10 game checkin

[DJBrooks]

How we feeling after 10 games? lol

After a great opening weekend the team has seem to be playing well below expectations. Sure there are some reasons for that, but it is still the truth.

Coaching
Honestly, without being able to see the actual full team on the ice I will actually give the coaching staff a decent grade to start the year. Fitzgerald has the PP running near the top of the league and their PK is mid-pack. Good signs of strong positioning and coaching. Also, it just feels like there is more structure to their game this year. Yes, it does completely fall apart at times, but after 10 games I will give the coaches a pass so far.

Injuries
The injuries have sucked...bad. Even worse, is the reaction to them. Cato gets hurt so the GM burns MORE picks on an OA we don't have room for and has to lose out on another trade shipping Papais out (7 points in 6 games in OS, fyi).
Since opening weekend I cant recall a game where this team had a full lineup - 12 forwards and 6 d. And this week was a DISASTER. You cant have back to back games with 10 forwards....this is the OHL not house league. All that this will accomplish is to get kids fatigued and cause more injuries. Just gross mismanagement. This is where you are seeing card issues pop up presumably. Where was Stewart or Runco all weekend? I thought having players in Brantford available to play was "the plan"? Brantford played Sunday with 20 men listed, but the OJHL site is far from reliable. Is it possible he didn't have enough players to have a full lineup for both his teams so Stewart and Runco had to stay down? Is he worried about carding issues with these players?

Team moving forward
I think this team will play better if they get healthy - but play better for what? To be decent? There is no game breaker on this team. Look at all of the past teams making a run here in Niagara - you had legitimate high-end drafted kids. Studnicka-Robertson-Thomas-Tomasino. Ho-Sang-Perlini-Dunn-Knott. This team doesnt have that. Sure He looks good but hes way too young to be "the guy". I love Fimis game compared to last season, but still he's not the guy.

Then look at the team moving to next year and its....not great.
You lose 50% of your backend in Keane, Jesus, Ribeau.
You can only have 3 OA's and your list of 2003s is currently 7 deep.
Rosenzwig
Cato
Dann
Michaud
Zito (who is potentially gone to the AHL anyways)
Sirrozotti
Agostinelli

So you lose AT LEAST seven core players from this year's team that is just....average.

I just dont get it...

[Dogs Enthusiast 104]

I just dont get it...

My feeling on this. They wanted a winning team on the ice as fast as possible. More for marketing and to erase the horrible season last year.

[DJBrooks]

ok...but where do you go from here?

Originally Posted by Dogs Enthusiast 104

My feeling on this. They wanted a winning team on the ice as fast as possible. More for marketing and to erase the horrible season last year.

[dogs777]

Originally Posted by DJBrooks

ok...but where do you go from here?

You hope and pray you can get healthy that’s honestly all you can do at this point this team will be fine IMO middle of the pack in the east IF they can get healthy

[fishfan51]

Originally Posted by dogs777

You hope and pray you can get healthy that’s honestly all you can do at this point this team will be fine IMO middle of the pack in the east IF they can get healthy

That's the scary part, trade away the young talent and picks to hopefully get healthy enough to finish in the middle of the pack. This is so bad.

[AuldBone]

Originally Posted by dogs777

You hope and pray you can get healthy that’s honestly all you can do at this point this team will be fine IMO middle of the pack in the east IF they can get healthy

As usual, this is me spit-balling, and just typing whatever comes into my head, so, if you don't agree... Congrats... You're likely in good company.

If all fans can do is hope and pray... Then the Dogs would be better off with a Priest in the GM role...

Burning draft picks in unnecessary trades is the mark of someone who hasn't QUITE figured out how the OHL works yet. And that does not bode well for this season, as it smacks of panic and indecision.

If IceDogs are in Card trouble 10 games in, isn't that a huge issue? Which could have been obviated by hiring an actual experienced OHL GM. JB wasn't great, but he learned at the feet of someone most can agree was a good GM. Sadly BB never absorbed the same lessons as a coach. DD is trade happy right now, he needs to slow down, and learn to build a team. He'll get better, but the fans are going to feel the pain, as will his wallet, before that happens.

I expect there's more than a fair few fans who would love to pick DD's brains about what he's doing, though I doubt the answers would be satisfying. DF is doing as well as can be expected, this team has a much better game in place (and yes it falls apart, and guys haven't gelled yet), so fans might be looking at another "2nd half Dogs" team... I mean, I even got to see them cycle the puck, in something that at least appears to be a game plan... First time that's happened in years...

Look. This team is probably not going to be that good this year. GM with no OHL Experience, and a coach with no OHL Coaching Experience, a team that, on paper, looks good (but existing players haven't had a lot of proper coaching in the OHL).

I think this team will be lucky to finish 8th in the East, unless they find a way to get healthy, and come together for the fans, and each other... Right now, it feels like they're finding ways to lose... Hopefully by 2nd half they will be finding ways to win... But can they come together and overpower the lack of professional direction?

Time will tell.

In 5 years, this team may be a powerhouse, but there's a few years of eating before that happens.

[Dogs Enthusiast 104]

That remains to be seen. I am here for the ride!

[Dawg Tired]

And for all that has gone on so far, the team has pretty much exactly the same record as it had at the 10 game point last year.

Main difference here is that most of the young developing talent got traded away for little in return and the picks that would have brought in more talent are gone as well.

There is no future star on the horizon to trade to recoup these picks either.

In financial terms, genius like this can turn billions into millions.

[strohs]

What a painful thread to read


So many good points DJ


this is the train starting to roll down the hill and the conductor does not know the brakes arent working (yet)

Unbelievably poor management

But also poor luck with injuries

And as rightfully pointed out the response to the injury was terrible and the fact they are already in card hell and regularly play without a full lineup lately is inexcusable


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