Management is thinking on this decision
Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 4)
- Thread starter SoupNazi
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D wise. Who stays and who goes? Toure, no Brainerd graduates. Winegard one of their big boys defensively pretty solid. Stays most likely as a 6-7 rotation. Toms, Cristoforo? Need a change? Woodall was coming along but not so much lately. He is way more physical than some (one). Walton stays, another developing big body. Manzo makes roster highly likely. Decent size with offensive side. Eichler on the fence. Do we move on from him and draft a second import with Zhugin likely moved? I think Eichler will stay especiallyif drafted. Lavigne another big body with little experience. Another Winegard? Opinions??
punch1943
Registered User
Will see how they progress during the balance of the season. It’s too bad we don’t have a permanent coaching staff in place. It will slow down their development.
I'm new to this site but have some insights. I work at the arena, so notice a few things. The Walton kid isn't shaving yet so must be still growing. He is also always at practice one of the first on the ice and last off. That plus he's always smiling makes me think he's worth keeping. I also notice that after practice only 3 Spits do regular gym stuff. It's Greentree, Davis and Walton. Others pass on the extra work more often than not. I'm not sure what conclusions to draw from this but these are my observations from the rink the past few months.
ohloutsider
Registered User
Welcome to the Spits thread. If you're planning on hanging around please ensure you do up your seat belt, it might be a rough ride. Lol.
Teflon
Registered User
- Jan 6, 2018
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You can call it cyclical if ya like. I call whats happened late last year into this year mismanagement. Typically it is a cycle, but not when theres talent here rebelling, not when talent goes backwards, not when the team is in disarray. Cyclical teams still work hard, show progress in talent and you can see a growth line. Thats not happening here. Then you dont have a real HC making things worse. These guys know next year brings new faces behind the bench. Yes BB has done an admirable job restocking the draft picks but thats it for me. But draft picks dont always equate to solid players, which weve seen of late. Development seems to have taken a back seat, you need quality coaching to develop properly. Things are much worse here than a few of you seem to think. Cycles im ok with, debacles im not!
nelli27
Moderator
Calling on Windsor fans...It's almost midweek with not much OHL action to watch or discuss. If anyone would like to head over to the Kitchener thread, you will notice a video of the McCue hit on Mesar. I have been watching this video, too many times to count, in both regular speed, and then pausing it, multiple frames. I'm looking to see if it was a cheapshot, and I've been focusing on McCue's right elbow trying to see where it makes contact with Mesar. I don't see an elbow to the head. A possible butt end as someone suggests? Perhaps...
The hit is obviously away from the play, no denying contact, but I'm either blind as a bat or can't see the immediate contact.
You guys have no reason to give the benefit of the doubt to McCue...so I'm hoping some of you might take a look and provide some feedback. It is your trusted opinion that I seek...Dirty? Don't know? What do you see? Just ignore this post if it doesn't interest you.
I'll show myself out....
The hit is obviously away from the play, no denying contact, but I'm either blind as a bat or can't see the immediate contact.
You guys have no reason to give the benefit of the doubt to McCue...so I'm hoping some of you might take a look and provide some feedback. It is your trusted opinion that I seek...Dirty? Don't know? What do you see? Just ignore this post if it doesn't interest you.
I'll show myself out....
ohloutsider
Registered User
I'm not getting between a Kitchener/ London player hit discussion with a 100 ft pole. Tried that last year and was shown the door so to speak!
I watched it many times. Imo McCue had his glove at the end of his stick and stick across body to behind trying to be ready for a pass breaking out of the zone. He was facing the puck. Appeared to me he caught Mesar in the diaphragm with end of stick / glove and winded him instantly. His elbow continued upwards but after it was past Mesar head. No visible movement of hands as to purposely but end o elbow. Just unfortunate contact. McCue history hurts his case but as much as I dislike London lol. I saw no infraction.
OHLTG
Registered User
I'm not getting involved in that thread LOL it annoys me when others jump into our arguments so, yeah, not happening here.
I'll comment here, though. It looks like McCue is turning and gives him a shot/push as he skates by. No real harm intended. The more I look, the more I think chest, though, and it looks like the follow-through was when he went head-level. It didn't catch the head, though.
I'll comment here, though. It looks like McCue is turning and gives him a shot/push as he skates by. No real harm intended. The more I look, the more I think chest, though, and it looks like the follow-through was when he went head-level. It didn't catch the head, though.
TheGremlin
Registered User
It’s a London player so CLEARLY its a dirty hit. No need to even go look at the video.
I trust what others say on here so it was probably just a freak thing. Just like Eichler’s incident the other week.
I trust what others say on here so it was probably just a freak thing. Just like Eichler’s incident the other week.
I agree with this there is a certain nuance when it comes to this. Yes it is cyclical but every GM has choice in that matter in the sense it doesn't have to be. We can throw around compliments about Bowler and his drafting being outstanding but is his drafting that outstanding?
2020
Abraham
DeAngelis
Downey
Pitre
Morneau
Overall I would say it's an average draft but not near great. The two most productive players are no longer playing in Windsor. Downey wasn't good in Windsor, Morneau shouldn't be an OA next year. Abraham can be productive and can have an impact but still not disciplined to put it all together.
2021
Miedema
Ride
O'Flaherty
Martin
Greenwell
Winegard
Not a good draft some may think it's great because of the quantity of players but as far as quality it falls far short. 1 player is out of the OHL right now, 3 others shouldn't be on the Spits next year. Miedema is ok but no longer in Windsor and nothing to show for it except 20+ games of Shane Wright.
2022
Cristoforo
Greentree
Spellacy
Davis
Woodall
This is his best draft and yes we can talk about this draft but this draft can't make up for the 20 and 21 drafts. They will be 18 next year and some of that core is good but I am not banking on them carrying the 19 and 20 year olds either.
2023
Far too early Nesbitt has shown a flash here or there but he needs a lot of work.
Import draft has been discussed repeatedly.
Before we just say Bowler shouldn't be fired for making one bad hire. Does Bowler get criticism if the season continues to spiral for promoting Torres?? If you say no then a lot of the fault for the season falls on Bowler because he clearly made the wrong hire 21 games of terrible hockey and than another 47 to add on to a lost season.
If you don't think Bowler wouldn't be fired if the team struggles next year. I ask you this. Did you think Jerrod Smith wasn't even going to last until December? If you didn't then this would be a cautionary tale of GMs and coaches get hired to eventually be fired with exception in very rare cases. They hire a new coach for next year the 04s and 05s continue to struggle and the 06s can't lift the team because they still have young 07 and 08s it wouldn't surprise me. This will be Bowler's 3rd coaching hire and yes you can lump in Torres if you wish. If they struggle again Bowler isn't getting a 4th kick at the can.
Just glancing over the remaining 26 games remaining. Currently, the Spits have 7 games against teams below 0.500 with 2 of those games against Sarnia next week home & away, and 4 of them against Flint. 3 of 4 Flint games on the road. 1 against the Petes this week. Niagara has currently only 6 games against teams below .500 remaining. Weighted lottery odds. 20th 40%, 19th 30%, 18th 20%, 17th 10%. Import draft OHL picks 3rd overall this year.
OHLTG
Registered User
I'm not going to judge the last draft until next season at the earliest. Nesbitt's been given third-or-fourth line duty and you're not going to be productive in that role. The rest of them are developing in Jr B, where they should be.
His 2022 draft by far his best. The other years Nesbitt excluded, have been super rough. I don't expect all the 06's to be here for the entire next year. I think Manso needs to be mentioned from last year because he has better size and an offensive flare. But you don't need 3 offensive minded smaller D on any team let alone a team that does not play a good defensive structure to start with.
Nesbitt should be at least on 2nd line. Especially in a rebuild year. He scored 20 g 48 pts in 26 games last year. You cannot develop your offense on the 3rd or 4th line which is primarily reserved for checking defensive roles.
TheGremlin
Registered User
I’m assuming Nesbitt just isn’t progressing like he should. Players got to earn their time and shouldn’t have it just given to him.
OHLTG
Registered User
Second, third at worst. The kid had a goal per game average last season and has shown flashes of that this season. I get wanting to bring him along slowly in the first half but it's January. This is when you start increasing his minutes and letting him show what he has. Put him with guys like Zhugin, Davis, and Zito, not on a partial fourth line with Struthers.
So 4th line last game. You telling me Smith Morneau and Martin are higher skilled potential? Notta.
Martin 2 pts for the season , 3rd year players Morneau -22 (15th rounder) & Smith -19 ( ps visually super lazy most games-duh) but put the 1st rounder on the 4th line? Gremlin are you on the coaching staff?
LeProspector
AINEC
- Feb 14, 2017
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I really like Connor Walton. I think he can be one of the better defensive defenders in the league in a few years. He’s a keeper.
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