Jacques Beaulieu quote regarding Icedogs...

[Phil Margonis]

http://www.theobserver.ca/2012/12/28...rity-selection

ALL QUIET ON THE TRADE FRONT


Beaulieu noted that the OHL trade market has been surprisingly inactive coming off the holiday roster freeze, including with his team.


“It’s been quiet. I thought today would spark some conversations, but nothing. Nothing going on around the league, let alone us,” he said. “Everybody’s waiting for Niagara.”


The IceDogs could be big buyers as they make a run in Ryan Strome, Brett Ritchie and Dougie Hamilton’s final year, or they could look to deal those guys, with Strome and Hamilton immediately becoming the biggest chips on the market.


The hang-up appears to be on whether Niagara buys or sells as they could also lose Hamilton and Strome should an NHL season occur.


“If they decide to buy, that’ll trigger everything,” Beaulieu said.

[AlphaDog]

Awesome to read that we're the center of the OHL world right now

Sell Marty, Sell!!! Stack the team with picks for the next half-dozen years!!

[dogged74]

I don't know if I'd call it awesome or not. I'd like to think Marty could make some decisions having some idea what way the wind is blowing, but the wind is waiting on him. If even one GM made an impactful trade, that would be enough to break the dam on all the trades that will determine this franchise's future, but we all know that's not going to happen.. It's as if this team has been in limbo all year.

[notldogsfan]

While I'm firmly in the position that we need to sell, we could buy enough to make this team better. We have an overage spot, and we might be able to bring in other 19 year olds that are good complimentary players. We could still find players that dont cost big prospects and 2nd round picks. Billingsley is an example of a guy that didn't cost us much, but was a great depth player on the ice.

If we can build depth around Strome, Hamilton, Ritchie, Shipley, Theoret, Graham, Di Fruscia, and Verhaghe, anything is possible.

Look at where our team is in the standings now. Replace guys like Peterson and Kelly with OHL vets (not superstars, but good players) and the team easily has a chance at winning the conference.

Altogether if we're going for it, more than anything, we need a strong goaltender. If we want to beat Barrie, and have any hope in hell of taking down London, it has to be a goaltender that gets us there.

[eisdog]

I really don't understand those in the "buy" camp. We couldn't beat London last year with the amazing team we had. There is no way we have enough future assets to spend in order to buy a team that even approaches the depth we had last year. The east is weak this year. Even if we managed to win the east (which I seriously doubt) we would have no chance against the Western winner. Thats even if London or Owen Sound don't bulk up. Scary to think if they do. The more serious consequence is how we would be crippled for the future. I can't fathom letting Strome, Hamilton and Ritchie go with nothing in return. Of course if the NHL goes back we might lose them with nothing in return anyway. The only positive in that scenario is that we might get a good pick in the upcoming priority selection. (Another Strome). Anyway I hope things go well for us. The decisions made in the next 3 weeks will have an impact on this franchise for the next 4 years

[rabiddogfan]

Originally Posted by eisdog

I really don't understand those in the "buy" camp. We couldn't beat London last year with the amazing team we had. There is no way we have enough future assets to spend in order to buy a team that even approaches the depth we had last year. The east is weak this year. Even if we managed to win the east (which I seriously doubt) we would have no chance against the Western winner. Thats even if London or Owen Sound don't bulk up. Scary to think if they do. The more serious consequence is how we would be crippled for the future. I can't fathom letting Strome, Hamilton and Ritchie go with nothing in return. Of course if the NHL goes back we might lose them with nothing in return anyway. The only positive in that scenario is that we might get a good pick in the upcoming priority selection. (Another Strome). Anyway I hope things go well for us. The decisions made in the next 3 weeks will have an impact on this franchise for the next 4 years

We would need at least 6 more top calibre players and a goalie....somebody tell me how we would pay for that?

[strohs]

Agree 1000% esidog.

There is no way this team, even with additions, comes close to the depth we had last year, when we still couldn't beat London, and London is a better team last year than this year.

The reason why our record is so good this year may be a direct correlation to the fact that the East is so weak this year.

We have played well this year, Fester has far exceeded all expectations, but, we remain a one line team with weak special teams and no depth.

[dogged74]

Agree 100%,Stroh's. That's what I've been saying all year. This team desperately needs to rebuild now, before we lose everybody for nothing. The Dogs will not be beating London this year. All we can do is hope Marty recognizes that, and starts the rebuild.

[rabiddogfan]

I have a feeling the NHL is going to screw our plans up....as far as rebuilding that is....I hope I'm wrong.

My guess would be that Marty is looking to sell. He's probably heard the cost of some of these players and seen the destination of the more sought after players and is just waiting. I have read on another board that Ritchie to London is all but done, take that for what you will.
From what I have read, we'll know what the NHL is doing long before the 10th and even with a CBA done the entry rules look to stay the same, that is good for Niagara. I doubt teams will burn a contract year on 48 games.