Geez Beast you really have a bee in your bonnet. Relax man and enjoy the ride..might work out...might not but that's sport! I'm happy as long as Boyd finishes the job.
Ottawa 67's 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 2)
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Circumstances change sometimes! Hard to predict the east would be up for grabs like this. You critisize Boyd a lot and compare in to Mavety ( don't know about that before my time but your time in k-town seems to have scared you). Reality is he's been a great GM. Him Tourigny and Boyd have rebuilt this teams identity ( some kudos to Brown who helped set up the table with a few good trades). One final, 3 presidents trophy, what will be a contending team this year. Most of the O would envy us. Yes he may not have put all his chips down like some of us wanted to get us over the top ( at least not yet) butgive credit where credit is due.
NordiquesForeva
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Mayich - Mews
Marrelli - Mayer
Sirman - Ewles
Smyth - Horner
Brady
That’s our current defense depth chart. The top 4 is very strong, but I still think we need someone of top-5 quality to bump Ewles or Smyth down to #7D. I’m cool with Sirman, but the other 2 are just not there from a defensive perspective, as evidenced by their play over the weekend (though I will say that Ewles is a smooth skater and pretty good puck mover). I'd prefer to not go into the playoffs with either Ewles or Smyth on a regular pairing.
Horner played his best game as a 67 on Saturday on the wing; if we brought in another defenseman for to play in our top-6, we could keep Horner as a flex F/D and offload two of the others (definitely Smyth, who will be an OA next year, and either Brady or Ewles) in order to secure that improvement on defense or bring in a couple of picks. There could be some value in Ewles and Brady as they both have some time left in the OHL (Ewles - 2+ yrs, Brady - 3+ yrs by my count).
Marrelli - Mayer
Sirman - Ewles
Smyth - Horner
Brady
That’s our current defense depth chart. The top 4 is very strong, but I still think we need someone of top-5 quality to bump Ewles or Smyth down to #7D. I’m cool with Sirman, but the other 2 are just not there from a defensive perspective, as evidenced by their play over the weekend (though I will say that Ewles is a smooth skater and pretty good puck mover). I'd prefer to not go into the playoffs with either Ewles or Smyth on a regular pairing.
Horner played his best game as a 67 on Saturday on the wing; if we brought in another defenseman for to play in our top-6, we could keep Horner as a flex F/D and offload two of the others (definitely Smyth, who will be an OA next year, and either Brady or Ewles) in order to secure that improvement on defense or bring in a couple of picks. There could be some value in Ewles and Brady as they both have some time left in the OHL (Ewles - 2+ yrs, Brady - 3+ yrs by my count).
OMG67
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I 100% agree about Horner. I think as a 4th line guy, he skates well enough and mixes it up. He is agressive.
Ewles is not suited for the Cameron system. He needs a system that is more free wheeling. As you mention, he does skate well and does handle the puck well but in this system, he gets exposed with fumbles too much. Too many turnovers at the offensive blueline. Maybe less ice time and less responsibility has him on the ice against the top two lines for the opposition.
I think Smyth is fine enough. I can live with Sirman and Smyth. I fall on your side where I feel I would prefer an upgrade there but I can live with it.
The key at this point is to nail down one more centre and potentially another grinder winger int he style of Barlas. I am not sold on Dever in that 3RW spot when he is back from injury. I’d prefer to see him with Whitehead on 4RW and then it allows him to drill up the lineup as the 10th forward during injury etc.
In a perfect world, we add 4 more pieces but I don’t see it happening. Backup Goalie, 3C, 3RW, and RHD.
NordiquesForeva
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Yes, if we bring in two more forwards and the end result is Dever being bumped down to the 4th line with Whitehead and Yanni I certainly wouldn't complain. That line would be very quick (though undersized), and would be a strong puck pursuit line. Perhaps that's where Horner comes in to add some muscle to that line as needed. I've been impressed with Yanni so far, he has the makings of a really good forechecker.
The priority now should be the centre (and the backup goalie to replace Donoso if he is in fact let go). I'd like more size and physicality up front, so perhaps that is what the winger addition can bring.
Smyth often loses his man in coverage in the defensive zone or gets caught looking the wrong way or picking up the wrong man. A couple of the rebound goals by NB/Kingston players over the weekend where Smyth/Ewles didn't tie up their man in front. He can win puck battles and is a reasonably good skater and puck mover for a big guy, but I question his defensive awareness. Sirman is better in that regard and can help offset some of Smyth's shortcomings, but they aren't the conservative, lock-down 3rd pairing I'd like the 67s to have.
Like you said though, its a matter of priorities. I agree with what you laid out.
OMG67
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Honestly, I like the idea of trying Horner out at 4LW. I like Yanni but he is young and could use more time before he takes on that role. If we don’t trade for a 3RW, then he can play the 4RW spot. That said, I think Kelly comes into the picture in that scenario.
But, at the end of the day, if we can flip a couple players out and use those assets to finish tweaking the roster, I think I’d prefer that.
The 3C is a must. No doubt about that.
Who do you have as the 2C? I have the depth chart at Kressler, Gardiner & Foster. Gardiner and Foster have been filling the 1/2 slots up to this point and I don't see them as now incapable of even playing the position.
Gerrior and Barlas slide into the 2/3 LW slots and then there is RW Dever works his way in there somewhere and hopefully they can find a winger to replace Uronen. The biggest element missing in the forward group at the moment is some size. The 4th line is not going to be a strength of the team at this stage, looking at a Whitehead, Korbler and perhaps Horner in a flex position as the 7th D on any given night.
I think we need to be reasonable about what can be accomplished with the lineup and cupboard available to do it with in 2 days.
Jack Dever played his whole AAA as a Centre. Could easily fill the 3C role.
He's definitely more of a 200FT player that's more focused on the defensive side of the puck.
I'm guessing Cameron prefers him at wing because he's always been a bit undersized but has actually put on some beef in the past 8 months. -For a team that struggles to score goals i'd be looking at this option and putting natural goal scoring wingers with him.
He's definitely more of a 200FT player that's more focused on the defensive side of the puck.
I'm guessing Cameron prefers him at wing because he's always been a bit undersized but has actually put on some beef in the past 8 months. -For a team that struggles to score goals i'd be looking at this option and putting natural goal scoring wingers with him.
OMG67
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Everything I have heard suggests Donoso is out. They are trying to find him a place to play and if they can’t they will release Him. That is what I am hearing. I dont’ know this as fact but we’ve said all year that this is MacK’s net and keeping Donoso as a backup is a waste of an OA spot when there are gaping holes sitting there. They’d have kept LAwrence over Donoso if they didn’t have a plan for that spot.
The cost of a good OA has been set at 2nd 3rd, 5th ‘ish. We can easily handle that. We’d likely bring in a solid backup to ensure we don’t end up with Nelson by himself. That won’t be overly expensive. Goalies are usually fairly cheap.
Those two deals will happen IMO.
That means the 3C is likely brought in and it will be an OA. If it is a good centre then maybe Gardiner slides into the 3C. I’ve heard a couple names but who knows for sure. Foster and his 43% at the dot doesn’t cut it.
I think we need to sit back and wait out the deadline to see where we end up. It is useless speculating on lines and depth chart right now.
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The Donoso thing has been a bur in my rear all year, for team dynamics that should have been addressed months ago.
I've never been one for line constructing, teams need a balance of speed, skill and physicality in their top 9 group. This team really lacks the physicality particularly once Lawrence is removed. The focus should be on getting the best physical forward(s) available. We will see what Boyd does next.
OMG67
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I think you need 8 key positions filled first. Three Centres, top 4 D-Men and Starting goalie. We are short the 3rd centre. Once you have those key positions, you can fill out the wings with weight and scoring.
HockeyPops
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???
Kressler - 38th league wide in points
Mayer - 15th league wide in points for defensemen
Isn't that what they just did?
OMG67
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LOL.Make it a physical right shooting centre then please!
I think that ship has sailed, sir. They aren’t a physical team Up front. They will have a hard time with the more physical teams that can match the skill. That is a given. There is a LH Centre that we may have an inside track on that plays the body very well. He’s not huge but plays with an edge.
I think we will know this afternoon.
I agree, you replace maybe 15 points in the current lineup with 66 points this has got to have a positive affect with the point production. In addition, I believe their is more to come if JB can manage to get the deals done.
freakishly powerful for the size, which might explain the need for occassional games off
It's official Lawrence to London and we get our 8th back
. Glad they found a good landing spot. Now hopefully they find a spot for max.
. Glad they found a good landing spot. Now hopefully they find a spot for max.
OMG67
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If we are talking about the same player, he is no longer listed on his current teams roster page. Not sure if that means anything but thought I’d point it out.
And if we are thinking the same player his playoff face off numbers last year rival Foster's
OMG67
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I was joking (sorta), that move would allow for a shuffle to happen that improves things overall upfront. They would then need to find a BUG.
NordiquesForeva
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I don't recall Foster playing much centre for us. A few games before Christmas when we were dealing with injuries, sure. He seems more like a winger to me - good corner play, big shot and good playmaking skills. I think that's where his skills are optimized, rather than adding a centre's normal defensive responsibilities onto his plate.
OMG67
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Pretty sure there are two more moves. OA and BUG.
Dunno if there will be more or not. That is where it starts to get cloudy.
Stop it! You will make the Petes fans go crazy! We don’t have an eligible ‘07 to trade. They will flip out and call you names and stuff….
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