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Post by MacKevin on Aug 16, 2005 22:47:37 GMT -5
Alright so you want me to earn my 100 posts. So I want to ask the question: what is going to be different this year?
I look at the protected list and I see a lot of names from last year. Last year they expected not to have Crawford and Pineault and Power said he expected the Wildcats in the basement. So now we don't have Crawford, Bernier, and maybe Saunders and others, what is going to save this team. Most of the FA's don't come with the bang that a Bernier would, and Bourque doesn't appear to be coming.
We both expect Marchand to bring up better numbers but I would be surprised if he could replace Bernier. Also I would hate to have a team of Big checking meatheads that couldn't put the puck in the nets. I don't believe that team would represent us or the Q league very well in the Memorial Cup.
I need to hear some good news soon and I hope we don't have to sell the farm for a decent couple of players.
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Post by MacKevin on Aug 16, 2005 23:16:15 GMT -5
So I'll start.
Since offense appears to be the biggest problem, what are the chances that we see Bartulis moved to the forward line? He came to the Wildcats as a forward and we needed him as a defenseman. Knowing how good he is as a defenseman I imagine he's awesome as a forward. I would love to see the cats trying something like this early.
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Randycat
Full Member
Go Cats Go!
Posts: 312
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Post by Randycat on Aug 17, 2005 0:30:07 GMT -5
I am not much of a cynicist, so here is my take; Nolan wants to see players like Marchand, Bourque (if he arrives, which he still may regardless of the signing with Hershey), Karsums, Gaudet, Graham, and others to name a few, without the concern of weak protection. The FA's that he has brought in have arrived for a purpose. Nolan wants these guys to protect and enforce. With his skills as a coach ('not the talent, but how hard they play/work'), Nolan anticipates seeing our offensive power arrive without the threat of our opposition beating up our offensive power. We are going to see a different game this year than we have seen since the era of Larue, and especially a different game from what we experienced last season. We all know that Saunders is a great leader and enforcer, however, the enforcer side of him was forced to the sidelines due to the loss of a highly skilled dman if he were to take majors. From what Nolan says, this is a problem that he plans to eliminate this year; to let our offensive powerhouses strut their stuff and be firmly protected. This is what I see/anticipate being different this year.
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Post by Cristobal Huet on Aug 17, 2005 6:09:33 GMT -5
Nolan said he would do whatever it takes to try and win it all so expect some deals and a rebuilding year in 06-07.
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Post by jimmy on Aug 17, 2005 6:36:40 GMT -5
I am not much of a cynicist, so here is my take; Nolan wants to see players like Marchand, Bourque (if he arrives, which he still may regardless of the signing with Hershey), Karsums, Gaudet, Graham, and others to name a few, without the concern of weak protection. The FA's that he has brought in have arrived for a purpose. Nolan wants these guys to protect and enforce. With his skills as a coach ('not the talent, but how hard they play/work'), Nolan anticipates seeing our offensive power arrive without the threat of our opposition beating up our offensive power. We are going to see a different game this year than we have seen since the era of Larue, and especially a different game from what we experienced last season. We all know that Saunders is a great leader and enforcer, however, the enforcer side of him was forced to the sidelines due to the loss of a highly skilled dman if he were to take majors. From what Nolan says, this is a problem that he plans to eliminate this year; to let our offensive powerhouses strut their stuff and be firmly protected. This is what I see/anticipate being different this year. Can anyone confirm whether or not Bourque has signed with Washington/Hershey? I know various journalists have speculated he is likely to sign and play NHL, but I don't recall seeing a signing yet ...
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Post by mikeb on Aug 17, 2005 6:42:01 GMT -5
Nolan said he would do whatever it takes to try and win it all so expect some deals and a rebuilding year in 06-07. Rebuilding year 06-07 and 07-08. Maybe stretching into 08-09
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Post by Cristobal Huet on Aug 17, 2005 7:04:15 GMT -5
Nolan said he would do whatever it takes to try and win it all so expect some deals and a rebuilding year in 06-07. Rebuilding year 06-07 and 07-08. Maybe stretching into 08-09 This is Moncton, not Bathurst, we know how to rebuild a hockey team
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Post by forrest on Aug 17, 2005 7:19:32 GMT -5
Rebuilding year 06-07 and 07-08. Maybe stretching into 08-09 This is Moncton, not Bathurst, we know how to rebuild a hockey team Yes we showed that after our 99-00. We missed the playoffs both years afterward. Then we finished 5th in the league in a weak division and everybody was saying how fast we had improved, but the numbers were inflated. Guess what, Bathurst is doing the same thing right now. And I feel their pain.... Actually, no I don't... I'm just praying that Nolan doesn't get crazy like Paiement did and need an extra year to rebuild the team after this Memorial cup year.
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Post by mikeb on Aug 17, 2005 7:42:24 GMT -5
Don't you think he will have to get a little crazy.
Without Bernier, Saunders, Bourque and Yandle, the team is in desparate need of help. And everyone agrees that the team will trade for whatever help is needed. And just about everyone agrees that the team needs a premier forward and premier defenseman and maybe a decent backup goalie.
Assets are: Immediate trade fodder: Marchand and Demers. No one else fits the blue chip label and Demers might be a stretch. Future considerations: Blanchard, Welton and Goulet Draft picks: 2006: 2nd round - anything later is not going to get you guys what you need 2007: 1st round and 2nd round - anything later see above
The team only has one decent pick from this year: Riopel The team only has a 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 5th round pick in 2006. The 2006 2nd round pick will probably be gone via trade.
That has the semblance of a 2 year rebuilding plan. And maybe more if the team starts trading early 2007 picks.
ps: Bourque and Yandle playing this year was going to be bonus for you guys. They weren't early picks in the Q draft because nobody expected them to actually show. You guys were hurting going into this years Mem Cup from last Christmas. And were praying for Bourque and Yandle to make your team a contender. Questionable management. I know because I have seen it before from the other side.
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Post by rowcfan on Aug 17, 2005 7:48:10 GMT -5
want good news- Matt Marquardt coming to Moncton may be it, unless this is someone's idea of a sick joke.
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Post by MacKevin on Aug 17, 2005 8:13:26 GMT -5
want good news- Matt Marquardt coming to Moncton may be it, unless this is someone's idea of a sick joke. Can you round this guy out a bit? What position and previous experience.
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Post by Cristobal Huet on Aug 17, 2005 8:21:57 GMT -5
want good news- Matt Marquardt coming to Moncton may be it, unless this is someone's idea of a sick joke. Can you round this guy out a bit? What position and previous experience. WILDCATS CONTINUE TO ATTRACT FREE AGENTS - MONCTON 08-13-05 Moncton Wildcats Director of Hockey Operations Ted Nolan continues to attract candidates for free agents camp being put on Monday by the the host team for the 2006 Memorial Cup. According to the Times & Transcripts QMJHL beat reporter Neil Hodge in today's editionof the paper Nolan has signed two highly sought after prospects Matt Marquardt, an 18-year-old left winger, who had plenty of options after being recruited by numerous teams in both major junior and the U.S. college ranks is on while the other is Brad Ouskun, an 18-year-old defenceman. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound youngster had 14 points and 20 penalty minutes in 50 games last season for the Southeast Blades of the Manitoba Junior A Hockey League. ."Matt's a big power forward that somehow slipped through the cracks of the Ontario Hockey League draft," Nolan is quoted as saying. "There were a lot of major junior teams pursuing him because he's a free agent.London and Kitchener were really heavily involved in trying to get him and we kind of squeezed in at the halfway point. Gatineau was pursuing him also. This kid has tremendous upside." Marquardt managed 41 points, including 19 goals, in 56 games last season as a rookie for the Brockville Braves of the Central Junior A Hockey League in Ontario. He had 80 penalty minutes. "Any time you have a big winger who drives the net and has good hands, that's something special," said Nolan. "We worked on trying to get him for about six weeks and had a number of conference calls with the family. He's bilingual so he should fit into the area very well". He apparently is a big, strong forward, about 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. Ouskun can stay in Wildcats camp for any length of time and keep his U.S. college hockey eligibility. He loses his eligibility if he plays a QMJHL exhibition game. "We're hoping that he comes in here, likes what he sees and wants to stay," said Nolan. "He's definitely a bright up-and-coming young kid. He's from a small reservation in Manitoba and didn't really get the opportunity to be seen. We've been talking to this kid for quite some time so we're pretty excited about bringing him to camp." The Wildcats also announced two other free-agent signings yesterday. Derek and Jared Keller they're 19-year-old twins played last season for the Battleford North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior A Hockey League. Derek is a defencemen who compiled 44 points, including 11 goals, in 55 games. Jared is a centre who managed 17 goals and 32 points in 46 contests. Marquardt, Ouskun and the Keller brothers make for an updated total of 10 free agents coming to Wildcats camp. The others are goaltender Daniel J. Del Buono (Valley Warriors, U.S. junior A), defenceman Brayden Penner (Quesnel Millionaires, British Columbia junior A) and forwards Taylor Moore (Langley Hornets, B.C. junior A), Steve Obelnicki (Southeast Blades, Manitoba junior A), Tim Spencer (Estevan Bruins, Saskatchewan junior A) and Shaun Clinton (Pembroke Lumber Kings, Ontario junior A). Each QMJHL team is allowed to have 20 free agents in training camp. "We're not finished yet," said Nolan.
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Post by SteveUL on Aug 17, 2005 8:29:04 GMT -5
want good news- Matt Marquardt coming to Moncton may be it, unless this is someone's idea of a sick joke. If he was a legitimate replacement for Bernier or Bourque then he would have been drafted into the OHL and not passed over by all teams. Sure he was pursued by several Q Teams and US based teams ... but that doesn't make him a star .. maybe just a guy that can go out and take a regular shift. Maybe he is a late bloomer and will surprise everybody .... but if I were you I wouldn't get my hopes up about any FA until they actually produce results against full Q rosters (pre-season numbers don't count). This kid is 6'5" ... obviously great size ... but I think we'd get better results from Jr A players by bringing in a few of the smaller crafty guys with speed that can score (Yetman types) that were passed over for Major Jr due to their size. I think the new rules (no red line and tag up offside) are going to allow smaller skilled players to excel with less emphasis on size and power ... and more on speed and skill.
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Post by Ric on Aug 17, 2005 8:49:22 GMT -5
But is this not the most interesting training camp in years? Look at all the unknowns, and if memory serves me correctly we've picked up a few good free agents over the years, and I don't think we were putting half the effort Nolan is presently. Bourque, Bernier, Saunders and the rest of losses are disappointing, but I've waited for adequate toughness for years, and it sounds like we're getting this year. I still hoping to swing a deal for Marty Doyle.
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Post by mikeb on Aug 17, 2005 8:55:42 GMT -5
But is this not the most interesting training camp in years? Look at all the unknowns, and if memory serves me correctly we've picked up a few good free agents over the years, and I don't think we were putting half the effort Nolan is presently. Bourque, Bernier, Saunders and the rest of losses are disappointing, but I've waited for adequate toughness for years, and it sounds like we're getting this year. I still hoping to swing a deal for Marty Doyle. So you think the Cats need a 20YO 4th liner who can fight over a bona fide 20YO 1st line center..... interesting.
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