Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Off-Season Thread

[ohloutsider]

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.

Where did Eichler go? Not suspended.

 

[windsor7]

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.

Reasonable?

 

[Cherrydon]

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.

I'm not disagreeing that players generally improve with experience. His issue is the lack of even trying to moving someone out of the crease and turns his back to avoid being checked with a quick pressured clearing pass attempt. I don't see him changing his ideals in that regard. That is where the development issue is. He can pass and and block shots fantastically. His bad minus issue stems from parking statuesque in front of our crease and pinching at inopportune times. I am praying that improves but it was better last year as a rookie. Rated an A type prospect and has fell dramatically thus season in the rankings. That's not my opinion causing the slide. It is the scouts.

Where did Eichler go? Not suspended.

He wasn't. My error forgetting he was not the instigator.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

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.

I agree about the development time… and I feel that's a hard point to argue against. I'm honestly not too worried about drafting D, and more concerned about bring D in.

We can pick a Top forward in round 1, that could probably slide into the Top 9 his first year in, and maybe even wiggle into Top 6 here and there. It makes sense to base this team around the 06' group. And if that's the case, we're not going to do it with 16 year old D-Men. Use our current draft picks on amping up the forward group through the draft, and use our future draft picks trying to fix this Defensive situation through trade. I think building a strong D group in the O, is a lot easier to do going, "I see how this guy plays at this level, I want him here" then, "we think this guy may fit this role in 2-3 seasons from now, lets draft him and see how it goes".

It doesn't make much sense to have both, but with Bowler being offensive minded… I feel Parekh his on the radar. We're looking at an empty cupboard Saginaw team that acquired two of our best assets this season. Familiar trading partners and 06' D Man with huge offensive upside? Seems fitting but we'd need some Big, Gritty D Men along side of them.

 

[ohloutsider]

I'm not disagreeing that players generally improve with experience. His issue is the lack of even trying to moving someone out of the crease and turns his back to avoid being checked with a quick pressured clearing pass attempt. I don't see him changing his ideals in that regard. That is where the development issue is. He can pass and and block shots fantastically. His bad minus issue stems from parking statuesque in front of our crease and pinching at inopportune times. I am praying that improves but it was better last year as a rookie. Rated an A type prospect and has fell dramatically thus season in the rankings. That's not my opinion causing the slide. It is the scouts.


He wasn't. My error forgetting he was not the instigator.

Christforo with the WWE move Sunday on the takedown, maybe there is hope?

If I was a coach I'd turn him lose, nothing to lost this year so it wouldn't hurt to see him the box for a few roughing calls. Might go a long ways for next year?
9 games left, get them playing the way you want next year. D have to play large even if their not.

I agree about the development time… and I feel that's a hard point to argue against. I'm honestly not too worried about drafting D, and more concerned about bring D in.

We can pick a Top forward in round 1, that could probably slide into the Top 9 his first year in, and maybe even wiggle into Top 6 here and there. It makes sense to base this team around the 06' group. And if that's the case, we're not going to do it with 16 year old D-Men. Use our current draft picks on amping up the forward group through the draft, and use our future draft picks trying to fix this Defensive situation through trade. I think building a strong D group in the O, is a lot easier to do going, "I see how this guy plays at this level, I want him here" then, "we think this guy may fit this role in 2-3 seasons from now, lets draft him and see how it goes".

It doesn't make much sense to have both, but with Bowler being offensive minded… I feel Parekh his on the radar. We're looking at an empty cupboard Saginaw team that acquired two of our best assets this season. Familiar trading partners and 06' D Man with huge offensive upside? Seems fitting but we'd need some Big, Gritty D Men along side of them.

Parekh will never come to Windsor.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

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.

As an offensive D Man, Christoforo isn't doing bad. I feel like he's getting picked on often because his style of D, it just isn't what the Windsor crowd wants.

He's 4th on the team in points. He's got 8 on Spellacy, 8 on Morneau, 13 on Smith, and is just 3 shy of Davis. 22nd in the OHL for all defensemen, the only D man actively on a bottom 4 team in the Top 25. 4th in scoring amongst 06' Defense. He's putting up similar numbers to his 1st year, despite having far less offensive weapons, especially the back half of the season.

Small Defensemen that put up points are just not well liked here and Christoforo is just the latest. It isn't anything new. Before it was Henault, before that Staios, I'm sure I could dig more. It's a Windsor vs. The Style of Player more than Christoforo himself, IMO.

You don't have to like him. But he's not a physical D Man. He's not a big D Man. But we also have to remember, sure he was a first round pick… But he wasn't a Top 4 Pick. or a Top 10. Or a Top 20. He was drafted #22… Ride was drafted a year prior at #20.

Want to look at regretable picks and missed opportunities? Peak over to that same draft where Flint took Nathan Aspinall a slot before Greentree. Or the same year when they took Kaden Pitre instead of Zayne Parekh.

Have our forwards from that draft year progressed quicker? (Spellacy, Davis, Greentree) Yes.
Is it expected for forwards to develop faster? Yes.

2006 Born Defensemen with better stats?
Parekh SAG 86pts (19th Overall Pick)
Dickinson LDN 64pts (4th Overall Pick)
Mews OTT 55pts (7th Overall Pick)
Christoforo WSR 36pts (22nd Overall Pick)

Has Bowler drafted outstanding Defense? No. Did Bowler miss skip over a similar player to Christoforo for #74? Nope. The 3 Better scoring D men were all taken by pick #22. 2 of Which play for the Top 2 teams in the OHL.

We're not at the top but I haven't been paying much attention… Crazy to see London and Saginaw have a 7 GAME lead on the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. If 4th seed Kitchener was in the East, they'd be the number 1.

 

[OHLTG]

Adrian Manzo and Kyler Morgan called up.

 

[Cherrydon]

As an offensive D Man, Christoforo isn't doing bad. I feel like he's getting picked on often because his style of D, it just isn't what the Windsor crowd wants.

He's 4th on the team in points. He's got 8 on Spellacy, 8 on Morneau, 13 on Smith, and is just 3 shy of Davis. 22nd in the OHL for all defensemen, the only D man actively on a bottom 4 team in the Top 25. 4th in scoring amongst 06' Defense. He's putting up similar numbers to his 1st year, despite having far less offensive weapons, especially the back half of the season.

Small Defensemen that put up points are just not well liked here and Christoforo is just the latest. It isn't anything new. Before it was Henault, before that Staios, I'm sure I could dig more. It's a Windsor vs. The Style of Player more than Christoforo himself, IMO.

You don't have to like him. But he's not a physical D Man. He's not a big D Man. But we also have to remember, sure he was a first round pick… But he wasn't a Top 4 Pick. or a Top 10. Or a Top 20. He was drafted #22… Ride was drafted a year prior at #20.

Want to look at regretable picks and missed opportunities? Peak over to that same draft where Flint took Nathan Aspinall a slot before Greentree. Or the same year when they took Kaden Pitre instead of Zayne Parekh.

Have our forwards from that draft year progressed quicker? (Spellacy, Davis, Greentree) Yes.
Is it expected for forwards to develop faster? Yes.

2006 Born Defensemen with better stats?
Parekh SAG 86pts (19th Overall Pick)
Dickinson LDN 64pts (4th Overall Pick)
Mews OTT 55pts (7th Overall Pick)
Christoforo WSR 36pts (22nd Overall Pick)

Has Bowler drafted outstanding Defense? No. Did Bowler miss skip over a similar player to Christoforo for #74? Nope. The 3 Better scoring D men were all taken by pick #22. 2 of Which play for the Top 2 teams in the OHL.

We're not at the top but I haven't been paying much attention… Crazy to see London and Saginaw have a 7 GAME lead on the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. If 4th seed Kitchener was in the East, they'd be the number 1.

I don't expect not want Cristoforo to fight. Not the issue. Let's be real. 22nd in D scoring and 178th out of 183 in plus minus. Compare +/- on the same team. That shows defensive responsibility, same forwards, sane goalies in front. Toms is OHL +/- worst but only has 7 points. Not to hard to figure 74 with 29 more points but his plus/minus is only -9 better. Everyone on here criticizes Toms defensive play but 74 is in some type of bubble. Has he droped from a A rating prospect to maybe a C or D now. Not because his offense dried up. Big no. Defense and non-contact priority is the reason. He had 41 points last year and was a +10. A 41 point slide in plus minus to date. Similar style Staois was a first round pick and was eventually dealt. Even on a championship Hamilton team he was a -20 in his final season with 41 points. He is in the ECHL and only played 3 games this season. Who's improving? Woodall and Walton. There is your hope for D moving forward from the 06's . Team struggles is keeping the puck out of their net. Not scoring.

 

[hockeylegend11]

I don't expect not want Cristoforo to fight. Not the issue. Let's be real. 22nd in D scoring and 178th out of 183 in plus minus. Compare +/- on the same team. That shows defensive responsibility, same forwards, sane goalies in front. Toms is OHL +/- worst but only has 7 points. Not to hard to figure 74 with 29 more points but his plus/minus is only -9 better. Everyone on here criticizes Toms defensive play but 74 is in some type of bubble. Has he droped from a A rating prospect to maybe a C or D now. Not because his offense dried up. Big no. Defense and non-contact priority is the reason. He had 41 points last year and was a +10. A 41 point slide in plus minus to date. Similar style Staois was a first round pick and was eventually dealt. Even on a championship Hamilton team he was a -20 in his final season with 41 points. He is in the ECHL and only played 3 games this season. Who's improving? Woodall and Walton. There is your hope for D moving forward from the 06's . Team struggles is keeping the puck out of their net.

Christiforo in my view reflects the teams play in 3 phases,his 1st 21 games he was a minus 22,then the coaching change,his next 16 games prior to trade deadline where the Spits went 8-5-2-1 he was a -1,and partnered with Roberto Mancini a good part of the time,and btw Mancini went +10 in same stretch, when he came here in 3 games before coaching change he was -3,so left for Flint.
We get to the trade deadline and since them Christoforo has gone -9 in plus minus department in 22 games ,better then the 1st 21 games, thinking if he had Mancini still as his partner numbers would be different.

 

[windsor7]

Adrian Manzo and Kyler Morgan called up.

Call up as much possible..

 

[OHLTG]

FYI - Toure is listed as "LBI and suspended."

 

[Cherrydon]

Christiforo in my view reflects the teams play in 3 phases,his 1st 21 games he was a minus 22,then the coaching change,his next 16 games prior to trade deadline where the Spits went 8-5-2-1 he was a -1,and partnered with Roberto Mancini a good part of the time,and btw Mancini went +10 in same stretch, when he came here in 3 games before coaching change he was -3,so left for Flint.
We get to the trade deadline and since them Christoforo has gone -9 in plus minus department in 22 games ,better then the 1st 21 games, thinking if he had Mancini still as his partner numbers would be different.

Absolutely, Mancini a solid stay at home defenseman compliments a more offensive risky D partner. When paired with Toure after the deadline surprising it did not continue as with Mancini. Still doesn't explain the improvement by Walton and Woodall over the same streatch. I am disappointed now after all the OA'S we had this year, year end look to only having Donoso left. One big Bowler error was dealing Sobolev with such a young defense. Younger skilled players have no mentor to close remaining games.

 

[windsor7]

FYI - Toure is listed as "LBI and suspended."

Shut it down...

 

[OHLTG]

Gaymes and Stewart also called up, per Spitfires' Twitter.

 

[windsor7]

74 got a real good look at that short handed goal!!
Not even close to playing d.

 

[TheGremlin]

Toms needed to play that as a 2 on 1 and not commit to puck carrier on first goal. Costanzo needs to make the save on 2nd goal and that 3rd goal…….. well if you watched you know who

 

[Cherrydon]

He's afraid to take a penalty to prevent a goal because he'd be pulled off the ice on a PP.

 

[OHLTG]

That was a fumble all-around. Gotta make a better pass to Cristo so the Battalion don't even get the puck.

 

[windsor7]

That was a fumble all-around. Gotta make a better pass to Cristo so the Battalion don't even get the puck.

Just actually play defense.
Simple. No excuses

 

[Cherrydon]

That was a fumble all-around. Gotta make a better pass to Cristo so the Battalion don't even get the puck.

Sure Woodall fluffed the pass but your defensive partner has a chance to stop the mistake but a super soft stick swipe doesn't cut it. Manzo has had more physical engagement taking his during 1 shift than 74 has in the last 10 games combined.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

This one’s gonna get sloppy. Poor Costanzo. Unless Donoso gets in there, we’re going without a single OA in this one.

At least we’re… young?

 

[OHLTG]

Again, I'm not saying Cristoforo is in the right but "that was a fumble all-around." He messed up. His D partner messed up. The entire PP messed up. It's okay to admit that.

4-0 NB after 20.

 

[windsor7]

Again, I'm not saying Cristoforo is in the right but "that was a fumble all-around." He messed up. His D partner messed up. The entire PP messed up. It's okay to admit that.

4-0 NB after 20.

Play defense.

 

[ohloutsider]

Martin is starting to grow on me.

And can it get any worse?! Please let this lead to a great pick.

 

[windsor7]

Joey might want to put on some sun screen during intermission...