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Post by statsman18 on Jan 30, 2023 10:45:38 GMT -4
I know we have a lot of hockey left for this year (hopefully). Something happened over the weekend that slid under the radar. Halifax’s Instagram account post a picture of Cam, Allie and Stephen Davis with the caption saying they were “Dinning with Davis on a Boston scouting trip.” Part of the reason I bring this up is I wonder if the world Jr’s maybe help Halifax recruit a player or two. They might even be working on someone the fact the 2 of them are there together. Plus maybe they’re getting Davis to sell the city and franchise to a family some too. I know that is maybe fishing some but I think this time the world Jr’s might be a selling point for the Mooseheads and maybe even Moncton too. If this is the case and they are able to recruit an American or two that other wise was not on the radar maybe Halifax is a top contender next season. Halifax’s highest pick is a 3rd round this up coming draft and Halifax has a big g shopping list to be a contender next season. Shopping list: -Draft the next number 1 goalie. - add both forward and defence depth. Preferably at least 1 in each position who can become roster players next season. - Draft a new Euro that will both report and contribute. Keep in mind we’re looking at a pick around the 50’s - IMO we have one player that is a 20yo next year on this roster. Maybe 2 depending on Whynot but I don’t think he’s back next year. IMO they will lose maybe as many as 5 forwards. I am not willing to pencil in Fournier to this roster next season. I just don’t see him as a 20yo on a contending team next year. You can place Fontaine in his spot but there’s 4 other spots opening up. Todd and Welsh sure cover 2 other and probably a 18 or 19yo euro goes to one other. That leaves one spot for hopefully one of the Americans I started this whole post about. Hopefully that 3rd round pick we sneak a sleeper there. The Goalie part I feel that Cam is going to need to get creative and get into the 2nd round to find that guy. Here’s the post by the way. http://instagram.com/p/Cn9k-3lrCwl
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Post by yesisaiditfirst on Jan 30, 2023 11:29:00 GMT -4
"Draft a new Euro that will both report and contribute. Keep in mind we’re looking at a pick around the 50’s" ---- And Russians are not available so the guys at 50 may have been slotted much lower in other years.
In 2022 64 players were picked over 2 rounds.
So it makes total sense that they make that up the American route. Halifax has a good case to bring that territory.
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Post by Reesor on Jan 30, 2023 11:48:27 GMT -4
Defense is solid, especially if Whynot returns. If he doesn't return they'll probably need to add a defender at the deadline.
Forwards have elite high-end talent, but lack a lot of depth. I'm assuming Biasca will have pro options, either at home or here in North America. If he is gone that leaves Dumais, Vidicek & Cataford is the elite forwards, then Crosby, Fournier (20), Peitzsche, MacPhee, Todd, Welsh and probably Fontaine as the depth forwards. Not an elite roster by any stretch. If Moravec doesn't take up a 20yo slot, and Biasca is gone, they'll have room for two Import forwards and a 20 year old (2 if Whynot is gone). So they can fill out the forward roster with trades that won't cost as much by comparison. They can upgrade on Fournier if they need to as well.
It looks a little thin right now at forward, not going to lie. If they can strike gold in the Import draft with a 19 year old Import player that is looking to get use to the North American style of play on a contender, that would save assets. If they can find an impact free agent from the CCHL again, that would help. If they could snap their fingers and grab two 20s the caliber of Lawrence and Doucet, that would really help. It's almost like all of those things have to happen in order for the team to have the same roster as they have now, which is concerning. But the defense and goaltending look to be there.
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Post by trueblue on Jan 30, 2023 12:38:43 GMT -4
I just wonder how aggressive Cam will be at the draft - or whether he waits until the holidays.
As it stands: the top line (likely the best in the league), the depth of our D corps, and solid goaltending from Rousseau should still have us near the top of the division for the first half... while we figure out whether any of Crosby/Peitzche/Fontaine are able to take the next step and become legitimate top 6 forwards. Don't have high hopes for Todd or Welsh, but could see MacPhee and Fournier being useful in the middle 6.
In the worst case scenario where we fall flat on our face in the first half (hard to see this happening), we can pull a Blainville start the rebuild early.
You are all right - bringing in an immediately impactful Euro, American, or Ontario Jr A player is almost a must at this point.
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Post by statsman18 on Jan 30, 2023 15:43:27 GMT -4
Let’s put some context to this here’s how I see the roster looking next year.
Forward group:
PTBNL?/ Vidicek/ Dumais Biasca(20yo Euro)/Cataford/ Crosby Peitzsche/ MacPhee/ PTBNL? Welsh/ Todd/ Fontaine Spare?
Like I’ve said hopefully we find that Euro player that can either be 2nd line center or 1st line left winger. Big ask I know but it’s what this team will need. Also I wonder if maybe next year they give Peitzsche a chance as the top line left winger. If that takes and is a fit maybe it’s a less of a need to get a Euro forward. Don’t forget there is room to grab a 20yo forward for on of these spots to
Defence group:
Furlong/ MacKinnon Schultz/ Phillips Martin/ RD PTBNL? Spare PTBNL?
A 20yo that can bump Schultz down a pair might be a smart move just IMO. Now if Whynot is back that fix’s it all but my gut tells me he’s in the AHL.
Goalie Group:
Rousseau Milner ? PTBNL ?
We’re okay for our number one guy but as for our next guy he IMO needs to be picked this draft. Once again IMO it’s not the time to use this pick on a European.
Now it been brought up about bringing an Ontario Free agent and I agree this is something Cam and scouts need to find. I think defence is where it’s truly needed. If they can find a Patty Kyte 2.0. That would be the perfect player for this team to fill a need!
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Post by trueblue on Jan 30, 2023 17:55:10 GMT -4
Like I’ve said hopefully we find that Euro player that can either be 2nd line center or 1st line left winger. Big ask I know but it’s what this team will need. If we look to add via trade instead of draft and the cost isn't too high, Loshko would be a really good fit in our top 6 next year. Chicoutimi won't be ready to make a run yet and probably need to free up icetime for their glut of young forwards.
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Post by statsman18 on Jan 31, 2023 8:25:22 GMT -4
Like I’ve said hopefully we find that Euro player that can either be 2nd line center or 1st line left winger. Big ask I know but it’s what this team will need. If we look to add via trade instead of draft and the cost isn't too high, Loshko would be a really good fit in our top 6 next year. Chicoutimi won't be ready to make a run yet and probably need to free up icetime for their glut of young forwards. You’re missing the point. Drafting one doesn’t waste assets. The draft pick capital has been deeply cut into from this past trade window. So when they probably need 2 20’s, maybe QB type defencemen. There’s at minimum 3 players they will need to add, and now you’re talking about adding a euro when you can pick one.
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Post by tarkus on Jan 31, 2023 9:05:38 GMT -4
Let’s put some context to this here’s how I see the roster looking next year. Forward group: PTBNL?/ Vidicek/ Dumais Biasca(20yo Euro)/Cataford/ Crosby Peitzsche/ MacPhee/ PTBNL? Welsh/ Todd/ Fontaine Spare? Like I’ve said hopefully we find that Euro player that can either be 2nd line center or 1st line left winger. Big ask I know but it’s what this team will need. Also I wonder if maybe next year they give Peitzsche a chance as the top line left winger. If that takes and is a fit maybe it’s a less of a need to get a Euro forward. Don’t forget there is room to grab a 20yo forward for on of these spots to Defence group: Furlong/ MacKinnon Schultz/ Phillips Martin/ RD PTBNL? Spare PTBNL? A 20yo that can bump Schultz down a pair might be a smart move just IMO. Now if Whynot is back that fix’s it all but my gut tells me he’s in the AHL. Goalie Group: Rousseau Milner ? PTBNL ? We’re okay for our number one guy but as for our next guy he IMO needs to be picked this draft. Once again IMO it’s not the time to use this pick on a European. Now it been brought up about bringing an Ontario Free agent and I agree this is something Cam and scouts need to find. I think defence is where it’s truly needed. If they can find a Patty Kyte 2.0. That would be the perfect player for this team to fill a need! I'd very surprised if Whynot made the jump to the AHL. He will more than likely be back as a 20 next season.
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Post by trueblue on Jan 31, 2023 10:25:55 GMT -4
If we look to add via trade instead of draft and the cost isn't too high, Loshko would be a really good fit in our top 6 next year. Chicoutimi won't be ready to make a run yet and probably need to free up icetime for their glut of young forwards. You’re missing the point. Drafting one doesn’t waste assets. The draft pick capital has been deeply cut into from this past trade window. So when they probably need 2 20’s, maybe QB type defencemen. There’s at minimum 3 players they will need to add, and now you’re talking about adding a euro when you can pick one. No, I completely get where you're coming from. I just think Loshko is a proven performer in this league, stuck on rebuilding team, and could be a primary target if Cam chooses to go that direction. And that direction would be in the best case scenario where Whynot, Biasca, and Fournier are all available to us to start the year.
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Post by Murph on Jan 31, 2023 16:08:49 GMT -4
If we look to add via trade instead of draft and the cost isn't too high, Loshko would be a really good fit in our top 6 next year. Chicoutimi won't be ready to make a run yet and probably need to free up icetime for their glut of young forwards. You’re missing the point. Drafting one doesn’t waste assets. The draft pick capital has been deeply cut into from this past trade window. So when they probably need 2 20’s, maybe QB type defencemen. There’s at minimum 3 players they will need to add, and now you’re talking about adding a euro when you can pick one. Euros typically have cheaper costs than 20’s do. You just saw the team address their needs via trade by focusing on overagers reducing costs. If they did the same next year with euros I wouldn’t be surprised.
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Post by statsman18 on Feb 1, 2023 13:21:30 GMT -4
You’re missing the point. Drafting one doesn’t waste assets. The draft pick capital has been deeply cut into from this past trade window. So when they probably need 2 20’s, maybe QB type defencemen. There’s at minimum 3 players they will need to add, and now you’re talking about adding a euro when you can pick one. Euros typically have cheaper costs than 20’s do. You just saw the team address their needs via trade by focusing on overagers reducing costs. If they did the same next year with euros I wouldn’t be surprised. I would. They can easily just pick one that’s a little older like they did with Moravec. Last time they traded for a euro it blew up in their face.
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Post by yesisaiditfirst on Feb 1, 2023 13:30:03 GMT -4
Surprisingly (or really not) the Ostap Safin wiki page playing career summary sorta skips over any mention of injury and his time with Halifax. If he hadn't scored 11 points it would be like when a tree falls in forest. Can we really believe that happened? He did "finish out the season" with SJ and led them in scoring. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostap_Safin
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Post by statsman18 on Feb 1, 2023 13:36:14 GMT -4
Let’s put some context to this here’s how I see the roster looking next year. Forward group: PTBNL?/ Vidicek/ Dumais Biasca(20yo Euro)/Cataford/ Crosby Peitzsche/ MacPhee/ PTBNL? Welsh/ Todd/ Fontaine Spare? Like I’ve said hopefully we find that Euro player that can either be 2nd line center or 1st line left winger. Big ask I know but it’s what this team will need. Also I wonder if maybe next year they give Peitzsche a chance as the top line left winger. If that takes and is a fit maybe it’s a less of a need to get a Euro forward. Don’t forget there is room to grab a 20yo forward for on of these spots to Defence group: Furlong/ MacKinnon Schultz/ Phillips Martin/ RD PTBNL? Spare PTBNL? A 20yo that can bump Schultz down a pair might be a smart move just IMO. Now if Whynot is back that fix’s it all but my gut tells me he’s in the AHL. Goalie Group: Rousseau Milner ? PTBNL ? We’re okay for our number one guy but as for our next guy he IMO needs to be picked this draft. Once again IMO it’s not the time to use this pick on a European. Now it been brought up about bringing an Ontario Free agent and I agree this is something Cam and scouts need to find. I think defence is where it’s truly needed. If they can find a Patty Kyte 2.0. That would be the perfect player for this team to fill a need! I'd very surprised if Whynot made the jump to the AHL. He will more than likely be back as a 20 next season. You shouldn’t. They have 3 guys that are mid to late 20s that are coming off contracts from the AHL team. They only Have 3 defencemen prospects and Whynot is the best one. He’s probably getting a contract.
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Post by statsman18 on Feb 1, 2023 13:46:30 GMT -4
You’re missing the point. Drafting one doesn’t waste assets. The draft pick capital has been deeply cut into from this past trade window. So when they probably need 2 20’s, maybe QB type defencemen. There’s at minimum 3 players they will need to add, and now you’re talking about adding a euro when you can pick one. No, I completely get where you're coming from. I just think Loshko is a proven performer in this league, stuck on rebuilding team, and could be a primary target if Cam chooses to go that direction. And that direction would be in the best case scenario where Whynot, Biasca, and Fournier are all available to us to start the year. So you do see how easy it is to argue what you just said right? It’s just as easy to draft a new euro (which they will do) than go trade for one. Also you want them to be a winning team and you think Fournier is a 20yr old for a winning team? Fournier is the same as Davis, he’s ok but a waste of a 20yo spot on a Q team.
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Post by Reesor on Feb 1, 2023 14:23:38 GMT -4
You’re missing the point. Drafting one doesn’t waste assets. The draft pick capital has been deeply cut into from this past trade window. So when they probably need 2 20’s, maybe QB type defencemen. There’s at minimum 3 players they will need to add, and now you’re talking about adding a euro when you can pick one. No, I completely get where you're coming from. I just think Loshko is a proven performer in this league, stuck on rebuilding team, and could be a primary target if Cam chooses to go that direction. And that direction would be in the best case scenario where Whynot, Biasca, and Fournier are all available to us to start the year. Loshko probably has a similar trade value for Chicoutimi at Christmas next year than he does before the season starts.... maybe even a higher trade value at Christmas if he takes his game to another level. So more than likely Chicoutimi holds on to him. They have a super young team and they're still 4th in the conference right now. They should improve next year and they may even be in a position where they aren't selling. So I doubt Loshko goes anywhere before the season starts, and there's a chance he doesn't go anywhere at all unless a team overpays for him big time. I see next year playing out similar to this one. Unless Halifax already has a "Morand/Maher" deal lined up, they probably go into the season without making any major moves, and let the first half play out. Once the best 20s in the league are established, they can fill their 20 year old slots, and make a deal for an import player if they struck out in the import draft. No rush to do much of anything unless a great opportunity presents itself. They'll have two 1sts and 3 2nds to play with when the 2026 picks are in play, along with a handful of futures they could offer up as well if they wish. It's amazing that's the position they're in next year while still competing for a championship this year.
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