OK, so I didn't predict anything correctly. Who cares. We snagged one of the top defensemen in the draft, and the best part is, there he is, on the OHL website, happy to be wearing his Spirit uniform.
From the Saginaw News a few days ago:
"The eligibility issue doesn't matter to defenseman Patrick McNeill, son of John and Judy McNeill. The Strathroy, Ontario, native has his sights set on the OHL.
'I respect their (his parents') judgments, but it's not their decision,' McNeill said of making the move to Major Junior hockey. 'I'll pretty much decide, and the OHL is the right spot for me.'
John McNeill, standing next to his son at the top prospects tournament, agreed.
'I respect my son's wishes because he knows what's best for himself,' John McNeill said."
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This gives us a pretty solid defense for the next season, how is this:
Now imagine if Silverson decides to play for us (no NCAA offers for him yet I believe). That would make a trade involving Gibson (to a contender ala Thorburn for a high pick or 16 yr old) very do-able. Luckovitch could come back and play an OA year, but I don't really expect it. We would lose a couple conditional picks to London if he does.
This without even thinking about other 86s from the 2002 draft (Burns, DeSantis) who could be on our blue line.
Oh yes and I expect McNeill to wear #20, that is the number he wore with the Strathroy Rockets and it is now available (with Tataryn's departure).
AAAAAAAAY!
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So what does everyone think of the draft. I for one, am excited. Can't wait to see some of these guys at the mini camp in two weeks. We should all plan on packing the Bay City arena and welcome these guys to Spirit hockey.
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Disco...u know your stuff and have followed this team closely. What in the world makes you think MacDonell will be one of the three OAs playing for Saginaw next year???? That's laughable! You're smarter than that! The wealth of talent of the 19 year olds in this league will mean Saginaw will get some pretty quality OAs to choose from other squads - some of the teams this year played with 9 or 10 19 year olds this year. The only wild-card of the 83s on this team to come back is Steve Dix because of how much he impressed with more ice time at the end of last season and how he'll do the dirty work without being asked. Nobody wants Sturgeon or Bissonette spending 5 and 10 at a time in the penalty box. MacDonell won't be back - count on it.
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Mac earned this spot with his play in the second half of the season. Heck, he was even voted most improved player for this past season.
Here is a clue: The Spirit drafted 87s and plan to suit up these four: McNeill (Defenseman), Pyatt (Center), Asselin (Left Wing), and Crowder (Right Wing). If they manage to somehow convince Kessel to play instead of Crowder, he is a Center.
My point is, if the team felt that it wasn't solid defensively with the addition of McNeill only, they would have taken another defenseman in the second or third round. They went with offense.
Lukovitch probably won't be here. He is a decent enough player but doesn't have the size we want defensively, and we already have Gibson. Plus the compensation picks as I have mentioned.
I expect another overage spot to be taken by Steve Dix. He is a fan favorite, wears his heart on his sleeve and comes to play every night. The third spot, I feel, is open for now. Edgar can earn it in camp, or the team will go out and look for one who can provide Tataryn-like scoring.
Obviously there are also rookie 86s I am not considering, along with undrafted free agents who may try out. If we can get Balint I will be really happy.
AAAAAAAAY!
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"Edgar can earn the spot in camp"?????!!!!! James Edgar will not be on this hockey team next year. There is zero chance of them completely wasting an OA slot on him.
And if Luckovitch were healthy, you're insane if you want MacDonell over him. Luckovitch plays with far more intensity, is a better puck-handler, and isn't afraid to throw his body around. I've hardly ever seen a softer 200+ pounder than MacDonell -- he won't fight, doesn't like to play physical and has zero skill on the puck. There's not a playoff team in the OHL who would have had him on their roster this year. Oh, but he got Most Improved Player - that's what the fat kid gets on the basketball team at the year-end banquet.
Let me help you out a little bit. Ottawa is 3 games away from going to the Memorial Cup. They have TEN (TEN!!!) players on their roster who will be overagers next year. You're telling me that the Spirit would keep MacDonell, Dix, and potentially Edgar instead of choosing from SEVEN of those ten overagers. Sheer lunacy.
Get it through your head this team will look a lot different next year. Players like Edgar and Jelitto and MacDonell and Kellerman are as good as out of here and Kellerman is the only one you'd get value for.
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I think Dix will be the only OA from last years team. Mainly due to what you've already said. I've heard that there will be 10 openings to fill come training camp and obviously 4 will be filled with the draft picks. That leaves 6 existing players, aside from the "core" that will remain (dix, risk, raska, Biz, ect..)
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Hold on there Bill! I have a problem with statements such as "Zero Chance" and "Sheer Lunacy" when discussing who will or will not return next year. State your case, no problem, but I think a case can be made for returning MacDonell to the team. And yes, if I had to make a choice between MacDonell and Luckovitch, I take Mac hands down. Mac got the Most Improved Player award because he was in fact, the most improved player on the team. And, by the way, the fat kid doesn't get anything. I have nothing against Luckovitch, but the cost of keeping him (Conditional Picks) far out weighs the value in keeping him. Translation, he is expendable. You are correct, there are going to be a ton of over-age candidates available but that doesn't mean you run out and grab them. Costa did hint at the possibility of looking at some of those guys in an interview earlier this year, so anything is possible. However, this team is being build from the bottom up, not the top down. Our over-agers this coming year will take on a whole different role than they did last year. Our over-agers were expected, and quite frankly needed to be, our team leaders last year. That won't be the case this coming season. I expect our over age players to be more role players than they were last season. Our coaching staff will have it's hands full with the new players, they don't need to have to deal with bringing in someone new who will only be with us for a season. Fill the gaps maybe, but not part of the foundation. For my money I keep Dix (Lots of heart but needs to learn how to play smarter. Too many stupid penalties) and MacDonell (You just can't ignore his size) I know you don't think he hits hard enough for a man his size, but he rides a guy out of the crease better than anyone else on the team. I would agree that guys like Jelitto and Edgar are expendable and I have said all along that I expect Kellerman to be traded this summer. Not that it matters right now, but we did draft three goalies Saturday. I just think the management of this team is focused on building this team with young players and keeping the overagers they have gives them one less thing to worry about. Not sure if there will be room for Edgar on the team, but I agree with Stu, he will have his chance to make the team and I don't believe a decision has been made yet. As long as that is the case, "NO CHANCE" has no place in these discussions.
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I also don't think Edgar will be back next year. He had heart - sometimes - but no talent, really (sorry James!). It would not surprise me if Dix was not back. I'm probably wrong, and I think I'm the only one saying that Dix might not be back, but like I said, it would not surprise me. Luckovitch, well, I don't think he'll be back because we don't want to lose the draft picks for him. I could see the team go after at least 2 better OA's from elsewhere if not 3! If they are looking for leadership, they do not have to look to the OA's for it (although that would be nice & also somewhat expected) - they have people like Bissonnette, Sturgeon, J-M Rizk, and several others that are ready to take over in the leadership department. They could focus on the OA's for point production & nothing more. However, like I said, the OA's are expected to provide leadership - I'm just saying it wouldn't kill the team if the OA's didn't bring that leadership. Just my opinion.
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You're more than entitled to your opinion and it certainly was educated...but I'm telling u again (so sorry if you have a problem with the vernacular) - there is NO CHANCE James Edgar is on this team next year. That of course is opinion and not fact. As for MacDonell, put it this way, it'll be a mistake to have him back. Costa is smart enough to know he'll have his pick of big, strong defensemen from other clubs or he could trade Kellerman for one real solid D man. Come with something a little more hockey-based than they knew he wasn't coming back so they gave him "most improved player". Do you really believe he was the most improved player. He improved more than Platt? More than Flache? More than Bissonette? Are you insane????
The team sacrificed Vernelli for Edgar and in essence, they clearly lost out but understand, so much of what they did last year was about this year and next year. Edgar was just on the team to be a body. You can disagree all you want, but this team can't afford to have a player lacking in talent and discipline like James Edgar anywhere near it. And guess what, they will not. So don't tell me what phrases I can and can't use, it's something that's rather undemocratic, I'd argue.
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Don't want to be undemocratic, but I am sort of a "Never Say Never, Never Say Always, kind of guy. Having said that, unless they have given someone their walking papers, they have a chance, even if it is a small one. Just a matter of semantics perhaps. Now let's look at the most improved player thing. If you want to say most improve from one year to the next, Geoff Platt wins hands down. I must say I was very impressed with the way Peter Flache stepped up into the Leadership role mid-season, however, can't say his game improved all that much. He was pretty consistant all year. Same could be said for Bissonette. From just the perspective of who's game got better from the begging of the season to the end, Mac's got my vote. In the beginning of the year he looked out of place. One step behind, a kid who had not grown into his body so to speak. I think by the end of the season he was making a real contribution. Do I think he will be back, hard to say. My only point was I could make an argument for keeping him. Also, for the record, I do not recall saying anything about the team giving Mac the Most Improved Player Award because they knew he wasn't coming back. I believe the gave it to him because they, like I, believed he earned it. Just one mans opinion. Now we have four guys who may or may not be back. It's possible they will all be gone. However, I wouldn't give up too much for an overage from another team. That, in my opinion, it too risky. I sure wouldn't trade Kellerman for an over-ager unless you also get some draft picks. With as many overagers who will be looking for work it should be a buyer's market. All I am saying is, I don't see the Spirit going crazy to get these guys. I expect us to keep two of the four. I think those two will be Dix and MacDonell. If it doesn't turn out that way, I will be the first to say I was wrong.
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There are going to be some huge changes next year. My predictions are as follows ; They get 3 new OA's, all of them they have now arent good enough. Goodnough- traded, Jellito released, Thompson traded. M.A. Rizk released. Kellerman traded. As for Edgar he showed some skill sometimes and other was undecipline and needs to keep his gloves on more. Ive read nothing but good about him on peterborough msg boards. If he is out, dix is out and flache is done, watch for costa to pick up a big time goon. WE will see what happens!!!
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Canadian83, looks like you and I agree more than we disagree. No question the team is going to look alot different this coming season. I think most everyone would agree on that. I still disagree on the over ager situation. With all of the young players we are going to have, I can't see the coaching staff wanting to spend a lot of time teaching new over-agers our system for a one year stint. One guy maybe, two possible, three...just can't see it. By the way, Flache has been done with the OHL since our last game in March. He had a pretty good run in his pro debut with the Greenville Grrrrowl playing with his twin brother Paul. He of course is not eligible to return to the OHL. There is no question in my mind that Kellerman will be traded. No team needs two starting goalies and Tyson is too good to ride the pine. Mike Brown is our goalie for the next two seasons and he will get most of the ice time. We need to trade Tyson now while he has great trade value. I don't see us picking up a goon at this point. I don't think Saginaw want's to perpetuate the goon image. That's why I think a guy like Steve Dix has a great chance of making this team. Not a goon but willing to mix it up when he has too. Look for Alex MacDonell to return also. I know there are a ton of people who would disagree with me but this is just my opinion. Just call it a hunch. Can't say one way or another about about Goodnough, Jellito, Thompson, Edgar or Rizk but there is no question some of these guys will be gone to make room for the newbies. Anyway, it is fun to speculate and should be interesting to see who is right and who is wrong and look for a surprise or two along the way. Go Spirit!
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Sure don't know much about hockey do you Carl? Just wait, and after Kellerman is traded and you see what we get for him, you can come back on here an tell the world you have seen the errors of your ways.
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Kellerman will get decent value, if he is good enough to be drafted........he was hung out to dry a lot of the nights. I would look for him to be traded to his home town maybe...(kingston). Maybe for a player or a pick around 4th round..
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Ok Carl, here goes: I don't think we got to see Tyson at his best this past season. Can't say why, but I know this, he was the All Star Goalie for a reason. Wins aside, his stats are very close to Mike Browns but understand you can't just look at stats. No goalie is going to look good stats wise playing for a team who only had 11 wins. Also when we started this season our view of our goalie situation was that we had a seasoned starter (Kellerman) and a promising young rookie (Brown) as the back up. If you look at the game sheets from the begining of the year you will notice that Tyson got most of the starts on the road and against the better teams. Brown would start against the weaker teams. Two things happend that I thing changed our view of our goalie situation. First Mike Brown got the early wins, this made people take notice of him. Also Mike is much more flamboyant in goal and I think the fans like his passion. Tyson is a more conserative fundementally sound goalie that struggled early. Make no mistake, Tyson is a good goalie and had some great games this past season. Most of them were on the road and therefore were not seen by many Saginaw fans. He is also a NHL drafted goalie (Chicago Black Hawks) so oviously, I am not the only one who thinks he has talent. Now later this year, in June, Mike Brown will also get drafted by some NHL club who is going to want him to get plenty of Ice time. No team needs two starting goalies and that makes Tyson expendable. What makes him valuable is the fact that many teams will need goalie help. I expect us to get a player and a draft pick for him. By the way, did you notice that Saginaw drafted three goalies this year. They are already making plans for the future and that is good. We will problably only have Mike Brown for two seasons so you can't wait too long to start grooming his replacement. I hope this helps. Player moves are made based on a whole set of criteria and not just stats from one season.
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Once again I have to agree with BPFox. Kellerman got a raw deal from the fans and his own teammates. I witnessed a game in Sarnia that Tyson gave up 4 goals in the first period. Not one defenceman helped him out. No moving guys in front of the net, no blocked shots, NOTHING!!! Tyson was by himself. Of the four goals only one was a "soft" one. The rest I would account to a hapless defense. Then Brown comes in. All of a sudden, the defense is blocking shots, moving guys out of the front, taking out bodies on rushes. Brown gave up 4 goals maybe five, I can't remember, but they were all "soft", not a characteristic of Brown at all, he must not have been ready because he definitely had the help. Look at the save percentage for both guys (goals allowed divided by shots faced) and you will find 1. Tyson faced a lot more shots than Brown, 2. the two were darn close in save percentage. Don't forget the game in Kitchner that Kellerman faced 50+ shots and only let in 3 and what's Kitchner doing these days? I really think the weakest link to the current Spirit team was defense. Goaltending was average and scoring was slightly below average.
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yeah i now see what you mean my bad for being ignorant and how bout them rangers, and saginaw didnt do too bad against this year they tied and lost in OT twice i believe and i think they lost the other game
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Welcome back Carl, you are right, Saginaw did do pretty well against the OHL Champion Rangers. In fact, in our first meeting in Kitchener on November 15th we managed a tie. You will never guess who had 56 saves and was voted #1 star....Tyson Kellerman!
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Carl, don't be so hard on yourself. It's hard to look back at last season and find either of the goaltenders spectacular. Though they both played hard and Brown was definitely as BPFox put it "Flamboyant", neither played spectacular. I think this coming season, with a mended defense in front of him, Brown will play much better and I'm pretty certain Kellerman will be moved to Kingston.
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Look for gibson out (for draft picks) as they have brought into the lineup a younger version of him in McNeil(supposedly) and they will have no chioce but to bring back either luckuvitch or MacDonnell as many other overagers from other teams will not want to come here, it's nothing against the team or anything but coming off the season like they had no guys with alot of talent or even some talent will come here it's just not a position that many will want to be in, as for gibson it just doesn't look like the spirit have shown interest in keeping him and his value will be lost with this team...good luck to him if he does get traded if not I'm one that will say that I'm happier then H*ll to have him here...also good luck to tyson, everyone and their grandmother knows that he will be out of here...Godd luck to the team also
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