There’s a big jump though from saying we need to upgrade our forwards (which I’ve said myself) to suggesting Olischefski should be on the 3rd line.
For me, Oli is our best all-round forward at the moment. Sticking him on the 3rd line would be a complete waste of his talent. Unless you think we’re going to sign 6 players better than him. Which we aren’t.
For me, Oli is our best all-round forward at the moment. Sticking him on the 3rd line would be a complete waste of his talent. Unless you think we’re going to sign 6 players better than him. Which we aren’t.
We ended the season with MacDonald-Martin-Olischefski as our top line.
Rumours seem to suggest that MacDonald will be back so I’d expect that line to start the season together so we have one proven line in place. Based on other rumours I’ve seen or heard we’d possibly looking at something like:
(New import/Yaremko) - (New Import/Kontos) - (New Import/ Thelin)
(MacDonald) - Martin - Olischefski
Barrow - (New Import/Kontos) - Harewood
Duggan - (New Import) - Sacratini
Rumours seem to suggest that MacDonald will be back so I’d expect that line to start the season together so we have one proven line in place. Based on other rumours I’ve seen or heard we’d possibly looking at something like:
(New import/Yaremko) - (New Import/Kontos) - (New Import/ Thelin)
(MacDonald) - Martin - Olischefski
Barrow - (New Import/Kontos) - Harewood
Duggan - (New Import) - Sacratini
My view is that we need a stud 1st C, and 3 top class wingers. Those players should be better than Oli, who of course can hold his own in the Top 6. Got to aim high in recruitment.
It's not as if I'm saying: let's resign Lacroix and some donkeys and stick them on the top line.
If we don't recruit better than Oli then of course he goes in the Top 6. My point is we should be trying to improve and that means on everyone.
And has been quite correctly pointed out above in other comments, just because someone starts on third line doesn't mean I don't think they are up to it or that they stay there for the whole season.
I don't get why there are certain players that mustn't be touched? Why is it so wrong to question where a player is played? It's not as if I've said let's stick Joey on the 4th line.
You say we won't sign 5 players better than Oli. Now stats can be too oversimplistic and aren't everything - but there were 37 forwards in the EIHL who scored more points in the league last season. We aren't talking about the league MVP.
It's not as if I'm saying: let's resign Lacroix and some donkeys and stick them on the top line.
If we don't recruit better than Oli then of course he goes in the Top 6. My point is we should be trying to improve and that means on everyone.
And has been quite correctly pointed out above in other comments, just because someone starts on third line doesn't mean I don't think they are up to it or that they stay there for the whole season.
I don't get why there are certain players that mustn't be touched? Why is it so wrong to question where a player is played? It's not as if I've said let's stick Joey on the 4th line.
You say we won't sign 5 players better than Oli. Now stats can be too oversimplistic and aren't everything - but there were 37 forwards in the EIHL who scored more points in the league last season. We aren't talking about the league MVP.
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Because winning 4 games at the end of a season is great, but we want to win the title and if you look at recruitment across the league come the start of the season a Top 6 as described won't win the league, CC or POFW.
You don't win titles by standing still. You don't win them standing still when you are top and out front, let alone when you are chasing.
You don't win titles by standing still. You don't win them standing still when you are top and out front, let alone when you are chasing.
But you’ve just said you’re sure they won’t win a thing when they’ve literally just won something.
It’s too early in the off season to know if league wide recruitment is stronger or not with so many spots still up for grabs
Like someone said not long ago, every off season there are people who bump all returning players down to the 3rd line or lower and want a whole new first line and every year they get disappointed
It’s too early in the off season to know if league wide recruitment is stronger or not with so many spots still up for grabs
Like someone said not long ago, every off season there are people who bump all returning players down to the 3rd line or lower and want a whole new first line and every year they get disappointed
If wouldn't bother me if Joey and barrow ended up on 3rd line knowing they will rip into other 3rd line defences as long as we replace them with better players than them . Barrow may be miffed , dont think Joey would mind his age , after all its a team game. And if that helps us win the lge then so be it . All ifs and buts , others will agree others won't, just my opinion
You're more than welcome to if you can put together a decent argument as to why it is a stupid idea.
My thinking behind it was that we finished the season with our top two lines as:
MacDonald - Martin - Olischefski
Yaremko - Kontos - Sanford
As I said in the previous post, rumours are that MacDonald is returning so I'd guess that Thommo will want that line to start the season together again so we have one ready made line.
So if we want to upgrade our top two lines - then that means line 2 is upgraded and so becomes line 1.
There are rumours/educated guesses that Thelin could be joining us. If he does - I'd imagine he takes Sanford's place on that line - assuming Sanford does move to Nottingham.
I've heard separate rumours that Yaremko/Kontos are back. I've also heard that we have signed one new import with a stellar background and so presumably goes staight onto the first line. It could be that's Sanford's replacement not Thelin. It could be in addition to Sanford's replacement.
A separate rumour is that we've signed a new experienced two-way centre. I'm guessing that will be Ferguson's replacement on the 3rd line. I'm also assuming that Harewood will be given his chance on the 3rd line as I'm not sure a 4th line grafting role would suit him.
So although Barrow could go on the 1st line I thought his physicality might work well with Harewood and a new experienced centre. Brandt played much of the season on the 3rd line and rumours are that he is moving on. If he does, Barrow for Brandt in that position is an upgrade for me?
The other option is to split up that Martin line and put Barrow on it like they did earlier in the season. But then that would surely see Olischefski move to the 1st line. I could be proved wrong but I really can't see him playing 3rd line.
My thinking behind it was that we finished the season with our top two lines as:
MacDonald - Martin - Olischefski
Yaremko - Kontos - Sanford
As I said in the previous post, rumours are that MacDonald is returning so I'd guess that Thommo will want that line to start the season together again so we have one ready made line.
So if we want to upgrade our top two lines - then that means line 2 is upgraded and so becomes line 1.
There are rumours/educated guesses that Thelin could be joining us. If he does - I'd imagine he takes Sanford's place on that line - assuming Sanford does move to Nottingham.
I've heard separate rumours that Yaremko/Kontos are back. I've also heard that we have signed one new import with a stellar background and so presumably goes staight onto the first line. It could be that's Sanford's replacement not Thelin. It could be in addition to Sanford's replacement.
A separate rumour is that we've signed a new experienced two-way centre. I'm guessing that will be Ferguson's replacement on the 3rd line. I'm also assuming that Harewood will be given his chance on the 3rd line as I'm not sure a 4th line grafting role would suit him.
So although Barrow could go on the 1st line I thought his physicality might work well with Harewood and a new experienced centre. Brandt played much of the season on the 3rd line and rumours are that he is moving on. If he does, Barrow for Brandt in that position is an upgrade for me?
The other option is to split up that Martin line and put Barrow on it like they did earlier in the season. But then that would surely see Olischefski move to the 1st line. I could be proved wrong but I really can't see him playing 3rd line.
We also like to try and work out who replaces who if they aren't staying... Worth baring in mind that at least two forwards likely leave without replacement as we finished the season with 15 and are likely to start with no more than 13, probably with Sacratini likely to be the 13th man as things stand!
I think Thommo said in an interview after the season that they found it a problem having too many spare players and they were unlikely to do the same again?
It sounds like we will start with 7D including Helgeson who may be injured for a month or so? And then when he returns Mosey will switch between D and forward depending on who is injured or needs a rest.
It sounds like we will start with 7D including Helgeson who may be injured for a month or so? And then when he returns Mosey will switch between D and forward depending on who is injured or needs a rest.
Tommo did say that, but if Helgeson isn't going to be available at the start of the season, I think they will probably want an extra spare from day 1, so will recruit 20 skaters. In the latter half of last year we had 22 skaters (including Harewood), which was when having healthy guys on the gantry was more of an issue.
Of last year's 15 forwards, 10 are still not yet confirmed either way: McDonald, Sanford, Yaremko, Kontos, Brandt, Davies, Perlini, Caponi, Ferguson and Lacroix.
With 6 forwards already announced, even if we start with13 (excluding Mosey) and Sacratini is the only newcomer, a minimum a 3 have to be leaving. Assuming there are more changes, 5 or 6 of those 10 are probably leaving and only 4 or 5 staying. Some of the 10 have been the subject of well-publicised rumours and speculation, but others haven't come up in the conversation much at all, yet.
Of last year's 15 forwards, 10 are still not yet confirmed either way: McDonald, Sanford, Yaremko, Kontos, Brandt, Davies, Perlini, Caponi, Ferguson and Lacroix.
With 6 forwards already announced, even if we start with13 (excluding Mosey) and Sacratini is the only newcomer, a minimum a 3 have to be leaving. Assuming there are more changes, 5 or 6 of those 10 are probably leaving and only 4 or 5 staying. Some of the 10 have been the subject of well-publicised rumours and speculation, but others haven't come up in the conversation much at all, yet.
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wouldn't know until we try these things going forward, look at kontos who would've thought he put up those numbers after a dire season at panthers and he was a 2nd choice behind thelin which didnt happen , team got the investment now with the hike in season ticket prices , and if the lge is top priority we need new blood and some core players will miss out with returning or dropping lines, thats sport , if they dont like there will be others to fill their skates, .