Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 3)

[armchaircoaches]

Thats good news, he's had a tough year.

Get out the stationary bike

 

[DetSpitsFan]

If Zito plays then Windsor just screwed Niagara. That was pretty savvy of Bowler.

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Niagara pays North Bay for Zito to play here.

Wait… were these conditionals tied to the original trade of Zito to Niagara? LOL

Please tell me the deal was Niagara gives Windsor a 3rd and 5th if Zito plays OA

Meaning… Zito cost nothing to us. But a 3rd and 5th from Niagara to NB?

 

[ohloutsider]

Ahhh A Savard issue, not a bowler one. Glad to see him coming back. Always was a fan and fills that "Fan-Favorite" role we were so worried about losing with Peer.

The weird thing is..

Zito, Donoso and Toure I think are all upgrades over Maillet, Michelone and Mancini.

Zito = Peer
Toure < Mancini
Donos > Michelone

 

[tomschman]

If my memory serves me, the only Spitfires that Zito has played with are Abraham, Martin (called up for a couple of games) and Castle (in Niagara). What a turnover in a year and a half.

 

[4 Bobby ORR]

Ahhh A Savard issue, not a bowler one. Glad to see him coming back. Always was a fan and fills that "Fan-Favorite" role we were so worried about losing with Peer.

The weird thing is..

Zito, Donoso and Toure I think are all upgrades over Maillet, Michelone and Mancini.

If I recall- didn't he have an ill grandfather and wanted to be closer to home?

 

[DetSpitsFan]

Zito = Peer
Toure < Mancini
Donos > Michelone

My concerns with Zito is he doesn’t have the proven OA output of Peer. Otherwise, pretty similar production levels, plus more physicality.

Looking at things this way has us receiving a boat load of picks for Maillet, with most of this “canceling out.”

 

[Cherrydon]

Zito to Windsor confirmed by NB

Confirmed on the OHL site as well. ZITO to windsor for a 15th, 3rd and cond 5th. Has to be something else in mind for those picks other than yes, if there are conditionals coming back from Niagara then Bowler loses nothing. Improves the draft position of the 3rd and 5th. Obviously he was not waived as first suggested.

 

[donjohnson]

What are we getting with Aiden Castle...seems like a strange move with guys like Moore, Sima, Storch on that 4th line.

 

[ohloutsider]

OA's out from Windsor -
Holmes
Soblev
Jodoin - released
Christopolous
Peer
Mancini
Maillet
Bowler needs to recharge his phone.

 

[FireBall959]

So he didn't like Savard, then didn't ke NIA then didn't like NB. Great we can put him on a line with Smith and Castle what could go wrong.

 

[OHLTG]

Castle to Saginaw for 11th 2026.

 

[TheGremlin]

Castle to Saginaw for 11th

 

[tomschman]

Bowler out of cards now I think.
Got to be done.
Still have dead wood on team but he did improve the draft cupboard.

Yes, Smith, Struthers and Castle are still here. But I can't see any takers.

 

[windsor7]

Castle to Saginaw for 11th

At least he might play a shift.
Was very poorly managed here.

 

[OHLTG]

What are we getting with Aiden Castle...seems like a strange move with guys like Moore, Sima, Storch on that 4th line.

In theory, a kid who's produced in the past. However, he had so little playing time here and, when he DID play, it was fourth line, that it's tough to say. He has some speed and offensive ability but...

 

[windsor7]

Don't see Smith moving.
But 1 could dream..

 

[Cherrydon]

What are we getting with Aiden Castle...seems like a strange move with guys like Moore, Sima, Storch on that 4th line.

Castle can fill a hole throughout the line-up if there is an injury etc. Depth move and he can be surprising at times. Just not in Windsor this year.

 

[OMG67]

Don’t expect Zito to report. My understanding was it was Ottawa or he plays Tier II in Ottawa. Has no intention of leaving home.

 

[StingUpdates]

Don’t expect Zito to report. My understanding was it was Ottawa or he plays Tier II in Ottawa. Has no intention of leaving home.

Pasquale Zito already on the road and headed to Windsor.

“I’m coming back to an incredible organization that matured me as a player and a person and I want to give back and try to help them make a playoff push,” Zito said.

 

[KyGuy9]

Wait… were these conditionals tied to the original trade of Zito to Niagara? LOL

Please tell me the deal was Niagara gives Windsor a 3rd and 5th if Zito plays OA

Meaning… Zito cost nothing to us. But a 3rd and 5th from Niagara to NB?

Windsor Star has this:

"The price for Zito will drop even more when he plays his first game for the Spitfires. As part of the conditions on the deal that sent him to Niagara in 2022 after a 22-goal season with the Spitfires, Windsor receives Mississauga’s fourth-round pick in 2024 and Niagara’s fifth-round pick in 2025 when he plays his first game as an overage player."

Basically downgraded a 3rd to a 4th for Zito. Love it.

 

[OMG67]

Pasquale Zito already on the road and headed to Windsor.

“I’m coming back to an incredible organization that matured me as a player and a person and I want to give back and try to help them make a playoff push,” Zito said.

WOW. Interesting. Maybe Windsor was the only team he would go to leave home becuase of the past relationship. Good for him. Happy for him.

Classy move by NB too. They have to surrender the 3rd and 5th to Niagara for him playing an OA year.

Last I heard this past weekend was he told NB he would play in Ottawa or Tier II Navan Grads. Windsor must have reached out and changed his mind….

 

[4 Bobby ORR]

WOW. Interesting. Maybe Windsor was the only team he would go to leave home becuase of the past relationship. Good for him. Happy for him.

Classy move by NB too. They have to surrender the 3rd and 5th to Niagara for him playing an OA year.

Last I heard this past weekend was he told NB he would play in Ottawa or Tier II Navan Grads. Windsor must have reached out and changed his mind….

As well, he hasn't signed with Detroit yet. Probably Yzerman wanted him here to have a closer look.

 

[OMG67]

As well, he hasn't signed with Detroit yet. Probably Yzerman wanted him here to have a closer look.

That ship sailed. It expired in June 2023. He is now a free agent.

 

[Cherrydon]

You know Bowler took alot of heat for hiring Smith. His hand was likely forced to give him a chance based on his long tenure with the team and was on a short leash which Bowler tightened quickly and fired him. Delmore wasn't in the cards as HC in Bowler's mind and hence left. Now Bowler turns 3 OA'S into 3 OA'S plus 13 draft picks. That is pure brilliance imo.

 

[Cherrydon]

His name should be Billy the magician he pulled Wright out of the hat last year although it didn't work out, he gave the team the best chances to make another run. Wright wasn't the reason we lost, he was easily our best player in the playoffs last year. He can't personally lift a team in his shoulders himself nor can a McDavid or a Matthew's. All cogs must be running smooth to win in any league.