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Post by pantherlee on May 3, 2024 20:47:56 GMT
You say import quality Brits but who? Have you seen the GB squad? It’s full of import dual nats. The days of Weaver/Clarke/Myers/Meyers/Shields/J Phillips are gone. There’s only really Dowd and Richardson left and they’re in their mid 30’s now and going anywhere. I’d say we have one of the strongest Brit packs so why change it? Steelers is about level and I’d say it’s better than Devils and Giants So we don't even attempt to bring back Perlini or go for Scott Conway. Non of you say which Brit out of the other four I have mentioned you are happy to see go instead of Kelsall. Are we still level with Sheffield if Ollie, Joe or Logan leave and Kelsall stays? I say no we aren't. Well by the sounds of it bridges have very much been burned with Perlini. If Conway became available I’d be delighted but I’d guess he’d go back to Belfast, but I were him I’d think the EIHL beneath me now anyway. Yes I’d be disappointed if those you mention leave but that hasn’t happened yet so why assume they will? Kelsall may not be a world beater or set tongues wagging but he is more than capable of fulfilling his role on the 4th line so I’m happy with him
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Post by pantherlee on May 3, 2024 20:17:01 GMT
We are meant to be a top four budget team. There is no wage cap. to make out we can't compete for the top brits is just excepting a lower standard than we should. with only four out skating brits which of the other four I mentioned would you place below Kesall. Add to that we should be signing at least one import quality brit as well as three from the other four I have mentioned, who are you happy to see go? You say import quality Brits but who? Have you seen the GB squad? It’s full of import dual nats. The days of Weaver/Clarke/Myers/Meyers/Shields/J Phillips are gone. There’s only really Dowd and Richardson left and they’re in their mid 30’s now and going anywhere. I’d say we have one of the strongest Brit packs so why change it? Steelers is about level and I’d say it’s better than Devils and Giants
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Post by pantherlee on May 2, 2024 15:44:08 GMT
Not if Panthers have a bigger budget to start with. And when have we ever gone with 6 import D? I think the point I'm trying to make is that all clubs have only 'x' amount to spend on players, Brits & imports. Another club might place a higher value on for example, recruiting an experienced British dman, and spend less on other areas. so it's all about what represents best value for money for your playing model. Who would have thought that O'Connor would have gone to Dundee, but I bet that the rest of their British players won't get paid a lot. Yes but Ben O’Connor is now 35 and no longer on the wanted list of the big clubs so will command far less in wages than he once did. Nevertheless he’s still a talent and for a club like Dundee you’re getting an import quality Brit which will strengthen them as a whole so it isn’t really relatable. The bottom line is if we’re serious about keeping Hazeldine (which we should be) then we should be well capable of keeping him and there shouldn’t be anything that any other EIHL club can offer him that we couldn’t
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Post by pantherlee on May 2, 2024 14:08:59 GMT
Not if Panthers have a bigger budget to start with. And when have we ever gone with 6 import D?
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Post by pantherlee on May 2, 2024 9:19:11 GMT
We really are in trouble if we can’t tempt a Brit born in this city with an arena club over Guildford or Glasgow Money talks. It's as simple as that. Any Brit in Joes situation would love to hang around i'm sure. The city he is from, the club he grew up supporting. Only trips abroad should take him away. Joe has already developed into a top Brit and is very unlucky to not be getting a GB call up. In a few years he'll likely be in the top 2 or 3 in the country. Pay him what he's worth and pay forward for what he will be. You want the best you have to pay for it. We could be talking about Hazeldine, Perlini or any other player. Pay them well & look after them they will come/stay. Exactly. And whatever Guildford/Glasgow or any EIHL club for that matter can offer him we should easily at least be able to match if not better
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Post by pantherlee on May 2, 2024 7:09:54 GMT
Why do we need to prepare to lose Hazeldine? We should be doing all we can to prioritise his return. Or are we so inferior now that we’re no longer capable of holding on Brits that were even born in this city. Hazledine is the better of our 2 British D men, flames have lost their premier Brit DMan but also Clan will no doubt be looking to bolster their Brit core and Corey loves a British DMan to develop. Whilst we should do everything can to keep him & I hope I’m wrong I just feel we are going to be disappointed We really are in trouble if we can’t tempt a Brit born in this city with an arena club over Guildford or Glasgow
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Post by pantherlee on May 1, 2024 21:22:48 GMT
Tetlow is rumoured to be off to Glasgow. For me, I’d love us to target both Joe and Archie Hazeldine on defence. I’d only have Archie as a 7th Dman. Still too raw for yet to be holding a regular slot. Won’t be too disappointed if Tetlow goes whether it’s for Clements or going 5 import D. Joe Hazeldine is one to build the Brit core around
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Post by pantherlee on May 1, 2024 18:51:15 GMT
I don’t understand the necessity for poring over players he’s managed previously over the Blaze. He will have a bigger budget now as he’s already eluded to so he’s fishing in a different pond. If we want to catch the big teams up then taking players from the Blaze isn’t going to get you there. Don’t understand the Clements rumour either. We already have Hazeldine and Tetlow and I certainly wouldn’t be dropping Hazeldine as long as he wants to stay and Panthers should be more than capable of keeping him unless he’s attracted attention from Europe The Clements rumour could be worthwhile in the end as I think we need to prepare ourselves for losing Joe (again) Why do we need to prepare to lose Hazeldine? We should be doing all we can to prioritise his return. Or are we so inferior now that we’re no longer capable of holding on Brits that were even born in this city.
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Post by pantherlee on May 1, 2024 18:12:32 GMT
I don’t understand the necessity for poring over players he’s managed previously over the Blaze. He will have a bigger budget now as he’s already eluded to so he’s fishing in a different pond. If we want to catch the big teams up then taking players from the Blaze isn’t going to get you there. Don’t understand the Clements rumour either. We already have Hazeldine and Tetlow and I certainly wouldn’t be dropping Hazeldine as long as he wants to stay and Panthers should be more than capable of keeping him unless he’s attracted attention from Europe
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 30, 2024 16:53:51 GMT
Does his current popularity amongst the panthers fanbase matter? If he puts an exciting, winning team on the ice for the upcoming season then thats all that matters. I'm surprised by this, but I don't hate it - knows the league inside out, has bags of passion (which people have been asking for). Nonetheless, the cynic in me does think that this is another coach who is known for doing well with a limited budget... I think it does as there won’t be any patience with him if he doesn’t hit the ground running or even put together a strong looking team in paper
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 30, 2024 16:31:32 GMT
Pacha has said this is a no brainier because of his EIHL experience but what I don’t think he’s considered is that he isn’t overly popular among the Panthers fanbase. I think he’s going to be under pressure to hit the ground running or people are going to turn on him quickly. Unlike Paredes, Wallace, Graham or Chernomaz this isn’t a neutral appointment.
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 30, 2024 16:15:04 GMT
Bloody hell. Really don’t know what to make of this as I’ve fundamentally disliked him for many years now
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 26, 2024 16:18:09 GMT
That's a shock and a big signing for the Stars. O'Connor's 7th EIHL team! Basingstoke, Edinburgh, Coventry, Cardiff, Sheffield, Guildford and now Dundee. Surely a record? Bari McKenzie has played for 8. Basingstoke Coventry Belfast Edinburgh Cardiff Dundee Braehead Fife
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 26, 2024 16:12:20 GMT
If the rumours are true and Cardiff are replacing Duggan and Waller with Betteridge and Perlini then that would be a massive upgrade for them and probably give them the strongest Brit pack in the league
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 25, 2024 15:56:25 GMT
I bet some behind the scenes weren't easy to deal with though. I get that. Iggy said that GM wasnt easy Glad to hear that things have improved in Omar. The fact Otto is back speaks volumes for me Yes I’ve also heard that GM wasn’t the most likeable character but then that never stopped Clarkey, Myers, Meyers, Lacho, Galbraith, Kowalski, Lepine, Fox, Benedict etc staying many years
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 25, 2024 14:12:23 GMT
We're not talking about current and the last year or so, this was when Perlini then Lacho then Ollie left the first time. Since GM went and Pacha came in the backroom as become decidedly better. And those players you mentions were all imports, it was different for the Brits. different in what way? If you don't mind me asking Exactly. I don’t see how a players passport makes any difference as to how they’re treated in the club. I have no idea what the situation is but whenever this talked about it’s always with the angle of being badly treated by the club but what’s to say that players like Perlini and Ollie might just be getting a bit big for there own boots because of their status as Brits. Not saying it’s one or the other but I think a bit of balance in argument is required
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 23, 2024 13:27:31 GMT
Yes he's been back a while, partner expecting a baby next month I believe. Would / could have been a good signing although after he left last time he said he would never come back after the way they (the Brits) were treated. you never know what to believe. We keep on hearing about “the way they were treated” but Ive never heard anything specific to suggest what that way may have been. Not to mention that Gary Moran or Corey Neilson or whoever it may be regarding day to day running of the club are no longer around so I take these things with a pinch of salt. If it was that bad then why did Ollie and Tetlow and Hazeldine for that matter come back? They must surely have had other options?
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 22, 2024 13:41:23 GMT
From the same twitter account that called Paredes, Neilson and Nieminen:-
Stephen Johnson and CJ Garcia re-signing with Storm Cole Sanford and Joey Martin re-signing with Devils Trevor Cox and Sam Duggan leaving Devils Daniel Tedesco and Greg Printz leaving Giants
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 17, 2024 19:33:04 GMT
Genuinely the most excited I've been about a signing for years. When was the last time we kept a player who had a strong season? Mark Matheson maybe? Other than that you’re looking at maybe Luke Pither, Jeff Brown and Evan Mosey, but even then none of those are as good as Otto. For that you’re probably going back as far as K-Wall and Jordan Fox
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 17, 2024 18:44:39 GMT
This is absolutely phenomenal news. Welcome back Otto! I don’t feel like I’m being over the top in saying this but I believe he’s one of the best players in this league. He’s a quality player. Amazing start from the club You’re not. He’s walks into any team in this league
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 17, 2024 18:13:53 GMT
Best signing we’ll make all summer. Was resigned to him moving on so delighted he’s back. The fact that he’s signed even before playoff final has around tells me he didn’t need much convincing and hasn’t even considered moving elsewhere
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 17, 2024 14:31:37 GMT
I’d love it to be Otto but as he said he hopes at play in the Austrian league I doubt it. My bet would be a Brit. Possibly Kelsall.
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 16, 2024 17:45:42 GMT
If you are wanting to improve your Brits, you need to be thinking a couple of years down the line, players that are currently with the GB U20's or players that are away at US/Canadian Colleges. It would cost too much to tempt someone currently in the EIHL, and as was pointed out, someone like Hook could easily end up like Ferrara, a star in the NIHL but a relative failure at panthers. After how we’ve used mckenzie this year, I would be avoiding panthers like the plague if I was a ‘youngster’, I’d want to play not warm a bench. McKenzie will never be EIHL level I don’t think. He puts up hardly any numbers in NIHL. He gets the opportunity to train with professional players but you shouldn’t get EIHL opportunities for free and right now he just isn’t at that level.
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 12, 2024 11:29:01 GMT
You could’ve said that about Despres, Farley, Pare, Luciani and Hazeldine though as they all arrived after but I don’t think they were ever seen as outsiders
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Post by pantherlee on Apr 11, 2024 7:56:44 GMT
I largely agree with this. Would give them all another season in a heartbeat, but as the dust settles on this season it'll all move on very quickly to simply being judged by on ice results again. KM is clearly an awesome human. Somebody we should want around the club. Should next seasons on ice product be poor though we'll soon see lots of people calling for his head. Certainly sign him up for next season. A multi year deal probably meaans little anyway in this league, but if it helps tie him down then give it him in the knowledge both parties will likely have a short notice period built in. What we expect on the ice next season will likely be determained by how much of a rebuild it is. Keep 6 or 7 imports and would be looking to compete at the top next season. Lose almost all and it's another 2 year plan. Regardless top 4 should be a goal. I think top 4 is a bit too much, realistically I think playoff final and/or top half would be within reach. I hope I’m wrong, but we’ve not been hanging with the ‘big boys’ for sometime. You just need to look at the games v Sheffield (I think it’s 2 years since we won against them) For KM I think it’s the nature of the beast in sport with hiring and firing. If he did get the gaffers job I’d certainly expect the club to have a sizeable and strong back room team with knowledge and experience of the club/league/tactics/scouting to support him and his ‘step up’ into the role and putting a squad together. I don’t think top 4 is too much at all. Had AJ still been with us and we had better netminding then I think we would’ve got at least 4th this season. We had the understandable big slump after AJ’s death not to mention losing AJ the player himself and because of the situation we’re probably a little hamstrung when it came to replacing any underperforming players. And despite all that we only finished 11 points off 4th which is a smaller gap than 1st to 2nd
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