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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 4, 2014 13:58:18 GMT -4
In general, 20 year olds are worth a fair bit less than a comparable 19 year old. That's generally the rule of thumb but it's strange they weren't moved. Maybe Shannon feels he can get the same or better value next season. What other reason would he have not to trade them ? The goalie market was flooded , no doubting that one , so that might explain Dubeau but not sure what the deal was with Lalonde. Might have been a gamble , with a lot of players moving on , Lalonde will in all likelihood be one of the league's top goal scorers. Look at what Frederick Gaudreau got in return. The reason I got from a few "insiders" is they think they can contend next year...but Shannon(for good reason) didn't say it in the article.
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Post by jimmy on Apr 4, 2014 14:30:06 GMT -4
That's generally the rule of thumb but it's strange they weren't moved. Maybe Shannon feels he can get the same or better value next season. What other reason would he have not to trade them ? The goalie market was flooded , no doubting that one , so that might explain Dubeau but not sure what the deal was with Lalonde. Might have been a gamble , with a lot of players moving on , Lalonde will in all likelihood be one of the league's top goal scorers. Look at what Frederick Gaudreau got in return. The reason I got from a few "insiders" is they think they can contend next year...but Shannon(for good reason) didn't say it in the article. Shannon hinted at possibly contending next season, but conditional on being able to land a couple of impact d-men amongst his American prospects ... Obviously bringing Tkachev back would probably have a huge bearing as well. Let's say for argument's sake he added two of MacLeod/Florentino/Gendron/Malatesta ... Goal Dubeau - Rioux Defense Sweeney - MacLeod Johnston - Gendron Holwell - Klebanskyj ? - ? Forwards Barbashev - Tkachev - ? Lalonde - Garland - ? Simpson - Johnson - Smith Pugsley - Olivier - Seeger Bower - Jacob - Leger - Cormier You would have an empty OA spot which you could use to fill one of the two openings in the top 6 ... one of the bottom six guys above plays 2nd line to start the year ... That roster would not be too far off being a contender - especially as the Atlantic Division clubs are mostly still a year away from peaking (SJ, Charlottetown, Cape Breton), or a year past (Halifax)...
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Post by Penguins23® on Apr 4, 2014 14:33:00 GMT -4
The reason I got from a few "insiders" is they think they can contend next year...but Shannon(for good reason) didn't say it in the article. Shannon hinted at possibly contending next season, but conditional on being able to land a couple of impact d-men amongst his American prospects ... Obviously bringing Tkachev back would probably have a huge bearing as well. Let's say for argument's sake he added two of MacLeod/Florentino/Gendron/Malatesta ... Goal Dubeau - Rioux Defense Sweeney - MacLeod Johnston - Gendron Holwell - Klebanskyj ? - ? Forwards Barbashev - Tkachev - ? Lalonde - Garland - ? Simpson - Johnson - Smith Pugsley - Olivier - Seeger Bower - Jacob - Leger - Cormier You would have an empty OA spot which you could use to fill one of the two openings in the top 6 ... one of the bottom six guys above plays 2nd line to start the year ... That roster would not be too far off being a contender - especially as the Atlantic Division clubs are mostly still a year away from peaking (SJ, Charlottetown, Cape Breton), or a year past (Halifax)... In your scenario, I'd find a 20 year old to play with the Russians and put Simpson in between Garland and Lalonde. Simpson's size would help offset Garland and Lalonde's lack of size. Simpson looks like a guy ready to break out offensively.
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Post by CrazyJoeDavola on Apr 4, 2014 14:42:00 GMT -4
If a few things go right as mentioned, you could certainly be in the talk of contending though not sure its really league championship stuff. But we wouldn`t know until we see who reports and how good they are.
It would also be a risky move too, as it throws out the rebuild mid-stream again. You will go two steps back again, so it better be worth it.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 4, 2014 14:57:53 GMT -4
The reason I got from a few "insiders" is they think they can contend next year...but Shannon(for good reason) didn't say it in the article. Shannon hinted at possibly contending next season, but conditional on being able to land a couple of impact d-men amongst his American prospects ... Obviously bringing Tkachev back would probably have a huge bearing as well. Let's say for argument's sake he added two of MacLeod/Florentino/Gendron/Malatesta ... Goal Dubeau - Rioux Defense Sweeney - MacLeod Johnston - Gendron Holwell - Klebanskyj ? - ? Forwards Barbashev - Tkachev - ? Lalonde - Garland - ? Simpson - Johnson - Smith Pugsley - Olivier - Seeger Bower - Jacob - Leger - Cormier You would have an empty OA spot which you could use to fill one of the two openings in the top 6 ... one of the bottom six guys above plays 2nd line to start the year ... That roster would not be too far off being a contender - especially as the Atlantic Division clubs are mostly still a year away from peaking (SJ, Charlottetown, Cape Breton), or a year past (Halifax)... Gendron MacLeod and Florentino are pretty big longshots at this point...those are huge IF's. Plus the defense may still be missing an impact player, the type you need to win...Yandle Tezikov Gormley Bourdon type impact guy. Plus the pieces missing in the top 6 would be expensive with an already weak "cupboard" with no 2013 or 2014 1st rounder, those pieces would also need to be guys with size considering Tkachev Garland Lalonde are all well below average size, would make it pretty expensive.
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Dugger
Blue-Chip Prospect
Posts: 437
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Post by Dugger on Apr 4, 2014 19:03:17 GMT -4
We won't have a championship team for a few years, look at the team Halifax had when they won, look at the teams that Saint John had when they won, THAT is what you are looking at to be a championship team, we don't even come close to having the players nor the assets to get those players. We DID have those assets last year but the collective brain trust decided that they could contend and blew a golden opportunity to set this franchise up for a great team.
We seem to consistently Frankenstein a team together with mid-pack talent, we don't suck but we aren't excelling either.
We are relying constantly on looking for that diamond in the ruff with free agents to make up for a poor draft or a failed stab at going for it, or swinging for the fences with a long shot American player, where is our franchise player (no Barbashev is not a franchise player), this team seems to be stuck in perpetual purgatory.
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Post by Porkchop on Apr 4, 2014 22:47:30 GMT -4
We won't have a championship team for a few years, look at the team Halifax had when they won, look at the teams that Saint John had when they won, THAT is what you are looking at to be a championship team, we don't even come close to having the players nor the assets to get those players. We DID have those assets last year but the collective brain trust decided that they could contend and blew a golden opportunity to set this franchise up for a great team. We seem to consistently Frankenstein a team together with mid-pack talent, we don't suck but we aren't excelling either. We are relying constantly on looking for that diamond in the ruff with free agents to make up for a poor draft or a failed stab at going for it, or swinging for the fences with a long shot American player, where is our franchise player (no Barbashev is not a franchise player), this team seems to be stuck in perpetual purgatory. You don't need a team like Halifax or Saint John did to win a championship......this year is proof of that. You don't have to go 16-0 to win the cup.
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Dugger
Blue-Chip Prospect
Posts: 437
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Post by Dugger on Apr 4, 2014 23:11:16 GMT -4
We won't have a championship team for a few years, look at the team Halifax had when they won, look at the teams that Saint John had when they won, THAT is what you are looking at to be a championship team, we don't even come close to having the players nor the assets to get those players. We DID have those assets last year but the collective brain trust decided that they could contend and blew a golden opportunity to set this franchise up for a great team. We seem to consistently Frankenstein a team together with mid-pack talent, we don't suck but we aren't excelling either. We are relying constantly on looking for that diamond in the ruff with free agents to make up for a poor draft or a failed stab at going for it, or swinging for the fences with a long shot American player, where is our franchise player (no Barbashev is not a franchise player), this team seems to be stuck in perpetual purgatory. You don't need a team like Halifax or Saint John did to win a championship......this year is proof of that. You don't have to go 16-0 to win the cup. By championship I mean Memorial Cup and using those teams is more or less a bench mark from which to judge our talent level and we are so so far from that mark that someone needs to get smarter when it comes to acquiring the talent needed for such a team, we are not close to icing a Presidents Cup Champion not to mention a Memorial Cup Championship team. We can debate the merits of the talent the Wildcats have until the cows come home but unless a few of them undergo some type of miraclulous metamorphosis over the summer we have an average team, with a couple of top-end assets nothing more.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 5, 2014 7:55:52 GMT -4
You don't need a team like Halifax or Saint John did to win a championship......this year is proof of that. You don't have to go 16-0 to win the cup. By championship I mean Memorial Cup and using those teams is more or less a bench mark from which to judge our talent level and we are so so far from that mark that someone needs to get smarter when it comes to acquiring the talent needed for such a team, we are not close to icing a Presidents Cup Champion not to mention a Memorial Cup Championship team. We can debate the merits of the talent the Wildcats have until the cows come home but unless a few of them undergo some type of miraclulous metamorphosis over the summer we have an average team, with a couple of top-end assets nothing more. Your last sentence sums it up. Even if a few longshots report to camp, none are likely to be an Eichel or Yandle and transform the team. This year with no Dubeau playing like an all-star you have a team that fights for a playoff spot. The season numbers look a lot better because of 2 main factors, Dubeau playing great most of the year and the Maritime division being ultra weak. Those two things mask a lot of weaknesses, like the defense, lack of size up front or depth. Now some players have a chance to be better next year, and the loss of OA players were decent but not overwhelming, but without a big infusion of talent they are still more than a couple trades from a championship. With a lot of big pieces probably in their final year(Dubeau Lalonde Barbashev Tkachev).It should make the decision to sell an easy one, but with this team they like going against the grain. A team like CB has a chance to be good next year, SJ should improve and Charlotteown can get better to depending on moves, progression and future considerations(Karabacek). Halifax should be solid and may sell. Overall still a relatively weak division next year.
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Post by forrest on Apr 5, 2014 11:25:59 GMT -4
The team this year was weak on D, but I'm not talking about Defensmen. Our Defensive play was weak. Moncton were good in games where they could score bunch of goals. That isn't what we were used to with Danny Flynn. As long as we have a system like they played this year, the defensemen will always look bad because the forwards are not moving enough and passing lanes are often blocked leaving the defensemen with very few options. That is why we often saw east/west passes from the Defensemen and then one of them rushing the puck, instead of making good forward pass to open forwards.
Garland is probably the best example of guy with talent, but disappears when we played against a team with a good system. He couldn't control his emotion, and instead of getting under the opponents skin when things go bad, he would try to do too much by himself. I hope we see more structure on the ice next year.
I'll give the coach credit for an entertaining season, for letting the players play their game and be creative. I'll give him credit for many things, but unless he puts a better system in place in the next seasons, I can't see any team doing well.
Those saying that our D is weak, give them a good defensive system, and you'll see one of the best D in the league next year.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 5, 2014 11:32:09 GMT -4
The team this year was weak on D, but I'm not talking about Defensmen. Our Defensive play was weak. Moncton were good in games where they could score bunch of goals. That isn't what we were used to with Danny Flynn. As long as we have a system like they played this year, the defensemen will always look bad because the forwards are not moving enough and passing lanes are often blocked leaving the defensemen with very few options. That is why we often saw east/west passes from the Defensemen and then one of them rushing the puck, instead of making good forward pass to open forwards. Garland is probably the best example of guy with talent, but disappears when we played against a team with a good system. He couldn't control his emotion, and instead of getting under the opponents skin when things go bad, he would try to do too much by himself. I hope we see more structure on the ice next year. I'll give the coach credit for an entertaining season, for letting the players play their game and be creative. I'll give him credit for many things, but unless he puts a better system in place in the next seasons, I can't see any team doing well. Those saying that our D is weak, give them a good defensive system, and you'll see one of the best D in the league next year. As much as having 1 way forwards or a more offensive system hurt them, they had Dubeau bail them out countless times. I don't disagree with what you are saying, but overall the group of defensemen the Cats had this year was among the 3-4 worst in the QMJHL. If they played 2/3 their games in QMJHL East or West with average goaltending they would have given up a ton of goals, regardless of what system they play. After Sweeney and Johnston(after a 20-25 game adjustment), they had no other legit top 4 guys. Holwell Donnelly and Haas filled in those roles bust were not up to that level and on a decent team would be #5-6 guys.
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Post by wildcatsinsider on Apr 5, 2014 18:07:25 GMT -4
Hodge in today's paper was discussing the plans for next season, interview with Shannon. It appears our next "go for it" year could be 2016-17, where Mem Cup could be in Saint John. That said, it could move up if we are able to land a couple of our impact Americans - if we can land two of Florentino (Buffalo pick - would Nolan have any influence in him coming to Moncton for 19 y/o season), MacLeod, Malatesta, Gendron, or Dorsey on defense for next year, things start to look differently. Tkachev remains the biggest wild card for next year ... Hodge also talked about returning players - he lists White, Halabi, and Haas as unlikely to return. Dorsey they could have kept him this year but would not promise him a spot, suddenly he'd be a huge addition for next year? Weird. MacLeod just might not make it into BU and decide Moncton is his best route to NHL.. Malatesta is going to Montreal Meltdown to play on a US team, Shannon and his "boys@ can see him. Dorsey had a great prep year, Shannon saw him multiple times.. 6' 2 or 3 and now 200, he is a very mobile big man.
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Post by wildcatsinsider on Apr 5, 2014 18:12:35 GMT -4
Dorsey they could have kept him this year but would not promise him a spot, suddenly he'd be a huge addition for next year? Weird. MacLeod just might not make it into BU and decide Moncton is his best route to NHL.. Malatesta is going to Montreal Meltdown to play on a US team, Shannon and his "boys@ can see him. Dorsey had a great prep year, Shannon saw him multiple times.. 6' 2 or 3 and now 200, he is a very mobile big man. Gendron is not coming...Proud to say that next year I will be playing my junior hockey for the Penticton Vees in the BCHL.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 6, 2014 17:52:35 GMT -4
Dorsey they could have kept him this year but would not promise him a spot, suddenly he'd be a huge addition for next year? Weird. MacLeod just might not make it into BU and decide Moncton is his best route to NHL.. Malatesta is going to Montreal Meltdown to play on a US team, Shannon and his "boys@ can see him. Dorsey had a great prep year, Shannon saw him multiple times.. 6' 2 or 3 and now 200, he is a very mobile big man. The scouts I spoke to said MacLeod would be the cats #1 d-man after an adjustment period. He is in the Racine mold, high end shut down guy who plays with an edge. He tends to take a few too many penalities but he is hard to play against.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 6, 2014 17:54:30 GMT -4
MacLeod just might not make it into BU and decide Moncton is his best route to NHL.. Malatesta is going to Montreal Meltdown to play on a US team, Shannon and his "boys@ can see him. Dorsey had a great prep year, Shannon saw him multiple times.. 6' 2 or 3 and now 200, he is a very mobile big man. Gendron is not coming...Proud to say that next year I will be playing my junior hockey for the Penticton Vees in the BCHL. That can alway$ change...
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