Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 4)

[ohloutsider]

Pretty standard suspension.

Yes, Moses from Sarnia got the same thing.

 

[ohloutsider]

What's the opinion on the NCAA coaches voting to see if they will allow CHL players to play NCAA hockey? I guess the Name, image , likeness (NIL) rule allows players to profit makes the difference in thier philosophy. Friedman says it will happen at some point. That could boost CHL especially American players to play CHL for a couple of years then transfer to a ncaa school to complete their career or schooling. The NHL transfer agreement would change for sure. Could save OHL teams from paying some out an education agreement if player chose a NCAA school for a scholarship for schooling. This would kill the Canadian University Hockey quality of players.

It will help OHL for sure but as suggested CIS will take a hit.

You would imagine the OHL would not even consider anything or sign anything unless there was some benefit to them. Also gives older kids/OA's more options.

Needs to benefit all 3 groups involved I would hope.

 

[LeProspector]

How many more games can Manzo play this season?

 

[hockeylegend11]

How many more games can Manzo play this season?

6 games

 

[LeProspector]

6 games

may as well call him up for the next 2 games

 

[hockeylegend11]

may as well call him up for the next 2 games

He has missed the last 4 games with LaxSalle due to injury, so I doubt that happens, would rather go with 12 forwards and 6D,not 7

 

[RayzorIsDull]

This team is almost doomed to falter next year. Our 04 & 05's arguably are not quality veterans. Keep or trade Abraham. Keep Outwater best plus/ minus forward and Winegard. He has size and improved. Other than those mentioned they need a house cleaning double duty
Morneau works hard but does he deserve an OA spot? I'd rid both impo

rts. Zhugin is a horrible defensive liability and erratic game to game and Eichler?? Could pick a second import or trade for one to go with the high first round import draft pick. Only 1- 07 in the lineup so next year even with a fantastic draft, still all will be young and inexperienced. Can Froggett play at a high level? TBD. Costanzo needs to kick it gear or we need at least one experienced goalie to replace JC. Too many big holes to expect much at this point unless our 04 05 born players are gutted. Would if Greentree doesn't return? Doom city. Erie and Niagara had top 4 picks 2 drafts in a row and not making much headway yet. Young players take time to develop and other than Greentree who's going to teach them the right way?

This is a 2-3 year rebuild if done correctly. I don't see why having a top 3 import pick means the Spits will find some star. CHL teams find very good imports in the 50s and 60s etc.. What is Bowler's excuse for not finding a good productive import? Using draft picks to get better OAs is the example of being penny wise pound foolish. They would have to improve OAs because they don't believe in Toms/Struthers/Abraham/Smith all who were acquired by Bowler at one time or another. Even if they were to sneak into the playoffs that's not necessarily a big success. 80% of the league makes the playoffs. The league is constructed where you have to be absolutely terrible not to make the playoffs.

 

[windsor7]

He has missed the last 4 games with LaxSalle due to injury, so I doubt that happens, would rather go with 12 forwards and 6D,not 7

More forwards the better. So they can cover defensive rushes which happens a lot..

 

[Cherrydon]

This is a 2-3 year rebuild if done correctly. I don't see why having a top 3 import pick means the Spits will find some star. CHL teams find very good imports in the 50s and 60s etc.. What is Bowler's excuse for not finding a good productive import? Using draft picks to get better OAs is the example of being penny wise pound foolish. They would have to improve OAs because they don't believe in Toms/Struthers/Abraham/Smith all who were acquired by Bowler at one time or another. Even if they were to sneak into the playoffs that's not necessarily a big success. 80% of the league makes the playoffs. The league is constructed where you have to be absolutely terrible not to make the playoffs.

Agree. Bowler's import draft history and even before him has been suspect to say the least. Last great one was liklely Sergachev that we drafted. Dionicio was good but that was a trade acquisition.

 

[punch1943]

This is a 2-3 year rebuild if done correctly. I don't see why having a top 3 import pick means the Spits will find some star. CHL teams find very good imports in the 50s and 60s etc.. What is Bowler's excuse for not finding a good productive import? Using draft picks to get better OAs is the example of being penny wise pound foolish. They would have to improve OAs because they don't believe in Toms/Struthers/Abraham/Smith all who were acquired by Bowler at one time or another. Even if they were to sneak into the playoffs that's not necessarily a big success. 80% of the league makes the playoffs. The league is constructed where you have to be absolutely terrible not to make the playoffs.

Bowler’s excuse is lack of European scouting. No good connections. They will keep Abraham, Smith and Morneau to start unless they can parlay them into a couple veteran physical D-men.There will be no quick fix for this team. They are so bad it’s almost worthwhile taking a top player who won’t report.

 

[windsor7]

Bowler’s excuse is lack of European scouting. No good connections. They will keep Abraham, Smith and Morneau to start unless they can parlay them into a couple veteran physical D-men.There will be no quick fix for this team. They are so bad it’s almost worthwhile taking a top player who won’t report.

How many teams would be interested In those 3??

 

[ohloutsider]

How many teams would be interested In those 3??

Really depends on the asking price? I'm sure a deal can be reached if there is a genuine interest. They were able to move Castle.

 

[windsor7]

Really depends on the asking price? I'm sure a deal can be reached if there is a genuine interest. They were able to move Castle.

Price shouldn't be real high..

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Agree. Bowler's import draft history and even before him has been suspect to say the least. Last great one was liklely Sergachev that we drafted. Dionicio was good but that was a trade acquisition.

Look at the 22 import draft Spits drafted Hebek #56 overall. Who went 68th overall? Dalibor Dvorsky he went #10 in the NHL draft in 2023. He reported to Sudbury this year and is one of the biggest reasons they have taken off. Who went 108th overall?? Eriks Mateiko to Saint John. He's in his 2nd year and projected to be an NHL pick, pretty much a PPG forward this year. If we are being honest the Spits should utilize both import picks this year. This isn't a shot at Eichler but he's already 18 and the Spits aren't going to be contenders next year. The Spits D isn't good and even if Eichler returned that's not elevating the ceiling to a top D in the league. If you ever had dreams of contending the nearest year is 25-26 and maybe those 2 imports you draft in 2024 are high level guys. A flyer in 2024 in hopes he commits the next year is much better than another year of Eichler.

 

[OHLTG]

The Import Draft is a guessing game. You're always going to have some players picked higher that either struggle or don't report, just like you'll have guys picked lower who do better than expected.

Right now, the Spits have...

Toure, Toms, Cristoforo, Winegard, Eichler, Woodall, and Walton on D.

Toure and Toms are gone in the off-season. You could even make a case that Winegard is gone; he brings size and a willingness, but I'm not sure he's sticking around. That leaves you with Cristoforo, Eichler, Woodall, and Walton, plus likely one of Lavigne/Manzo. If you get rid of Eichler, you're in a similar spot to this season with a very young D. Sure, you could draft someone in the 2nd Rd Import, but there's no guarantee they report or become what Eichler is now.

 

[punch1943]

The Import Draft is a guessing game. You're always going to have some players picked higher that either struggle or don't report, just like you'll have guys picked lower who do better than expected.

Right now, the Spits have...

Toure, Toms, Cristoforo, Winegard, Eichler, Woodall, and Walton on D.

Toure and Toms are gone in the off-season. You could even make a case that Winegard is gone; he brings size and a willingness, but I'm not sure he's sticking around. That leaves you with Cristoforo, Eichler, Woodall, and Walton, plus likely one of Lavigne/Manzo. If you get rid of Eichler, you're in a similar spot to this season with a very young D. Sure, you could draft someone in the 2nd Rd Import, but there's no guarantee they report or become what Eichler is now.

Agree on not taking the 2nd import unless by chance Eichler is no longer with us. Would like to see them keep Wineguard at least long enough to get a better read on his potential. The last 21 games if nothing else will give us a better read on some of the younger guys. I too would like to see the younger goalie (Costanzo) given more ice time say 14 of the 21 games.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

The Import Draft is a guessing game. You're always going to have some players picked higher that either struggle or don't report, just like you'll have guys picked lower who do better than expected.

Right now, the Spits have...

Toure, Toms, Cristoforo, Winegard, Eichler, Woodall, and Walton on D.

Toure and Toms are gone in the off-season. You could even make a case that Winegard is gone; he brings size and a willingness, but I'm not sure he's sticking around. That leaves you with Cristoforo, Eichler, Woodall, and Walton, plus likely one of Lavigne/Manzo. If you get rid of Eichler, you're in a similar spot to this season with a very young D. Sure, you could draft someone in the 2nd Rd Import, but there's no guarantee they report or become what Eichler is now.

Like I said this isn't an Eichler thing persay. This is a you're 18 and next year will be your 19 year old season. Your not contending next year get ice time for 17 year olds and 16 year olds. Eichler isn't the lynch pin of the D or deciding factor whether they are good or bad on D. We need to stop with he will be a veteran. Guess who else we're vets this year Peer Maillet Mancini Abraham Struthers Morneau Toms they were still the worst team in the league. You also said the team had to be patient with Baisov and Hebek as well.

 

[Cherrydon]

Like I said this isn't an Eichler thing persay. This is a you're 18 and next year will be your 19 year old season. Your not contending next year get ice time for 17 year olds and 16 year olds. Eichler isn't the lynch pin of the D or deciding factor whether they are good or bad on D. We need to stop with he will be a veteran. Guess who else we're vets this year Peer Maillet Mancini Abraham Struthers Morneau Toms they were still the worst team in the league. You also said the team had to be patient with Baisov and Hebek as well.

Don't forget Sobolev he was a hard nosed good player this D needs especially considering we only have 2 OAs now.

 

[OHLTG]

Like I said this isn't an Eichler thing persay. This is a you're 18 and next year will be your 19 year old season. Your not contending next year get ice time for 17 year olds and 16 year olds. Eichler isn't the lynch pin of the D or deciding factor whether they are good or bad on D. We need to stop with he will be a veteran. Guess who else we're vets this year Peer Maillet Mancini Abraham Struthers Morneau Toms they were still the worst team in the league. You also said the team had to be patient with Baisov and Hebek as well.

We saw what happened this season when you count on youth/inexperience. If you lose Eichler, Toms, AND Toure next season, but add three rookies, you're asking for the same situation.

I'm not sure what Peer/Maillet/Mancini have to do with anything. They absolutely made this team better. Do you want to get rid of most veterans and go even younger next season? That won't go over well.

I did say be patient with Eichler, at the start of the season. He's done much better and I don't think many, if any, would argue that. Even you said "this isn't an Eichler thing", right?

As I said, the Import Draft is a guessing game. They're going to have a higher pick this season, which is good. That's a better shot of someone helping over multiple seasons. With the other pick, are they going to be better than Eichler? Nobody knows, even if they report. Why give up something that's projecting up because you want to take a swing at a maybe? Keep Eichler, send Zhugin elsewhere, and take the higher pick along with the OHL Draft picks. That sets them up well for the future.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

We saw what happened this season when you count on youth/inexperience. If you lose Eichler, Toms, AND Toure next season, but add three rookies, you're asking for the same situation.

I'm not sure what Peer/Maillet/Mancini have to do with anything. They absolutely made this team better. Do you want to get rid of most veterans and go even younger next season? That won't go over well.

I did say be patient with Eichler, at the start of the season. He's done much better and I don't think many, if any, would argue that. Even you said "this isn't an Eichler thing", right?

As I said, the Import Draft is a guessing game. They're going to have a higher pick this season, which is good. That's a better shot of someone helping over multiple seasons. With the other pick, are they going to be better than Eichler? Nobody knows, even if they report. Why give up something that's projecting up because you want to take a swing at a maybe? Keep Eichler, send Zhugin elsewhere, and take the higher pick along with the OHL Draft picks. That sets them up well for the future.

My point is all these vets might be good individual players but they didn't create a good team. I would prefer letting the 06s 07s 08s get ice time and learn. They didn't do that this year. They loaded up having 3 OAs, 5 19 year olds and still lost a lot. Remember Bowler was confidently talking about this team.

The Import Draft is just a guessing game for the ones that aren't prepared and don't have connections. Let me guess London was guessing with Gazizov and Haltunen....

 

[OHLTG]

I'm not saying don't build around the youth but don't write off everyone who's an 04/05 just because the team didn't perform the way we wanted. That was more of a perfect storm than the players not being good enough. Between Smith's firing and the deadline, they were around .500, which most of us would have taken from day one.

The draft is a guessing game. I'd still take a top-10 pick over a pick in the 50s any day and I'm guessing most here would do the same.

 

[hockeylegend11]

I'm not saying don't build around the youth but don't write off everyone who's an 04/05 just because the team didn't perform the way we wanted. That was more of a perfect storm than the players not being good enough. Between Smith's firing and the deadline, they were around .500, which most of us would have taken from day one.

The draft is a guessing game. I'd still take a top-10 pick over a pick in the 50s any day and I'm guessing most here would do the same.

As I mentioned before,the season for me has been 3 stages,prior to coach firing,4-16-1,then up to the trade deadline 8-5-2-1,and since the trade deadline 2-7-0-1,where they traded 5 players including Peer,Maillet and Mancini and Castle,brought in 3 players,Toure, Donoso and Zito,then Zito upped and quit,Outwater out for the season,so 7 players out and now only 2 in big difference in talent out then in.
We know moves were made that have and will, dramatically change the makeup currently and more so in the future.
This year's drafts all 3 of them will and should be telling moving forward.

 

[windsor7]

I'm not saying don't build around the youth but don't write off everyone who's an 04/05 just because the team didn't perform the way we wanted. That was more of a perfect storm than the players not being good enough. Between Smith's firing and the deadline, they were around .500, which most of us would have taken from day one.

The draft is a guessing game. I'd still take a top-10 pick over a pick in the 50s any day and I'm guessing most here would do the same.

Not a perfect storm.
Bowler didn't assemble a good enough team. Excuses.

 

[OHL 17]

The Import Draft is a guessing game. You're always going to have some players picked higher that either struggle or don't report, just like you'll have guys picked lower who do better than expected.

Right now, the Spits have...

Toure, Toms, Cristoforo, Winegard, Eichler, Woodall, and Walton on D.

Toure and Toms are gone in the off-season. You could even make a case that Winegard is gone; he brings size and a willingness, but I'm not sure he's sticking around. That leaves you with Cristoforo, Eichler, Woodall, and Walton, plus likely one of Lavigne/Manzo. If you get rid of Eichler, you're in a similar spot to this season with a very young D. Sure, you could draft someone in the 2nd Rd Import, but there's no guarantee they report or become what Eichler is now.

Don't rule out Evans making the team.

 

[OHLTG]

Don't rule out Evans making the team.

It was more "we're going to be young next season" than naming specific players who should be on the roster.

On another note, these are nice!