There's almost six months before next season begins. However, it's never too soon to discuss what the IceGators need to do to improve - both on and off the ice - for the 2015-16 season.
1. Sign this guy. There's no guarantee that he's going to make it through next season without getting called up to the ECHL, but Scott Diebold has the skill set and the attitude to not only be a quality netminder, but the media presence to be the face of the franchise.
Update: Diebold decided to use his RPI degree in the private sector, and will not return to hockey. On 8/19, the IceGators acquired Adam Courchaine from the RiverKings for LW Benji Rubin.
Update: Diebold decided to use his RPI degree in the private sector, and will not return to hockey. On 8/19, the IceGators acquired Adam Courchaine from the RiverKings for LW Benji Rubin.
2. Sign this guy. Jake Hauswirth is the best 1st line center in the league. He's a huge presence in the middle, can run the power play, and can score from anywhere on the ice. If he played a full season in Lafayette, he could rack up 70-75 points.
3. Help this guy out. It's no coincidence that Drew Omicioli turned the corner as a coach when GM Lou Dumont joined him behind the bench late in the season. An assistant coach is no longer a luxury item in this league, but a necessity. Find someone who Drew can work well with, and put him behind the bench. Defensive experience preferred.
4. Replace this guy. It's almost a certainty that Shawn McNeil has played his last game as an IceGator. He's been the captain of this team for four seasons, and a player of his caliber and character is going to be difficult to replace. If I can think of someone who can hit the ground running, it would be a good idea to tune up the game in Australia over the summer...
5. Defend this thing. The IceGators defense took a step backward last year, allowing 1,757 shots on goal (4th highest in the league) and 184 of those found the back of the net (2nd highest). This team has some of the best shooters in the league, and has led the SPHL in shooting percentage the past two years. Improvements need to be made to backcheck consistently, breakout cleanly, minimize d-zone turnovers, and minimize odd-man rushes. Defense wins championships.
6. This bus. I'm not saying that a quirky bus is a hindrance, because it's part of the minor league hockey experience. However, the team racks up the second most road mileage in the SPHL and has three destinations which are 10+ hours away. There have been too many road trips over the past two seasons that had to be completed with outside assistance.
7. Filling the seats. The front office did an admirable job in attempting to break the SPHL single-game attendance record, and 6,887 people joined in for the attempt. However, attendance last year dropped off slightly from the '13-14 season, from 2,372 to a league low of 2,336.