Confirmed squad at a glance...
Forwards
12 Daniel Ciampini
14 Patrick Watling
24 Mark Simpson
25 Brett Neumann
27 Cole Shudra
55 Kameron Kielly
74 Brandon Whistle
75 Robert Dowd
88 Marc-Olivier Vallerand
Defenders
06 Kevin Tansey
22 Matt Petgrave
23 Colton Saucerman
44 Sam Jones
57 Niklas Nevalainen
65 Brien Diffley
Netminders
01 Matt Greenfield
The completed squad - Your verdict
Moderator: Mods
So we can pencil in Allen now.
I'm going for:
Vallerand/Watling/????
Ciampini/Allen/Neumann
Juusola/Simpson/Kielly
Dowd/Whistle/Shudra
It probably seems a bit harsh to have Dowd on the 4th, but I think the young Brits would benefit from his experience and because of the way he plays I think he could produce on any line.
For me it's crucial that we do still have a top 6 forward to sign, otherwise one of those 3rd liners has to move up and we look weaker for it.
I find that potential 3rd line interesting, because they all had relatively poor seasons last season, but on paper all have shown they can produce in the right situation.
Regards
Doom
I'm going for:
Vallerand/Watling/????
Ciampini/Allen/Neumann
Juusola/Simpson/Kielly
Dowd/Whistle/Shudra
It probably seems a bit harsh to have Dowd on the 4th, but I think the young Brits would benefit from his experience and because of the way he plays I think he could produce on any line.
For me it's crucial that we do still have a top 6 forward to sign, otherwise one of those 3rd liners has to move up and we look weaker for it.
I find that potential 3rd line interesting, because they all had relatively poor seasons last season, but on paper all have shown they can produce in the right situation.
Regards
Doom
Very wise!
I'm happy with the defence and netminder, but the final two forwards will certainly make or break my opinion as to whether we've upgraded in the forwards.
Regards
Doom
I think the bottom 9 looks pretty good. While I see the point about putting Dowd with the young brits I do think he’ll be more likely to start on the 3rd to try and maximise his scoring. The top line worries me though, they don’t look bad players but it seems again we have a top line of good but not great players. Since Mathieu Roy left, steelers have had a player in the top 5 point scorers in the league just once and purely going on paper. It looks like that will be the case once more
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ginger
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Top line will depend a bit on the last player, but I wouldn't worry on Vallerand or Watling.Daniel14 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 12:34 pmI think the bottom 9 looks pretty good. While I see the point about putting Dowd with the young brits I do think he’ll be more likely to start on the 3rd to try and maximise his scoring. The top line worries me though, they don’t look bad players but it seems again we have a top line of good but not great players. Since Mathieu Roy left, steelers have had a player in the top 5 point scorers in the league just once and purely going on paper. It looks like that will be the case once more
Vallerand is 2nd all time in points per game in the EIHL (for players with over 100 games).
On paper, Watling is probably in top 3 off season signings in the league (certainly in players new to the league).
While that’s true about vallerand and he’s undoubtedly a great player in this league, he’s yet to have a season where he stands head and shoulders above the rest of the league in my opinion which is what the title winning side usually seems to have come the end of the season (Conway, Piccinic Murphy for the giants. Martin, Haddad for the Devils. Roy, Forney for us).ginger wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 1:33 pmTop line will depend a bit on the last player, but I wouldn't worry on Vallerand or Watling.Daniel14 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 12:34 pmI think the bottom 9 looks pretty good. While I see the point about putting Dowd with the young brits I do think he’ll be more likely to start on the 3rd to try and maximise his scoring. The top line worries me though, they don’t look bad players but it seems again we have a top line of good but not great players. Since Mathieu Roy left, steelers have had a player in the top 5 point scorers in the league just once and purely going on paper. It looks like that will be the case once more
Vallerand is 2nd all time in points per game in the EIHL (for players with over 100 games).
On paper, Watling is probably in top 3 off season signings in the league (certainly in players new to the league).
On paper I love the way Fox builds his teams, lots of balance in defence and depth scoring in the forwards. But it does seem like teams tend to do better when they load up their budget on 2/3 top quality forwards and while vallerand is good and Watling certainly excites me, I feel if we’re going to have that this year I’d hope the last forward is at minimum their level but ideally better.
That said I think Juusola could really be one to watch this year so hopefully he produces to a good level assuming he is the Finnish forward
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ginger
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Apart from Conway and Piccinich, I'd argue a number of those players played in a less competitive league, with some easy 'pad the stats' nights. Also Murphy second time around was nowhere near his 1st season.Daniel14 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 2:34 pmWhile that’s true about vallerand and he’s undoubtedly a great player in this league, he’s yet to have a season where he stands head and shoulders above the rest of the league in my opinion which is what the title winning side usually seems to have come the end of the season (Conway, Piccinic Murphy for the giants. Martin, Haddad for the Devils. Roy, Forney for us).ginger wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 1:33 pmTop line will depend a bit on the last player, but I wouldn't worry on Vallerand or Watling.Daniel14 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 12:34 pmI think the bottom 9 looks pretty good. While I see the point about putting Dowd with the young brits I do think he’ll be more likely to start on the 3rd to try and maximise his scoring. The top line worries me though, they don’t look bad players but it seems again we have a top line of good but not great players. Since Mathieu Roy left, steelers have had a player in the top 5 point scorers in the league just once and purely going on paper. It looks like that will be the case once more
Vallerand is 2nd all time in points per game in the EIHL (for players with over 100 games).
On paper, Watling is probably in top 3 off season signings in the league (certainly in players new to the league).
On paper I love the way Fox builds his teams, lots of balance in defence and depth scoring in the forwards. But it does seem like teams tend to do better when they load up their budget on 2/3 top quality forwards and while vallerand is good and Watling certainly excites me, I feel if we’re going to have that this year I’d hope the last forward is at minimum their level but ideally better.
That said I think Juusola could really be one to watch this year so hopefully he produces to a good level assuming he is the Finnish forward
Piccinich was not expected to break out to that extent, and even Conway was not a lock to put up that many points.
Non of them are Theo Fluery type signings where it's almost nailed on they will be top scorer, most are combinations of luck, avoiding injuries (even just little niggles), right line mates and good coaching (or coaching that suits them). Top line players you sign you hope are going to shine and be the league's best but it's very much a hope, rather than a nailed on belief that they'll rack up 80+ points
This is why Vallerand is a great signing - proven return. Watling would have been out of reach except for a uni deal - that should give you an indication of his general stock in the hockey world outside the UK, hence why I don't have concerns.