I know it’s still a little early but can we at least agree that next year isn’t a contender year? Can we now at least agree that next year is a minor rebuild, trading away some pieces at the deadline?
I would agree, yes. First and foremost, make a decision on Donoso (OA) or MacKenzie…MacKenzie would get us more back given his age, but we’ll need him for 2024-25 so I’d keep him and trade Donoso before the season starts provided a viable backup is found. MacKenzie should be one of, if not the, best goalies in the league by then.
Trade Rohrer at the deadline for a good haul. He’s a really good player and will improve a contender as their middle-6 C/RW that can play in all situations.
If Beck returns, he should get dealt at the deadline too. Another big haul if (very big if) he’s healthy. With a new GM in Calgary, his injury challenges, and uneven play, it’s highly uncertain he gets signed. There are decent odds he ends up back in Ottawa next season and it would be great for the 67s if he does. If healthy he’d be top 5 in points next year I’d imagine.
I’d even make a decision on Sirman or Smyth and consider trading one of them. For 2024-25, our OA possibilities would be MacKenzie, Mayich, Sirman, Smyth, Gerrior and Stonehouse. Can’t keep them all, and they’ll presumably have more value at next years deadline than in the following off-season. Either would fit on a contender as a #5/6 steady physical D-man.
In 2023-24, consider a #4-7 seed in the playoffs a good season, try and push a higher seed to 6 or 7 games or even win a series as a 4 or 5 seed. Most importantly, accumulate playoff experience for 2024-25.
Edit: The one scenario that would make we want to reconsider is if by some miracle, Boucher gets returned to Ottawa instead of the AHL. With Boucher and Beck as OAs, I’d consider next year to be a contending season. Highly unlikely of course.
For 2024-25, the big decision upfront would be whether to bring back Gerrior or Stonehouse as an OA. Let’s say its Gerrior for argument’s sake. He’s captain material. Deal Stonehouse in the off-season.
Foster - Pinelli - Gerrior (OA)
Barlas - Gardiner - Dever
xxx - xxx - Kelly
xxx - xxx - xxx
Marrelli - Mews
Mayich (OA) - Ewles
xxx - Horner
xxx
MacKenzie (OA)
xxx
That’s not bad. We’ve had success with our imports. Everyone in our top 6 and our top 3 D will have had two playoff runs under their belts. MacKenzie should be a top goaltender. But I think the key takeaway for me is that 2024-25 is shaping up as a better contending season than next year. I don’t know enough about the other teams but in isolation Ottawa’s roster looks good. We’d have tons of picks from the deals noted above and maybe some new bodies in place too. Boyd should draft and develop for playoff hockey though, it’s a different beast and we just weren’t ready this year.
I also agree with the analysis above that we really didn’t need to do anything at the deadline this year. Hindsight is 20/20 of course. We overachieved as the top seed, and probably would have ended up as the 2nd or 3rd seed without Morrison and Mintyukov. We would have been pushed by Hamilton or Missy but would be the favourites. Then knocked out by Barrie or NB in the second round..so right where we ended up anyway. The deadline moves may have been to placate the fan base, seeing a first place team and wanting them to do…something. Also a nod to the veterans that were screwed out of a contending year in 2019-20. But we ended up half-pregnant, with a roster not constructed well enough for playoff hockey. It’s too bad. There’s still a 10-20% chance we go on a bit of a run here and take it in 7, but long odds of course.
Petes fan here -
I don’t understand what made Sirman so angry at the end of the game.
Did someone do him dirty or was it just general competitive angst ?
Just being a shithead. The tell was him going after one guy (Melee I think) the turning his attention to Gauvreau when the first guy shrugged him off.