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Well it's been widely rumoured and even publicesed that there is a real chance Anthony DeLuca could end up returning to the club in the near future!


Simply enough questions:
Would you welcome him back open armed all is forgiven?
Is there anything to actually forgive?
Is it really that bad what he did?
Was he actually playing that well anyway?
Do you think he will be back?
why wouldn't we want him back?

But for the purpose of the Poll would you want him back as a Steelers Player? simple Yes or No

Discuss the grey area in-between on the thread

I wouldn’t be dead against it. I think the whole situation was much ado about nothing.

The main arguments against are that his departure cost us due to squad upheaval, he should’ve made us aware of the possibility, although as a club evidently our “pre-employment checks” failed to spot it. The league evidently doesn’t have a doping routine, seems he was caught out in Denmark.

He didn’t have a fantastic start but there’s no way of knowing what numbers he’d have been on come season end.

He’s a former 28 goal scorer at EIHL level which we’d be happy with any of our forwards hitting this season.

It’s also difficult to put a price on a player who genuinely loves playing here and is passionate about the club, very rarely seen outside Brits.

I said no. No reason other than I don’t think our roster can fit him in without being a poor roster. With what we already have signed we need the remaining players to be fundamentally better than what we’ve already got to challenge not a player who’s on bar or slightly worse than what we’ve already got.

I voted no, not because of his past indiscretion, but because I didn't see enough from him last season to want him back.

It doesn't look like he was pulling up any trees in the ECHL.

For me it would be lazy recruitment.

Regards

Doom

I don’t know well enough the circumstances around his departure last season. I can see the desire not to wash dirty linen in public but if the club have asked him back a reasonable explanation would be in order. Without it there would always be questions.

So for me it’s a qualified ‘no’ as I don’t think any explanation would be given.

As a player without questions about him I would say ‘yes’ as I have no reason to think he couldn’t make a positive contribution and until I’ve seen the team play I can’t form any judgement about how he would rate against any of the new players.

I’ve always thought a successful team is something more than just the talent of the players. There’s been many an unsuccessful team with prima donnas who disrupt and bring the rest down. Let’s not judge them yet on paper but see how they come together as a team.

I've given members the ability to change their vote after reading our discussions on here..
At the minute its a no from me, but must admit its not a firm no, because I was very much a Deluca fan before all the issues.

I think he made a bang average start to last season and wasn't looking like the player we had before, you then add into that fact his use of marijuana and I think that is enough to say that maybe he shouldn't return.

On the flip side if he has paid the price and learnt his lesson I dont think he has to suffer a broken career because of one mistake (maybe taking into account if there is a regular habit or not back home) If he was banging in the goals and looking like a player that we couldn't refuse then maybe I would change my mind...
Also I do think you have to factor in, he may want to come back to Sheffield and make amends and show the fans that he still has the passion to finish what he started, you can't underestimate loyalty and passion and it certainly looks like he wants to come back and for that he does deserve some credit... it would be far easier to run and hide..

I suppose the issue here is that he was doing something which is perfectly legal in his home country of Canada, so in that respect you may want to forgive and forget. But then in Rome you do as the Romans do!
For myself I would stay clear of such issues arising from re-signing him as he wasn't playing that well when he left , maybe we have seen the best of him. You pays your money and you please yourself.

I voted no. Let’s have some new faces. I’m sure we can upgrade on him for the same money.

DeLuca brought disruption to the club by his actions, he undermined the chances of his club and teammates to win a title. By using drugs while being a professional athlete he demonstrated a stunning lack of concern for the inevitable consequences of being caught, whether it's in the example set to younger fans or the disregard of the effects on the club and other players. It was either done out of need, in which case he should be seeking treatment for addiction, or a lack of care, in which case do we really want someone like that in the team.

He may be a decent young man but actions have consequences, in my opinion it would be a mistake to bring him back, spend the money elsewhere and let him move on.

Have him back as a bottom 6 player yes 100%. So what if he’s smoked a bit of pit in his own county where it’s legal. Yeah he should have probs of checked how long it stays in your system but mistakes happen. He loves the club, and on his day he’s brilliant attack wise. If he comes back with a point to prove on the 3rd line and scores 20+ goals then fair play…..