Windsor Spitfires 2024 25 Season Thread Part Iv
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If I am not mistaken an affiliate player at 16 may be employed if his junior team is eliminated which i believe his team is.........
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With the other 08’s that probably could play from a skill level, but are 08’s (Windbiel, Brockelhurst)
I don’t disagree they have their usage. Against Soo, it’s our series to lose. We get a healthy lead, utilize the 4th line. Game gets chippy, toss those guys in. I’m for a gritty game. We have the size to hit and wear teams down.
We shouldnt have to wear down the Soo. Even with our current injuries, we’re a far superior team on paper.
The playoffs will get physical and gritty. I don’t go out looking for it in Round 1. Beat them on the ice the way we can. Avoid dumb penalties, avoid suspensions, don’t escalate physicality if we’re in control… in round 1. Vs Kitchener? London? Saginaw? Different story.
Can’t afford Gaymes to put us shorthanded on a useless penalty in a close game.
Win the First two at home, and I’ll feel good.
I should be clear. I like what Gaymes and Costello bring. I’m not saying sit them. I prefer a physical game. We have the size to beat teams down, and then beat them.
I just don’t see Soo as one of these teams that we need to do that to beat.
Rotate them in. Keep our top guys healthy. If games get physical, they’re great pieces. But rarely 4th line guys get chances in the playoffs these days.
I really want to see the Spits start out hot, take control, and then take care of our key guys.
We’re down a, debatably, Top 6 guy in Belchetz 7th forward in scoring, Below Davis above Spellacy. And a Top 2 D Man in Mathurin. Can’t afford to drop another Top Forward or Top Pairing D Man in round 1, or if we move on to play Kitchener/London/Saginaw it may get tough quick
I just don’t see Soo as one of these teams that we need to do that to beat.
Rotate them in. Keep our top guys healthy. If games get physical, they’re great pieces. But rarely 4th line guys get chances in the playoffs these days.
I really want to see the Spits start out hot, take control, and then take care of our key guys.
We’re down a, debatably, Top 6 guy in Belchetz 7th forward in scoring, Below Davis above Spellacy. And a Top 2 D Man in Mathurin. Can’t afford to drop another Top Forward or Top Pairing D Man in round 1, or if we move on to play Kitchener/London/Saginaw it may get tough quick
Yes this idea of playing Gaymes and Costello is a fools errand. Soo coach should be happy if they're out on the ice. Soo still has guys that can score 2 with 30+ a few more with 20. If Nordh and Allard are healthy I expect then to be a 2 to 3 line team.
OHLTG
Registered User
Let's say Winegard, Belchetz, and Lemieux are out for a while, if reports are correct...
We could have...
Protas - Greentree - Morneau
Abraham - spellacy - davis
Nesbitt - McNamara - Garden
Gaymes - Costello - ??
Cristoforo - Kennedy
Woodall - Walton
Hicks - Eichler
Robinson
IF you had Lemieux healthy, he slides in Gaymes spot and they run 7/11. If you had Lemieux and Belchetz healthy, you might run them with Gaymes and have 6/12.
The question is - do you put guys like Alec Stewart and Max Brocklehurst on the fourth line, instead of Gaymes/Costello, despite less grit and size? I'm not sold on that yet.
I get it, they're not ideal fourth liners, but they're serviceable, physical players who can give the top lines some rest. You're not going to get more than a few shifts from them unless it's a blow-out, but I still think it's better than Brock/Stewart right now.
We could have...
Protas - Greentree - Morneau
Abraham - spellacy - davis
Nesbitt - McNamara - Garden
Gaymes - Costello - ??
Cristoforo - Kennedy
Woodall - Walton
Hicks - Eichler
Robinson
IF you had Lemieux healthy, he slides in Gaymes spot and they run 7/11. If you had Lemieux and Belchetz healthy, you might run them with Gaymes and have 6/12.
The question is - do you put guys like Alec Stewart and Max Brocklehurst on the fourth line, instead of Gaymes/Costello, despite less grit and size? I'm not sold on that yet.
I get it, they're not ideal fourth liners, but they're serviceable, physical players who can give the top lines some rest. You're not going to get more than a few shifts from them unless it's a blow-out, but I still think it's better than Brock/Stewart right now.
ohloutsider
Registered User
In the playoffs unless you are up 10- zip 4th line will gather splinters on the bench. This team can't allow easy goals against. Foot on the petal to the last whistle.
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OHLTG
Registered User
I'm not disagreeing with their usage, just saying that IF they played in this series, I'd rather see Gaymes/Costello because they're physical and have *some* experience over complete inexperience from Stewart and Brocklehurst.
I think you might mean #1 Dman down. He is by far the biggest loss that the team cannot afford.
ohloutsider
Registered User
It's all about draft year, not their actual birthday. He falls under the rules of the 08 draft class.
ohloutsider
Registered User
Once their team has been eliminated from their leagues playoffs the game limit does not apply but I believe the - you can only dress 4 still applies. The who dresses is a game to game decision by the coaching staff.
OHLTG
Registered User
From the OHL site:
Selected Players in the OHL
OHL Member Teams are permitted to register a maximum of four 16-year-old players selected in the OHL Priority Selection. Those 16 year old players that are allowed to be signed are the first two 16-year-old players selected and a maximum of two additional 16-year-old wild carded players in any round of the OHL Priority Selection.
All other 16-year-old players selected are eligible to be called up as an “affiliated player” or “floating affiliate player” for a maximum of 10 games or for any OHL regular season or playoff games when such player’s team has been eliminated from competition for that season.
Selected Players in the OHL
OHL Member Teams are permitted to register a maximum of four 16-year-old players selected in the OHL Priority Selection. Those 16 year old players that are allowed to be signed are the first two 16-year-old players selected and a maximum of two additional 16-year-old wild carded players in any round of the OHL Priority Selection.
All other 16-year-old players selected are eligible to be called up as an “affiliated player” or “floating affiliate player” for a maximum of 10 games or for any OHL regular season or playoff games when such player’s team has been eliminated from competition for that season.
Hopefully the shutout Costanzo got in the 2nd last game of the season returns some confidence that appears to have been lacking the 2nd half of his season.
Spits thru 68 games allowed 2 or less goals 29 times this year,should mention that happened only 6 times all last season.
However 20 of those 2 or less games were in the 1st 34 games of the season,9 in the 2nd 34.
Should mention Mathurin missed 5 games in the 1st 34,and Windsor went 3-0-1, in the last 34 Mathurin missed 15 and Spits went 11-3-1 without him playing.
No doubt Wyatt Kennedy has helped replace him especially down the stretch.
My advice don't take Soo lightly and things should be fine,one game at a time is my motto and no further injuries would be nice.
Good Spits.
Spits thru 68 games allowed 2 or less goals 29 times this year,should mention that happened only 6 times all last season.
However 20 of those 2 or less games were in the 1st 34 games of the season,9 in the 2nd 34.
Should mention Mathurin missed 5 games in the 1st 34,and Windsor went 3-0-1, in the last 34 Mathurin missed 15 and Spits went 11-3-1 without him playing.
No doubt Wyatt Kennedy has helped replace him especially down the stretch.
My advice don't take Soo lightly and things should be fine,one game at a time is my motto and no further injuries would be nice.
Good Spits.
ohloutsider
Registered User
Even though I like his play he would only be the 7th D. Not sure if they will go that route or not?
OHLTG
Registered User
It would likely be...
Cristoruffo - Kennedy
Woodall - Walton
Hicks - Eichler
Robinson
I like Robinson so far; quick, poised, and will be a factor next season. However, right now... he's 7th at best and that's fine. The fact that he's even here is impressive.
Cristoruffo - Kennedy
Woodall - Walton
Hicks - Eichler
Robinson
I like Robinson so far; quick, poised, and will be a factor next season. However, right now... he's 7th at best and that's fine. The fact that he's even here is impressive.
My issue with 7D is with 11 forwards there's a chance you're giving the 10th 11th forward a shift with Greentree or Protas. That might not be the best idea.
SpitfireHabs1
Registered User
Game day.
Pumped for playoffs, im a little nervous after the last time in the playoffs and the fact there's a few players out and possibly a few playing banged up. The Soo have nothing to lose, their the underdog and I'm sure they are going to come out hard. Some of the spitfires were here during that disaster playoffs a few year back and I hope it's still lingering around in their heads and make sure this team is ready to compete and play playoff hockey.
All said and done I think our stars will have to be the best players in this series for the spitfires to pull off the Game 1 victory and hopeful series win. Need to hope Joey saved his best for the playoffs, goaltending/team defense is definetly this teams question mark and will see what version of this team we see tonight.
It shouldn't take too much for the boys to be pumped for this one, game one of playoffs. This is what it's about. Hope to see a hell of a game tonight!!
Go Spits Go.
Pumped for playoffs, im a little nervous after the last time in the playoffs and the fact there's a few players out and possibly a few playing banged up. The Soo have nothing to lose, their the underdog and I'm sure they are going to come out hard. Some of the spitfires were here during that disaster playoffs a few year back and I hope it's still lingering around in their heads and make sure this team is ready to compete and play playoff hockey.
All said and done I think our stars will have to be the best players in this series for the spitfires to pull off the Game 1 victory and hopeful series win. Need to hope Joey saved his best for the playoffs, goaltending/team defense is definetly this teams question mark and will see what version of this team we see tonight.
It shouldn't take too much for the boys to be pumped for this one, game one of playoffs. This is what it's about. Hope to see a hell of a game tonight!!
Go Spits Go.
OHLTG
Registered User
From what Greentree has talked about post-game over the last month or so, the 2023 playoffs are still a vivid memory and he wants to get redemption.
ohloutsider
Registered User
It was a better option when the had Winegard as he could play 4th line minutes up front and sub in on D as required. Not sure which way is best now as they will likely cycle 3 lines and 6 D anyway.
No more injuries or suspensions or they could be stretched thin.
I think it's imperative Costanzo plays well eg a
4-1 win is better than 6-4.
