Ottawa 67s 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[sirius67fan]

Oh almost forgot. Most importantly Nelson looks very much like an OHL ready goalie already!

 

[44 95 plus tax]

Agree with all these takes with the exception maybe of Dietsch. With how they seem to be sheltering Brady already and how little ice Dietsch got last year, I wonder if a Dietsch/Brady pairing will see even 8-12 minutes a game…

My comment was meant that we don't have enough defense right now not to play Sirman.

 

[OMG67]

There is a bit of a conundrum right now with respect to playing rookies and developing rookies. Those are two different things. Keeping it real, here is my list of rookies:

Whitehead
Hilton
Yanni
Houben
Amidovski
Brady
Dietsch
Eshkawkogan
Nelson

I have purposely left Ekberg off this list because he played with Pro hockey players in Sweden last year and although he is a rookie to the league, the expectations are much higher and thus he cannot be treated like a rookie. Additionally, I know there are players on that list that played full seasons last year “on paper” but didn’t really play for real. So, really, they should be more advanced than the true rookies (Amidovski and Eshkawkogan) but I still don’t feel we should raise expectations significantly for the “returning rookies.”

That is NINE Rookies that we need to find a way of inserting into the lineup while also protecting the minutes they play in such a way as to advance their skills without breaking their confidence. It is not often a team has that many shiny new toys they need to break in.

I know there is some dissatisfaction surrounding not playing them enough but that equates to the bottom half of the forwards and defence plus the backup goalie.

From my perspective and from what I have seen so far, Amidvski, Eshkawkogan, Whitehead, and Nelson will have no issues handling more responsibility really soon. By really soon, I mean within the next few weeks. I think all of those players will start to become part of the core of the team and there will be no rotation affecting them.

That leaves Hilton, Houben, and Yanni up front and Dietsch and Brady on the back end that need to still gain the confidence of the coaching staff. Dietsch and Brady won’t get scratched but they will see significantly less ice time until they prove capable of more ice time. It is what it is.

As that second group improves and becomes more capable, it not only allows the coaching staff to play them more minutes but it also allows Boyd to potentially move a veteran or two in a trade, thus opening space for those younger players to not need to rotate as much.

That is the path we are on now. Protect the young guys, allow them an opportunity to catch the speed of the league, maintain their confidence while on that path and then open a spot for them when they have demonstrated capable of playing every game in multiple situations.

This team will be touch and go for a playoff spot. I really don’t see a lot separating 7-9 (NB, Ottawa, Niagara). If we read the tea leaves, Niagara isn’t going to sell. If anything, they will add. NB will sell (starting with Wakely this week). Ottawa may source a centre once they decide Foster isnt’ the answer (if they decide Foster isn’t the answer). But, in the aggregate, they will be a seller.

 

[ecraigs]

While I was surprised Amidovski was scratched opening night, I guess if there are rotations going to happen, you give him his first game in his hometown.

Opening night is the team's chance to showcase its draftees and build some fan enthusiasm. That's why they introduce the team and the captains and the new draft class. Amidovski has probably been the best player in his local age group for years. To scratch him for the first game was not a good idea. Based on his play yesterday, it was a terrible idea. He was solid all night and involved in both of Foster's goals.

Ekberg will play between Pinelli and Foster soon. Give him a few games to get accustomed.

Eshkawkogen is the real deal. Going to be fun watching him for the next three or four years. Amidovski will be a stud as well.

Last thing. Everyone needs to relax a bit. It's two games into the season. A season with no real expectations.

Ekberg needs to replace Korbler on the ice. He is a far more effective player at this point. Korbler has had a lot of PP time and struggles to use it. I agree on Eshkawkogan. He fits right in.

Yes, it's early, but the fan base has had months to stew over last year. My expectation is that we will struggle to make the playoffs, but what I'd like to see is a foundation built for the next two years.

 

[beastintheeast]

Has there been a more invisible forward in the first two games? Especially given his linemates…

Korbler got screwed up in the DC I don't play rookies ethos. There is a much higher level from Uronen, and the other thing to take into consideration is whether he would have come back to this team looking at it the way it is or if he would have used his option to stay at home or try ECHL

 

[OMG67]

Opening night is the team's chance to showcase its draftees and build some fan enthusiasm. That's why they introduce the team and the captains and the new draft class. Amidovski has probably been the best player in his local age group for years. To scratch him for the first game was not a good idea. Based on his play yesterday, it was a terrible idea. He was solid all night and involved in both of Foster's goals.

Ekberg needs to replace Korbler on the ice. He is a far more effective player at this point. Korbler has had a lot of PP time and struggles to use it. I agree on Eshkawkogan. He fits right in.

I dont’ think Korbler will be replaced EVER. He seems to be in the good graces of DC and I dont’ see how that would change.

Yes, it's early, but the fan base has had months to stew over last year. My expectation is that we will struggle to make the playoffs, but what I'd like to see is a foundation built for the next two years.

I think next season may be a little tough as well unfortunately. It is hard to say where we will fit in but a lot needs to go right this year from a development standpoint for next year to be competitive. Nelson needs to prove to be a capable starter. Dietsch and Brady need to step into a 2nd pairing role. Whitehead needs to step into a 2C role. At least half of the young wingers (Hilton, Houben, Yanni, Perrier) need to prove capable of playing middle nine roles.

I also feel we’d need to move Korbler and use the early Import pick we’d get this offseason. I doubt that happens.

On top of that, we have to hope there are no more players “unhappy” with their situation requesting a trade. We’ve already heard rumblings of Mews not being happy. How many others are there?

Korbler got screwed up in the DC I don't play rookies ethos. There is a much higher level from Uronen, and the other thing to take into consideration is whether he would have come back to this team looking at it the way it is or if he would have used his option to stay at home or try ECHL

Are you for real? He played first line RW last year with Kressler and Pinelli for the entire second half of the season and playoffs. He also played 2nd unit PP and on the PK. How much more ice time can you give a kid?

 

[beastintheeast]

I dont’ think Korbler will be replaced EVER. He seems to be in the good graces of DC and I dont’ see how that would change.



I think next season may be a little tough as well unfortunately. It is hard to say where we will fit in but a lot needs to go right this year from a development standpoint for next year to be competitive. Nelson needs to prove to be a capable starter. Dietsch and Brady need to step into a 2nd pairing role. Whitehead needs to step into a 2C role. At least half of the young wingers (Hilton, Houben, Yanni, Perrier) need to prove capable of playing middle nine roles.

I also feel we’d need to move Korbler and use the early Import pick we’d get this offseason. I doubt that happens.

On top of that, we have to hope there are no more players “unhappy” with their situation requesting a trade. We’ve already heard rumblings of Mews not being happy. How many others are there?



Are you for real? He played first line RW last year with Kressler and Pinelli for the entire second half of the season and playoffs. He also played 2nd unit PP and on the PK. How much more ice time can you give a kid?

It is too early to count Korbler out we have to wait and see what he does.

This is basically the team Boyd built. Now we have to see what DC can do with it.

Diestcsh is going to have trouble when he comes back. First, he is a rookie, and second, he will be getting into game shape.


Mews is a conundrum and is easily solved. Either DC sorts him out with the help of the Flames scouts or if he is not interested trade him. BUT not to a contender.

I dont’ think Korbler will be replaced EVER. He seems to be in the good graces of DC and I dont’ see how that would change.


Are you for real? He played first line RW last year with Kressler and Pinelli for the entire second half of the season and playoffs. He also played 2nd unit PP and on the PK. How much more ice time can you give a kid?

2 things one it is early in the season and things on this team are fluid

the otheer is that we have him and ther really is nothing that they can do at this stage but play him as we are short RW and need them.

I think he is ther because he is a DC fav.

 

[Hinterland]

I dont’ think Korbler will be replaced EVER. He seems to be in the good graces of DC and I dont’ see how that would change.



I think next season may be a little tough as well unfortunately. It is hard to say where we will fit in but a lot needs to go right this year from a development standpoint for next year to be competitive. Nelson needs to prove to be a capable starter. Dietsch and Brady need to step into a 2nd pairing role. Whitehead needs to step into a 2C role. At least half of the young wingers (Hilton, Houben, Yanni, Perrier) need to prove capable of playing middle nine roles.

I also feel we’d need to move Korbler and use the early Import pick we’d get this offseason. I doubt that happens.

On top of that, we have to hope there are no more players “unhappy” with their situation requesting a trade. We’ve already heard rumblings of Mews not being happy. How many others are there?



Are you for real? He played first line RW last year with Kressler and Pinelli for the entire second half of the season and playoffs. He also played 2nd unit PP and on the PK. How much more ice time can you give a kid?

You got things all mixed up here. He did play some games with Pinelli and Kressler during the back half of the regular season but also lots of games on other lines, even the 4th line.
During playoffs, Körbler and Kressler did not play with Pinelli at all. Pinelli played with Maillet and Gerrior while Körbler, when returning from injury, replaced Horner on the line with Kressler and Foster. Horner then moved down to play with Stonehouse and Dever. Which was basically the way the 67's lined up every playoff game after Körbler's return.

 

[OMG67]

You got things all mixed up here. He did play some games with Pinelli and Kressler during the back half of the regular season but also lots of games on other lines, even the 4th line.
During playoffs, Körbler and Kressler did not play with Pinelli at all. Pinelli played with Maillet and Gerrior while Körbler, when returning from injury, replaced Horner on the line with Kressler and Foster. Horner then moved down to play with Stonehouse and Dever. Which was basically the way the 67's lined up every playoff game after Körbler's return.

Generally speaking, when he returned from injury on January 25, he lined up with Gardiner and Pinelli. After that game, he remained in a top 6 role the remainder of the season with the exception of when DC condensed lines late in games where he may have dropped down. But, he was lined up in a 1st line role on the stating lineup.

He first lined up with Kressler and Pinelli on Feb 3rd in Flint. From that point until he went out with injury again leading into the playoffs, he had only a five game stretch where he didn’t play on the first line with Kressler and Pinelli. There were a couple games where Pinelli was swamped out and Foster swapped in but generally speaking, that was the line from Feb 3rd on (with the exception of that five game stretch).

You are correct about the playoffs. I had forgotten about his late season injury. But once he returned and played a couple games on the lower lines, he was back on Kressler’s line.

I had forgotten that Foster got subbed in for Pinelli during some stretches of the 2nd half and playoffs. Regardless, the point was he was getting first line duty (assuming Kressler is the 1st line centre) pretty much the entire 2nd half and playoffs.

 

[uDunnoNEthing]

There is a bit of a conundrum right now with respect to playing rookies and developing rookies. Those are two different things. Keeping it real, here is my list of rookies:

Whitehead
Hilton
Yanni
Houben
Amidovski
Brady
Dietsch
Eshkawkogan
Nelson

I have purposely left Ekberg off this list because he played with Pro hockey players in Sweden last year and although he is a rookie to the league, the expectations are much higher and thus he cannot be treated like a rookie. Additionally, I know there are players on that list that played full seasons last year “on paper” but didn’t really play for real. So, really, they should be more advanced than the true rookies (Amidovski and Eshkawkogan) but I still don’t feel we should raise expectations significantly for the “returning rookies.”

That is NINE Rookies that we need to find a way of inserting into the lineup while also protecting the minutes they play in such a way as to advance their skills without breaking their confidence. It is not often a team has that many shiny new toys they need to break in.

I know there is some dissatisfaction surrounding not playing them enough but that equates to the bottom half of the forwards and defence plus the backup goalie.

From my perspective and from what I have seen so far, Amidvski, Eshkawkogan, Whitehead, and Nelson will have no issues handling more responsibility really soon. By really soon, I mean within the next few weeks. I think all of those players will start to become part of the core of the team and there will be no rotation affecting them.

That leaves Hilton, Houben, and Yanni up front and Dietsch and Brady on the back end that need to still gain the confidence of the coaching staff. Dietsch and Brady won’t get scratched but they will see significantly less ice time until they prove capable of more ice time. It is what it is.

As that second group improves and becomes more capable, it not only allows the coaching staff to play them more minutes but it also allows Boyd to potentially move a veteran or two in a trade, thus opening space for those younger players to not need to rotate as much.

That is the path we are on now. Protect the young guys, allow them an opportunity to catch the speed of the league, maintain their confidence while on that path and then open a spot for them when they have demonstrated capable of playing every game in multiple situations.

This team will be touch and go for a playoff spot. I really don’t see a lot separating 7-9 (NB, Ottawa, Niagara). If we read the tea leaves, Niagara isn’t going to sell. If anything, they will add. NB will sell (starting with Wakely this week). Ottawa may source a centre once they decide Foster isnt’ the answer (if they decide Foster isn’t the answer). But, in the aggregate, they will be a seller.

Totally random question for you.

Are you a lawyer or politician?

 

[OMG67]

Totally random question for you.

Are you a lawyer or politician?

Just curious. How do you insult someone without insulting someone?

Asking for a friend….

 

[uDunnoNEthing]

Just curious. How do you insult someone without insulting someone?

Asking for a friend….

Simple “No” would have been fine as well.

Just never seen someone type/talk so much and rarely make a good point.

It’s usually easy to find the lawyers and politicians on messages boards.

 

[OMG67]

Simple “No” would have been fine as well.

Just never seen someone type/talk so much and rarely make a good point.

It’s usually easy to find the lawyers and politicians on messages boards.

 

[44 95 plus tax]

Simple “No” would have been fine as well.

Just never seen someone type/talk so much and rarely make a good point.

It’s usually easy to find the lawyers and politicians on messages boards.

Obviously not very easy.

 

[uDunnoNEthing]

Obviously not very easy.

Apparently harder when Canadians are involved.

Easy to pick out when dealing with just Americans.

 

[sirius67fan]

Simple “No” would have been fine as well.

Just never seen someone type/talk so much and rarely make a good point.

It’s usually easy to find the lawyers and politicians on messages boards.

You 're allowed your opinion of course but I've followed this board for years and OMG makes a lot of good points. Yes he tends to explain his point of view at lenght but what's wrong with that? Makes it interesting imo.

 

[ecraigs]

On top of that, we have to hope there are no more players “unhappy” with their situation requesting a trade. We’ve already heard rumblings of Mews not being happy. How many others are there?

I think London is sniffing around (aren't they always). They drafted one of the twins, who's playing Jr. B down there now.

BTW, I never engage trolls. I just scroll on by. People who complain about how others post are the reason that social media is doomed.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I was wondering if that was Donnies alter ego that hates long posters instead of "insiders"

 

[OMG67]

It doesn’t bother me folks. Everyone has their own flavour and I know for some people, I am not a flavour they like. It is what it is. No harm, no foul. Thanks for the support. It won’t stop me from providing my own analysis of a situation. Sometimes it takes more words to push through it and sometimes it takes less.

For those of you that weren’t around on the NOOF, the “OMG” stands for “One Man Gang.” I think that pretty much tells you that I don’t care if people take pot shots on the Internet. Growing up in sport, I have taken much worse…in person! And, I did my fair share of handing it out as well.

 

[zaluty]

NOOF now you are dating yourself and yes the amount of intolerance for different opinions on here is amazing. There is a civil way to disagree with someone or you can belittle them and call them names. Some people should get out of their basement and see the sun sometimes.

 

[OHL4Life]

NOOF now you are dating yourself and yes the amount of intolerance for different opinions on here is amazing. There is a civil way to disagree with someone or you can belittle them and call them names. Some people should get out of their basement and see the sun sometimes.

agree but good luck

 

[beastintheeast]

Simple “No” would have been fine as well.

Just never seen someone type/talk so much and rarely make a good point.

It’s usually easy to find the lawyers and politicians on messages boards.

I guess that means I make GOOD POINTS LOL

35. Filip Ekberg, LW (Ottawa, OHL)​

Filip Ekberg (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)
From a flashiness perspective, I really like Ekberg. He’s no stranger to making creative moves and loves open space. He won’t have as much of that in the OHL, but I feel like he’ll have very little difficulty adjusting to the fast pace in North America. I think there’s still plenty of work to make him more effective – he’s excellent with the puck, and less so without it – but the right coaching will push him to become more of a 200-foot threat.

2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Preseason top 40

James Hagens, Porter Martone and Matthew Schaefer are among the top names hoping to get selected next June.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

If he stays at this spot or goes higher then DC is a Hero. If he drops ZERO

We all know DC was not able to help Mews, so it will be interesting to see how he does with Ekberg.

Pinelli Ekberg Foster should be the first line

 

[OMG67]

NOOF now you are dating yourself and yes the amount of intolerance for different opinions on here is amazing. There is a civil way to disagree with someone or you can belittle them and call them names. Some people should get out of their basement and see the sun sometimes.

Yes. It has been a while since the NOOF. I joined here when the NOOF took its final death knell. Looks like that was Sept 2013 based on my registration date on this site.

 

[beastintheeast]

Yes. It has been a while since the NOOF. I joined here when the NOOF took its final death knell. Looks like that was Sept 2013 based on my registration date on this site.

Has it been that long WOW

 

[OMG67]

Has it been that long WOW

I held out until the very end! I probably should have jumped ship to here about 2 years earlier…