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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2011 1:08:32 GMT -4
Now that all this MacKinnon crap is over with, it's time to take look at what this team can/will be this year.
With MacKinnon, Frk and Drouin the Moose have something they haven't had in years. They can contend. But how far will they go and where will they end up? My biggest concern is D and tending. How will Fucale and Terenzio hold up... and when will we need to go get a quality top pair D?
I think it's safe to say the dark cloud has been lifted off of this organization. We've been a laughing stock thanks to our on-ice product and our front office. But with the new coaching staff, new team, and work put in by Bobby and Cam, the Moose can get back to being a savvy organization that can compete with the best of 'em.
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Post by Murph on Jul 12, 2011 5:35:36 GMT -4
I think Halifax will finish in the top half. As far as shoring up the defence, I think they'll wait until official word on how the expansion draft will work before they commit to bringing in a bunch of bodies.
MacKinnon, Frk, Drouin, Ashley, Ryan, Andrews, Hardie, Ciampini, Fucale, Terenzio, and Lewis are all guys they will want to protect. That's 11 guys right there, not counting newer draft picks Falkenham, Sills, and Lovell. So if you can only protect 12 guys, it doesn't make sense to try and ship out Desi, Grenier, Hannay etc. at the deadline in December, and bring in some 17 or 18 year old defencemen (unless it's too good to pass up), if it means you're losing Terenzio, Falkenham or Lewis for nothing.
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Post by Fryar on Jul 12, 2011 6:13:49 GMT -4
Now that all this MacKinnon crap is over with, it's time to take look at what this team can/will be this year. With MacKinnon, Frk and Drouin the Moose have something they haven't had in years. They can contend. But how far will they go and where will they end up? My biggest concern is D and tending. How will Fucale and Terenzio hold up... and when will we need to go get a quality top pair D? I think it's safe to say the dark cloud has been lifted off of this organization. We've been a laughing stock thanks to our on-ice product and our front office. But with the new coaching staff, new team, and work put in by Bobby and Cam, the Moose can get back to being a savvy organization that can compete with the best of 'em. 75 - 80 pts finishing around 7th - 9th place.
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Post by Reesor on Jul 12, 2011 6:26:23 GMT -4
I said Mid-pack and a 1st round exit. Although if Ducharme is as good with these kids as people think, we might have the team to pull off an upset. Hopefully we can do what Lewiston did last year (Minus the folding part. ) I can see some growing pains at the start of the year. A bunch of young kids with the weight of a city on their shoulders. New coaching staff with new expectations. We'll be calling for that start of the year road trip to "gel as a team". New lines will be trying to find chemistry. All I can say to people is be patient (again). This is still a work in progress.
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Post by bois on Jul 12, 2011 7:54:23 GMT -4
Your second in the division based on paper in my opinion
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Post by CrazyJoeDavola on Jul 12, 2011 8:06:20 GMT -4
Its all very exciting, however don`t start putting us in "contender" talk. We didn`t add 1 or 2 big name scorers or defensemen, we mainly added 1 veteran aged scorer (Grenier) and 2 talented 16 year olds. Fucale will be backing up unless he steals the job.
We will hopefully finish around mid-pack or better. But most importantly we will get to watch high end talent score some goals, and hopefully a well-organized team with new coaching.
Predictions are fun... but in this case, there is still too many unknowns as we will have 2 untested 16 year olds as a key part of the offense, and most importantly, an entirely new coaching staff. We have no idea how Ducharme will do, and how the players will react to what he is teaching.
I do think it is an ideal situation for this team though, to have a completely new direction at head coach. No matter what your name is, or what role you had in the past, everyone will coming in learning the system together. It wont be like taking a star player who lit it up under 1 system, and then trying to get him to adapt to a totally new system where everyone is on the same page but him. If these guys grow in the system together, the individual talent will show in the end.
Ducharme landed himself a nice first head coaching gig lol.
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Post by canbeer on Jul 12, 2011 8:27:18 GMT -4
First or second round exit depending on goaltending and whether the youth hits a wall late in the year or hits their stride.
I don't know that the team will be .500 as their are still lots of questions. If the team picked up another 10 wins based on last year's standings that would only move them up one spot. I'm thinking they'll be 10-12... they did just trade their MVP. We need a handful of guys to take big steps this year.
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Post by bois on Jul 12, 2011 8:33:55 GMT -4
You'll be over .500 just by playing so many games within the weakest Atlantic Division in years
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Post by DropThePuck on Jul 12, 2011 10:25:35 GMT -4
You'll be over .500 just by playing so many games within the weakest Atlantic Division in years I agree. The Dogs will most likely be 1st in the division, with the Moose at potentially 3rd or so..... I can see Halifax placing about 6 - 8th overall. It will be a fun season. I mentioned it before, it will be nice to see the Moose have a team that will certainly spike attendance in all markets. Everyone will want to see McKinnon and co. Crosby had that same affect but unfortunately we didn't get to see him all that often playing for Rimouski.
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Post by CrazyJoeDavola on Jul 12, 2011 10:29:41 GMT -4
Interesting quote in the Metro... shouldn`t this be said by Russell, the GM?? lol. Hopefully this was just casual conversations and not trade talk. Maybe Patty Roy tried to lower the price by calling up Smith directly...
“Obviously he’s a hell of a player,” Smith said of Erne. “I said to (Remparts GM) Patrick (Roy), ‘I wouldn’t give you Drouin for a second and two firsts, so you’re getting a good deal.’”
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Post by Darkside on Jul 12, 2011 10:36:24 GMT -4
Someone mentioned in the MacKinnon thread that Bobby and Patrick are buddies, so it was probably just a casual conversation, not an official trade negotiation.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2011 12:49:30 GMT -4
You'll be over .500 just by playing so many games within the weakest Atlantic Division in years Ever since I stopped going to Moose games regularly 4 years ago, i haven't been following the Q as much. Call me out of the loop but who is built to contend? Funny thing is I only knew one team that was going to contend in 2012 and it was Maine! haha. Is SJ goin for it again? That would be impressive. And it also sounds like Patty Roy is going for it. Other than that I have no clue where anyone will finish. Are PEI, Bathurst and CB supposed to be awful? That would be good from a Moose fans POV.
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Post by Reesor on Jul 12, 2011 12:52:52 GMT -4
You'll be over .500 just by playing so many games within the weakest Atlantic Division in years Ever since I stopped going to Moose games regularly 4 years ago, i haven't been following the Q as much. Call me out of the loop but who is built to contend? Funny thing is I only knew one team that was going to contend in 2012 and it was Maine! haha. Is SJ goin for it again? That would be impressive. And it also sounds like Patty Roy is going for it. Other than that I have no clue where anyone will finish. Are PEI, Bathurst and CB supposed to be awful? That would be good from a Moose fans POV. I'd say Shawinigan and Saint John are the frontrunners to both be in the Memorial Cup this season. But as always, it depends on if players stick with their NHL clubs, or if certain 20yos go to the AHL/ECHL.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Jul 12, 2011 12:57:21 GMT -4
Your second in the division based on paper in my opinion Moncton finished 31 points ahead of Halifax last year, they have not lost a whole lot and added Delisle-Houde and two potential 19 year old Euros. Halifax added Grenier and a pile of 16 year olds(very promising but still only 16). I'm sure Halifax will close the gap based on a lot of their kids coming into their own, but I think it's unlikely they pass Moncton. I expect the Cats around 80-85 points with their current roster and Halifax at 70-75.
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Post by fireball on Jul 12, 2011 13:02:28 GMT -4
Halifax could have a team this season like the 97 team. As long as the good Karma takes hold in he play-offs ! LOL
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