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He did play C during last season's playoff run but otherwise you're correct. Dever did really well during playoffs but he's not a very experienced Center...I'm not even sure if he's a natural Center.
Ottawa 67's 2023-2024 Off-Season Thread (Part 2)
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Dever was a C all through triple A with QRD.
It was Ottawa who moved him to the wing. Likely due to his lack of size when he got to the O.
- Sep 29, 2016
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That doesn't mean he's a natural C though. If he makes it to pro hockey I see him as more of a winger. He did really well during playoffs at C and will likely remain in the middle in the upcoming season and I have no problem with it but he's not really an elite playmaker or two way specialist so I think he'd be at least as good on the wing.
OMG67
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Dever played Centre down the stretch as the #3c with Horner and Stonehouse on his wings. He did very well BUT that is also an example of an inexperienced centre playing with a couple good wingers. So, that isn’t that bad of a mix if you only care about goal suppression. In my mind, the key will be goal scoring on the Pinelli line. If they bulk up that first line and put Pinelli and Foster on Ekberg’s wings, the possibility exists they could get away with that. Then in the #2C role, Dever plays with Gerrior and Horner. That is more of a shut down line. The issue is when you get to #3C with Whitehead. Can a player like Barlas add enough to that line defensively to ensure it doesn’t get taken advantage of? It is there where I feel it starts to get a little thin, especially with Korbler being a bit smaller.
Maybe they balance the lines a bit and put Horner with Whitehead as the physical presence and Korbler up on the fist line with Foster on the 2nd with dever and Gerrior? Whatever….
I do agree that they will look for a centre but I really think they need to take their time. Last year they went all the way to the deadline with only one true centre (Gardiner). Then they acquired Kressler and Maillet. I don’t see any sense of urgency for them this year. If something that makes sense comes available, so be it.
Amidovski seems like a good prospect. You never know with 1st round picks. Sometimes they settle in right away and make contributions right from the start. If Whitehead comes in heavier, again, you never know. HE could leverage extra size and strength combined with his strong skill and make an impact.
Many “IF’s” this year. Too many variables. We need to see the tema in action for a bit to get a stronger sense of where their true gaps are.
Maybe they balance the lines a bit and put Horner with Whitehead as the physical presence and Korbler up on the fist line with Foster on the 2nd with dever and Gerrior? Whatever….
I do agree that they will look for a centre but I really think they need to take their time. Last year they went all the way to the deadline with only one true centre (Gardiner). Then they acquired Kressler and Maillet. I don’t see any sense of urgency for them this year. If something that makes sense comes available, so be it.
Amidovski seems like a good prospect. You never know with 1st round picks. Sometimes they settle in right away and make contributions right from the start. If Whitehead comes in heavier, again, you never know. HE could leverage extra size and strength combined with his strong skill and make an impact.
Many “IF’s” this year. Too many variables. We need to see the tema in action for a bit to get a stronger sense of where their true gaps are.
I actually see him more as a center at least at the junior level. He looked way more comfortable at center last year. He can make better use of his main asset, borderline elite speed, there. As OMG said start him as our #2 center for now as we know his floor even though the offensive ceiling is limited. In an ideal scenario Whitehead eventually develops into a #2 as the year proceeds and then Dever is a solid #3.
Larionov
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Can someone help me out on the Mews trade talk? This is his home town, and he is getting tons of ice time playing for a well respected coach who is coaching our World Junior team. Why in the world would he be looking for a trade?
I posted an almost identical comment a few weeks ago...lol. so don't look to me for answers
OMG67
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All I know is @ScoutLife4 has suggested his understanding is the Mews Agent is trying to hype Mews with other teams, more specifically Kingston in an effort to get him to a different team close to home.
The word on the street is the system Cameron coaches isn’t as ideal for the game Mews prefers to play. We saw that when we acquired Mintyukov. It took him pretty much the entire second half of the season to find his stride in the DC System. Mintyukov’s production went down dramatically so the thought is if Mews had the reigns taken off of him, he’d produce closer to the level of Parekh. That would likely have positively affected his draft status, even if it meant his defensive side sucked.
Could just be his Agent and Family trying to get him to a strong team thinking Ottawa will be in rebuild his last 2 years.
They sure were not hiding it at the draft.
I can see Ottawa taking a wait and see approach but he would bring a nice haul for a rebuild before the deadline.
There was LOTS of discussion about him wanting to play with Battaglia.
Don't take my word though i just count shots LOL
The not wanting to play for Cameron part didn't appear to be the reason for this one in all honestly.
I think that's just a common theme that's easy to blame on the coach.
Anyone here spoke to Dave Cameron before? -He has a really weird dry personality.
What he thinks is funny is not funny to most people and he's an awkward dude.
I do think he's a good coach though. -I also feel like he struggles to get the most of out his team at times.
Totally agree.
Not even convinced those rumors are true...
If they were, only thing I could see is that the agent did not like the fairly big NHL draft slide and now puts the blame on the 67s (unfairly in my opinion) rather than on some of Mews' weaknesses.
Otherwise he will continue to get huge ice time in Ottawa in all situations.
I would believe this if it was just the agent.
But when the family starts advocating for it i believe they are more so aligned with the player usually.
Either way i do not get a sense of urgency on this one.
I would agree that Cameron may not be ideal for the game Mews is best suited for. Even though he did score sixty points the fan in me would love to see him unleashed offensively as we don't have many gamebreakers on this team. Yes we would pay a price defensively, question is would the trade off be positive? The other thing Mews and his agents need to ask is what is better long term for him. To come out of junior as a elite offensive talent only or after 4 years under Cameron who demands accountability as a more complete player. Don't know the answer but Mews and his team need to think about it.
On another note hopefully the 67's will publish a training camp roster. Always nice to see who attends...and who doesn't.
Out of curiosity, if he struggles getting the most out of his teams why did Team Canada tab him as its HC for the World Juniors? Genuine question.
To me it seems that each of his teams has outperformed regular season preseason expectations. They haven’t won the league but somehow they have been in the conversation the last two years . Those teams had an 87-36-13 record.
HC has nothing to do about being the best.
HC is about politics, relationships and money.
You have seen over and over again HC inability to ice the best roster possible on the ice year after year.
When i say struggles to get the best out of his team if i was to go into detail i would use the lack of toughness and physicality.
He has been incapable of getting his team to play a mean style of play off hockey year after year and its one of the softest teams in the league year after year.
I remember watching a couple episodes of that Barber Pole series where he was asking them repeatedly to go out and play tougher hockey and they wouldn't really adjust at all.
You can't have 16 year McCallum on Peterborough slapping around your 19 year olds all game. (even know it is absolutely comical to watch him going after all Ottawa's tougher players all the time)
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OMG67
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With respect to physicality, it needs to be asserted early and sometimes that requires some undisciplined play to let the other team know they cannot start running around. One of the things DC preaches is disciplined play. It is hard to be disciplined and physical. You need to find the right balance. The main issue is you also need bodies that can dish out physicality. Generally speaking, Ottawa’s forwards have been more on the small size overall. It makes it tough because if they go out and be physical on the regular, their bodies will break down over the course of a season. We do need to insert a better physical presence overall.
I land ont he side where DC has a responsibility to develop Mews as an NHL prospect. The question is whether Mews was able to learn from him or not. I don’t think his lessened offence was an issue. It was the atrocious defence he displayed int he first half of the season that hurt him.
The draft is now over so it is about whether he develops or not. It seems like the player may feel he’d develop better in a different system than DC’s. I am jsut speculating but that would be the most likely issue.
I land ont he side where DC has a responsibility to develop Mews as an NHL prospect. The question is whether Mews was able to learn from him or not. I don’t think his lessened offence was an issue. It was the atrocious defence he displayed int he first half of the season that hurt him.
The draft is now over so it is about whether he develops or not. It seems like the player may feel he’d develop better in a different system than DC’s. I am jsut speculating but that would be the most likely issue.
Hockey Canada has won 4 out of the last 7 world junior gold medals including 2022 with Dave Cameron as the Head Coach.
Do you realize that there are other outstanding hockey playing countries out there?
With all of these negatives that you listed above, why does Canada keep winning?
OMG67
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The Radio interview suggested there would be four OA’s in camp. Stonehouse is injured so he obviously won’t’ be participating in camp. I know he is in Ottawa. I had friends that saw him and other players at the football game on the weekend.
So, if there are four players in camp, who are they? Mack, Mayich, Gerrior, and Sirman make the most sense but what about Smyth? To me, they should have five guys in camp.
Boyd also said they would rotate four guys until something was worked out.
So, if there are four players in camp, who are they? Mack, Mayich, Gerrior, and Sirman make the most sense but what about Smyth? To me, they should have five guys in camp.
Boyd also said they would rotate four guys until something was worked out.
Because DC style of hockey is well suited for IIHF.
Less psychical, more penalties. -Not near as much is let go as canadian hockey imo.
I didn't say he wasn't a good fit for Canada.
I'm just saying being involved with HC has nothing to do with being the best.
HC is all politics.
OMG67
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He is pointing to the politics involved in picking rosters. High NHL draft picks tend to get more attention than elite CHL players that don’t project as pros. In many cases, politics has placed better NHL prospects on that team ahead of better Junior Players that would likely contribute at a higher level in that tournament.
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