Ottawa 67s 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[OMG67]

I think in a typical, cyclical junior hockey world, year 1 rebuild, year 2 retool, year 3 compete for home ice playoff, year 4 compete for winning it all. or some version of that. Years 1 and 2 sell off big, year three small sell off/buy, year 4 all in.

Well, not typical in Ottawa, I guess.

Seeing the roster that we have now, I can't see Ottawa competing for home play off in a couple of years, nor competing for winning it all in 3-4 years.

Bad drafting, bad asset management, suspect coaching decisions.

I said back when it was rumoured we would be in on Mintukov and Morrison, that we had the team to go for it, and if they didn't buy big, I would be disappointed. They didn't do enough, in my mind. I could have livid with the rebuild the next year.

I think you are relatively accurate. But, I don’t think they need to sell big.

The big key is drafting. Obviously you need to draft well otherwise you never have a foundation to build on. The ideal situation is to have a go for it year where you do make some significant trades to augment an already really good team. When you do decide to do that, do it with purpose. DO NOT DO IT PETERBOROUGH STYLE. There is no reason to trade away all your draft picks and two complete draft classes. That is just silly. If you have to do that then you shouldn’t do it at all, regardless of the result.

I wouldn’t define it as a four year cycle either. Do a good job, build and develop players and when the time is right to strike, then strike. You aren’t always going to draft perfectly. You could go 7 years without making a big push. So be it. Be disciplined. Sell off the really big ticket graduating players in years that you are really poor and push the assets forward when it makes sense.

To me, that is a better approach. It doesn’t create unrealistic expectations either.

 

[Hinterland]

No Eshkawkogan or Yanni tonight. With Sirman now gone, Horner goes back to defense. Since Körbler is still out as well, 67's can only dress 10 forwards.

 

[Vector Calculus]

Fun first period. Nelson looked good. Lots of chances both ways. Amidovski got more ice than usual, which isn’t surprising with 10 forwards.

 

[mianjo]

67's lead 1-0 early 2nd

Goal
#11 Henry Mews (1) scores. Assists: #20 Luca Pinelli, #34 Filip Ekberg POWER PLAY 2nd 3:39

 

[mianjo]

2-0

Goal #9 Chris Barlas (2) scores 2nd 8:14

2-1

 

[mianjo]

3-1

Goal
#23 Will Gerrior (6) scores. Assists: #10 Nic Whitehead, #8 Frankie Marrelli POWER PLAY 2nd 14:03

 

[Vector Calculus]

The action continues - nice goals by Barlas and Gerrior followed by a Houben fight. Guelph doing their best 67s impression by taking a couple dumb penalties they can’t kill off. Pinelli makes it 4-1 shortly after the bout.

 

[mianjo]

4-1

Goal
#20 Luca Pinelli (11) scores. Assists: #29 Cooper Foster 2nd 14:59

 

[mianjo]

67's lead 4-1 after 2

 

[mianjo]

4-2

 

[mianjo]

4-3

 

[mianjo]

4-4

OT

 

[mianjo]

67's WIN

Goal
#11 Henry Mews (2) scores. Assists: #20 Luca Pinelli, #10 Nic Whitehead GAME WINNING 4th 4:45

 

[LostRangers]

What a terrible call against Guelph. The D man cross checks the Guelph forward 3 times. Storm retaliates, and the refs with a terrible call. Hope the refs are invited into the dressing room for the post game cellys.
S

 

[44 95 plus tax]

What a terrible call against Guelph. The D man cross checks the Guelph forward 3 times. Storm retaliates, and the refs with a terrible call. Hope the refs are invited into the dressing room for the post game cellys.
S

Dude, c'mon.

 

[LostRangers]

That’s your answer. At least tell me I can’t count.

 

[gadder]

A battle of not-so-good teams. Ottawa had the game up 2 goals with 2 minutes to go then 2 goals against. Can't see how that wasn't a goaltender interference on the tying goal. Good play points:
- Houben is stepping up and being really physical (for a rookie). Someone (who?) will have to show him some fighting skills but he's on the right path.
- Dietsch was pretty solid for pretty much a rookie. Just put him on the ice in good spots and let him grow.
- Horner was really good tonight. Aggressive, battling, and on for the toughest moments.
- Nelson seems fine. He's settling down and the only goals he gave up were goalmouth scrambles.

 

[Vector Calculus]

What a terrible call against Guelph. The D man cross checks the Guelph forward 3 times. Storm retaliates, and the refs with a terrible call. Hope the refs are invited into the dressing room for the post game cellys.
S

Terrible take - Mayich could have been called, but the retaliation by #72 well after the whistle in open ice was such a stupid penalty to take. The refs had a rough night overall, but that call ain’t the reason why. The review that completely whiffed on the goaltender interference on Guelph’s 3rd goal and Pinelli’s phantom hold were far worse.

 

[LostRangers]

Terrible take - Mayich could have been called, but the retaliation by #72 well after the whistle in open ice was such a stupid penalty to take. The refs had a rough night overall, but that call ain’t the reason why. The review that completely whiffed on the goaltender interference on Guelph’s 3rd goal and Pinelli’s phantom hold were far worse.

Only saw from that play forward as I jumped over from rangers game. My point is, there are 6 skaters on the ice. Both refs had to have seen the initial cross checks. You can’t ignore that and then call the one retaliation. It’s not like he took one and then gave it right back. He took multiple, probably decided that meant the whistle was in the pocket, and exacted his own revenge.
Not ripping on the players. Just awful game management from the officials.
Don’t want to look like a troll so will quietly sneak off to our thread.

 

[Vector Calculus]

A battle of not-so-good teams. Ottawa had the game up 2 goals with 2 minutes to go then 2 goals against. Can't see how that wasn't a goaltender interference on the tying goal. Good play points:
- Houben is stepping up and being really physical (for a rookie). Someone (who?) will have to show him some fighting skills but he's on the right path.
- Dietsch was pretty solid for pretty much a rookie. Just put him on the ice in good spots and let him grow.
- Horner was really good tonight. Aggressive, battling, and on for the toughest moments.
- Nelson seems fine. He's settling down and the only goals he gave up were goalmouth scrambles.

Agree with all of this. Tonight was Houben’s best game even ignoring the fight completely. He was also being rewarded with those most ice time he has seen all year - and a regular shift with Pinelli and Foster in the third. Things are coming together for him. The whole defensive corps also had a pretty good game and the deployment seemed a little more balanced than I would have guessed when I saw Mews and Mayich paired in the warmup…I thought they were going to play 30 minutes+ tonight.

You can’t ignore that and then call the one retaliation. It’s not like he took one and then gave it right back. He took multiple, probably decided that meant the whistle was in the pocket, and exacted his own revenge.

Strong disagree - Mayich could have been called but that battle was happening during the play. To “exact his own revenge” well after the whistle when everything else had settled down was dumb, dumb, dumb and absolutely deserved to be called. Be the bigger man and don’t put the refs in a position to put your team short in OT with a selfish play like that, 72.

 

[beastintheeast]

The bottom line that all players are told is if you retaliate expect it to be what the refs see. Unless the other guy is really offending then only the retaliator gets it.

 

[OMG67]

What a terrible call against Guelph. The D man cross checks the Guelph forward 3 times. Storm retaliates, and the refs with a terrible call. Hope the refs are invited into the dressing room for the post game cellys.
S

Well, I have zero issues with the no call on Mayich when he checked MacKenzie to the ice. He was clearing his crease. HOWEVER, when Mayich leaned over and cross checked him again when he was on the ice and broke his stick into two pieces, that was 100% a penalty and should be a called every time and in every situation. Mayich got away with one there.

But, when MacKenzie got back up and planted a blind side heavy cross check across the ribs of Mayich in retaliation, that was pretty brutal. I’m not sure that is a major penalty but pretty close. That was an intent to injure IMO.

The net result with Ottawa getting the PP was the right result but I wouldn’t be surprised if the MacKenzie cross check is reviewed and supplementary discipline were handed out. This league usually leans in the side of caution with discipline. You could see MacKenzie was super mad and that was clear intent to cause damage. He could care less about the penalty.

 

[beastintheeast]

OK I know we are a couple of months away but at this stage if you were Boyd what wouldyou be looking at.

To me, I think he has 3 priorities

1. If Mews is unhappy trade him ASAP for the best offer you can get
2. Get the most you can for Stonehouse and trade him
3. Put Foster Pinelli Barlas, Horner and Dever on the trade block at the deadline. After 2 have been traded, take what we have and play out the year. That will leave us with our OA for next year, and hopefully, we can get a few players or high draft picks in deals.

I am not really concerned about what position the replacement players play as long as they will be here, possibly for 2 years.

 

[Vector Calculus]

OK I know we are a couple of months away but at this stage if you were Boyd what wouldyou be looking at.

To me, I think he has 3 priorities

1. If Mews is unhappy trade him ASAP for the best offer you can get
2. Get the most you can for Stonehouse and trade him
3. Put Foster Pinelli Barlas, Horner and Dever on the trade block at the deadline. After 2 have been traded, take what we have and play out the year. That will leave us with our OA for next year, and hopefully, we can get a few players or high draft picks in deals.

I am not really concerned about what position the replacement players play as long as they will be here, possibly for 2 years.

This is likely the logical road to follow and what I would want to see. I think it is unlikely that they can effectively move all of Mews, Stonehouse, and 2 19-year olds, but it would be ideal to do so. It is going to be especially sad to see Pinelli go as no one else on the roster is close to as game breaking as he can be…he really is dangerous every time he is on the ice.

 

[OMG67]

OK I know we are a couple of months away but at this stage if you were Boyd what wouldyou be looking at.

To me, I think he has 3 priorities

1. If Mews is unhappy trade him ASAP for the best offer you can get
2. Get the most you can for Stonehouse and trade him
3. Put Foster Pinelli Barlas, Horner and Dever on the trade block at the deadline. After 2 have been traded, take what we have and play out the year. That will leave us with our OA for next year, and hopefully, we can get a few players or high draft picks in deals.

I am not really concerned about what position the replacement players play as long as they will be here, possibly for 2 years.

1. No. Trade Mews when the time is right and the package is ideal. It may take until January 1 to get the real package for him because teams looking for a player like Mews may be more willing to part with their ‘08 1st then part with a player that is currently contributing to their team in a positive manner.
2. No. If the most you can get for Stonehouse is a 5th round pick then you say goodbye to Gerrior.
3. No again. If you trade Mews, then only actively try to trade Pinelli, not the others. You don’t want to bottom out badly. All of the others are candidates to return next year as OA’s. We need bodies and the best way to develop the young players is to insulate them with veterans so they can focus on their game and assignments.

You cannot be a bull in a china shop. You have to be flexible and agile when navigating sell-offs. You cannot become the Petes with ZERO wins after 14 games. They are doing nothing to develop their crop they traded for last year. Their ‘07s are now 17 year sold and only one of them is truly making strides forward. That same crop of ‘07s is going to form the nucleus of the veterans players next year and will be the leaders. I doubt they will be ready. They haven’t properly insulated those players.

If Boyd chooses to be a true seller at the deadline, Pinelli is the only must-go player. Obviously, if Mews wants a change of scenery, then try to accommodate. And, yes, we need to remove an OA but the price needs to be right to move the OA that is not your 4th best. When Stonehouse returns, Gerrior is our fourth best OA. If we do not receive valid trade offers for Stonehouse, then Gerrior needs to go. I like Gerrior but it is what it is. Also, if the trade return of Stonehouse is poor, then the contenders aren’t the teams making the offers. That means he wouldn’t be going to a contending team. He’d be going to a middling to lower standings team. It is not like you’d be setting him up for a long playoff run elsewhere as a courtesy.