Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 2)

[Cherrydon]

6 out the top 11 rated 2024 OHL draft rated players currently play in the US. 5 are Canadian so are they thinking NCAA route or OHL? Lot of variables this year if drafted players report or not.

 

[ohloutsider]

Even 60 % we make the playoffs. That equates to 66 points total for the season. Over the last 5 seasons that nets you 11-15th overall. We are only 6 points from being out of the lottery altogether. And remember the lottery is weighted 20th overall 40% 19th 30% 18th 20% 17th 10% chance of first overall. Also non'playoff teams pick before playoff teams so squeaking in good cost another drop in the order if east teams have more points but not get in. Ottawa also has a compensatory pick 24 draft. Not sure if there are any other compensatory picks this year. Of course 6th pick last time for the Spits was Johnston and 4th was Miedema. So great players will be available either way if they draft the right guy like a Johnston.

It really does depend on what other teams above do. 1team would have to tank for the Spits to pass them. And it is a lottery for the 4teams that miss the playoffs. 1 team in the west could miss the playoffs but might have more points than say the 8th place team in the east. They would fit into the draft as per the lottery. After that the other 16 teams fit in as per the standings.

 

[Cherrydon]

Personally keep playing a complete game and let the youth learn and have some fun. Nesbitt improving quickly. Great to see. I think his second half will be good especially if 1 or 2 top 6 are moved. Highly likely for that to happen by trade deadline.

 

[OHLTG]

Torres' comments after Thurs' game give some light at the end of the tunnel. He seems to be all about patience, proper development, and keeping the game simple. The players are buying in to the new ideas, there are new voices behind the bench, and it's a completely fresh start. If they keep playing like this, they're going to win more often than not.

 

[SpitfireHabs1]

Excited and upbeat with how things have played out the past 2-3 weeks. As ive said previously losses are expected in a rebuild/retool year but the level of compete and effort should always be there in this league. As of now it looks like the ship has been turned around by Bowler and Torres, playoffs are still a distant goal but finally watching OHL Caliber hockey from our Windsor Spitfires. Structure, Resilience, teamwork, fundamentals, and overall teamplay is better. Players are playing there position better, blocking shots, sticking together out there and its good to see the team we knew we had in that locker room is finally playing like it, lets hope the play and effort doesnt differ as the season goes on.

big chance for another Win tonight. No Easy games in Hockey but the spitfires need to cone out firing and playing the right way from the opening puck drop.

Michelone playing good the past few weeks and deserves the bulk of the starts until Costanzo can hopefully pull it together, its in there weve seen it last year but confidence in hockey can make or break you. Lets hope Michelone can continue his fine efforts and Costanzo rounds back into form.

Lets keep the Winning Vibes going Boys!!!

Go Spitfires Go!!

 

[ohloutsider]

Wonder if Smith will play tonight? Took a dinger off the noggin and did not return Thursday. Hopefully nothing long term ?

Are Castle, Stewart or Struthers ever going to play again? Does anyone have any updates, official word on them? I'm ok with the lineup as it is now just wondering if they can at least fill in as injuries occur? Maybe Mr Bowler could post something on here, would really help.

 

[windsor7]

Wonder if Smith will play tonight? Took a dinger off the noggin and did not return Thursday. Hopefully nothing long term ?

Are Castle, Stewart or Struthers ever going to play again? Does anyone have any updates, official word on them? I'm ok with the lineup as it is now just wondering if they can at least fill in as injuries occur? Maybe Mr Bowler could post something on here, would really help.

Not having Smith in lineup won't hurt.
Hasn't brought much.

 

[ohloutsider]

Not having Smith in lineup won't hurt.
Hasn't brought much.

Well he has played better as of late. Him killing penalties shows they have some faith in him. He plays well enough to eat some minutes and does not require a card to replace him. This year is a year they can afford to stick with what they know. Can't see them keeping him as an OA but that discussion is for next year.

 

[windsor7]

Well he has played better as of late. Him killing penalties shows they have some faith in him. He plays well enough to eat some minutes and does not require a card to replace him. This year is a year they can afford to stick with what they know. Can't see them keeping him as an OA but that discussion is for next year.

Keeping someone just for the sake of keeping him is not always good.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Wonder if Smith will play tonight? Took a dinger off the noggin and did not return Thursday. Hopefully nothing long term ?

Are Castle, Stewart or Struthers ever going to play again? Does anyone have any updates, official word on them? I'm ok with the lineup as it is now just wondering if they can at least fill in as injuries occur? Maybe Mr Bowler could post something on here, would really help.

Stewart is listed though has not played on La Salle's roster.
Re Smith I was told he looked fine post game the other night didn't show any visible issues,guess we will see.
As for Struthers and Castle good question, Struthers has yet to play a game since the coaching change/ departures 6 games ago,and Castle has played 1,same as Greenwell.
Castle has played in 4 of the last 12,Greenwell same with Greenwell and 2 for Struthers.
If Smith were out I would put in Struthers,also because he is a +3 since the coaching change I would put in Winegard and take out Martin,go with 11F,and 7D,last time they did that they won a game so why not.
Normally some would say take out Toms for Winegard,except Toms is only a -1 in his last 5 games since the coaching,alot worse in that category before the change.

 

[ohloutsider]

Keeping someone just for the sake of keeping him is not always good.

So who do you suggest they replace him with that would be better?

 

[OHLTG]

As critical as I've been of Smith, I'd rather see him healthy scratched than injured. That seemed like a nasty shot he took.

Regarding the lineup - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[punch1943]

Wonder if Smith will play tonight? Took a dinger off the noggin and did not return Thursday. Hopefully nothing long term ?

Are Castle, Stewart or Struthers ever going to play again? Does anyone have any updates, official word on them? I'm ok with the lineup as it is now just wondering if they can at least fill in as injuries occur? Maybe Mr Bowler could post something on here, would really help.

I suspect that things will even out and we will lose a couple in the next 3. We weren’t really as bad as we played before and we aren’t as good as this last streak has been. I’m thinking we will see a few moves made then announced after the break. Nothing major mind you just some needed housekeeping. Waiver type stuff. Anything big will be at the deadline.

 

[hockeylegend11]

A

Excited and upbeat with how things have played out the past 2-3 weeks. As ive said previously losses are expected in a rebuild/retool year but the level of compete and effort should always be there in this league. As of now it looks like the ship has been turned around by Bowler and Torres, playoffs are still a distant goal but finally watching OHL Caliber hockey from our Windsor Spitfires. Structure, Resilience, teamwork, fundamentals, and overall teamplay is better. Players are playing there position better, blocking shots, sticking together out there and its good to see the team we knew we had in that locker room is finally playing like it, lets hope the play and effort doesnt differ as the season goes on.

big chance for another Win tonight. No Easy games in Hockey but the spitfires need to cone out firing and playing the right way from the opening puck drop.

Michelone playing good the past few weeks and deserves the bulk of the starts until Costanzo can hopefully pull it together, its in there weve seen it last year but confidence in hockey can make or break you. Lets hope Michelone can continue his fine efforts and Costanzo rounds back into form.

Lets keep the Winning Vibes going Boys!!!

Go Spitfires Go!!

Agree with what u wrote about Michelone about starting,though Costanzo like Michelone has definitely shown better since the coaching change, 1-2 record, 10 goals allowed, 6 in 1 game at Kingston,2 in each of the others, 3.33 goals against average,.901 save percentage, before the changes he was 5.68 goals against and a 848 save per centage.

 

[windsor7]

A

Agree with what u wrote about Michelone about starting,though Costanzo like Michelone has definitely shown better since the coaching change, 1-2 record, 10 goals allowed, 6 in 1 game at Kingston,2 in each of the others, 3.33 goals against average,.901 save percentage, before the changes he was 5.68 goals against and a 848 save per centage.

Such a small window...

 

[ohloutsider]

As critical as I've been of Smith, I'd rather see him healthy scratched than injured. That seemed like a nasty shot he took.

Regarding the lineup - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The line up is broke, just too many needs and not enough in the bank to fix it. It's a rebuild year. Just bandaid it until some of the future gets older.
I like what I've seen the last few games. They have been in every game since the start of the roadtrip. That is all we can ask this year.

 

[OHLTG]

This lineup has been successful under the new structure; it's not broke right now. They just have to keep this momentum going.

BTW, Costanzo starts.

 

[windsor7]

This lineup has been successful under the new structure; it's not broke right now. They just have to keep this momentum going.

BTW, Costanzo starts.

There r a few chinks in the chain..

 

[ohloutsider]

Did not look ready to go in the 1st. First sluggish period we have seen in a few games. Hopefully just a hiccup and Torres gives them a reminder.

 

[punch1943]

2-2 after 2. So far the goalies rule. Game is up for grabs. Maybe tonight we play well in the 3rd. We’ve lost too many games in the 3rd. Zebras seem to be favoring Gens.

 

[windsor7]

Dumb coaches decisions

 

[Cherrydon]

That one went sliding south. Not their best effort of late. Group it together tomorrow boys. 3 Spits posts could have been the other way even though their game tonight was not their best.

 

[ohloutsider]

That one went sliding south. Not their best effort of late. Group it together tomorrow boys. 3 Spits posts could have been the other way even though their game tonight was not their best.

They played hard, skated hard but the mental part of the game was very dysfunctional. Lots of " what the H were you thinking" and it came back to bite them.

 

[scokan]

thought they played well enough to get a point or 2, they had some defensive miscues that resulted in the back of the net, but for the most part if they would have capitalized on the many odd man rushes they had then we be talking about a different result. I don't recall a game where we had that many two on ones before.
thought Abraham could have had 2 or 3 tonight himself, the puck was finding him but he couldn't put one in.
onto the next game, the teddy bear toss is always a crowd and team favorite, hopefully they can continue the compete effort and come away with 2 pts.
I'm gonna go with Davis for the bear toss goal.

 

[Teflon]

Ok lots of mental mistakes, lots of coasters tonight. This game was a textbook reason why the team needs a real coaching staff!! Those 2 behind the bench are better than what was there BUT, way to many coaching errors!!!! This will only work for a short time before it implodes as well. Get it sorted out!!!
Now im not a blame the refs guy but good lord they did a terrible job tonight, hutch is usually better than that!! Gens cheated faceoffs at will and got away with a ton of clutch grab and hack shit.
BB needs to get a proper staff behind that bench quick, lots of frustration in that last few minutes, confusion was all over some faces. D lapses were back. 3 goals were direct results of men left open, could have been more frankly. There’s definitely improvement but for it to carry on its time to hire REAL coaches! No not either back there. You wanna keep torres? Fine as a skills guy nothing more!