Aaron Fox & Carter Beston-Will

[paul johnston]

Excellent news to have them signed for another 3 years. They've brought exciting successful hockey to Sheffield and long may it continue. Who's to say how long they'll be here....

Listening to the numerous interviews with this weeks news it sounds as though Fox is keen to stay longer and that he would like to build next year's team starting with the 'core', I wonder who would be deemed included within that list of players? Dowd, Vallerand, Connolly, Eberle, Armstrong, Davey, Jono, Jones, Graham, Shudra and Warburton.

I would also assume that the match night roster limit will be raised by one to reach 20.

I would think the core + this years keeps would include:

Dowd
Vallerand
Mosey
Latal
Connolly
Davey
Schulze
ASD
Jono
Jones
Whistle
Eberle
Armstrong
Warburton
Graham
Shudra

Obviously there could be some leave that may receive better offers or search for hockey elsewhere but I would have thought most would take this list back. Will be interesting to see if there is any movement regarding the DeLuca situation as we have certainly missed his offensive skills. The younger gen I would assume may remain on 2-way contracts excluding Whistle who I think will be a full time Steeler officially next season.

Would love to see something like :

Vallerand-Connolly-Dowd
Eberle-NEW-Latal
Mosey-Armstrong-DeLuca
Jono-Whistle-Graham

Jones-ASD
Davey-Schulze
NEW-NEW

Rok / NEW
Warburton

New center ideally would be a Mikyska style player who we had in the Elite Series, thought he stood out and linked up well with Dowd.

I think we could see 2 new d-men as I don't think Todd or Ellerby will return. Maybe we need some slightly more defensive minded options but the style Fox likes to play we do need good puck moving defenseman who can jump into the play.

I wouldn't mind seeing Rok back as well, don't think we will see Barry again next season, but you never know.

There maybe a couple who people don't agree with like Armstrong, but I think in the right role he's one of our most effective players, he's still got 24 points in 38 league games and is a key face-off man, compare him with say a Stephen Dixon from Cardiff who I think we would all take has 29 points in 43 games, it isn't just about points and I think Armstrong can still be a key piece for us.

I personally would be looking to move on from 5 of the guys on this list due to a combination of form, performance level, age and other issues. But that's more talk for the end of the season/off season.

[JoeySlats#13]

Excellent news to have them signed for another 3 years. They've brought exciting successful hockey to Sheffield and long may it continue. Who's to say how long they'll be here....

Listening to the numerous interviews with this weeks news it sounds as though Fox is keen to stay longer and that he would like to build next year's team starting with the 'core', I wonder who would be deemed included within that list of players? Dowd, Vallerand, Connolly, Eberle, Armstrong, Davey, Jono, Jones, Graham, Shudra and Warburton.

I would also assume that the match night roster limit will be raised by one to reach 20.

I would think the core + this years keeps would include:

Dowd
Vallerand
Mosey
Latal
Connolly
Davey
Schulze
ASD
Jono
Jones
Whistle
Eberle
Armstrong
Warburton
Graham
Shudra

Obviously there could be some leave that may receive better offers or search for hockey elsewhere but I would have thought most would take this list back. Will be interesting to see if there is any movement regarding the DeLuca situation as we have certainly missed his offensive skills. The younger gen I would assume may remain on 2-way contracts excluding Whistle who I think will be a full time Steeler officially next season.

Would love to see something like :

Vallerand-Connolly-Dowd
Eberle-NEW-Latal
Mosey-Armstrong-DeLuca
Jono-Whistle-Graham

Jones-ASD
Davey-Schulze
NEW-NEW

Rok / NEW
Warburton

New center ideally would be a Mikyska style player who we had in the Elite Series, thought he stood out and linked up well with Dowd.

I think we could see 2 new d-men as I don't think Todd or Ellerby will return. Maybe we need some slightly more defensive minded options but the style Fox likes to play we do need good puck moving defenseman who can jump into the play.

I wouldn't mind seeing Rok back as well, don't think we will see Barry again next season, but you never know.

There maybe a couple who people don't agree with like Armstrong, but I think in the right role he's one of our most effective players, he's still got 24 points in 38 league games and is a key face-off man, compare him with say a Stephen Dixon from Cardiff who I think we would all take has 29 points in 43 games, it isn't just about points and I think Armstrong can still be a key piece for us.

I personally would be looking to move on from 5 of the guys on this list due to a combination of form, performance level, age and other issues. But that's more talk for the end of the season/off season.

Which 5? Can't leave us hanging

[paul johnston]

Excellent news to have them signed for another 3 years. They've brought exciting successful hockey to Sheffield and long may it continue. Who's to say how long they'll be here....

Listening to the numerous interviews with this weeks news it sounds as though Fox is keen to stay longer and that he would like to build next year's team starting with the 'core', I wonder who would be deemed included within that list of players? Dowd, Vallerand, Connolly, Eberle, Armstrong, Davey, Jono, Jones, Graham, Shudra and Warburton.

I would also assume that the match night roster limit will be raised by one to reach 20.

I would think the core + this years keeps would include:

Dowd
Vallerand
Mosey
Latal
Connolly
Davey
Schulze
ASD
Jono
Jones
Whistle
Eberle
Armstrong
Warburton
Graham
Shudra

Obviously there could be some leave that may receive better offers or search for hockey elsewhere but I would have thought most would take this list back. Will be interesting to see if there is any movement regarding the DeLuca situation as we have certainly missed his offensive skills. The younger gen I would assume may remain on 2-way contracts excluding Whistle who I think will be a full time Steeler officially next season.

Would love to see something like :

Vallerand-Connolly-Dowd
Eberle-NEW-Latal
Mosey-Armstrong-DeLuca
Jono-Whistle-Graham

Jones-ASD
Davey-Schulze
NEW-NEW

Rok / NEW
Warburton

New center ideally would be a Mikyska style player who we had in the Elite Series, thought he stood out and linked up well with Dowd.

I think we could see 2 new d-men as I don't think Todd or Ellerby will return. Maybe we need some slightly more defensive minded options but the style Fox likes to play we do need good puck moving defenseman who can jump into the play.

I wouldn't mind seeing Rok back as well, don't think we will see Barry again next season, but you never know.

There maybe a couple who people don't agree with like Armstrong, but I think in the right role he's one of our most effective players, he's still got 24 points in 38 league games and is a key face-off man, compare him with say a Stephen Dixon from Cardiff who I think we would all take has 29 points in 43 games, it isn't just about points and I think Armstrong can still be a key piece for us.

I personally would be looking to move on from 5 of the guys on this list due to a combination of form, performance level, age and other issues. But that's more talk for the end of the season/off season.

Which 5? Can't leave us hanging

Conns, Armstrong, Deluca, and dare I say the two Phillips.

[JoeySlats#13]

Conns, Armstrong, Deluca, and dare I say the two Phillips.
[/quote]

Interesting....I think the Phillips is the biggest call, I don't think there are many British D-men that can provide what Davey does to be honest. And not many PKer's can provide what Jono can Brit or Import.

DeLuca - are you thinking because of off-ice issues? I think we've missed his goals, especially when Vally went down injured for a few weeks. He seemed to love being here and I think he'd comeback if possible.

Armstrong - strong face-off guy, seems to bring it when the big games come around as well, reliable centreman who can play RW too as he did at the start of the season. What's your reasoning for this one, age, fresh blood?

Connolly - think we've missed his attitude and ability to mix things up at times, as well as his points and link up with Vally and Dowd. I think he will be back to be honest, I'm sure I remember hearing Fox mention that he would try to bring him back depending on injury time-scale. Is this a similar reason to Armstrong?

[DimTim]

To listen to Aaron’s interview he mentions a ‘core’ he is looking to build. With this in mind I expect he will be looking to retain the majority of the current roster with tinkering round the edges.
Some will be looking to retire e.g. Hodgman, Polak, Todd, Brust resulting in replacements needed. Who knows the 2 Phillips may have similar ideas?

It will also depend on how the roster is defined by EIH are we increasing bench size? Will we need u23 brits etc.