Saint John Sea Dogs 2024-25 Season Preview

Jacob Titus

Sep 5, 2024, 16:00

Jacob Titus

Sep 5, 2024, 16:00

Photo: Michael Hawkins, Saint John Sea Dogs - Saint John Sea Dogs 2024-25 Season Preview

The Saint John Sea Dogs will be an interesting team to follow in the upcoming season.

Last year, they just squeeked into the playoffs, on a dreadful 20-39-9 record. That said, there's a lot to be hopeful for on the team.

Left winger Eriks Mateiko will return, fresh off of a 43-point, 49-game season that ended with his selection in the fourth round of the NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals.

The team's other import, 2025 NHL Draft eligible center Florian Schenk, is coming off of a decent showing at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with Switzerland (2 points in 4 games). Last year, he had 25 points (8+17) with SC Bern Jrs. in the Swiss Under-20 league.

Mateiko isn't the only confirmed NHL affiliate prospect returning to Saint John, with Columbus' 2023 7th round pick Tyler Peddle returning. The left winger is coming off a lackluster 32 point season, between the Voltigeurs and the Sea Dogs last year. He may be more of a checking forward, but if he's able to pick up the pace offensively again especially with his speed and motor, the Sea Dogs could be sneaky good.

The team could also potentially see the return of Flyers 7th rounder, Matteo Mann for his overage season given that he hasn't signed a pro deal yet. Though, 6-foot-6 defender has previously played a single game with the Reading Royals of the ECHL last season.

Speaking of imports, the team has yet to have officially decided who their imports will be for the 2024-25 season. Alongside Mann, they've invited centerman Nico Laforge (7 in 59), defensemen Nate Tivey (27 in 64) and Joseph Iannello (34 in 59).

Alongside those three, they've recently acquired overage goaltender Charles-Edward Gravel from Baie-Comeau.

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Gravel was one of the better goaltenders in the QMJHL last season, posting a .909 save percentage across 51 games.

Assuming that Mann goes pro, and that the overagers are Gravel, Tivey and Iannello, the Sea Dogs have one of the top overage trios in the league.

With Tivey and Iannello, will be Nicholas Bilodeau who is coming off of a 25 point (5+20) season last year. Bilodeau will look to return to form after having previously put up 43 points (10+33) in 2022-23.

The team looks like they are stacked defensively and in net, but the biggest question mark comes down to offense.

Will left winger Dylan Rozzi (8th overall, 2024) and centerman William Yared (5th overall, 2024) play as was advertised when they were drafted in the top 10 of the 2024 QMJHL Draft?

Can we see centerman Egan Beveridge expand on last year's 19-point rookie campaign?

Will center Coen Miller shift into the next gear for the regular season again, after seeing a production jump since arriving in Saint John midway through last season.

Furthermore, who's going to step up on the right side as the Sea Dogs' have invited no natural right wingers to training camp this year with 10 or more QMJHL points in a season. Mateiko can play right wing, but some one will still need to step up for the slot on the second line.

As it stands, I think the Sea Dogs will ice one of the most improved teams. The defense is looking real solid and the goaltending is too.

I just don't know if they are in that upper echelon just yet. There's just too many question marks on offense.

Although, if we see massive rookie years from their two committed first rounders and big jumps from Coen Miller and Beveridge, or potentially an addition here or there, they might just be.