Next Season - Current Roster - Keep or Move On?

[Jayboy]

Here's a question for our stats people on here.....

What's the average age of the other squads across the league?

I look at our team & feel like its 50+ (joking aside) at times.

I watched the 1st two periods yesterday & that was quality, high end Ice Hockey by 2 teams who are streets ahead of us at the moment - especially that Belfast side.

Belfast was definitely streets ahead, and of that there can be no doubt but Cardiff are not, we are pretty evenly matched with Cardiff all season and in the playoffs, they gave a good account of themselves over the play off weekend and Belfast won easily really in the end in the final.. But we could have and should have won our semifinal against them. the final I feel would have been the same outcome if we had made it.. but Cardiff need to rebuild just has much as us in my humble opinion...

[smbmetal]

Sounds like another clear out.... Greenfield and the Brits to remain according to the Star.

I'm sure there's a couple of imports staying potentially but certainly sounds like big changes are coming (again!)

Funny how a lot of us on here also wanted/predicted a clear out just from the posts in this thread and that's why I created the thread in the first place so we have some history.

Pleased Fox sees it the same as us, now if he can see that we need some in your face hockey we'll be back in the trophy race.

Greenfield could build his own dynasty here if he wants. Best goalie for years!

[JoeySlats#13]

Sounds like another clear out.... Greenfield and the Brits to remain according to the Star.

I'm sure there's a couple of imports staying potentially but certainly sounds like big changes are coming (again!)

Funny how a lot of us on here also wanted/predicted a clear out just from the posts in this thread and that's why I created the thread in the first place so we have some history.

Pleased Fox sees it the same as us, now if he can see that we need some in your face hockey we'll be back in the trophy race.

Greenfield could build his own dynasty here if he wants. Best goalie for years!

Certainly building around Greenfield as starters!

We had some players this season who could have brought that more often to be honest (Allen, McNally, Mitchell, Pitule, Connolly and Dowd) they all have either the size or style to play that way but we don't seem to have seen it regularly or at all at points apart from the Storm home playoff game as an example. We've seen sparks in terms of physical play from all of these guys but I would say that our team style doesn't match this currently.

We have certainly been based around speed and offensive minded d-men recently and maybe that's why we haven't seen it that much as it isn't how they are being told to play. I think Giants and Devils in particular have a more balanced line-up in terms of physical energy type players playing that way (Neuls, McLeod, Brittain, Brandt etc.) and top end skill guys who are expected to carry the major load of the scoring. (Conway, Goodwin and Owre - Martin, Cox and Sanford). whereas we seem to have our scoring more spread but no real top top point scorers in the league and no particular physical identity line to go to when we need that aspect either. Therefore we rely on our 4 line system to chip away at teams rather than hitting them with firepower whether that be a true "TOP" line or a bash brothers style line and when this works we looked good but when results weren't going our way and we couldn't score we looked to be missing a 'spark' line, which could be either of those styles mentioned above.

[paul johnston]

Sounds like another clear out.... Greenfield and the Brits to remain according to the Star.

I'm sure there's a couple of imports staying potentially but certainly sounds like big changes are coming (again!)

Funny how a lot of us on here also wanted/predicted a clear out just from the posts in this thread and that's why I created the thread in the first place so we have some history.

Pleased Fox sees it the same as us, now if he can see that we need some in your face hockey we'll be back in the trophy race.

Greenfield could build his own dynasty here if he wants. Best goalie for years!

Certainly building around Greenfield as starters!

We had some players this season who could have brought that more often to be honest (Allen, McNally, Mitchell, Pitule, Connolly and Dowd) they all have either the size or style to play that way but we don't seem to have seen it regularly or at all at points apart from the Storm home playoff game as an example. We've seen sparks in terms of physical play from all of these guys but I would say that our team style doesn't match this currently.

We have certainly been based around speed and offensive minded d-men recently and maybe that's why we haven't seen it that much as it isn't how they are being told to play. I think Giants and Devils in particular have a more balanced line-up in terms of physical energy type players playing that way (Neuls, McLeod, Brittain, Brandt etc.) and top end skill guys who are expected to carry the major load of the scoring. (Conway, Goodwin and Owre - Martin, Cox and Sanford). whereas we seem to have our scoring more spread but no real top top point scorers in the league and no particular physical identity line to go to when we need that aspect either. Therefore we rely on our 4 line system to chip away at teams rather than hitting them with firepower whether that be a true "TOP" line or a bash brothers style line and when this works we looked good but when results weren't going our way and we couldn't score we looked to be missing a 'spark' line, which could be either of those styles mentioned above.

Agree with everything here. Would argue we didn't really have that much speed offensively-certainly from an individual skating view-latal, Neumann and Whistle, otherwise forwards not too fast.
We didn't play a full 60 minute game rotating the four lines skating hard every shift to help either to wear the opposition out who were often only playing three lines. A big disappointing season again.

[crackityjones]

Here's a question for our stats people on here.....

What's the average age of the other squads across the league?

I look at our team & feel like its 50+ (joking aside) at times.

I watched the 1st two periods yesterday & that was quality, high end Ice Hockey by 2 teams who are streets ahead of us at the moment - especially that Belfast side.

From Elite Prospects...
Steelers 30.00
Devils 28.08
Flyers 27.96
Clan 27.65
Giants 27.57
Flames 27.43
Panthers 27.08
Blaze 26.50
Stars 26.24
Storm 26.04

[crackityjones]

We're 3rd tallest and 3rd heaviest

[Jarv]

I'd keep

Geenfeild
Neumann
Allen
Piche
Nevalainen

Rest beyoned that i don't care about whether we keep or get rid.

Need to be looking to try and replace the older brits too over the next couple of seasons, Dowd's 34, Davey 35. Made a mistake letting waller go to cardiff after playing for us in the Elite series

[paul johnston]

I'd keep

Geenfeild
Neumann
Allen
Piche
Nevalainen

Rest beyoned that i don't care about whether we keep or get rid.

Need to be looking to try and replace the older brits too over the next couple of seasons, Dowd's 34, Davey 35. Made a mistake letting waller go to cardiff after playing for us in the Elite series

Rightly or wrongly was felt he wanted too much money wasn't it?

[smbmetal]

We had our annual keep or release discussion in the pub today.

The concensus of players to keep was:

Greenfield
Warburton

Petgrave
Nevalainen
Jones

Dowd
Whistle
Neumann
Graham

We also voted to replace the coach, but that isn't going to happen.

Regards

Doom

I’d add Allen to that list, he’s underrated. He would need a confident scoring line mate to work with. Ciampini’s not that man.

I’d only keep Petgrave if we got a no nonsense take the body D man to accompany him. I know Petgrave and Nevalainen together have good +/- stats but we haven’t cleared our crease enough. They’re both capable in the corners and playing out of the zone.

If we keep these three d men then I agree we need three aggressive crease clearing d men. But we've said that for years. I dont think our coach agrees with that sentiment though.

Exactly and that's another reason why we've not won a trophy for 3 seasons.

All Fox and Tony need to do is watch the playoff final. That was 2 x teams going at it for 3 full periods, not playing for 40 minutes then having a rest like we do cause everyone is too old etc.

Anyone that went anywhere near the goalie(s) was put into the front row. Loads of niggling, hits, skill and fast paced hockey.

Whilst the game has changed, feisty in your face hockey wins trophies and that's why Belfast have completed a Grand Slam as that's the exact type of hockey they play.

Agreed but Tony isn’t listening he hasn’t changed anything since Thommo was here. I find it more than coincidental that Fox as us play non contact supposedly fast paced hockey exactly what Thomson was trying to achieve in his last few seasons, the style is most definitely influenced from above, it’s time for me personally to assess we’re I go from here I’ve only bought 4 webcasts this season and attended the arena once mostly keeping up with the games through social media. In the past few seasons I’ve tried to lower my expectations but it’s not working I just don’t like my team losing out to silverware year in year out it’s been over 5 seasons since we won the playoffs we’ve lifted the challenge cup once in that time whilst Belfast and Cardiff keep reaping the spoils of war, quite frankly it’s pissing me off hence the rethink of where I go from here. Like I’ve said in a previous post we won’t win another league title whilst Tony is owner.

Unfortunately it's got to the same stage as it did under Paul Thompson for me where I'll be walking away until something changes, I can't see us winning another trophy while Fox is in charge. The on ice product is very poor and amongst the worst I've seen in 25 years of watching the Steelers and certainly not value for money.

Hints were there towards the end of the season that crowd numbers might drop next season if it's the same old same old. We're in danger of turning into the Nottingham Panthers who their owner appears to settle for mediocrity.

Let's be honest the club doesn't want the doubters coming anyway as they don't like the criticism. IMO they want people to come and sing Sweet Caroline and forget about the poor product on the ice.

PS - there's nothing wrong with enjoying the off ice entertainment if that's your bag etc. It's better than watching Fox's teams.

[ginger]

Sorry, just can't agree that Tony Smith wants mediocrity - our team never looks cheap in comparison to Belfast/Cardiff (usually looks similar), he has invested in bringing off ice facilities up to scratch for the players, and all seem well looked after, housed well etc.

Settling for mediocrity would be cutting back on player wages etc. Don't see us doing that.

We've not won anything for 2 years, that's it. There's at least 4/5 teams who all look like they're spending similar budgets on players so not winning anything for 2 seasons might be disappointing, but when you've got teams all pretty close in terms of budgets etc, that can happen.

Has it been good enough this year? No. But if you blow everything up every 2 year stretch when you don't win, it's always going to be hit and miss whether we win anything. By the looks of it, Fox recognises the need to clear out. If he doesn't get it right next year I think it probably is his last chance as coach. 19/20 won the CC, could easily have won the playoffs (if the season had continued). Team was good, hockey was good. Fox isn't incapable clearly