First bit of Attack news this off-season, the Ravensburg Towerstars, who had Josh Samanski on the roster this year, announced he "has opened up new challenges in the DEL" (my translation from the German site). A 'Rumour' link on his eliteprospects page has connected him to the Straubing Tigers (behind a paywall).
The link to Ravensburgs webpage: UMBRUCH IM TEAM – TOWERSTARS VERMELDEN ABGÄNGE - Towerstars
So hard to know with a team like the Attack what's fully going on, but Samanski was on loan with Ravensburg this year from Owen Sound, so I would think by default he'd still be Attack property. That said, if he has a legit opportunity in the DEL, and the OHL isn't guaranteed to start on time this fall maybe he stays. That's pure speculation on my part based on two webpages, but maybe somebody closer to the situation has info.
If he did sign with Straubing and didn't return, that would be a huge loss for the Attack, as Samanski was likely our #2 centre this past season, and after a solid year in Germany, could probably return and be a candidate for a big 19 year old season.
He was on loan this past season and if he decided to terminate or not return, OS would likely leave him on the protected list so that if something changed they retained his CHL rights. EHP shows him confirmed to the Straubing Tigers for 21/22, they are usually pretty accurate with their information, so its unlikely he doesn't start the season there. Players will be trying to keep as many options as possible open until things officially start up in the OHL.There is no such ruling that would state otherwise that any OHL players who are on loan to another team in another league would have there OHL SPA terminated especially when it is a European league.
As far as my understanding as long as the OHL has yet to start players can play in any European leagues they choose as long as they report to their OHL clubs prior to the start of training camp.
Every OHL team has players that report to Pro camps prior to the season starting and unless they stick with NHL or AHL clubs they have to be sent back to Junior teams as long as they are age eligible. With Samanski will be 19yo he has a few different options at his choice.
1. Report back to OS this will likely be the best course of action for Samanski for his development.
2. Stay in Europe and play for a German team likely not the best route for a player who really only had a short stint in the OHL last full season he really needed a full season under his belt as a regular in the OHL before moving forward.
With all the OHL teams in the same boat unless OA's have stated their intentions to their OHL clubs there will be a boat load of 2002's having to be shuffled around the OHL.
There is no such ruling that would state otherwise that any OHL players who are on loan to another team in another league would have there OHL SPA terminated especially when it is a European league.
As far as my understanding as long as the OHL has yet to start players can play in any European leagues they choose as long as they report to their OHL clubs prior to the start of training camp.
Every OHL team has players that report to Pro camps prior to the season starting and unless they stick with NHL or AHL clubs they have to be sent back to Junior teams as long as they are age eligible. With Samanski will be 19yo he has a few different options at his choice.
1. Report back to OS this will likely be the best course of action for Samanski for his development.
2. Stay in Europe and play for a German team likely not the best route for a player who really only had a short stint in the OHL last full season he really needed a full season under his belt as a regular in the OHL before moving forward.
With all the OHL teams in the same boat unless OA's have stated their intentions to their OHL clubs there will be a boat load of 2002's having to be shuffled around the OHL.
Thats a big loss
Predictions for the Attack next season? Some decisions will need to be made with regards to an over crowded overage season assuming all of them comeback from previous season. Guzda could be a giant question mark if Chenard looks good early Guzda could be the one out. Showed flashes of greatness at times and then below average goaltending at other times. Tough to judge without having a season last year. But some interesting decisions up & coming for DD and crew.
With the young core of talent coming back to the team and a new HC, this year could be the largest rebuild year in Attack history since DD took over the GM role. On one hand you'll have senior guys come back who will need to play big roles this year and you'll have a lot of inexperienced youth to fill out the remaining roles of the team.
I agree that it's really tough to justify who should or shouldn't be on the team when most of what could be here haven't played in two years. This training camp will be like no other year with teams more or less starting from scratch with limited experience in the OHL to draw from.
This season in itself will be like rebuild without having to trade top guys off for assets and picks.
The other factor to add in is the Attack's new bench boss GW, with the departure of AL to the Sting the team will be really a new ball of wax that will be needing an identity and style of play.
With what I remember about GW in the limited viewings of when the Generals would come to town and he be behind the bench his team's always play an uptempo game with and in your face mentality. That doesn’t give anything easy to teams, and who isn't afraid to play the whole bench in games either.
Us fans will have to remain patient and see what shakes out in big stretches of the season instead of hanging on periods and individual games. As for an answer to the question of what my predictions are I couldn't tell you that in great detail but nevertheless the goal should always be the toughest competitive team they can be in the western conference and with any bit of luck and with how the schedule plays out finish in the top half of the league for 2021-22. This team is going into a situation where the pieces are there to develop and progress forward it will just depend upon how quickly and who fits into coach Walters system and how will move on to other teams.