Playoffs hopes dashed, Wolves look stronger for next season

Mathematically, the Sudbury Wolves chance of making the OHL playoffs are still there, but they’re hanging on by a thread.

For me, hopes of seeing the post-season return to the Nickel City disappeared weeks ago.

I think it was two losses to the Oshawa Generals, one just before the Christmas break and then again New Years Day, when it became evident this team just didn’t have what was needed to gain ground on the teams above them in the standings.

The Wolves showed signs early on that it might be another long season, but a 17-game losing streak really sealed their fate.

After ending the streak, the Wolves flirted with a .500 record for about 20 games and it made me think that six or seven wins during the losing skid and maybe, just maybe, the team would have found itself at least in the hunt for a playoff spot.

But there were just too many close calls where wins were more than a possibility, but slipped away.

It wasn’t for a lack of effort.

With a few exceptions, this team has been competitive on most nights.

I would have loved to see the Wolves start the season with the team they have now. Mikkel Aagard and Ryan Valentini have brought a skill level that wasn’t there to start the season. Goalie Troy Timpano and hotshot forward David Levin are healthy, and the coaching staff has been able to put some consistent lines together that wasn’t possible early on.

But that said, there are signs that a solid base is in place for next season.

Despite losing offence from over-agers Aagard, Danny Desrochers and Patrick Murphy, I get the feeling that Dmitry Sokolov, Alan Lyszczarczyk, Valentini and Michael Pezzetta are ready to lead the way.

It’s been a disappointing season for Matt Schmalz, but if he can rebound and regain the scoring touch he showed last year, then he could turn into a very valuable go-to overage forward.

Rookies Macauley Carson and Ben Garagan have shown it was no fluke they made the team out of training camp and look for them to be even better next year.

We have only seen a couple of glances of Owen Lane and Shane Bulitka, but expect them to start next season on the roster — they’re too good not to be part of the team.

The blueline should be pretty solid next year.

Kyle Capobianco will be in his fourth season next year, which is prime time for defencemen. I would also be shocked if he isn’t wearing the “C” as team captain.

Cole Mayo and Reagan O’Grady will battle for top four ice time, pushing veterans Conor Cummins and Zach Wilkie.

I also expect the Wolves to use their high pick to take a defenceman in the OHL Priority Draft this spring with a defenceman also a possibility with their CHL Import pick.

While it’s true it’s going to be tough to see the Wolves out of the playoffs for a second straight season, it looks like the steps have been taken to make sure this is a playoff team in 2016-17.

Stew Kernan is the radio and television voice of the Sudbury Wolves, and the News Director at KiSS 105.3 and Q92.