Steelers SIGNINGS/Departures. Confirmed only , no rumours please

[Doom]

I've just checked the faceoffs in the league last season:

Simpson 58%
Watling 48%
Dowd 54%
Balmas 53%
Allen 60%
Neumann 50%
Whistle 44%

Dowd was slightly higher than I thought, but there's only Simpson who I'd feel confident of throwing out for a crucial faceoff.

Regards

Doom

[ginger]

I really doubt Leavens is on the 3rd. I think he'll either be with Balmas or Watling. I suspect the idea will be that we then don't need to stack those 2 on a line. Leavens should be a top 6 point producer given his ICEHL stats.

Given Watling likes quick wingers, that makes me think he'll be with the Finns.

It's really tough to see who the scratch is when all fit. Suspect we'll rotate the scratch more, especially early in the season when the schedule is heavy with CHL games/travel. After that injury and form will probably determine it.

Could see a 3rd of Dowd/Simpson/Vallerand at times which has potential to be horrible to play against.

Fox will no doubt look at lots of combos early doors, he split Petgrave and Nev up last year which no one expected based on the previous year.

[ginger]

I've just checked the faceoffs in the league last season:

Simpson 58%
Watling 48%
Dowd 54%
Balmas 53%
Allen 60%
Neumann 50%
Whistle 44%

Dowd was slightly higher than I thought, but there's only Simpson who I'd feel confident of throwing out for a crucial faceoff.

Regards

Doom

I think Watling took draws on both his strong and weak sides - happy to be corrected though. Dowd was mainly taking on his strong side iirc so could be why his % is high.

Miceli and Leavens have played at centre previously so hopefully another 2 who can potentially win strong side draws - and try to balance up so get 2 face off takers on the top 2 lines. Simpson needs no help on the 3rd. Possibly one of the best we've had in a good few years

[tim123]

So that's the final current anyway pieces of the jigsaw. I'm a bit disappointed no Betker, which seemed to be nailed on for ages. Do we know why?
Apart from that, these guys names have been out their for ages and they may as well have announced them earlier.
I think overall team looks great. D probably better, slightly weaker fourth line-thats the loss of sam Jones and replacing him with one of the two way forward players.
We should be there or there abouts challenging again at the top.

Not sure how accurate, but saw a post somewhere suggesting he may be retiring with a view to becoming a ref. Might be rubbish, but he's still unsigned which makes continuing playing in Europe less likely (most teams are all but completed), so unless heading back to NA, it might look to be along the right lines.

To be fair if you want to be a top ref, starting earlier than waiting til 35/36/37 is probably a good shout

Not sure whether I'm being optimistic, but I have a hunch Betker has already signed and will be announced as a late addition...

Sent from my CPH2399 using Tapatalk

[ginger]

So that's the final current anyway pieces of the jigsaw. I'm a bit disappointed no Betker, which seemed to be nailed on for ages. Do we know why?
Apart from that, these guys names have been out their for ages and they may as well have announced them earlier.
I think overall team looks great. D probably better, slightly weaker fourth line-thats the loss of sam Jones and replacing him with one of the two way forward players.
We should be there or there abouts challenging again at the top.

Not sure how accurate, but saw a post somewhere suggesting he may be retiring with a view to becoming a ref. Might be rubbish, but he's still unsigned which makes continuing playing in Europe less likely (most teams are all but completed), so unless heading back to NA, it might look to be along the right lines.

To be fair if you want to be a top ref, starting earlier than waiting til 35/36/37 is probably a good shout

Not sure whether I'm being optimistic, but I have a hunch Betker has already signed and will be announced as a late addition...

Sent from my CPH2399 using Tapatalk

You're more optimistic than me!

[Doom]

I really doubt Leavens is on the 3rd.

Would Janatuinen/Simpson/Leavens be a 3rd line though?

Unlike some coaches, Fox does like to spread the ice time around the lines, particularly the top 3.

I bet at some point we hear the phrase line 1A, 1B and 1C.

Plenty of depth and plenty of options.

There's going to be a lot of competition for those powerplay minutes.

Regards

Doom

[Steve]

Got to say I normally agree with you doom but in this case I think we are stronger at the back,I think the new finn could be a stud and Guido will definitely be an upgrade on sam jones. I think up front again we are potentially stronger if fox's eye for a player on the bounce back has worked again. Whether we are strong enough remains to be seen as I think most of the teams have upgraded and nobody will run away with it this season.

[ginger]

I really doubt Leavens is on the 3rd.

Would Janatuinen/Simpson/Leavens be a 3rd line though?

Unlike some coaches, Fox does like to spread the ice time around the lines, particularly the top 3.

I bet at some point we hear the phrase line 1A, 1B and 1C.

Plenty of depth and plenty of options.

There's going to be a lot of competition for those powerplay minutes.

Regards

Doom

Could be at some point, Fox does mix things up quite regularly.

We shall see soon enough - we're probably both way off what they end up as

[Bryan]

Slightly strange that none of Steelers news even gets a mention in the Star.

[mark]

Slightly strange that none of Steelers news even gets a mention in the Star.

See here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=853