Guelph Storm 2018-19 Season Thread (Part 2)
- Thread starter EON
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IMO . #1 center talent and heart ...is out with a broken ankle.... that should be interesting when he returns.... but his season must be managed carefully...
Lalonde needs a system cleaning... Seems to have been adversely affected by the enigma virus....likely his confidence too.. they all looked stiff legged and without a systematic format... this requires some REAL coaching skill.. to organize without fettering and a coach mgmt not too stiff necked that they won't constantly line up poor linemates ...flexability ...but not sure this coach and staff have the parts to train this horse..after 2-3 years of WTH.. I think they need a year off to cleanse and learn new oxygenate their abilities... such as they are......a coaching academy.. like team Canada camp... it all takes time to come together
Barring trades and when healthy:
Ratcliffe/Hillis/Schnarr
Gogolev/Hawel/Entwistle
Ralph/Kirwin/Poirier
Stevenson/Commisso/Toropchenko
Collins
Samorukov/Phillips
Hanley/Gordeev
Woolley/Chayka
Lalonde
With trade:
Ratcliffe/Suzuki/Schnarr
Gogolev/Hawel/Entwisle
Ralph/Kirwin/Toropchenko
Stevenson/Commisso/Hillis
Collins
Samorukov/Phillips
Gordeev/Durzi
Hanley/Lalonde
Profaca
IMO, that lineup looks even and 2014 comparable. And Popovich isn't in the top 5 goalies in the league but he's better than Nichols.
Ratcliffe/Hillis/Schnarr
Gogolev/Hawel/Entwistle
Ralph/Kirwin/Poirier
Stevenson/Commisso/Toropchenko
Collins
Samorukov/Phillips
Hanley/Gordeev
Woolley/Chayka
Lalonde
With trade:
Ratcliffe/Suzuki/Schnarr
Gogolev/Hawel/Entwisle
Ralph/Kirwin/Toropchenko
Stevenson/Commisso/Hillis
Collins
Samorukov/Phillips
Gordeev/Durzi
Hanley/Lalonde
Profaca
IMO, that lineup looks even and 2014 comparable. And Popovich isn't in the top 5 goalies in the league but he's better than Nichols.
think first line up is stronger than 2nd... with a future filled with promise .
No way can Hillis be number 1 center for this team to advance deep in playoffs.
Would like to see Saigeon number one center and on first pp unit.
Suzuki trade would be my second option due to the fact it would cost Chayka.
Either way they require elite skill and experience in number one center spot.
Hopefully comes true this week!
Storm watcher, Popovich better than Nichols, better check the stats. Popovich 2018-19 so far save percentage .902, GAA 3.12. Nichols 2013-14, the Memorial Cup year, save percentage .918 GAA 2.85. When you have to score 5 or 6 goals to win a game, an upgrade is needed. So the next trade, if there is one, should involve an upgrade between the pipes. If you need 5 or 6 goals a game you won't go far in the playoffs. This cloud has been over the storm since the beginning of the season.
Living Vicariously
Registered User
This lineup thus far doesn’t look anything like 2014. It’s missing a key ingredient that the 2014 guys had and you can’t get it for picks. The brotherhood of that 2014 team was a beam that took them all the way. I’d like to see that evolve in this second half, but I haven’t seen anything close to it yet. In 2013-2014 you could see something special unfolding in the first half of the season, aside from the existing talent and even prior to the acquisition of Rychel and Ebert - it solidified even more after that. I’m hoping we’ll see that in the coming weeks and it requires the older leaders to make it happen - I’m looking at you Ratcliffe and Schnarr. Time will tell.
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If we are comparing this year to the 2014 squad there are a few things that would till need to be improved. 2014 team had a much stronger and older defence group, better goaltending (not sure if it was a by product of the defence). The production and contribution from the overages was much stronger in 2014. The final thing would be your centre position again stronger on the 2014 team (Fabbri). So although the trades have improved our team and each year is different, there still is work to do.
If we are putting a wish list together a trade with Oshawa would be appealing. Studnicka & Keyser, throw in Salintri just for the hell of it as well 
Fabbri twice the player of Hillis
Dickinson twice the player of Hawel
Mitchell twice the 0a of Poirer
All 3 have played games in the NHL
Not expecting any of Hillis, Hawel or Poirer to play
Gogolev is the most skilled dynamic player on team at frwd.. but he's 2-3 mon away..unfortunately.
RoyalCitySlicker
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- Sep 6, 2013
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Wow. What a Saturday.
I don't agree this is the direction to take, but I must hand it to GMGB....at least he's committed. I always say I don't want to be stuck in the middle, and he's doing his best to try to climb into that top tier of the league.
Problem is, I'm not even sure this is a top 5 team in the OHL. If the Soo is to add Suzuki, Guelph still likely ranks behind London, SSM, Ottawa, Saginaw and possibly Niagara too. I do like the makeup of this team much more than the one we saw 4 weeks ago, but I think this might all be for nothing.
I'm excited to ride the wave for the next 8 weeks though.....I just remember what it was like 3 years ago. That was NOT fun and came as a result of not dealing away players at a time when it was needed in order to restock for the future. This kinda sorta feels like that, although there is a much larger push for success this year than that last year with Dickinson/Bertuzzi/Fabbri.
I wonder what the last move or two will be?!?!
I don't agree this is the direction to take, but I must hand it to GMGB....at least he's committed. I always say I don't want to be stuck in the middle, and he's doing his best to try to climb into that top tier of the league.
Problem is, I'm not even sure this is a top 5 team in the OHL. If the Soo is to add Suzuki, Guelph still likely ranks behind London, SSM, Ottawa, Saginaw and possibly Niagara too. I do like the makeup of this team much more than the one we saw 4 weeks ago, but I think this might all be for nothing.
I'm excited to ride the wave for the next 8 weeks though.....I just remember what it was like 3 years ago. That was NOT fun and came as a result of not dealing away players at a time when it was needed in order to restock for the future. This kinda sorta feels like that, although there is a much larger push for success this year than that last year with Dickinson/Bertuzzi/Fabbri.
I wonder what the last move or two will be?!?!
I am comparing Nichols and Popovich not by stats, more of an eye test I'll admit. Nichols had much stronger defense in front of him - look at his save percentage after the cup run when traded to Oshawa (he was older/more experienced so one could expect growth but it was below 90%).
I agree 1C and ideally another D if not a goalie upgrade which is why the package deal with OS would be appealing.
I was commenting on the revised lineup WITH Suzuki and Durzi as comparable (perhaps a stretch?) to 2014. You are correct they have not grown together so the chemistry remains to be seen. We HAVE seen a vast improvement in attitude though.
My thoughts are that Dickinson is equivalent to Ratcliffe (both top line LW).
This team has 9 NHL drafted players (without the inclusion of Suzuki which would bring that total to 10.)
The 2014 team had 8 NHL drafted players for comparison.
Even Hillis, who no one is arguing would be a great 1C for a championship run, is a 20-goal scorer.
The beauty of the 2014 team was that there were a number of 20+ goal scoring guys meaning that when any one or two were in a slump, the others could be on and offense was not completely tanked.
I.e. before the injury to Gogolev, the line with he Hawel and Toropchenko made up for a slump with Ratcliffe and Schnarr.
I am 100% not saying that the team as it stands is as good as the 2014 team, but I'm intrigued to see what the final lineup is and if this group can get healthy in time to be s*it disturbers in the playoffs. One good thing about NOT being the favourite is that you don't get the ego/over-confidence that some could argue cost us the Mem Cup in 2014.
I agree 1C and ideally another D if not a goalie upgrade which is why the package deal with OS would be appealing.
I was commenting on the revised lineup WITH Suzuki and Durzi as comparable (perhaps a stretch?) to 2014. You are correct they have not grown together so the chemistry remains to be seen. We HAVE seen a vast improvement in attitude though.
My thoughts are that Dickinson is equivalent to Ratcliffe (both top line LW).
This team has 9 NHL drafted players (without the inclusion of Suzuki which would bring that total to 10.)
The 2014 team had 8 NHL drafted players for comparison.
Even Hillis, who no one is arguing would be a great 1C for a championship run, is a 20-goal scorer.
The beauty of the 2014 team was that there were a number of 20+ goal scoring guys meaning that when any one or two were in a slump, the others could be on and offense was not completely tanked.
I.e. before the injury to Gogolev, the line with he Hawel and Toropchenko made up for a slump with Ratcliffe and Schnarr.
I am 100% not saying that the team as it stands is as good as the 2014 team, but I'm intrigued to see what the final lineup is and if this group can get healthy in time to be s*it disturbers in the playoffs. One good thing about NOT being the favourite is that you don't get the ego/over-confidence that some could argue cost us the Mem Cup in 2014.
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Two other reasons that may have cost that Cup in 2014 were a missed glove save and 20 teenagers sitting around in a London hotel for 4 days with nothing to do while being a 55 min bus ride away from their own beds.
2014 played like a well oiled machine.... always ahead ..in control... and Bertuzzi was a huge part of it... with his toughness moxi and smarts....this years team is on a psych rebuild after last 3 years..On restoration project with new parts.... too much of same admin... with injuries and rebuild.. these guys can roll on heart... if the coaches and admin. don't fudge them up...nice to see Primeau get a bit back yesterday..
GB says running in the pack is not for him... well..I see it like this is his all in flash for the cash..to save his ash......and ..FEW are the race winners that lead from the gate... Most are tuned to come off the pace at the quarter pole....if they trade Chayka ; and the flash for cash ends after about 2+ rounds...I'll be totally down on this admin.. and GM...I don't blame the young men at all... maybe then they can open a nice little Casino at the Sleeman..
bobber
Registered User
Sounds like that horse Kramer was betting on in Seinfeld
His mudder was a mudder and his father was a mudder You come up with some funny stuff storm surge!
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