Post by jordo999 on Nov 25, 2024 14:44:30 GMT -4
the trade period is still a bit away but wanted to start an early discussion on what we think this team does or should do.
Titan currently sit 5th overall in the division with a record of 15-9-0-0. 65 GF 63 GA, 14% PP, 89% PK.
Overall, this record isn't terrible, but it isn't anything great either, the story of this roster is not being able to score goals. if not for their 7 goal performance on Saturday this team would dead last in the league for scoring. While the powerplay has improved over the weekend, they're still dead last as well.
This teams bright spots have been goaltending, penalty kill (1st in the league) and defensive play. Titan are winning a lot of close games but only scoring 1-2 goals per game is not sustainable to continue winning. Overall, I think this team should tinker/sell high for these reasons and it's still possible they can pull off an upset in the playoffs/be competitive.
teams biggest needs are goal scoring and size.
Current core
OAs -
Huggan
Buteau
Fleming
Huggan and Fleming likely stay the year unless a contender really wants them and pays a good price, otherwise they're more beneficial to keep. Buteau is someone I can see moving, I don't see his value being too high but he's already been demoted to the 3rd pairing the last few games. Sending him to a team in Quebec closer to home likely makes sense. This would also give more ice time to guys like Daniele and Lazare to help develop.
Titan could either add a FA OA to replace him, or do a 1 for 1 swap with another team. Something along those lines. Adding an OA forward in place could help scoring.
forward groups (19s) -
Coulombe
St-Onge
Pilgrim-Edwards
Lallier
out of this group all 4 guys could very well be fringe OA's next year, they could either make some teams, or head to Jr.A
I don't think the value is all too high on any of them and they won't fetch a 1st (unless they take off the next couple of weeks) but likely 2nd/3rd round picks territory.
I like Coulombe's size and he probably doesn't go for much so he likely sticks. St-Onge is an incredible skater but very hot/cold, it's possible he goes to a team for some bottom 6 depth. Same with Pilgrim-Edwards, who leads the group of 19s with 15 points in 23 games, on pace for about 45 points is pretty good for him and could be useful, if the value is there then he's a good move, he works hard. Lallier is a good player but can be hot/cold as well, I think he could be a good candidate to stay but also could add to a contenders bottom 6. I wouldn't be keep all 4 and getting what we can for most.
forward group (18s) -
Wood
Sharkey
Brunet
not much in terms of 18s, Sharkey is staying as he's been arguably our biggest threat to score goals and could have a breakout year next year. Wood is a player who's replaceable and could end up being let go over Christmas to make room for others, he has some size but his skating is still lacking. Brunet is a decent depth piece we got for relatively cheap and has been good in a smaller sample size, I think he stays as well.
forward group (17s) -
Goguen
Peddigrew
Belanger
Marmulak
arguably our core to build around, Belanger and Goguen look to be the potential 1-2 down the middle of the future, Marmulak also has some good potential, Peddigrew likely needs more time to really develop but still has some potential. I think the right moves would be adding another 1-3 17's up front to help this core. If they can get any in trades for our older guys I think it's very wise to do so.
forward group (16s) -
Gauthier
Arsenault
both guys have good potential and could be a reason this team may compete 2 years in a row in the future, adding another 1-2 16s could also be beneficial even if they aren't on this years roster.
this team is still lacking in scoring, so the only way they do that is to add, but I can't see them adding while subtracting any of the young guys, it just doesn't really make sense unless their approach is to add more 18s and build around the 18 and 17 YO's. I mentioned it in another thread but maybe they could go and do something like grab Michaud and Kearsey out of Charlottetown. In that case maybe guys like Arsenault and Gauthier become expendable but that's also risky imo.
Defense core (19s) -
Perron
Clements
MacGillivray
there's no doubt that Perron and Clements could fetch some good value on the market, maybe even 1sts +. I think if the value is there you move them, otherwise you could realistically have both guys back as OA's next year. But the backend still becomes a bit tight if they do this. MacGillivray is likely someone who sticks if both Clements/Perron are moved and we don't bring in any other younger D, otherwise I think he's either moved or let go to make room for the younger guys, he's also been a healthy scratch at times this year.
defense core (18s) -
Laberge
Laberge is the guy of the future it seems, and could be moved next year for a big amount (depending on go for it year) as he could be the #1 if both Perron and Clements are moved. Titan could also add another 18 YO guy to play alongside him. I think he sticks until at least next year.
defense core (17s) -
Reynolds
Lazare
Reynolds is the 17 to build around, he's looking like a young Marc-Andre Gaudet and if he can develop into similar then we have a winner. Gordie paid a decent price for Lazare, I think he needs more ice time and the potential is there. Being a right shot is nice as well for a team that is lacking them. Adding another good 17 YO D-man would be really beneficial.
defense core (16s) -
Daniele
great potential, once he adds some size he could be a great skater/two-way guy of the future. Definitely wouldn't be apposed to adding another 16 YO D-man for the future.
goaltending -
Langevin
Langevin is a good backup, could be the starter next year but all things point to Proulx if he reports which we're hoping he does as he also will fit the 16 YO's core.
There's 7 19's with only room for 3 next year (not counting if any OA's come in futures) I think we move whoever has value and keep the rest.
the team could take an approach of adding 18s like mentioned that can help with scoring/be competitive for next year and year after. But that likely reduces the likelihood of building around the current 16s. as some may be trade bait. I think adding 17s is ideal as that is the true year to build towards for when they're 18/19.
this team also could still use a euro or 2 as we currently have none. Golicic out of Gatineau could be a great target, especially if some of our D are moved.
anyways let me know your thoughts on the approaches the team should take. Do we sell high on our 19s? do we buy 18s? Do we target 17s in trades? Lots of options for Gordie.
Titan currently sit 5th overall in the division with a record of 15-9-0-0. 65 GF 63 GA, 14% PP, 89% PK.
Overall, this record isn't terrible, but it isn't anything great either, the story of this roster is not being able to score goals. if not for their 7 goal performance on Saturday this team would dead last in the league for scoring. While the powerplay has improved over the weekend, they're still dead last as well.
This teams bright spots have been goaltending, penalty kill (1st in the league) and defensive play. Titan are winning a lot of close games but only scoring 1-2 goals per game is not sustainable to continue winning. Overall, I think this team should tinker/sell high for these reasons and it's still possible they can pull off an upset in the playoffs/be competitive.
teams biggest needs are goal scoring and size.
Current core
OAs -
Huggan
Buteau
Fleming
Huggan and Fleming likely stay the year unless a contender really wants them and pays a good price, otherwise they're more beneficial to keep. Buteau is someone I can see moving, I don't see his value being too high but he's already been demoted to the 3rd pairing the last few games. Sending him to a team in Quebec closer to home likely makes sense. This would also give more ice time to guys like Daniele and Lazare to help develop.
Titan could either add a FA OA to replace him, or do a 1 for 1 swap with another team. Something along those lines. Adding an OA forward in place could help scoring.
forward groups (19s) -
Coulombe
St-Onge
Pilgrim-Edwards
Lallier
out of this group all 4 guys could very well be fringe OA's next year, they could either make some teams, or head to Jr.A
I don't think the value is all too high on any of them and they won't fetch a 1st (unless they take off the next couple of weeks) but likely 2nd/3rd round picks territory.
I like Coulombe's size and he probably doesn't go for much so he likely sticks. St-Onge is an incredible skater but very hot/cold, it's possible he goes to a team for some bottom 6 depth. Same with Pilgrim-Edwards, who leads the group of 19s with 15 points in 23 games, on pace for about 45 points is pretty good for him and could be useful, if the value is there then he's a good move, he works hard. Lallier is a good player but can be hot/cold as well, I think he could be a good candidate to stay but also could add to a contenders bottom 6. I wouldn't be keep all 4 and getting what we can for most.
forward group (18s) -
Wood
Sharkey
Brunet
not much in terms of 18s, Sharkey is staying as he's been arguably our biggest threat to score goals and could have a breakout year next year. Wood is a player who's replaceable and could end up being let go over Christmas to make room for others, he has some size but his skating is still lacking. Brunet is a decent depth piece we got for relatively cheap and has been good in a smaller sample size, I think he stays as well.
forward group (17s) -
Goguen
Peddigrew
Belanger
Marmulak
arguably our core to build around, Belanger and Goguen look to be the potential 1-2 down the middle of the future, Marmulak also has some good potential, Peddigrew likely needs more time to really develop but still has some potential. I think the right moves would be adding another 1-3 17's up front to help this core. If they can get any in trades for our older guys I think it's very wise to do so.
forward group (16s) -
Gauthier
Arsenault
both guys have good potential and could be a reason this team may compete 2 years in a row in the future, adding another 1-2 16s could also be beneficial even if they aren't on this years roster.
this team is still lacking in scoring, so the only way they do that is to add, but I can't see them adding while subtracting any of the young guys, it just doesn't really make sense unless their approach is to add more 18s and build around the 18 and 17 YO's. I mentioned it in another thread but maybe they could go and do something like grab Michaud and Kearsey out of Charlottetown. In that case maybe guys like Arsenault and Gauthier become expendable but that's also risky imo.
Defense core (19s) -
Perron
Clements
MacGillivray
there's no doubt that Perron and Clements could fetch some good value on the market, maybe even 1sts +. I think if the value is there you move them, otherwise you could realistically have both guys back as OA's next year. But the backend still becomes a bit tight if they do this. MacGillivray is likely someone who sticks if both Clements/Perron are moved and we don't bring in any other younger D, otherwise I think he's either moved or let go to make room for the younger guys, he's also been a healthy scratch at times this year.
defense core (18s) -
Laberge
Laberge is the guy of the future it seems, and could be moved next year for a big amount (depending on go for it year) as he could be the #1 if both Perron and Clements are moved. Titan could also add another 18 YO guy to play alongside him. I think he sticks until at least next year.
defense core (17s) -
Reynolds
Lazare
Reynolds is the 17 to build around, he's looking like a young Marc-Andre Gaudet and if he can develop into similar then we have a winner. Gordie paid a decent price for Lazare, I think he needs more ice time and the potential is there. Being a right shot is nice as well for a team that is lacking them. Adding another good 17 YO D-man would be really beneficial.
defense core (16s) -
Daniele
great potential, once he adds some size he could be a great skater/two-way guy of the future. Definitely wouldn't be apposed to adding another 16 YO D-man for the future.
goaltending -
Langevin
Langevin is a good backup, could be the starter next year but all things point to Proulx if he reports which we're hoping he does as he also will fit the 16 YO's core.
There's 7 19's with only room for 3 next year (not counting if any OA's come in futures) I think we move whoever has value and keep the rest.
the team could take an approach of adding 18s like mentioned that can help with scoring/be competitive for next year and year after. But that likely reduces the likelihood of building around the current 16s. as some may be trade bait. I think adding 17s is ideal as that is the true year to build towards for when they're 18/19.
this team also could still use a euro or 2 as we currently have none. Golicic out of Gatineau could be a great target, especially if some of our D are moved.
anyways let me know your thoughts on the approaches the team should take. Do we sell high on our 19s? do we buy 18s? Do we target 17s in trades? Lots of options for Gordie.
