Next Season - Current Roster - Keep or Move On?

[crackityjones]

The view of me and my son. He's 13 and a Dman, with Shulze and Piche being two of his favourite players.

Shulze is the one we disagreed with - I'd keep Nevalainen instead. We agreed we can't have both as we need bigger Dmen.

We were torn on Ciampini, but thought he might get better with an EIHL season behind him.

08 Mason Mitchell - NO
12 Daniel Ciampini - YES
17 Evan Mosey - YES
19 Tomáš Pitule - NO
20 Jonathan Phillips - Retiring
21 Alex Graham - YES
25 Brett Neumann - YES
27 Cole Shudra - YES (2 way)
29 Scott Allen - YES
62 Martin Latal - YES
63 Brendan Connolly - Retiring
74 Brandon Whistle - YES
75 Robert Dowd - YES (C)
79 Danny Kristo - YES
88 Marc-Olivier Vallerand - NO
92 Brandon McNally - NO

Defenders:

05 Carl Ackered - NO
13 Davey Phillips - YES
22 Matt Petgrave - NO
28 Kevin Schulze - YES
44 Sam Jones - YES
57 Niklas Nevalainen - NO
58 Sébastien Piché - YES

Netminders:

01 Matt Greenfield - YES
30 Hayden Lavigne - NO
34 Curtis Warburton - YES
72 Jordan McLaughlin - NO

[OneMadOrangeBoi]

EDIT - forgot to add Vally. @Jayboy please update the side bar when you get a moment as that is where I nicked the list from

Yes I’m already thinking about next season as in my head I’ve already written this one off.

My thoughts as arm chair coach of the players I’d keep let go……

Forwards:

08 Mason Mitchell - No
12 Daniel Ciampini - No
17 Evan Mosey - Yes
19 Tomáš Pitule - No
20 Jonathan Phillips - Retiring
21 Alex Graham - Yes
25 Brett Neumann - No
27 Cole Shudra - Yes
29 Scott Allen - No
62 Martin Latal - No
63 Brendan Connolly - No
74 Brandon Whistle - Yes
75 Robert Dowd - Yes as Captain
79 Danny Kristo - No
88 Marc-Olivier Vallerand - No
92 Brandon McNally - Yes

Defenders:

05 Carl Ackered - No
13 Davey Phillips - No (unless we can’t find a suitable Brit replacement)
22 Matt Petgrave - No
28 Kevin Schulze - No
44 Sam Jones - Yes
57 Niklas Nevalainen - No
58 Sébastien Piché - No

Netminders:

01 Matt Greenfield - Yes please!!! Will he re-sign though with no doubt higher interest.
30 Hayden Lavigne - Not seen him play
34 Curtis Warburton - Yes
72 Jordan McLaughlin - Yes

Pretty big clear out required for me.

I'm a little late to the party but here's a few issues I have; First, Shudra, Warburton and McLaughlin shouldn't be anywhere near the Elite League; What's your issue with Nevalainen; I've had it with people being critical about Vally this season, he spent most of it injured, didn't do well afterwards, got dumped and receives tons of abuse, it's unfair. Ever heard of morale, for me he adds that; WHAT! ALLEN?!; Touch Neumann or Kristo and you'll have to do it over my cold, dead corpse;Yeah let's get rid of our best skater, Ciampini(!)

If they added Ovechkin to the roster some people would find things to complain about...

[crackityjones]

A lot comes down to budget spend. If Ciampini and Kristo, for example, are on big wages, then they haven't been productive enough for the first line and justify the salary. They may be great skaters, but if it means we're only able to get cheaper 3rd/4th liners, then it's a problem.
Warburton is a good 3rd goalie who can be backup and take a GB slot. Not good for him, but it's the rules.
Having some GB players on 2 way is useful in case we have dire short term injuries.

[OneMadOrangeBoi]

A lot comes down to budget spend. If Ciampini and Kristo, for example, are on big wages, then they haven't been productive enough for the first line and justify the salary. They may be great skaters, but if it means we're only able to get cheaper 3rd/4th liners, then it's a problem.
Warburton is a good 3rd goalie who can be backup and take a GB slot. Not good for him, but it's the rules.
Having some GB players on 2 way is useful in case we have dire short term injuries.

Warburton will NOT make GB, I can tell you that. If you're referencing the salary cap, there isn't one, and Steelers are rich af and can most certainly afford it.

[crackityjones]

For Wharburton, I meant he's one one of the 6 home grown players. Not enough good home grown skaters to have 2 non-homegrown goalies dressed.

As for budget, I know there's no cap, but it is still a business with a P&L. Every player has to be good value for money and provide a good return on the investment in salary, housing, etc.

The question is whether you risk trying to find a different player, unproven in the EIHL, or hope they get better for the second season. For every Tadesco there's a Mitchell...

[smbmetal]

EDIT - forgot to add Vally. @Jayboy please update the side bar when you get a moment as that is where I nicked the list from

Yes I’m already thinking about next season as in my head I’ve already written this one off.

My thoughts as arm chair coach of the players I’d keep let go……

Forwards:

08 Mason Mitchell - No
12 Daniel Ciampini - No
17 Evan Mosey - Yes
19 Tomáš Pitule - No
20 Jonathan Phillips - Retiring
21 Alex Graham - Yes
25 Brett Neumann - No
27 Cole Shudra - Yes
29 Scott Allen - No
62 Martin Latal - No
63 Brendan Connolly - No
74 Brandon Whistle - Yes
75 Robert Dowd - Yes as Captain
79 Danny Kristo - No
88 Marc-Olivier Vallerand - No
92 Brandon McNally - Yes

Defenders:

05 Carl Ackered - No
13 Davey Phillips - No (unless we can’t find a suitable Brit replacement)
22 Matt Petgrave - No
28 Kevin Schulze - No
44 Sam Jones - Yes
57 Niklas Nevalainen - No
58 Sébastien Piché - No

Netminders:

01 Matt Greenfield - Yes please!!! Will he re-sign though with no doubt higher interest.
30 Hayden Lavigne - Not seen him play
34 Curtis Warburton - Yes
72 Jordan McLaughlin - Yes

Pretty big clear out required for me.

I'm a little late to the party but here's a few issues I have; First, Shudra, Warburton and McLaughlin shouldn't be anywhere near the Elite League; What's your issue with Nevalainen; I've had it with people being critical about Vally this season, he spent most of it injured, didn't do well afterwards, got dumped and receives tons of abuse, it's unfair. Ever heard of morale, for me he adds that; WHAT! ALLEN?!; Touch Neumann or Kristo and you'll have to do it over my cold, dead corpse;Yeah let's get rid of our best skater, Ciampini(!)

If they added Ovechkin to the roster some people would find things to complain about...

I’d agree that some of the brits shouldn’t be in the roster, but unfortunately they are the rules which is why I’ve said yes to most of the brits. I’ve mentioned in many posts that I don’t believe there should be an import rule at all.

As for the rest…..I’d ask you, how may trophies have they won?

To try and answer your questions…..

What’s wrong with Nevalainen? For me, he’s not physical enough, so wouldn’t make my team as arm chair coach.

Allen was brought in as a ‘power forward’. I’ve made more hits than him and I can’t skate.

Vally is too old and I wouldn’t have brought him back at all.

Kristo started well but not done much all season once he won a contract.

I have changed my mind on Neumann and would give him another season. Ciampini has done ok, but I expected him to be in the top 10 point scorers in the
league, so he can go for me as well.

Hope that’s answered your questions?

[ginger]

Greenfield is obvious as a must sign (obviously not discounting a big offer from Europe).

D - keep Nevalainen, Piche (if fit), Davey. Not sold on Jones. Schulze and Petgrave can both go.

F - Ciampini, Neumann, Allen keep as second line (budget allowing), Dowd to play top line, Whistle and Graham to stay. Rest I would look elsewhere.

[greeny]

Keep. Greenfield, no need to say why, nevelainem not the biggest d man but tactically always in the right place and neuman young and will only get better. brits dont really have a lot of choice about them

[paul johnston]

Greenfield is obvious as a must sign (obviously not discounting a big offer from Europe).

D - keep Nevalainen, Piche (if fit), Davey. Not sold on Jones. Schulze and Petgrave can both go.

F - Ciampini, Neumann, Allen keep as second line (budget allowing), Dowd to play top line, Whistle and Graham to stay. Rest I would look elsewhere.

Not sure about Davey, think Jones did go backwards this year. Agree about second line with those three.
No matter how much I love Dowd just don't see the points from him (goals rather than helpers) that we need and have been lacking for years from our first line unit. Maybe get dowd onto that second line instead of Neumann.

It's a big task ahead for the coach.

[ginger]

Greenfield is obvious as a must sign (obviously not discounting a big offer from Europe).

D - keep Nevalainen, Piche (if fit), Davey. Not sold on Jones. Schulze and Petgrave can both go.

F - Ciampini, Neumann, Allen keep as second line (budget allowing), Dowd to play top line, Whistle and Graham to stay. Rest I would look elsewhere.

Not sure about Davey, think Jones did go backwards this year. Agree about second line with those three.
No matter how much I love Dowd just don't see the points from him (goals rather than helpers) that we need and have been lacking for years from our first line unit. Maybe get dowd onto that second line instead of Neumann.

It's a big task ahead for the coach.

See I think if you put Dowd with, for example, Conway and Goodwin, Dowd is going to score 70 points easily. He can still finish, but he's been having to effectively drive his line and I don't think he's that player (or ever was) - he's always been a finisher, who just happens to be excellent on the forecheck. Give him a centre who controls the play and really makes the line tick (Valdix was great at that with the Nelson/Dowd combo) and I think he shines.

Watching Davey yesterday was a big reason why I think he stays - big game, and I don't think he made any errors (of note). Might mess up the odd one in the regular season but big games he always seems to play solidly.

Really think Neumann will improve so I think a good one to keep at the right price.