Steelers Rumours 22/23

[kgw]

Some other European players we've had over the past couple of seasons:

Nikolai Lemtyugov
Marek Troncinsky
Mikko Kuukka
Josef Hrabal
Adrian Saxrud Danielsen
Josef Mikyska
Sondre Olden

[paul johnston]

For me it's not whether they are from North America or Europe, its whether their style of play is more North American or European. Its an oversimplification but that means the more physical, bump and grind style versus the less physical more skill skating style. Not that they are mutually exclusive.

It's fair to say that the league is a marathon endurance and unless your slick skill playing style/players are so far ahead then in the EIHL you definitely need a mix of the two. It's your character physical bump and grind players that can be the difference in getting you over the line/winning games from February onwards.

[teeLIST]

I'm not as overly concerned about the roster as many are. I don't see a clear run away winner. Belfast might have the scoring power, but i do think they're lighter on the back-end and in the NM position than they have been previously.

We haven't exactly got younger as we were told either, especially if you take in to account the rumoured signings. Fox has always stated he'd take the best available player and i think that's what he's fell back on. Still hoping that we have a top notch C1 lined up to announce.

Guessing at Piche, McNally & one of the NM's to be the 3 announced next week.

[JoeySlats#13]

I'm not as overly concerned about the roster as many are. I don't see a clear run away winner. Belfast might have the scoring power, but i do think they're lighter on the back-end and in the NM position than they have been previously.

We haven't exactly got younger as we were told either, especially if you take in to account the rumoured signings. Fox has always stated he'd take the best available player and i think that's what he's fell back on. Still hoping that we have a top notch C1 lined up to announce.

Guessing at Piche, McNally & one of the NM's to be the 3 announced next week.

McNally, Piche and Ciampini next week? Leaving both netminders and the 1C (presumed) to be announced down the line.

[House_of_Steel]

Wasn't Martin Latal one of the best players in the league last season or am I mistaken?

He was a cheap signing that exceeded all expectations Aaron stated that about him quite recently!

[ekt]

I'm not sure I get the negativity with our roster, but I guess we all see different things.

Not so much negativity, more the lack of any WOW factor, so far.

I want us to win the league again, to do that we need to be better, not equal to, the likes of Belfast, Cardiff and this year it seems Nottingham and the Clan.
This is the longest period I can remember that we have gone without winning the league (been going since the start)
We know what we will get with the returnees, but so far with the new signings, it doesn't feel we will be "better" than all the rest.

That, coupled with the current rumours on netminders, is why I feel underwhelmed at present.

Nottingham are looking like a threat this year, its been a while since the last time they looked like a threat from day one.

None of these opinions matter of course, its what happens when they hit the ice and begin to play as a team, still quite a few to sign.

[JoeySlats#13]

If the rumours flying around are true then the forward group will look like:

Ciampini-1C-Dowd - Ciampini PPG player in ECHL and over a PPG in Europe, over 100 AHL games. Dowdy proven goal scorer and heartbeat of team + an unknown signing who appears to be top end of the market. This line seems a very legit first line in the EIHL.

Allen-Raska-Latal - Allen physical goal scoring winger who plays net front on PP (something we were missing massively), 50+ games in ECHL and AHL over PPG in Europe. Latal, speed demon who creates offense and kills penalties, good first season and expect him and Raska to link up well. Raska never played outside of Czech league (small risk?), plays fast and aggressive (what we were after improving on) and has good hands, similar scenario to Latal from last year after coming over from Czechia after playing a more defensive role, hopefully we get a similar result with him.

Mitchell-Connolly-Mosey - Mitchell aggressive physical winger who is quick, 0.53 PPG in ECHL and has 40+ AHL call-ups, been brought in for speed and physicality, hopeful he can put up some decent points but we also needed a plan B and this guy seems to fit that bill, even if he isn't a prolific goal scorer we needed some more grit in the line up. Connolly, good leader, penalty killer and rink rat, obviously want him to be putting up good points again but we definitely missed his competitive anything to win mentality last season. Risk is obviously the knee injury he had last year. Mosey, awesome for us last season in D and up front, could fit anywhere in the line up if needed, was a must have re-signing for me. First time for Mitchell outside of North America so maybe pair him with 2 EIHL veterans and let him fly around the big ice hitting everything and everyone.

McNally-Whistle-Jono - McNally - physical player who knows the league, gives us some toughness and willing to scrap if needed. Got 12 goals for Cardiff last season, just hope he keeps the aggression focused. Whistle was brilliant towards the end of last season, could be 3rd liner if needed, hoping he can build on last seasons play and point total. Jono, reliable leader, great skater and a PK specialist (is that harsh )

So we've lost & replaced with (tried to do like for like as close as possible):

Vallerand - Ciampini - I doubt anyone will replace Vally's goals like for like and we are looking for more depth scoring than relying on a few, but Ciampini should put up good numbers and would expect 20+ from him

Eberle - Mitchell - speed and aggression, Eberle probably had more goals in him but Mitchell is an unknown as he's never played outside of North America, he certainly is going to bring some pace and bite to the lineup and give us a different style than we've had recently. Hopefully Mitchell can put up some bigger points tallies on the bigger ice.

Polak - Raska - speedy center, Polak had a good season after coming in for us mid-season, hopefully Raska - Latal partnership will set alight - Raska unknown to playing abroad but expect him to put up decent numbers still.

Sointu - Allen - would assume Allen will gives us a lot more offence than Sointu who was a good reliable 2 way player. Allen will be our net front guy on PP and play a more physical game

Traversa - McNally - Italian for Italian? Similar energy role with a few more goals and a bit more physicality and the ability to scrap

Armstrong - 1C to be announced - unknown but hoping for a marquee signing to put some big numbers

Hodgman - Connolly - top 9 center for sure, Hodgman gave us poise on the puck and good playmaking but I expect more points from Connolly with a lot more aggression and physicality as well as his desire to compete and win, missed him on PK also.

[paul johnston]

If the rumours flying around are true then the forward group will look like:

Ciampini-1C-Dowd - Ciampini PPG player in ECHL and over a PPG in Europe, over 100 AHL games. Dowdy proven goal scorer and heartbeat of team + an unknown signing who appears to be top end of the market. This line seems a very legit first line in the EIHL.

Allen-Raska-Latal - Allen physical goal scoring winger who plays net front on PP (something we were missing massively), 50+ games in ECHL and AHL over PPG in Europe. Latal, speed demon who creates offense and kills penalties, good first season and expect him and Raska to link up well. Raska never played outside of Czech league (small risk?), plays fast and aggressive (what we were after improving on) and has good hands, similar scenario to Latal from last year after coming over from Czechia after playing a more defensive role, hopefully we get a similar result with him.

Mitchell-Connolly-Mosey - Mitchell aggressive physical winger who is quick, 0.53 PPG in ECHL and has 40+ AHL call-ups, been brought in for speed and physicality, hopeful he can put up some decent points but we also needed a plan B and this guy seems to fit that bill, even if he isn't a prolific goal scorer we needed some more grit in the line up. Connolly, good leader, penalty killer and rink rat, obviously want him to be putting up good points again but we definitely missed his competitive anything to win mentality last season. Risk is obviously the knee injury he had last year. Mosey, awesome for us last season in D and up front, could fit anywhere in the line up if needed, was a must have re-signing for me. First time for Mitchell outside of North America so maybe pair him with 2 EIHL veterans and let him fly around the big ice hitting everything and everyone.

McNally-Whistle-Jono - McNally - physical player who knows the league, gives us some toughness and willing to scrap if needed. Got 12 goals for Cardiff last season, just hope he keeps the aggression focused. Whistle was brilliant towards the end of last season, could be 3rd liner if needed, hoping he can build on last seasons play and point total. Jono, reliable leader, great skater and a PK specialist (is that harsh )

So we've lost & replaced with (tried to do like for like as close as possible):

Vallerand - Ciampini - I doubt anyone will replace Vally's goals like for like and we are looking for more depth scoring than relying on a few, but Ciampini should put up good numbers and would expect 20+ from him

Eberle - Mitchell - speed and aggression, Eberle probably had more goals in him but Mitchell is an unknown as he's never played outside of North America, he certainly is going to bring some pace and bite to the lineup and give us a different style than we've had recently. Hopefully Mitchell can put up some bigger points tallies on the bigger ice.

Polak - Raska - speedy center, Polak had a good season after coming in for us mid-season, hopefully Raska - Latal partnership will set alight - Raska unknown to playing abroad but expect him to put up decent numbers still.

Sointu - Allen - would assume Allen will gives us a lot more offence than Sointu who was a good reliable 2 way player. Allen will be our net front guy on PP and play a more physical game

Traversa - McNally - Italian for Italian? Similar energy role with a few more goals and a bit more physicality and the ability to scrap

Armstrong - 1C to be announced - unknown but hoping for a marquee signing to put some big numbers

Hodgman - Connolly - top 9 center for sure, Hodgman gave us poise on the puck and good playmaking but I expect more points from Connolly with a lot more aggression and physicality as well as his desire to compete and win, missed him on PK also.

Thats a good write up. 1 C does need to be quality for me, we've not had a stand out over last couple of years.

Hard to assess the new/proposed new guys to the league, we've seen highly rated players come in and be complete gash and some guys under the radar who have been great. What I'm hearing and reading I think the newly signed forwards sound promising.

Two guys I have doubts about are guys we know. Conns and McNally. Conns was down on performance pre-injury, then he's had the big injury, and also his age. Taking all that into account is he going to be able to deliver what is required?
We do need a McNally style player but I'm not sure at all he is the one. Why didn't Devils retain him if he can fulfil a role? I suspect they didn't want him. Why would that be? Can't say I was overly impressed with his showing when I saw him up against us.

[BontSteeler]

Has Alex Graham been signed back up yet?

How many homegrown players do we need to have on our roster? I lose track of the rules tbh!

[Doom]

If the rumours flying around are true then the forward group will look like:

Ciampini-1C-Dowd - Ciampini PPG player in ECHL and over a PPG in Europe, over 100 AHL games. Dowdy proven goal scorer and heartbeat of team + an unknown signing who appears to be top end of the market. This line seems a very legit first line in the EIHL.

Allen-Raska-Latal - Allen physical goal scoring winger who plays net front on PP (something we were missing massively), 50+ games in ECHL and AHL over PPG in Europe. Latal, speed demon who creates offense and kills penalties, good first season and expect him and Raska to link up well. Raska never played outside of Czech league (small risk?), plays fast and aggressive (what we were after improving on) and has good hands, similar scenario to Latal from last year after coming over from Czechia after playing a more defensive role, hopefully we get a similar result with him.

Mitchell-Connolly-Mosey - Mitchell aggressive physical winger who is quick, 0.53 PPG in ECHL and has 40+ AHL call-ups, been brought in for speed and physicality, hopeful he can put up some decent points but we also needed a plan B and this guy seems to fit that bill, even if he isn't a prolific goal scorer we needed some more grit in the line up. Connolly, good leader, penalty killer and rink rat, obviously want him to be putting up good points again but we definitely missed his competitive anything to win mentality last season. Risk is obviously the knee injury he had last year. Mosey, awesome for us last season in D and up front, could fit anywhere in the line up if needed, was a must have re-signing for me. First time for Mitchell outside of North America so maybe pair him with 2 EIHL veterans and let him fly around the big ice hitting everything and everyone.

McNally-Whistle-Jono - McNally - physical player who knows the league, gives us some toughness and willing to scrap if needed. Got 12 goals for Cardiff last season, just hope he keeps the aggression focused. Whistle was brilliant towards the end of last season, could be 3rd liner if needed, hoping he can build on last seasons play and point total. Jono, reliable leader, great skater and a PK specialist (is that harsh )

So we've lost & replaced with (tried to do like for like as close as possible):

Vallerand - Ciampini - I doubt anyone will replace Vally's goals like for like and we are looking for more depth scoring than relying on a few, but Ciampini should put up good numbers and would expect 20+ from him

Eberle - Mitchell - speed and aggression, Eberle probably had more goals in him but Mitchell is an unknown as he's never played outside of North America, he certainly is going to bring some pace and bite to the lineup and give us a different style than we've had recently. Hopefully Mitchell can put up some bigger points tallies on the bigger ice.

Polak - Raska - speedy center, Polak had a good season after coming in for us mid-season, hopefully Raska - Latal partnership will set alight - Raska unknown to playing abroad but expect him to put up decent numbers still.

Sointu - Allen - would assume Allen will gives us a lot more offence than Sointu who was a good reliable 2 way player. Allen will be our net front guy on PP and play a more physical game

Traversa - McNally - Italian for Italian? Similar energy role with a few more goals and a bit more physicality and the ability to scrap

Armstrong - 1C to be announced - unknown but hoping for a marquee signing to put some big numbers

Hodgman - Connolly - top 9 center for sure, Hodgman gave us poise on the puck and good playmaking but I expect more points from Connolly with a lot more aggression and physicality as well as his desire to compete and win, missed him on PK also.

If this is our lineup with a quality 1st line centre I'd be happy with that.

Agree with Paul above, I would have concerns about Connolly and McNally, but hopefully they'll both bring positives to the table.

Ciampini is a really odd one. His stats last season are very average, but the season before he absolutely ripped it up. Why such a big drop off.....injury maybe?

Regards

Doom