The Journey Continues.... New Signings Thread

[blackandgold73]

Jul 13, 2022 19:17:12 GMT Bagheera said:

As I said earlier in the day. Proven EIHL numbers probably trumps all other stats and history for a player.
Great addition.

Picking up on the EIHL numbers point...

Last year across the whole squad Panthers scored 163 goals in 54 regular season games (21 players scoring goals). Giving an average return of 7.7 goals per scoring player.

Belfast scored 224 goals - averaging out at 12.24 goals per
scoring player (18 players)

If we consider only the numbers of 22/23 Panthers players who played in the EIHl last year and are signed up already:

Brady: 25 goals
Brassard: 3 goals
Ferrara: 25 goals (33 in 19/20)
Hopkins: 1 goal
Kelsall: 4 goals
Moore: 0 goals
Myers: 14 goals
Welsh: 17 goals

That's a potential 89 goals already from those 8 'known' EIHL players, (excluding any potential increase from players playing with better linemates) -for an average return of 11.1 goals per player.

So even with the younger and relatively inexperienced taking up 25% of those 8 slots (Hopkins, Kelsall) we're in the ballpark already.

Whilst past performance in the EIHL is no guarantee of future performance it definitely shows the value of bringing in Brady and Ferrara (in terms of recruitment of existing EIHL experienced players) to keep our numbers in the mix, before adding in the unknowns from other leagues.

A solid base of known production to build upon.

Should GG choose bring back Boivin as well those numbers would become 112 from 9 - for 12.44 goals per known EIHL player (slightly exceeding Belfast)

So if the signings look like he can keep that goal per player ratio up and build *a truly stingy defense* we'll be back in the running. Or at least in the mix again, which would be nice.

So I think the EIHL numbers thing is definitely worth keeping an eye on to see if the league experienced core are at least strong enough already to be competitive before the unknowns are added in

[iginla]

Jul 14, 2022 21:16:28 GMT The Flying Shirt said:

Jul 14, 2022 20:27:56 GMT @pidge said:

Perhaps panthers budget was similar last year just that Doucet hadn't a clue what he was doing lol

I'm sure he didn't have the budget but he was still a bit of an idiot for taking the job to fail anyway. Personally I just think Doucet was clueless

Said it at the time,Doucet had no credentials for the job and it was a complete waste of money for a post that wasn’t even required.
Plenty thought very differently at the time though !

[yeti]

Jul 14, 2022 21:45:32 GMT iginla said:

Jul 14, 2022 21:16:28 GMT The Flying Shirt said:

I'm sure he didn't have the budget but he was still a bit of an idiot for taking the job to fail anyway. Personally I just think Doucet was clueless

Said it at the time,Doucet had no credentials for the job and it was a complete waste of money for a post that wasn’t even required.
Plenty thought very differently at the time though !

I agree with you Ignila I could never see the point of Doucet's post as DOH. Even more so when the first thing we knew about the post of DOH was Doucet being announced in the role.

[wgray]

With regards to the DOH role, I believe a lot of the positivity for its implementation was the fact that we were having a person with on-ice experience/understanding coming in and leading recruitment.

That’s in the past now, a lot of changes have been made in the club recently and things are looking very positive. It’s even good to see that some of the clubs more critical supporters are on board with what’s happening. I think it’s going to feel like a completely different club when we step back into the NIC.

[Bagheera]

It feels like we can now see how the team is shaping up after the last week. The last 3 in particular have really lifted the whole look of the line up.

By my count we have 5 imports left to complete the standard roster + finishing the goalie line up.
My wish list is possibly a bit OTT but id like.

1 import goalie and 2 Brit backs up to rotate on game night.

1 top pairing level Dman.

1 point scoring, top 6 Rat - Brendan Connolly type.
1 power forward -Leigh Salters type.
1 3rd line hard hitting work horse - Hunt

Then another. Cant quite decide what we'll get. We've yet to follow the recent trend that most teams have gone by. We dont have that kid straight out of college. Perhaps we still have one of those to come in.

[Joe]

Jul 15, 2022 20:21:18 GMT Bagheera said:

It feels like we can now see how the team is shaping up after the last week. The last 3 in particular have really lifted the whole look of the line up.

By my count we have 5 imports left to complete the standard roster + finishing the goalie line up.
My wish list is possibly a bit OTT but id like.

1 import goalie and 2 Brit backs up to rotate on game night.

1 top pairing level Dman.

1 point scoring, top 6 Rat - Brendan Connolly type.
1 power forward -Leigh Salters type.
1 3rd line hard hitting work horse - Hunt

Then another. Cant quite decide what we'll get. We've yet to follow the recent trend that most teams have gone by. We dont have that kid straight out of college. Perhaps we still have one of those to come in.

I think it's difficult to make a proper prediction without a more detailed opinion from GG on our last 6 signings but I agree with you on the goalie situation, then I think 1st line LW, two 3rd line wingers, 4th line LW and 2nd line RD

[wgray]

Jul 15, 2022 20:21:18 GMT Bagheera said:

It feels like we can now see how the team is shaping up after the last week. The last 3 in particular have really lifted the whole look of the line up.

By my count we have 5 imports left to complete the standard roster + finishing the goalie line up.
My wish list is possibly a bit OTT but id like.

1 import goalie and 2 Brit backs up to rotate on game night.

1 top pairing level Dman.

1 point scoring, top 6 Rat - Brendan Connolly type.
1 power forward -Leigh Salters type.
1 3rd line hard hitting work horse - Hunt

Then another. Cant quite decide what we'll get. We've yet to follow the recent trend that most teams have gone by. We dont have that kid straight out of college. Perhaps we still have one of those to come in.

Something like this?

IMPORT - Brady - IMPORT
Puffer - Welsh - Ferrara
IMPORT (Hunt) - Sorensen - IMPORT (PWF)
Kelsall - Myers - Hopkins

Caruso - IMPORT
Brassard - Summers
Gagnon - Moore

Hazeldine (Spare)

Dubeau
Brit/Brit

IMPORT Goalie (Spare)

[spik]

Twenty five bodies not returning (of all those who benched)from the squad including coaching staff.
Eleven signed as new for this season (not in last)
Five returnees

(Caruso and Gagnon not yet on Panthersnation thread or the OS yet.)

A definite clear out and reshuffle.

[sevcik]

Latest signing rumour on twitter...
I don't think it's been posted on here yet

Also the Garet Hunt signing rumour has appeared on a 2nd EIHL signing rumours account

[iginla]

Jul 16, 2022 11:16:00 GMT sevcik said:

Latest signing rumour on twitter...
I don't think it's been posted on here yet

Also the Garet Hunt signing rumour has appeared on a 2nd EIHL signing rumours account

Very nice.
Both of those two please. 👍👍

[jd]

Aye, they’d do a job

[Deleted]

Hope these two sign! Especially Hunt he'll put bums on seats including mine this year 🤣😜

[Pies]

Hunt and Gagnon running riot 😻😻
Our third line with some of the players we’ve signed will be better than our top line of last season

[Jord v4]

If we sign Hunt I'm getting a season ticket. 

Edit - That's a real season ticket. Not one of those fake box free from my friends when I told another forum 4 days earlier I bought tickets after originally saying I wouldn't be attending kind of ticket. 

[Gilly]

Hunt will be box office thats for sure. Can’t wait for the snowflakes reaction, crying because we’re too aggressive.

A point I keep coming back to which I said many a time last season. If you aren’t good, then at least be entertaining, but preferably both

We’re certainly looking pretty good in both departments so far still with a number still to sign

[Deleted]

Jul 16, 2022 13:32:08 GMT Jord v4 said:

If we sign Hunt I'm getting a season ticket. 

If Hunt connected that player would have ended up in the stands!

[Joe]

Now that we have Gagnon and potentially Hunt, it'll be interesting to see if any teams change their direction slightly to add a bit more protection because the league has gradually moved away from players like Gagnon and Hunt the last few years.

[pantherlee]

Out of all the players we’ve signed and been rumoured with I’m least enthusiastic by Trotter. He’s done some great things in his past but the last couple of seasons have seen him dropped levels quite fast and not put up numbers that are anything special. I’m much more excited by the players who are on an upward trend that we have signed

[bobness]

Trotter is an interesting one for sure, if true.
A bit like Welsh, now on the downturn (I guess DEL3 was a rental type end of season job) but still a dominant player in Hungary/Romania last year, where Hunt played. If Hunt is ok, so should Trotter be?

[Joe]

Jul 16, 2022 16:48:17 GMT pantherlee said:

Out of all the players we’ve signed and been rumoured with I’m least enthusiastic by Trotter. He’s done some great things in his past but the last couple of seasons have seen him dropped levels quite fast and not put up numbers that are anything special. I’m much more excited by the players who are on an upward trend that we have signed

I think it's worth mentioning that the drop down to France was most likely due to Covid and if it is true it'll be interesting to hear GG's opinion on him because he's previously explained that stats aren't always black and white 

[pantherlee]

Jul 16, 2022 17:32:22 GMT Joe said:

Jul 16, 2022 16:48:17 GMT pantherlee said:

Out of all the players we’ve signed and been rumoured with I’m least enthusiastic by Trotter. He’s done some great things in his past but the last couple of seasons have seen him dropped levels quite fast and not put up numbers that are anything special. I’m much more excited by the players who are on an upward trend that we have signed

I think it's worth mentioning that the drop down to France was most likely due to Covid and if it is true it'll be interesting to hear GG's opinion on him because he's previously explained that stats aren't always black and white 

He’s one of those that’ll either be David Ling-esque or a Bob Wren or Kevin Westgarth who come for a paid holiday. So basically a wide potential scope of what he could turn out to be

[Gilly]

If trotter is true, he’ll be just fine. He’s only 35 for starters, hardly ready for retirement these days, and judging by his stats, he’s mainly a playmaker. You don’t lose vision / creativity with age, just a bit of speed here and there.

I see him very much an offensive guy who won’t do much defensive work, but pair him with a 2 way guy who can play a 200ft game and let him explode offensively instead.

If he wasn’t slowing up slightly he wouldnt be anywhere near our league. He’ll do for me so long as the final couple of signings add some much needed size up top

[John Casey]

Jul 16, 2022 14:48:33 GMT Joe said:

Now that we have Gagnon and potentially Hunt, it'll be interesting to see if any teams change their direction slightly to add a bit more protection because the league has gradually moved away from players like Gagnon and Hunt the last few years.

Don't worry about Sheffield, they've already got the best Enforcers in The League already.

[Bagheera]

Jul 16, 2022 13:56:35 GMT Gilly said:

Hunt will be box office thats for sure. Can’t wait for the snowflakes reaction, crying because we’re too aggressive.

A point I keep coming back to which I said many a time last season. If you aren’t good, then at least be entertaining, but preferably both

We’re certainly looking pretty good in both departments so far still with a number still to sign

Thats pretty much why I said id like a power forward and a propper rat.

We'd look a competitive team anyway, but if we failed to compete for trophies at least we'd enjoy watching it.

I really do think thats the plan too. Black, Omar and GG know that this season is about bums on seats big time.

[Deleted]

Jul 16, 2022 18:48:25 GMT John Casey said:

Jul 16, 2022 14:48:33 GMT Joe said:

Now that we have Gagnon and potentially Hunt, it'll be interesting to see if any teams change their direction slightly to add a bit more protection because the league has gradually moved away from players like Gagnon and Hunt the last few years.

Don't worry about Sheffield, they've already got the best Enforcers in The League already.

Lol like who