Spits
Part of the problem is that their past drafting and development wasn't great. They had to move Auger a high pick to acquire Nattinen. You can say Auger was never going to develop and that's probably true but both are gone now. They had to move Carter and Burns to get Bracco. They traded a highly talented guy in Ho-Sang but McCool didn't develop precipitating acquisitions of guys like Knott/Bracco/Nattinen/Laishram. Guys like D'Amico and Henault are going to get games in the OHL how many is the question. If you think the Spits hired Evola, promoted Bowler, and hired Roeszeler just to fill spots in the organization you would be lying to yourself. Rychel knows they need to get a lot better at drafting and developing. If you were to look at the western conference Windsor isn't a top 4 drafting team in the conference, they might be 5th or right around there. There's a huge gap between the top 4 in the conference and everybody else at the moment.
Not surprised you would be negative at this time,though the evidence is pretty damaging regarding player drafting and development when you see guys like Vilardi, Sergachev, Stanley,Brown,Day,Knott, Addison, Chatfield, Dipietro, all get drafted or signed to NHL deals,with the picks they have had over the last 3 seasons can't complain about the results Mem Cup for the team,contracts for many players,in fact 4 D signed deals this year alone,there isn't a fan except you and maybe one or 2 others who can complain about the results.
Roezler basically replaces Letowski,
Evola replaces Teakle who couldn't go full time,and Bowler gets added duties,they have added to their scouting staff as well.
I liked what I saw at camp and throughout the exhibition weekend,still the best in the league in goaltending,the young D looks promising and I am not concerned, willing to be patient moving forward,the Euros look real good,ditto MacDougall, Playfair looks like he will play a regular role this year,some nice looking youngsters upfront, here and not far away, including Brimmer, Desanctis, Taylor, Paterson,Andrews, D'amico,Frasca.
Bottom line to me 3 Mem Cups in 9 years is something no one in the league can match up to,most would kill for 1 let lone 3, including your bridesmaid Hounds.
I can think of no other team losing potentially 5 underage players,I am including Stanley,plus Brown, Vilardi,Day and Sergachev from last year and be considered a top team.
You honestly think that SSM, Owen Sound, London or Kitchener were to lose that many they would be contenders,I doubt it,is what it is, certainly hampers rebuilding,but hey that's what development does right.