Ottawa 67s 2024-25 Season Thread, Part III

[OMG67]

I think it is worth while to expand on the “lessons learned” issues involving the 67’s.

In 2022-23, Ottawa had an outstanding team with a couple holes to fill. Boyd chose to fill those holes with Morrison and Mintyukov. There was a lot of talk around the league about Boyd ONLY offering draft picks for players. That is admirable but it makes it difficult to get the courtesy returned when you are selling players. If you are a team willing to give up your 1st round pick, you are more likely to have it returned in the future. The Frontenacs were specifically sourcing a young RHD for Wright. All indications at the time suggested Wright would accept a trade to Ottawa. That was probably the best fit for Kingston. The addition of Wright woudl most likely have made a huge difference. Yes, we would have given up a highly talented young player but we were beaten by a team that went far beyond what Ottawa was willing to do at the deadline (Peterborough). That teams on the Championship.

This is something we can learn from. Boyd decided to keep the main team intact to remain competitive. The following year we were on par with a lot of the other eastern conference teams, so Boyd traded assets to acquire Maillet, Kressler, and Mayer. The total assets out the door for those players was:
3x 2nds
5x 3rds
2x 5ths

This past deadline, we traded Mews for:
Jackson
2x 2nds
3x 3rds
1x 5th

If we were to have traded Mews (we see his value as an 18 year old) to Kingston for Wright, we’d have had a great chance to win a Championship. Had we traded MEws, we’d likely not have been in contention the following season which means that season would have been a seller season. We graduated Stonehouse and Mayich (OA’s this season) that could have both been solid deadline trades. But, that is beside the point. Even if we had chosen to not make seller deals last deadline (assuming there was a Mews for Wright deal the previous season), we’d have been in a position to win a Championship in 2022-23 and we wouldn’t have made a half effort at competing at the deadline two years in a row coming up empty both seasons losing in the 2nd round.

I think this shows that if you are going to throw assets at back to back seasons to remain part of the pack, you need a lot of luck. The alternative is you throw a lot more at one season and sacrifice the other season and give it a stronger push. It doesn’t guarantee a win but if you are effectively spending the assts anyway (over two seasons), you may as well spend them in one season and give it a more honest effort.

I think we may see the same issue in Brampton this year. They spend half hearted this season and aren't really doing a lot. They will be better next season not making a big push this year but it will not likely make a huge difference next year for them. Conversely, Barrie made a really big push this year and they seem in a much better position than Brampton. Oshawa spent lightly last deadline knowing this year would be a push year. They were fortunate last year. Brantford spent lightly this year and I expect them to spend heavy next year. They acquired Leenders but he is a two year player. Kingston should have sold last year to help set up this seaosn. They are doing well this season but I don’t think people could argue successfully they would not be better this year had they had the right assets coming out of last season. The teams that seem to make that one year push and align their assets are doing well. The teams that stay competitive, aren’t.

Let’s hope this lesson learned doesn’t fall on blind eyes.

 

[ecraigs]

Alas, while I would like to see hope for next year, I see it as much like this year. We've mismanaged our imports, our overage players, and our goaltending. The clear vacuum at centre has been treated with stopgap measures. We are too small and badly ill-prepared to play. We have plenty of talent, but it has been subordinated to a "structure" and it is physically dominated by larger teams. Other than that, things are great.

PS - Pinelli gets 4 games

 

[gadder]

OMG wrote:
The teams that seem to make that one year push and align their assets are doing well. The teams that stay competitive, aren’t.

I think this points to the strategy for the team. Do we want to win it all, or do we want to 'be competitive' every year? Going for it in one year means the cycle is we suck for 2 years then have success the following 3. Being competitive every year means we're goodish for longer but never reach the highs, then we linger in that medicore middle for years after. Boyd seems to have chosen the latter. I want progress and development and hope. I'm willing to put up with 2 crap years if it means good times are coming. This is junior hockey, not the NHL. The cycle is different; embrace it.

 

[OMG67]

OMG wrote:
The teams that seem to make that one year push and align their assets are doing well. The teams that stay competitive, aren’t.

I think this points to the strategy for the team. Do we want to win it all, or do we want to 'be competitive' every year? Going for it in one year means the cycle is we suck for 2 years then have success the following 3. Being competitive every year means we're goodish for longer but never reach the highs, then we linger in that medicore middle for years after. Boyd seems to have chosen the latter. I want progress and development and hope. I'm willing to put up with 2 crap years if it means good times are coming. This is junior hockey, not the NHL. The cycle is different; embrace it.

I just want to be a little more clear. I don’t think Boyd and the 67’s are only trying to be competitive. I think what they are trying to do is when they are competitive, they are trying to make a push but not sacrifice much all at once which basically amounts to not making a push. It is hard to explain.

The teams that are simply trying to be continually competitive aren’t trading 10 draft picks for Mintyukov. So, it is not like Boyd is not trying to make a push. The issue is when the time is right, the push seems to be equally distributed over two seasons instead of bulking up in one season. Effectively speaking, the same amount of assets are sacrificed trying to win a Championship as the other teams trying to make that one strong push. We just don’t recognize it because the optics are skewed by teams that are making that one single season push where they just toss everything into the wind and hope their sails carry them to at least a finals appearance.

In the aggregate, Ottawa has basically traded a boat load of draft picks and Mews, Gardiner, and two defected players, but only won two rounds in the playoffs over what looks to be three seasons. They did replenish draft picks and now hold a good surplus though so we do need to factor that in.