Peterborough Petes 2024-25 Season Thread, Part II

[OMG67]

Draft position discussion:

Originally I was of the opinion that the 67’s were going to need to miss the playoffs. There was a lot of talk about expansion. If the OHL were to have expanded, past expansions showed they normally give the non-playoff teams the first picks but then the expansion teams got the first picks after the non-playoff teams. If we’d have expanded by 2 teams, they’d get the 5th and 6th picks. Then the worst playoff teams would pick 7th. The challenge is the bottom 3-4 of the Western Conference were not looking good. For a while, it was looking like the 8th placed team inthe Eastern Conference was going to pick somewhere around 9th if there were expansion teams.

Now, it doesn’t’ look like expansion will happen this coming seaosn and both Flint and sarnia have pulled up their socks a bit. So, the 8th place team in the Eastern conference will ikely pick 5th or 6th. This is not as bad as what it looked like at the deadline.

I had argued that it made no sense for Ottawa to make the playoffs because they would get a Tuesday and Thursday round one playoff games where they’d get maybe 2200 people. Big deal right? However, I am not too sure Peterborough is in the same shoes. I do feel it is in NB, Ottawa, and Peterborough's best interest to miss the playoffs. But, of those three teams, Peterborough would be the team to take best advantage of it. I think they’d gain the added revenue. They’d likely be the most competitive of the three. With a 3rd overall pick last year, combined with the extra ‘07s collected at the deadline last year, they are the least in need of an early pick.

I really don’t think the Petes making the playoffs is a bad thing. It shows growth after a bad season last year. It validates the moves that have been made by management and it gives the younger players a sense of pride in persevering through the rebuild.

 

[Newbie Observer]

Is there a certain number one in the draft? Just asking or is there little difference between number one and say number 3 to 5?

No #1 at the moment from what I have heard. Top 4-5 are very similiar then drops off a bit. There is no Connor McDavid this year

 

[OMG67]

The franchise has never had the first overall pick and only had second pick once. No point in looking at who goes first anyway.

That said I have seen some mentions of there not being a standout at the top of the pack but who knows.

I’ve heard differently. There is no real stud at #1/#2. I’ve heard it is pretty good through the first 3-6 picks with some really solid players but no one stands out as a major franchise stud (early NHL graduation sorta player). I’ve also heard the draft looks a little deeper like last year with some really good players through most of two rounds. Looks like it is forward heavy in round one again this year with a lack of puck moving D-Men in round one. This makes it sound like if you have drafted a quality puck mover last year or this coming year, you may be very fortunate because PP QB’s may be few and far between in these two cohorts moving forward. We may see that more as we get to the 2026-27 and the 2027-28 seasons.

 

[User13452]

2 winnable games next week with flint and sarnia. London will be tough. Ottawa has Oshawa twice and flint could very well go 0-3. North bay has soo Guelph Owen sound I think they will be the team the petes need to catch. Ottawa and north bay do have 3 games left against each other petes don’t play North bay again

 

[ptbopete]

2 winnable games next week with flint and sarnia. London will be tough. Ottawa has Oshawa twice and flint could very well go 0-3. North bay has soo Guelph Owen sound I think they will be the team the petes need to catch. Ottawa and north bay do have 3 games left against each other petes don’t play North bay again

Yes and winnable games for the Petes don't necessarily translate into wins - they play better against top teams it seems. Having said that London rag-dolled us last time we played them.

Right before the Petes got spanked at home versus the Soo and Erie I said "I wouldn't want to face the Petes in round 1 of playoffs" but since then we have been in every game - the 6-3 loss vs Oshawa notwithstanding but they answered back by beating the Gens on Saturday.

The last half of February (with March 1st thrown in) is a very tough schedule for the Petes.
We play Brantford twice and then Kingston, Kitchener, Barrie and Windsor.

 

[User13452]

It’s not must win territory yet but tonight is a big one with Ottawa losing last night and likely to lose again tomorrow against Oshawa and Soo North bay is 50-50 tonight. Petes need a win tonight and Saturday in Sarnia

 

[OMEGARAZER]

I think it's a good weekend to get 6 points.

On another note, it doesn't appear the lineups are posted yet, but the officials have... Sean Reid and Blake Beer. Could be a pretty rough one.

Edit: Reid already with a primary assist and multiple missed shots to the back of the head, as is tradition.

 

[NorthernVoice]

McCallum is embarassing tonight. I bet no joke he's laid on the ice ten times after taking (or not) a hit.

 

[NorthernVoice]

What an embarrassing performance.

 

[Section5Petes]

That was a really bad one. All we hear from this team is “wanting to make playoffs” and then we go out and do that when these points matter. gotta have a good weekend

 

[User13452]

McCallum is embarassing tonight. I bet no joke he's laid on the ice ten times after taking (or not) a hit.

Yeah spends more time diving and looking for calls that the officials just aren’t gonna give him he doesn’t have a good reputation needs to focus on just playing hockey and contributing

 

[MCur19]

McCallum is embarassing tonight. I bet no joke he's laid on the ice ten times after taking (or not) a hi

McCallum is embarrassing tonight. I bet no joke he's laid on the ice ten times after taking (or not) a hit.

He was definitely looking for something tonight ... I think he was sprawled more on the ice then he was standing ... the defense just gave up thru the second ... hopefully better against a much stronger opponent tomorrow evening

 

[MCur19]

It’s not must win territory yet but tonight is a big one with Ottawa losing last night and likely to lose again tomorrow against Oshawa and Soo North bay is 50-50 tonight. Petes need a win tonight and Saturday in Sarnia

I'd rather be 5 pts back then 7 with 4 games against current last playoff spot holder and even amount of games played

 

[WillardJFredricks]

Ugly game. Does Strohack contribute much other than yapping and posturing? He's always involved when there's refs in the middle of it. Kaiser has to smarten up. He can't just go around trying to start fights. No wonder Flint's captain was making fun of him after Kaiser tried to jump him.

Fitzgerald would have had a nice goal with his through the legs move.

This team just makes no sense. You'd think they'd come out and want to get the win against a team they should be able to beat. There seems to be a lack of leadership. I know Melee was out, but the veterans don't seem to be leading by example by taking dumb penalties (Strohack) and diving constantly (McCallum).

Somehow it wouldn't surprise me if they go into London tonight and pull off a win.

 

[User13452]

Ugly game. Does Strohack contribute much other than yapping and posturing? He's always involved when there's refs in the middle of it. Kaiser has to smarten up. He can't just go around trying to start fights. No wonder Flint's captain was making fun of him after Kaiser tried to jump him.

Fitzgerald would have had a nice goal with his through the legs move.

This team just makes no sense. You'd think they'd come out and want to get the win against a team they should be able to beat. There seems to be a lack of leadership. I know Melee was out, but the veterans don't seem to be leading by example by taking dumb penalties (Strohack) and diving constantly (McCallum).

Somehow it wouldn't surprise me if they go into London tonight and pull off a win.

Kaiser was looking for a fight from the beginning of warmup him and Blake Smith were going back and forth at each other. He seems to wanna fight every game

 

[WillardJFredricks]

Also, I know we've been saying it for years, but how on earth can their power play be so bad? It's just pathetic.

 

[NorthernVoice]

Also, I know we've been saying it for years, but how on earth can their power play be so bad? It's just pathetic.

I have nothing against Francis Parish but he's probably the least offensive forward on this team and the coaches have him out there on PP1. That last gasp major PP in the third, they didn't generate a single chance.

I felt like the Petes played well in the first but lost the goaltending battle (one goal Bowen was way out of position). Then it felt like they folded up shop after he was way out of position on another one in the second period to fall down three.

Then they decided to run around looking for fights, with Kaiser looking like an absolute idiot with his sucker punch. I hope he sits next game. Though based on how Asst Coach Oke was chewing out Gowan all night long, it may be him. Oke was looking a bit foolish on the bench again, like Kaiser, McCallum, seemed to not be in control of emotions.

Also for going out and looking for fights, I'm not sure they won any of them. Special shout out to Sam McCue dummying Bryant for the Gordie Howe hat trick. Addy, who the Petes acquired for him wasn't on the bench for the third. Aiden Young seemed to be benched at one point, maybe there's something going on like illness or something, you'd hope their effort wasn't just that poor.