Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 2)

[OHLTG]

The Spitfires were in tonight's Windsor Santa Claus parade. Torres was there, along with several players - Greentree, Woodall, Morneau, Mancini, Walton, Smith, Davis, Struthers, and Eichler, They were very interactive with the crowd and, from where I was, got the third loudest reaction of the night (behind a popular marching band from MI and, of course, Santa himself).

 

[windsor7]

The Spitfires were in tonight's Windsor Santa Claus parade. Torres was there, along with several players - Greentree, Woodall, Morneau, Mancini, Walton, Smith, Davis, Struthers, and Eichler, They were very interactive with the crowd and, from where I was, got the third loudest reaction of the night (behind a popular marching band from MI and, of course, Santa himself).

Did u expect boos?
They do stuff around Windsor all the time..

 

[SpitfireHabs1]

You hear about it all the time now with ppodcasts and the internet how certain peoples hearts aren't in the game and that stops them from playing at their best and they retire from the sport. Gotta love the game first.

I'd say Castle/Smith fall in that category from an eye view perspective. They have all the tools, and over there life in hockey have shown the ability to be really good hockey players but it's like their just not buying in and giving 100%, their the type of players that look like they are going thru the motions out there most nights.

Younger players are showing better efforts and urgency, you gotta want to be here in this league or your going to get eaten up and spit out.

Anyways hope for the surge to continue next week and get to see some good efforts and some wins. It's all about consistency and confidence to sustain these good efforts weve seen.

Go Spitfires!!

 

[Teflon]

Im impressed! Team is showing some heart. Said all along talent was here. Coaching was the issue. Eager to see who gets the job, im expecting to hear around the holidays.

 

[scokan]

Im impressed! Team is showing some heart. Said all along talent was here. Coaching was the issue. Eager to see who gets the job, im expecting to hear around the holidays.

has there been any whispers at all about potential candidates?
makes you wonder how the season could have gone had we hired a real coach at the beginning of the season instead of cheaping out and making the safe hire.

 

[windsor7]

has there been any whispers at all about potential candidates?
makes you wonder how the season could have gone had we hired a real coach at the beginning of the season instead of cheaping out and making the safe hire.

Very true.
Cheap doesn't work!

 

[OHLTG]

To be fair, Smith is a real coach that just didn't work with this group. If he was as bad as people might want him to be, he wouldn't have been in the organization for this long. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out. At least Bowler recognized it and they're trending upwards now.

I'd imagine that they figure out a coach either after Christmas or they wait until the summer. No point in doing it now and making the holidays even more chaotic.

 

[windsor7]

To be fair, Smith is a real coach that just didn't work with this group. If he was as bad as people might want him to be, he wouldn't have been in the organization for this long. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out. At least Bowler recognized it and they're trending upwards now.

I'd imagine that they figure out a coach either after Christmas or they wait until the summer. No point in doing it now and making the holidays even more chaotic.

No excuses.
They went cheap..

 

[Teflon]

Not a peep from anywhere! So they either arent looking or they have it locked down.

 

[windsor7]

Not a peep from anywhere! So they either arent looking or they have it locked down.

Hopefully not 1st option.
Seen how that worked out the 1st time..

 

[OHLTG]

Given how tight-lipped Bowler has been about, well, everything... I'm guessing it's Option B.

 

[windsor7]

Given how tight-lipped Bowler has been about, well, everything... I'm guessing it's Option B.

Anyone can guess any scenario..

 

[RayzorIsDull]

To be fair, Smith is a real coach that just didn't work with this group. If he was as bad as people might want him to be, he wouldn't have been in the organization for this long. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out. At least Bowler recognized it and they're trending upwards now.

I'd imagine that they figure out a coach either after Christmas or they wait until the summer. No point in doing it now and making the holidays even more chaotic.

Are you saying Bowler is off the hook now?? He's the one that hired him and threw away 30% of the season.

 

[ohloutsider]

To be fair, Smith is a real coach that just didn't work with this group. If he was as bad as people might want him to be, he wouldn't have been in the organization for this long. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out. At least Bowler recognized it and they're trending upwards now.

I'd imagine that they figure out a coach either after Christmas or they wait until the summer. No point in doing it now and making the holidays even more chaotic.

Did Bowler admit to his mistake 21 games in or did someone above him tell him to fix it????

 

[OHLTG]

Bowler deserves part of the blame but, at the same time, he deserves part of the credit with the team turning around the last two weeks. It's not one or the other.

 

[windsor7]

Bowler deserves part of the blame but, at the same time, he deserves part of the credit with the team turning around the last two weeks. It's not one or the other.

Both sides of fence have green grass....

 

[ohloutsider]

Bowler deserves part of the blame but, at the same time, he deserves part of the credit with the team turning around the last two weeks. It's not one or the other.

Apparently for Jerrod Smith it was. Bowler levied blame and now he is to have a get out of jail free card after winning 3 games? Let's see how the season pans out before we get too warm and fuzzy on Bowlers report card.

 

[OHLTG]

Apparently for Jerrod Smith it was. Bowler levied blame and now he is to have a get out of jail free card after winning 3 games? Let's see how the season pans out before we get too warm and fuzzy on Bowlers report card.

Nobody is giving Bowler an "A" on a report card. I'm just saying that if he's getting part of the blame for a horrible start, he should be getting part of the credit for the turnaround. Even Torres said (before a recent game) that Bowler's created new ideas and the players have responded well. Hopefully it lasts beyond the deadline and the team can get into a playoff spot. If not, then it's not...

 

[windsor7]

Nobody is giving Bowler an "A" on a report card. I'm just saying that if he's getting part of the blame for a horrible start, he should be getting part of the credit for the turnaround. Even Torres said (before a recent game) that Bowler's created new ideas and the players have responded well. Hopefully it lasts beyond the deadline and the team can get into a playoff spot. If not, then it's not...

Always a pass..

 

[ohloutsider]

Nobody is giving Bowler an "A" on a report card. I'm just saying that if he's getting part of the blame for a horrible start, he should be getting part of the credit for the turnaround. Even Torres said (before a recent game) that Bowler's created new ideas and the players have responded well. Hopefully it lasts beyond the deadline and the team can get into a playoff spot. If not, then it's not...

Bowlers report card will be issued by the owners. I'm sure no bonus this year LOL. He has been with them a long time so he won't be fired, wait a second, JS was there a long time as well....

Bowler has to produce at this point. Needs to hire a stud coach. Some good trades. And a real good draft. No pressure Bill, carry on.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Bowler deserves part of the blame but, at the same time, he deserves part of the credit with the team turning around the last two weeks. It's not one or the other.

No but all but burying playoff hopes after 20 games. Let's see how the next 15 games go before we laud Bowler. I have a hard time giving Bowler his flowers because he made a bad hire and help create a mutiny. Give Torres and the players credit.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Nobody is giving Bowler an "A" on a report card. I'm just saying that if he's getting part of the blame for a horrible start, he should be getting part of the credit for the turnaround. Even Torres said (before a recent game) that Bowler's created new ideas and the players have responded well. Hopefully it lasts beyond the deadline and the team can get into a playoff spot. If not, then it's not...

Well I imagine Bowler had a large part in bringing Torres in. After winning 3 of 5 it would probably be smart to say nice things. After all Bowler is pretty much the boss of Torres. Part of playing the game.

 

[OHLTG]

Bowler has to produce at this point. Needs to hire a stud coach. Some good trades. And a real good draft. No pressure Bill, carry on.

There's no denying this. It was said at the time of the firing and still holds true. "Bowler's on the hot seat now." That doesn't mean he can't get credit if/where deserved. I'm not talking flowers or praise but "he's done well... now keep it going!" seems reasonable, no?

 

[windsor7]

There's no denying this. It was said at the time of the firing and still holds true. "Bowler's on the hot seat now." That doesn't mean he can't get credit if/where deserved. I'm not talking flowers or praise but "he's done well... now keep it going!" seems reasonable, no?

Seems like u r.

 

[Cherrydon]

I think it is in Torres hands. Does he want a HC position full time or not? Until he falters there is no panic for Bowler to hire anyone else. I like the fact BB is on the bench seeing first hand those that respond to direction and those that don't. Eliminates the conversation after a game by HC saying I told him to---------. And he didn't listen BS.