If you consider 4 shifts a game a shot. Seniority should have nothing to do with it unless the players are equal or fill a certain role better. Put the best team on the ice and have an eye on development.
The team is playing well and I like Behenna a lot. They need him. But they also need the young guys to develop for the next year or 2 also. I feel sorry for the 17yo and a few 18yo who coulda/shoulda had bigger roles to play. I like watching the up and coming players and enjoy teams that work in their young players more. They might miss out on a few points here and there but they are exciting to watch. There is more hope going forward. I don't want to see a repeat of last year when they lost everyone with experience and had nobody to replace them.
Hard to say that this team doesn't play their young players. Look at the minutes that Ekblad, Yuill and Fotinos have got over the course of the year. Laser too, when he's been healthy.
Hawerchuk's job is to ice the best lineup. I may disagree (and have) with who he thinks that best lineup is, but I have no problem with how much he's played Behenna. Right now, at this level, he gives us the best production at LW (assuming that Telegin is playing at RW).
Most players that get minimal ice time aren't players the team is building around. Take your fan hat off for a second and think like a guy that gets to watch the 'best left winger' (guy that is undrafted and wont be) play 20+ minutes/game, night in and night out. If its your draft year and you suddenly get the chance to play an extra 5 minutes per game, or get a shot at more PP time, the sun is shining on you. Don't know when the last time you sat the bench was, but players want to play and if you don't think someone views a long suspension for a top 6 guy as being a windfall, your naive. Ask Bradford, Bell or MacDonald if they're losing sleep over the suspension. Hardly.
I find it odd how your immediate and 2nd posting would be concern for ice time for players and not the teams out look for the play offs and remaining league games?
Yes this is an opportunity for younger and divider players to step up.
Those two posters (newhire/wileyoldvet) seem to always pop up when discussing those 3 young forwards (bell/bradford/macdonald) I would guess they have some sort of connection.
If that is the case I understand the issues that they have with the playing time. My brother played lacrosse at the highest of levels. I was along for the politics ride the whole way. I know what they go through and understand their attitudes. That's why I feel bad for them. And you two posters if u are who I think you are.
Racer as I have stated before I do have a connection with a couple of the players. I have followed the development for years. I have also been involved in hockey for many years and have scene the politics first hand with others. That is why I'm not big on using names of the young men.
This is not about who is better then who. It never has been, its about developing a team for more than one year at a time.
I find it odd how your immediate and 2nd posting would be concern for ice time for players and not the teams out look for the play offs and remaining league games?
Yes this is an opportunity for younger and divider players to step up.
Odd? Why? I'm simply stating a player's perspective. The big picture for the team is for GMs, coaches and fans to worry about. A player's is much more myopic than that--and should be. His last shift and his next shift should be on his mind and for some of these kids, whether or not he's going to even get one. The team mentality is great for vets, players that are already drafted and guys that are in their last season of eligibility. They have a luxury in that regard as far as thinking about the 'team', and are even expected to be leaders in whatever way they can. Younger guys, and especially the forwards I've named, signed on the line with the OHL to be pro hockey players. They can't get there if they don't play. Put yourself in their shoes and realize the urgency they experience every game to play as much as possible. They're trying to do the best they can, but they're also looking to make the most of whatever opportunity presents itself.
No one wants injuries or suspensions to occur, but hockey is a game of attrition at ALL levels. If I'm sitting there having given up the NCAA to play in the OHL and I'm not playing a regular shift or only getting PK time and a few 5 on 5 minutes in my draft year, my perspective isn't quite as team focused as the kid who is on the ice all the time. Its less communal and far more individualistic. Not sure how that doesn't register with people who watch and expect the best from each player.
Krazy, I agree with you. I probably appreciate Behenna more than most. I see that he makes others around him better and gets less credit for it than he deserves. With the development comment I just enjoy seeing the up and comers and hidden gems more than a lot of veterans. Personal preference.
Racer, you would be incorrect with your assumption. I like to see up and comers given a shot, not just those 3 kids, Devlin earlier this year, Terreri, Bennett, Hall until recently, Smosk, Hartwick, Mazurek, etc. I think they could have been developed better. I enjoy watching the Colts this year when I can. I hate watching a kid sit on the bench though. It is demoralizing and you can see it in their faces. It does not matter how old they are. And I don't have to be related. That is the part of the OHL I dislike.
What I really like right now is that the Colts are playing some very good hockey.
Telegin has been great and probably the most exciting player to watch in a while. Neiderberger has been the hottest goalie in the league, in my opinion. And the most improved. And best of all, Pearson has been the best story in the league and is still playing fantastic hockey every shift.
The Colts have been one of the hottest teams and I think they are one of the most exciting teams in the league. Who would have thought that after last season or even after the preseason?
For that you have to give credit to the management.
There are some other surprise teams but the Colts have a legitimate shot at the division and league. They are not the favorites but still not bad for a rebuild.
Players on team in 10/11
EZEKIEL (91)
BEYERS(92)
PEARSON(92)
BRADFORD (A FEW GAMES AT SEASONS END) (L94)
SCHEIFELE (93)
SMOSKOWITZ(93)
BEHENNA(91)
HALL(93)
LEPKOWSKI(93)
BUONOMO(92)
14 new and 10 old
That is substantial turnover....well done Jason Ford....we are also looking good for next season and 2014!
He has a tonnes of work to do this summer turning our OA's that we aren't bringing back into players for now and the future.
Last edited by Racer14: 03-09-2012 at 02:09 PM.
Reason: edited to add 'how aquired'
Sucks that Sudbury (or Rogers?) can't manage a broadcast tonight... Big game...speaking of big games, looks like CB20 is having a monster. Nice to see him getting some PP time. He's going to be HUGE in the playoffs if we're going to make a serious run.
I was at the game in Sudbury and for the most part they played well but started slow after Ryan O'Connor got a puck in the face early in the game. That is most likely why CB20 had power play time.
What is the situation with oc? Was it a bad injury or did he return? Nice to see Buonomo get some PP time as he can play that position even tho he is considered a defensive guy. Big 1g 2a game for him too! Telegin is still on fire, hopefully this cntinues into the playoffs. How did Buonomo look on the pp? Also, we had Behenna, Sutch and others put of the lineup, and still are winning games.
Buonomo looked good on the pp and Telegin had a great game and hopefully it isn't bad but O'Connor did not return. I did not see the play to well because there was a massive post beside my seat but the wolves player took a shot from the point and he went down.
Should be a different lineup Fri and Sat night as some of the big guys are rested in preparation for the playoffs. Colts cannot move up or down no matter what happens, so might as well.
Could see Telegin and Eks sitting out tonight vs Missy. Hopefully Telegin sitting out doesn't make him lose the fire he's seemed to catch this past month
Could see Telegin and Eks sitting out tonight vs Missy. Hopefully Telegin sitting out doesn't make him lose the fire he's seemed to catch this past month
Yeah, with the rate Telegin was going I would have thought they would have let him take his shot at the "Top Goal Scorers" banner... Had a chance with two games with weak teams...but better to have him healthy for the playoffs. Tonight, I assume those two will be playing so they can auction their jerseys for $$$. Speaking of which, anybody care to speculate on what the jersey's will go for? They used to be affordable, but now it's just nuts.
Not a good night tonight. Pearson hurt - he left immediately and didn't come out for the jersey auction afterward. That can't be good. Looked like a knee / ankle. Sutch hurt, blocked a shot. Did come out for the jersey auction but was obviously hobbled. The younger forwards got a lot of minutes tonight with Behenna, Beyers, Hall, and Scheifele out of the lineup. The end result was being badly outplayed and if the scorer hadn't been sutch a homer we would have been outshot by about 50 shots (I watched the scoreclock go from 9 - 11 shots for while the puck was in our own end). We should still get through the first round of the playoffs due to our depth, but if we have to do without those guys it's going to be tough sledding.
Auction prices were a bit lower than last year. Some guys went for way more than what I thought, while others seemed like a bargain (though still out of my range):
Pearson looks to be out witha broken leg or ankle, sucks for him and the team.
If that's the case, he's going to be impossible to replace. With Behenna being suspended, Camara, Scheifele and Hall will have to step up huge. I'd say Telegin too, but surely he is playing at his absolute peak right now.
impossible to know just yet...he did leave on crutches....we will see what comes of this...man....I know what the situation was here and this has to doubly suck for Pears....i guess beyers must have been real injured.......
Thurs., March 22 at Barrie 7:30
Fri., March 23 at Mississauga 7:30
Mon., March 26 at Barrie 7:30
Tues., March 27 at Mississauga 7:00
Sat., March 31 at Barrie 7:30 *
Mon., April 2 at Mississauga 7:00 *
Tues., April 3 at Barrie 7:30 *
