I have a feeling that was a bit of stunt and it was the Mieho signing they announced.
Rumours suggest that could be all the new additions we start the season with. Thommo said in the podcast we'd have 4/5 new signings.
Welsh
Sacratini
Caron
Mieho
That's 4. Are they classing Yaremko as nearly a new 5th player?
You could be right and the 5th could be a signing just completed and yet to be announced. But it sounds like Kontos and MacDonald will both be back and we might have convinced Brandt to return too.
Rumours suggest that could be all the new additions we start the season with. Thommo said in the podcast we'd have 4/5 new signings.
Welsh
Sacratini
Caron
Mieho
That's 4. Are they classing Yaremko as nearly a new 5th player?
You could be right and the 5th could be a signing just completed and yet to be announced. But it sounds like Kontos and MacDonald will both be back and we might have convinced Brandt to return too.
Looking at our signings so far I could well be eating some humble pie at the start of the season and apologising to you for it......
but....
I'll also add that based on who we have signed so far I'd argue we don't have a 3rd line. We appear to have three 2nd lines.
I'm thinking back to the Summit last year where I think one of the owners (Shostak?) effectively said we can't compete financially with Belfast and Sheffield whilst they are getting so many sell outs and so we need to recruit in a different way. And that was why they brought in Thommo.
We can't just outbid the other EIHL teams for the best players and top goalscorers. We need to build a team where everyone will chip in with goals but also be able to shutdown the opposition.
If you look at the forwards we've signed there is nobody yet who you think "That is a 30 goal a season scorer for the first line".
But equally, I'd argue that nobody looks average enough to be only on the 3rd line.
Looking at who we've signed so far and who I expect us to re-sign it could well be that Olichefski or Yaremko centre the 3rd line. But I'd argue both are far too good to be on a traditional 3rd line.
but....
I'll also add that based on who we have signed so far I'd argue we don't have a 3rd line. We appear to have three 2nd lines.
I'm thinking back to the Summit last year where I think one of the owners (Shostak?) effectively said we can't compete financially with Belfast and Sheffield whilst they are getting so many sell outs and so we need to recruit in a different way. And that was why they brought in Thommo.
We can't just outbid the other EIHL teams for the best players and top goalscorers. We need to build a team where everyone will chip in with goals but also be able to shutdown the opposition.
If you look at the forwards we've signed there is nobody yet who you think "That is a 30 goal a season scorer for the first line".
But equally, I'd argue that nobody looks average enough to be only on the 3rd line.
Looking at who we've signed so far and who I expect us to re-sign it could well be that Olichefski or Yaremko centre the 3rd line. But I'd argue both are far too good to be on a traditional 3rd line.
A couple of other posters have put up their predicted lines and it's hard to argue with any of them.
As I've said before, I think we'll start with a bit of familiarity and continuity, so assuming that MacDonald returns I wouldn't be surprised to see him start where he finished alongside Martin and Olichefski.
Looking at Yaremko's stats, after returning from injury he scored just 1 point in his first 7 games as he bounced around the lines.
In April he was put alongside Kontos and Sanford and scored 8 points in his next 7. So if Kontos returns too, I wouldn't be surprised if we start with those two together as well.
Which leaves us a 3rd line centre short. We could move either Harewood or Davies up from the 4th but from one of the podcasts it sounds like they might all start there. So with Mieho being more of an assister than scored maybe we'll go for a 2b line and start like this?
Yaremko - (Kontos) - Caron
(MacDonald) - Martin - Olischefski
Mosey/Harewood - Mieho - Barrow
Harewood/Duggan - Davies - Sacratini
As I've said before, I think we'll start with a bit of familiarity and continuity, so assuming that MacDonald returns I wouldn't be surprised to see him start where he finished alongside Martin and Olichefski.
Looking at Yaremko's stats, after returning from injury he scored just 1 point in his first 7 games as he bounced around the lines.
In April he was put alongside Kontos and Sanford and scored 8 points in his next 7. So if Kontos returns too, I wouldn't be surprised if we start with those two together as well.
Which leaves us a 3rd line centre short. We could move either Harewood or Davies up from the 4th but from one of the podcasts it sounds like they might all start there. So with Mieho being more of an assister than scored maybe we'll go for a 2b line and start like this?
Yaremko - (Kontos) - Caron
(MacDonald) - Martin - Olischefski
Mosey/Harewood - Mieho - Barrow
Harewood/Duggan - Davies - Sacratini
Just my tuppence worth, but I strongly feel we won’t have a 1st 2nd 3rd line as such but more of a top 9 forwards approach and the lines will be built around where the ‘chemistry’ is found and each of these lines getting roughy the same TOI.
Each line will be as effective as the next but in a different way.
Guys are used to playing up and down the lines, but it’s all about keeping the guys happy!
Each line will be as effective as the next but in a different way.
Guys are used to playing up and down the lines, but it’s all about keeping the guys happy!
we still got 3 forwards left to sign, so can see Harewood on the 4th line to start, with Sacratini as the spare. Brandt to play on the third if he returns of course. I'd maybe swap olischefski & mieho around. But only time will tell, be interesting to see if the last 3 players are macdonald, brandt & kontos.
To be fair the lines will change so much throughout the season that everyone will likely be correct at some point no matter what they suggest. Thommo may opt to have a mix of all the different players on each line, or have lines which are more specialised. And that obviously could change according to opposition etc.
I do like the new signings - I think my issue is I want more, just a couple. And maybe just one that makes you sit up and take notice from their EP page - this summer's Hedden/Linglet/O'Brien/Shinkaruk - a statement. I've probably been spoiled. Maybe they are saving it until last - or as pointed out, maybe we don't need a statement player and we do our talking on the ice.
I do like the new signings - I think my issue is I want more, just a couple. And maybe just one that makes you sit up and take notice from their EP page - this summer's Hedden/Linglet/O'Brien/Shinkaruk - a statement. I've probably been spoiled. Maybe they are saving it until last - or as pointed out, maybe we don't need a statement player and we do our talking on the ice.
Would we be underwhelmed if it was 3 returnees? After all, we'd get our top goal scorer and top assist/points from a good year back. 2nd and 3rd in the league respectively. And a fan favourite.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't? We could go for someone completely new with a cracking CV, and it doesn't work out for whatever reason. We've seen it plenty, Shinkaruk, Hedden, O'Brien etc etc.
Or Josh and Kris who know the league, know the club, players and systems and we know for sure what they bring.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't? We could go for someone completely new with a cracking CV, and it doesn't work out for whatever reason. We've seen it plenty, Shinkaruk, Hedden, O'Brien etc etc.
Or Josh and Kris who know the league, know the club, players and systems and we know for sure what they bring.
What if it's Sanford and Kontos that are returning.
MacDonald - Martin - Caron
Kontos- Yaremko - Sanford
Barrow - Mieho - Oli
I would say that's more strength in depth in scoring than last year, and also more size too. Also have Mosey to jump in.
I would have been happy to have Riley come back, but with who we have announced already I can't see where he fits or is he what we need.
MacDonald - Martin - Caron
Kontos- Yaremko - Sanford
Barrow - Mieho - Oli
I would say that's more strength in depth in scoring than last year, and also more size too. Also have Mosey to jump in.
I would have been happy to have Riley come back, but with who we have announced already I can't see where he fits or is he what we need.