Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 2)

[OHLTG]

It feels like a huge disconnect btwn Bowler and the coaches. If he fired Smith and everyone else accepted, then that's one thing... but to fire Smith and Delmore goes "nah, I'm gone", and now Leighton is not listed on the team site? Something is going on.

 

[punch1943]

Ok so… im feeling Bowler has lost all control of the ship as i also previously said but was told im to hard on him. Ive heard some VERY negative concerns regarding him and this is only throwing gas on the fire! Fired the HC he supposedly chose, now 2 AC’s both with pro experience have resigned… the only conclusion is the problem is the GM and or owners. The CHL may need to step in here or ownership better reach out for some help/direction. Ive been nervous about the way the teams being run for some time and its come to an ugly head. This could have some very ugly ramifications if its allowed to continue. Imho Savages MUST step in and fire BB, Have a replacement in place very quickly that has a solid resume and right the ship. Im sure they dont like the embarrassment attached to the team right now, certainly not with being owners in the nhl! Maybe those connections will help?
I believe he fired Smith to try and save his own ass, that backfired when the others quit. This is legitimately an owners nightmare. My guess is they are shopping for a GM as we speak, that guy will need to be very experienced and tasked to clean this up quick.

Once you fire the HC you can expect the new HC will hire his own people so it’s no surprise the AC ‘s left.
BB is safe for this season. No one in their right mind would take over this mess.

 

[Cherrydon]

It feels like a huge disconnect btwn Bowler and the coaches. If he fired Smith and everyone else accepted, then that's one thing... but to fire Smith and Delmore goes "nah, I'm gone", and now Leighton is not listed on the team site? Something is going on.

Regardless of what's going on, the goaltending hasn't been good, the defense has been poor under Delmore,now worse than ever. Regardless of talent, there is a big disconnect between the coaching and the players out of the gate. Noone expected this team to be so bad. When players want out and effort and consistency was non existing the roster can't turnover as quick as the coaching. Cards are limited and many have had their opportunities. Costanzo was promising and took a regress like Cristoforo. High talent gone south. Not surprised not saying Bowler hasn't had issues but we have no idea when Smith was hired how much was ownership pushing a cheap out for a couple rebuild seasons or sale of the team with less expensive strings.

 

[tomschman]

Once you fire the HC you can expect the new HC will hire his own people so it’s no surprise the AC ‘s left.
BB is safe for this season. No one in their right mind would take over this mess.

It is normally true that the HC hires his Assistants, but that is during the off season. During the season, your choices are limited because most perspective AC have a job and are under contract.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

Once you fire the HC you can expect the new HC will hire his own people so it’s no surprise the AC ‘s left.
BB is safe for this season. No one in their right mind would take over this mess.

Barclay Branch lol

 

[Cherrydon]

It is normally true that the HC hires his Assistants, but that is during the off season. During the season, your choices are limited because most perspective AC have a job and are under contract.

That's normally true but Savard never hired Delmore and Smith. They were furniture already in place. I'm sure Smith and Delmore had nothing to do with Torres hiring either.

 

[ohloutsider]

Might see a couple scouts, skating coach and equipment manager behind the bench tomorrow.

All kidding aside this is just making a mess of kids dreams and potential careers!

Never bring a problem to the table without a solution but OMG this is brutal. I have no idea how they are going to make this right for the players and to a small degree the fans.
Stay tuned.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Interesting Michael Leighton was on the ice, yesterday with the players,no mention today of him gone.
As well Bill Dark still part of the organization, could see him on the bench if Leighton indeed is gone.

 

[Ward Cornell]

I don't know... Just trying to think of Spits alum.

Throwing out a name here for a Spitfire alumni who may take it for redemption.....plus he'll be coming home.

Joel Quenneville

But would the Spitfires hire him?

 

[I Loveallsports]

Hi guys, is young Walton still with the team?

 

[hockeylegend11]

Hi guys, is young Walton still with the team?

Yes he is and doing very well imo
Nice upside,looking forward to him developing.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Speaking of Walton,he will be joined by goalie Joey Costanzo and fellow rookie dman Carson Woodall on the Spits upcoming road trip.
Probably explains why goalie Carter Froggett was back in JrB with London Nationals.
Had a nice bounce back game allowing just 1 goal and it was a PP goal in a 6-1 win over Chatham Maroons.
He now has a GA of 2.89 and save percentage of .905 for his season.
In fact has allowed only 2 goals in his last 2 starts with London
Of his last 6 starts,one game he allowed 6,the other 5 games including tonight just 8 goals combined pretty impressive.
I like his upside.

 

[HockeyPops]

Why would the league step in right now? Isn't this just up to the GM/owners to make the operational decisions to start righting the ship?

 

[OHLTG]

Throwing out a name here for a Spitfire alumni who may take it for redemption.....plus he'll be coming home.

Joel Quenneville

But would the Spitfires hire him?

If you had asked me this last Summer, I might have said "worth a shot." Right now, the optics are already sketchy at best.

Hi guys, is young Walton still with the team?

Yep, just got finished with a minor injury.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

Might see a couple scouts, skating coach and equipment manager behind the bench tomorrow.

All kidding aside this is just making a mess of kids dreams and potential careers!

Never bring a problem to the table without a solution but OMG this is brutal. I have no idea how they are going to make this right for the players and to a small degree the fans.
Stay tuned.

I really just think it’s part of the nature of the beast of junior hockey.

The mess? We were/are 4-17. I don’t recall reading anyone on here sticking up for Smith, saying “wait, let’s give him a longer leash. Give him another 21 games to turn this around”

He got canned. 4 Head Coaches with better records in the OHL went before him this year.

It’s a job. The employee-favorite McDonalds manager just got fired and his friends decided to leave because they didn’t want to work under new management. May be better. May be worse. They just didn’t want to stick through the adjustment period of different.

Making a mess? I think I’m middle of the line when it comes to Positive vs Negative Posters on here, and the defense issue has been a topic of discussion for YEARS under Delmore. And those concerns are justified. Is that a huge loss?

I liked the Leighton hire initially, and I don’t think the goalies really have much say in their GAA/SV% this year. Take a look at those numbers on all 3 Spits goalies, including there’s room for improvement.

There’s hundreds of Ex-NHL/AHL/OHL/ETC players that I’m sure would love a crack at a job keeping them involved in hockey rather than some Real Estate Company.

I don’t know the coaches personally, I wish them the best in their future endeavors.

We’re 4-17. On pace for 13 Wins. Michelone leads in SV% at .836. Froggett in GAA at 5.66. Change is needed.

 

[windsor7]

Speaking of Walton,he will be joined by goalie Joey Costanzo and fellow rookie dman Carson Woodall on the Spits upcoming road trip.
Probably explains why goalie Carter Froggett was back in JrB with London Nationals.
Had a nice bounce back game allowing just 1 goal and it was a PP goal in a 6-1 win over Chatham Maroons.
He now has a GA of 2.89 and save percentage of .905 for his season.
In fact has allowed only 2 goals in his last 2 starts with London
Of his last 6 starts,one game he allowed 6,the other 5 games including tonight just 8 goals combined pretty impressive.
I like his upside.

Maybe they actually play defense..

 

[tomschman]

Speaking of Walton,he will be joined by goalie Joey Costanzo and fellow rookie dman Carson Woodall on the Spits upcoming road trip.
Probably explains why goalie Carter Froggett was back in JrB with London Nationals.
Had a nice bounce back game allowing just 1 goal and it was a PP goal in a 6-1 win over Chatham Maroons.
He now has a GA of 2.89 and save percentage of .905 for his season.
In fact has allowed only 2 goals in his last 2 starts with London
Of his last 6 starts,one game he allowed 6,the other 5 games including tonight just 8 goals combined pretty impressive.
I like his upside.

Froggett probably felt like he was back in minor hockey after 90 minutes of playing against Kitchener with inadequate defense.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

Why would the league step in right now? Isn't this just up to the GM/owners to make the operational decisions to start righting the ship?

No reason to IMO. Only thing that may be hurting the development of these players is the coaching.

Sure, we all have opinions on Bowlers moves. But if we were looking at this lineup on paper, I don’t think any of us would’ve guess we’d have 4 Wins at (American) Thanksgiving. Even without Christopoulos & Dionicio.

Sidenote: Dionicio is looking GOOD in Saginaw.

Waiting for the backlash for getting thrashed by the Pete’s tonight… Pete’s are #2 in the OHL behind Kitchener. A win tonight, makes the move look genius. A competitive game shows it’s in the right direction. Realistically, lots of movement in the hired pieces, I expect everything to be out of whack a little bit, even more than normal. Expectations are low. If we don’t have to go to the backup tonight, it’s a win in my book.

 

[tomschman]

I expect the Spits to be competitve on this trip. Generally what happens is the players realize they are part to blame for the firing. They weren't doing what is expected of themselves and step it up and play better. This usually lasts about 3 games, then everything returns to normal.

 

[windsor7]

No reason to IMO. Only thing that may be hurting the development of these players is the coaching.

Sure, we all have opinions on Bowlers moves. But if we were looking at this lineup on paper, I don’t think any of us would’ve guess we’d have 4 Wins at (American) Thanksgiving. Even without Christopoulos & Dionicio.

Sidenote: Dionicio is looking GOOD in Saginaw.

Waiting for the backlash for getting thrashed by the Pete’s tonight… Pete’s are #2 in the OHL behind Kitchener. A win tonight, makes the move look genius. A competitive game shows it’s in the right direction. Realistically, lots of movement in the hired pieces, I expect everything to be out of whack a little bit, even more than normal. Expectations are low. If we don’t have to go to the backup tonight, it’s a win in my book.

An actual coaching staff helps players..

 

[LeProspector]

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Last one to leave turn out the lights.

 

[windsor7]

Last one to leave turn out the lights.

Absolutely... bowler

 

[ohloutsider]

I really just think it’s part of the nature of the beast of junior hockey.

The mess? We were/are 4-17. I don’t recall reading anyone on here sticking up for Smith, saying “wait, let’s give him a longer leash. Give him another 21 games to turn this around”

He got canned. 4 Head Coaches with better records in the OHL went before him this year.

It’s a job. The employee-favorite McDonalds manager just got fired and his friends decided to leave because they didn’t want to work under new management. May be better. May be worse. They just didn’t want to stick through the adjustment period of different.

Making a mess? I think I’m middle of the line when it comes to Positive vs Negative Posters on here, and the defense issue has been a topic of discussion for YEARS under Delmore. And those concerns are justified. Is that a huge loss?

I liked the Leighton hire initially, and I don’t think the goalies really have much say in their GAA/SV% this year. Take a look at those numbers on all 3 Spits goalies, including there’s room for improvement.

There’s hundreds of Ex-NHL/AHL/OHL/ETC players that I’m sure would love a crack at a job keeping them involved in hockey rather than some Real Estate Company.

I don’t know the coaches personally, I wish them the best in their future endeavors.

We’re 4-17. On pace for 13 Wins. Michelone leads in SV% at .836. Froggett in GAA at 5.66. Change is needed.

I don't disagree with this but what I'm hearing is more anti-Bowler stuff than about the coaches. Yes we all know the team struggled under them this year but was that directly on them? Ask the 5 why's and it tends to lead upstream so to speak. why would a coach quit if they were asked to co-coach, sounds like an opportunity not a reason to quit?

We will never know the true drama here. Just want this to be over quick and move on for the sake of all involved.

For tonight will be interesting how the kids respond and how the bench is handled. I will tune in for this one for sure.

 

[ohloutsider]

Can we assume Mr Dark will fall back into the Goalie coach role along with temp bench coach duties?