Our current OA's in camp are McCutcheon, Dix, MacDonell, and Kostadine. I was wondering if anybody knows the whereabouts of Jeff Luchavitch from last years team, he was an '83, I thought he was a pretty talented kid and was hoping he'd return as an OA, he was far more talented than MacDonell. I heard James Edgar was playing college in Canada this year, so he's not an option. Unless we can bring in an OA from another team, we may be stuck with Mac one more year.
After the ex. against Plymouth last weekend, I didn't see any evidence of Mac's supposed improvement from last year, I mean he tries hard, and his skating ability has never been in question with me, its just that nothing positive ever happens when he's on the ice, who knows why. This Kostadine didn't do anything to distinguish himself from Mac, Dix brings to much energy to not keep, and McCutcheon is as good as any of our OA's from last season, so for the moment one of them stays(Mac or Kost). As for our goalie situation, if we can't trade Kellerman than we better get him back in here and let him and Brown work in tandem, because Pfligler looked very suspect, nerves perhaps, i hope its all it was, but he did not look good enough to keep based on the Plymouth game, then again it was just one game, Tyson is far to talented to just sit home, why he took the heat for last seasons record is beyond me, be he needs to be playing, either here or somewhere.

Welcome aboard Spirit19! Just wondering, Do you ever read any of the previous posts on this board? We have had several spirited debates on these very same subjects. Sorry you missed them.

Last night Pfigler stopped approx 35 shots for the win. The only goal he let in was a power play goal.

Maybe the game vs. Plymouth was just a case of the jitters.

I saw Luckovitch playing in the scrimage that was at the Midland Civic Arena. Don't know if he's still here since then though.

Thank you for the welcome, yes I did read your interesting debate, just wanted to explore our OA options and wondering if anyone has a scoop on the subject. As I read my post I guess it did tend to get a little to similar to the debate you folks were having, sorry, that was not the point, its just that I can't watch another season of Mac out there being unproductive.

No Scoops, just a whole lot of speculation. I am not going to get into the whole MacDonnell thing again. Call me crazy, but I like the kid. Here's the way I see it shaping up. First of all we traded a 3rd round pick from next years draft to get McCutcheon. I think it was a little steep for an overager, however, he should prove to be a 20 - 25 goal scorer and we can't have too many of those. With McCutcheon taking one of the spots that made Luckovich expendable. I didn't think we would keep him anyway. Not a bad player, but not worth the additional picks we would have had to give up to keep him. I hate to say this because I want you to come to many games this season, but I believe Alex MacDonnell will make the team. At this point it has more to do with his position than his talent. I do, however think his tallent is underappreciated by most. His skating has improved and I think if he can work on his mental lapses you will come to enjoy watching him. Now that leaves Dix & Kostadine. It is possible that we will start the season with both of these guys on the roster, with one not dressing on any given night. My gut tells me we keep Dix and release Kostadine. He is in camp as a free agent. The ties to the team are not as strong as Dix. Maybe I am just speculating in such a way as to make my early prediction a reality. The great unknown is trades. My feeling has been that Saginaw would not put a great deal of emphasis on going after overagers. Early talk by Costa indicated they would give a look see and I thing signing McCutcheon satisfies that craving.

Luckovitch was cut before the Plymouth games and sent out. He will play college hockey, possibly at University of Western Ontario in his hometown of London. It was a good question though, Spirit19, I thought he had a better chance to make the team after a long summer of physio. BP Logic shouldn't insult you like that over a simple question.

Morning, BP MacDonell! You're obsessed with the big boy, it seems!

Good morning to you Bill. How have you been. I thought maybe you wouldn't be able to let this go. I would like to prove to the other that you and I can have a Spirited debate without personal attacks. You know the phrase "BP Logic" is kind of starting to grow on me. If I can help people look at things a different way, "think out side of the box" so to speak, then I think that is a good thing. Bring a different view to the table and let them decide for themselves. What BP Logic is is pure speculation on my part. I like to tell people what I think and then back it up with my reasoning. Sometimes I am right and sometimes I am not so right. You might be surprised to find out that Alex MacDonnell is not my favorite player. He gets hammered a lot on this board and needed someone to stick up for him. I have always championed the underdog. We have to remember that even our overagers are just kids and will make plenty of mistakes. This is afterall a developmental league. I have always pointed out his flaws. I think those flaws are correctable. I wouldn't say I was obsessed witht this kid, but I will admit I think he is going to one of those guys that makes a contribution. I also have based a lot of my opinion on what I think the team will do. Not what I would do or what I think they should do, but rather what I think they will do. So anyway I know you and I disagree on the MacDonnell thing, but how do you see the Dix/Kostadine thing playing out. Keep one and get rid of one? If so which one do you keep and why? Or do you both of them not making the team in favor of someone being picked up from another team? Just curious.

In that last post I made sure there were plenty of spelling and gramatical errors. I know how much you love those. Enjoy!