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

[Larionov]

There was a season a few years back, pre-pandemic, where the 67's went the entire season with two OA spots unfilled, and one import spot unfilled. In fact, IIRC, one OA and import were the same player. I guess that makes sense if it is a development year - no sense taking spots away from kids who will be with you next year if you aren't a serious contender this year. I'm also told from people on the inside that acquiring OAs can be tricky - you have to do your homework on the player. If the OA in question isn't a good fit in your dressing room, it can actually have a negative effect on your team. I have heard stories about OAs who party too much, are sulking because they think they should be playing pro, etc. This is especially important in an organization that prides itself on character. All of this to say that it wouldn't surprise me to see Lawrence as the only OA on this roster when the dust settles in early January...

 

[OMG67]

We have this year a good team. Not a team that is going to rock the world. Hell, we have been at the top for the past few years. It is time we came back to earth. Reset and get ready for another run. Even adding Mayer is not going to make this team as good as last year.

Boyd realized that and decided to do the smart thing and pressed the pause button. We are still going to be a good team to watch, but Cameron and the players are going to get a chance to develop this year.

We ended last year thinking this would be a year to replenish our supplies by trading Beck and Donoso. Well, we may get a chance to add even more by trading Beck, Donoso and Stonehouse. Stonehouse is probably going to get us the most, as he will be a deadline deal.

Is Mayich going or staying that is going to be up to the rest of the league. I'm sure that if Boyd gets an offer that blows him away Mayich will also be gone.

This team I think is building to 25/26 when we will have a heck of a team. Next year we will be good but I think we will be better then.

I think the key right now is determining the best window and how to prepare for that window. I don’t think we have any consensus on here when that window truly is. You state 25/26. You may be right. Scenario’s change. Just in this short month we lost Beck and face the possibility Stonehouse doesn’t return for an OA season. Losing Beck pretty much cements this team as a rebuild. Potentially losing Stonehouse reduces the chance for a competitive season next year.

So, if 25/26 is the season and next year is another rebuild season, it could change the way they approach the goaltending. Why keep MacK if he has serious value now? The whole premise of trading Donoso and keeping MacK was we needed MacK for a contending year next season. If we don’t see to be contenders next year then why not explore the possibility of moving MacK now and keep Donoso? Same with Mayich. We have five returning D-Men on the current roster plus three potential OA D-Men (Mayich, Sirman, and Smyth). Maybe it is better for Ottawa to consider keeping a kid like Smyth and moving a kid like Mayich because it results in more assets to push to future seasons.

This team is in total limbo. I usually have a strong sense of what they should do. I then have a sense of what they will do. This year? This team? No bloody clue where they feel they are and what their goal is. If their vision is for the 25-26 season, they have a lot of ‘05s up front and can only keep three as OA’s. Some will graduate (Pinelli, Uronen, Gardiner and potentially Foster). What does their forward group look like in 25-26? I’m not too sure we can seriously point to that season right now. Next year still looks somewhat promising but what if this year’s team at the deadline is middle of the pack? The core of this team will return next year just one year older.

I’m sort of lost on where this team is going right now. I’m sure we will have a better sense by the deadline but that is still almost three months away.

 

[HockeyPops]

Knock-knock!
Who's there?
Soo Greyhounds inquiring about MacKenzie and Mayich...

Also, to be clear, you haven't "lost" Beck or Stonehouse. You got good value for Beck and should also for Stonehouse if you decide to. The ones that hurt are when they leave so suddenly you are unable to recoup any assets for an impact player.

 

[SSMHoundsFan]

Knock-knock!
Who's there?
Soo Greyhounds inquiring about MacKenzie and Mayich...

Also, to be clear, you haven't "lost" Beck or Stonehouse. You got good value for Beck and should also for Stonehouse if you decide to. The ones that hurt are when they leave so suddenly you are unable to recoup any assets for an impact player.

Why don't we just trade for all three of them, turn our roster into a a former 67s squad lol

 

[HockeyPops]

Why don't we just trade for all three of them, turn our roster into a a former 67s squad lol

We could do a lot worse. I think it would be a fantastic fit, personally!

 

[SSMHoundsFan]

We could do a lot worse. I think it would be a fantastic fit, personally!

Ottawa was the best team in the league last year even though they didn't go all the way...I'm sure alot of these guys would love another shot at that

Mackenzie, Mayich and Stonehouse for Miller, Brown, Virgilio + picks.... takers?

 

[DeletedAccountt]

Ottawa was the best team in the league last year even though they didn't go all the way...I'm sure alot of these guys would love another shot at that

Mackenzie, Mayich and Stonehouse for Miller, Brown, Virgilio + picks.... takers?

SSM would never over pay like this.

 

[OMG67]

SSM would never over pay like this.

Stonehouse is a wildcard. His services may end up in a bidding war if he becomes available. He has certain attributes you don’t get in any other player. A team looking for the ability to score goals and be a pest and draw penalties at the level he does it is usually in very high demand. It will come down to the number of teams truly interested or on the market to add. Even if there aren’t many buyers, that may not affect his value. When there is only one single player that every team wants, that players value goes up because he’s the #1 trade target and there is no Secondary option that lies in a singular player.

If it were a player that scores goals or accumulates points ect, there are a handful of those guys available. IF you don’t get player “A”, you get Player “B.” I don’t think there is a Player “B” when comparing to Stonehouse.

If Stonehouse is highly desired and is top of list for multiple teams that don’t have a Player “B” option, we could see a return for Stonehouse we don’t expect.

I’m not saying this is the case for him but if there is one wildcard player in the OHL right now, Stonehouse is likely that guy.

 

[ecraigs]

There is not much available on the overage market at this point particularly at forward. The only overages being traded are team’s excess overages and the only forwards available were Kaleb Lawrence and Pasquale Zito. Zito is at home pondering his future so Lawrence was the only forward available to the 67s. The higher end overages will likely be available at the trade deadline for a much higher price than what overages are going for right now.

So, Pasquale is sitting at home in Ottawa?

 

[OMG67]

So, Pasquale is sitting at home in Ottawa?

He hasn’t played a game this season.

 

[beastintheeast]

I think the key right now is determining the best window and how to prepare for that window. I don’t think we have any consensus on here when that window truly is. You state 25/26. You may be right. Scenario’s change. Just in this short month we lost Beck and face the possibility Stonehouse doesn’t return for an OA season. Losing Beck pretty much cements this team as a rebuild. Potentially losing Stonehouse reduces the chance for a competitive season next year.

So, if 25/26 is the season and next year is another rebuild season, it could change the way they approach the goaltending. Why keep MacK if he has serious value now? The whole premise of trading Donoso and keeping MacK was we needed MacK for a contending year next season. If we don’t see to be contenders next year then why not explore the possibility of moving MacK now and keep Donoso? Same with Mayich. We have five returning D-Men on the current roster plus three potential OA D-Men (Mayich, Sirman, and Smyth). Maybe it is better for Ottawa to consider keeping a kid like Smyth and moving a kid like Mayich because it results in more assets to push to future seasons.

This team is in total limbo. I usually have a strong sense of what they should do. I then have a sense of what they will do. This year? This team? No bloody clue where they feel they are and what their goal is. If their vision is for the 25-26 season, they have a lot of ‘05s up front and can only keep three as OA’s. Some will graduate (Pinelli, Uronen, Gardiner and potentially Foster). What does their forward group look like in 25-26? I’m not too sure we can seriously point to that season right now. Next year still looks somewhat promising but what if this year’s team at the deadline is middle of the pack? The core of this team will return next year just one year older.

I’m sort of lost on where this team is going right now. I’m sure we will have a better sense by the deadline but that is still almost three months away.

OMG I AGREE

Add to what you said and with the confusion of who is the top team in the east.

No one is jumping out to start. The worst case scenario is that Ottawa is in a battle for a top position. That puts them in the stay-pat or buyer market.

Personally, as we have said I think this team has to be a seller. But that depends on what is being offered, lso it depends on what St Louis is thinking.

I agree that the plan needs to be set and that things are going to be set it.

How well is everyone playing and developing?
Do we have at least 3 centers for next year?
What are the offers, and are they good?
As to Donoso Mack, the question is, do we have a goalie that we can bring in and can play big minutes next year?

Again I think the rebuild is the best option. The questions are too numerous at this stage with no real answers.

He hasn’t played a game this season.

Zito is also a winger that we do not need. He would only screw up this team bad attitude soso stats and he is going to cost the development of a young talent.

Ottawa was the best team in the league last year even though they didn't go all the way...I'm sure alot of these guys would love another shot at that

Mackenzie, Mayich and Stonehouse for Miller, Brown, Virgilio + picks.... takers?

The market will decide who gets who and what the cost is It could be interesting but if you need that many players then you really should not be trying to make the finals against Lodon and Sag

 

[beastintheeast]

What are the Navan grads like this year? I see Nelson has a 2.15 GAA and 925 sv%

 

[SSMHoundsFan]

The market will decide who gets who and what the cost is It could be interesting but if you need that many players then you really should not be trying to make the finals against Lodon and Sag

Last time I checked many championship teams bring in guys to bolster their lineup, it's not a taboo thing

 

[analyser]

Last time I checked many championship teams bring in guys to bolster their lineup, it's not a taboo thing

I agree, the Pete's last year added Lockhart, Othmann, Hayes, Beck and White and did quite well. Ottawa needed 1 more forward who could score, had size and also could of kept the other team honest. A healthy Boucher would of helped a lot. I believe Savard could of been the missing ingredient.

 

[OMG67]

Last time I checked many championship teams bring in guys to bolster their lineup, it's not a taboo thing

I don’t think Beast was trying to be difficult. I think he is suggesting that London and Saginaw (more so Saginaw) are well positioned at this point and will likely be heavy buyers. I won’t suggest SSM is not in a drivers seat as well. I think with respect to SSM, we will see where they are closer to December. Their relative performance will dictate what the best avenue will be. I think SSM is probably in that 3-hole right now from a ranking perspective. They may end up in the #1 hole by Christmas If they keep up their current level of performance. They will need a few more weeks for people to start to believe in them more. This was similar to Ottawa last season. It took a while for Ottawa to get people outside Ottawa on board.

Beck is doing pretty much what we expected. He’s at 12 points over 6 games. He’s clearly been a driving force. If he remains healthy, he will be a league leader in scoring. Adding players like that at a relatively low cost is integral. If SSM can add another guy like that at relative low cost, it will benefit them.

 

[SSMHoundsFan]

I don’t think Beast was trying to be difficult. I think he is suggesting that London and Saginaw (more so Saginaw) are well positioned at this point and will likely be heavy buyers. I won’t suggest SSM is not in a drivers seat as well. I think with respect to SSM, we will see where they are closer to December. Their relative performance will dictate what the best avenue will be. I think SSM is probably in that 3-hole right now from a ranking perspective. They may end up in the #1 hole by Christmas If they keep up their current level of performance. They will need a few more weeks for people to start to believe in them more. This was similar to Ottawa last season. It took a while for Ottawa to get people outside Ottawa on board.

Beck is doing pretty much what we expected. He’s at 12 points over 6 games. He’s clearly been a driving force. If he remains healthy, he will be a league leader in scoring. Adding players like that at a relatively low cost is integral. If SSM can add another guy like that at relative low cost, it will benefit them.

Who were Beck's linemates last season?

 

[HockeyPops]

I know he played some with Logan Morrison and Cooper Foster

 

[OMG67]

Who were Beck's linemates last season?

He roamed all around the lineup last year, as did most of the team. There really weren’t set lines at all. Plus he missed a significant chunk of time with a concussion. At times he played more of a puck retrieval role in the corners and behind the net and at others, he played more of a shooting role. It really depended on who he played with. Trying to narrow down expectations based on who his linemates were is probably not a good way to predict success.

If he stays in the lineup and has productive linemates, he will top 90 points. He will play responsible defensively and can both set guys up and shoot the puck. His goal totals will be more dependent on the Centre he lines up with. If he is with more of a shooting centre, he will eat up a lot of assists. IF he is with a playmaking centre, he wills core more goals. Regardless, he will retrieve pucks and not give up much in the defensive zone. Great two way player.

The negative side is his weight. He plays a robust game and isn’t afraid to go into corners etc but he lacks weight. It has caused a problem with injuries. Can he play an uptempo game, work the corners and net front while staying healthy? That’s the only question for him.

 

[ecraigs]

He hasn’t played a game this season.

I saw that. He was always a serviceable player, but more of a banger, decent size. He could help a team looking for that.

 

[beastintheeast]

I don’t think Beast was trying to be difficult. I think he is suggesting that London and Saginaw (more so Saginaw) are well positioned at this point and will likely be heavy buyers. I won’t suggest SSM is not in a drivers seat as well. I think with respect to SSM, we will see where they are closer to December. Their relative performance will dictate what the best avenue will be. I think SSM is probably in that 3-hole right now from a ranking perspective. They may end up in the #1 hole by Christmas If they keep up their current level of performance. They will need a few more weeks for people to start to believe in them more. This was similar to Ottawa last season. It took a while for Ottawa to get people outside Ottawa on board.

Beck is doing pretty much what we expected. He’s at 12 points over 6 games. He’s clearly been a driving force. If he remains healthy, he will be a league leader in scoring. Adding players like that at a relatively low cost is integral. If SSM can add another guy like that at relative low cost, it will benefit them.

Thank you. OMG that is exactly what I meant. Yes, if SSM had some extra pieces, they will be better, but do you really think London and Sag are not going to be looking at the same players?

I think, as i said, the standings as well as the market, are gong to decide who goes where.

 

[Petes1987]

I don’t think Beast was trying to be difficult. I think he is suggesting that London and Saginaw (more so Saginaw) are well positioned at this point and will likely be heavy buyers. I won’t suggest SSM is not in a drivers seat as well. I think with respect to SSM, we will see where they are closer to December. Their relative performance will dictate what the best avenue will be. I think SSM is probably in that 3-hole right now from a ranking perspective. They may end up in the #1 hole by Christmas If they keep up their current level of performance. They will need a few more weeks for people to start to believe in them more. This was similar to Ottawa last season. It took a while for Ottawa to get people outside Ottawa on board.

Beck is doing pretty much what we expected. He’s at 12 points over 6 games. He’s clearly been a driving force. If he remains healthy, he will be a league leader in scoring. Adding players like that at a relatively low cost is integral. If SSM can add another guy like that at relative low cost, it will benefit them.

London is likely not going to be heavy buyers at the trade deadline. They only have two, 2nds and three, 3rds in the next four drafts plus they do not have any players drafted in the 1st round that they are willing to trade. They may be able to make one big trade or a two smaller ones. I honestly think that after the trade deadline London will no longer be considered a true contender.

 

[BarberPole9]

This weekend up North will be a great test for the squad. No easy northern games this year.

I am fully uncertain about the direction this team is going to take. Part of me looks at the rest of the conference and says to go all in. The other part says sell off all the 19 year old except McKenzie and load up 6 or 7 2nd and 3rd rounders to go on an epic spending spree next year when the core is mostly 18 and 19. Whatever the decision is, don’t do it half way.

 

[Millpond]

The BIG and physical presence that this team needs. The game really turned in Ottawa’s favour when he threw that monster check on Chromiak. Size matters when you use it.

I will really miss Kaleb in OS.

He is not the fleetest at foot, altho his foot speed has improved over last year.

Where he is excellent is in creating havoc.He is not a dirty player at all, but he can just skate thru guys .
His size seems to go against him at times. What I would deem a clean hit, would be called a head check.
It's hard to ' bend over' to hit someone a foot shorter.

He's got some net front presence and fairly decent hands in tight.

I wish him all the best in his hometown . Youve got a good one there, folks.

I don't recall ever seeing him without his big grin . An excellent young man.

#alwaysabear

 

[beastintheeast]

This weekend up North will be a great test for the squad. No easy northern games this year.

I am fully uncertain about the direction this team is going to take. Part of me looks at the rest of the conference and says to go all in. The other part says sell off all the 19 year old except McKenzie and load up 6 or 7 2nd and 3rd rounders to go on an epic spending spree next year when the core is mostly 18 and 19. Whatever the decision is, don’t do it half way.

This is going to be a rebuilding year.I think that they are going to get to a point where they make the playoffs, but at the deadline, everyone 19 years old or 20 will be available, depending on the offer.

 

[OMG67]

This is going to be a rebuilding year.I think that they are going to get to a point where they make the playoffs, but at the deadline, everyone 19 years old or 20 will be available, depending on the offer.

I think you are right with one caveat being they will assess whether a certain 19 year old will return as an OA. If they are confident the player will return AND they want him to return, I think they will keep him.

Gerrior - 100% return
MacKenzie - 90% return
Mayich - 80% return
Stonehouse - 30% return
Smyth and Sirman - Do they want them to return?