For those of you that missed it, here's my season ending column that appeared in the Saluting The Storm special section last Saturday......
"I think everybody is getting sick of waiting for next year when
it comes to the Guelph Storm.
We’ve heard it too many times and a superlative next year hasn’t
come for a long, long time.
And while there is certainly optimism for the 2013-14 OHL season
in Stormland, the team has a long way before it can start calling itself a title
contender.
The team lost its No. 1 defenceman (Andrey Pedan), its No. 1
centre (Tanner Richard) and its No. 1 goaltender (Garret Sparks). All have
moved on to the professional ranks and only a miracle would see any of them
return to Guelph
next year.
So give up the “Sparks
back as an overager” pipe dream.
The team needs a No. 1 centre, some size and toughness on the
wing, a power play quarterback, one or two experienced defencemen and likely a
starting goaltender.
Other than that, everything looks dandy.
Let’s break down the team and see what is needed for next year
and how those needs might be addressed.
GOALTENDING:
Journeyman Michael Nishi is eligible to come back for an overage season and the
team may very well choose to start the year with him and see how things play
out. If Nishi falters, an upgrade would be traded for.
They could also pick one in the import draft or trade for one
over the summer.
Matt Mancina, a highly regarded third-round pick in 2012 who
played Jr. B last season, has been signed and will almost certainly be the
backup next season.
Jason DaSilva could also be in camp.
DEFENCE: Pedan’s role
should be filled by a healthy Matt Finn, who should be one of the league’s best
defencemen if he can stay healthy and consistent next year.
Zac Leslie and Ben Harpur should be legitimate top-four
defencemen, given how far they came last season.
The team will also have first-round pick Garrett McFadden in the
mix, which means four spots on the blue-line are locked up.
That leaves three spots to be filled by: Chadd Bauman, Kyle
Locke, a player chosen in the import draft and anyone acquired in a trade.
There might be a player or two from previous drafts given a shot,
but with Locke, Bauman and the first rounder all being relatively
inexperienced, it would be tough for them to make the team.
The team definitely needs to add two experienced defenceman, one
of who must be able to help the power play to become more successful.
FORWARDS: Barring
trades, seven forwards will be back for certain: Jason Dickinson, Robby Fabbri,
Tyler Bertuzzi, Hunter Garlent, Justin Auger, Brock McGinn and Scott Kosmachuk.
Two others, Zack Mitchell and Ryan Horvat, should fill overage spots and two
others, Brody Milne and Marc Stevens, will be given the opportunity to make the
team.
If they don’t take a goaltender in the import draft, one of the
two import spots should be a forward.
Throw in a top thirdree-round pick and
potentially 2012 draftee Olivier Chabot and right now the forward ranks look
pretty crowded.
But not all those eligible to return will be brought back. Some
will be cut, others traded. So there should be three or four new faces up front
next season.
OVERAGERS: Horvat is
loved by the coaches for his grit and work ethic. Mitchell improved plenty as a
defensive player and can score. Maybe not as much as you’d like, but he scores.
The third overage spot could be Nishi or someone acquired in a
trade.
POWER PLAY: Bad all
season and abysmal in the playoffs. Finn will help, but this team badly needs a
power play quarterback and will likely need to look elsewhere for it. We’ll see
how quickly McFadden grows into that role.
TOUGHNESS: It’s no
secret that the Storm got pushed around a bit last season. Size and toughness
are one of the off-season priorities."
