Petes start with stable base
East Division defending champs may even be better this season but rest of division is stronger too
More than any time in recent memory, the Petes are in a period of stability.
The revised deal with the city has been signed, giving the team a better share of the revenues they generate and more financial flexibility. Season tickets sales are said to be up and so the off-ice doom and gloom can finally be put to bed – allowing Petes fans to shift their focus entirely to what happens on the ice – at least until the next new arena discussion.
That on-ice picture starts with a stable base as well.
The simplest way to have a competitive team night after night is to have a strong presence in net. Dylan Wells should be a top three goaltender in the OHL this year and he may be the very best. Last season, even on nights when the Petes were outshot or outplayed, they were never out of a game thanks to Wells. He was the MVP and there’s no reason to think he won’t once again be the club’s backbone.
The offence will be strong as well. Replacing Steve Lorentz won’t be easy, but the Petes have added first-round pick Nick Robertson, who should take on a significant role from day one, as well as formerly college-bound Bobby Dow up front.
There will be strength up the middle, with a trio of centres Jonathan Ang, Zack Gallant and Chris Paquette, each of whom have shown to be strong two-way players who can generate offence but are also very responsible defensively. Much like Wells’s presence in net, this is an area where the Petes should be the envy of their division rivals.
Factor in returning snipers Logan DeNoble and Adam Timleck and the continued progression of Semyon Der-Arguchintsev and Pavel Gogolev (who seems destined for a breakout season) and the team has the makings of a very strong top nine forward group – one that could generate more offence than last year’s first place club did. That’s not factoring in the possibility of a wild card addition of Nikita Korostelev or Jonne Tammela as an overage forward.
The area where the Petes most feel the sting of player graduation is the backend. With the losses of Matt Spencer, Kyle Jenkins and Brandon Prophet, there are big shoes and big minutes to fill. Matt Timms will return as a dynamic puck mover and power play weapon, while Cole Fraser looked even bigger and stronger this year in camp. Beyond that, the names are less familiar. The team will look to Declan Chisholm to take big strides this season after playing a limited role last season, while late season addition Alex Black will provide a stabilizing overage presence, as the rest of the D corps is filled out with rookies.
This Petes team could be better than last year’s very successful club but the division as a whole will be stronger as well. Oshawa, Hamilton and Kingston are improving teams looking to unseat the Petes as division champs.
The Petes will be a playoff team this year. There should be no major off-ice distractions. After years of losing seasons and fighting to restore perception of the team, to be in that position of stability is a win.
There is the opportunity for more than that.
The base of a very strong team is in place. To win a second consecutive division title and to win a conference championship would be a great next step in restoring the Petes to their rightful place as a revered, model OHL franchise.
NOTES: The Toronto Maple Leafs assigned free-agent invite Nikita Korostelev to the Marlies training camp on Sunday .... After starting training camp with a no-contact red jersey, Jonne Tammela left the Tampa Bay Lightning training camp with an undisclosed injury and could miss the start of the season.