Erie Otters 2022-23 Season Thread

[OttersFan]

Terrance end to end beauty.

 

[Mata]

Terrance end to end beauty.

You forgot to mention Downey was pretty much a highlight reel tonight hahaha!

 

[OttersFan]

You forgot to mention Downey was pretty much a highlight reel tonight hahaha!

That highlight reel save was unreal.

He needs to be played this week. I don’t think we have a true “back up”. They’re both incredible goalies (to Erie’s standard). We don’t develop specifically goaltenders here and we won’t win championships. Once Lalonde figured himself out, I think we win a few extra games.

Had to give Downey a few standing ovations for his saves. He was all over the place.

 

[OttersFan]

I should also add, where was this team yesterday?

I’m glad they’re finally playing the 4th line (or lack of). I hope to see more from them this month with Gilmartin out. They should call up Henry or Holomego to play in that final spot unless they believe Johnson will be back this week. It’s hard to say. Play some younger guys so they’re ready next year.

 

[OttersFan]

Just speculation, could Lalonde be off his game because Downey is wearing his pads? Obviously Lalonde let him wear them and Downey said that his new pads came in, but he’s playing well in Lalonde’s pads.

I know every hockey player has their own superstitions, but ever since Lalonde wore his backup white pads, he’s been off.

I could be wrong but it’s interesting how that was brought up in the interview.

 

[Mata]

Just speculation, could Lalonde be off his game because Downey is wearing his pads? Obviously Lalonde let him wear them and Downey said that his new pads came in, but he’s playing well in Lalonde’s pads.

I know every hockey player has their own superstitions, but ever since Lalonde wore his backup white pads, he’s been off.

I could be wrong but it’s interesting how that was brought up in the interview.

There is no shortage of players with superstitions to help give them any mental age they can garner.

While it's a neat thing to talk about, I think one can point to the ebb and flow of the season, losing players to injury, suspension. Having three in three, etc. While it may coincide with the changing of the goalie pads, I think it is completely normal for players at this age to have major lulls.

That being said, the team in November was finally tested with adversity (injury and suspensions) and they didn't rise to the occasion IMO going 3-5-0-1. What will it take to bounce back and return to form in December with a hellish schedule including a 5 game road trip? They have only a single team on the schedule below .500 for the month. This is either where we make up some serious ground or head to the basement.

 

[Mata]

So far Gilmartin's suspension is holding firm.

 

[OttersFan]

So far Gilmartin's suspension is holding firm.

The suspension list was updated today, so it’s likely to not budge. 10 games was far too many. I wonder if the bias is towards Gilmartin since London was his former team. I don’t see Gilmartin as a threat to warrant 10 games suspended. 3 games? Fine.

The Pete’s and 67’s had a goalie fight at almost center ice and only got 3 games with a few misconducts. There needs to be consistency with suspensions.

I don’t remember seeing him on the list in the past, but I also didn’t pay as close attention.

 

[Mata]

The suspension list was updated today, so it’s likely to not budge. 10 games was far too many. I wonder if the bias is towards Gilmartin since London was his former team. I don’t see Gilmartin as a threat to warrant 10 games suspended. 3 games? Fine.

The Pete’s and 67’s had a goalie fight at almost center ice and only got 3 games with a few misconducts. There needs to be consistency with suspensions.

I don’t remember seeing him on the list in the past, but I also didn’t pay as close attention.

The hardest thing for us as fans to figure out is what was said on the ice in addition to his behavior. We can only speculate that 10 games was too much without some transparency.

Maybe he showed no remorse if they talk to him for his side? There are just so many unknowns to this it is impossible to tell if 10 games is justified or not.

 

[OttersFan]

Saganiuk is indeed in a cast as suspected, his right arm. We will see him in March if we’re lucky.

Dave Brown is in the house.

 

[NOA]

Why is Lalonde still getting the starts like he has earned it?

Edit: wow biggest disappointment of a player since, who? All the hype and Lalonde playing worst than Nicholls last year who wasn’t close to OHL quality haha

 

[Erie Otters Zone]

Why is Lalonde still getting the starts like he has earned it?

Edit: wow biggest disappointment of a player since, who? All the hype and Lalonde playing worst than Nicholls last year who wasn’t close to OHL quality haha

Make that 8 goals allowed for LaLonde. What a game!!! And our best goalie sits on the bench

 

[NOA]

Make that 8 goals allowed for LaLonde. What a game!!! And our best goalie sits on the bench

This team has 2-3 more wins if Lalonde wasn’t this bad right now. And that’s conservative. Horrible.

Start playing Downey until Lalonde wakes up

 

[OttersFan]

Today should’ve been a Downey start. Play the hot tender.

We need to keep goalies on a short leash. 4 goals allowed? Time to sit on the bench. We had a lead and we fail to keep it.

A lot of people chanted “Fire Adams” and with Dave Brown watching, he can exit with the team.

Poor performance. The only one working tonight was Artichuk and Smith. Who would’ve thought, the 4th line? Wake up Erie.

 

[Kingpin794]

Make that 8 goals allowed for LaLonde. What a game!!! And our best goalie sits on the bench

Honestly I don’t think Downey would have done a whole lot better tonight. This is more coaching than anything.

Goal 1: four guys watching the puck carrier. Haight slides in behind all of them for a point blank shot.

Goal 4: Fail to clear zone and lose board battle. 2 guys out front that could break up chance. Neither reacts fast enough when pass comes in. Another point blank chance.

Goal 5: 2 guys watch puck carrier. Saginaw runs a switch. Defender caught flat footed and Mancini slips behind him to tuck in rebound.

Goal 7: Odd man rush. Misa point blank.

And a few of the others the otters aren’t clearing out Saginaw players in front of Lalonde. Don’t even know if he saw some of those.

 

[Erie Otters Zone]

BJ Adams says in Soundbites, “It’s not easy to win.” He says this all the time and it’s not very hopeful for any changes. All he said was we had a good period and a bad second and third

 

[NOA]

BJ Adams says in Soundbites, “It’s not easy to win.” He says this all the time and it’s not very hopeful for any changes. All he said was we had a good period and a bad second and third

I mean to be fair, what do you want him to say? Lalonde sucks? My coaching sucks? We suck? He walks a fine line of being nice, honest, but also not throwing his team of 16-20 years olds under the bus…

He’s far more fair to the media and the fans than Hartsburg was. I don’t have any issue with what he says in the media. The bigger thing is what is he saying to his team?

I will probably criticize him all year but realistically, we still have no elite talent and now no top goalie. Going into the year you thought at least the goalie situation would be better. They are middle of the pack in GF but bottom three in GA. A big chunk of their issues, yet again, is goalie play. And considering that, along with the rest of the roster, for them to be .500 at this stage is not really a bad spot to be. Better goalie play, Lalonde just playing .900 hockey, and they are probably closer to 13-9-3. We wouldn’t be complaining about that. And with Hartsburg, this team probably has 6-7 wins. So I don’t know why we are back on the fire BJ train so soon…. (And I’m not necessarily saying that to the OG poster)
Now, I might jump back on the train by January or end of year but right now? They aren’t a disaster. Their goalie has disappointed and they have had a good blend of injuries, suspensions, etc. For a team that relies on depth to win, having key pieces in and out all the time hurts.

 

[Mata]

BJ Adams says in Soundbites, “It’s not easy to win.” He says this all the time and it’s not very hopeful for any changes. All he said was we had a good period and a bad second and third

I don't know what else we can change at this point TBH...

Molnar reporting would likely be the biggest win outside of Kyrou being traded to reload on picks for next year.

The team is still doing better than last season, albeit very frustrating. We are still suffering from an injury bug in Thompson and Saganiuk, a 10 game suspension from a top 6 forward, and absolutely atrocious play from our top tendie going into the season.

At this point the biggest panic factor is we're closer to the 10th seed than we are the 6th with a hard 5 game stretch coming up on the road. There is the possibility we drop a considerable amount of points in the next 2 weeks. If that's the case the team needs to save face and dump whomever they can for whatever they can stock up on, but we've been down that road before and it would likely need to come at the cost of DB + some or all coaches.

Is there a glimmer of hope, sure, this team can play well. The adversity needs to show up soon and if it does, we will continue to ride the roller coaster. If not, man this could he a pretty long season, again.

 

[OHL4Life]

I don't know what else we can change at this point TBH...

Molnar reporting would likely be the biggest win outside of Kyrou being traded to reload on picks for next year.

The team is still doing better than last season, albeit very frustrating. We are still suffering from an injury bug in Thompson and Saganiuk, a 10 game suspension from a top 6 forward, and absolutely atrocious play from our top tendie going into the season.

At this point the biggest panic factor is we're closer to the 10th seed than we are the 6th with a hard 5 game stretch coming up on the road. There is the possibility we drop a considerable amount of points in the next 2 weeks. If that's the case the team needs to save face and dump whomever they can for whatever they can stock up on, but we've been down that road before and it would likely need to come at the cost of DB + some or all coaches.

Is there a glimmer of hope, sure, this team can play well. The adversity needs to show up soon and if it does, we will continue to ride the roller coaster. If not, man this could he a pretty long season, again.

i cant speak to dave brwon most think hes very good, but the scouting needs a purge, look at how many small forwards were taken in early ronuds that are failing. how many dylan edwrds types do a team need?

 

[Mata]

i cant speak to dave brwon most think hes very good, but the scouting needs a purge, look at how many small forwards were taken in early ronuds that are failing. how many dylan edwrds types do a team need?

I think that scouting mentality was left over from the "glory days". It has become very apparent from BJ and company the team needs to get bigger. Thus we went from a pretty small roster last season to getting bigger, but it is going to take 2 - 3 years to complete the process.

This year we were left with Ross, Artichuk, Saganiuk, and Edwards. Ross was let go, Artichuk remains a 4th liner as well as Edwards.

Upgrades of Alfano, Gilmartin, Spence, Smith, Messier, McDonald, and at the time Lowe were in the works. Even Terrance is a larger bodied forward that can still skate.

Bresette and Sedore are skilled enough they can definitely hang with top 6 and Saganiuk has proved the same but I think the draft direction continues to find forwards who are in the 5'10 - 6'2 frame with elite skating and good skills.

I would chalk up the smaller lineup in the previous couple of seasons to Hartsburgs wishes as BJ made it clear heading into this season we had to get bigger.

 

[OHL4Life]

I think that scouting mentality was left over from the "glory days". It has become very apparent from BJ and company the team needs to get bigger. Thus we went from a pretty small roster last season to getting bigger, but it is going to take 2 - 3 years to complete the process.

This year we were left with Ross, Artichuk, Saganiuk, and Edwards. Ross was let go, Artichuk remains a 4th liner as well as Edwards.

Upgrades of Alfano, Gilmartin, Spence, Smith, Messier, McDonald, and at the time Lowe were in the works. Even Terrance is a larger bodied forward that can still skate.

Bresette and Sedore are skilled enough they can definitely hang with top 6 and Saganiuk has proved the same but I think the draft direction continues to find forwards who are in the 5'10 - 6'2 frame with elite skating and good skills.

I would chalk up the smaller lineup in the previous couple of seasons to Hartsburgs wishes as BJ made it clear heading into this season we had to get bigger.

im not sure i could call messier and mcdonald upgrades thou, they have no production and dont really do much? alfano was a smart pick up as he should be a point a game top 6 guy with size. spence is spence,

i know they group and i think they are all very focused on finding another debrincat for years, they got enamorud with that type of playe,r problem is he is a unicorn and only happens once. small guys are fine but you need them to be more skilled then the bigger guys by a fair margin, not sure the edwards/artichuk/ross types were ever all that skilled.

 

[NOA]

I think that scouting mentality was left over from the "glory days". It has become very apparent from BJ and company the team needs to get bigger. Thus we went from a pretty small roster last season to getting bigger, but it is going to take 2 - 3 years to complete the process.

This year we were left with Ross, Artichuk, Saganiuk, and Edwards. Ross was let go, Artichuk remains a 4th liner as well as Edwards.

Upgrades of Alfano, Gilmartin, Spence, Smith, Messier, McDonald, and at the time Lowe were in the works. Even Terrance is a larger bodied forward that can still skate.

Bresette and Sedore are skilled enough they can definitely hang with top 6 and Saganiuk has proved the same but I think the draft direction continues to find forwards who are in the 5'10 - 6'2 frame with elite skating and good skills.

I would chalk up the smaller lineup in the previous couple of seasons to Hartsburgs wishes as BJ made it clear heading into this season we had to get bigger.

I’ve said this dozens of times but I’ll repeat - the size of the players they drafted was largely due to a team trying to get as much talent as they could given the picks they had. They didn’t intentionally draft or want 5’5 players. They wanted speed and skill and usually at that age group, those kids are smaller and not 6’2. Also, smaller skilled players usually fall in the draft. It’s almost impossible to find a legit skilled, fast skating forward who has size, in the middle to late rounds. Without many 2/3rd round picks - erie tried to get creative. It didn’t work and now in the last 2 years they are trying to reverse the trend

 

[OHL4Life]

I’ve said this dozens of times but I’ll repeat - the size of the players they drafted was largely due to a team trying to get as much talent as they could given the picks they had. They didn’t intentionally draft or want 5’5 players. They wanted speed and skill and usually at that age group, those kids are smaller and not 6’2. Also, smaller skilled players usually fall in the draft. It’s almost impossible to find a legit skilled, fast skating forward who has size, in the middle to late rounds. Without many 2/3rd round picks - erie tried to get creative. It didn’t work and now in the last 2 years they are trying to reverse the trend

no question, anyone thinking they are fiding a 6'3 skilled player after the 5th round is kidding themselves.

i think they identified 'skilled' players who didn't have enoguh skill at their size is the problem.

 

[NOA]

no question, anyone thinking they are fiding a 6'3 skilled player after the 5th round is kidding themselves.

i think they identified 'skilled' players who didn't have enoguh skill at their size is the problem.

They gambled with the idea that a) some kids would grow and b) that they were talented enough that their size wouldn’t matter at the next level

Having Connor Brown as an example related to A and Debrincat as an example related to B didn’t help their thinking. They still should have done better if that was their approach. I agree that they didn’t necessarily target the best smaller guys. But that said guys like Saganiuk were highly regarded. Ross had D1 offers and a commitment. Bressette was a first rounder until an injury (and that’s also working out now). So it’s not like they totally whiffed .. they did draft skill but the problem is that small players will not always translate. They still do need to get stronger and develop their game in a way that size doesn’t become as big of an issue (know how to avoid hits, maintain balance / low center of gravity, etc.)

I just don’t necessarily blame them for trying to get creative and draft for skill. They just went way too far with it for too long and now they need to reverse course. We can blame the scouting but I personally blame the development (i.e. coaching) just as much.

 

[OHL4Life]

They gambled with the idea that a) some kids would grow and b) if they were talented enough than their size wouldn’t matter

Having Connor Brown as an example related to A and Debrincat as an example related to B didn’t help their thinking. They still should have done better if that was their approach. But I don’t necessarily blame them for trying to get creative and draft for skill. They just went way too far with it for too long.

i think thast fair, i think they lost scott to buffalo and a lack of picks and lack of scouting talent got exposed. im not sure if they have fixed anything, but they need to start drafting better is the bottom line