Raftis on state of Hounds
His team is 25 games into the ’24-25 Ontario Hockey League regular season. And Soo Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis took the time to discuss the current condition and near future of the Red and White with Hockey News North.
The Greyhounds take a record of 12-13-0 into OHL play this week. Which means there are still 43 games to play on the OHL regular season slate. First up, what does Raftis think of his team at the 25 game mark of this season?
“It has been an unusual year for us overall, especially given that we have not had a full lineup due to injuries and other factors in any game so far,” the Hounds GM relayed to Hockey News North. “However, when we have been close to our ideal lineup, I have been very pleased with the way the team has played and competed.
“Although consistency and finding the right line combinations for better chemistry have been challenging due to these factors, I am impressed with the individual progress of our players,” Raftis continued. “On most nights, you can see that we are very close to where we need to be. If our first and second year players can continue to develop, there is a lot to be excited about. Many of them have made great strides and are on the right path, with some even ahead of schedule — both for the second half of this season and beyond.”
And what does Raftis do ahead of the looming January 10 OHL trade deadline? Does he do a minor tinkering with the roster that does NOT include trading away last year players for younger ones and/or future draft picks? Does he hold a fire sale and trade away established veterans such as goalie Charlie Schenkel, defenseman Andrew Gibson and an older forward or two for younger players and/or future draft picks? Or does Raftis simply stay the course and stand pat?
“As we approach the trade deadline, the recent (NCAA) National Collegiate Athletic Association changes have left many teams looking to add players from outside the league, which has slowed discussions on team direction,” Raftis relayed to Hockey News North. “It will likely take some time before teams settle on their plans. For us, the priority remains ensuring we have a group that can continue to mature and progress toward becoming an elite team, regardless of age.”