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Post by fireball on Jul 12, 2011 13:04:25 GMT -4
I will add as long as they get good goaltending and pick up a solid defenceman at Xmas. Maybe another goal scorer.
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Post by bois on Jul 12, 2011 14:27:55 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. Questionable goaltending is the big thing from a Moncton standpoint....... after you got rid of Owen you went into the tank somewhat... plus Pettersson and Jodoin were also very valuable losses... Hrivik potentially as well I don't think it's unreasonable at all to think Halifax can overtake you guys this year as the returnees from Halifax for the most part have a way higher ceiling than the returnees from Moncton do... in my opinion
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Post by Captain Obvious on Jul 12, 2011 15:01:59 GMT -4
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. Questionable goaltending is the big thing from a Moncton standpoint....... after you got rid of Owen you went into the tank somewhat... plus Pettersson and Jodoin were also very valuable losses... Hrivik potentially as well I don't think it's unreasonable at all to think Halifax can overtake you guys this year as the returnees from Halifax for the most part have a way higher ceiling than the returnees from Moncton do... in my opinion Goaltending is definitely a question mark, but it is for Halifax also. Thibeau helped that situation, plus they brought in Roman the Euro 19 year old. The Cats have much more proven scoring and have Gormley on defense. I think a lot of Halifax's upside is in 16 and 17 year olds, by losing Gelinas that's another established player gone. It COULD happen, but I think at this point Moncton would be heavily favored based on what we know, to finish ahead of Halifax.
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Post by Gman on Jul 12, 2011 15:14:23 GMT -4
Questionable goaltending is the big thing from a Moncton standpoint....... after you got rid of Owen you went into the tank somewhat... plus Pettersson and Jodoin were also very valuable losses... Hrivik potentially as well I don't think it's unreasonable at all to think Halifax can overtake you guys this year as the returnees from Halifax for the most part have a way higher ceiling than the returnees from Moncton do... in my opinion Goaltending is definitely a question mark, but it is for Halifax also. Thibeau helped that situation, plus they brought in Roman the Euro 19 year old. The Cats have much more proven scoring and have Gormley on defense. I think a lot of Halifax's upside is in 16 and 17 year olds, by losing Gelinas that's another established player gone. It COULD happen, but I think at this point Moncton would be heavily favored based on what we know, to finish ahead of Halifax. Another huge factor is coaching. Last year it was Smith on our side, and despite a relatively talented group, he didn't get anything in the way of performance out of them. This year should be very different with an experienced coach back there. He's not going to be a Danny Flynn, so Moncton still has an advantage there, but not as much as they had last year. Give us another 10 points for that lol.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Jul 12, 2011 15:20:13 GMT -4
Goaltending is definitely a question mark, but it is for Halifax also. Thibeau helped that situation, plus they brought in Roman the Euro 19 year old. The Cats have much more proven scoring and have Gormley on defense. I think a lot of Halifax's upside is in 16 and 17 year olds, by losing Gelinas that's another established player gone. It COULD happen, but I think at this point Moncton would be heavily favored based on what we know, to finish ahead of Halifax. Another huge factor is coaching. Last year it was Smith on our side, and despite a relatively talented group, he didn't get anything in the way of performance out of them. This year should be very different with an experienced coach back there. He's not going to be a Danny Flynn, so Moncton still has an advantage there, but not as much as they had last year. Give us another 10 points for that lol. Oh I definitely expect Halifax to close the gap, but I see Moncton about 10 points ahead with a much more experienced roster. Saulnier-Saulnier-Hrivik/Dyk Delisle-Houde-Flynn-MacAusland LeBlanc-Lalonde-Malone Shea-Hodge-Daoust-Trask-Tremaine-Zafiris-Penny-West Gormley-Downe Milan-Melindy Johnson-Roussy-Pridham-Rusk-McDonald-Shannon Thibeau Roman
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Post by elementz on Jul 12, 2011 16:16:38 GMT -4
I wouldn't be all that surprised to see Gormley make the Yotes this year...
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Post by Y Ddraig Goch on Jul 12, 2011 18:10:05 GMT -4
Oh I definitely expect Halifax to close the gap, but I see Moncton about 10 points ahead with a much more experienced roster. Saulnier-Saulnier-Hrivik/Dyk Delisle-Houde-Flynn-MacAusland LeBlanc-Lalonde-Malone Shea-Hodge-Daoust-Trask-Tremaine-Zafiris-Penny-West Gormley-Downe Milan-Melindy Johnson-Roussy-Pridham-Rusk-McDonald-Shannon Thibeau Roman I'm not saying Halifax will finish ahead of Moncton as it's difficult to see how guys will adapt to the Q/progress but........ Top line aside that Moncton line-up isn't great! The Euro's are unproven so who knows whay you can get from them. Could be great, could not adapt, who knows. Delisle-Houde is probably a top two line players but the rest? Until you posted that lineup I honestly thought Moncton had a better group of forwards. Gormrley's status could very well define your season (For the record I think he will return) but you definately need to trade him come Xmas! A massive blow to your future thow if he sticks in Feenix (But I don't think he will so he' will end up in SNB or SHA?? come xmas)
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Post by defresh101 on Jul 12, 2011 21:24:41 GMT -4
Another huge factor is coaching. Last year it was Smith on our side, and despite a relatively talented group, he didn't get anything in the way of performance out of them. This year should be very different with an experienced coach back there. He's not going to be a Danny Flynn, so Moncton still has an advantage there, but not as much as they had last year. Give us another 10 points for that lol. Oh I definitely expect Halifax to close the gap, but I see Moncton about 10 points ahead with a much more experienced roster. Saulnier-Saulnier-Hrivik/Dyk Delisle-Houde-Flynn-MacAusland LeBlanc-Lalonde-Malone Shea-Hodge-Daoust-Trask-Tremaine-Zafiris-Penny-West Gormley-Downe Milan-Melindy Johnson-Roussy-Pridham-Rusk-McDonald-Shannon Thibeau Roman Anything can happen and guessing point spread between Moncton and Halifax is hard to guess. But last year Cape Breton Beat us 6 out of 8 times, Saint John beat us 8 times and Lewiston twice. I cant see all those point disappearing again this year. Well possibly the Saint John games. Also last years Moose beat the Wildcats and Bathurst Bad.. What could this years Moose do to those teams.
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Post by elementz on Jul 12, 2011 23:05:50 GMT -4
The last 2 years the Dogs were a young team where some players reached their potential earlier than expected. Lucking out getting Hoffman and Petersen returning, snagging Deserres from the WHL, etc...it created a perfect storm where an organization can be a 3 year contender only by adding small pieces each year.
Halifax might have a similar future if everything falls into place and Cam can perform a few more shrewd deals...
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Post by bois on Jul 13, 2011 8:41:41 GMT -4
Questionable goaltending is the big thing from a Moncton standpoint....... after you got rid of Owen you went into the tank somewhat... plus Pettersson and Jodoin were also very valuable losses... Hrivik potentially as well I don't think it's unreasonable at all to think Halifax can overtake you guys this year as the returnees from Halifax for the most part have a way higher ceiling than the returnees from Moncton do... in my opinion Goaltending is definitely a question mark, but it is for Halifax also. Thibeau helped that situation, plus they brought in Roman the Euro 19 year old. The Cats have much more proven scoring and have Gormley on defense. I think a lot of Halifax's upside is in 16 and 17 year olds, by losing Gelinas that's another established player gone. It COULD happen, but I think at this point Moncton would be heavily favored based on what we know, to finish ahead of Halifax. You have more proven coaching, and a better defense... but to say you have much more proven scoring is a stretch... you have the Saulniers..... that's the only proven scoring up front you have.... unless Hrivik returns Delisle-Houde is an okay player but it's not like he's a star or anything
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Post by fireball on Jul 13, 2011 9:06:57 GMT -4
Missing Gelinas this season will do no harm to the Mooseheads offence. What does Moncton have besides the twins on offence. They will not carry the team by themselves.
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Post by 1994 on Jul 13, 2011 9:17:29 GMT -4
I can't see the Mooseheads finishing ahead of Moncton but there's always the potential of them over achieving in the playoffs like the team from '97 did. I would think they'll be looking for proven goaltending during the mid-season trading period and that could make a big difference
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Post by Captain Obvious on Jul 13, 2011 9:30:08 GMT -4
Goaltending is definitely a question mark, but it is for Halifax also. Thibeau helped that situation, plus they brought in Roman the Euro 19 year old. The Cats have much more proven scoring and have Gormley on defense. I think a lot of Halifax's upside is in 16 and 17 year olds, by losing Gelinas that's another established player gone. It COULD happen, but I think at this point Moncton would be heavily favored based on what we know, to finish ahead of Halifax. You have more proven coaching, and a better defense... but to say you have much more proven scoring is a stretch... you have the Saulniers..... that's the only proven scoring up front you have.... unless Hrivik returns Delisle-Houde is an okay player but it's not like he's a star or anything Halifax's top 3 returning scorers are Frk(50), Ashley(39) and Critchlow(34) while Moncton could potetially return it's top 5 scorers, Alex Saulnier(85) Allain Saulnier(71) Hrivik(79) MacAusland(49) and Gormley(48 in 47 games). As much as Halifax has one of the more talented teams in the Q, most of their talent is 16 and 17 years old(Drouin Frk(late 1993) MacKinnon Hardie Ryan Souligny Ciampini) while Moncton is a team stacked with 19 and 20 year olds.
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Post by freedom65 on Jul 13, 2011 12:00:43 GMT -4
The Mooseheads continue to be a young team, allbeit a team with some potential stars. Notwithstanding the ongoing league fixation with reducing fighting, who do we have that will provide our "stars" with some protection? Hopefully we will have someone other than Hannay (if he is back) that will provide that insurance.
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Post by lalalaprise on Jul 13, 2011 17:26:40 GMT -4
It will come down to Goaltending for Halifax...the defense is inexperienced and Terenzio is untested as a #1...if the goaltending holds up I expect Halifax to finish in the top half of the league.
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