Team Changes, Keep or Release

[Firefox1001]

Signed up:
Jasper *
Cormier
Greenfield

* - I would release him.

Keep:
Tremblay
IBN (full time)
Juusola
Balmas
McAdam
Dowd

Retiring:
Tansey
Southorn
Watling

Release:
Dougherty
Harper
Diffley
Shudra
Tait

50/50:
Heard
Huutula
Warburton - He's never gonna get any ice time.

2-Way:
Steele/Kelly
Watson
Oldale

Unlikely to be returning:
Ritchie

[BontSteeler]

Signed up:
Jasper *
Cormier
Greenfield

* - I would release him.

Keep:
Tremblay
IBN (full time)
Juusola
Balmas
McAdam
Dowd

Retiring:
Tansey
Southorn
Watling

Release:
Dougherty
Harper
Diffley
Shudra
Tait

50/50:
Heard
Huutula
Warburton - He's never gonna get any ice time.

2-Way:
Steele/Kelly
Watson
Oldale

Unlikely to be returning:
Ritchie

Can't agree re Jasper, thought throughout the season & the playoff Final he was outstanding.

I've said elsewhere I'm torn on Heard, an exceptional player when he wants to be.

Tait is on the top of my list to bring back, give him more ice time, other teams are petrified of his pace, again another who was excellent this season for me

Agree re your release list (barring Tait) Shudra simply isn't EIHL standard, folk may think I'm being harsh but he's living off his Dads name.

This Summer will make or break Fox, the pressure is on to deliver silverware in the 26/27 season.

[Brian]

Agree with a lot of that but would keep Tait for his sheer speed , Diffley and Huutalla who virtually ran the defence in the last few months with long tiring minutes in each game. I think Southorn and Dougherty left it to those two and won't be missed. Fine people that they both are. Age has caught up with them.

[DSLSteeler]

Is this how it works every year in hockey then? With my football hat on, I would always worry, whenever wholesale changes are made to half the squad like that, that it would take quite a bit of time to bed down and it generally looks like a season of transition. Especially if it also encompasses a change of head coach, which down at Oakwell, is pretty much every season. But if this is normal, I'll stop worrying about it.

When does the rumour mill kick in and the signings generally start to happen?

[smbmetal]

Is this how it works every year in hockey then? With my football hat on, I would always worry, whenever wholesale changes are made to half the squad like that, that it would take quite a bit of time to bed down and it generally looks like a season of transition. Especially if it also encompasses a change of head coach, which down at Oakwell, is pretty much every season. But if this is normal, I'll stop worrying about it.

When does the rumour mill kick in and the signings generally start to happen?

Typically, most teams make quite a few changes at the end of each season, but are limited to around 5 or so during the season. Long contracts in hockey in the UK are pretty rare.

Sometimes clubs, including us, will sign players on a 2 year University deal where Tony has set up a good working relationship with the Uni’s for the player to gain a degree etc.

Greenfield signed up for 3 years, which is rare indeed. He is awesome though, so a good move IMO.

So there’s no need to worry when you see lots of exits and new signings

[lovedenisvial]

Said right from early August that Dougherty and Southorn didn't look fit enough to play a full season with 70+ games in the EIHL! both have been very good players during their careers but coming to the Steelers was 2/3 seasons too late for us.

Harper just wasn't involved enough in games to be effective as a powder forward! he did at times produce some high levels of performance but these were spasmodic and the play-off weekend was an example of his season, involved but not effective enough!

Heard? I was really excited to hear we had signed the Clan's captain and best player but he just disappeared in games! his skills, understanding and stick handling was brilliant but again his general involvement fluctuated from unplayable at times to sloppy and distracted (too involved in personal battles) to be a positive.

Overall! a new look D for me would improver our defensive core and give Greenfield the base he needs, keep the speed and puck handling of Cormier, Tait, Jasper and Juusola, Balmas is a must and Diffley too! ( I know he's not had his best season but he is a brilliant shut-down defender) not sure about Huttula? think he's been better this season than last but our team problem has been our defensive coverage, and he's been a part of that issue.
Don't think Richie will be part of any EIHL team next year!

[paul johnston]

A big problem was goals outwith of Balmas. Keeping all our current import forwards just wouldn't work unless they all find their shooting boots.
Jasper and Tait were good bar goals, juus and to a lesser degree Harper had their moments but not enough.
Ritchie wont be back. Its sods law for recruitment this year that we got a guy in the wouldn't be here when we needed him most!

[KCHC]

My take would be:
NM
Greenfield
McAdam (if he's happy to stay as 1b)
D
Cormier
Diffley
Kelly
Steele
F
Tait
Heard
Tremblay
Jasper
Dowd
Balmas
IBN

I'd also add Fox. I've ummed and ahhed on my thoughts there, but bottom line,he's a good Coach and stability is a core foundation for success. That said, I'd have to throw in that I'd have no idea who to realistically replace him with. I like a stable approach though and it'd be nice if next season happens with a view to him moving upstairs the season after and him being involved in bringing in his successor.

My honest issue is I'm not switched on enough beyond the Steelers as to who is available and/or who we could get to join.
From what everyone's saying Ritchie clearly isn't coming back. It'd be good if we could get someone who can produce like he did with the puck and has his skill level, though someone who would work harder for the team as his +/- was poor for someone who produced like he did with the puck.
I'd be interested to hear realistic options of who people think we could/should get in as I honestly couldn't offer an opinion on that myself...

[ginger]

It's nearly impossible to say who's available every off season. Leagues all over the world have contracts expiring so without being a full time scout it's hard to know.

That said, you can make a few guesses using Elite Prospects website. Generally EIHL teams recruit from ECHL, DEL2, ICEHL, Slovakia, Allsvenskan, Norway and Denmark. All are good comparisons to the EIHL. Top end points wise in ICEHL/Slovakia/Allsvenskan often go to better leagues, but have been known to head here too. Occasionally will get players from DEL/Czechia/Liiga but these tend to be lower points output in those leagues.

If you're on social media, look out for rumour accounts. There's 1 on X that's usually pretty spot on but often only come out just before the signing announcement.

[ginger]

Also add USports and NCAA as leagues teams over here recruit from