Cardiff Devils Confirmed Signings & Departures 2026/27
Everyone loves a fan favorite....Brandt is that. He finally was able to demonstrate another set of skills last season and we have to hope that he and Kontos continue that chemistry they developed in those last few weeks. There was less focus on the aggressive, hard-hitting side of Brandt's play in favour of a faster, more attacking role....and the same might happen again next season, although we need never doubt his passion, commitment, willingness to stand up for his team mates.
But the team has lost Cole Sanford to a rival team. Like or dislike Sanford, his goal scoring impact will need to be replaced. There is no getting away from that....he scored goals. No disrespect to Brandt, but he is not that replacement. Have to be hopeful that our forwards stay fit, chemistry develops quickly and we can look forward to seeing the experienced new additions to the Team.
But the team has lost Cole Sanford to a rival team. Like or dislike Sanford, his goal scoring impact will need to be replaced. There is no getting away from that....he scored goals. No disrespect to Brandt, but he is not that replacement. Have to be hopeful that our forwards stay fit, chemistry develops quickly and we can look forward to seeing the experienced new additions to the Team.
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It's an odd one isn't it, there have been times where plenty of posters have been clamouring for us to ditch the quick euro-style goal scoring hockey, where when the goals dry up we don't have a plan B....and drop that for rough and tumble more reliable brutal hockey.
We may have done that. Or we may have taken a small step towards that. This roster isn't devoid of all goal scoring: Martin, MacDonald, and somehow Kontos get the puck in the net, along with new wrecking-ball-turned-sniper Riley Brandt.
We are missing the wow factor of a new signing however.
It screams a solid roster. Maybe that solidity will deliver points away in Dundee on a Wednesday night. But will win more games 2-1 than it will 6-2.
Only way to tell is to see how they do on the ice. In any event, entirely OK for fans to feel however they feel. Optimistic or pessimistic.
Personally I think my last season as a Devils season ticket holder will be yet another of good debate and conversation. Of drama.
But maybe no titles
We may have done that. Or we may have taken a small step towards that. This roster isn't devoid of all goal scoring: Martin, MacDonald, and somehow Kontos get the puck in the net, along with new wrecking-ball-turned-sniper Riley Brandt.
We are missing the wow factor of a new signing however.
It screams a solid roster. Maybe that solidity will deliver points away in Dundee on a Wednesday night. But will win more games 2-1 than it will 6-2.
Only way to tell is to see how they do on the ice. In any event, entirely OK for fans to feel however they feel. Optimistic or pessimistic.
Personally I think my last season as a Devils season ticket holder will be yet another of good debate and conversation. Of drama.
But maybe no titles
Fingers crossed you’re right Steve! I hope you don’t think it’s all negative on here. Pretty much all Devils fans have got huge confidence in our goalies and our defence. For a few of us though maybe the jury is still out when it comes to our group of forwards. Looking forward to the new season though.
I don't mind at all, Jenks. That's what this forum is for. Sports is great for exactly this reason. Neither you, me or anybody else really knows exactly how its going to play out at the end of the day. But I do know how much work has gone into analyzing the play of the guys we've brought in and the guys we didn't bring back and I feel very confident that the forwards have been upgraded. Mieho, Caron and a full season of Yaremko should be more goals than what we've lost and all three can skate, hit and defend at a higher level as well. Our D group has certainly upgraded and our goalies are the best in the league. Can't wait to actually find out!!!
I agree with you, it’s a solid roster that you’d have confidence in grinding out a win in Dundee on a Wednesday night. I don’t doubt the graft in this team.
My worry is those big games against Belfast, Sheffield, Nottingham when we’re chasing the game and we’re looking for a bit of magic. I think we’ll have plenty of players that will huff and puff but we’re probably missing one more sniper for me.
But like Steve said, maybe we’re sleeping on Mieho and Caron. Only time will tell
My worry is those big games against Belfast, Sheffield, Nottingham when we’re chasing the game and we’re looking for a bit of magic. I think we’ll have plenty of players that will huff and puff but we’re probably missing one more sniper for me.
But like Steve said, maybe we’re sleeping on Mieho and Caron. Only time will tell
Just spend 15 minutes on YouTube catching highlights of Caron and Mieho and that should ease any goal scoring or offensive concerns you may have. And as alluded to by SK, this is across higher leagues. I have zero concerns. We’ll be solid across the lineup.
It’s easy to look at other teams, see who they sign and think they are stacked and ahead of us etc. they don’t bother me at all. Not saying they won’t be good, they will be! But we have togetherness, character, solid work and team ethic and a super solid cohesive defence. And with Thommo at the helm, we’ll be right up there, make no mistake!!
It’s easy to look at other teams, see who they sign and think they are stacked and ahead of us etc. they don’t bother me at all. Not saying they won’t be good, they will be! But we have togetherness, character, solid work and team ethic and a super solid cohesive defence. And with Thommo at the helm, we’ll be right up there, make no mistake!!
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I’ve posted on here several times this off-season that I feel we’ve upgraded our quality of player, but that we might have lost some goals. And like others on here have said, I question if we are missing an out and out goalscorer?
So I tried to compare us to other teams last season.
Josh MacDonald was the league’s 2nd highest goalscorer. And he played less games than all the other top scorers.
I class an out-and-out goalscorer as someone who scores 25+ goals. Only Balmas, MacDonald and Conway managed that.
if you look at the next metric of 20+ goalscorers
Belfast: 2
Cardiff: 3
Coventry: 2
Glasgow: 1
Guildford: 2
Nottingham: 2
Sheffield: 2
So we actually came out top there. Although we have now lost Sanford.
But it suggested to me that out-and-out goalscorers wasn’t our issue. It was scoring throughout our lines. Indeed, it felt at times through the season that if our top line was shut down we’d struggle to score and win.
So I looked at our two league winning teams.
in 2016-17 our top goalscorer was Ulmer with….. 19 goals. He was only 18th on the leagues goal scoring list.
What we did have, was 7 players who all scored between 15 and 19 goals.
The following season Martin scored 27, Faryna 25 and Matt Pope 21. Albeit in a longer league season.
But again we had 7 players who scored more than 15.
Do we have 7 players this year who will score 15+ goals? I think so. And that will be the key for me.
Three strong lines where everyone can contribute. Shut down one line and we should still have two lines scoring.
So I tried to compare us to other teams last season.
Josh MacDonald was the league’s 2nd highest goalscorer. And he played less games than all the other top scorers.
I class an out-and-out goalscorer as someone who scores 25+ goals. Only Balmas, MacDonald and Conway managed that.
if you look at the next metric of 20+ goalscorers
Belfast: 2
Cardiff: 3
Coventry: 2
Glasgow: 1
Guildford: 2
Nottingham: 2
Sheffield: 2
So we actually came out top there. Although we have now lost Sanford.
But it suggested to me that out-and-out goalscorers wasn’t our issue. It was scoring throughout our lines. Indeed, it felt at times through the season that if our top line was shut down we’d struggle to score and win.
So I looked at our two league winning teams.
in 2016-17 our top goalscorer was Ulmer with….. 19 goals. He was only 18th on the leagues goal scoring list.
What we did have, was 7 players who all scored between 15 and 19 goals.
The following season Martin scored 27, Faryna 25 and Matt Pope 21. Albeit in a longer league season.
But again we had 7 players who scored more than 15.
Do we have 7 players this year who will score 15+ goals? I think so. And that will be the key for me.
Three strong lines where everyone can contribute. Shut down one line and we should still have two lines scoring.
