Ottawa 67s 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[Hinterland]

Just for perspective purposes, let’s run out the possibility of adding to this team. It is at least a worth while exercise.

The expendable assets we have that other teams would inquire about for trades are:
5x 2nds
3x 3rds
5x 4ths
Amidovski
Eshkawkogan
Whitehead
Dietsch
Houben
Yanni
Nelson

If we look at the Barlow deal, the comparable deal Ottawa would have offered is:
Yanni
Dietsch
2x 2nds
2x 3rds
5th
7th

The Rehkopf deal was:
3x (2nds, 3rds, 4ths)
7th

What does Ottawa need:
1> Top Pairing D-Man
2> Elite scorer
3> secondary scoring

IMO, that is three pieces.

Who would we be looking at to fill those roles? Andonovski (KIT), Musty (SUD), plus one player similar to Cooper Foster. What would those trades look like?

For Musty and Andonovski, we are most certainly looking at moving Amidovski in one of those deals. We are also looking at moving two of Yanni, Houben, Whitehead or Dietsch in the other deal. Additionally, we are likely looking at depleting every single one of those draft picks I listed between the 2nd and 4th rounds. There is no way around it. The competition for those players will be fierce. If Ottawa isn’t prepared to move those players and picks, there is no sense in even walking up to the auction.

If we approach this deadline as usual holding only draft picks, we don’t have enough picks to make more than one really good deal and one depth move. Even if we could get one elite player like Rehkopf for picks, that is 9 high picks to start. After we make that move, we are left with two 2nds and two 4ths for the remainder of the moves we make. There is no way around not moving young players.

Any thoughts of truly competing by adding one scorer is sort of crazy. We are 1.4 goals per game behind Kingston and close to a goal per game behind Niagara and Brampton. IMO we need to match up agaisnt Barrie. Their GA is almost a full goal better than Ottawa right now. So, the moves we make right now need to improve our GA and GF by a net of one goal per game. THEN, we need to improve above that to match what the competition will do at the deadline which likely means jsut to be on the same plain as Oshawa, Brampton, Barrie, and Kingston, we need to have a net improvement of around 2.0 goals per game. This is why we need those three players I identified. We need to be able to score AND improve our goal prevention. Our defence is way too young and inexperienced to go into the playoffs with Mayich and Eshkawkogan as the top pair. We’d need to go into the playoffs with a top pairing D-Man to place with MAyich and that drops Eshkawkogan down to anchor the 3rd pairing.

The great teams will focus on Pinelli in the playoffs. If he is our only elite scorer, he will get shut down 5 on 5. He will have zero space. This is why we need another elite scorer. Then we need that secondary scorer.

In a perfect world, Dever is the 3rd Centre. Foster can remain with Pinelli on the 1st line but we’d need to build 2/3 of a 2nd line to play with Stonehouse.

So, the question is whether we, as fans, would be ok seeing Amidovski, Yanni, and Dietsch moved along with the remainder of our draft picks to make an honest run this year. This is followed by trading MEws and MArrelli next year, forcing the team to bottom out and miss the playoffs and pretty much start from scratch. This also means we likely move Nelson the following year as part of the rebuild and have two poor seasons. That is what it will take to make an honest effort this year.

We are already seeing players move from the USHL and BCHL to the CHL. Unfortunately, almost all of Ottawa’s true NCAA committed players are USNTDP players. They are very unlikely to leave that program. I could see Vandenberg maybe moving but he’s a 16 year old and won’t help this year. He would help the rebuild. So, not only will we likley not improve in that regard, we likely will watch other teams around us improve.

I like the defense as it is. I wouldn't change anything unless they wanna play Mews on the wing or Boyd feels like he has to move Mews. Otherwise I wouldn't wanna add on defense and I wouldn't wanna give up on Dietsch either.

I think the single biggest need is finish. If they wanna go anywhere, they need to score more goals. They also need more righty forwards.

If I'm Boyd I only add if Nelson proves to be a real option in goal. If using all overager slots on forwards isn't even an option then don't even bother adding. The other key for me is growth of the kids. I think Ekberg, Whitehead and Amidovski all have to play Center right now. They're the best playmakers of this team and, together with Pinelli, also the most gifted forwards. You want your best play drivers to play Center and this is an important development season for them as well. If they can't handle Center duties then don't bother adding either. You can't start adding with Kooper Foster as 1C. Filip Ekberg has to prove he can be that 1C. He certainly has the tools and the adjustment period should be over. Kooper Foster is a much better Winger than Center anyway and he'd help the team with scoring if played on the Wing.

For now I'd try running:

Pinelli, Ekberg, Kelly
Foster, Dever, Körbler
Stonehouse, Amidovski, Horner
Yanni, Whitehead, Gerrior
Houben, Barlas

Mayich, Eshkawkogan
Marrelli, Mews
Dietsch, Brady

That's a pretty good defense and four deep, balanced forward lines with the best playmakers down the middle. Then, if everything goes to plan you can start thinking about adding those righty scorers if affordable ones hit the market. I'd hate to trade Yanni but I'd do it if necessary. If you add any righty scorers you can play Horner over Brady on defense and/or move Kelly down the lineup.

I really think that Nelson and Ekberg are kinda key if the 67's wanna add this season.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I like the defense as it is. I wouldn't change anything unless they wanna play Mews on the wing or Boyd feels like he has to move Mews. Otherwise I wouldn't wanna add on defense and I wouldn't wanna give up on Dietsch either.

I think the single biggest need is finish. If they wanna go anywhere, they need to score more goals. They also need more righty forwards.

If I'm Boyd I only add if Nelson proves to be a real option in goal. If using all overager slots on forwards isn't even an option then don't even bother adding. The other key for me is growth of the kids. I think Ekberg, Whitehead and Amidovski all have to play Center right now. They're the best playmakers of this team and, together with Pinelli, also the most gifted forwards. You want your best play drivers to play Center and this is an important development season for them as well. If they can't handle Center duties then don't bother adding either. You can't start adding with Kooper Foster as 1C. Filip Ekberg has to prove he can be that 1C. He certainly has the tools and the adjustment period should be over. Kooper Foster is a much better Winger than Center anyway and he'd help the team with scoring if played on the Wing.

For now I'd try running:

Pinelli, Ekberg, Kelly
Foster, Dever, Körbler
Stonehouse, Amidovski, Horner
Yanni, Whitehead, Gerrior
Houben, Barlas

Mayich, Eshkawkogan
Marrelli, Mews
Dietsch, Brady

That's a pretty good defense and four deep, balanced forward lines with the best playmakers down the middle. Then, if everything goes to plan you can start thinking about adding those righty scorers if affordable ones hit the market. I'd hate to trade Yanni but I'd do it if necessary. If you add any righty scorers you can play Horner over Brady on defense and/or move Kelly down the lineup.

I really think that Nelson and Ekberg are kinda key if the 67's wanna add this season.

I don't think DC is going to move Amidovski's 1-2 shifts a game played to the third line anytime soon although they should definitely look at giving him 7-8 Mins to adapt to JR hockey.

 

[OMG67]

I like the defense as it is. I wouldn't change anything unless they wanna play Mews on the wing or Boyd feels like he has to move Mews. Otherwise I wouldn't wanna add on defense and I wouldn't wanna give up on Dietsch either.

I think the single biggest need is finish. If they wanna go anywhere, they need to score more goals. They also need more righty forwards.

If I'm Boyd I only add if Nelson proves to be a real option in goal. If using all overager slots on forwards isn't even an option then don't even bother adding. The other key for me is growth of the kids. I think Ekberg, Whitehead and Amidovski all have to play Center right now. They're the best playmakers of this team and, together with Pinelli, also the most gifted forwards. You want your best play drivers to play Center and this is an important development season for them as well. If they can't handle Center duties then don't bother adding either. You can't start adding with Kooper Foster as 1C. Filip Ekberg has to prove he can be that 1C. He certainly has the tools and the adjustment period should be over. Kooper Foster is a much better Winger than Center anyway and he'd help the team with scoring if played on the Wing.

For now I'd try running:

Pinelli, Ekberg, Kelly
Foster, Dever, Körbler
Stonehouse, Amidovski, Horner
Yanni, Whitehead, Gerrior
Houben, Barlas

Mayich, Eshkawkogan
Marrelli, Mews
Dietsch, Brady

That's a pretty good defense and four deep, balanced forward lines with the best playmakers down the middle. Then, if everything goes to plan you can start thinking about adding those righty scorers if affordable ones hit the market. I'd hate to trade Yanni but I'd do it if necessary. If you add any righty scorers you can play Horner over Brady on defense and/or move Kelly down the lineup.

I really think that Nelson and Ekberg are kinda key if the 67's wanna add this season.

The defence as is is completely inadequate for a true playoff run. It really is weak overall. As the season wears on, Eshkawkogan will start to show his age and he will wear down. He isn’t a big player, in fact, he is more on the small side. As teams gear up, he will start to struggle. He is fine on a rebuilding team with low expectations but if the expectation is for him to remain with Mayich in his current role, it would be a massive mistake to expect any success.

I agree about the goaltending but, again, we’d be relying on a 17 year old rookie goalie in a league filled with 19 and 20 year old starters for a reason.

I agree about Ekberg but, again, we are relying on a 17 year old rookie as a #1C going up agaisnt teams with far superior size, skill, and maturity. Expecting positive results is not realistic.

I will pull up Barrie’s roster as a comparable and you should see the difference clearly between the two teams.

Stewart - Wakely (EDM 6th) - Gardiner(DAL 3rd)
Lowe - Jelsma - Hemming (DAL 1st)
Wigle - Beaudoin (UTA 1st) - Patterson(VAN 4th)

Aitcheson - Bertucci (DAL 2nd)
Eliasson (OTT 2nd) - Akey (EDM 2nd)
Tiller - Passmore

Hillebrandt

Eight NHL draft picks including six drafted in the first three rounds. Wakely is the best OA forward in the league. Jelsma was a one man wrecking crew in round one last year vs OShawa. He gave them fits. Beaudoin as the 3rd line centre. Imagine that Beaudoin line going up against Whitehead with Barlas and Horner/Korbler? That’s just silly.

On the back end, it is a who’s who of top OHL D-Men. Three 2nd round NHL picks and Aitcheson who is projected to be a relatively early NHL late birthdate pick this upcoming draft (currently rated 22nd on Sportsnet’s latest rankings released NOV 13).

This 67’s team is not anywhere near the level of Barrie right now. I’d argue that even adding Musty, Andonovski and Patrick Thomas wouldn’t be enough to put them ahead of Barrie right now:

TRADE: Amidovski - Houben - Whitehead - Dietsch
RELEASE: MacKenzie

Musty - Thomas - StonehouseOA
Pinelli - Foster - Ekberg
GerriorOA - Dever - Korbler
Yanni - Barlas - Kelly

MayichOA - Andonovski
Marrelli - Mews
Brady - Eshkawkogan

Nelson

That team healthy would not beat Barrie healthy. I’m not sure those four players plus all of our draft picks would manage to acquire those three players. In fact, I highly doubt it would be enough.

 

[Hinterland]

The defence as is is completely inadequate for a true playoff run. It really is weak overall. As the season wears on, Eshkawkogan will start to show his age and he will wear down. He isn’t a big player, in fact, he is more on the small side. As teams gear up, he will start to struggle. He is fine on a rebuilding team with low expectations but if the expectation is for him to remain with Mayich in his current role, it would be a massive mistake to expect any success.

I agree about the goaltending but, again, we’d be relying on a 17 year old rookie goalie in a league filled with 19 and 20 year old starters for a reason.

I agree about Ekberg but, again, we are relying on a 17 year old rookie as a #1C going up agaisnt teams with far superior size, skill, and maturity. Expecting positive results is not realistic.

I will pull up Barrie’s roster as a comparable and you should see the difference clearly between the two teams.

Stewart - Wakely (EDM 6th) - Gardiner(DAL 3rd)
Lowe - Jelsma - Hemming (DAL 1st)
Wigle - Beaudoin (UTA 1st) - Patterson(VAN 4th)

Aitcheson - Bertucci (DAL 2nd)
Eliasson (OTT 2nd) - Akey (EDM 2nd)
Tiller - Passmore

Hillebrandt

Eight NHL draft picks including six drafted in the first three rounds. Wakely is the best OA forward in the league. Jelsma was a one man wrecking crew in round one last year vs OShawa. He gave them fits. Beaudoin as the 3rd line centre. Imagine that Beaudoin line going up against Whitehead with Barlas and Horner/Korbler? That’s just silly.

On the back end, it is a who’s who of top OHL D-Men. Three 2nd round NHL picks and Aitcheson who is projected to be a relatively early NHL late birthdate pick this upcoming draft (currently rated 22nd on Sportsnet’s latest rankings released NOV 13).

This 67’s team is not anywhere near the level of Barrie right now. I’d argue that even adding Musty, Andonovski and Patrick Thomas wouldn’t be enough to put them ahead of Barrie right now:

TRADE: Amidovski - Houben - Whitehead - Dietsch
RELEASE: MacKenzie

Musty - Thomas - StonehouseOA
Pinelli - Foster - Ekberg
GerriorOA - Dever - Korbler
Yanni - Barlas - Kelly

MayichOA - Andonovski
Marrelli - Mews
Brady - Eshkawkogan

Nelson

That team healthy would not beat Barrie healthy. I’m not sure those four players plus all of our draft picks would manage to acquire those three players. In fact, I highly doubt it would be enough.

Well. These are young players and they have to develop right now. Eshkawkogan has been fantastic so far. He has a pretty good babysitter but if he can keep it up and if maybe the 67's can replace Brady with Horner then I think this is a very good defense. I'm not saying it's top of the league but it's solid and has quite a bit of offensive upside. I'd argue that defense would be better than last season's version.

Nelson so far hasn't looked like starter material but you never know. He's only getting his feet wet.

Ekberg I think would be good enough. There's no guarantee it's gonna work out the way I think but he needs an opportunity to prove it and show what he can do. To me he's 1st round NHL draft material so he should be able to handle 1C duties in the OHL, even during playoffs. Cameron is a grade a moron if he doesn't give Ekberg that chance soon.

I know that's a lot of if's but you have to play the kids. Adding this season does only make sense if you play your most talented kids as well. If you don't trust the kids to be up for it you don't add. It's as simple as that. It all depends on the growth of the kids.

 

[OMG67]

Well. These are young players and they have to develop right now. Eshkawkogan has been fantastic so far. He has a pretty good babysitter but if he can keep it up and if maybe the 67's can replace Brady with Horner then I think this is a very good defense. I'm not saying it's top of the league but it's solid and has quite a bit of offensive upside. I'd argue that defense would be better than last season's version.

Nelson so far hasn't looked like starter material but you never know. He's only getting his feet wet.

Ekberg I think would be good enough. There's no guarantee it's gonna work out the way I think but he needs an opportunity to prove it and show what he can do. To me he's 1st round NHL draft material so he should be able to handle 1C duties, even during playoffs.

I know that's a lot of if's but you have to play the kids. Adding this season does only make sense if you play your most talented kids as well. If you don't trust the kids to be up for it you don't add. It's as simple as that. It all depends on the growth of the kids.

That’s not how it works. You make a run with the best players with an intention of winning a championship. That needs to be the mindset. Developing the youth happens as a byproduct of a long run but the youth doesn’t play a significant role in the Championship run. You cannot expect to run 17 year olds out there vs top end 19 and 20 year olds and expect success.

The point of what I put out there is to show what the typical trade requirement is to acquire the horses we would need to transform this roster into a true contender. Even after those three acquisitions, I still don’t think we are a true contender. MAybe we are in the mix agaisnt current rosters bit all of those teams are going to be adding at the deadline. Ottawa wouldn’t be the only one.

Ottaaw acquired Mintyukov and Morrison when they were the 1st place team and didn’t get out of the 2nd round. They turned over the three OA positions last year and didn’t come close to competing vs Oshawa. This is no joke.

The play for this team is to move Pinelli and maybe Mews at this deadline (or next year) and THEN play the young guys without any heavy expectations so they can play pressure free. Gear up for 2026-27.

We are nowhere near as close as you think they are. The 67’s always start quick because of solid preparation to start the season. The better teams start getting their NHL players returned and then begin to gain momentum as they head into November. Oshawa, Kingston, and Barrie are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Brampton is the shocker right now but they will turn it around. They have an Open OA spot and tons of picks to deal when they are ready to rumble at the deadline. Ottawa is sitting at .500 undergunned.

 

[Hinterland]

That’s not how it works. You make a run with the best players with an intention of winning a championship. That needs to be the mindset. Developing the youth happens as a byproduct of a long run but the youth doesn’t play a significant role in the Championship run. You cannot expect to run 17 year olds out there vs top end 19 and 20 year olds and expect success.

The point of what I put out there is to show what the typical trade requirement is to acquire the horses we would need to transform this roster into a true contender. Even after those three acquisitions, I still don’t think we are a true contender. MAybe we are in the mix agaisnt current rosters bit all of those teams are going to be adding at the deadline. Ottawa wouldn’t be the only one.

Ottaaw acquired Mintyukov and Morrison when they were the 1st place team and didn’t get out of the 2nd round. They turned over the three OA positions last year and didn’t come close to competing vs Oshawa. This is no joke.

The play for this team is to move Pinelli and maybe Mews at this deadline (or next year) and THEN play the young guys without any heavy expectations so they can play pressure free. Gear up for 2026-27.

We are nowhere near as close as you think they are. The 67’s always start quick because of solid preparation to start the season. The better teams start getting their NHL players returned and then begin to gain momentum as they head into November. Oshawa, Kingston, and Barrie are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Brampton is the shocker right now but they will turn it around. They have an Open OA spot and tons of picks to deal when they are ready to rumble at the deadline. Ottawa is sitting at .500 undergunned.

You don't have to be a Memorial Cup contender to add. The 67's added last season as well and I think they're at least tempted and considering to do it again. I'm not necessarily against it as long as they don't do something stupid.

Again, I'm not the biggest fan of adding this season and I'd only do it if the key kids are all trending nicely.