Seems like Clan fans who have spoken to player during season seem pretty confident that he’s retiring due to arthritic issues with his hands. Shame, best name in the league and seems like a really decent bloke.
I’m a little on the fence. I think clearly stamina increasingly an issue as players get older, although SD was playing first line due to Dupont’s form and injury at the beginning of the season. I felt there were times pre-Brandt where in some games he was the only forward to consistently bring consistent physicality and could provoke a response from the crowd. We generally did start moving towards a more forecheck/physical game as season went on and benefitted from it. Playoff final was a bit unfair to assess Dixon as he was constantly brought back onto ice when key playoffs needed to be won. He ate a lot of ice time. Also through the season his point production kept up with previous seasons with Devils.
I would have had doubts about SD as first line centre next season but would have been pretty chuffed to have him back as centre for a physical 3rd line. I suspect Davies may be the Brit to make way for another import with us signing Bowns, so presumably need a big body face off monster at this point! All the best to Dixon, I’m sure he’ll get a well deserved warm welcome up in Braehead and when he comes back to IAW.
Skalde’s involvement is strange to say the least, what an odd thing to do.
At least we know now what we need to bring in as a replacement - a big face off winner. We put ourselves under so much pressure last year - no more evident that the Playoff Final, where we lost face off after face off. Good luck to him. Im still gutted! Just a classic Devils type of player.
Hopefully there’s another Dixon out there for us.
Skalde’s involvement is strange to say the least, what an odd thing to do.
At least we know now what we need to bring in as a replacement - a big face off winner. We put ourselves under so much pressure last year - no more evident that the Playoff Final, where we lost face off after face off. Good luck to him. Im still gutted! Just a classic Devils type of player.
Hopefully there’s another Dixon out there for us.
To be honest the need for more strength in the face off was evident whether Dixon staying or not - and my assumption immediately after the play offs final was that he'd retire. Also let's not forget that this departure leaves us with a big gap in physicality and the ability to grind things out. There's going to be a lot of pressure on Dupont to pull some big signings at the Calgary summit. Personally I'd be quite happy for him to hold back if it means getting the right guys.
As for the Devils, let’s judge this decision on his replacement, but at this point in time, what comes out of our new coaches mouth doesn’t appear to be possible with the signings, so far.
I think we will go with 10 import forwards with duggan on 4th line with brandt and another grinder as the two imports and the same with waller on the 3rd line, 2 way and one powerforward to protect waller .Leaving top two lines with 3 imports on each.Also guildford will need to strengthen there brit pack with cownie and howlett leaving for clan and dundee.So davies and the rumoured o'connor would be a nice fit for them.
I think we will go with 10 import forwards with duggan on 4th line with brandt and another grinder as the two imports and the same with waller on the 3rd line, 2 way and one powerforward to protect waller .Leaving top two lines with 3 imports on each.Also guildford will need to strengthen there brit pack with cownie and howlett leaving for clan and dundee.So davies and the rumoured o'connor would be a nice fit for them.
If Ben Davies goes back to Guildford, will that mean harewood joining on a full contact, or us finding another Brit from somewhere? I make our 6 bowns, Richardson, batch, Waller, duggan +1
Don't think Ben is going anywhere? Harewood isn't at a level yet to merit bigger ice time although he does require that to improve his game. Will our 4th line be Davies-Brandt-Duggan with Josh Waller on the 3rd line?
per Friday fingers we would have
10 import forwards + 1 import goalie + 3 import D
Plus
2 Brit forwards + 1 Brit goalie + 3 Brit D
I would offer to keep the Brit line giving us
9 import forward, 1 import goalie and 4 import D
per Friday fingers we would have
10 import forwards + 1 import goalie + 3 import D
Plus
2 Brit forwards + 1 Brit goalie + 3 Brit D
I would offer to keep the Brit line giving us
9 import forward, 1 import goalie and 4 import D
if davies does leave the only way we can play 4 lines is either sign a brit to replace him or when bowns starts have a brit back up on the bench so we can play 14 imoprts on the ice.when kozun starts bowns would be back up and we would have to lose an import skater and not be able to play 4 lines which is'nt ideal.
if davies does leave the only way we can play 4 lines is either sign a brit to replace him or when bowns starts have a brit back up on the bench so we can play 14 imoprts on the ice.when kozun starts bowns would be back up and we would have to lose an import skater and not be able to play 4 lines which is'nt ideal.
No, I originally thought that too a few weeks ago, but a poster corrected me. It doesn't matter who is in net if Bowns and Kozun (or replacement) are dressed, which they both will be, then it's the same number of imports for every game.