Training Camp/Exhibition

[Pats7]

The summer is winding down and training camp is weeks away. I have started to look for more info on the team, it is fairly quiet on that front. A few interesting topics for me include:

a) 20 Year Olds- Legien, Platt, Hyman, Fleury, Pouteau, Schioler, Kubic are the most likely/eligible to fill the three spots. It is way too early to predict the actual names that fill the three spots, but I see the spots being filled by 1 forward and 2 defence. At forward, I think Legien is the obvious choice. His scoring ability separates him from Platt. However, the coaching staff showed more than once last year that they have more faith in Platt on a regular basis. At D, things get more complicated.....Fleury continues to be unsigned by the Habs. He very easily could not return. If he returns, he is likely the teams Captain and anchors the D-line until he gets traded at the deadline. Pouteau is recovering from injury with reports that he won't be ready until October at the earliest. For me, he is the next best returning D and will be on the team once healthy. That leaves Hyman and Schioler......both could start the year if Fleury doesn't return. If Fleury returns, I would expect Hyman to be traded. I like Hyman over Schioler which makes him more valuable on the market. I am not expecting their to be any market for Schioler....if it comes to releasing someone, he is the likely one to go. Kubic.....I dont hate him, he shows athleticism. I just think Max is the clear number one, no need to keep a 20 year old goalie when you are rebuilding.

b) Young Players- What are you most excited to see at camp? Obviously after the snap show we saw on Dubinsky, many will be interested to see his development. I am definitely one of those. I am also interested to see Smilanac, he has the skill......will he even be at camp? Does he have plans on playing with Regina long term?

c) Russian Imports- Having not seen either play, I am looking forward to see both of them. The fact that both of them made Team Russia for the Gretzky-Hlinka Tournament is a positive sign. They are not the teams top producers so far, but just making a strong team is a bonus. I love the fact that they have played in North America already. They obviously have large upside.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

[GDReb]

I watched your Russian imports yesterday. Nikita Sedov played a simple game and was in the starting lineup. He didn’t stand out one way or another but held his own on a very highly skilled Russian team. He should be an above average defender in years to come. Sergei Alkhimov was the most physical forward on either team. He played 3rd line minutes but created a lot of excitement with some big hits. I think he will be a fan favourite.

[PuckHead306]

I watched your Russian imports yesterday. Nikita Sedov played a simple game and was in the starting lineup. He didn’t stand out one way or another but held his own on a very highly skilled Russian team. He should be an above average defender in years to come. Sergei Alkhimov was the most physical forward on either team. He played 3rd line minutes but created a lot of excitement with some big hits. I think he will be a fan favourite.

Love hearing that about Alkimhov, and I wouldn't hate Sedov being a bit more relaxed back there and growing similar to Zborovskiy and how he developed.

I read that Smilanic signed a 2-year agreement to play for the US Development program I think, so I would doubt he comes to camp, but I hope I am wrong. Could he be an older addition like you see in the OHL all the time? DeBrincat comes to mind, Burrows for Portland, etc.

For 20 year olds, I think we have a few d-men who would bring in trade value in Pouteau, Hyman, and Fleury. Does anyone think all 3 could be moved? I'd love to keep them but maybe you move all of those guys and keep Schioler/Legien instead and figure out the third guy, maybe keep Platt or bring someone else in. Might be an option to help the rebuild along and there has to be a market for those guys, they will be solid 20 year olds.

To further the discussion, do you guys think Paddock will repeat his 1st year in the league by moving guys like Henry, Leschyshyn, Holmes... guys like that... at the deadline to speed the rebuild regardless of their position in the standings? Or if they are pushing for the playoffs, do you think there's any chance they keep those guys and see what happens? Seeing what they did a couple years ago to speed along the rebuild, I can't imagine that happens... but with these new trade rules maybe it makes it harder to do stuff and the prices aren't there.

Another discussion point, do you think those new trade restrictions will lead to more and more "Future Considerations" deals happening where you see a kid get moved once he turns 18 to complete deals? You see it all the time in Jr A but I don't see it much in major junior.

[Pats7]

I completely expect Henry and Leschyshyn gone at the deadline no matter how the Pats are doing. It doesn't make sense to keep them to go after a round or two. I dont think the new trade rules will handcuff teams as much as people think. Draft picks and unsigned prospects will be the new currency. Perhaps the Pats can use their strong last few years to convince kids to come the WHL route that may not want to sign with a small market team.

Interesting point about the future considerations. I was actually wondering if this was already outlawed in the WHL. I dont know, but that would be huge currency if it was. If it had been a thing, why wouldn't have the Pats used that last year......something like acquiring a stud scorer for futures then giving them Henry in the summer. It doesn't make sense for the league. It does happen more in Jr. A but there are more 20 years olds playing in that league.

Too bad about Smilanic.....I hadn't heard that.

To further the discussion, do you guys think Paddock will repeat his 1st year in the league by moving guys like Henry, Leschyshyn, Holmes... guys like that... at the deadline to speed the rebuild regardless of their position in the standings? Or if they are pushing for the playoffs, do you think there's any chance they keep those guys and see what happens? Seeing what they did a couple years ago to speed along the rebuild, I can't imagine that happens... but with these new trade rules maybe it makes it harder to do stuff and the prices aren't there.

Another discussion point, do you think those new trade restrictions will lead to more and more "Future Considerations" deals happening where you see a kid get moved once he turns 18 to complete deals? You see it all the time in Jr A but I don't see it much in major junior.

[Reider]

The Pats just traded away a lot of draft picks in order to build the Memorial Cup team last year, so they absolutely need to be sellers this year. It started with the Pats sending Tanner Sidaway to Victoria and it will continue until the trade deadline. The Pats need to sell, develop, then repeat until they can build a serious contender again. Leschyshyn, Henry, Fleury, and possibly Pouteau, Hyman, Holmes etc.. are all players that should / could be traded. I feel that the right time to trade Max Paddock is probably going to be in two years when he is 19 and a WHL team is hosting the Memorial Cup. Of course, the right offer could come along before then, but his value should be the highest then as long as he keeps improving. It's time to develop the younger players now.

The Pats need to get better at recruiting quality American players. It would help during the good times, but it would also help to bridge the gap during major rebuilds.

[chopper]

The Pats just traded away a lot of draft picks in order to build the Memorial Cup team last year, so they absolutely need to be sellers this year. It started with the Pats sending Tanner Sidaway to Victoria and it will continue until the trade deadline. The Pats need to sell, develop, then repeat until they can build a serious contender again. Leschyshyn, Henry, Fleury, and possibly Pouteau, Hyman, Holmes etc.. are all players that should / could be traded. I feel that the right time to trade Max Paddock is probably going to be in two years when he is 19 and a WHL team is hosting the Memorial Cup. Of course, the right offer could come along before then, but his value should be the highest then as long as he keeps improving. It's time to develop the younger players now.

The Pats need to get better at recruiting quality American players. It would help during the good times, but it would also help to bridge the gap during major rebuilds.

I agree with this assessment. There were also some good thoughts from the other guys out there. This season is clearly a transition season and nobody should realistically think different. With what we have i would agree we could be better than some expect. We won't be elite in any way but perhaps highly competitive most nights. A decent start will be good for the young guys to gain some confidence because after Jan 10th they will be carrying the mail. As much as I like to think otherwise we will have to battle hard to make a playoff spot. It's unfortunate that after the last four years we weren't able to accomplish more. A 52 win season and host a Memorial Cup was it. Painfully for lot us who will never see this team in another Memorial Cup and for that matter many younger fans perhaps never will; at least for a couple decades or more. I feel left a little empty and I know many other fans feel the same way.

This year Pouteau, Hyman, Fleury (very possible) , Schioler, Gavlas,Creta, and Harkins should give us an excellent starting point on defence. Young Evans and hopefully Panowyk if he shows, will give us more options. Up front Leschyshyn, Henry, and Holmes could form an adequate first line. After that it drops off exponentially to a mish-mash. Carter Massier is a talented kid but still a rookie, Dubinsky should be a good player but we can't heap too much expectation on a small 16 year old. Morriseau remains an unknown. The two young Russian will be on the team and likely Garrett Wright, but after that it's a dog fight. MacKenzie Belinski is signed and shown good advancement in Midget AAA and Jr A. Krane nearly made the team two years ago so it would be good to see him return with that form. The BIG thing for the Pats is that somebody has to emerge a great player. They need to uncover a diamond especially up front. We have had Eberle, Weal and then Steel to lead us. Now we don't have anything close. We don't have that elite forward.

The OA will likely end up being two of the aforementioned d-men and one forward. However I'm not sure that the OA forward will be either Platt or Legien when the smoke clears. Platt would not be more than a 3rd line forward and I don't see using an OA there and taking away from development time from some younger more talented guy. Legien has the offensive talent but his intensity and work ethic were a concern last season, and I'm sure will surface again. The surplus of OA's will be moved for draft picks most likely. If there is an OA move at the deadline we will likely need to take back one in return.

I don't see any of the elite USA kids coming maybe with the exception of Panowyk.Garrett Wright has signed and will be reporting I understand, but He isn't an elite player. The Pats definitely need to step up their game when it come to landing these top USA players.

Paddock has shown he is more than willing to dismantle his team even if it's doing well. He will be building for two years down the line and will need picks or players. If the new rules are in place as stated, it will make it hard for him to land 17 year olds that he can have for two years. Future Memorial Cup hosts will find the same problems. 18 year olds will now become the more valuable currency along with draft picks.

In keeping with new rules one further should have changed. Since we're going to the OHL schedule perhaps they should seriously consider changing the Bantam draft to the Midget priority draft as they do in the OHL. If the trade rules are that stringent and team need to hang onto players longer, maybe teams should have an extra year to watch these kids and hopefully fewer mistakes happen. At the very least their window of non-trade will drop by a year. Never have and never will agree to Bantam aged players being drafted. The OHL has it right and we should go there too.