some idiots are already writing them off 3 months before the season even begins. With a couple of good moves by Petrash I say they will be right in the mix once again:

They will have two good scoring lines:

1. Dickin Schappert and Jackson
2. Gingera Gardiner and Pawluk

A third line capable of chipping in could easily develop:

3. Rutherford Hay? Olson (Magalas could also develop into a third line basher)

So up front all Petrash needs to do is find maybe a couple of 19 or 20 year olds and things would be looking good. If Michaud has indeed hung em up, then finding a tough guy should be on the list now that Hawes is also gone. Although it looks like Gardiner can chuck the knuckles pretty good (gave Kelly a good pumping in the playoffs).

On defense things are looking extremely positive with potential pairings:

1. Schappert Heide
2. Alexiuk Robinson
3. Kampen and one of:(Ballard, Kennedy, Overwater, Eckel, Meillur, Gagnon, Korlak)

Kampen will easily make the team and see a lot of ice. If Heide puts on a bit of weight over the summer he will for sure be much better next year after a good rookie year. Look for Gagnon and Korlak to be hard pressed to make the cut. If Ballard and Kennedy can remotely live up to some of the hype they are getting, the Steelers will have a great looking defense.

Goaltending is the only real big question and I'm sure it will be addressed.

So the main priorities are:

1.Starting tender
2.Second or Third line center
3.Tough guy/agitator type dude

You need more then 2 good lines as you saw last year and last year the top 2 lines were better then the top 2 lines this year.

yes, that's why acquiring a 2nd or 3rd line center is listed as a priority

I thought Gingera was a 1st line center as he played last year?

Gingera played wing on the first line with Payne and Plesky for a little bit last year. Gingera is listed as a winger, and I'm not sure he is cut out to play center.

I know there are people who will argue it, but Schappert will be the first line center next year, no questions asked.

Gingera may spend some time on the first line, but I think Dickin and Jackson rate higher.

If the Steel are looking for Ballard to be the saviour of your defence you are in big trouble.He is a slow unmotivated plug who after floating around high school hockey for three years will get eaten alive at the MJ level.

Dicken and Jackson need somebody to set them up and schapert is not the one he will not pass

Jackson will not get the easy points he got last yr, regular shift but pp will really show.

i dont know about that, i think him and dicken should put up 90+ pretty easily, with pawluk playing the other wing

ya well u can count on gardiner not playing im almost postive he will be in regina next year for sure. So your top 6 forwards are
Jackson
Dickin
Schappert
Rutherford
Gingera
Pawluk

and yes they need some more forwards but im pretty sure there first 2 lines will compete with anyone in the league. But time will tell

Quote from M. Babcock, coach of the Detroit Red Wings : "Good goaltending is 75% of a winning team, and bad goaltending is 100% of a losing team". 189.2, until you know what the Steelers will have for goaltending next season, there is no way to know whether they will be "good" or "fine" hockey-wise. And even if the Steelers get a solid starter, that can be cancelled out by a brutal defence, something they demonstrated last fall. Its June 4th, 3 months until hockey starts again, and you started this thread and posted twice to it ??? Reeks of I-dont-have-a-life desperation to me...

Why do you say Gardiner will be in Regina next year?

you're up at 1:21 in the morning reading an irrelevant thread on a forum that you figure should be inactive at this time of year, and then you post to the irrelevant thread?

Seems like you've been having a good long drink at the trough of idiocy dude.

Get your nose out of that can of tuna and your hand out of the vaseline and maybe that haze of ineptitude will begin to clear.

.

Why does everyone think the Steelers don't have a starting tendy? Is Rewicki not coming back next year or something? He didn't get as much playing time when Armour came back, but from the games I saw him play, I think he can easily be a number one. Other teams play there younger goalies, so why don't the steelers? do the fans/managment think that you always need a 20 year old to win a championship? remember Justin Harris (he was groomed from a younger age).......

who cares

rumour is that Rewy is going to USHL

If you dont totally agree with 189.2, and if you dont see things the same way as him, well, just remember, that makes you an idiot. Hahaha....like the guy above said, who cares? !!!

thanks for clearing that up Me. It is obvious by your pathetic unorginal inane banter that osmosis is slowly converting you into a genuine redneck.

Are things really that boring over there that you have to vicariously get your excitement from this forum?

It really is unfortunate that my comments are getting you all bowed up like a halloween cat (see how considerate I am Me? I picked a dumbed down analogy just for you because, well, it's obvious you're very special)

Oh yeah shouldn't you be out a seedin'? I mean even I just planted some very special corn, I'll be sure to send you a very fragrant sample come September there pardner.

Not seeing the world through Steeler-colored glasses, like you, makes me a redneck ?? Another fine example of your keen intellect and your razor-sharp analysis of things, 189.2. Problem is, you have become so predictable that I literally could have written your last post before you did. Forsooth, methinks thou art a po-faced dullard, verily !! LOL !!! Anyways, if both Schapperts play for the Steelers next season, for the whole season(Josh needs to stay off the injury list), and the Steelers can come up with a solid tandem in net, they should be competitive. But until the goalie situation firms up, theres no point in discussing next season. Peace out....

is it confirmed the other Schappert is back on "d"

schappert is going back to seattle and im sick of all this talk about how good josh schappert is he is not a 1st player at all he is scared after his shoulder surgery and doesn't pass might as wel throw 2 plugs with him bc your just throwing away talent whoever plays with him

He's better on Big FM

don't need to look for starter. Rewicki is rock solid. watched him since aaa, very steady and consistent. good under pressure. why look elsewhere when you already have what you need?

That may be true if Rewicki is a Steeler in the fall. Story is he's going down to USHL, next step in the scholly hunt.

I wonder if the "feeling" in Steeltown is that everyone is leaving...last one out turn out the lights...

Even winning can breed complacency. The changes that are occuring might be what's needed to cure this. I'm a Steeler season ticket holder and I'm not worried, Petrash always finds the pieces needed to ice a competitive club.And yes, the other Schappert will be on defence this season with the Steelers. He is not going back to Seattle as a 20 yr old.