Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Off-Season Thread
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Spit's have had 4 or 5 coaches in the last few years, with poor results , at least 2 are now in the NHL. Must be a poor environment .
ohloutsider
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Spits were Western Conference champs last 2 years in a row. Not a bad environment, just some real bad coaching choices made this year.
Owners aren't cheap, they just have too much faith in their long-term GM.
nelli27
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I thought London/Peterborough were the OHL finalists last season. Western Conference champion vs Eastern Conference champion.
ohloutsider
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Sorry I worded it wrong. They were 1 st overall at the end of the regular season so were regular season winners, and western conference champs 2 years ago. Last year didn't go well, lol.
ohloutsider
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Spits are playing pond hockey, everyone else OHL hockey. 3 power plays and they can't get any zone time. They have no plan or any system and its game 65 of the season.
Lack of scoring touch by the forwards?? Greentree back on the point at times during the PP makes no sense. Of course none of our defense has a good hard shot from the point.
Reading these comments cracks me up. Did people expect the Spitifres to win this game? They have traded 8 players, all age 19 and up, this past year. Take away 8 of the best players on any team and they will struggle to win games.
They have 3 or 4 d-men who are not OHL players playing regularly. Glad this season is done, that is by far the worst d-core they have ever had. Not going to win many games with that roster. The group that was getting on the Knights goalie also started a "Bowler, Bowler, Bowler... you suck!" chant at the game today, haha.
Regarding the game today, they played hard and at least didn't give up. Greentree is a great player but man he was horrible in this game. I thought Davis looked good.
Again, ownership is not cheap, the last two coaches they brought in were NHL guys before the hiring of Smith. It's essential to bring in a reputable coach this offseason. Regarding the draft, it's the big 3 of Valentini, Belchetz and Valentini going top 3. Which of the 3 will end up being the best player is impossible to predict, but I think chances are good you can't go wrong with any of them.
They have 3 or 4 d-men who are not OHL players playing regularly. Glad this season is done, that is by far the worst d-core they have ever had. Not going to win many games with that roster. The group that was getting on the Knights goalie also started a "Bowler, Bowler, Bowler... you suck!" chant at the game today, haha.
Regarding the game today, they played hard and at least didn't give up. Greentree is a great player but man he was horrible in this game. I thought Davis looked good.
Again, ownership is not cheap, the last two coaches they brought in were NHL guys before the hiring of Smith. It's essential to bring in a reputable coach this offseason. Regarding the draft, it's the big 3 of Valentini, Belchetz and Valentini going top 3. Which of the 3 will end up being the best player is impossible to predict, but I think chances are good you can't go wrong with any of them.
ohloutsider
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Don't forget no OA's played today. Makes this team that much younger and hard to beat anyone at this point.
Yea. No OA'S played today. We only have 2, 1 is a sub-par goalie and Toure suspended. If both played wouldn't made dicks difference. Greentree, love the kid, but he recently looking tired or just given up from frustration. 8 points last 10 games I believe and like a -11. Guaranteed to be back next season. All these high draft picks this year won't immediate turn the team around. 16 yr olds are limited and usually don't make much noise their first year. Bowler needs to make several trades using assets just to get this team competitive. New coaching staff required. Goaltending will still be a even with Froggett has potential but he hasn't played in front of this team's defensive structure. First Downey and now Costanzo "best goalies in their draft year" and........
Costanzo let in 6 today, but the way London dominated Windsor, it could have easily been 15. He totally outplayed the London goaltender. He was awesome in the 2nd and 3rd period.
Savard
Savard did a great job of producing offensive hockey. Until, they fell apart in the last year's playoffs, he was very successful. His approach was you don't need defense, just outscore the opponent. Not a philisophy that I necessarily agree with, but it worked.
Also, did anyone expect Wyatt Johnston and Matthew Maggio to be back to back scoring champions. Both are very talented but it was Savard that developed that talent.
Savard knew when to get out and the Spits didn't find anyone to replace him.
There are 3 types of coaches in this league.
1. Someone that buys the team and wants to own and coach the team.
2. Someone that is using the OHL as a stepping stone to the NHL.
3. Someone that is happy to stay in the OHL for their career. The most prominent name currently in the OHL that fits that is Stan Butler in Erie. For every coach like Butler, there are probably 20 that washout. The Spits tried that route this year and they had a washout.
I have no idea whom the Spits should get as coach, but long term successful coaches in The OHL are rare. Success brings opportunities at higher levels.
Let's not get things twisted. Part of the reason they have 3 D that aren't OHL caliber is because of the current GM. The last 2 coaches they brought in?? Letowski was brought in as an associate coach after he wasn't successful in Sarnia. Whether he was paid highly isn't neccessarily a boom. I can say they probably paid Savard nicely. After that they promoted Smith and the current ownership now has a stake in the Ottawa Senators. Are they willing make a big investment on a different coach? A few weeks ago Bowler was talking glowingly about Torres.
Do people really believe that they need Bowler to be around for this team to see success? Bowler did bare minimum this year. He merely recouped draft picks and the only players he acquired that have eligibility beyond this year are Outwater and Walton. No insults to anybody here but Windsor7 or CherryDon could do that job. After last years deadline he just brought the draft pile back to even. If people think thats deserving of praise well.......
When you consider the caliber of some of the players that were traded (Peer, Cristopolous, Mancini, Mallet, Dionicio), Bowler should have been able to get some 06s or 07s.
Not defending Bowler but he brought the draft pick pile to more than even. According to the OHL draft pick database, they have more 2nds than any team in the conference. They have 3 of the top 24 picks in this year's draft and 3 more 2nds next year. Not praising him, just saying they have a lot more picks than they began the last two seasons with.
cupcrazyman2
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- Jul 13, 2022
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Question about the draft.Did the Ice Dogs lose their first round pick this year ?
OHLTG
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OHLTG
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Some thoughts on tonight...
- Sometimes, you can give all the effort you want, but you lose to a team that's simply better. That felt like tonight.
- Windsor had the effort; they didn't back down and did what they could to control the play. However, the Knights have eight or nine NHL prospects on the roster and showed it.
- Costanzo was the reason it wasn't 10 or 11 against. He was solid and deserves recognition.
- Windsor made it close late and credit needs to be given for that. They could have given up after it was 5-1 but chose not to.
- Cristoforo in front of the net on the PP isn't a big deal. Teams have forwards on the blueline for the PP, so why not have an offensive guy in front? There's nothing to lose right now so try different things and see what works. Clearly, that worked.
- It feels like Greentree is getting double or triple teamed every time he tries to make a play. It's frustration to see him struggle but he'll get past it.
- The officiating was a strange beast. Was it the reason they lost? No. (again, NO) However, it drew more attention to itself than necessary and, in a game this, that can change momentum that doesn't need to be changed.
- A LOT of Knights fans in the house but they seemed reasonable.
- Three more games left, three points up on NIA and four back of Ptbo. While it's not mathematically guaranteed, if Ptbo gets a point out of their next three games, Windsor's going to wrap up second worst.
- Sometimes, you can give all the effort you want, but you lose to a team that's simply better. That felt like tonight.
- Windsor had the effort; they didn't back down and did what they could to control the play. However, the Knights have eight or nine NHL prospects on the roster and showed it.
- Costanzo was the reason it wasn't 10 or 11 against. He was solid and deserves recognition.
- Windsor made it close late and credit needs to be given for that. They could have given up after it was 5-1 but chose not to.
- Cristoforo in front of the net on the PP isn't a big deal. Teams have forwards on the blueline for the PP, so why not have an offensive guy in front? There's nothing to lose right now so try different things and see what works. Clearly, that worked.
- It feels like Greentree is getting double or triple teamed every time he tries to make a play. It's frustration to see him struggle but he'll get past it.
- The officiating was a strange beast. Was it the reason they lost? No. (again, NO) However, it drew more attention to itself than necessary and, in a game this, that can change momentum that doesn't need to be changed.
- A LOT of Knights fans in the house but they seemed reasonable.
- Three more games left, three points up on NIA and four back of Ptbo. While it's not mathematically guaranteed, if Ptbo gets a point out of their next three games, Windsor's going to wrap up second worst.
ohloutsider
Registered User
I hate defending Bowler but you make so easy.
Zito walked away, can't blame that on Bowler but you'll try.
Toure is out from a suspension ( his fault not Bowlers) and now out for the rest of the year with an injury, again Bowler did not inflict the injury.
Got Donoso off waivers for free, so how can that be a bad decision?
This team is in a terrible rebuilding mess. One of Bowlers true mistakes was over selling. You need to keep enough skill around to stay competitive and shelter some of the younger guys. Toure was doing that but did not end well. And of course you need a qualify coach to guide that group. Bowler failed miserably at that one. Bowler will still be around I'm sure but if he does not put a proper head coach in place with quality assistances and they flounder next year he may be the one looking for a job.
How the coaching situation is handled in the off season is far more important than what happens in the draft. If you want proof of that look at the mess in Sudbury. Top level skill all around ( except maybe goalies) and a coach that has made a disaster of it all.
I'm actually looking forward to the end of this season. Last year's playoffs and this years regular season have been something I would never wish on any teams fanbase, what a mess. Not sure it can get any worse, feel for the players. Be safe.
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