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Post by Captain Obvious on Nov 24, 2017 10:26:57 GMT -4
Say the Cats want to try and host the Memorial cup and contend in the new building, how would the lineup look and what holes are there?
Forwards:
These 5 are pretty much locks as top 6 assuming they are all still here.
Cyr(19)-McKenna(19)-Pelletier(17)
Tessier(20)-MacDonald(18)
Bottom 6 or guys that could step up and grow into bigger roles:
Seitz(19)
Campanelli(19)
Khovanov(18) assuming he comes over
Kuzmin(19)
C.McKenna(19)
Blackmore(19)
Hudson(18)
You players coming in:
Boulianne(17)
Stewart(17)
Rumsey(17)
Gone or likely gone: Dunda(21) Miromanov(21) Pataki(20) MacRae(20)
If all goes well, the forward group looks like it could be elite next year if Khovanov shows. worst case only 1 major addition might be needed.
Defense:
Only lock in the top 4 next year...likely...
Lecoultre(18)(even he could be upgraded by a high end Euro)
the rest is really up in the air...
Aspirot(19) Should be able to handle a #3-4 role.
Bellamy(17) Will he progress enough to be top 4 on a contender at 17?
Auger(19) Will he be a top 4 on a contender?
Arsenault(19) see Auger
Tucker(18) Again, how much will he grow the next 4-5 months?
Young players coming in:
Vanier(17)
Possible 2018 1st rounder.
Gone...
Welsh(21)
The defense is the part of the team that needs attention, long and short term. It shows during games(though defensive play is a team thing also). Losing welsh will further weaken a weakness. Need to add two frontline D here, one could be an OA, a second a trade or even the Euro draft. Obviously if one of the 6 returnees really steps up, that would help.
Goaltending:
Likely starter:
Grametbauer(20)
Possible back ups:
Waite(19)
MacDonald(18)
Gaudreault(18)
Paradis(17)
This should not be a big area of concern, though Grametbauer's numbers have suffered recently, in large part due to the team not playing well defensively. In terms of back up, there are a lot of options.
Summary:
It's not inconceivable that they can build a top 5 team next year, as noted, it will be a big project to build a defense that is at that caliber, those stud #1-2 d-men are not cheap and don't grow on trees. a possibility is trading Welsh for an OA at the draft next year...
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Post by npsh on Nov 24, 2017 10:58:13 GMT -4
I wonder if Irving has the current mgt/coaching staff on a tight leach going into next year. I sit directly across from him on the box side and his expressions can be detected and last night he looked none to pleased. I noted on way out last night he was chatting with somebody and shaking his head almost in disgust. Wonder if Josh H. is being groomed........
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LLL
Rookie
Posts: 210
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Post by LLL on Nov 24, 2017 11:53:30 GMT -4
a possibility is trading Welsh for an OA at the draft next year... I like that idea but that would only leave 6 now that Wieringa has been released. Is there anyone in the system right now that can come in and play at the Q level as a 7th D? |
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Post by lirette on Nov 24, 2017 11:55:54 GMT -4
I wonder if Irving has the current mgt/coaching staff on a tight leach going into next year. I sit directly across from him on the box side and his expressions can be detected and last night he looked none to pleased. I noted on way out last night he was chatting with somebody and shaking his head almost in disgust. Wonder if Josh H. is being groomed........ Firing Rumble would make zero sense. Last nights performance was not good but overall this team has exceeded expectations considering where things were at 6 months ago. For the most part the Cats have never had any issues regarding work ethic under Rumbles tenure and that really shows this season where the Cats are outplaying teams in the third, they just arent finding the net as much. He can only work with the defense he has.. Bellamy is the first young high end defenseman hes been given and seeing the jump he takes next year is a good test. Its clear he can develop skilled hard working forwards when we see the jumps guys like Cyr & McKenna have taken. |
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Post by Captain Obvious on Nov 24, 2017 12:25:41 GMT -4
I wonder if Irving has the current mgt/coaching staff on a tight leach going into next year. I sit directly across from him on the box side and his expressions can be detected and last night he looked none to pleased. I noted on way out last night he was chatting with somebody and shaking his head almost in disgust. Wonder if Josh H. is being groomed........ Firing Rumble would make zero sense. Last nights performance was not good but overall this team has exceeded expectations considering where things were at 6 months ago. For the most part the Cats have never had any issues regarding work ethic under Rumbles tenure and that really shows this season where the Cats are outplaying teams in the third, they just arent finding the net as much. He can only work with the defense he has.. Bellamy is the first young high end defenseman hes been given and seeing the jump he takes next year is a good test. Its clear he can develop skilled hard working forwards when we see the jumps guys like Cyr & McKenna have taken. I'm not a fan of Shannon as GM, wayyy too many picks thrown away and needless gambles, but Rumble IMO is one of the top 4-5 coaches in the Q. |
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Post by WildcatMapleLeafs on Nov 24, 2017 12:57:04 GMT -4
Khovanov would play top 6 this season
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Post by Captain Obvious on Nov 24, 2017 13:22:43 GMT -4
Khovanov would play top 6 this season There is a lot of uncertainty on him at this point. 1-his health 2-does he show up this year and 3-does he show up next year. It would be great if he was a lock top 6 next year...but I'm not there yet... |
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Post by joehockey on Nov 24, 2017 13:28:05 GMT -4
I think the forwards are pretty much set and shouldn't need a big addition. Goaltending is likely set if Grametbauer is kept. The defence will likely need a major overhaul with adding a few top 4 d. Moncton has the assets if they're willing to blow it up after next year but it really depends what they're willing to pay. Pelletier, Bellamy and McDonald as futures could land you some big time players if Moncton is willing to ruin the future for a chance to win.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Nov 24, 2017 13:41:16 GMT -4
I think the forwards are pretty much set and shouldn't need a big addition. Goaltending is likely set if Grametbauer is kept. The defence will likely need a major overhaul with adding a few top 4 d. Moncton has the assets if they're willing to blow it up after next year but it really depends what they're willing to pay. Pelletier, Bellamy and McDonald as futures could land you some big time players if Moncton is willing to ruin the future for a chance to win. My guess is hosting the Memorial Cup will be a factor in how aggressive they trade. It would also potentially help land one or more NCAA player(s). |
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Post by SteveUL on Nov 24, 2017 13:43:29 GMT -4
I think the forwards are pretty much set and shouldn't need a big addition. Goaltending is likely set if Grametbauer is kept. The defence will likely need a major overhaul with adding a few top 4 d. Moncton has the assets if they're willing to blow it up after next year but it really depends what they're willing to pay. Pelletier, Bellamy and McDonald as futures could land you some big time players if Moncton is willing to ruin the future for a chance to win. My guess is hosting the Memorial Cup will be a factor in how aggressive they trade. It would also potentially help land one or more NCAA player(s). If Halifax is bidding to host the MC, they will get it. We won't get it if Halifax is bidding. I feel we will bid just to have that refusal on the record, and will bid again in the near future. |
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Post by Captain Obvious on Nov 24, 2017 13:57:02 GMT -4
My guess is hosting the Memorial Cup will be a factor in how aggressive they trade. It would also potentially help land one or more NCAA player(s). If Halifax is bidding to host the MC, they will get it. We won't get it if Halifax is bidding. I feel we will bid just to have that refusal on the record, and will bid again in the near future. I don't think it's cut and dry who gets it, but Halifax would be favorites, having last hosted 18 years ago, SJ would struggle to ice a worthy team IMO. New rink would be a huge asset for Moncton though. Regardless, I think if they win the MC host, they will be aggressive in the off season, otherwise, they might take a more patient approach and see where they are next December... |
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Post by SteveUL on Nov 24, 2017 14:04:22 GMT -4
If Halifax is bidding to host the MC, they will get it. We won't get it if Halifax is bidding. I feel we will bid just to have that refusal on the record, and will bid again in the near future. I don't think it's cut and dry who gets it, but Halifax would be favorites, having last hosted 18 years ago, SJ would struggle to ice a worthy team IMO. New rink would be a huge asset for Moncton though. Regardless, I think if they win the MC host, they will be aggressive in the off season, otherwise, they might take a more patient approach and see where they are next December... Nope ... I think it is all but done. Halifax put on the best MC that the Q has seen. They have built a very talented team that should peak next year. Moncton can't compete with anything they have to offer ... and our new 8500 seat rink won't matter against their older 10,000 seat rink. Plus ... they hosted before Moncton did last time, so they'll get it again before we do. |
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Post by catzfans on Nov 24, 2017 14:11:21 GMT -4
Say the Cats want to try and host the Memorial cup and contend in the new building, how would the lineup look and what holes are there? Forwards:
These 5 are pretty much locks as top 6 assuming they are all still here. Cyr(19)-McKenna(19)-Pelletier(17) Tessier(20)-MacDonald(18) Bottom 6 or guys that could step up and grow into bigger roles: Seitz(19) Campanelli(19) Khovanov(18) assuming he comes over Kuzmin(19) C.McKenna(19) Blackmore(19) Hudson(18) You players coming in: Boulianne(17) Stewart(17) Rumsey(17) Gone or likely gone: Dunda(21) Miromanov(21) Pataki(20) MacRae(20) If all goes well, the forward group looks like it could be elite next year if Khovanov shows. worst case only 1 major addition might be needed. Defense:Only lock in the top 4 next year...likely... Lecoultre(18)(even he could be upgraded by a high end Euro) the rest is really up in the air... Aspirot(19) Should be able to handle a #3-4 role. Bellamy(17) Will he progress enough to be top 4 on a contender at 17? Auger(19) Will he be a top 4 on a contender? Arsenault(19) see Auger Tucker(18) Again, how much will he grow the next 4-5 months? Young players coming in: Vanier(17) Possible 2018 1st rounder. Gone... Welsh(21) The defense is the part of the team that needs attention, long and short term. It shows during games(though defensive play is a team thing also). Losing welsh will further weaken a weakness. Need to add two frontline D here, one could be an OA, a second a trade or even the Euro draft. Obviously if one of the 6 returnees really steps up, that would help. Goaltending:Likely starter: Grametbauer(20) Possible back ups: Waite(19) MacDonald(18) Gaudreault(18) Paradis(17) This should not be a big area of concern, though Grametbauer's numbers have suffered recently, in large part due to the team not playing well defensively. In terms of back up, there are a lot of options. Summary: It's not inconceivable that they can build a top 5 team next year, as noted, it will be a big project to build a defense that is at that caliber, those stud #1-2 d-men are not cheap and don't grow on trees. a possibility is trading Welsh for an OA at the draft next year... I think this is just it. A lot of emphasis needs to be on improving the D for next year. I would use our 1st rounder on a D this year and try and find an impact Euro D. Lecoultre is steady but is also the type of player you can find from other teams without being a Euro. They need to try and find bigger impact D from the Euro Draft. Of course this all changes if Khovanov doesn't ever show up. |
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Post by jimmy on Nov 24, 2017 14:49:42 GMT -4
I think it is obvious that right now, forward is our position of strength. If we manage to add Miromanov and Khovanov for the second half, even more so. That is why I would consider moving Tessier at Xmas, along with Welsh. If we can convert those two into a good young d-man, and a 20 year old d-man at the draft for next season, I would be in favour ... would still leave us with Cyr-McKenna-Pelletier-MacDonald-Khovanov-Mironmanov up front for the second half, which is a decent top 6 group, all eligible to return except Miromanov for next year - add guys like Capanelli, Seitz and Hudson and we should be able to withstand not having Tessier as an OA next season ... would allow us to go with two OAs on defense next year (with Grametbauer rounding out our OAs).
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Post by Captain Obvious on Nov 24, 2017 14:52:19 GMT -4
I think it is obvious that right now, forward is our position of strength. If we manage to add Miromanov and Khovanov for the second half, even more so. That is why I would consider moving Tessier at Xmas, along with Welsh. If we can convert those two into a good young d-man, and a 20 year old d-man at the draft for next season, I would be in favour ... would still leave us with Cyr-McKenna-Pelletier-MacDonald-Khovanov-Mironmanov up front for the second half, which is a decent top 6 group, all eligible to return except Miromanov for next year - add guys like Capanelli, Seitz and Hudson and we should be able to withstand not having Tessier as an OA next season ... would allow us to go with two OAs on defense next year (with Grametbauer rounding out our OAs). I'm not against that idea, but Tessier would make a really nice OA for a contender, guy that can put up 1 PPGM and still play vs the top lines. Not easy to replace...Most of the other guys are more one way offensive guys, which sort of explains why the Cats GAA is terrible(plus obviously not being good on D). |
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