Peterborough Petes 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[Petes]

I think depending on some of the trade returns that the Petes can remain competitive despite trading away Beck + Mayer… maybe not first place in the East… but competitive enough to be a real threat to win a playoff round again. While setting them up to not be a basement dweller for the next 2-3 seasons with absolutely zero fans in the stands.

 

[Section5Petes]

I think depending on some of the trade returns that the Petes can remain competitive despite trading away Beck + Mayer… maybe not first place in the East… but competitive enough to be a real threat to win a playoff round again. While setting them up to not be a basement dweller for the next 2-3 seasons with absolutely zero fans in the stands.

and that is the right approach to take. Petes certainly need some picks back but if they can also snag some controllable bodies that will help the retool immensely. just gotta try and stay as competitive as they can and keep the Petes brand alive and flourishing

 

[Petes1987]

i agree with a lot of your comments however I don't think that they will trade Mayer, I do believe that they will trade Sztuska and likely Connor Smith. They will trade Beck.

I initially thought it was one of Sam Mayer or Konnor Smith but I now think Mayer can get a bigger return and get us the young left defenceman that we need and a 2nd and 3rd where Smith would either be a young defenceman and maybe a 4th and 5th or a draft pick only trade where we would receive a 2nd, a 3rd and maybe a 4th. I do think the return in reality could be higher than some are suggesting. I am not sure what we would receive for Liam Sztuska. If it is only a 5th and 6th it is not worth trading him but if Zach Bowen can carry the load and Easton Rye is ready to play in the league and we could get at minimum a 3 and 4th I could see him being traded.

I think depending on some of the trade returns that the Petes can remain competitive despite trading away Beck + Mayer… maybe not first place in the East… but competitive enough to be a real threat to win a playoff round again. While setting them up to not be a basement dweller for the next 2-3 seasons with absolutely zero fans in the stands.

I agree a measured rebuild where we can get younger, acquire draft picks and acquire some ready to contribute assets while retaining most of our veterans to allows us be to competitive this year and the following years.

 

[OMG67]

I think depending on some of the trade returns that the Petes can remain competitive despite trading away Beck + Mayer… maybe not first place in the East… but competitive enough to be a real threat to win a playoff round again. While setting them up to not be a basement dweller for the next 2-3 seasons with absolutely zero fans in the stands.

If Ottawa and Kingston decide to stay status quo and maybe do a light selloff, maybe we can have a strong three team race for the 2nd seed! I’m not 100% sold on Kingston adding significantly. I still think Ottawa may move Stonehouse. Imagine if all three of Peterborough, Ottawa and Kingston mostly make seller moves and one of those three win the East Division? Classic back door division win….

 

[cleodog]

Unpopular opinion: keep everyone, add a couple scoring wingers on the cheap, run it back.

The East stinks. No one is one trade away. The Petes are easily the best team in the conference now and have the goaltending, 4 solid veteran DMen + a rookie who can seemingly handle 25 minutes a night no problem.

They have strength down the middle, particularly two way play down the middle which is so valuable in the playoffs and in Wilson's system. They have all the difficult to acquire pieces on hand already.

This team is so far ahead of where it was at this point last year. Don't be brainwashed by "OHL cycle" or the fans from other teams coming in here wanting to grab players on the cheap. Run it back. If the Petes hadn't won the OHL last year would anyone be suggesting blowing up the first place team in the conference?

I know the thought was this team would struggle and a rebuild this season was the only way to go but that isn't the reality of the situation anymore.

I am aware of the opportunity cost of not trading away some of these players when they are at their peak value, to which I say... I don't care. The next couple years will be rough no matter what. So you're giving up on a team that could go deep in the playoffs again this year for a maybe that is at least three years away (Cameron's 19 year old season likely).

Draft picks are magic beans and there are always players you can move down the line. There is nothing they can/should do that will significantly improve the next couple seasons. We are talking about getting 07/08 guys or draft picks that become players even younger than that.

And then you're hoping that three years from now you can put together a team that maybe, possibly is as good as the one in front of us right now. I used to think that way too, the fantasy GM stuff is fun I guess, if you forget it's a bunch of 16-19 years olds lives you're just casually throwing around but the willingness to look at the team that is #8 in Canada and has shown they have a system that can win in the playoffs and want to blow it up for some sort of marginal improvement three years from now... I just don't get why fans seem so eager for it.

Every passing game this is becoming the popular opinion. Run it back make Peterborough a top destination in junior hockey once again.

 

[User13452]

If they aren’t gonna trade away key pieces and keep the roster intact which I don’t see happening but if they do they need to find a import for cheap and need to see what the cost is on Zhugin in Windsor and Vilmanis in sarnia

 

[OHLTG]

If they aren’t gonna trade away key pieces and keep the roster intact which I don’t see happening but if they do they need to find a import for cheap and need to see what the cost is on Zhugin in Windsor and Vilmanis in sarnia

At this point, Zhugin would likely cost an offensive 05 and a pick... best guess. Though, I'd be more impressed if the Spitfires could pry Konnor Smith away LOL

 

[Petes1987]

At this point, Zhugin would likely cost an offensive 05 and a pick... best guess. Though, I'd be more impressed if the Spitfires could pry Konnor Smith away LOL

The Petes are not going to make a lateral move for Konnor Smith. I doubt they are going to trade him but if they did it would be for a younger defenceman plus draft picks.

 

[OHLTG]

The Petes are not going to make a lateral move for Konnor Smith. I doubt they are going to trade him but if they did it would be for a younger defenceman plus draft picks.

Strangely, in the Spitfires' situation, I'm not necessarily against that.

 

[Petes1987]

The Petes are not going to make a lateral move for Konnor Smith. I doubt they are going to trade him but if they did it would be for a younger defenceman plus draft picks.

I think the two teams have different needs. Windsor needs stability on defence to lower their goals against. However Peterborough priority is to build their defence for the future if they decide to sell. They are strong for the future on right defence with Carson Cameron, Liam Ladds and Brayden Velliaris. Cameron appears to be the Petes next franchise player. They need to add at least one left defenceman to go with Dylan Woulds. If the Petes decide to go for it again they will need Konnor Smith he will only be traded if they decide to rebuild.

 

[OHLTG]

I think the two teams have different needs. Windsor needs stability on defence to lower their goals against. However Peterborough priority is to build their defence for the future if they decide to sell. They are strong for the future on right defence with Carson Cameron, Liam Ladds and Brayden Velliaris. Cameron appears to be the Petes next franchise player. They need to add at least one left defenceman to go with Dylan Woulds. If the Petes decide to go for it again they will need Konnor Smith he will only be traded if they decide to rebuild.

Windsor has 2006-born Walton as a LD (physical side) or 2006-born Woodall (more offensive). Right now, the Spitfires' biggest issue is that they're extremely green and soft on defence. You allow 125 GA in 21 games, it's bad. Say, purely hypothetical, that they traded Walton + multiple picks for Smith... they'd STILL have five guys who could return next season.

Again, not saying the Petes would ever do this, but there are some options IF the teams got together.

 

[ktownfan]

The Peterborough Petes are in no win situation. They are currently leading the Eastern Conference but lack young players and draft picks from their last two runs (2019-2020 and 2022-2023) to first make any additions and for the future. Because of this many people think they should be going into a rebuild to add young players and draft picks. It is hard decision to trade away your best players when you have a chance to finish 1st in the East Division and at the very least win a round or two. It will be a hard sell to fans go from a team seen as a contender to a team that could miss the playoffs.

The Petes have never said for sure this is a rebuilding year. At the start the season and more recently they indicated they are trying to determine what type of team they are. There are now two members of the media that have said that the Petes will be buyers at the deadline. Team President, Dave Lorentz has indicated that the plan is that the Petes will strive to be competitive every year and GM, Mike Oke said when he signed his new contract and got his promotion that he has a plan to get the Petes back to the Memorial Cup within the next five years.

I do not think the Petes will be buyers at the deadline, I also doubt they will keep their current lineup intact. I think they will do a measured rebuild with the aim of remaining competitive but getting younger and adding needed draft picks. I think the Petes will trade Owen Beck and Sam Mayer. They will likely keep Jax Dubois, Jonathan Melee, Tommy Purdeller and Chase Lefebvre at forward and Donovan McCoy, Konnor Smith and Cam Gauvreau on Defence and both goaltenders. This will give them a solid foundation as they go into a small rebuild. I think they could will trade Beck for a young player but it may not be a 16 or 17 year old player drafted in the 1st round. I think they will likely target a 17 year old forward taken in a later round (round 2 to 4) instead and will get two 2nds and one or two, 3rds and if they don’t get the second, 3rd a 4th. I think they will accept a lesser player to get more draft picks. They could get a 17 year or 18 old defenceman plus a 2nd and a 3rd or 4th for Mayer.

If they get this return they would have four, seconds, four to six, 3rds, one to three, 4ths and five, 5ths over the next four drafts. They would also receive a young forward and defenceman in the deals. They then could trade a 3rd and 5th for an overage forward to replace Mayer as an overage and take Beck’s place on the top line. They also could make a trade for a project player that may cost them a 4th or a 5th. In the end they will have replaced Owen Beck and Sam Mayer (likely not at the same level as they are at) and added two additional forwards.

This will allow Peterborough to remain competitive but maybe not be a contender and add needed draft picks. After these trades they would still have the four 2nds, three to five 3rds, maybe two, 4ths and three to four, 5ths. Plus three additional players that would return next year.

Gauvreau will be gone

 

[Zebra]

Didn’t our new President Dave Lorentz say something about being competitive every year?
I think he also said 17 yrs is too long to wait for another championship .

Maybe the Petes are going for it -who knows?

Maybe we could even win this year-who knows?

They could always gut the team next summer -trade away everyone for picks. At that point some of our guys could be 2 time champions -worth double!

One thing is for sure -the Petes cannot afford to buy everyone, fans etc , ANOTHER championship ring.

They gotta start gutting this team now -just in case we accidentally win again and they are on the hook for more rings

 

[PuckStop75]

i agree with a lot of your comments however I don't think that they will trade Mayer, I do believe that they will trade Sztuska and likely Connor Smith. They will trade Beck.

They should be testing the market on McCoy coming off the big weekend, he almost matched his point total for all of last season in those four games. His value will never be higher than it is today.

 

[Petes]

Didn’t our new President Dave Lorentz say something about being competitive every year?
I think he also said 17 yrs is too long to wait for another championship .

Maybe the Petes are going for it -who knows?

Maybe we could even win this year-who knows?

They could always gut the team next summer -trade away everyone for picks. At that point some of our guys could be 2 time champions -worth double!

One thing is for sure -the Petes cannot afford to buy everyone, fans etc , ANOTHER championship ring.

They gotta start gutting this team now -just in case we accidentally win again and they are on the hook for more rings

There’s nothing left to “gut” after this season… that’s the problem.

 

[OMG67]

Didn’t our new President Dave Lorentz say something about being competitive every year?
I think he also said 17 yrs is too long to wait for another championship .

Maybe the Petes are going for it -who knows?

Maybe we could even win this year-who knows?

They could always gut the team next summer -trade away everyone for picks. At that point some of our guys could be 2 time champions -worth double!

One thing is for sure -the Petes cannot afford to buy everyone, fans etc , ANOTHER championship ring.

They gotta start gutting this team now -just in case we accidentally win again and they are on the hook for more rings

I’m not sure anyone can truly point to Lorentz saying the Petes will be competitive every year while also using it as a means of justifying they make a push this year.

We’d first need to qualify what it means to be competitive. Above .500? I can see that as being competitive. Anything less would be not competitive.

You cannot say they need to be competitive every year while also trading away a plethora of assets in a single season. It makes it very difficult to sustain competitiveness when you don’t have the assets to be competitive. This is why I suggest pointing to Lorentz comments is useless. It is stuff clown management says to appease a fanbase in that moment.

Continually competitive franchises are few and far between. Obviously there is London. Maybe Kitchener. Owen sound is continually competitive but rarely at the top of the Conference. So, again, it goes back to what the concept of competitive really means in the eyes of management.

I’d like to see how the Petes maintain competitiveness with their current asset mix. NorthernVoice has a solid take that no matter what they do this year, they are going to be weak next Year and if they make a push this year, they are likely weak for multiple years. I 100% agree with that stance. no matter what the Petes do, they are going to have at least one year where they are not competitive. More if they make a push this year and don’t try to recoup assets.

Again, using Lorentz comments to try to justify doing one thing over another is just kicking the inevitable can down the road. At some point, the Petes will be uncompetitive. They pushed a lot of assets off the board last year and they won a championship. I think you have to be happy with that and continue to support them through the rebuild. I know there are 19 other teams that would be ok being in that same situation post-championship.

 

[Petes1987]

Gauvreau will be gone

Cam Gauvreau will not be traded.

 

[NorthernVoice]

https://archive.is/2023.11.23-120011/https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/sports/hockey/petes/petes-could-have-some-tough-decisions-ahead/article_7f6c9ac6-975c-558a-9cce-71c07cd381dd.html

 

[ktownfan]

Cam Gauvreau will not be traded.

My prediction only, there will be another OA coming in

 

[NorthernVoice]

My prediction only, there will be another OA coming in

I would be surprised if this was the case, only because if that's the route they choose, why not just keep Connor Lockhart?

 

[howlman]

My prediction only, there will be another OA coming in

Landon McCallum?

 

[HockeyPops]

https://archive.is/2023.11.23-120011/https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/sports/hockey/petes/petes-could-have-some-tough-decisions-ahead/article_7f6c9ac6-975c-558a-9cce-71c07cd381dd.html

outperforming expectations is a good problem to have.

 

[User13452]

There’s ways to trade a few pieces like Beck and Mayer and still remain competitive and even win a round

 

[User13452]

My prediction only, there will be another OA coming in

Ya in the Mayer trade

 

[PuckStop75]

There’s ways to trade a few pieces like Beck and Mayer and still remain competitive and even win a round

Read the article by Mike Davies, the last time the Petes were in this position they only traded the two top players: Steve Downie and Daniel Ryder, the next 8 years they didn't win a playoff series and missed the payoffs 4 times... The return on Downie was Bastien and 3-2nds, on Ryder - John Armstrong, 2nd, 3rd and a 5th which would be about what would be expected for Beck and Mayer.

There is no gentle way to go about this...