Steelers Rumours 22/23

[Joesteeler]

Hope it is just a fairytale from Mr Fairytale at the local rag.

https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/ice-hoc ... rs-3732267

From memory, I don’t think 1 person voted for him to return on the recent poll? Thank him for his services and find someone else I think. I was very underwhelmed with what should have been one the league’s marquee signings last season.

Just read this on Elite Prospects and it sums it up nicely for me, which is why I think we ought to try to do better.

Ellerby is a defenseman with great size, who does his best work in his own zone. Skates and moves very well, despite a large body. Somewhat lacking in hockey sense, and won't contribute much offensively. Could stand to play a more physical game, given his excellent frame, but still delivers a big hit once in a while.
- Erik K. Piri, EP (2013)

I don’t think I’ve ever read a player review as accurate as this! It’s pretty much down to a T. Including the “big hit once in a while”

[Johnny777]

Both Brendan Connelly and DeLuca linked with returns on twitter. If we bring those two back and Ellerby combined with what we have already signed, then the new players joining need to be of the highest quality in the league to even make us competitive next season

[paul johnston]

Both Brendan Connelly and DeLuca linked with returns on twitter. If we bring those two back and Ellerby combined with what we have already signed, then the new players joining need to be of the highest quality in the league to even make us competitive next season

I think its time to move on from all three of these players. I know its good to retain a corps of previous seasons players but they have to be the right ones who have performed in the previous year and would be expected to do so at the same level or even improve the following year.
I dont see retaining both the two Phillips of the Brit corps and these 3 would be likely to see us going one better than last year. Will put a lot of pressure on the new import signings.

[BontSteeler]

Not bothered about Ellerby or De Luca, personally think that with Conns, age may have caught up with him.

Time to move on.

[Joesteeler]

Would be more than happy to have Deluca back. One of the leagues best on his day. Not sure about the other 2 sadly

[Shaun]

I’d be disappointed if DeLuca came back, he let himself and us down. He went to Canada and continued to play and we struggled to replace his firepower.
Whilst Connelly is 37, he had most of last year to recuperate and let his body recover so he should be good for this season.


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[JoeySlats#13]

Would definitely take DeLuca back, proven goal scorer in this league and an excellent penalty shot taker, which we definitely missed after he left. He can provide an offensive spark for us and with Vallerand leaving we need to be filling that offensive hole left. Good one timer on the PP as well. Also a fan favourite and he's very exciting to watch when he's on his best game.

I would also take Connolly back as long as Fox and co. are happy with his fitness / injury recovery, he's a pest for us and a point producer who can play center or wing and is around a point per game player if not above, apart from age I don't see a negative with him and the age thing can be focused too much on at times for me.

I would also take Ellerby back, I think we could upgrade on him as well though, I think someone like Kuukka who we ha d a couple of seasons ago played the defensive d-man role better, I would also take Boruta over Ellerby if he is available. Will also be interesting to see what happens with Todd and the rumoured Saucerman and Tansey. As we now have Schulze as an offensive d-man, Davey as a defensive d, and Jones I would say was a good 2 way d-man. I would say most would agree in wanting a slightly bigger and more defensively dominant d core than last season.

[Jayboy]

I am afraid of repeating last seasons mistakes, not many of them, but the ones that were made were significant problem and I believe our defence was a considerable problem when you take the season as a whole and to see some of our fans more or less wanting in one form or other all of last season defenders back...

I worry...

[Brian]

I agree Jayboy. The defence started well but fell apart a bit at the end. Re signing Deluca...some may see as a doubtful precedent concerning players who have been cut for drug reasons...for me, he wasn't actually doing a lot before the incident.
Connolly is Connolly and a motivating player on the ice if he is fit.
For a team that couldn't make the playoffs, I think as our poll suggested, that we need to change more players than we keep , import wise at least.


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[JoeySlats#13]

I am afraid of repeating last seasons mistakes, not many of them, but the ones that were made were significant problem and I believe our defence was a considerable problem when you take the season as a whole and to see some of our fans more or less wanting in one form or other all of last season defenders back...

I worry...

I agree, I think from last season the defense was certainly our weaker area, I would have kept Davey & Jones for sure as both are solid Brit d-men and there aren't any better available. I would also have kept one of Schulze or Todd as the offensive D-man to quarter back the powerplay as both played that role well. I wasn't fussed about ASD or Ellerby returning to be honest I don't think they were consistent enough in their roles. Whereas I would have kept Boruta as I thought he was great in our zone and he grew into more of a threat going forward as his time with us continued, I didn't think he would be available though as I thought he was back with Innsbruck, but it sounds like he could be and in that case I would have him back and let Ellerby go. So ideally I would've kept 3, or 4 as long as that last one is Boruta.

I would then like 2 new faces, preferably d-men who focused on work in their own zone first, as rumoured Kevin Tansey looks like he would be a good option 6'4" with good AHL and European experience. He put up decent points as well so would expect him to be a good 2-way player in the EIHL. The other name rumoured was Colton Saucerman who also has good NA experience and some good numbers in Europe recently, especially +/-, so he looks a good option too. Both I would hope were a similar level to Todd.

If our d group looked like:

Tansey-Saucerman
Boruta-Jones
Schulze-Davey

I would be pretty happy, I also wouldn't be surprised if we kept Todd, which would probably mean Saucerman would be removed from that list as right shot D.

Under Fox our D will always be mobile and like joining the rush as that's the way he likes to play and I think with that group there would be a good mix of styles, playing this style probably increases the number of chances we can give up and often did leave our goalies exposed to high quality chances but I'm not sure if that is a recruitment issue or just the style we are going with and we have to understand that from time to time we will give up really good looks. Obviously we don't want to give up high level chances but we have to think how much offense did we produce from the d-men pinching and being part of the cycle in the offensive zone?