The completed squad - Your verdict

[Morpheous]

The squad so far!

NM - more than happy with Greener

Def - Looking very good at the back, especially if Colton Saucerman is the last D man.

Forwards - I’ll make my personal judgement when I can see the full roster, I can’t make a proper decision with still 4 to be announced, no idea wether Vally is on the 1st or 3rd until I see who else is joining…

[Sully]

I personally feel that the way out team is structured and the players we have recruited, the better teams have found us easy to defend against.

What you have players like Conway, Martin and Goodwin for example, the opposing teams have to give them that extra bit of attention, these players also have the ability to punish any small mistake.

I feel with out team iver
The last couple of seasons, we’ve been pretty easy to defend against as we don’t have that out and out distractive threat.

[Doom]

If Saucerman has signed, I wonder how that leaves our defensive pairings.

I think I'd go

Petgrave/Nevalainen
Saucerman/Diffley
Jones/Tansey

Regards

Doom

I think with Saucerman and Tansey having played for the same team before Fox might start them together maybe? Plus Diffley is coming in to play more of an offensive role so makes sense if he’s paired with Jones? Anyway they are paired I think our D looks stronger than last years…

They've been on the same team, but were they paired together?

Tansey is listed as a left shot and Saucerman a right, so that bit works.

My logic was that both of them are very offensive and score quite a lot of goals, so maybe they need pairing with someone more defensive minded.

They've also both got lots of professional experience, so maybe it's better to play them with someone who has less experience.

Regards

Doom

[BontSteeler]

Any ideas on rumours who the last 4 forwards are?

I believe (if I remember correctly) is we've signed 3 & Fox is making way with a Canadian forward he's been after all Summer....

[ginger]

Any ideas on rumours who the last 4 forwards are?

I believe (if I remember correctly) is we've signed 3 & Fox is making way with a Canadian forward he's been after all Summer....

Likely Mikko Juusola is one of them, but beyond star articles which floated Allen and Kristo as us still having interest, there's not much in the way of solid rumours that I've seen.

Personally I think it's unlikely to be Kristo. Allen a possible but feel like Simpson may take that kind of role in the team (although probably not starting with Neumann and Ciampini).

Would not be surprised to see 3 brand new names to add to Juusola

[19Steelers]

I would prefer some new names who are hungry to make a reputation in the league. Maybe younger end with a university deal. We have had some good players on that basis.

[ginger]

I would prefer some new names who are hungry to make a reputation in the league. Maybe younger end with a university deal. We have had some good players on that basis.

There was an article earlier in the off season regarding uni spots. IIRC Tony Smith was talking to Hallam regarding 1year MBA program, as the Sheffield Uni one was 2 years. We'd lost out a bit to Belfast and Cardiff I believe as their options were 1 year programs, so hopefully something has been agreed.

[Morpheous]

With the Watling addition, It was nice to hear fox in his interview this morning saying “he was looking for another 1st liner with his last available open roster spot”, if that’s the case we’re looking better on paper than last year in my opinion…

[ginger]

With the Watling addition, It was nice to hear fox in his interview this morning saying “he was looking for another 1st liner with his last available open roster spot”, if that’s the case we’re looking better on paper than last year in my opinion…

Agreed - another forward like Watling and I'd have no qualms over those 2 plus Vallerand as a top line. I know Vallerand didn't have his best year last year, but he's still 2nd overall in PPG in the EIHL all time (for players that have played over 100 games). 1st is Conway.

[BontSteeler]

With the Watling addition, It was nice to hear fox in his interview this morning saying “he was looking for another 1st liner with his last available open roster spot”, if that’s the case we’re looking better on paper than last year in my opinion…

Agreed - another forward like Watling and I'd have no qualms over those 2 plus Vallerand as a top line. I know Vallerand didn't have his best year last year, but he's still 2nd overall in PPG in the EIHL all time (for players that have played over 100 games). 1st is Conway.

I've said it before & I'll say it again....

Vallerand will be Steelers top goalscorer this season, you put him with the right players (Watling & new 1st liner) & he will put up the points.