Coming down to the wire ...

[jimmy]

Per today's T & T:

"The Moncton Wildcats have signed 17 players so far and they plan to carry a 25-man roster.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club has already locked up goaltender Nicola Riopel, defencemen Alexi Pianosi, Mark Barberio, Paul Dimitruk, Andrew Eastman, Myles Gomes and Martin Baca, and forwards Matthew Brenton, Randy Cameron, Matt Eagles, Marc-Andre Labelle, Pierre-Marc Lessard, Murdock MacLellan, Zach Sill, Scott Brannon, Adam Bezak and Ted Stephens."

So here are the battles that remain:

Backup goalie: I would say that unless something drastic happens between now and Monday, Lavigne is the man ... Bolduc, Dupuis, Cooling, Taylor and Sniderman on the outside looking in.

Defense: Two jobs are available between Tolles, Goyens, Herr, Boyle, Little and Wilson. Most observers seem to feel that of this group, Wilson has had by far the best camp ... I think combined with his age (18), one of the spots will be his. For the last job, Goyens has a bit of experience on his side, Herr brings toughness that we don't really have otherwise, Tolles is a bit of an enigma who is simply running out of time, and Little and Boyle have an edge based on their age ... they could still hopefully develop for next year ... although with five d-men their age or younger ahead of them on the depth chart (Barberio, Pianosi, Baca, Demitruk, and Wilson), I don't think this will be a major factor.

Forwards: We have ten guys signed, not including the potential for three 20 year olds, plus Brown and MacAusland. That would bring us to 15 right there, and leave, Lepage, Smith, Watson, Lamoureux on the outside looking in barring a last minute trade. Developmentally, I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world for Brown to start the season in Jr A, but I can't see it happening after the trouble they went to in signing him. Would they carry less than three 20 year olds, and maybe shop for a 20 year old d-man later? Doubtful ...

I guess everything will shake out in the next 72 hours or so.

[Sébastien]

Goaltender
-Lavigne: I agree with Jimmy that unless something totally unexpected and drastic happens, he's got the job. Not only would he be a quality backup, but if ever anything happened on the injury front to Riopel, he's the only one that I can see come in and be a decent starter.

Defense
-Eastman: I sure hope he's good, because we haven't really had the chance to see anything about him.

As for the 7th job, I have to admit that I was not impressed or comfortable with Wilson at the start of the rookie camp. He seemed to always keep the puck too long and tried to breakout of the zone by deaking a couple of forwards. However, in last night's exhibition, he simplified his play quite a lot. Still some passes that I wish to never see again, but he vastly improved in my book. And he can get that puck on a player's stick in a hurry.

For the 8th, I see it between Goyens and Herr. Although both probably aren't the best options for a regular lineup, Goyens is the one with experience and Herr can be very good for complimentary toughness. As long as he's not the main guy, he adds to the team. You simply have to pick your spots as to when to play him. I can see Herr being quite useful against some of those Telus division teams.

Forwards[/u]
The two names that surprise me as being already signed are Breton (although be it a lot less) and Stephens. Like Jimmy said, that's 10 spots right there, plus 3 overagers, which leaves 2 more spots open.

According to what Flynn said about Brown in the Acadie Nouvelle a little while ago, he will be on the team and play. That leaves us one spot. McAusland? Lamoureux? There are simply too many options, although I have to admit I'd love to see Lamoureux on the team this year. He is a lot faster then last year and it shows that he worked hard to get his conditionning to where it is.

[Penguins23®]

Here is my dream scenario here....trade for a 20 year old d-man. You can give up one of the 20's along with a pick or something. Then we can keep Watson along with 2 20 YO forwards. Our 2 missing D-man can be Wilson the new player. We can get rid of Little,Boyle,Herr and the rest of them. Boyle last night was a joke, his feet are way too slow to play in this league. He got beat 4 or 5 times and he's very vulnerable out there. I don't know if it's still the injury or what but I was very unimpressed. Goyens has watched too many Keith Yandle clips. Herr "thinks" he can fight. Little just got killed in his fight last night. Tolles has been inconsistent, he's had his flashes but has made too many mistakes.

[Sébastien]

Any decent 20 year old defenseman that could crack our top4 that wouldn't be very expensive?

What about Andricopoulus in Quebec? They need a little bit of everything over there. Do they need a 20 year old? I can't remember exactly. There's also Joey Ryan that could maybe be had, but considering their defense is already weak, they might be reluctant to let him go.

[Captain Obvious]

bobosinclair said:

Any decent 20 year old defenseman that could crack our top4 that wouldn't be very expensive?

What about Andricopoulus in Quebec? They need a little bit of everything over there. Do they need a 20 year old? I can't remember exactly. There's also Joey Ryan that could maybe be had, but considering their defense is already weak, they might be reluctant to let him go.

Neither Ryan or Andricopoulos are in Quebec camp.

[Optimus Reim]

I thought I had heard Andricopoulos signed with an ECHL team.?

[Sébastien]

I knew Andricopoulus wasn't at the Rempart's camp, but I thought Ryan was. Must have confused him with another player.

That being said, I don't think Andricopoulus not being in camp is a decision of his own. After the last game of the playoffs, Roy pretty much pointed fingers at 3 or 4 players and said right then and there that there was no way they were coming back. The only one who did was Kenzie Sheppard.

[IslandersHKY]

ace said:

I thought I had heard Andricopoulos signed with an ECHL team.?

Teams were asking about him at the draft and were informed that he wasn't intending on playing in the Q.

Andricopoulos did in fact sign with an ECHL team but I can't remember which one.

[Optimus Reim]

hockeyfan99 said:

ace said:

I thought I had heard Andricopoulos signed with an ECHL team.?

Teams were asking about him at the draft and were informed that he wasn't intending on playing in the Q.

Andricopoulos did in fact sign with an ECHL team but I can't remember which one.

Texas Wildcatters
www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=11553

[bois]

where is Joey Ryan?

and Kenzie did end up goin to Quebec's camp afterall?

[jimmy]

bois said:

where is Joey Ryan?

and Kenzie did end up goin to Quebec's camp afterall?

Ryan is NHL drafted, I am assuming he will wind up in the AHL as a 20 year old ...

He was a 2nd round pick of the Kings in 2006.

[jimmy]

penguins23 said:

Here is my dream scenario here....trade for a 20 year old d-man. You can give up one of the 20's along with a pick or something. Then we can keep Watson along with 2 20 YO forwards. Our 2 missing D-man can be Wilson the new player. We can get rid of Little,Boyle,Herr and the rest of them. Boyle last night was a joke, his feet are way too slow to play in this league. He got beat 4 or 5 times and he's very vulnerable out there. I don't know if it's still the injury or what but I was very unimpressed. Goyens has watched too many Keith Yandle clips. Herr "thinks" he can fight. Little just got killed in his fight last night. Tolles has been inconsistent, he's had his flashes but has made too many mistakes.

Agree with you for the most part ... based on the improvement he seems to have shown over the summer, and the fact that he is still highly inexperienced and only 18, I think it is too soon to give up on Watson ... he could definitely be a late bloomer who explodes at 19.

[Wheelies]

I aree with you Jimmy.. about Watson...I think he has alot of potential...But he better stick to trying to put the puck in the net and not fighting..!!!

[CatsFan]

Heard a rumour that 2 goalies were let go tonight ( not sure who .. ) & Bobby Little was let go as well ..

[Captain Obvious]

mc2006 said:

Heard a rumour that 2 goalies were let go tonight ( not sure who .. ) & Bobby Little was let go as well ..

my guess would be Dupuis and Cooling.