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Post by dogman on Dec 29, 2007 2:01:50 GMT -5
Is it time to pull the plug on this season. They lost to Kitchener with a number of the Rangers top players out of the line-up. I really don't see anything happening this year for the Dogs. Maybe its time to trade away some of the older talent and bring in the young guys. Trading players like Legein, Caputi, Swift and Corrente could really give us a whole bunch of young players and draft picks and allow the Dogs to challenge for the Championship next year or the year after. If they stick with the team they have now, we may make it past the 1st round but that will be it. Then next year we may be in trouble, especially at the forward position. The trade deadline is Jan 10.
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Post by rabiddog on Dec 29, 2007 12:31:53 GMT -5
I wonder if Sudbury thought about pulling the plug on the season last year in December?  ? |
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Post by germancabdriver on Dec 29, 2007 14:31:16 GMT -5
It all stems from the top. Burke let Brown talk him into giving Mario the head coaching job. With this, Mike Kelly was given his walking papers (and about 150k in salary that was still owed to him for this year). The wise decision would have been to keep Kelly for one more season. Sure, they did not get the results they wanted against Sudbury in the playoffs last year, but was that because of of the Ice Dogs negative play or Sudbury's positive play? Sudbury was a pretty good team at the end of last season. Financially, the Ice Dogs had to be a home run this season or else they would be finished in St. Catharines. The corporate dollars that come to a team during the first season (ie. naming rights to the rink) simply won't be there next season and when the Burke's continue to write cheques for money going out with very little coming in............it only spells disaster for major junior fans in the Niagara area. At the beginning of the year Dave Brown looked like he was making great strides as a GM in the OHL. Now that ship is starting to sink, we'll see what kind of Captain he truly is. His only mistake this far (besides a few of his trades) was hiring a friend as the Head Coach. It's been said before, "Tier-Two Coaches have a hard time against the Professionals," and we all know the league is full of them. If things don't improve, Brown will have no choice to get rid of his best friend (and Head Coach) and if he doesn't, I'm sure Mr. Burke will be showing them both out the same door.
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Post by seabass25 on Dec 29, 2007 22:30:40 GMT -5
Typical responce from niagara people NEGATIVE!! GO DOGS
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Post by johndeere on Dec 29, 2007 22:36:41 GMT -5
I agree seabass,what is wrong with our area that everone think we suck! We have a great team that needs positives,SO GO DOGS GO!!!
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Post by curious on Dec 29, 2007 23:37:54 GMT -5
Agree time to get rid of Brown and the coach. Team is only .500 and going no where. Back to tier II. Too many mistakes on trades, drafts and more. While back there was talk to bring in Ludzik; experienced coach and kwows what it takes and also a local which can't hurt. time to do it before it is too late.
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Post by rabiddog on Dec 30, 2007 0:13:14 GMT -5
German and Curious-- I have been a IceDogs fan since day one in Mississauga and i still follow the team now, if you think Mike Kelly is the answer you are both sadly mistaken. True they had a good year last year but let me tell you the players played in spite of him, also i will tell you this if Mike Kelly was behind the bench in Niagara i would bet my house that there would have been alot of players asking for trades. I really dont get where all of this Ludzik talk comes from...what has he done...he had one good year in Mississauga and now everyone thinks he is a better coach then Scotty Bowman...please !!!!!!!
German you made a statement the corporate dollars wont be there next year unless the team does good this year...How do you know this? And is Niagara region only interested in supporting a OHL team if they are in first place or near the top every year??? Tonight In Guelph there was a very good crowd and Guelph is not in first place...i dont understand why people can not just support the team that you have in your fine region. !!!!
Also your comment about "tier two" coaches having a hard time in the "O" does'nt fly either...Marty Williamson in Barrie is a ex tier 2 coach and i dont know about you but i think he has done a good job in Barrie.
Seems to be alot of coach or GM bashing in Niagara..have any of you bashers ever talked to either one of them? Better yet if you want to bash them then do something about it....go out and get your coaching certificates and work your way thru minor hockey and thru Jr.B or tier 2 and in no time you might be in the O as a coach then you can show all of us how to coach !
Really people just come out and support your team..in good times and bad times !
Oh German..if you think for one minute that Dave Brown talked Mr.Burke into hiring Mario Cicchillo as head coach...once again you are sadly sadly mistaken !!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by dogman on Dec 30, 2007 1:05:01 GMT -5
Typical responce from niagara people NEGATIVE!! GO DOGS I'm not being negative, just realistic. I would rather they pull the plug on this season if all they can do is a second round playoff appearance and try to improve the IceDogs team for next season. |
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Post by curious on Dec 30, 2007 11:43:58 GMT -5
In response to rabbidog, ludzik for your information coached in the O, I and the NHL and won with the Detroit Vipers. Who has more credentials Brown, Mario combined or Steve. No brainer, a local person who would bring stability and coaching at the same time. The novelty will wear off next year unless they come up with a better team. Just the way it is in the niagara region.
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Post by charger on Dec 30, 2007 12:21:38 GMT -5
it is to early yet to pull the plug look what Sudbury did last season came out of nowherer to reach the finals. The Ice Dog are second in their division and fifth overal in the eastern conference considering the injuries illness the team has gone through and moving to a new city they are not doing to bad and the team is getting good support form our fans in the area.
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Post by hockeyobserver on Dec 31, 2007 16:52:15 GMT -5
dump corrente... solid on d.. but a bonehead.. lets get something for him before he moves on.
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Post by back2back on Dec 31, 2007 22:54:53 GMT -5
dump corrente... solid on d.. but a bonehead.. True, but boy can he fight!!! |
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Post by chooch on Jan 1, 2008 10:03:32 GMT -5
it is to early yet to pull the plug I agree, tough crowd here. We have an above 500 team and yes there are a few areas that need to be addressed before playoff time, but pulling the plug at the half?? You guys are hard to please. Enjoy the games. |
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Post by fishfan51 on Jan 1, 2008 11:56:07 GMT -5
Barrie has pretty much the same record as the Dogs...they just pulled the plug trading their best forward in Nikiforov and their goalie who is one of the best tenders in the league.
Brown is in a tough spot but he has to do something....status quo is not acceptable. Either buy or sell either move is justified. Standing pat is not. They don't have the squad to go deep into the playoffs as they stand now. So either make a few moves to improve or pull the plug, sell some talent at stockpile for a future run.
Doing nothing accomplishes nothing.
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Post by dogfan on Jan 1, 2008 21:52:26 GMT -5
I see Ludzik's name come up every so often, and I don't disagree he's a good coach but after what happened to him and his group when they tried to get a team in Niagara Falls, do you think he's interested? He's pretty tight with his ownership group and I don't know he'd want to be a part of the organization.
On the flip side he and Mark Osborne, former Flyer and former NHL coach, might make a nice tandem if there was ever a job opening here.
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