Sudbury Vs Oshawa - 1st place Showdown

Just a couple thoughts on the game,

Dylan Smoskowitz & Alex Lepkowski outplayed Radek Faksa and Trevor Carrick.

In my opinion other the Laughton, Smoskowitz was the best player on the ice. Nicholas Baptiste & Dominik Kahun looked good for the Wolves.. Kahun not just because he scored. Carrick looks rather lackadaisical when he plays, he looks almost carefree. Lepkowski took a dumb penalty, but played physical and to me stood out much more then Carrick. Smoskowitz was all over the ice, very smart player, the more I see him live the more I like his game. For me Faksa was invisible, If i wasn't specifically watching Faksa/looking for him on the ice, I wouldn't of even known he played, led alone that he was a 1st round NHL pick. Are deadline deals are looking better and better. Sudbury gave up Stefan LeBlanc & Dominik Kubalik plus 5 2nd round picks and a conditional 3rd round pick for Carrick & Faksa.. and I'd argue they looked a lot better before the trades.

Altshuller and Palazesse both played pretty well, Altshuller looked to have a little trouble with his rebound control. I really liked Vande Sompel's game tonight, I have been hard on this kid, but he's improved a lot through out the season and I'm glad to see it. I really was not impressed with Bradley Latour tonight, yes yes I know he scored the lone regulation goal for the Gens & the shootout winner. But in all honesty he looked horrid throughout the game. Whoever posted that they weren't impressed with his game as of late, I apologize for throwing stats in your face, I completely understand where your coming from.

All in all, it was a pretty sloppy game for a game between two teams with 1st place on the line. But I'm happy to see the Generals come out with the extra point. The Generals will need to come out with a better effort next time Vs the Wolves as I'm sure they won't be playing their 3rd game in 3 nights next time around.

you throw the guy who scored the only goal and shootout winner under the bus but you dont even mention the guy (DEFENCEMAN) who made the best pass of his life to tie the game, you dont even say a word about him..????...If i was this defenceman i would be buying alltshullier dinner for the rest of the month because of that horriade pass and i would be thanking god that latour got the game winner.

P.S - He never saw a shift after that pass he made!!!

Carlisle made a horrible play, he should have been benched, and he was. Yeah I failed to mention that, but I figured that was a given.As for Latour, Just because a guy scores a goal, it doesn't necessarily mean he played a great game. Latour constantly turned the puck over, was bad defensively, an position-ally,he wasn't very good. He capitalized on great pass by Vande Sompel on his goal, but other then that yes he played very poor. As for his shoot out goal, it was a really nice goal. But being talented in the shootout, has nothing to do with your regulation game. Look at guys in the NHL like Jussi Jokienen the guy plays 6 minutes a game, an scores in every shootout, it doesn't mean he played a good game. It's a skills competition. Latour may of scored but his turn overs created numerous chances for the Wolves.

Macker88 wrote:
Dylan Smoskowitz & Alex Lepkowski outplayed Radek Faksa and Trevor Carrick.

I too very much agree. I was very happy with how our new additions played last night. Lepkowski ended up being paired with almost everyone last night. Loved his experience and toughness. This was a great add period. The cost being nothing is phenominal.
Smoskowitz really shone. Once this line of Laughton/Dal Colle and Smoskowitz gells this could be a very potent combo.

Faska did not impress at all. I had to look hard to find him.

Friday night in Kingston, I believe that Carlisle had a little to do with the 5th fronts goal to break the 4-4 tie. He can move the puck well and could use a better awareness of who is on the ice and where they are vis-a-vis the puck. I don't believe that I have seen the Gens creamed in Kingston for a long time. Then the fronts coughed up the games in barrie and North Bay. Next year is their year, an oldtimer told me at the K-Rock on Friday night.

Oshawa got smoked in Kingston 2 years ago I believe, 8-0, Jenner was hurt. So it was recently.

I stand corrected. Thank you,core 33. Still believe Kingston will be stronger next year. Time will tell.Regards, the addled croc.

I think it really comes down to if Sam Bennett returns to Kingston next season, as he is known projected to go 1st overall, although I think Sam Reinhart will go 1st to Buffalo, Aaron Ekblad 2nd to Edmonton, and then Calgary will likely choose between Bennett and Dal Colle.

Kingston loses a lot, they lose their starting goalie in Matt Mahalak, Mikko Vainonen will be gone to either the AHL or back to Finland as rarely do OHL team's keep OA Imports. Same goes for Henri Ikonen he's all but gone to the AHL. Loren Ulett will likely be gone based on the other OA's that should be returning. Kingston has to choose 3 of Evan McEney, Warren Steele, Robert Polesello, Samuel Schutt & Slater Doggett. Steele is likely to get an NHL invite and AHL try-out so if he happens to return its a sure thing he's kept, I think it will come down to losing McEney & Doggett. Throw in losing Michael Moffat, Darcy Greenaway and the Fronts are losing quite a bit. You'll have
Watson - Bennett - Crouse
Verbeek - Kujawinski - Polesello
Schutt -McGlynn - Pawley
Lemmon - ?? - ??

Hutchinson - McKeown
Watson - Steele
Nichol - ??

Peressini
??

The top 6 looks pretty solid, but the D and Goaltending will need to be worked on.

Oshawa,
They'll lose Laughton, Smoskowitz, Lepkowski, Altshuller & Sullentrop. Smoskowitz and Lepkowski weren't even around to the deadline and the Generals where in 1st.

Dal Colle - Cassels - Latour
Smith - Sterk - Dundas
Wallace - Harding - Busch
Manchurek - McDade - ??

Brown - Vande Sompel
Carlisle - Petschenig
Desrocher - Templeton (likely)

Appleby
Brodeur

The Generals will likely let Jimi Kuronen walk as he's not playing much now and Desrocher has out played him anyways making Kuronen the 8th defensmen now. Throw in the Generals recent signing off Templeton and the D core is almost completely returned.

The Fronts top 6 is slightly better then the Generals in my opinion and based on how it sits now they have more depth, although development of the Generals younger guys could even things out.

In net the Generals have a 4th year guy starting who will be pushed by a very talented young back up. Peressini will be in his first year starting pushed by a 17 year old in Jeremy Helving in all likelyhood. I really think the Generals will have the upside having lost less, having 2 open import spots and having just 3 potential OA's.

If Dal Colle goes in the top 3-5 picks or even lower, there is no way of knowing if he will be back. It will all depend on that teams need and how much he progresses between now and NHL training camps. (and hes getting scary good now). If Bennett goes top 2 as projected he most likely wont be back.

I'm not so sure Brown will be back either.

Brown will more then likely be back, given the depth on the Florida panthers back end at the NHL & AHL level. Throw in other prospects higher rated then Brown and potential free agents coming in and I don't see brown getting an AHL roster spot. He'll likely go back to Oshawa over the ECHL, as most OA'a do.

Dal Colle, could definitely make the NHL, but then again Drouin went #2 an was back in Jr. Based on who will possibly select him I'd say it's 80/20 he's back.