Ottawa 67s 2024-25 Season Thread, Part III

[ecraigs]

The math for the 67's to make the playoffs is pretty daunting right now. All North Bay has to do is go 5-8 down the stretch, and it would force us to go 7-4. We have four games left against Peterborough and North Bay, but even if you sweep those you have to find three other wins in those other 7. Good luck. Basically Friday night is an elimination game for Ottawa - lose that one and they are just playing out the string for the final ten games. They need a regulation win to even start registering a faint pulse.

Tough to win games when your offence has a terrible time scoring more than 2 goals a game. Save for 3 and 4 against the Petes and a 6 bagger against a dreadful Ice Dogs defence, we've been offensively impotent.

 

[beastintheeast]

Tough to win games when your offence has a terrible time scoring more than 2 goals a game. Save for 3 and 4 against the Petes and a 6 bagger against a dreadful Ice Dogs defence, we've been offensively impotent.

The scary thing to me is that I really do not see any offensive stars in the near future on this team. Ekbeerg shows promise but will they let him play an offensive game instead of the disciplined game they are now teaching.

 

[OMG67]

Ottawa’s 7th round pick in 2023, Cole McKinney, is rated by many to be a late 1st round NHL pick. He is currently with the USNTDP and is committed to Michigan this coming season.

I don’t think this matters a heck of a lot this year from an Ottawa 67’s perspective. I doubt a late 1st round pick heading to Michigan will sign an NHL ELC the summer he is drafted; however, he is a player to watch if he were to sign his ELC next year. As an American player, he will be eligible to play AHL as a 19 year old but he is one of those players that does fall into the OHL now and then specifically because the NHL team that signs him wants him to play one year of Major Junior before turning Pro at 20. We do see that specific type of player take that path.

So, although I don’t think he would be in Ottawa next season, I do think he’s fits the profile of the one and done 19 year old (like Boucher was). He may be a player to watch.

 

[beastintheeast]

Ottawa’s 7th round pick in 2023, Cole McKinney, is rated by many to be a late 1st round NHL pick. He is currently with the USNTDP and is committed to Michigan this coming season.

I don’t think this matters a heck of a lot this year from an Ottawa 67’s perspective. I doubt a late 1st round pick heading to Michigan will sign an NHL ELC the summer he is drafted; however, he is a player to watch if he were to sign his ELC next year. As an American player, he will be eligible to play AHL as a 19 year old but he is one of those players that does fall into the OHL now and then specifically because the NHL team that signs him wants him to play one year of Major Junior before turning Pro at 20. We do see that specific type of player take that path.

So, although I don’t think he would be in Ottawa next season, I do think he’s fits the profile of the one and done 19 year old (like Boucher was). He may be a player to watch.

I think, if anything, you will see him play a year of USHL, then go to Uni Michigan.

This highlights to me the problem we are going to hve drafting American kids that are top tier as they can stay int the USNDTP and get drafted just as well as play here.

 

[OMG67]

I think, if anything, you will see him play a year of USHL, then go to Uni Michigan.

This highlights to me the problem we are going to hve drafting American kids that are top tier as they can stay int the USNDTP and get drafted just as well as play here.

He’s committed to Michigan for September. He will play there next year without any doubt. The question lies in the timing of when he is offered an ELC. If he is offered and signs his ELC next summer, he becomes ineligible to play at Michigan. He will need a place to play. The two most likely locations are the AHL and the OHL (with Ottawa). Any other option (other than the NHL) would require a significant step backwards in competition.

We’ve seen a strong handful of players that fall into this category on an annual basis. A lot of times, they will play AHL but a few do play in the OHL. Of course, this is what happened with Boucher reporting to the 67’s a couple years ago.

I’m not saying it will happen but he fits the profile of the type of player that ends up in this specific situation. Even if Ottawa isn’t the ideal location for him, he at least becomes a tradable asset with significant value if there is a specific team or two he needs to go to.

But, nothing has changed with respect to the USNTDP/NCAA. All teams have the same challenges. The teams located int he USA and/or are located close to the border tend to have an inside edge but the reality exists that the NHL ELC’s are the disruptor. There is no sense for an NHL signed 19 year old to play USHL or USNTDP. Those are massive steps backwards for development compared to the OHL. They are valid for 16 and 17 year olds but not 1st round pick 19 year olds. The talent level is nowhere near high enough. If the player doesn’t’ want to play OHL then they simply refuse to sign the ELC and continue playing in the NCAA.

 

[Larionov]

I think, if anything, you will see him play a year of USHL, then go to Uni Michigan.

This highlights to me the problem we are going to hve drafting American kids that are top tier as they can stay int the USNDTP and get drafted just as well as play here.

No NHL pick is going to the USHL anymore. That league is going to be hollowed out in the same way that Junior A in Canada has been. If you're an NHL draft pick, your fastest route to the pros is through the CHL. It always was, but now it is even more the case. The NHL team that drafts him will be strongly encouraging him to go to the CHL - that's a guarantee.

 

[BarberPole9]

No NHL pick is going to the USHL anymore. That league is going to be hollowed out in the same way that Junior A in Canada has been. If you're an NHL draft pick, your fastest route to the pros is through the CHL. It always was, but now it is even more the case. The NHL team that drafts him will be strongly encouraging him to go to the CHL - that's a guarantee.

I agree unless the NHL strong arms the CHL into bringing the USHL into their organization as a separate division.

It will be an intriguing offseason, with many more CHL overagers and even USports transfers committing to the NCAA. You’ve got to imagine that a trickle down effect will take place, pushing some players commitments back a year or two. I’d imagine most NHL 1st/2nd rounders would still see their commitments honoured but for the others, there are only so many scholarships to go around.

 

[OMG67]

No NHL pick is going to the USHL anymore. That league is going to be hollowed out in the same way that Junior A in Canada has been. If you're an NHL draft pick, your fastest route to the pros is through the CHL. It always was, but now it is even more the case. The NHL team that drafts him will be strongly encouraging him to go to the CHL - that's a guarantee.

I think that is mostly accurate except they may also want the player in the AHL depending on how advanced the player is as a 19 year old.

 

[Larionov]

I think that is mostly accurate except they may also want the player in the AHL depending on how advanced the player is as a 19 year old.

NHL teams seem somewhat hesitant to put 19 year olds in the AHL, even when they are legally allowed to do so. Shane Wright played there, but he was a pretty mature 19 year old. That's a physical league, and I'd worry about a kid who didn't have a man's body yet getting beat up there. I will always believe, for instance, that the Edmonton Oilers hurt Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' development by putting him in the NHL as a skinny 18 year old with a peach fuzz moustache.

 

[OMG67]

NHL teams seem somewhat hesitant to put 19 year olds in the AHL, even when they are legally allowed to do so. Shane Wright played there, but he was a pretty mature 19 year old. That's a physical league, and I'd worry about a kid who didn't have a man's body yet getting beat up there. I will always believe, for instance, that the Edmonton Oilers hurt Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' development by putting him in the NHL as a skinny 18 year old with a peach fuzz moustache.

A fair number of European players play there. It is not uncommon, especially for the high draft picks. We don’t see it as much for the American players because they tend to remain in the NCAA unsigned. I am not sure if that will change much but the CHL and AHL remain as the two most viable options for developing elite talent. Keep in mind that we are talking more about the elite talent. You mentioned Shane Wright. He’s a strong example. Byfield is another that was exempt because of Covid rules. He was eligible to remain there post-Covid.

Usually if comes down to physical capability and how close the player is to making the jump to the NHL. Any player that is deemed maybe one year away from the NHL more than likely goes to the AHL. The ones that may require a bit more physical maturity tend to go to the CHL or remain in the NCAA unsigned. Player by player of course. But, keep in mind that we are more talking about the profile for the type of player that “may” end up in the OHL. McKinney fits the profile. He isn’t particularly big. He is skilled enough to potentially be offered an ELC at 19 so the team can get him under their control for development. This will more come down to the player making a decision to leave school and sign as a 19 year old or remain in school longer and potentially complete the education first.

 

[beastintheeast]

No NHL pick is going to the USHL anymore. That league is going to be hollowed out in the same way that Junior A in Canada has been. If you're an NHL draft pick, your fastest route to the pros is through the CHL. It always was, but now it is even more the case. The NHL team that drafts him will be strongly encouraging him to go to the CHL - that's a guarantee.

Time will tell but take a look past history NHL teams are not adverse to payers playing NCAA instead of signing right away.

As much as we may feel that the CHL is the best, there are still other viable options. One of those that we can not compete with is UNDTP and that is part of the USHL. There are a lot of players drafted from the USHL

So I really do not think you can count it out. An American late first-round pick has options. The best option for them if it is the right team is to get a university degree and to play NCAA at least for a year. Take a look at draft picks lately. Many American players have chosen that route.

 

[OMG67]

Time will tell but take a look past history NHL teams are not adverse to payers playing NCAA instead of signing right away.

As much as we may feel that the CHL is the best, there are still other viable options. One of those that we can not compete with is UNDTP and that is part of the USHL. There are a lot of players drafted from the USHL

So I really do not think you can count it out. An American late first-round pick has options. The best option for them if it is the right team is to get a university degree and to play NCAA at least for a year. Take a look at draft picks lately. Many American players have chosen that route.

There are a lot of issues on the horizon for the USNTDP. They are hosted in Plymouth Michigan. All signs point to Muskegon and Youngstown joining the OHL for 2026-27 season. That leaves the USNTDP pretty far from their closest team. That’s a big problem. They are faced with a potential move. Additionally, if more elite players choose to not play USHL, you end up with a weakened league that affects development.

Of course, nothing is set in stone but by the sounds of it, the NHL has stepped in to try to reconfigure junior hockey in North America. We don’t know what that model will lol like but I find it hard to believe they will contract CHL teams and place them into a lower league. So, it sounds more like the USHL may become more like a jrA program where it forms part of a larger network of jrA across North America. Maybe a few of the stronger USHL teams advance to the WHL or maybe form an additional division. How that affects the USNTDP is yet to be determined but that program consists mostly of the younger players (u-18 mostly). I cannot see that program being part of a major junior league with no 19 and 20 year olds.

 

[beastintheeast]

There are a lot of issues on the horizon for the USNTDP. They are hosted in Plymouth Michigan. All signs point to Muskegon and Youngstown joining the OHL for 2026-27 season. That leaves the USNTDP pretty far from their closest team. That’s a big problem. They are faced with a potential move. Additionally, if more elite players choose to not play USHL, you end up with a weakened league that affects development.

Of course, nothing is set in stone but by the sounds of it, the NHL has stepped in to try to reconfigure junior hockey in North America. We don’t know what that model will lol like but I find it hard to believe they will contract CHL teams and place them into a lower league. So, it sounds more like the USHL may become more like a jrA program where it forms part of a larger network of jrA across North America. Maybe a few of the stronger USHL teams advance to the WHL or maybe form an additional division. How that affects the USNTDP is yet to be determined but that program consists mostly of the younger players (u-18 mostly). I cannot see that program being part of a major junior league with no 19 and 20 year olds.

What happens in the USHL and UNDTP is up to them. What happens in the future has no bearing o this team this year. the USHL and UNDTP will still be a strong pull for American players. In its present condition, Ottawa will not be a team. We have to resolve a lot of things with this team, including ownership's direction, GM's ability and coaching style. Then, we can look at the on-ice product and the draft picks we have and will draft this spring.

Is this a team that is going to strive to be a pretender every year and have a great product in the regular season every year but ot enough to go all the way in the playoffs?

Do they care about the fan base or is this just a team to help with the write offs.

Are they going to pay for a top coach and GM.

If Landsdown was staying as striclty a sports and entertainment facility then that is one thing BUT when you bring in restaurants and condo's now you are talking about a different clientele and group of people.

Whether the two can exist is the big question, and I am not sure they can. Do you want to buy a condo and have live bands playing at night or parking problems during a hockey game or event at the arena?

It is going to be interesting.

But again for this year the team needs to take a look at what they have and whether this is the off ice team that youwant directing it.