Ottawa 67's 2020 Offseason Thread

[beastintheeast]

Toffoli to my Habs...cool!

should help with the offense. Montreal made a lot of good deals.

 

[analyser]

should help with the offense. Montreal made a lot of good deals.

Seems like a smart deal now, as Gallagher may depart.

You will still miss Gallagher if he moves on.

 

[Kathys Boss]

Today the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced the cancellation of all varsity sports programs and championships up to March 31, 2021. This does not bode well for the launch of the OHL season; however, I hope that the OUA's decision does not influence the decision makers (i.e., the provincial gov't., municipal gov'ts, Hockey Canada, CHL, OHL, etc.) in regards to cancelling the OHL season. Hopefully some opportunity can be found from this decision by the OUA. For example, consider the possibility of the OHL's Erie, Saginaw and Flint teams all playing out of Western University's facilities in London with the players in a billet "bubble" residing in the on-campus residences and still having access to their own online education programs. Alternatively, the facilities of the U of Windsor, U of Waterloo and/or Guelph U., etc. could be utilized. Even if these logistics could be sorted out, the OHL will need to develop a suitable TV pay-per-view revenue model since it may be quite some time before the home arenas of all OHL teams are able to accept a crowd size that represents something close to a financial break-even. As a supporter of the league, I would certainly pay to watch games in the unique 2020/21 season. Thinking creatively, I also wonder if the OHL could charge players (effectively, their parents) a participation fee (or development fee) in an amount similar to that charged by Minor Midget AAA programs (approx. $10k per player). The idea that OHL players are employees or professional athletes was recently settled (they are not). Pay or don't play. For the 2020/21 season, in order to get some games in and have some important continued player development (which is important for both the teams and the players), it may be necessary to make some radical adjustments. A non-contact (no body checking) rule may also be a prerequisite for the 2020/21 season if the OHL is going to get the required gov't approvals. Face masks could also be required, which would make the rules identical to Olympic women's hockey. In a nutshell, it may be better for the OHL to follow a minor hockey financial model (supplemented by some TV and advertising revenues) and organize the 2020/21 season in the format of a series of localized tournaments with health and safety as a priority, than to lose the season all together.

 

[sirius67fan]

Great post. I would certainly pay a fee close to a ticket to watch games and support the 67's. I think having the players pay however is a no go. As for the no contact I disagree as imo it does not increase the risk significantly ( except fighting which should be banned). However if it means not having a season... I'd reluctantly agree.

 

[OMG67]

1> The border will remain closed to the United States through the Winter. The US based teams will need to relocate to Canada.
2> The QMJHL has had serious issues. First, one of their teams had massive spread. The rest of Quebec was shut down to hockey because of so many defined “hot spots.” It is likely much of Ontario will be classified as a “hot spot.”
3> Because much of Ontario will be considered a “hot spot,” the current plan to billet in their home city and play games in 17 OHL rinks is not viable at all.

It is likely if the league wants to operate, they will need to do some form of bubble like the NHL did. I don’t see that as viable. It is very unlikely there will be a season. If there is, the number of disruptions will be many and I am not sure the physical on ice restrictions will make the competition viable either.

If they can set up a bubble and gain enough revenue from streaming the games and Provincial subsidies, maybe. At least if there is a strict bubble, they’d be able to play a normal physical game.

 

[beastintheeast]

1> The border will remain closed to the United States through the Winter. The US based teams will need to relocate to Canada.
2> The QMJHL has had serious issues. First, one of their teams had massive spread. The rest of Quebec was shut down to hockey because of so many defined “hot spots.” It is likely much of Ontario will be classified as a “hot spot.”
3> Because much of Ontario will be considered a “hot spot,” the current plan to billet in their home city and play games in 17 OHL rinks is not viable at all.

It is likely if the league wants to operate, they will need to do some form of bubble like the NHL did. I don’t see that as viable. It is very unlikely there will be a season. If there is, the number of disruptions will be many and I am not sure the physical on ice restrictions will make the competition viable either.

If they can set up a bubble and gain enough revenue from streaming the games and Provincial subsidies, maybe. At least if there is a strict bubble, they’d be able to play a normal physical game.

As I said earlier the best possibility for the OHL is to trade arenas with the AHL if in fact they are going t oplay at all The league could work in a bubble for the players if they wanted. An example would be if they move erie to Belleville then they could bubble the players from Ottawa, Kingston, Belleville and either Cornwall or Peterborough. Agnew would have to be willing to give up some of the revenue from games that Kingston did not play in to the team designated home team.

Fans could bus to the games if they wanted to but would have had to be separated by at least one seat.

Players would be restricted to their hotels and the arena You could possibly use the township arena for practices as well as the main arena.

This would have worked back in the late 60's when the teams were owned or affiliated with NHL teams. Then the NHL teams would have been willing to put some money into their teams to aid in the development of their players.

That being said I hardly see them doing this and the logistics would be a complete shambles.

What little money the owners make is from advertising it is going to be hard to sell advertising if you are marketing on 1000 people at a game.

There will not be any help to sports teams as most sports teams let's face it are not important enough in the scheme of things.

The best thing that the CHL can do is cancel the season and let the NHL teams decide what they want to do with their drafted players and where they can see them playing.

It will also allow players like Hoesher and others look to the ECHL and their agents try to get them a deal. This could be the same for a lot of the players that are eligible for the draft this year.

 

[OMG67]

As I said earlier the best possibility for the OHL is to trade arenas with the AHL if in fact they are going t oplay at all The league could work in a bubble for the players if they wanted. An example would be if they move erie to Belleville then they could bubble the players from Ottawa, Kingston, Belleville and either Cornwall or Peterborough. Agnew would have to be willing to give up some of the revenue from games that Kingston did not play in to the team designated home team.

Fans could bus to the games if they wanted to but would have had to be separated by at least one seat.

Players would be restricted to their hotels and the arena You could possibly use the township arena for practices as well as the main arena.

This would have worked back in the late 60's when the teams were owned or affiliated with NHL teams. Then the NHL teams would have been willing to put some money into their teams to aid in the development of their players.

That being said I hardly see them doing this and the logistics would be a complete shambles.

What little money the owners make is from advertising it is going to be hard to sell advertising if you are marketing on 1000 people at a game.

There will not be any help to sports teams as most sports teams let's face it are not important enough in the scheme of things.

The best thing that the CHL can do is cancel the season and let the NHL teams decide what they want to do with their drafted players and where they can see them playing.

It will also allow players like Hoesher and others look to the ECHL and their agents try to get them a deal. This could be the same for a lot of the players that are eligible for the draft this year.

IT is likely the AHL will not play. The NHL rosters will be expanded in some manner to create a taxi squad to be available for injury and virus problems.

As it stands now, the OHL and other CHL leagues for that matter, will have some difficulties if they want to play games and travel to other centres with players living with billet families.

I feel the OHL will need to find an alternative proposal.

In addition, not many OHL rinks will allow for play in the summer. You can attest o the difficulties of 67s training camps the last week of August.

Therefore, if the league starts late and has a Memorial Cup in the Summer, they require a better standard of facility to play in.

The NHL is likely not to start until January as is their plan. That will delay the start of the following season next year as well. The CHL can and should try to align their schedules to match what the NHL is doing. IF they were to do so, it would likely allow the CHL leagues to start as late as mid-February.

IF this is accurate, the league could even start as late as mid-March and go into a bubble situation in four different suitable centres and play a condensed tournament style schedule with games scheduled every second day for 2-3 months. Then followed by a condensed playoff schedule leading up to a Memorial Cup tournament.

This will potentially add some costs but it still is possible the Provincial Governments all help support this proposal. The OHL is a business. Many businesses are being supported based on their economic impact. If banks and airlines can be supported, I am sure the OHL can make a proposal for reasonable support.

 

[Kathys Boss]

In the future, the history books will show that the 2020/21 OHL season will have an asterisks beside it. The OHL needs to accept this and, as a business, move forward with an alternative business model for the 2020/21 season. I'm suggesting that a minor hockey business model be considered. In the past six weeks, my Pee-Wee aged son has played in four for-profit tournaments in the GTA. He's playing more than the OHL. If a window of opportunity opens for a group of OHL teams to participate in one or more intensely scheduled tournaments (2-3 games a day per team? 12 minute stop-time periods? etc.) then at least some continued player and team development can occur within this novel environment utilizing potentially atypical playing formats. Formats like 4-on-4 games should be considered. Regional and weekend local championships should be considered. One-off rivalry games should be considered. The traditional regular season format needs to be thrown out this year and replaced by opportunistic ideas to get at least a few teams together and, in relatively safe semi-bubble environments, play at least a few games. A traditional season and any sense of keeping traditional statistics should be tossed out. The 2020/21 season represents an opportunity to think creatively about exciting new formats and innovative game styles that can be experimented with and that can still drive fan interest and player development. If the 2020/21 season is mostly or exclusively exhibition games, then that's better than no season. Here's the business plan:
1. Play hockey (any hockey). [Some teams may play more, some may play less. Some may not play at all.]
2. Minimize expenses. [No buses - players drive themselves. No hotels - games are played relatively locally. No team purchased meals - players' families pay for food. No team purchased sticks, etc. - players provide their own. Etc.]
3. Assume there will be no fans in the seats. Assume there will only be TV or online fans.
4. Seek financial support from the federal, provincial and municipal governments.
5. Seek financial support (and/or relief) from the players (and their parents). [This will mean that the Standard OHL Player Contract will need a brief Addendum related to the unique 2020/21 season.]
6. Seek crowdfunding support from the Clubs' fan bases.
7. Seek a major sponsor for each exhibition tournament, regional series, or rivalry game. Consider approaching businesses that are thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic to participate as sponsors (for example: Amazon.com; Skip-the-dishes; Pizza Pizza; Dominos; Canada Post; Electronic Arts and Nintendo; Peloton; 3M; Wayfair; etc.]
8. Seek revenue from TV and online viewers of the games.
9. Allow for very, very flexible player rosters since local players may be preferred over billet-family players and also players without evidence of timely negative COVID-19 test results would not be able to participate.

Play hockey. Any hockey. Any format. Safely.

 

[OMG67]

In the future, the history books will show that the 2020/21 OHL season will have an asterisks beside it. The OHL needs to accept this and, as a business, move forward with an alternative business model for the 2020/21 season. I'm suggesting that a minor hockey business model be considered. In the past six weeks, my Pee-Wee aged son has played in four for-profit tournaments in the GTA. He's playing more than the OHL. If a window of opportunity opens for a group of OHL teams to participate in one or more intensely scheduled tournaments (2-3 games a day per team? 12 minute stop-time periods? etc.) then at least some continued player and team development can occur within this novel environment utilizing potentially atypical playing formats. Formats like 4-on-4 games should be considered. Regional and weekend local championships should be considered. One-off rivalry games should be considered. The traditional regular season format needs to be thrown out this year and replaced by opportunistic ideas to get at least a few teams together and, in relatively safe semi-bubble environments, play at least a few games. A traditional season and any sense of keeping traditional statistics should be tossed out. The 2020/21 season represents an opportunity to think creatively about exciting new formats and innovative game styles that can be experimented with and that can still drive fan interest and player development. If the 2020/21 season is mostly or exclusively exhibition games, then that's better than no season. Here's the business plan:
1. Play hockey (any hockey). [Some teams may play more, some may play less. Some may not play at all.]
2. Minimize expenses. [No buses - players drive themselves. No hotels - games are played relatively locally. No team purchased meals - players' families pay for food. No team purchased sticks, etc. - players provide their own. Etc.]
3. Assume there will be no fans in the seats. Assume there will only be TV or online fans.
4. Seek financial support from the federal, provincial and municipal governments.
5. Seek financial support (and/or relief) from the players (and their parents). [This will mean that the Standard OHL Player Contract will need a brief Addendum related to the unique 2020/21 season.]
6. Seek crowdfunding support from the Clubs' fan bases.
7. Seek a major sponsor for each exhibition tournament, regional series, or rivalry game. Consider approaching businesses that are thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic to participate as sponsors (for example: Amazon.com; Skip-the-dishes; Pizza Pizza; Dominos; Canada Post; Electronic Arts and Nintendo; Peloton; 3M; Wayfair; etc.]
8. Seek revenue from TV and online viewers of the games.
9. Allow for very, very flexible player rosters since local players may be preferred over billet-family players and also players without evidence of timely negative COVID-19 test results would not be able to participate.

Play hockey. Any hockey. Any format. Safely.

Players have contracts.

 

[Whatanathol]

Contracts that can be amended if in the player's and best interest of the league.

 

[Kathys Boss]

Players have contracts.

Contracts can be amended. Please see my earlier recommendation about adding a brief Addendum (a one or two page attachment) to the Standard OHL Players Contract. Consider that from the player's perspective their current contract with their OHL club (without the proposed Addendum) is not worth much to the player while the league is shut down and is inoperative. A player will likely agree to revised terms if that's what it takes to get the league operating again and some local exhibition games/tournaments going. That's better than the status quo, for both the player and the league and its clubs. Also, if it seems daunting to renegotiate with every player, including some potential hold outs, then the recommended very flexible roster rules for the 2020/21 season should provide the clubs with enough flexibility to navigate those concerns and still ice a good team.

The Addendum wouldn't be hard to write. Consider:

ADDENDUM

WHEREAS the Club and the Player have entered into a Standard OHL Player's Contract;

AND WHEREAS the 2020/21 season is at risk of being cancelled due to restrictions related to the current COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions related to the OHL and the Club's ability to host fans at its arenas;

AND WHEREAS the OHL developed a plan for innovative and limited-scale exhibition and/or regular season games with no (or limited) fans that can occur during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic (the "Plan");

AND WHEREAS the Plan will result in there being very limited operating revenues available to the Club as compared to a traditional OHL hockey season;

AND WHEREAS the Plan accordingly requires each Club to minimize its expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic;

AND WHEREAS the Player and the Club both desire to continue to play hockey and develop the Player's hockey skills during the 2020/21 season;

NOW THEREFORE for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby confirmed, the Club and the Player agree as follows:

1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standard OHL Player's Contract between the parties hereto, the Player and the Club agree to the following revised terms during the 2020/21 season:
(a) [yada yada yada - - insert a description of the OHL's standardized reduced financial terms and commitments that the Club will need the Player to agree to in order to make it feasible for the league and Club to operate in a limited capacity.]
(b) [insert a clause about the importance of health and safety and a commitment to regular health testing, along with open and transparent communications between the player and the Club's doctor.]
(c) [insert a clause about this Addendum being limited only to the time period of the COVID-19 pandemic and that if, prior to the end of the 2020/21 season, the OHL and the Club are able to resume operations pursuant to their traditional business model of having fans in attendance at the games, then the terms of this Addendum shall cease and the parties shall revert back to the terms found in the Standard OHL Player's Contract.]
(d) etc. ...
[The Addendum would be only be two-pages long.]

 

[OMG67]

Contracts that can be amended if in the player's and best interest of the league.

I don't think either side would set that prescident.

 

[HockeyPops]

Kasper Simontaival loaned to Tutu as per Elite Prospects

 

[Generalsupdates]

I don't think either side would set that prescident.

Definitely not

 

[beastintheeast]

The bottom line at this point it is both not safe nor financially feasible to play hockey at this point.

 

[OMG67]

The bottom line at this point it is both not safe nor financially feasible to play hockey at this point.

1> What is considered safe? As it stands now, each and every OHL player could get the virus and recover with 100% certainty. So, what do you mean by safe?

2> Financial viability. There are many secondary avenues related to “finance.” Clearly, if there are no fans, there is no ticket revenue. However, online streaming subscriptions would increase without the need to hire any game day staff. Where that equation works out, who knows. Also, costs may be significantly cut. The league will endeavour to realign divisions and schedule to reduce travel costs. The league will also operate with less games and actual schedule duration. On top of that, it is likely the scholarship compensation will be for one semester instead of two because they will start in January at best.

3> The Province will likely support the league. The Quebec Government applied a $20mil subsidy. I can easily see the Ontario Government apply a similar subsidy. The Government has selectively subsidized various industries in an effort to keep them viable. On top of that, there are other subsidies applied to business that the OHL can qualify for separate from any additional subsidies they’d have to apply for.

Yes, the league will run at a loss this year. There is no doubt about that. We cannot assume it will run at a loss that precludes them playing. They need to protect their product. Stagnation for a full season does nothing but hurt the value of their product. IT stagnates development which also hurts the level of play as well.

If the only viable reason for them to not play hockey in some form is financial, I don’t see that being a big enough hurdle. There are many different formats that can be introduced to address Pandemic related issues.

 

[beastintheeast]

Safe is not just the players although they are important it is also the fams have to feel safe be willing to come out. It also depends on the government saying that it is safe to hold hockey games.

I really do not see the provincial government will give any money. The government is low on funds and have a lot of bigger things to fund.

 

[OMG67]

Safe is not just the players although they are important it is also the fams have to feel safe be willing to come out. It also depends on the government saying that it is safe to hold hockey games.

I really do not see the provincial government will give any money. The government is low on funds and have a lot of bigger things to fund.

No Government anywhere in North America has money just laying around. This isn’t about charity, it is about supporting businesses that generate significant revenue which also generates significant taxes. This in light of the fact the Government is imposing restrictions that force the league to lose millions of dollars to not operate.

Make no mistake, the Government is making choices to bankrupt businesses in an effort to reduce infections, not deaths. The data no longer supports the theory of massive death rates. It simply doesn’t.

We are well beyond this being a health risk. People get sick all the time. This has gone way too far now.

This is my opinion. If the OHL were to open up and allow full arena’s, I’m 100% ok with it. If someone shows up to a game and gets sick and dies, it was their decision to attend a mass gathering and they accept the risks involved with it.

I am sick and tired of the bleeding hearts that think they are trying to save humanity. The data clearly shows, through excess death rates, that the lockdowns have caused more damage than they have helped.

Health officials are so focused on one thing (Covid) that they can’t see anything else. That is except the tens of thousands of health experts that are analyzing the data and coming to that exact conclusion and publishing papers to that extent.

 

[OMG67]

Looking more and more like the AHL clubs will travel with their NHL clubs and play same day...

Example given was TML will play in Ottawa against the Sens and the Marlies will play the Baby Sens that afternoon.

 

[OHLoutsider2020]

What happens to all the 2003 prospects who in their draft year? How can a draft happen if there’s no season.

 

[mianjo]

Ottawa 67’s general manager James Boyd confirms that several members of the team had earlier tested positive for the virus.

COVID-19 cases rising in Ottawa's sports organizations, including Ottawa 67's | Toronto Sun

 

[beastintheeast]

CONGRATULATIONS MARCO

Rossi signs entry-level contract with Wild

Depending on training camp if he does not make the WILD and the OHL goes ahead I would think they will send him back to Ottawa so that he can almost immediately go to the WILD or AHL at the end of the OHL season

 

[OMG67]

CONGRATULATIONS MARCO

Rossi signs entry-level contract with Wild

Depending on training camp if he does not make the WILD and the OHL goes ahead I would think they will send him back to Ottawa so that he can almost immediately go to the WILD or AHL at the end of the OHL season

As of right now, the Minnesota Wild have 12 forwards signed to one-way contracts. They also have Kaprizov signed out of Russia. So, 13 forwards. Niko Sturm is waiver exempt so he can be sent down.

The Wild also lost both Staal and Kanin, their top two point producing centres this past offseason. They didn’t really pick anyone up that would be considered bonafide top 2 line centres. Maybe Bonino?

The Wild have $2.7mil in cap space available. So, they may very well be in a position to sign a remaining UFA centre like Granlund, Soderberg or Haula.

That said, at this point, I cannot see Rossi not making the Wild as at least a 2nd line centre. Their depth down the middle is pretty much garbage. Guys like Parise and Zuccarello need someone to play with at the top of the roster and right now that is who? Bonino? Bjugstad? No great.

If Rossi doesn’t make the Wild for some reason, then it will come down to what league is actually playing at the highest level.

 

[beastintheeast]

Just looking at the known hockey schedule.
I think the OHL will not start until the new year and be missing players.

If you look at the NHL plan as well as WJC I see junior players reporting to WJC teams at mid-end November. They will play until mid-January in the WJC
Players like Lafreniere and Rossi and such will miss the NHL training camps and will play the WJC then join their respective NHL teams to
a. practice
b. show that they can make the team
c. play the nine games.

That means that you will miss Quinn and other players until mid-February. if you add in the quarantine period that the CDN government will mandate.
That also means that Tourigny may not be behind the bench until end of Jan at earliest

 

[OMG67]

Just looking at the known hockey schedule.
I think the OHL will not start until the new year and be missing players.

If you look at the NHL plan as well as WJC I see junior players reporting to WJC teams at mid-end November. They will play until mid-January in the WJC
Players like Lafreniere and Rossi and such will miss the NHL training camps and will play the WJC then join their respective NHL teams to
a. practice
b. show that they can make the team
c. play the nine games.

That means that you will miss Quinn and other players until mid-February. if you add in the quarantine period that the CDN government will mandate.
That also means that Tourigny may not be behind the bench until end of Jan at earliest

The most prevalent forecast has the NHL starting in February. A short training camp followed by maybe two exhibition games. Probably around 40 Regular Season games and a playoff.

How this affects Junior and WJHC?

1> Players will be lent to the WJHC except for players who’s teams feel they are now beyond Junior. Those players will participate int heir NHL training camps regardless fo the WJHC.
2> Major Junior is likely to gather after Christmas for a proper training camp and a similar 2-3 game Preseason.
3> NHL calibre players will join their NHL camps but it is likely only the bonafide players vying for a position will be invited. I think NHL teams will want to place their prospects where they seriously feel they will be developing this year as soon as possible to bypass any potential quarantine rules. So, a guy like Jack Quinn will probably go to the WJHC in Edmonton but won’t go to Buffalo’s NHL training camp.

With respect to the latest I’ve heard regarding the way the OHL schedule will be outlined is:
1> Longer Road Trips with less emphasis on Weekend games. A team like Ottawa would potentially do a one week road trip where they play Niagara twice on back to back nights and they will then be done with Niagara and won’t need to go back. Four games in five nights on the road knocking off two teams in one trip for the season will be common.
2> No out of conference games. All games will be in conference with the exception of geographic rivals like Barrie/Owen Sound.
3> All learning is online with the assistance of education advisors and tutors.
4> No fans in attendance
5> American teams will relocate to Canada for this season
6> No fighting. Body contact is allowed but scrums in the corner and along the boards will be blown dead quick.
7> Full Face Shields will be worn by all players
8> 64 game schedule

We’ll see how close this ends up being to reality.