Ottawa 67's 2023-24 Off-Season Thread (Part 1)

[NoQuit67s]

Pathetic crowd tonight Ottawa.

IF you don't want junior hockey then I am more than sure that ownership could find some eager recepiets in other cities wanting a franchise. No excuses that it is a Tuesday night.

You're not going to convince me otherwise of any excuses TBH.

Anyways 1-1 now after a giveaway in thr Brantford end

Disagree... Better crowd than expected.
There was some spirit too.
Crowds will continue to grow if a run takes place

 

[OMG67]

Good gameplan, with back to basic 67s hockey and textbook execution by the players. I thought Marrelli, Horner and Kelly in particular had really nice games (in addition to the more obvious names). Three goals created by o-zone and n-zone pressure and several other good chances.

Brantford set us back on our heels a bit in the 3rd so it’ll be interesting to see what adjustments they make for Thursday. I thought they were less than impressive this evening overall. Their goaltender was beat cleanly on wrist shots for three of our goals.

Brantford’s second goal was off an faceoff win in their o-zone, with Stonehouse taking the draw (Dever deferred to him). Acknowledging we were missing Gardiner this evening, Cameron needs to tighten that up, even if it means sending Kressler or Maillet to take the draw and a quick change thereafter. Wingers shouldn’t be taking d-zone draws (obviously). But overall, the 67s did well on the faceoff dot this evening.



I was there, and guessed 2500. So 2623 seems realistic.

The TV Screen didn’t make that attendance figure apparent. Looked like there were 18 people in the Zamboni end.

 

[NoQuit67s]

Attendance was 2623? For real? I call bullshit on that….

Looked like it to me

 

[NordiquesForeva]

The TV Screen didn’t make that attendance figure apparent. Looked like there were 18 people in the Zamboni end.

The ends were indeed pretty sparse. More condensed in the central sections and in GA. Lively crowd too!

 

[AGranderson]

2600 seems correct to me middle sections were all full & GA

 

[Race Dawg]

Disagree... Better crowd than expected.
There was some spirit too.
Crowds will continue to grow if a run takes place

Crowd was loud but that meager amount in a bigger arena ain't good...

 

[OMG67]

Crowd was loud but that meager amount in a bigger arena ain't good...

In all fairness, 2600+ on a Tuesday of Round One in Ottawa isn’t bad. It is a positive.

They have a low amount of season ticket holders. The Corporate tickets aren’t typically renewed in the playoffs in large numbers.

I think that attendance, assuming the number is accurate and not inflated, is a really good sign and a number to build off of. That suggests 3000+ on Thursday. If there is a Sunday evening game, probably another 3000+.

 

[AGranderson]

One concern after watching tonight. DC played 9 forwards, Yani & Barlas 2 shifts each early in the first & then not again. How much gas is in the tank concerns me. Dietsch not even one shift. MacK was outstanding. Play like they did tonight for two more games and this team will catch most of us by surprise in this first round.

 

[OMG67]

One concern after watching tonight. DC played 9 forwards, Yani & Barlas 2 shifts each early in the first & then not again. How much gas is in the tank concerns me. Dietsch not even one shift. MacK was outstanding. Play like they did tonight for two more games and this team will catch most of us by surprise in this first round.

It will depend more on how long Gardiner is out. If he is only out sick then it shouldn’t be a problem. He returns, Kelly shifts back to the 4th line and that gives them Barlas and Kelly on the 4th with one of the other forwards subbing in on a double shift.

Also, as much as I don’t feel Korbler would be effective, he is supposed to be back later this series as well. At least he would provide rested legs.

 

[ecraigs]

Not sure on the crowd. I'm a lousy guesstimator. The end sections filled in somewhat, so 2500 seems a reasonable ballpark.

Maillet was very good tonight. He dropped down to help out the defence on contested pucks behind our net. He seemed to take control of the puck and move it out. Marrelli had a classic blowout, but MacKenzie and the post made it a non-issue.

Not sure what's up with our other draft-eligible defenceman. He played with zero confidence and routinely turned the puck over in danger areas. Brantford targeted him, dumping the puck into his corner and then forechecking hard.

Overall, I enjoyed the game very much.

 

[OMG67]

On the Broadcast tonight, they talked about the Pinelli family having the team over for dinner the off day between games one and two. They managed to get Zenon Konopka to come and talk to the team, tell them the story behind the stripe under the eye and what it meant to the team in 2001 (last Championship season). It looks like that event lit the fire under the team. It was flat and listless. Then it wasn’t. Sometimes all you need is the right swift kick. Sounds like the team dinner with Zenon inspiring the troops was what this team needed to find their identity (or reclaim it). Zenon was one of the best leaders and Captains in this teams history. He led a bunch of lunchpails to a Championship that year. Maybe he can be the catalyst that can get that ball rolling again….

 

[NoQuit67s]

67s have adjusted the game plan / system the last two games.

The have pressured the Bulldogs at the right times and turned them into turnover machines, especially yesterday. That is an effective way for a small fast team to play winning hockeyagainst bigger slower opponents.

67s zone exits are also intentionally improved. Our D-men are hitting forwards skating (fast) horizontally across behind the 3 Bulldogs mostly standing still lined up at our blue line. The passes aren't always hitting, but it is creating situations where 67s are moving full speed versus mostly idle Bulldogs, and 67s are winning races to the puck.

Let's see how the Bulldogs adjust now.

 

[ecraigs]

Last night, the officiating was mediocre verging on horrible. After tightly-called games 1 and 2, things just sort of drifted away. The little hooks and holds that were PP in the first two games were now no big deal.

Dust-up along the boards and a player comes in, late, and jumps over the pile landing on the far side. Very dangerous to have skate blades whizzing past heads. Nothing called.

Numerous icings on both sides, where there was clear contact with a stick in the neutral zone, over the red line, still called icing. Late in the game, the rear line signalled icing on Brantford, the crowd could hear the puck hit an Ottawa stick in the neutral zone. The puck crossed the goal line, rebounding out in front of the net. Near line waved off icing and another official blew his whistle. The near line immediately raised his arm for icing. No idea what was going on there. More than one centre dot faceoff on missed calls.

I was also glad to see Brantford using Ottawa's "Sit behind the net and wait for Spring" tactic. To the point where the crowd was booing them. Personally, they can keep it. As Napoleon said: "never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

I noticed a couple of plays where the goaltender froze the puck in his crease with no opponent anywhere near. The referee blew it dead and treated it like icing, not allowing the offending team to change. Is this new, or have I been asleep all year. Both are possible.

 

[OMG67]

Last night, the officiating was mediocre verging on horrible. After tightly-called games 1 and 2, things just sort of drifted away. The little hooks and holds that were PP in the first two games were now no big deal.

Dust-up along the boards and a player comes in, late, and jumps over the pile landing on the far side. Very dangerous to have skate blades whizzing past heads. Nothing called.

Numerous icings on both sides, where there was clear contact with a stick in the neutral zone, over the red line, still called icing. Late in the game, the rear line signalled icing on Brantford, the crowd could hear the puck hit an Ottawa stick in the neutral zone. The puck crossed the goal line, rebounding out in front of the net. Near line waved off icing and another official blew his whistle. The near line immediately raised his arm for icing. No idea what was going on there. More than one centre dot faceoff on missed calls.

I was also glad to see Brantford using Ottawa's "Sit behind the net and wait for Spring" tactic. To the point where the crowd was booing them. Personally, they can keep it. As Napoleon said: "never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

I noticed a couple of plays where the goaltender froze the puck in his crease with no opponent anywhere near. The referee blew it dead and treated it like icing, not allowing the offending team to change. Is this new, or have I been asleep all year. Both are possible.

As long as things don’t get out of control (and they didn’t), the 67s should want to play any team at 5 on 5 considering their weak special teams statistics. I think the 67’s would come out on top more than not.

 

[beastintheeast]

On the Broadcast tonight, they talked about the Pinelli family having the team over for dinner the off day between games one and two. They managed to get Zenon Konopka to come and talk to the team, tell them the story behind the stripe under the eye and what it meant to the team in 2001 (last Championship season). It looks like that event lit the fire under the team. It was flat and listless. Then it wasn’t. Sometimes all you need is the right swift kick. Sounds like the team dinner with Zenon inspiring the troops was what this team needed to find their identity (or reclaim it). Zenon was one of the best leaders and Captains in this teams history. He led a bunch of lunchpails to a Championship that year. Maybe he can be the catalyst that can get that ball rolling again….

That is the big problem with today's sports teams: they do not know the history of the team. That is why certain teams do really well, and others don't.

A case in point could simply be the Maple Laffs and the Bruins.

Junior teams are even harder because of the turnover. Consider also that none of these guys were even a gleam in their mom and dad's eyes when the 67 last won the M CUP

 

[beastintheeast]

28. Ottawa Senators (via BOS)​

Henry Mews, D, Ottawa (OHL)

The Senators won't have to look far for their second selection of the first round in taking Mews.

The right-handed defenseman is a hot topic as scouts have varying opinions on him, likely due to his erratic play throughout the season. Mews has shown the ability to drive play from the back end, and will need to develop his decision-making and positional play to take advantage of his skating and offensive talent.

If he can dictate play on a more consistent basis, eliminate unnecessary risk-taking and improve his positional play, he projects nicely as a No. 4 or 5 defenseman.

 

[ecraigs]

As long as things don’t get out of control (and they didn’t), the 67s should want to play any team at 5 on 5 considering their weak special teams statistics. I think the 67’s would come out on top more than not.

Brantford's PP is 2 points weaker than Ottawa's PP, although their PK is that amount better. That all comes out as a wash in this series, but your point is well taken about other playoff teams. What Ottawa has to do is push Brantford into taking penalties or into washing out PP opportunities with stuff after the whistle. That is a dragon that we need to tame as well.

 

[PuckStop75]

Brantford's PP is 2 points weaker than Ottawa's PP, although their PK is that amount better. That all comes out as a wash in this series, but your point is well taken about other playoff teams. What Ottawa has to do is push Brantford into taking penalties or into washing out PP opportunities with stuff after the whistle. That is a dragon that we need to tame as well.

Not sure I get your math on this one, but Ottawa needs to stay out of the box, their PK sucks and the PP is not kicking over at a rate where I would be encouraging players to be overly aggressive in trying to draw penalties. Play the game straight up and fast, keep Brantford on their heels as much as possible... just keep doing what they have been doing in games 2 & 3. Its garbage hockey but it has worked so don't change.

 

[HockeyPops]

Not sure I get your math on this one, but Ottawa needs to stay out of the box, their PK sucks and the PP is not kicking over at a rate where I would be encouraging players to be overly aggressive in trying to draw penalties. Play the game straight up and fast, keep Brantford on their heels as much as possible... just keep doing what they have been doing in games 2 & 3. Its garbage hockey but it has worked so don't change.

Special teams is pretty much a wash this series so far, although the slight edge goes to Brantford.
Ottawa is pp=10.0%, pk=82.4%, total = 92.4%
Brantford is pp=17.6%, pk=90.0%, total = 107.6%

 

[44 95 plus tax]

I noticed a couple of plays where the goaltender froze the puck in his crease with no opponent anywhere near. The referee blew it dead and treated it like icing, not allowing the offending team to change. Is this new, or have I been asleep all year. Both are possible.

I believe there is now a rule that if the puck is frozen by the goaltender from a shot outside the blueline (perhaps redline) the team freezing the puck is not allowed a change.

EDIT:

Goalies Unnecessarily Freezing Puck – The Committee recommends that the defensive team not be permitted a line change when a goalie freezes the puck on any shot from outside the center red line. The offensive team will have the choice of which end zone dot the face-off will take place.

 

[PuckStop75]

Special teams is pretty much a wash this series so far, although the slight edge goes to Brantford.
Ottawa is pp=10.0%, pk=82.4%, total = 92.4%
Brantford is pp=17.6%, pk=90.0%, total = 107.6%

Take away the first game and I would say that neither team has been particularly effective on the PP. Brantford controlled the first game on the coat tails of the PP goals. If Ottawa stays out of the penalty box their chances of winning the series increase considerably.

 

[ecraigs]

I believe there is now a rule that if the puck is frozen by the goaltender from a shot outside the blueline (perhaps redline) the team freezing the puck is not allowed a change.

EDIT:

Goalies Unnecessarily Freezing Puck – The Committee recommends that the defensive team not be permitted a line change when a goalie freezes the puck on any shot from outside the center red line. The offensive team will have the choice of which end zone dot the face-off will take place.

I like the rule. No PP for it, but there is a consequence for this kind of delaying tactic. I hadn't seen it called before, but it makes sense.

Not sure I get your math on this one, but Ottawa needs to stay out of the box, their PK sucks and the PP is not kicking over at a rate where I would be encouraging players to be overly aggressive in trying to draw penalties. Play the game straight up and fast, keep Brantford on their heels as much as possible... just keep doing what they have been doing in games 2 & 3. Its garbage hockey but it has worked so don't change.

Not really arithmetic here, more a general assessment that neither team is a special teams powerhouse sitting in the bottom half of the League for both measures.

 

[Race Dawg]

On the Broadcast tonight, they talked about the Pinelli family having the team over for dinner the off day between games one and two. They managed to get Zenon Konopka to come and talk to the team, tell them the story behind the stripe under the eye and what it meant to the team in 2001 (last Championship season). It looks like that event lit the fire under the team. It was flat and listless. Then it wasn’t. Sometimes all you need is the right swift kick. Sounds like the team dinner with Zenon inspiring the troops was what this team needed to find their identity (or reclaim it). Zenon was one of the best leaders and Captains in this teams history. He led a bunch of lunchpails to a Championship that year. Maybe he can be the catalyst that can get that ball rolling again….

Zenon easily in my top 10 for Ottawa 67's player of all time. Fierce competitor and always brought it every game. It's funny though as when he played for the Barbes Poles he seldomly fought. Killer used his leadership and playmakibg skills to his advantage. But when he got to the show he was always going with some of toughtest guys in the league.

 

[Race Dawg]

The TV Screen didn’t make that attendance figure apparent. Looked like there were 18 people in the Zamboni end.

Don't you know the cool people sit in section 26/27. Gotta raz that opposition goalie

 

[AGranderson]

Tonight is a big game, on home ice with the opportunity to push them to the brink where Brantford would have to beat us 3 times in a row which is extremely difficult to do. Hopefull for a good loud crowd inside TD place.