Things to look for at camp

[Judas In My Mind]

mikec said:

The problem of having too many Q level players sure beats the opposite, which was the problem you've had for the last 2 years.

Oh you sure got that right! Hopefully things become clearer as training camp progresses and exhibition games. But yes, this is a much better problem to have for sure. Just hoping we have enough to make the playoffs this year. We'll be much better for sure but even adding an extra 10 wins from last year might not be enough, and 10 more wins in a highly competitive division will not come easy.

Here's to hoping that CB sells the farm and goes into full rebuild.

[killer]

jrsuperstar said:

Hmm. I can't see us moving Sparling (we could have moved him at Xmas last year and got something. More than we would now anyway.) but to me he does seem the odd man out when trying to put together lines. Not because he's the worst player or anything. He just doesn't...fit. I kinda see this though cuz I think he stays.

Liske-Dido-Knox
Sparling-Anthony-F.Charland
K.Charland-Leduc-Gauthier
Gallant-Stoddard-Kirkpatrick

Ugh. I don't like that either. I give up. Basically I was assuming that if Liske is healthy he and Dido likely stay together again, adding in Knox. The K.Charland-Leduc-Gauthier line had chemistry last year and think they get a shot together again. The rest is all eff'd up though and none of the combos seem to fit together, although since a lot of these guys are new faces who knows who will work well with who. With Anthony being a key piece of the future puzzle for this team though I can't see him on the 4th line. Safe to say F.Charland won't be on the 4th line either. Stoddard has a ton of potential and if he has put in the off season work as is rumored, I can't see him on the 4th line either as he is young and a key piece to the future too. Ergh. Let JB figure it out I quit!

What about Thomas??

[berner]

Remember when Stoddard first came to SJ? He got worked in slow, but after he showed what he could do there were some nights he logged lots of ice. I was thinking similarly of Anthony. Remember, he's only 16 playing in a 19 year old league.

[habsfan]

mikec said:

habsfan said:

Langan could very well put up 50 this season imo

You should be happy if Anthony puts up 50 puts this year.

Esposito is the only 16 year old to score more than 50 points in the last 3 seasons. And he played with the league MVP Radulov.

I just don't think you realise how little most 16 year olds really contribute. Here are the rest of the top scoring 16 year olds in the last 3 years:

06-07 Tessier 63-23-27-50
04-05 Sheppard 65-14-31-45
06-07 Caron 59-18-22-40
04-05 Breault 54-13-27-40
06-07 Doyle 50-18-18-36
05-06 Laroche 63-15-17-32

Thanks for the heads up man

[bjindaho]

If we traded Gallant and used Mugford as an enforcer, or Pisani if he can play enough to merit 6th d-man, we could do something like:
Liske - Dido - Knox
Charland - Sparling - Charland
Anthony - Stoddard - Kirkpatrick
Mugford - Richer - Thomas
Gauthier Langan

as our intimidating lineup and:

Liske - Dido - Knox
Charland - Sparling - Charland
Anthony - Stoddard - Kirkpatrick
Gauthier - Langan - Thomas

as our change of pace. That would really mess teams up.

[Judas In My Mind]

berner said:

Remember when Stoddard first came to SJ? He got worked in slow, but after he showed what he could do there were some nights he logged lots of ice. I was thinking similarly of Anthony. Remember, he's only 16 playing in a 19 year old league.

True and you very well could be right but 16 year olds with the kind of expectations on them that Anthony has typically play a larger role than that, even at age 16. Anthony has more expectations upon him coming out of the draft than Stoddard did. While even the top level 16 year olds typically don't produce high point totals in their first year, they do tend to not be playing on the fourth line.

I know we all want a good year this year and playoffs and all that but even with those hopes I do want to see Anthony playing a larger regular role than a 4th liner. It should pay off in the future.

Of course the other thing to look at is maybe some people get dumped during the year, especially around Xmas time, when JB has a better idea of how many of the younger guys are ready for larger roles. I should have just quit when I said I was going to.

p.s. As for Thomas, Killer, I never listed the extra forwards. I see him in there or on the 4th line at best. To start the year anyway. He could be improved from last year and surprise people I suppose but for the beginning that's where I see him at. He makes the team for sure though IMO.

[berner]

I still feel that Anthony may well start the year in a fourth line capacity. However, I will say that if Anthony is even a fraction of what he is hyped to be, he won't end the year there. I'd figure by Christmas he's worked his way up to 2nd line type minutes, and I think the Dogs will be pretty active (once again) at Christmas positioning themselves not only for the second half, but more importantly for next season.

[berner]

bjindaho said:

If we traded Gallant and used Mugford as an enforcer, or Pisani if he can play enough to merit 6th d-man, we could do something like:
Liske - Dido - Knox
Charland - Sparling - Charland
Anthony - Stoddard - Kirkpatrick
Mugford - Richer - Thomas
Gauthier Langan

as our intimidating lineup and:

Liske - Dido - Knox
Charland - Sparling - Charland
Anthony - Stoddard - Kirkpatrick
Gauthier - Langan - Thomas

as our change of pace. That would really mess teams up.

No way we should trade Gallant and 'hope' that a kid can walk in here and act as our primary enforcer. Even Gallant had Bergeron for a while.

Speaking of that, I can't help but smile thinking back - remember that game Bergy and Gallant both got in fights seconds apart from each other and Dave Connell snapped the shot of the two of them in the penalty box together? Too funny!

[elementz]

Not going to attempt to put line combos on here yet. I have a feeling Anthony will be playing on the 2nd line.

[dogbert]

It would really help us if we could unload Sparling. Stoddard is a better player and should be our 2nd line center, but Sparling is no third liner. I think Guathier is going to have a tough time sticking too.

Something like
Liske - Dido - Knox 'size, skill, speed
Anthony - Stoddard - K. Charland 'size, skill, sniper
F. Charland - Leduc - Kirkpatrick 'size, energy, energy
xxx - Richer - Thomas 'xxx, grit, grit

[killer]

dogbert said:

It would really help us if we could unload Sparling. Stoddard is a better player and should be our 2nd line center, but Sparling is no third liner. I think Guathier is going to have a tough time sticking too.

Something like
Liske - Dido - Knox 'size, skill, speed
Anthony - Stoddard - K. Charland 'size, skill, sniper
F. Charland - Leduc - Kirkpatrick 'size, energy, energy
xxx - Richer - Thomas 'xxx, grit, grit

How can you say Stoddard is a better player then Sparling is when you have not seen them step foot on the ice since last season and Sparling certainly was the better of the 2 last season..............does Stoddard have more potential then Sparling, Likely but it hasn't happend yet. Stoddard is still really young after only half a season in the league he will still need time to mature. I think you better go watch training camp first before making these bold comments.

I would also love to know where Gallant is in your lineup and how you can consider Richer gritty after watching a 30 second video of him.....he did make a few light hits but nothing out of the ordinary of any other player.

Your problem is your expecting too much too soon

[themagician]

Again, count on Richer and Langan not being with the Dogs this year, but being there next year.
If JB could get something for Sparling, he would already have made the deal don't you think??
Mugford is NOT a fighter and the reality is that nobody on our protected list can replace Gallant, not even close.
If Gauthier, the Charland brothers, Leduc, and Liske are not on offensive lines, they are of no use to the team. This poses a potential dilemma where somebody like Gauthier or Leduc may have to be moved.
Anthony, his father and his agent are not going to be happy with 4th line playing time. The kid will need to adjust, but that wont' come without some headaches and I'm sure there were some icetime related demands before any signing was done for him to come here.
With so many veterans and capable major junior guys, team chemistry and keeping everybody happy will be a challenge.

[dogbert]

killer said:

dogbert said:

It would really help us if we could unload Sparling. Stoddard is a better player and should be our 2nd line center, but Sparling is no third liner. I think Guathier is going to have a tough time sticking too.

Something like
Liske - Dido - Knox 'size, skill, speed
Anthony - Stoddard - K. Charland 'size, skill, sniper
F. Charland - Leduc - Kirkpatrick 'size, energy, energy
xxx - Richer - Thomas 'xxx, grit, grit

How can you say Stoddard is a better player then Sparling is when you have not seen them step foot on the ice since last season and Sparling certainly was the better of the 2 last season..............does Stoddard have more potential then Sparling, Likely but it hasn't happend yet. Stoddard is still really young after only half a season in the league he will still need time to mature. I think you better go watch training camp first before making these bold comments.

I would also love to know where Gallant is in your lineup and how you can consider Richer gritty after watching a 30 second video of him.....he did make a few light hits but nothing out of the ordinary of any other player.

Your problem is your expecting too much too soon

Ya, those are pretty big assumptions I made.

Based on what I saw last year, I'd take Stoddard over Sparling.

I have almost zero confidence in my assessment of Richer. A total guess really. A third rouund pick; however, would typically be borderline ready.

I have no place for Gallant because I don't think he's much of a hockey player. I like the kid, but I don't like his game.

It has been pretty much the case that whatever board posters speculate is wrong. Kids grow and develop, and the coaches see things we never could, either because we're not close enough or we're idiots.

[killer]

dogbert said:

killer said:

How can you say Stoddard is a better player then Sparling is when you have not seen them step foot on the ice since last season and Sparling certainly was the better of the 2 last season..............does Stoddard have more potential then Sparling, Likely but it hasn't happend yet. Stoddard is still really young after only half a season in the league he will still need time to mature. I think you better go watch training camp first before making these bold comments.

I would also love to know where Gallant is in your lineup and how you can consider Richer gritty after watching a 30 second video of him.....he did make a few light hits but nothing out of the ordinary of any other player.

Your problem is your expecting too much too soon

Ya, those are pretty big assumptions I made.

Based on what I saw last year, I'd take Stoddard over Sparling.

I have almost zero confidence in my assessment of Richer. A total guess really. A third rouund pick; however, would typically be borderline ready.

I have no place for Gallant because I don't think he's much of a hockey player. I like the kid, but I don't like his game.

It has been pretty much the case that whatever board posters speculate is wrong. Kids grow and develop, and the coaches see things we never could, either because we're not close enough or we're idiots.

I would take Stoddard right too if he was older and capable of putting up the numbers Sparling will this season but IMO he is not ready for that yet...........Stoddard will improve but you seem to forget that Sparling will too

I take it you believe we do not need a fighter from the lineup you posted...........why don;t you ask PEI fans how nice it was to see their star players runs and abused the entire first half of the season with no enforcer. Or ask them the impact picking a fighter up the second half made on the team.

Gallant is more then capable of playing on this team and making a contribution............JB will have him on the team

[playoffbound]

Dogbert, seriously Stoddard a better player than Sparling. What games were you attending last year and were they all at the beer trough? That's not to say Stoddard will not be a good player because I think he will be a very good player.

I know JB has rec' contacts from other teams on Sparling and from what I understand, JB is asking little too much at this point.