Final 2016-17 Season Thread: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2220539
Begin offseason talk here.
Begin offseason talk here.
After the last 4 years, with or without Knoblauch players from the states may look at Erie a little better & actually report.
Traded/Released: Haydn Hopkins, Cameron Lizotte, Troy Timpano.
Another big question mark is the coaching staff. I expect Knoblauch gets an AHL head coaching job somewhere and Erie promotes BJ Adams to head coach, Wes Wolfe to associate, and hires a new assistant coach.
In terms of starting roster for 2017 opening night, I see the following (without any sort of camp numbers or preseason outings)
Maksimovich-Lodnia-Raddysh
Fellows-Poddubnyi-Sproule
Girhiny-Edwardson-Hoffmann
Sellan-Robinson-Shimizu
Fergus-Headrick
Sambrook-Byrne
Martin-Wainman
Duff-Timmermans
Murdaca
Oberoi
Definitely agree with Hopkins and Timpano being gone next season, but I somewhat question Lizotte being traded. Assuming we're going to be a bottom dweller, it might make sense financially to hold onto him in order to keep attendance up since he's become a fan favorite.
I think Headrick would be more likely to get traded considering it appeared that he really only came here because we looked to be memorial cup contenders. We're also pretty deep at defense and it seems they'd rather have Lizotte play up front than their other D-men.
In his post game interview, Knoblauch seemed like he wasn't in a rush to go anywhere, but fresh after losing the memorial cup the feeling of "unfinished business" is pretty strong. That and obviously he wasn't going to say he was ready to get out of Erie. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back for another season. We'll see.
In terms of starting roster for 2017 opening night, I see the following (without any sort of camp numbers or preseason outings)
Maksimovich-Lodnia-Raddysh
Fellows-Poddubnyi-Sproule
Girhiny-Edwardson-Hoffmann
Sellan-Robinson-Shimizu
Fergus-Headrick
Sambrook-Byrne
Martin-Wainman
Duff-Timmermans
Murdaca
Oberoi
Wow, that was a quick "cleanup". Thanks EON for bringing sanity to this thread.
Definitely agree with Hopkins and Timpano being gone next season, but I somewhat question Lizotte being traded. Assuming we're going to be a bottom dweller, it might make sense financially to hold onto him in order to keep attendance up since he's become a fan favorite.
I think Headrick would be more likely to get traded considering it appeared that he really only came here because we looked to be memorial cup contenders. We're also pretty deep at defense and it seems they'd rather have Lizotte play up front than their other D-men.
In his post game interview, Knoblauch seemed like he wasn't in a rush to go anywhere, but fresh after losing the memorial cup the feeling of "unfinished business" is pretty strong. That and obviously he wasn't going to say he was ready to get out of Erie. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back for another season. We'll see.
EON, Agreed, I almost got roped in (as you probably saw....).
Just from what was posted so far, I'm not as worried about a repeat of the 2002-2003 season. We will have to see what shakes out. I think someone mentioned 49 days or so until the "start" of next season?
I like the chemistry Girhiny/Fellows showed together and I'm not sure Sproule will be ready right away for a top 6 role. You also have to factor in the import pick which will likely be a forward as Erie has 8 signed dmen returning.
Would it be wise to send Timpano &/or Murdaca to goalie school this summer, like they did with Mcwilliams? 2 hot goalies would get you very deep in the playoffs, 1 would actually do it, but 2? WOW If not, 1 of them would be great trade bait near the deadline.
There may be a market for Murdaca but I can't see a contender trading for Timpano as a solution to their goalie woes? Maybe as a backup but what would that net you? Timpano was not "bad" he just didn't do enough to show he was a starter on a team wanting to win it all IMO anyway.
I think a contender might take a chance. He'd probably only cost a mid round pick.