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Post by Ace on May 3, 2007 5:42:14 GMT -5
Realistically we have a decent forward core comming back. assuming all is right in the world they could look like this: Marqhardt/Mangan/Brannon Lessard/Cameron/Euro? Brenton/Eagles/Labelle[/b Watson/Lepage/Maclellan
Also we will definately see some FA's and maybe some NCAA guys. Rumour has it Sill will be in camp so who does he replace? Does Watson make the team? Soes Lepage come back as a 19? So many questions but still looks decent up front. We should be able to put the puck in the net this season. Maybe even have a PP.
Now onto the part that scares me this year
Pianosi/Euro Barberio/20 yr old (Andricropoulus??) Tolles/Ouskun Goyens/Extra??
Barberio and Pianosi are obviously the future stars of the D of this team. I feel Pianosi has come a long way from the start of the season to the end. He was actually pushing people around pretty good in our end for a "not so big guy". He got quite a bit stronger this season. really looking forward to him this season. Barberio was very good for a 16yr old. I think we should see a very big improvement this season as he gets a little older plu has a year with this team. Tolles I really like. I thought when he played he was pretty solid. He has a good shot just needs to be able to get rid of the puck a little better IMO. He plays solid defensively and has some offensive skills and a decent shot. Hope he gets the chance this year. Ouskun has a cannon and is our most physical D man. Unfortunately the mem cup year he was the odd man out and last season too many changes in the D to keep him in reg and then the injury. If he can be healthy I think he will help stabilize the D core. As for a 20 and a Euro we really should be drafting a 19 yr old NHL drafted D man. We will need the help on the blueline and I don't think Emanuelle has the exp to do it. Goyens I am not a fan of. He didn't seem to have the heart that we needed and just seemed a little slow compare to most of the forwards comming at him. Thats just my opinion as I am by no way a talent scout.
The questions are who is "on the bubble" if Sill and some other FA's come in and play well. Do we want Sill as a 19 yr old rookie? (He is a Chris Gaudet/Josh Hepditch type) Also do we keep Emanuelle if there is no 20 yr old D man available at a decent cost? Emanuelle knows the guys, the system and the franchise and he did play very well down the stretch and in the playoffs. But do we take away time from the young guys who are going to be here the next two or three seasons. Also what kind of market will there be for someone like Marqhardt. Would it be better to trade him at the draft and keep Lincourt or wait and hope his value becomes more at the deadline. Teams are usually looking for good power forwards.
Man I cannot wait til this years draft. We actually have some picks!!!
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Post by SteveUL on May 3, 2007 6:27:26 GMT -5
Realistically we have a decent forward core comming back. assuming all is right in the world they could look like this: Marqhardt/Mangan/Brannon Lessard/Cameron/Euro? Brenton/Eagles/Lessard[/b Watson/Lepage/Maclellan
Lessard will get tired getting double shifted ... and what are we getting in the trade that gets rid of Labelle ? MacLellan as a 4th liner ? That lineup leaves no room for any new blood. What about our early round picks ? Who wears the "C" ?
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Post by Cristobal Huet on May 3, 2007 6:38:15 GMT -5
Right now, from the looks of things and with modest expectations on trades/Euros/FA, the forwards will be a bit better than last year, goaltending should be as good or better, but losing the 2 20's on defense will hurt.
I think 3-4 of the guys on last year's team might be traded for picks, including a couple of 20's. I can see Lepage Brenton and Goyens as candidates to be traded.
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Post by Ace on May 3, 2007 6:46:25 GMT -5
Realistically we have a decent forward core comming back. assuming all is right in the world they could look like this: Marqhardt/Mangan/Brannon Lessard/Cameron/Euro? Brenton/Eagles/Lessard[/b Watson/Lepage/Maclellan
Lessard will get tired getting double shifted ... and what are we getting in the trade that gets rid of Labelle ? MacLellan as a 4th liner ? That lineup leaves no room for any new blood. What about our early round picks ? Who wears the "C" ? Typo on the Lessard and Labelle. Who would be on the bubble to get the new blood? I was only putting lines out there. I don't think Maclellan is a 4th liner but who do we move and where. Who goes and who stays??
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Post by SteveUL on May 3, 2007 6:54:11 GMT -5
Right now, from the looks of things and with modest expectations on trades/Euros/FA, the forwards will be a bit better than last year, goaltending should be as good or better, but losing the 2 20's on defense will hurt. I think 3-4 of the guys on last year's team might be traded for picks, including a couple of 20's. I can see Lepage Brenton and Goyens as candidates to be traded. I think Brenton is one of those kids that is suddenly going to go on a tear ... his fantastic speed creates so many opportunities for him ... sooner or later he will start putting a bunch of those in. Plus ... he is a good PK guy and a tireless worker. I'd hold onto him unless we get a very good offer. If we traded him he'd probably score 30 goals for someone else (murphy's law type of thing) ... if we keep him he probably scores 15 maybe 20 at best ... but I'm hoping for more. Lepage is probably on the way out due to being a 19 yr old sophomore ... but he can still play in the Q and will probably be involved in a minor deal. I fear the same thing about trading him ... he'll put up solid numbers for somebody else. He has similar speed to Brenton but doesn't utilize it nearly as much ... and doesn't do any PK work ... so he is the obvious choice to move. Goyens is a disappointment ... very slow footed. He needs to improve that over the summer. I like his size and toughness and that will work in his favour ... but he is scary to watch some nights. He will be a 19 yr old and so if he comes to camp he'll have to really impress to hold a spot. If you have to pick between him and Tolles I'd pick Tolles.
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Post by jackbauer on May 3, 2007 7:29:10 GMT -5
I don't know about Brannon on your top line. Scott is a heart and soul type of guy and loves to hit, but I don't think he'll ever be a top line player, more of a 2nd line presence unless he develops a better shot.
Still a pretty solid club only 1 year removed from the Mem Cup, with more depth to come on draft day.
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Post by Cristobal Huet on May 3, 2007 7:48:54 GMT -5
One guy that was not mentionned that's pretty much a lock is Remy Lamoureux who will add size(6'2" 215lbs), physical play and toughness. He was converted from defense to forward and played MAAA as a late birthday, he had a pretty solid regular season in Amos...If you add him and Brannon plus the maturing of Lessard, your forwards are suddently bigger, tougher and more physical.
Season 43 GP 12-20-32 153 PIMs Playoffs 10 GP 3-7-10 32 PIMs
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Post by jimmy on May 3, 2007 8:08:46 GMT -5
I may be out to lunch on this, but I think we are going to be surprised to see who moves at the draft ... I predict that one or more forwards who are good Q players (not 12th/13th forward types) move, either in exchnage for a good defenseman, or as part of a series of deals that ends up with us using picks we acquired for them for an 18 or 19 year old defenseman who has proven they can play as a regular in the Q.
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Post by Cristobal Huet on May 3, 2007 8:32:31 GMT -5
The Cats seem to have a lot of guys that need to show improvement in order to stick relative to their age.
Brenton and Lepage...not really on the bubble but could be traded and both need to take the next step especially offensively. Watson...this will be a big camp for him, has the size, skating and hands to contribute, did he get enough of a taste last year to adjust to the speed of the Q? Goyens...at 19 he needs to have a good camp, I can see him being traded. Unlikely that all 3 19 year olds are kept. Ouskun...probably the safest to stick of the 19 year olds, pretty steady and a spart player. Tolles...nice tools but now has to show production. Sill...could replace Gaudet as the hard working checking centerman.
Marquardt Mangan Lessard Labelle Cameron MacLellan Eagles Brannon(8) appear to be locks up front Barberio Pianosi(2) on defense
20 year olds(Lincourt Morehouse Emanuele Sniderman) will be shuffled. Euros(2) and FA/NCAA guys will be a factor.
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Post by MacKevin on May 3, 2007 9:42:32 GMT -5
Would you keep Mangan as a 19 who is "as good as he is and ever will be" or invest in a 16 or a 17 who has promise. I admit that he was an important that we got him this year when we did, but I was underwhelmed with him and his line at the end of the year. As a first line they didn't exactly scared the other team and were easily disabled. I know he has a lot of devoted fans out there but he's no Dupuis, Karsums.... I would sooner develop the next Bernier than have Mangan burning ice time and playing no part of a rebuild which is not to say I don't respect his obvious ability.
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Post by SteveUL on May 3, 2007 10:08:21 GMT -5
Would you keep Mangan as a 19 who is "as good as he is and ever will be" or invest in a 16 or a 17 who has promise. I admit that he was an important that we got him this year when we did, but I was underwhelmed with him and his line at the end of the year. As a first line they didn't exactly scared the other team and were easily disabled. I know he has a lot of devoted fans out there but he's no Dupuis, Karsums.... I would sooner develop the next Bernier than have Mangan burning ice time and playing no part of a rebuild which is not to say I don't respect his obvious ability. If Mangan was 19 I'd definately keep him. But he is 20 so the assessment is different. In past years we have lacked playmaking centers and that severely compromises your offense. Bernier had his best year with Thoresen as his center ... but was very ineffective with Glode as his center ... somewhere between those two years with Gagne. Labelle will be a very good playmaking center at 19 ... and probably at 18 as well. Cameron to a lesser extent ... but time will tell. So next year in order to get the most out of a guy like Marquardt we need a playmaking center that can complement him ... and Mangan is that guy. I agree that Mangan is not that impressive ... but what do you expect from the FA market anyway ? He maximizes his limited skills and is better than a ppg player ... something we will definately need. Add a year of experience in the Q and you'll probably see a solid 1st line center next year. His faceoff ability will also be needed with Gaudet gone.
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Post by jimmy on May 3, 2007 10:25:12 GMT -5
Would you keep Mangan as a 19 who is "as good as he is and ever will be" or invest in a 16 or a 17 who has promise. I admit that he was an important that we got him this year when we did, but I was underwhelmed with him and his line at the end of the year. As a first line they didn't exactly scared the other team and were easily disabled. I know he has a lot of devoted fans out there but he's no Dupuis, Karsums.... I would sooner develop the next Bernier than have Mangan burning ice time and playing no part of a rebuild which is not to say I don't respect his obvious ability. If Mangan was 19 I'd definately keep him. But he is 20 so the assessment is different. In past years we have lacked playmaking centers and that severely compromises your offense. Bernier had his best year with Thoresen as his center ... but was very ineffective with Glode as his center ... somewhere between those two years with Gagne. Labelle will be a very good playmaking center at 19 ... and probably at 18 as well. Cameron to a lesser extent ... but time will tell. So next year in order to get the most out of a guy like Marquardt we need a playmaking center that can complement him ... and Mangan is that guy. I agree that Mangan is not that impressive ... but what do you expect from the FA market anyway ? He maximizes his limited skills and is better than a ppg player ... something we will definately need. Add a year of experience in the Q and you'll probably see a solid 1st line center next year. His faceoff ability will also be needed with Gaudet gone. I think you definitely keep him to start the year ... depending on the progression of Labelle, Eagles and Cameron, he may be expendable at Xmas, which would be fine ... there is always a market for a PPG centreman at Xmas - Mangan would probably be a fine second line centre for a contending team next season. That said, we have depth up front ... I would be actively looking to deal a couple of returning forwards - and I would listen to offers on just about any of them (including Marquardt) ... some guys you don't want to lose, but if the price is right ... we need some help on the blueline.
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Post by Cristobal Huet on May 3, 2007 10:27:08 GMT -5
Would you keep Mangan as a 19 who is "as good as he is and ever will be" or invest in a 16 or a 17 who has promise. I admit that he was an important that we got him this year when we did, but I was underwhelmed with him and his line at the end of the year. As a first line they didn't exactly scared the other team and were easily disabled. I know he has a lot of devoted fans out there but he's no Dupuis, Karsums.... I would sooner develop the next Bernier than have Mangan burning ice time and playing no part of a rebuild which is not to say I don't respect his obvious ability. I have no problem investing time in younger players, but I don't think the Cats are that deep in youth that they can just trade a guy like mangan and it won't hurt. It might be worth it if they could trade him straight up for a 50 point 20 year old d-man...but just trading him for a pick and keeping Lincourt/Emanuele or Morehouse would weaken the team. In terms of the playoffs, I think Marquardt was the problem with that line moreso than Mangan.
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Post by MacKevin on May 3, 2007 10:34:10 GMT -5
Thanks for all your thoughts they were all right on the money I think.
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Post by Ace on May 3, 2007 11:02:28 GMT -5
I think Mangan would be a tough peice to lose. We were having issues scoring goals and he still ended up being a PPG player. Now I know he played first line mins and on our PP (if thats what it was ) but he also did a decent job on faceoffs. I think we'd be better off trading Marqhardt (as I feel he would have more value trade wise) and keep Mangan at center and see what he can do with Labelle and Lessard or one of the euros.
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