Final two places ?

[KIGOIUK]

Would anyone think that SHMYR could be playing in Defence for the first part of the Season , I say this as Ellis could go with two more forwards or , Delay signing a Defencman for a few weeks to get the wage package in line .

We have in the past delayed signing our full quota until a few weeks into the season .

O.k some will say ME wants all his players at the pre season training camp in france , but last year Mcaslan did not make that .

I think there is a chance to play Ryan in defence for part if not all the season .

He could also sign a forward that can also play defence and this will give him an alternative between Ryan and the new forward to swop over .

[jd]

If ryan gets a game penalty though we will be down on a defence man, personally hope ME signs a d man soon

[psylence]

i'd like to think he will sign a defence man, as we are a tad light in that department at the minute, Neilson, Danny Meyers and Stancock are good defenders, but i think we need another one at least. with Shmyr there to cover when he's needed.

mind you we don't know who will come through this training camp, we may find a good brit with potential in defence?

[andyd]

The fact that ME signed Mike Rees indicates he will be looking for a defenceman to replace him. Reeser retiring is not going to change everything in ME's plans to suddenly make Shmyr the last d'man when that was clearly not in his team building plans.

One defenceman and one forward to come I'd say gauranteed.

[Monty #83]

i think shmyr did a sterling job in defence last year and would welcome him back in defence, just depends who is going to be rees's replacement

[NickThePanther44]

Shmyr certainly did a cracking job in d but that would certainly limit his capabilities to 'enforce' which with such a fast skillful team we need someone to deter certain players from taking advantage of this, at least one of our last players i feel will bring a deal of toughness to the table, would be great to get another skillful foreward and a big d-man to add some more size along with Neilson and Shmyr

Nick

[Rich]

Shmyr starting D would be a disaster, hes the only semi tough guy on a skilled, soft looking team so giving him that responsibility would be a huge mistake. That said I like him as a D man but that cant be his primary role.

I think it will be an established D man and a gamble forward ie someone whos hungry to do well and will do anything for the team (Simoes anyone )lol

Edit: I dont mean Shmyr is only semi tough, I mean hes the only one who is semi tough, or above!

[grumpyminer]

Using Ryan as 5th/spare defenceman is great but as 1 of 4 would be crazy. It would mean his "policing" role would be nullified as it would cost us a D-man if he was penalised for carrying out his duty as protector. He would be told not to fight and the opposition may well take liberties. There may be a time when this has to happen(eg.injuries, major penalties to other D) but it is not a situation that Ellis would go for voluntarily...IMHO.

[marshalfish]

Shmyr did very well last year on D, definitely exceeding my expectations of him, but I would be nervous if he was to play D predominently. As said above, barring someone handy in the last 2, he's our main deterrant/enforcer, and giving him a major defence role would, IMO, invite all and sundry to have a pop with the intention of drawing penaltys and suspensions in a vital part of our set-up.

[psylence]

shmyr needs to be up the other end, he works well standing in front of the oppositions net when we are on offence

[NP]

As far as I know, Panthers are still looking to recruit one more defenceman, and one more forward. Releasing Cooke has meant a slightly bigger budget fot these last two spots.
Still a good 3 or 4 weeks away until the new season, so plenty of time.

[Deleted]

np said:

Still a good 3 or 4 weeks away until the new season, so plenty of time.

Not really , the training academy fly out to France week on monday (20th) so Im hoping the roster is complete this time next week.

Then they have to sort all the visas out for the players to be cleared to play in time for the training camp

[charlish2099]

Did Mcaslan miss last years camp and pre-season warm up games?

[heja]

according to ellis shmyr is going to be mainly a d'man this year (eg 5th d'man) which will also give him a free roll requarding his enforceing duties

[Deleted]

I can t see the point in investing in a pre season training camp and only half the squad being prsent, a total waste of time, Ellis must hve everyone in place , end of the day it only stops him from trying all different lines etc.

[charlish2099]

I know what your saying pidge, but if players have missed it before they could do again, especially if there are contracts being ironed out, I could be wrong mind.

[Shaggy]

pidge said:

I can t see the point in investing in a pre season training camp and only half the squad being prsent, a total waste of time, Ellis must hve everyone in place , end of the day it only stops him from trying all different lines etc.

Only half the squad??
Pidge - we're only short 2 imports plus the backup netminder and 'junior' Brits. The squad is virtually complete...

[Deleted]

shaggy said:

pidge said:

I can t see the point in investing in a pre season training camp and only half the squad being prsent, a total waste of time, Ellis must hve everyone in place , end of the day it only stops him from trying all different lines etc.

Only half the squad??
Pidge - we're only short 2 imports plus the backup netminder and 'junior' Brits. The squad is virtually complete...

That was a exaggeration Shaggy, im sure you know what I mean though, even one man short is bad enough on a camp designed to bring together the squad for bondng etc

[maxfax]

Pidge... your just desperate for the squad to be finalised. You want everything yesterday. Chill out a bit. Coach Ellis KNOWS what he's doing. Visas & stuff are all in hand before players are announced

[Zukiwskyfan]

Im not too worried about the last 2 imports as I think they will defo be upto the task whoever they turn out to be. Im hoping they both are nasty, physical players though as I think the team looks a little soft apart from Ryan.
Me and Ted where talking about it at training on wednesday night and we decided that we have enough skill already so we'll take Kurtis Swanson as our last forward ;D

[charlish2099]

i reckon we will have a better pick of players by waiting, there will akso be some quality players who were waiting until the last minute to see there options as well as us.

[tunster]

charlish2099 said:

i reckon we will have a better pick of players by waiting, there will akso be some quality players who were waiting until the last minute to see there options as well as us.

There could well be some quality players waiting till the last minute but can you afford them ?

I can understand pidgys frustration at wanting to get the team sorted, before the season kicks off. It makes a change that we have everything done and dusted .

Whats been said about the training camp??? Is it that the new players wont be signed in time??

My thoughts are that the team that gets a good start to the season seems to be there at the end. The team who signs all its players and has 1 -2 weeks training with them before the season starts seems to hit the ground running so to speak.

[mattscold]

tunster said:

My thoughts are that the team that gets a good start to the season seems to be there at the end. The team who signs all its players and has 1 -2 weeks training with them before the season starts seems to hit the ground running so to speak.

I disagree with that point, in so much as we panthers always have a good start but then go on a slippery slope downwards so thats not always the case is it?

[tunster]

mattscold said:

tunster said:

My thoughts are that the team that gets a good start to the season seems to be there at the end. The team who signs all its players and has 1 -2 weeks training with them before the season starts seems to hit the ground running so to speak.

I disagree with that point, in so much as we panthers always have a good start but then go on a slippery slope downwards so thats not always the case is it?

But my point is you had a good start , due to the team being together and signed before the season started and you were all together, to be honest you should have been there or there abouts last year .

[Thomas Elliott]

pidge said:

The training academy fly out to France week on monday (20th)

I'm going on Monday 27th to see them at the training camp, if your going on the 20th you may just be a little disappointed as no one will be there yet!!