For a lot of these guys it will depend on what the 678's give them as to development.
Vandenberg is going to be a key part of the CR team next season. Here, he would see limited ice time and not play the same style as CR.
The free agent players have to have a reason to come to the OHL and to Ottawa in particular. I think you have to look at the rest of the OHL and ask where we rank as far as things to offer player development, playing time and winning.
Would you instead go to Niagara or Brantford or come here?
Again, before they can even consider NCAA players, they need to examine the organization and determine what they want and the long-term goal of this team.
They need to solve the perception of negativity in the dressing room.
Is waiting until the last weekend of the deadline, not waiting too long. To me, with Pinelli, I would have been on the phone a lot sooner. Also, why are we giving players all this control over what happens to them? It is not like they are NHL superstars, and even the NHL is regretting these NTC
Again, still too many unknowns to make any sweeping certainty claims like Vandenberg would get limited ice time here next year. Or, that he would get meaningful ice time in Cedar Rapids. That Cedar Rapids team is not great and it isn’t a young team. A lot of 18 and 19 year olds on that team. They stand to graduate a fair number of players. I am not sure Cedar Rapids is a sexy location that can recruit in the same manner as some of the other teams. I am not certain that he will get quality ice, especially if he ends up as the top centre as the youngest player on the team. Is that where he wants to ply for two more seasons or does he choose Ottawa and play at home for three more seasons and delay Providence College a year? Seems like a no brainer but we don’t really know the landscape of the 67’s next year.
I think it is fine to talk about options but placing certainties on anything is wayyyy too premature.
Ottawa has an elite training program and private school education. There is no doubt that the off ice training is amongst the top in the league. The 67’s spare no expense in that regard. There isn’t a player out there that could point at negatives for Ottawa in that regard. The question is on ice development. And, if one single positive change happens, we are back in business. So, there are a lot of variables at play.
With respect to long term plan, I think there isn’t really an issue with respect to goals. The issue is when you are in that pole position, they need to be more aggressive with trades. The only other thing is maybe trying to use analytics less in the draft and move a little closer to drafting size early where possible.
This team has a ton of eligible ‘07s. But, are they ‘07s you can build around or are there a lot of spare parts? We will find out pretty quick next year! Too many LW. Too many average to below average sized players that don’t’ have a scoring touch. Energy guys that go out and play hard but get noting out of it. Which cohort to you try to build around? Do you focus more on the ‘08s? Do you bulk up the ‘07s? Tough to say.
No trade clauses. All first round picks automatically get No trade clauses. All high school aged players have No trade clauses. So, if you are selling a player, odds are pretty good to almost certain that the player you trade for has a no trade clause as a 16 or 17 year old. Only a small handful have them as 18 year olds. Maybe your 1st and 2nd round picks. Not much after that once they get to their 3rd season.
