2023-24

[knuckles]

Jun 10, 2023 8:10:48 GMT -4 switchback said:

At some point I think we add a 20 year old goalie and I think he will come from Halifax but not sure if that will happen today or later in the summer.. maybe a FA from Ontario but indefinitely think we see a 20 year old goalie

I think you are better off the free agent route than going with James. Unfortunately he's not a 20yo in this league. He'll be a good Jr. A goalie (thinking of Resop back a few years) but unfortunately cannot be an overage. 

He'd cost you a late pick but honestly, should take someone that has a chance to impact your team in 3 years instead. 

[switchback]

New overeager added to the Roster Kian Bell.. played a couple seasons ago in Cape Breton absolutely rippers Jr.A up last year but a weird add for sure

[scotiahockey]

Jun 16, 2023 19:43:38 GMT -4 switchback said:

New overeager added to the Roster Kian Bell.. played a couple seasons ago in Cape Breton absolutely rippers Jr.A up last year but a weird add for sure

Little weird but I can also see the logic. Grimes isn’t a 20 between the pipes, really not sure there’s a spot for Tessier on the back end and there’s only really Morneau and Horth up front for 20’s.

You bring in an Atlantic kid, who just tore up the SJHL and has Q experience. At the very least it creates some competition in camp for the 3rd 20 spot, maybe he’s an easy cut but it can’t hurt to take a look. Kids can take a big step from their 18 YO to their 20 YO season, he maybe just did it in a different league. May also buy you some time with that 3rd 20 spot while other teams sort things out.

[islander19]

Lead the entire SJHL which is pretty damn impressive, insane numbers with his linemate who is headed to play NCAA this winter.

Certainly worth a shot, there’s lots of reasons it may not have worked out in CB

[countryboy]

Bell is worth a look for sure. There’s been lots of turnover in Cape Breton the past few years and he may have been caught in the shuffle.

Horth is a lock at 20.

I consider Morneau a lock as well…what do others think?

At this point, you’d consider Bell to compete with Hollingsworth for the 3rd spot.

A goalie is an option, but indications are this hole might be filled with a Euro selection.

[islander19]

Jun 17, 2023 9:11:44 GMT -4 countryboy said:

Bell is worth a look for sure. There’s been lots of turnover in Cape Breton the past few years and he may have been caught in the shuffle.

Horth is a lock at 20.

I consider Morneau a lock as well…what do others think?

At this point, you’d consider Bell to compete with Hollingsworth for the 3rd spot.

A goalie is an option, but indications are this hole might be filled with a Euro selection.

I would consider Morneau a lock unless something drastic happens in the FA front.

As for Hollingsworth, I’m assuming he will be junior A this year. Didn’t show much with us

[knuckles]

Bell is a case where he probably should've kept his NCAA eligibility (at least from a sports perspective). Late bloomer, didn't play U18 AAA as a first year, but things started to really click for him his third year U18. Will be interested to see how he looks in training camp. Worst case, can head back out to Battlesford and tear that league apart.

It would appear Hollingsworth is off to UofT for next season.

[islander19]

New FA added on the Q website I believe.

Kyle Powers - 18 year old that played for the Brockville Braves in the CCHL last year. Put up 19 points in 52 games along with 85 PIMS

[countryboy]

Is there an avenue in which Ben Boyd plays junior hockey next season? Despite having played University hockey last season, his 20 y/o season is upcoming. It was not a successful jump to University hockey and I'm skeptical if he even played after Christmas.

We own Boyd's rights, but from the tone of the articles that were written, it seems like relations between the Islanders and Boyd's camp might not be so warm and fuzzy. He was looking to play in the Halifax area and I'm not sure just why there wasn't a deal done to make him a Moosehead. So if he is to play junior hockey it's likely in another city and his trade value is probably negligible at this point in time as a 20 y/o player who's a year removed from major junior hockey.

Curiously, in all of this, he still does have his NHL rights owned by Columbus. He's an unsigned player who'll stay on their reserve list until he is signed or when his rights expire in August 2027. When he was drafted he was subject to rules in the CBA for major junior drafted players. Those players have to sign an entry level contract by June 1 following their draft plus 2 season. If not signed they enter the draft and if they pass through the draf they are free agents.

And usually the signing rules are in place subject to the league a player is drafted from. For example, Jakub Brabenec was drafted out of Europe before coming here as a CHL import and would have been allowed to play in the AHL at 18 and 19 if Vegas wanted that. But Filip Chlapik was drafted from our team in 2015, so Ottawa's only choice was to send him to the CHL or keep him in the NHL for his 18 and 19 y/o seasons. When a CHL player is drafted to the NHL out of Europe and then comes to the CHL, his signing rules are will be subject to the rules for players drafted to the NHL from European leagues.

It is the same thing if a player is drafted to the NHL out of the USHL, a college program, or a high school program.... they can sign and play in the AHL at 18 or 19... and this is still true if they leave their previous league and join a CHL team.

But it seems that Boyd has uncovered some sort of loophole by leaving junior hockey after his 18 y/o season. Instead of needing to be signed by June 1, 2023, his signing date as per Cap Friendly is Aug. 15, 2027. Cap Friendly is "only" a fan site, but it is highly regarded and is one of the best references on the web for anything to do with the CBA.

If Columbus still has investment in Boyd, I would think that playing next season in a development league (CHL) would be the best case scenario. But then maybe Boyd is more or less done with the pursuit of pro hockey and is content to continue to grow into a role at St. Mary's.

[countryboy]

Islanders are announcing Bell is signed so he is locked in as a 20 y/o for the start of the season.

[islander19]

Pretty good risk for us to take I guess, if you even want to call it a risk.

Somebody was going to give the kid a shot after his remarkable season…we’re in desperate need of offence, hopefully it can translate back to the Q

[switchback]

So do we go with 3 20s up front looks that way.. Horth Morneau and Bell

[islander19]

The other thing that his signing likely confirms is that we’ll be taking a goalie in the Euro draft which many have been saying.

Do we go with a 17 y/o that you hope will be a stud when you make a run, or an older guy to help us through the pain?

[countryboy]

I'd be looking for a Euro goalie age 18 or 19. Maybe, if we can get really lucky, try to work out a deal with someone who is maybe NHL drafted next week but in a situation where they might not play a ton.

If we draft a guy with the inside track on being able to be our starter, then there is opportunity for 18 y/o's Flanagan or Riff or 17 y/o Boudreau to emerge.

And we can leave the 16 y/o's (Hickey, Carter, Bradley) to play in their developmental leagues. Did anyone see that Hickey was drafted in the MHL draft to Summerside. Depending on how things to at his QMJHL camp, there could be opportunity for him to play Jr. A at 16, and if he's ready for that, it would be fantastic for his development.

Jun 23, 2023 9:38:44 GMT -4 islander19 said:

The other thing that his signing likely confirms is that we’ll be taking a goalie in the Euro draft which many have been saying.

Do we go with a 17 y/o that you hope will be a stud when you make a run, or an older guy to help us through the pain?

[jangle]

Possible newbie question here - trying to get used to this league

So every couple of years, players will age out and respectively, rebuilds start at some point. This past season, it was clear even on paper that Halifax and Quebec had stacked teams and it was not shocking they lead the in the standings.

Obviously it’s impossible to predict how a year will play out but it seems to me (we’ll know more as rosters fill out) that this year seems like a more even playing field, at least in our division - as of right now. Am I correct?

Maybe just hopeful for a more competitive season. It will be interesting to see the goalie situation come September. Perhaps that will be the answer.