Ottawa 67's 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 2)

[ecraigs]

The next two years will be lean but it is all a part of Junior hockey. With any luck, we will get that arena plan approved and they can break ground soon.

A couple of years is nada for us. Any gossip yet on where the 67s will play while the new arena is built? Slush Puppie is nice, but I won't be fighting traffic to get there on weekday nights.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

A couple of years is nada for us. Any gossip yet on where the 67s will play while the new arena is built? Slush Puppie is nice, but I won't be fighting traffic to get there on weekday nights.

The plan is for them to build the new arena first, while the 67s (and women's team and basketball team) continue playing at TD Place. When the new arena is completed, the tenants will move in and the north side stands and TD Place will be demolished.

 

[OMG67]

A couple of years is nada for us. Any gossip yet on where the 67s will play while the new arena is built? Slush Puppie is nice, but I won't be fighting traffic to get there on weekday nights.

My understanding is the construction of the new arena will not disrupt the 67’s. It wil be built in the East End Zone. I believe that is an entirely separate phase from the tear down of the North Stands and new Commercial/Residential building.

 

[yacky]

North Bay and Sudbury will finish 1-3 seeds. They will likely play each other in the Eastern Conference Final. The caveat being that DiVin fully returns to form. MacK could stand on his head as he tends to do and sort of upset in the playoffs. Goaltending may be a difference maker one way or the other.

Sudbury improved but there is still something about that team that concerns me a bit. I give the edge to NB for now.

After watching the wolves I know what they are lacking Discipline

 

[OMG67]

After watching the wolves I know what they are lacking Discipline

Leadership as well. Maybe some added experience? Just some intangibles that may make a difference. I am not 100% certain about it but that seems to be my knock on them overall. I am not sure the players they brought in provide that.

 

[ecraigs]

My understanding is the construction of the new arena will not disrupt the 67’s. It wil be built in the East End Zone. I believe that is an entirely separate phase from the tear down of the North Stands and new Commercial/Residential building.

I will reserve judgment on that. That plan might mean disrupting the 1,000 bicycle parking spots in the East End. There is also a plan to add two or three condo towers, as far as I can recall. Projects like that change direction pretty quick.

 

[OMG67]

I will reserve judgment on that. That plan might mean disrupting the 1,000 bicycle parking spots in the East End. There is also a plan to add two or three condo towers, as far as I can recall. Projects like that change direction pretty quick.

They cannot shit the site down because of the other tenents. i believe they are separate phases that will need separate funding. I am not sure OSEG can financially do both at the same time.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

I will reserve judgment on that. That plan might mean disrupting the 1,000 bicycle parking spots in the East End. There is also a plan to add two or three condo towers, as far as I can recall. Projects like that change direction pretty quick.

Its two condo towers now, and the plan is to build them where the north side stands and the strip of commercial space (e.g., GoodLife and the OSEG team store) currently sits. Arena is phase 1...that is the plan City council voted on and approved a few months ago.

 

[Larionov]

The next two years will be lean but it is all a part of Junior hockey. With any luck, we will get that arena plan approved and they can break ground soon.

The timeline at present calls for groundbreaking on the new arena this fall with a 2027 opening. The good news is that there is no more political drama - the vote has been held and the project has received all the approvals it needed at the city level. It's happening, which is great.

As for the team, I am putting a lot of chips into the middle of the table on Mews and Marelli. These are two highly skilled players who will both be high picks in the upcoming draft. I think they have both fallen a bit, but I would expect Mews to go in the latter half of the first round and Marelli in the second. We will likely have both of them through their D+1 and D+2 years, at which time their growth and development will just take off. (NHL teams tend not to have 19 year old defencemen, so I think it is reasonable to expect we have them for both.) By halfway through their D+2 seasons, after they have both played for Canada at the WJC, they will either be carrying the team, or will be deluxe trade chips that will generate huge returns.

 

[analyser]

If just one move, I predict a player going out, not coming in BUT we shall see!

)

My understanding is the construction of the new arena will not disrupt the 67’s. It wil be built in the East End Zone. I believe that is an entirely separate phase from the tear down of the North Stands and new Commercial/Residential building.

This is also what I believe will happen.

 

[BarberPole9]

Well, if that is it for Ottawa and it seems likely, that last trade helped to fill in some draft pick holes nicely.

For 2024, we are missing a 2nd and a 4th. But we have the comp 1st which fills the hole in the 2nd round, we have two 5ths so that sort of makes up for missing the 4th round pick and we have the extra 7th which makes up for missing the 6th pick. So, 2024 draft doesn’t look too bad.

The two picks in this latest deal fill in the holes int he 2025 draft, with the exception of the 9th round pick.

The 2026 draft is a little baron (2nd - 3rd - 4th - 12th missing) but, we will recoup those picks next deadline for sure.

The 2027 draft is only missing a 3rd and a 5th.

Al Lin all, we escaped pretty well from the deadline with draft picks mostly intact when you look at it more closely. We added three key players that will help us this year. We should be set up well to win the division and make it to round 2. After that, I am not sure. But, it will be a fun finish to the season.

The next two years will be lean but it is all a part of Junior hockey. With any luck, we will get that arena plan approved and they can break ground soon.

They may be able to recoup those picks in the offseason.

I feel like Mackenzie, Gerrior, Stonehouse and Mayich Arellano have strong values. Smyth and Sirman can play in the league as 20 year olds.

 

[Fawlty]

May have missed it, but I think Ottawa gets a 3rd and a 4th (not a 5th) for Ewles - so even better.

 

[OMG67]

They may be able to recoup those picks in the offseason.

I feel like Mackenzie, Gerrior, Stonehouse and Mayich Arellano have strong values. Smyth and Sirman can play in the league as 20 year olds.

Good point. I’m thinking we may very well return Stonehouse next season. At first I thought with him signing, he was as good as gone but he may be a strong candidate to work on certain things as an OA before AHL.

If that were to happen, we’d likely carry the four OA’s to closer to the deadline. We’d get a lot more for the OA’s the closer to the deadline we get. Smyth and Sirman would both garner a decent return early. Maybe around a 5th round pick or so.

I wasn’t considering the OA’s in the trades at all next deadline. I was so focused on the 19 year olds that I didn’t factor the 20 year olds in at all!

 

[OMG67]

The timeline at present calls for groundbreaking on the new arena this fall with a 2027 opening. The good news is that there is no more political drama - the vote has been held and the project has received all the approvals it needed at the city level. It's happening, which is great.

As for the team, I am putting a lot of chips into the middle of the table on Mews and Marelli. These are two highly skilled players who will both be high picks in the upcoming draft. I think they have both fallen a bit, but I would expect Mews to go in the latter half of the first round and Marelli in the second. We will likely have both of them through their D+1 and D+2 years, at which time their growth and development will just take off. (NHL teams tend not to have 19 year old defencemen, so I think it is reasonable to expect we have them for both.) By halfway through their D+2 seasons, after they have both played for Canada at the WJC, they will either be carrying the team, or will be deluxe trade chips that will generate huge returns.

I agree about Mews. I think he is a solid 1st rounder. He may slip to the 2nd round but I think that falls more on the unlikely side.

Marrelli is a different story. To me, Marrelli falls into that great OHL player but not so great NHL prospect. We may see him slip to the 6th to 7th round. He isn’t a pure offence guy. He is too small to be viewed professionally as a shut down guy. His overall game is great at the OHL level but that doesn’t mean much at his size. If he were 2-3 inches taller doing what he is doing, he’d be a great prospect. But, at 5’11” with his type of game? I question his NHL prospects.

 

[sirius67fan]

I wasn’t considering the OA’s in the trades at all next deadline. I was so focused on the 19 year olds that I didn’t factor the 20 year olds in at all!

So you don't read my posts do you? I'm hurt

 

[HockeyPops]

So you don't read my posts do you? I'm hurt

I always read the first paragraph and last paragraph!

 

[OMG67]

So, totally separate topic of sorts….

If the new Arena is set to open in 2027, we’d be looking at a 2030 Memorial Cup Bid. We wouldn’t be open in time to host in 2027. So, we have six years to prepare!

So you don't read my posts do you? I'm hurt

Of course I do!

What I meant was in my post about the draft picks in the cabinet. I highlighted the 19 year olds as the ones to fill the holes and totally glazed over the 20 year olds… You shoulda jumped in before me!

 

[sirius67fan]

So I wonder what our defence pairings will be?
Option one Mayer/Mayich ( Mayich covers Mayer)
Mews/ Marelli ( Marelli covers Mews)
Sirman/Smyth ( veteran stay at home third pairing, pk)

Or as M&M are only 17 do we split them up
Mews/Mayich
Mayer/Marelli
Sirman/Smyth

 

[OMG67]

OH! And for those of you that are not aware, I have a $100 bet with Skalba that the 67’s will win the division. Them Fronts fans don’t have a lot of faith in our lads!

So I wonder what our defence pairings will be?
Option one Mayer/Mayich ( Mayich covers Mayer)
Mews/ Marelli ( Marelli covers Mews)
Sirman/Smyth ( veteran stay at home third pairing, pk)

Or as M&M are only 17 do we split them up
Mews/Mayich
Mayer/Marelli
Sirman/Smyth

I think we split them up. I am not 100% sure it will end up being the obvious top 4 together though. Something tells me we may see Smyth and Mews together.

 

[sirius67fan]

So, totally separate topic of sorts….

If the new Arena is set to open in 2027, we’d be looking at a 2030 Memorial Cup Bid. We wouldn’t be open in time to host in 2027. So, we have six years to prepare!



Of course I do!

What I meant was in my post about the draft picks in the cabinet. I highlighted the 19 year olds as the ones to fill the holes and totally glazed over the 20 year olds… You shoulda jumped in before me!

Just yanking your chain..lol

OH! And for those of you that are not aware, I have a $100 bet with Skalba that the 67’s will win the division. Them Fronts fans don’t have a lot of faith in our lads!

I believe you" ll be 100$ richer in a few months. Kingston fans have mostly seen the injured version of our team, might be in for a surprise with our additions.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I agree about Mews. I think he is a solid 1st rounder. He may slip to the 2nd round but I think that falls more on the unlikely side.

Marrelli is a different story. To me, Marrelli falls into that great OHL player but not so great NHL prospect. We may see him slip to the 6th to 7th round. He isn’t a pure offence guy. He is too small to be viewed professionally as a shut down guy. His overall game is great at the OHL level but that doesn’t mean much at his size. If he were 2-3 inches taller doing what he is doing, he’d be a great prospect. But, at 5’11” with his type of game? I question his NHL prospects.

Mews is the third best OHL Dman in the 2024 draft behind Dickenson and Parekh.
This draft is such a D heavy in the first round i think he goes in the 30th-40th band. (End of first / early 2nd)

 

[OMG67]

Mews is the third best OHL Dman in the 2024 draft behind Dickenson and Parekh.
This draft is such a D heavy in the first round i think he goes in the 30th-40th band. (End of first / early 2nd)

I think that is accurate. It will depend a lot on what he shows in the playoffs to be honest. he hasn’t had a strong enough year to date. Usually they like to see stronger levels of improvement. I think he loses his man a lot and makes mistakes net front. Now that we have more of a full compliment of D-Men, he won’t need to overplay his hand as much. I think he will settle in.

The Marrelli assessment is where I think I am accurate. I don’t think the NHL is looking at him very hard. He may improve his stock if the 67’s go on a playoff run because if they do, a lot of it will have to do with his overall play. He is that type of wildcard on the back end. I just don’t think the NHL will take him seriously.

 

[mianjo]

May have missed it, but I think Ottawa gets a 3rd and a 4th (not a 5th) for Ewles - so even better.

Jan. 10

OTT

Gavin Ewles

FLNT

OS 3 2025 PBO 4 2025

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Mews is a better NHL prospect than Marrelli, but I've long though Marrelli is our better overall defenseman. It would be nice to see them pair up together at the 2026 World Juniors (I don't any of the 67s have much of a chance next year in Ottawa, unfortunately). I feel a sense of comfort when Marrelli is on the ice.

 

[SidSixpointSeven]

Would have preferred to see Smyth, Horner or Brady moved, but unfortunately none of those three get you anything close to a 3rd and 4th round pick. Not a Smyth fan (regardless of who you pair him with), as he consistently gets beat wide or caught flat footed and out of position - he also won't hit anybody. Hopefully with a solid top five of Mews, Marrelli, Mayich, Mayer and Sirman - they can cycle the above (and Dietsch) in and out of the lineup as the 6th and 7th defencemen based on who performs the best.