Well, that wraps up the season. There are surveys on the Attack website for STH and single ticket users on this season's experience and what you would like to see in the future. This is a great way to get your voice heard. Owen Sound Attack – Official site of the Owen Sound Attack
Now on to the draft on April 4th. We have some great picks in the first few rounds so hopefully DD, Joey and scouts can pick some good additions to our young squad for next year. We will be watching online to see the rookies that get drafted. I hope they pick players that will actually report.
Might be a bit early to to get talking about the draft but with a solid core of returning guys next season that could be back next season.
Guzda (19)
Chenard (18)
Robertson (OA)
Chibrikov (19)
Seed (18)
Perrott (19)
Sedley (17)
Woolley (19)
Goure (17)
Samanski (18)
Le Sage (18)
Kirwin (OA)
Wilson (19)
Machacek (18)
MacMaster (OA)
Lawrence (17)
Pearson (OA)
Dudas - possible return (OA)
Burroughs (17)
Popov (OA)
Downside to all the returning guys at this point is that with 6 possible OA's that could return to the team next season which would be the best 3 to keep
Robertson, Kirwin, MacMaster, Pearson, Dudas and Popov. All would be quality OA's to bring back.
Personally Robertson should be back as the only OA defenseman on the active roster that could return which leaves the real question on which one of Kirwin, MacMaster, Pearson, and Popov will be back as 20's.
Assuming Robertson and Dudas would be the as the first two logical choices for 2 out of 3 returnees as OA's that leaves a real big question on which one of Kirwin, MacMaster, Pearson or Popov would be the 3rd 20yo. I know that there will be a big decision on which one will be here on opening night next season. All of them bring something different to the club however I think the team will likely have to make a difficult decision on who stays and who goes and it could come down to what postition needs to be filled more critically.
Of course this will all depend upon how well the team drafts come draft day and what area they key in on with the opening few rounds. Safe to say a defenseman will be a key spot to fill with a 16yo as you always need a young up and comer on the blue-line.
About Robertson and the OA situation...just my own thoughts, but I feel it'd be too big of a blow to our blueline next season to lose Lyle AND Robertson. When I think of who could anchor the blueline next season, Robertson stands out as that guy. He was also our second highest scoring D-man. Especially if Popov goes pro next season, as you rightly mention is a possibility, I'd be included to keep Robertson.I think after the rumoured shopping of Robertson at the deadline, that moving him makes a ton of sense. For one, we won't be returning a lot of offence up front, so keeping as many of those overage players up front makes a lot of sense. Second, we have the depth on the blueline with three 2001 born defenders to make up the loss. Third, just by the laws of economics, keeping more overage forwards likely improves the return for the ones the team has to cut, whereas Robertson is a bit more scarce positionally and would net a solid return.
Covid-19 aside, so much of the OA situation comes down to pro options. I would say Dudas is not coming back, but given that a guy like Phillips got sent back this year, the team would be wise to hold onto his rights until the deadline just in case.
The other pro question has to be Popov, who would likely benefit from another year in the OHL, but played well enough that he could catch on with an ECHL team, or if he has his eyes on Russia, head there to play VHL if he was dead set on it. Pure speculation on my part, but he's in that level of OA candidate where pro is at least a possibility.
In my scenario, Dudas and Popov both turning pro solves the OA situation, as Robertson is dealt, and Kirwin, Pearson, and McMaster are the three who stay. That's the order I would keep them in if any of the other OA's stay on the roster.
The problem with this team is the only spot with any high end talent for next season is in net, and we may see a bit of a goalie controversy as Chenard will probably be either pushing for more starts, or want to be traded. The team had one of the best goaltending tandems in the league this year, and will probably be outright the best next season.
This team needs another 2002 born forward, as Samanski is the only impact player. Machachek has some nice qualities to his game but he's not shown any offensive ability and should be seen as a question mark to return. LeSage was our 13th/14th forward all year, so he's a wildcard. That's a thin group.
Luckily there's plenty of room for the 2003 group to step up, and I expect Goure and Burroughs to be stapled to the Top 6 next season, and Lawrence likely centring a third line.
Anyway, we'll have plenty more to discuss after the draft I'm sure. Then of course there's the import draft, where I think a 2002 born forward could be a much more realistic target.
About Robertson and the OA situation...just my own thoughts, but I feel it'd be too big of a blow to our blueline next season to lose Lyle AND Robertson. When I think of who could anchor the blueline next season, Robertson stands out as that guy. He was also our second highest scoring D-man. Especially if Popov goes pro next season, as you rightly mention is a possibility, I'd be included to keep Robertson.
I agree with your comments about the goaltending and import situations, as well as the need for another '02 F.
I think after the rumoured shopping of Robertson at the deadline, that moving him makes a ton of sense. For one, we won't be returning a lot of offence up front, so keeping as many of those overage players up front makes a lot of sense. Second, we have the depth on the blueline with three 2001 born defenders to make up the loss. Third, just by the laws of economics, keeping more overage forwards likely improves the return for the ones the team has to cut, whereas Robertson is a bit more scarce positionally and would net a solid return.
Covid-19 aside, so much of the OA situation comes down to pro options. I would say Dudas is not coming back, but given that a guy like Phillips got sent back this year, the team would be wise to hold onto his rights until the deadline just in case.
The other pro question has to be Popov, who would likely benefit from another year in the OHL, but played well enough that he could catch on with an ECHL team, or if he has his eyes on Russia, head there to play VHL if he was dead set on it. Pure speculation on my part, but he's in that level of OA candidate where pro is at least a possibility.
In my scenario, Dudas and Popov both turning pro solves the OA situation, as Robertson is dealt, and Kirwin, Pearson, and McMaster are the three who stay. That's the order I would keep them in if any of the other OA's stay on the roster.
The problem with this team is the only spot with any high end talent for next season is in net, and we may see a bit of a goalie controversy as Chenard will probably be either pushing for more starts, or want to be traded. The team had one of the best goaltending tandems in the league this year, and will probably be outright the best next season.
This team needs another 2002 born forward, as Samanski is the only impact player. Machachek has some nice qualities to his game but he's not shown any offensive ability and should be seen as a question mark to return. LeSage was our 13th/14th forward all year, so he's a wildcard. That's a thin group.
Luckily there's plenty of room for the 2003 group to step up, and I expect Goure and Burroughs to be stapled to the Top 6 next season, and Lawrence likely centring a third line.
Anyway, we'll have plenty more to discuss after the draft I'm sure. Then of course there's the import draft, where I think a 2002 born forward could be a much more realistic target.
Easy on the best goalie tandem.. nothing proves that at all... guzda needs to be a lot more consistent next season.
This season there were 9 goalies with enough qualifying minutes in the entire league with a save percentage of .900 or greater. Guzda and Chenard were two of them.
Just a few seasons ago this board pined for one goalie who could hit that threshold. It's rare in today's OHL to have even one now. I don't think enough people here look around the league and see what's really out there.
Guzda certainly struggled at times this season but I think that was as much due to the team playing him too much as anything else.
I'll await some actual argument from you though.
Can someone on here explain how Dale got Flint's 4th round selection in Saturdays draft ???
Might be a bit early to to get talking about the draft but with a solid core of returning guys next season that could be back next season.
Guzda (19)
Chenard (18)
Robertson (OA)
Chibrikov (19)
Seed (18)
Perrott (19)
Sedley (17)
Woolley (19)
Goure (17)
Samanski (18)
Le Sage (18)
Kirwin (OA)
Wilson (19)
Machacek (18)
MacMaster (OA)
Lawrence (17)
Pearson (OA)
Dudas - possible return (OA)
Burroughs (17)
Popov (OA)
Downside to all the returning guys at this point is that with 6 possible OA's that could return to the team next season which would be the best 3 to keep
Robertson, Kirwin, MacMaster, Pearson, Dudas and Popov. All would be quality OA's to bring back.
Personally Robertson should be back as the only OA defenseman on the active roster that could return which leaves the real question on which one of Kirwin, MacMaster, Pearson, and Popov will be back as 20's.
Assuming Robertson and Dudas would be the as the first two logical choices for 2 out of 3 returnees as OA's that leaves a real big question on which one of Kirwin, MacMaster, Pearson or Popov would be the 3rd 20yo. I know that there will be a big decision on which one will be here on opening night next season. All of them bring something different to the club however I think the team will likely have to make a difficult decision on who stays and who goes and it could come down to what postition needs to be filled more critically.
Of course this will all depend upon how well the team drafts come draft day and what area they key in on with the opening few rounds. Safe to say a defenseman will be a key spot to fill with a 16yo as you always need a young up and comer on the blue-line.
OHL Prospect Profile on Cedrick Guindon...