focus on short term results and every reason to continue to develop players.

Reminds me a lot of Robbie Calisti who as an offensive defenseman struggled in the Soo with our worst +/- (even in his 18 year old season) until he eventually started to figure it out as an OA.

 

[OHLTG]

This is sheer crazy talk. This is a development league. It's a 17 year old defenseman on a team destined to miss the playoffs. There is 0 reason to focus on short term results and every reason to continue to develop players.

Last night, I was looking through some of the scouting reports for the upcoming draft. While I was doing that, I wondered what Cristoforo's was back in 2021-22. It's very similar to what we see now; solid offensively, shot blocker, reasonable defensively, uses his body on occasion, not overly physical. As I've said umpteen times, what you see is what you get. If you want a physical, clear-the-net d-man, he's not the guy, nor will he ever be.