New hockey boss refuses to speculate where Generals might stand
Aug 27, 2008 - 10:07 AM
By Brian McNair
OSHAWA -- If Chris DePiero has a gauge on how his Oshawa Generals will fare this season, he's not letting it be known.
The newly anointed general manager/head coach of the Generals said he was excited as training camp opened Monday, but wasn't anywhere near ready to set goals as to where the team might finish in the standings this season.
"I don't feel comfortable saying we'll be a certain type of team," he said. "I think it's more that we want to put the structures in place where we as a coaching staff and an organization want to build from, and from there we'll let the end result take care of itself.
"I don't want to sound to trite, but really it's going to be a game by game approach," he said. "We feel if we can work hard and be tough to play against on a game by game basis, the big picture will take care of itself."
One thing that's certain is this team will have a much different look from a year ago, both on and off the ice.
In addition to DePiero taking over from Brad Selwood as the top hockey dog, the ownership structure has changed dramatically, with John Davies gone, and Adam Graves and Peter DeBoer joining Rocco Tullio.
As for what the fans pay to see, the on-ice product, that too has undergone a massive facelift. Gone are the likes of Brett MacLean, Dale Mitchell, Kevin Baker, Patrick Asselin, Ryan McGinnis, James DeLory, Michal Neuvirth and Daryl Borden.
Those final two names are most concerning, of course, since it leaves a gaping whole between the pipes.
Although he has two youngsters ready to step in, Shea Cooper, who made a surprisingly successful debut in a brief stint last year, and Kevin Bailie, their first pick in the draft, DePiero did admit the goalie position is a pressing need.
"Right now that would be my focus, is to bring in an experienced goaltender, and then allow for Shea Cooper and Kevin Bailie to get into a situation where they can compete," he said. "I don't want to put undo pressure on anybody. For Kevin, we just want him to come in and do what he can do."
DePiero admitted to having had talks about acquiring a goalie, including overager Neil Conway, who played one game with the Owen Sound Attack last year.
"He's certainly one guy we've had discussions about," he said on Monday. "There's been a couple, but right now, nothing's been consummated."
DePiero will at least have a couple of superstars on which to build around, with John Tavares up front and Michael Del Zotto on the blue-line headlining a cast of veterans who arrived at camp today.
As to the oft-rumoured possibility of dealing Tavares away at some point this season, DePiero said it hasn't even been talked about.
"To be honest with you, I haven't thought about it," he said. "Just to be fair to John, I think he wants to just focus on playing the game. We haven't even gone that route as far as even talking about it internally. It hasn't even been discussed."
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