Windsor Spitfires 2018 Offseason Thread

[aresknights]

Sorry I had trouble copying/replying this
So HL post below.

"As for me slagging a teenager I know a poster on this board who slaggs Windsor players all the time, despite purporting to being a Windsor fan, easy to hide from behind a keyboard, everybody knows who I am after a London poster put out my name not you,he should have been banned permanently but wasn't."

So its ok for you to slag/condemn/judge a 15 yr and you justify it because you feel a Spits fan did that to a Windsor player (and you felt that was wrong?)

 

[OHLTG]

There is no room for Patton,both Dipietro and Baier are 19 years old along with Patton,and there is no doubt Windsor holds Baier in higher regard then Patton,so when Dipietro is eventually moved,the goalies in my view will be Baier and the Finn,with Medina playing this season in Michigan.

That was kind of my thinking. While I'd like to see Medina get his shot, he won't get it this season with either DiPietro starting or Piiroinen starting. Best to have Baier teach the Finn, once DiPietro is gone, and bring Medina in for 19-20.

Re Defence - I agree on Henault being at-risk. He's a talented kid but something felt off last season. If he's pushed, he could find himself looking in.

Re Offence - Same thing with Angle. I like the kid and I think he'll be fine, but, for me, Playfair surpassed him at the end of the season and Angle hasn't really found his niche. He either finds it really quick or risk a younger player taking control.

As for the bickering - really, what's the point? Usually debates come with a conclusion, but this one hasn't and I doubt it ever will. Why bother when we know NOTHING will come from it?

 

[windsor7]

I don't see dipietro moved right away. Start dipietro have the fin goalie as backup to learn n baier as 3rd goalie. Then once Dipietro is moved fin goalie as 1 n baier as 2. By then the fin n baier probably have the same amount of games played under their belt.

 

[nelli27]

I'll lighten things up. I am going to be in Windsor next month to sample some of the country's best pizza. If I decide to go to Capri (recommended in a previous thread), would the Goyeau St. location be the closest to the Casino? Or, if there's a better pizzeria in walking distance (i.e. 1 hr) from the Casino, just let me know. So, here's your chance, I want to know where I can find the best pizza in Windsor...Capri? Antonino's? Naples? Armando's? Sarducci's?
What does this have to do with the Spits? Simple. When I return to Windsor for a hockey game, I'll know where to eat!
Thanks.
(And, I too think Playfair is a solid player who flies under the radar!)

 

[youngblood10]

It will be interesting to see when Dipietro is moved. Definatly are pro's & cons if it happens to be sooner or later. Aside from risk of injury obviously, the biggest reason to do it sooner is that it allows the team to reestablish itself at the beginning of the season vs mid season, because he is a such a big part of the franchise it will be a transition.
Secondly, it eliminates the distraction of the impending move.
Does it increase the return? Hard to say, a deal may be in place already. But a bidding war at the trade deadline could be a possibility.
Another possible advantage of acquiring assets early is flexibility to move them in additional deals throughout the season.
Several other bullet points but these would be the main ones.
I think the team has shown it will be a decent squad this year, so with all that if they find a deal that works for everyone, I think they do it early.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

I'll lighten things up. I am going to be in Windsor next month to sample some of the country's best pizza. If I decide to go to Capri (recommended in a previous thread), would the Goyeau St. location be the closest to the Casino? Or, if there's a better pizzeria in walking distance (i.e. 1 hr) from the Casino, just let me know. So, here's your chance, I want to know where I can find the best pizza in Windsor...Capri? Antonino's? Naples? Armando's? Sarducci's?
What does this have to do with the Spits? Simple. When I return to Windsor for a hockey game, I'll know where to eat!
Thanks.
(And, I too think Playfair is a solid player who flies under the radar!)

Yes Capri would be closest to you at the Casino. I am biased with Capri but I only go to 2 locations. Haven't tried the Goyeau location but I imagine it's still good.

 

[OHLTG]

I'll lighten things up. I am going to be in Windsor next month to sample some of the country's best pizza. If I decide to go to Capri (recommended in a previous thread), would the Goyeau St. location be the closest to the Casino? Or, if there's a better pizzeria in walking distance (i.e. 1 hr) from the Casino, just let me know. So, here's your chance, I want to know where I can find the best pizza in Windsor...Capri? Antonino's? Naples? Armando's? Sarducci's?
What does this have to do with the Spits? Simple. When I return to Windsor for a hockey game, I'll know where to eat!
Thanks.
(And, I too think Playfair is a solid player who flies under the radar!)

If you're going to the casino, I highly recommend you eat downtown. Capri is good, but there's also the Downtown Pizza Company and Treehouse Pizza, both on Ouellette (5-min walk from Casino). Personally, there isn't a "favourite", but a "depends on my mood." Avoid Dominos and Pizza Hut and you'll be fine, in general. If you need other food recommendations, let me know.

Re DiPietro: I think the best move is deal him before the season. He'll be at Canucks' camp, so deal him before he has a chance to really settle into Windsor. This allows him to get a fresh start rigth away, plus it gives Piiroinen and Baier their chance to take crease immediately without wondering "when will we get our shot?" Plus, I can't see Baier having much interest in being a third-string goaltender.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Sorry I had trouble copying/replying this
So HL post below.

"As for me slagging a teenager I know a poster on this board who slaggs Windsor players all the time, despite purporting to being a Windsor fan, easy to hide from behind a keyboard, everybody knows who I am after a London poster put out my name not you,he should have been banned permanently but wasn't."

So its ok for you to slag/condemn/judge a 15 yr and you justify it because you feel a Spits fan did that to a Windsor player (and you felt that was wrong?)

That's his thing. Same guy who says Rychel doesn't care about who London drafts but then Legend gets the 411 he solicited from somebody with the Spits about said player. Legend wanted to bring up a comparison between that player and a former Spitfire. Here's the issue Legend made that player the scapegoat for the failings of those seasons, never mind that player went onto helping Niagara make the OHL Finals. A player lacking maturity doesn't preclude a team from still having success as long as you have the right type of people around that player. Of course we know the reason why he blames that one player because if he didn't he would have to lay blame at the feet of Rychel something he would never do. Just like Rychel has hit on over 75% of his trades with the Spits which was said a few months ago. It's cool the lines have been drawn just live with it.

 

[ohloutsider]

So the greedy me wants DiPietro here all year or at least to the trade deadline - really want to see Mikey play for team Canada ( assuming he makes it) as a Spitfire, not a " fill in the bank".
Having said that I will not be shocked if he goes early, drafting the Finn was a big clue that given most rumors did not have the Spits drafting a goalie in the import draft. Something changed quickly that there was a need to draft a goalie in the import draft and it was likely not " Mikey is staying to January".

As for Baier I would also not be shocked if he is the one moved before the start of the season - I could see more interest in him then Patton and I'm sure he wants and needs to play in a starting role somewhere and with the writing on the wall that won't be Windsor. My 2 cents for what its worth.

 

[youngblood10]

Hopefully that something that changed is an early pick that isn't reporting maybe heading to Windsor. And some of the picks in a potential Dipietro deal will be flipped. I'm only spit balling, no inside information. But that would be good for the Spits adding what could be another good young player to the mix.

 

[member 71782]

Re DiPietro

I think the sooner Windsor cuts the cord the better the team will be moving forward.

As it has been said, the distractions and uncertainties that pile up the longer he remains around the harder it will be for the team moving forward considering he is such a big part of this team's identity at the moment.

Move him, Baier and Patton as well and the let the kids who make up the future forge their own identity right from the start.

 

[aresknights]

I'll lighten things up. I am going to be in Windsor next month to sample some of the country's best pizza. If I decide to go to Capri (recommended in a previous thread), would the Goyeau St. location be the closest to the Casino? Or, if there's a better pizzeria in walking distance (i.e. 1 hr) from the Casino, just let me know. So, here's your chance, I want to know where I can find the best pizza in Windsor...Capri? Antonino's? Naples? Armando's? Sarducci's?
What does this have to do with the Spits? Simple. When I return to Windsor for a hockey game, I'll know where to eat!
Thanks.
(And, I too think Playfair is a solid player who flies under the radar!)

Went to Spagos last time in Windsor. ( not casino location)
Enjoyed the food (app was great) pizza decent.

 

[OHLTG]

I'll throw another idea out there for pizza - "CheeseWheelz." It's on Ouellette, too, but more of a fast-food style. While I've never been, I know people who swear by it.

One thing about Armando's - the "thin" crust isn't great (I find it's not cruchy enough), but their "Detroit Style" is a beautiful deep-dish.

Another idea - Sam's (on Wyandotte). I went there with a group of classmates on my final day at the U and it was incredible. It's a bit of a hike (7-10 min drive) but worth it.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Re DiPietro

I think the sooner Windsor cuts the cord the better the team will be moving forward.

As it has been said, the distractions and uncertainties that pile up the longer he remains around the harder it will be for the team moving forward considering he is such a big part of this team's identity at the moment.

Move him, Baier and Patton as well and the let the kids who make up the future forge their own identity right from the start.

I agree with most of what have written, except I would not have the 16 year old Medina on the roster,I would go with Baier and the Finn,once Mikey is dealt.
Medina needs to play alot this year and in Detroit that's where he should play.
Baier has really taken his off season very seriously,for example last year at camp he weighed 220 lbs,down from 227 to the year before,now he is 207,down 13 lbs,at the recent baseline and fitness testing in Hamilton he finished in the top 3 in most categories,his on ice workouts have been frequent,he is getting ready to show what he can do.
I would prefer to have an experienced tender to work with the young Euro goalie.

 

[OHLTG]

Personally, I'd love to see Baier/Piiroinen as the duo. I've been a Baier fan for a while now and he'll get a nice chance if this is how it turns out.

 

[member 71782]

I agree with most of what have written, except I would not have the 16 year old Medina on the roster,I would go with Baier and the Finn,once Mikey is dealt.
Medina needs to play alot this year and in Detroit that's where he should play.
Baier has really taken his off season very seriously,for example last year at camp he weighed 220 lbs,down from 227 to the year before,now he is 207,down 13 lbs,at the recent baseline and fitness testing in Hamilton he finished in the top 3 in most categories,his on ice workouts have been frequent,he is getting ready to show what he can do.
I would prefer to have an experienced tender to work with the young Euro goalie.

I agree Medina needs to play but running with him and Piiroinen if they don't sign 4 other 16 year olds prepares them for the future. The two of them could split the games, 44/24 or something along those lines.

Baier, while not all his fault has not shown he can be more than an average back up to this point. Glad to hear he is doing all the right things but someone who has 10 games or so experience with a 1-7-1 record, a .507 GAA and an 843 save % is not confidence inspiring in terms of being a mentor to the future goaltenders. Again, it's certainly not all on him, the team handled him poorly in terms of development IMO but he didn't make the most of his opportunities last season either.

If he shows major improvements come camp maybe he changes my opinion but as of now I would rather see the team move on from him and Patton.

Piiroinen seems to be relatively highly touted, I think he will be fine without Baier and Medina would likely learn more playing behind Piiroinen, getting 25-30% of the starts with both of them challenging each other for who ends up taking full control of the crease in 2019/20. A full season of the two goaltenders expected to be the future battling it out, one in his draft year while the other making a case for himself.

Who knows, come camp maybe someone surprises, positively or not and the case for who ends up sticking becomes obvious but personally, I just want to see all new faces in goal, DiPietro moved for assets and the team getting fully in the developing the future and Baier and Patton because to date neither has shown enough value to be here as part of a rebuild.

 

[OHLTG]

The thing with Baier is that if you take away the two OS games (which we KNEW he would struggle in), his numbers are pretty solid. The kid has talent.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

The thing with Baier is that if you take away the two OS games (which we KNEW he would struggle in), his numbers are pretty solid. The kid has talent.

If you take away his bad games why can't you take away his good games? You are what your numbers say you are. Why did they end up playing Patton over Baier some games this year?

 

[hockeylegend11]

The thing with Baier is that if you take away the two OS games (which we KNEW he would struggle in), his numbers are pretty solid. The kid has talent.

You are correct, Baier allowed 9 goals in his 1st game at Owen Sd,and another 5 in a relief appearance in Game 66 at home against Owen Sd,after Dipietro allowed 4 goals in the 1st period and a half.
So he allowed 29 goals in his other 8 appearances,and he only played a total of 3 games at home,and also only played 1 team that was under 500 all season,and that was against Flint in a 4-3 OT loss.
He also played at home in the final game of the regular season vs Saginaw a 3-2 win his 1st as a Spitfire, giving Windsor 6th place.His teamates genuine celebration after that game was great to see,they knew what he had been through all the season,this team was a close as team that I had witnessed in many years,and in my view this team was closer as a group overall then the one that won the Mem Cup in 2017.
For me what happened in the last game of the season with the win vs Saginaw,and his 15 minute shutout performance at Sarnia in the playoffs in the relief of the injured Michael Dipietro,plus what he has done so far this off season,gives me the confidence to say Brock Baier deserves to be here if Dipietro is dealt early.

 

[hockeylegend11]

If you take away his bad games why can't you take away his good games? You are what your numbers say you are. Why did they end up playing Patton over Baier some games this year?

I will take 8 games over 2 games anytime, that's the difference,a better read, especially when one considers his 1st game as a Spitfire came against a team that hadn't played in 3 days while Windsor was playing it's 3rd in3 on the road,and the game at home in game 66 when halfway through the game Dipietro was yanked after giving up 4, Baier gave up 5 in his half and 2 were on the PP,no PP goals against Dipietro that night.
If you cling to that ridiculous number notion,then I can cling to the notion that you are what your last games are,and if that's the case he didn't allow a goal in relief in the playoffs,15 minutes,and 2 goals in the win vs Saginaw.
As well he stopped 52 of the last 55 shots that he faced.
Think most would take that over a 1st game of the year and a relief appearance.
[mod]

 

[RayzorIsDull]

I will take 8 games over 2 games anytime, that's the difference,a better read, especially when one considers his 1st game as a Spitfire came against a team that hadn't played in 3 days while Windsor was playing it's 3rd in3 on the road,and the game at home in game 66 when halfway through the game Dipietro was yanked after giving up 4, Baier gave up 5 in his half and 2 were on the PP,no PP goals against Dipietro that night.
If you cling to that ridiculous number notion,then I can cling to the notion that you are what your last games are,and if that's the case he didn't allow a goal in relief in the playoffs,15 minutes,and 2 goals in the win vs Saginaw.
As well he stopped 52 of the last 55 shots that he faced.
Think most would take that over a 1st game of the year and a relief appearance.
[mod]

It's not being negative it's being honest. Take his whole body of work don't just cherry pick his 2 best games or what you did go with his 15 minutes in the playoffs, so 75 minutes of his play and that last game which you pretty much stated the Spits were trying to lose is more indicative of Baier's play than anything else prior?? If you want to be honest with yourself which I doubt you will be Baier's first start was when the Spits were playing 3 games in 2.5 days. That isn't Baier's fault somebody certainly screwed the pooch in that evaluation when to play Baier that day. You do you though Legend nobody is ever to blame in the organization it's sanctions, or situations, or whatever else you want to put forward. Just say if you're ready to let the import or Baier take over the reigns from DiPietro it would be a lot easier than cherry picking stats. Put it in perspective Troy Passingham came in to Windsor as a 19 year old with extremely limited CHL experience and put up above average numbers. Do you believe Baier can play 40+ games and put up Passingham numbers?

 

[RayzorIsDull]

So the greedy me wants DiPietro here all year or at least to the trade deadline - really want to see Mikey play for team Canada ( assuming he makes it) as a Spitfire, not a " fill in the bank".
Having said that I will not be shocked if he goes early, drafting the Finn was a big clue that given most rumors did not have the Spits drafting a goalie in the import draft. Something changed quickly that there was a need to draft a goalie in the import draft and it was likely not " Mikey is staying to January".

As for Baier I would also not be shocked if he is the one moved before the start of the season - I could see more interest in him then Patton and I'm sure he wants and needs to play in a starting role somewhere and with the writing on the wall that won't be Windsor. My 2 cents for what its worth.

I don't know if drafting a goalie gave us a big clue into anything. The other "insiders" were saying they were going to draft a forward his highlights were great. It's quite possible that the guy they wanted was taken eg. Tolchinsky/Burakovsky/Bokk etc... Maybe Rychel found a gem on the other hand the plausible explanation is the most likely explanation. There is still lots of time but we all saw their lack of scoring this year and because of all that they decided to pluck a goaltender in the import draft??? The time has come to start winning in the playoffs, hosting playoff series, winning the division. Or maybe Warren wants to throw some shade at the fans again, I am more down for the former rather than the latter.

 

[OHLTG]

If you take away his bad games why can't you take away his good games? You are what your numbers say you are. Why did they end up playing Patton over Baier some games this year?

Hahaha, man, that was almost too easy! Okay, let's play... if you take away his bad games, and you take away his good games, are we left with... training camp, which was really good. He was, arguably, the best goaltender besides DiPietro. So, the confidence in him to do well should be there, right?

Put it in perspective Troy Passingham came in to Windsor as a 19 year old with extremely limited CHL experience and put up above average numbers.

It was 2009-10, what did you expect?

 

[windsor7]

If I was Medina I wait awhile before signing with spits. Play awhile in the states n get some experience. Not like your playing on the spits much this year if at all. Maybe some USA schools will watch him play and give him further options on where to play. Got to do what's best for his future.

 

[hockeylegend11]

It's not being negative it's being honest. Take his whole body of work don't just cherry pick his 2 best games or what you did go with his 15 minutes in the playoffs, so 75 minutes of his play and that last game which you pretty much stated the Spits were trying to lose is more indicative of Baier's play than anything else prior?? If you want to be honest with yourself which I doubt you will be Baier's first start was when the Spits were playing 3 games in 2.5 days. That isn't Baier's fault somebody certainly screwed the pooch in that evaluation when to play Baier that day. You do you though Legend nobody is ever to blame in the organization it's sanctions, or situations, or whatever else you want to put forward. Just say if you're ready to let the import or Baier take over the reigns from DiPietro it would be a lot easier than cherry picking stats. Put it in perspective Troy Passingham came in to Windsor as a 19 year old with extremely limited CHL experience and put up above average numbers. Do you believe Baier can play 40+ games and put up Passingham numbers?

Regarding Passingham,I agree he played well on a Mem Cup winning team,nice free agent signing by the way,though you must have forgot to mention that the following year is average went up a 1/2 goal against, before being dealt to Sarnia where in 24 games with a rebuilding Sarnia he averaged 4.76.Talk about cherry picking numbers and as you say you are what your numbers,looks like he got worse after leaving here, or could it be it matters what team you are playing for.
That being said I do think Baier can do what Passingham did while here given the opportunity.
Still think it will be Baier and the Finn when the dust is settled.