Steelers 21/22 Signing Discussion

[Ron 25]

At the moment, I can't really say I'm really excited by any of our new signings and do have a concern at the current average age of our squad.

While there is no substitute for experience a few players are now coming to the end of their careers and I hope that doesn't mean their output will be reduced.

It will be interesting to see what the remaining few will be.

I would be happy with Barry Brust if he is indeed our new goalie.

Barry Brust is almost 38 - is there no concern about his fading abilities - and the subsequent rise in the team's average age? After all, age is as big a concern for a nettie as for anyone else on the ice.

I don't think age is as big a factor for goalies.

Plus he's played consistently at a very high level so should have no issues playing in our beer league

I probably didn't make my point very well. I have no concerns about Brust,'s age. Similarly, I have no concerns about the overall average age of the squad. All teams will be recruiting players who have had little or no hockey over the period of the pandemic, and will be in the same boat as us. Hope that clarifies my thoughts.

[Doom]

At the moment, I can't really say I'm really excited by any of our new signings and do have a concern at the current average age of our squad.

While there is no substitute for experience a few players are now coming to the end of their careers and I hope that doesn't mean their output will be reduced.

It will be interesting to see what the remaining few will be.

I would be happy with Barry Brust if he is indeed our new goalie.

Barry Brust is almost 38 - is there no concern about his fading abilities - and the subsequent rise in the team's average age? After all, age is as big a concern for a nettie as for anyone else on the ice.

I don't think age is as big a factor for goalies.

Plus he's played consistently at a very high level so should have no issues playing in our beer league

I always tend to look at the level they're playing at and the rate of fall.

The only concern I'd have with Brust was that he didn't play last season, but before that he was still putting up good numbers.

Regards

Doom

[Doom]

I was just having a very high level look at our forwards past numbers and based on those I'd predict the following goals for a 54 game season (to the nearest 5).

Vallerand 30
Dowd 25
DeLuca 25
Eberle 25
Connolly 20
Armstrong 15
Hodgman 15
Oleksuk 15
Mosey 10
Latal 10
Phillips 5

Total 195

Add 25 from defence and we'll be around 220 goals, but I'd knock off 10% for injuries which would leave us around 200 in total.

200 would be down on where we were in the cancelled season, although it's about where Carfiff would have been had the season completed.

Regards

Doom

[SteelerBlade]

Offence has never been an issue under Fox, it’s the D that will determine if we’re trophy material.

[Doom]

Offence has never been an issue under Fox, it’s the D that will determine if we’re trophy material.

So far his record on that front has been very good, with us being top scorers in the cancelled season and the Elite series.

We probably need to tighten up at the back, but that may come at the expense of the offense and I'm not sure that's Fox's style.

Comparing to the last season, I'd suggest the forward changes are:

Hodgman for Davies
Oleksuk for Lemtyugov
Mosey for Sanstrom
Latal for Kolehmainen

I wouldn't say that's a huge drop in output, as those they're replacing weren't particularly high scorers.

Regards

Doom

[Joesteeler]

I'd like to see some toughness from 1 of the remaining D slots, along with a couple puck moving Dmen.

Someone in the mould of Steve Munn wouldn't go a miss for me.

[smbmetal]

I'd like to see some toughness from 1 of the remaining D slots, along with a couple puck moving Dmen.

Someone in the mould of Steve Munn wouldn't go a miss for me.

I'd like to see more toughness throughout the whole team, but I think those days have gone now.

Although I was impressed with ASD's toughness and I don't think Sam Jones is shy either.

[Joesteeler]

I'd like to see some toughness from 1 of the remaining D slots, along with a couple puck moving Dmen.

Someone in the mould of Steve Munn wouldn't go a miss for me.

I'd like to see more toughness throughout the whole team, but I think those days have gone now.

Although I was impressed with ASD's toughness and I don't think Sam Jones is shy either.

I think there’s still a role for the Mark Louis, Leigh Salters, Colt King type players that can play, but can also throw em down if they wanted

I do think the days of fighting to spark the team have gone though. I think we’ll see most fights heat of the moment/reactionary.

[Jayboy]

I prerer that type of fight anyway, I just would love to see the type of player you mentioned because when you build a team of speed and skill, you do need a player in our ranks prepared to protect certain players and one the will send the message if needed, a player that can play first and foremost, players like Scott Alison, Dion Darling, Mike Peron,Steve Munn, Zack Fitzgerald and Colt King come to mind.
The added bonus is these type of players become firm fan favourites, a true franchise player, worth their weight in gold, in shirt sales alone..
And can be a true valued member of a winning team..

[Joesteeler]

Agree with that


Not sure if anyone has listened to the podcast Benn Olson was on recently

He said he was on salary+ a set bonus for every fight he had. No wonder he tried to mix it up most nights