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Post by IGive1 on Mar 31, 2014 11:18:53 GMT -5
Severely overpaying for Jesse Graham has come back to bite the Spirit. Could we have least made the playoffs without him? Absolutely. Could we have been eliminated in the first round (again) without him? Of course. Not a criticism of Graham, just the too high price they paid. No second round pick this year. Not a good way to begin another new 3 year plan. Just curious, why do you keep talking about another three year plan? Because it is a league designed for 18 and 19 year olds. Sure some 16 and 17 year olds can have a positive impact, but that is not the norm unless super talented. You draft at 16 and with experience they pay off after 3 years. This past team was an old team, they will age out so there will be quite a bit of turn over.
What makes you think next year's team will not be better than this year's team? They most likely will be younger, heard Gilbert say the same. Younger teams generally do poorer than veteran teams. That and they will need a goaltender. Look at the trend....last year 71 pts, year before 71 pts, year before that 74 pts. A middle of the pack results and really not a threat to win a championship (and I know many of you are fine with that)The three year plan is such an old model very few teams, if any, use it anymore. Like this year's Guelph and Erie?More often than not, the three year plan doesn't come into play unless there is a coaching change. Are you expecting a coaching change? No, I hope not. Now the GM on the other hand......this is a big year coming up. If he drafts another Addison and makes more trades like for Graham (to "good deep in the playoffs", and fails), well.... I will say this......what happened to all the free agents JP used to bring in? He did a great job when he was hired, bringing in Kantor, Schnell, Ross, Young. Big impact players. Nothing since the 2010 - 2011 season. Why did that dry up? Seriously, I would love to see a well thought out post from you based on solid reasoning. You're a smart hockey guy, why always go negative. If my comments don't meet with your approval, well that is something I will just have to learn to live with.From where I sit, next year's team is going to be just as good, if not better, than this year's team. Oh Boy, another prediction. Will next year's team win more playoff games than any other Spirit team, like you predicted for this past season?All they need is to have another good draft and make an off season trade for a starting goalie and they are off and running. Well they pick at #10 and again sometime in the 3rd rd at the earliest. Is there at Stamkos, or Tavares available at #10? I doubt it. So I don't think you will get much impact from next weekend's draft next season.It looks as though you and many others on this board are fine with simply making the playoffs and possibly winning a game or two in a series. This is fine, I understand that. But you must admit that it does have a certain "groundhog day" feel to it. If you have that desire, the good news from that perspective is that you will have noooooooo trouble getting tickets. 12 or 13 years into this, it just seems like the franchise is just spinning it's wheels and stuck at this level. Just same old, same old. It is a shame since it was what, 5 -6 years ago the team was making presentations to hold the Memorial Cup. If you are fine with simply filling out the 20 team field with no real chance to win a championship, I don't think you will be getting and/or keeping a ticket buying public. I'm sorry, but that is the economics of the issue.
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Post by acwright84 on Mar 31, 2014 14:29:27 GMT -5
More often than not, the three year plan doesn't come into play unless there is a coaching change. Are you expecting a coaching change? No, I hope not. Now the GM on the other hand......this is a big year coming up. If he drafts another Addison and makes more trades like for Graham (to "good deep in the playoffs", and fails), well.... I will say this......what happened to all the free agents JP used to bring in? He did a great job when he was hired, bringing in Kantor, Schnell, Ross, Young. Big impact players. Nothing since the 2010 - 2011 season. Why did that dry up?
Quick correction on this, Watson was actually the GM that brought in Kantor, Schnell, Ross, and Young. JP has brought in no one of quality since he took over and I wouldn't expect it now as Saginaws reputation as an organization is getting worse every year making it tougher and tougher to draw FA's.
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Post by ohlhcky on Mar 31, 2014 14:43:20 GMT -5
Palifito was head scout I would say he had a lot to do with those guys except Schnell.
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Post by IGive1 on Mar 31, 2014 14:47:10 GMT -5
True, TW was GM, but JP was head scout and the one who had to had used his contacts in the USHL to bring Kantor and Schnell in from Chicago area. Ross and Young out of Detroit, may have been TW. Who knows. I just wished that pipeline would somehow continue.
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Post by aj0512 on Mar 31, 2014 15:44:10 GMT -5
Jake Paterson is officially with the Griffins now. Gustavsson is a UFA this summer and he's had a terrific year. He can probably find a starting job elsewhere. I'd be surprised if it wasn't Howard and Mrazek between the pipes in Detroit this fall.
I expect us to be sellers this offseason and have more of the same results record-wise in 2014-15. We are losing the best goaltender to wear a Spirit uniform. I see a lot of folks here are satisfied with just making the playoffs, but personally I'm getting a little bored with it. The writing is always on the wall. I would take a bad season to hopefully have one year where we are loaded. Making the playoffs is not that big of an accomplishment in a league where 80% of the teams make it. Coaches, players and hopefully fans know that. After 12 years or whatever, finally getting to the 3rd round would be nice.
Just my two cents.
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Post by bpfox on Mar 31, 2014 16:40:46 GMT -5
I think a little clarification might be necessary on my "I'm not in it for championships" comment. Hey I like to follow a team who wins championships as well as the next guy. But we should all be realistic. Championships don't come your way very often. I used to be quite the Lions fan until the NFL ruined the game for me. I would watch every Lions game even though they haven't won a championship since 1957. I love the Tigers, but they haven't won a championship in 30 years. We have certainly done better with the Red Wings but it looks like we are in for some lean times there as well. While championships are great, they are not the reason I purchase season tickets. I spend my money to be entertained by the game of hockey by a team that has a chance to win every night. I got that this season and I fully expect to get that next year as well.
For those who are worried about Jake leaving, I say good for him. It's why he came here and we should all be happy for him. For those that are worried because they are not sure who next year's starting goalie will be, I give you this; The Spirit have had many good goalies over the years but only two have been drafted by the Spirit. Ryan Daniels and Jake Paterson. That means all those other good goalies came to Saginaw by some other means. I'm not the least bit worried about the goalie situation next year. I don't much care which players want to be traded, or which player do get traded as long a the team gets fair value in return. There are always going to be players that hate playing here and there are always going to be players who love playing here. So be it, there is not a whole lot I can do about that from my seats.
Off season speculation is great fun, but if you go back in the treads, more often than not what is said this time doesn't come close to what really happens. At the end of the day, here is what I want from next year's team; I want a team that has a chance to win night in and night out. I want a team that is a contender for the Western Division crown and has a shot at making some noise in the playoffs. I suspect I will get that.
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Post by USAhockey on Apr 1, 2014 5:56:36 GMT -5
I think as fans WE should expect a championship team every year ! I'm not ok with people who are happy making the playoffs every year, just to get thumped in the first or second round. And, me personally I think this franchise is sharing the same attitude as some people on here. I think the spirit need a new GM I'm ok with Gilbert as coach we need some stability somewhere but more important we need some kids that have a lot of talent. Just my two cents
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Post by kingpin794 on Apr 1, 2014 6:45:30 GMT -5
I think as fans WE should expect a championship team every year ! I'm not ok with people who are happy making the playoffs every year, just to get thumped in the first or second round. And, me personally I think this franchise is sharing the same attitude as some people on here. I think the spirit need a new GM I'm ok with Gilbert as coach we need some stability somewhere but more important we need some kids that have a lot of talent. Just my two cents Sarnia has had plenty of talent: Stamkos, Yakapov, Galchenyuk, Boucher, Goldobin, DeAngelo. How's that working for them? I agree Paliafito need to go though, but it's because we need character guys. All I've heard from this team and people claiming guys want out is "where's my ice time?". Who wants to buy into a team concept for once? Isn't the GM supposed to do a little research to see if the guy you draft or trade for is going to be willing play in the situation asked and not just shut down if he's not getting top minutes. Give me hustle and less skill over talent but no real heart any day of the week. We don't have enough of those guys. Big reason why I think Lodge is on the block. While he has all the talent in the world as a playmaker, you rarely saw it this year because he just seemed to refuse to work with his teammates. Give me a team of Sadowys over a team of Lodges.
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Post by ohlhcky on Apr 1, 2014 9:25:12 GMT -5
Who drafted Sadowy ....GM did not his fault or coach. Also drafted Paterson,Kea, Trocheck CAMARA,ETC
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Post by hatethewhalers on Apr 1, 2014 10:00:58 GMT -5
Don't get me wrong, I wish nothing but success for Paterson, just as I wish the same for any player to wear the Spirit sweater. I just don't want to have to give up any young talent to get an experienced goalie to carry the load next year. Heck I hope Paterson gets called up next year and helps the Wings hoist the Stanley Cup. It's just getting old to give up young talent for a goalie.
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Post by eric8199 on Apr 1, 2014 10:15:18 GMT -5
When was the last time we were sellers? Every year, LITERALLY EVERY YEAR, a bunch of people come on here and say "The Spirit are going to be sellers this year," and it never happens. Yes, we trade some guys away, but we're never "sellers." I don't know why anyone would expect that to happen this year. Obviously those who think that way do not have the same gameplan as the Spirit organization.
I'm with BP on this (did I just say that???). I'd love to win a championship. I'd love to be in the hunt. But I think we've proven twice now that building a team full of top talent does NOTHING to guarantee a championship run. Both times we've done it, we've been out in the first round. So what is the point in having a losing year or two for nothing? Continue to build with the talent we have, and at some point something might click. The best team we ever had was one that everyone on here was saying wouldn't amount to anything.
Also, have you been to a playoff game? The attendance is significantly less than a regular season game. You think that will change if we're a contender? Not enough to make it worth the horrible attendance that we would have if we had a losing season. Sorry, but there are a lot more regular season games than playoff games, no matter how far we go. I just don't believe the fan base in Saginaw will support a team that runs the three-year plan. Period. I'd rather have a hockey team here that can win any night and only gets to the second round of the playoffs or loses in the first than to lose the team altogether because the fans find something better to do while the team is building for a championship run.
I'm happy with what we've had.
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Post by spiritfan8 on Apr 1, 2014 11:02:26 GMT -5
Graham probably back can be moved for atleast two 2nds. If Graham, a OA player who is probably gone, could be traded for 2 seconds, Paliafito should be the GM of the Year. Someone commented that everything that is said on this board in the off season turns out to be incorrect. Probably true. So what? What else are we going to do in the off season but speculate?
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Post by ohlhcky on Apr 1, 2014 11:17:01 GMT -5
Organization needs stability hope they stick to a plan good young players Orban,Holmes,Stephens,Sadowy,Clarke, Ovjannikov.
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Post by kingpin794 on Apr 1, 2014 14:30:45 GMT -5
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Post by ohlhcky on Apr 1, 2014 15:20:33 GMT -5
Next year Serebryakov and Ovsjannikov we need skill up front.
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