How many imports will be back next season

[JoeySlats#13]

There isn't a player I would be upset about if they returned which is a good thing! Compare that to last season and the keep list was minimal.

There are obvious wants who I'm assuming will be on most lists but some I think will depend on their choice (age / family etc.) and what direction Fox wants to go, does he make us slightly younger or does he keep the 30+ guys mainly on D?

The wants (for me) import forwards wise are:

Eberle
DeLuca
Vallerand
Connolly
Davies
Sandstrom
Lemtyugov
Armstrong

Problem is Armstrong is the only one in that list who is naturally a centreman, that is then 7 wingers plus Dowdy, Jono, Brown, Shudra and Graham.

All 7 have played top 6 minutes as well - can't see all of those being retained but would look something like this if they did, this has Connolly and Eberle at C:

DeLuca-Connolly-Vallerand
Lemtyugov-Armstrong-Dowd
Davies-Eberle-Sandstrom
Brown-Shudra-Jono

Would anyone be upset with that lineup?

[smbmetal]

I won't , if he wants to explore his options elsewhere then I would let him..

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He's going to be the spare import next year. Fox obviously doesn't rate him having sat him for weeks now.

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One of the disadvantages of Uni deals. We’re stuck with a below average player.

I like Belfast’s 1 year deal that attracted Pelech. More in tune with our league.

[SteelerBlade]

I won't , if he wants to explore his options elsewhere then I would let him..

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He's going to be the spare import next year. Fox obviously doesn't rate him having sat him for weeks now.

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One of the disadvantages of Uni deals. We’re stuck with a below average player.

I like Belfast’s 1 year deal that attracted Pelech. More in tune with our league.

Yeah the 1yr deal is probably better. Not many want to commit to the EIHL for 2yrs.

Although it does lead to Belfast big player turnover as guys sign there for an MBA before retiring.

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[Sully]

I’d say that we’d be looking to retain 70% of the imports and have natural wastage with the likes of AJ.

[Jarv]

Ok, It's not whether you want them back or not but who do you think will be back next season.

I reckon these 10 Imports will be back

10 Tanner Eberle
15 Anthony DeLuca
19 Michael Davies
28 Lucas Sandström
63 Brendan Connolly
90 John Armstrong
8 Marek Troncinsky
42 James Bettauer
97 Josef Hrabal
70 Tomas Duba (only as backup/1b netminder)

the rest will either be cut, retire or get much better offers elsewhere.

A little confused, is this thread for imports that we think will be back rather than what we want back? Seems to be a mixture of responses?

So I think who will be back (not who I would want back, that would be a small list).

10 Tanner Eberle - I think he will look at other options, we were clearly not his number one choice when he re-signed this year.
15 Anthony DeLuca - I think he will be back.
19 Michael Davies - Move on or retire.
28 Lucas Sandström - Could move on - good chance of him being back.
63 Brendan Connolly - Really not sure, think he will sign for another year.
90 John Armstrong - year two of his contract?
8 Marek Troncinsky - will look for other options.
42 James Bettauer - will look for other options.
97 Josef Hrabal - will look for other options.
70 Tomas Duba (only as backup/1b netminder) - retire.

Was originally a who do we think will be back but as forum threads often do it's morphed. Still an interesting discussion though.

The reason I started it was mainly because of Vallerand. As i reckon he will move on and wanted to see what everyone else's thoughts were without skewing the answers by suggesting it.

Don't get me wrong i'd like to see him back but just the odd answer to questions in a few different interviews seemed to be more guarded than i would have expected from someone who was dead set on staying. Maybe it was just the vitriol he got from the Blaze fans and doesn't want to get into all that again if he goes elsewhere. I'm probably miles off

I'd like to think that if he does move on the Steelers fans will have more class than the Blaze fans and wish him well...As long as it's not down the road. Also i don't blame any of them if they're looking for a payday elsewhere, it's not like it's a long career and any player playing here it's not like they're on mega bucks.

[SteelerBlade]

Ok, It's not whether you want them back or not but who do you think will be back next season.

I reckon these 10 Imports will be back

10 Tanner Eberle
15 Anthony DeLuca
19 Michael Davies
28 Lucas Sandström
63 Brendan Connolly
90 John Armstrong
8 Marek Troncinsky
42 James Bettauer
97 Josef Hrabal
70 Tomas Duba (only as backup/1b netminder)

the rest will either be cut, retire or get much better offers elsewhere.

A little confused, is this thread for imports that we think will be back rather than what we want back? Seems to be a mixture of responses?

So I think who will be back (not who I would want back, that would be a small list).

10 Tanner Eberle - I think he will look at other options, we were clearly not his number one choice when he re-signed this year.
15 Anthony DeLuca - I think he will be back.
19 Michael Davies - Move on or retire.
28 Lucas Sandström - Could move on - good chance of him being back.
63 Brendan Connolly - Really not sure, think he will sign for another year.
90 John Armstrong - year two of his contract?
8 Marek Troncinsky - will look for other options.
42 James Bettauer - will look for other options.
97 Josef Hrabal - will look for other options.
70 Tomas Duba (only as backup/1b netminder) - retire.

Was originally a who do we think will be back but as forum threads often do it's morphed. Still an interesting discussion though.

The reason I started it was mainly because of Vallerand. As i reckon he will move on and wanted to see what everyone else's thoughts were without skewing the answers by suggesting it.

Don't get me wrong i'd like to see him back but just the odd answer to questions in a few different interviews seemed to be more guarded than i would have expected from someone who was dead set on staying. Maybe it was just the vitriol he got from the Blaze fans and doesn't want to get into all that again if he goes elsewhere. I'm probably miles off

I'd like to think that if he does move on the Steelers fans will have more class than the Blaze fans and wish him well...As long as it's not down the road. Also i don't blame any of them if they're looking for a payday elsewhere, it's not like it's a long career and any player playing here it's not like they're on mega bucks.

I think he could maybe crack the EBEL again in a scoring role. But he's not got the work defensive ethic/ability to go higher.

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[Joesteeler]

I love Vallerand, but he will move on and probably go abroad

Eberle will shop about, as has been mentioned we weren't his first choice this year. Think another team will snap him up for more money with the output he has had this year

Think Davies will retire or go to a different league

Deluca could follow the other 2 but if not think he will come back

Johnson may retire and join full time behind the bench

Can see Connolly, Tron, Sandstrom returning.

[SteelerBlade]

I love Vallerand, but he will move on and probably go abroad

Eberle will shop about, as has been mentioned we weren't his first choice this year. Think another team will snap him up for more money with the output he has had this year

Think Davies will retire or go to a different league

Deluca could follow the other 2 but if not think he will come back

Johnson may retire and join full time behind the bench

Can see Connolly, Tron, Sandstrom returning.

I can see DeLuca, Eberle & Vallerand all staying. As with all player, money talks, so they will be happy to stay if their pay check increases.

Fox won't be held to ransom by anyone though.

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[Jarv]

I'd hope we've spoken to some of them already about next year.

[JoeySlats#13]

I'd hope we've spoken to some of them already about next year.

I'm sure Fox pretty much knows who he wants back and the potential of them actually returning.

Some may already have been agreed and just kept quiet