Erie Otters 2022-23 Season Thread

[Mata]

Oh boy not good… Kitchener just traded for the league’s leading scorer and SOO got a steal from NIA. They are the only two teams ahead of us that aren’t 10+ points more than us and we gotta end this losing skid or else we could be out of it before February

We have two top 6 players still out (Saganiuk and Gilmartin) and our top goalie in a slump. We landed our coveted import, but in return just traded our top defender who has "known for weeks".

I am not sure we move on another name this year and our early season gamble to bring in Downey, Gilmartin, and Alfano was a bust (so to speak***), thus likely turning us into sellers at the deadline if we have any moves left.

Had we stayed in the middle of the table hovering around 4 - 6 things might be different.

*** A bust in that we are still below 500 as we near the halfway point, not that those players are busts.

 

[Mata]

Not gonna lie...

I'd be mildly disappointed if we don't see Terrance, Spence, and Molnar on a line at some point this season together.

 

[nelli27]

Tonight's game on CHL app /tv, and is FREE!

 

[OttersFan]

Not gonna lie...

I'd be mildly disappointed if we don't see Terrance, Spence, and Molnar on a line at some point this season together.

How dare they put Molnar on the second line! Doesn’t the management know he ONLY came here for first line minutes????? Lol

 

[NOA]

Molnar is definitely gonna be a player for u guys. Was one of if not your most noticeable guys for bringing it up & trying to generate.

First time seeing Spence, too & is he ever going to be a player! GL the rest of the way.

Would you say a top 6 player? Especially when compared to their current forwards?

How dare they put Molnar on the second line! Doesn’t the management know he ONLY came here for first line minutes????? Lol

I never said first line, I said top 6. If he’s playing with guys like Bressette, their leading scorer, that’s all you need to know. Odd comment but next time just @ me and make it quicker. And please keep spinning what I say while continuing to contradict yourself. PLEASE

I’m beyond amazed at the fans who don’t understand the negotiations to get an import, let alone a top 5 pick with real NHL aspirations and an agent, to leave his home country and come thousands of miles away to play for BJ Adams and the 9th place Erie Otters. You do naturally understand that assurances have to be made to get a player like that who has the leverage and options that he has? Or is it still too hard to grasp or too hard to admit the truth? Or maybe you think this is the same as signing Kulakov or Patry or Cajka. Idk what more evidence you need.

 

[Mata]

Tonight's game on CHL app /tv, and is FREE!

Turn it off...

I see now why it was free...bahahaha!

 

[OttersFan]

Lalonde showing emotion on the bench by throwing his stick on the glass. Terrible start.

I’m not sure why they’re still playing him. Let him get out of his head.

 

[Mata]

Lalonde showing emotion on the bench by throwing his stick on the glass. Terrible start.

I’m not sure why they’re still playing him. Let him get out of his head.

Honestly curious how much longer Jim Waters let's all this happen. The team was honestly one of the hottest teams in the West to probably the coldest in the last 15 games.

It is almost downright embarrassing for the kids.

 

[NOA]

Lalonde is broken. Really hard to fix a goalie’s mindset middle of the year. Maybe came in overconfident with the pro deal and lost his mechanics, who knows. But he’s a disaster right now and the fact that they continue going back to him like he will just fix it overnight is yet again an indication that BJ is a poor man’s coach. They really should entertain calling up Gibbons and just shutting down Lalonde until the new year. I’m not joking. He’s been that bad. For a team that is slipping the way they are, to come out and play Lalonde last night and then again tonight is once again a head scratcher. “We need to get back on track, we are playing good teams, so let’s ride the struggling goalie!”

Thank god I haven’t wasted money on the team this year. Thank god

 

[OttersFan]

Would you say a top 6 player? Especially when compared to their current forwards?


I never said first line, I said top 6. If he’s playing with guys like Bressette, their leading scorer, that’s all you need to know. Odd comment but next time just @ me and make it quicker. And please keep spinning what I say while continuing to contradict yourself. PLEASE

I’m beyond amazed at the fans who don’t understand the negotiations to get an import, let alone a top 5 pick with real NHL aspirations and an agent, to leave his home country and come thousands of miles away to play for BJ Adams and the 9th place Erie Otters. You do naturally understand that assurances have to be made to get a player like that who has the leverage and options that he has? Or is it still too hard to grasp or too hard to admit the truth? Or maybe you think this is the same as signing Kulakov or Patry or Cajka. Idk what more evidence you need.

Pretty sure you said “line #1” see below message from yesterday. Nice try.

Also I see Molnar right to line #1 with Bressette. That didn’t take long

“BuT MoLNar WiLL hAVe to WAiT and NO wAY wE sHAke up ThE liNEs for HiM”

 

[NOA]

Pretty sure you said “line #1” see below message from yesterday. Nice try.

Yes.. because he was that yesterday. Last I checked being on #1 line is also top 6 or am I bad at math? My comment yesterday was in reference to me saying that in order to sign him they need to offer assurances of top 6 minutes while others said they wouldn’t do that. Everyone knows that top 6 is interchangeable, especially on this team with this talent.

Man, it’s exchausting to defend myself on simplistic, straightforward things.

 

[Mata]

If the entire staff isn't fired upon return to Erie, Jim Waters should sell the team. This is downright embarrassing.

 

[OttersFan]

If the entire staff isn't fired upon return to Erie, Jim Waters should sell the team. This is downright embarrassing.

Everyone except for the equipment and athletic trainer needs gone. We’re better off forfeiting the Saginaw game and taking an early break.

 

[Erie Otters Zone]

Everyone except for the equipment and athletic trainer needs gone. We’re better off forfeiting the Saginaw game and taking an early break.

Before the season Mark Scheig said that if they missed the playoffs that BJ and Dave would still have jobs. If they do I don’t know what to say anymore. This team is frustrating to watch so much

 

[Mata]

Before the season Mark Scheig said that if they missed the playoffs that BJ and Dave would still have jobs. If they do I don’t know what to say anymore. This team is frustrating to watch so much

Mark is such a biased homer with his reporting I quit following him. If you want the pulse of the team you talk to STH and more specifically billet families. Their chatter seems to carry quite a bit of weight.

 

[NOA]

Mark is such a biased homer with his reporting I quit following him. If you want the pulse of the team you talk to STH and more specifically billet families. Their chatter seems to carry quite a bit of weight.

If fans want a change, stop giving the team money. STH should unite and strike on their ticket renewals. It all comes down to money, that’s all the team wants. But right now this franchise reeks of poor decision making, poor leadership, and as a result poor finances. They built up such a great operation in the mid 2010s and now they have been a dumpster fire and maybe worse than ever before. Missing the playoffs 5 straight years when 90% of teams make it.. I mean I don’t know how you get through that and don’t fire the GM and much of the operations staff.

 

[7D442]

If fans want a change, stop giving the team money. STH should unite and strike on their ticket renewals. It all comes down to money, that’s all the team wants. But right now this franchise reeks of poor decision making, poor leadership, and as a result poor finances. They built up such a great operation in the mid 2010s and now they have been a dumpster fire and maybe worse than ever before. Missing the playoffs 5 straight years when 90% of teams make it.. I mean I don’t know how you get through that and don’t fire the GM and much of the operations staff.

Ouch !! That part about missing the playoffs 5 straight years when 90% of teams make it thing …

Now let that sink in …

 

[G0Otters]

Ouch !! That part about missing the playoffs 5 straight years when 90% of teams make it thing …

Now let that sink in …

It is actually 80% (8/10 teams in the conference). Still pitiful though.

 

[NOA]

It is actually 80% (8/10 teams in the conference). Still pitiful though.

Whoops, you are correct. I was too annoyed last night to proofread that comment.

But 80% is still horrible. It’s pretty hard to miss that often and yet it’s looking likely we head down that path. I would be stunned if they fire BJ mid season in his first full year into his tenure, especially after firing Hartsburg last year in the early parts of the year. That’s a bad look and also expensive to do it in back to back years. This is the price they pay for making really zero changes in 6 years. Think about that - in 6 years, despite never making the playoffs and being underwhelming on the ice and with our prospects/development, the only changes we have made was moved on from Hartsburg early last year but replaced him with an internal coach as an interim and then made the interim the head coach. No other significant moves. The other assistants have basically been the same too. It’s the same exact culture and system. Which is why the results are the same…

Most teams, when they suck for 4-5 straight years, don’t just promote the assistant coach.. I mean was BJ not at least part of the problem when Hartsburg was here too? It’s not like our defense was good, ever improved, or guys really developed much more than expected under him. And yet that’s who we promote? Someone who was never a head coach at this level or a similar level and someone who was average at best in his assistant role. I’ll keep saying it on repeat: They never should have promoted from within. They had a chance to go get a new young voice, be aggressive, and turn things around. They needed someone new and a culture change. Instead, they played it safe and cheap. And huh, wouldn’t ya know that nothing has changed outside of a small win streak that has now been negated by a horrendous record over the last 15 or so games. Despite having more talent than prior years. This shouldn’t really surprise anyone. The writing was on the wall. At least I am less surprised because I called it.

 

[G0Otters]

Whoops, you are correct. For whatever reason I thought 2 in the west don’t make it and then just ignored the teams in the east not making it.

But 80% is still horrible. It’s pretty hard to miss that often and yet it’s looking likely we head down that path. I would be stunned if they fire BJ just one season into his tenure after firing Hartsburg last year in the early parts of the year. That’s a bad look and also expensive to do it in back to back years. This is the price they pay for making really zero changes in 6 years. Think about that - in 6 years, despite never making the playoffs and being underwhelming on the ice and with our prospects/development, the only changes we have made was moved on from Hartsburg early last year but replaced him with an internal coach as an interim and then made the interim the head coach. No other significant moves. The other assistants have basically been the same too. It’s the same exact culture and system. Which is why the results are the same…

Most teams, when they suck for 4-5 straight years, don’t just promote the assistant coach.. I mean was BJ not at least part of the problem when Hartsburg was here too? It’s not like our defense was good, ever improved, or guys really developed much more than expected under him. And yet that’s who we promote? Someone who was never a head coach at this level or a similar level and someone who was average at best in his assistant role. I’ll keep saying it on repeat: They never should have promoted from within. They had a chance to go get a new young voice, be aggressive, and turn things around. They needed someone new and a culture change. Instead, they played it safe and cheap. And huh, wouldn’t ya know that nothing has changed outside of a small win streak that has now been negated by a horrendous record over the last 15 or so games. Despite having more talent than prior years. This shouldn’t really surprise anyone. The writing was on the wall. At least I am less surprised because I called it.

Exactly, look at London and Saginaw this year. Saginaw is the best in the West after being the worst last season on top of trading away Josh Bloom. London started off the year horrible and are now near the top of the conference even with losing Stranges, Evangelista, and Montgomery. I think we should trade Lalonde at this point and take our chances with Downey and Gibbons. Not sure what we could get for him though considering his play this year. Hopefully by the time we get Gilmartin and Saganiuk back the team is playing better. I don’t think we have any young forwards in the pipeline to replace Sedore and Cohen after this year so I wouldn’t mind seeing them make a trade to bring in a young forward who has some potential.

 

[NOA]

Exactly, look at London and Saginaw this year. Saginaw is the best in the West after being the worst last season on top of trading away Josh Bloom. London started off the year horrible and are now near the top of the conference even with losing Stranges, Evangelista, and Montgomery. I think we should trade Lalonde at this point and take our chances with Downey and Gibbons. Not sure what we could get for him though considering his play this year. Hopefully by the time we get Gilmartin and Saganiuk back the team is playing better. I don’t think we have any young forwards in the pipeline to replace Sedore and Cohen after this year so I wouldn’t mind seeing them make a trade to bring in a young forward who has some potential.

Saginaw is a great example. We just aren’t developing players and on top of that, don’t know how to win. I almost suggested the Lalonde trade too but right now he’s likely to have lower value so it’s not like you are going to get a high return. Plus, Gibbons is clearly not ready or they would have had him here from day one rather than Nicholls. There is too much risk and not enough reward in trading Lalonde. You have to hope he just figures it out and soon.

I would look at trading another forward but I’m not sure the assets you would get in return. Maybe Gilmartin to recoup some of the picks they used to get him? But I just don’t see them doing anything else and if they do, I don’t expect a high return. Their asset situation is actually decent as it stands. I don’t think they need to sell off anyone. If you had another Kyrou to trade, that’s one thing. But you really don’t have anyone worth selling and you can’t afford to just throw in the towel given the state of the franchise.

As bad as it is right now, they just have to ride it out and hope things turn around. I don’t see how they get back to .500 with the hole they dug themselves but that’s the goal now. Try to dig out of the mess. Molnar adjusting, Gilmartin back from his suspension, Saganiuk returning from injury. Those are all major things that are going to happen and should improve things. The question is does the team quit before that can happen? Have they already quit? If not, they have a chance to turn the tide but need all hands on deck and that includes Lalonde. They also can’t afford 10 game suspensions like Gilmartin selfishly took.

Am I betting on them? Hell no. But I really hope this doesn’t get worse. I’m just trying to keep our young guys engaged so they develop and want to stay here. Can’t afford for players to start demanding out

 

[G0Otters]

Saginaw is a great example. We just aren’t developing players and on top of that, don’t know how to win. I almost suggested the Lalonde trade too but right now he’s likely to have lower value so it’s not like you are going to get a high return. Plus, Gibbons is clearly not ready or they would have had him here from day one rather than Nicholls. There is too much risk and not enough reward in trading Lalonde. You have to hope he just figures it out and soon.

I would look at trading another forward but I’m not sure the assets you would get in return. Maybe Gilmartin to recoup some of the picks they used to get him? But I just don’t see them doing anything else and if they do, I don’t expect a high return. Their asset situation is actually decent as it stands. I don’t think they need to sell off anyone. If you had another Kyrou to trade, that’s one thing. But you really don’t have anyone worth selling

As bad as it is right now, they just have to ride it out and hope things turn around. I don’t see how they get back to .500 with the hole they dug themselves but that’s the goal now. Try to dig out of the mess.

I could see moving Gilmartin or Bressette (wouldn’t like that) to get a younger forward. Looking at our overage situation next year, we have Bressette, Gilmartin, Saganiuk as forwards and Kulokov as defense (not sure if Johnston is considered overage next year or not with him having an October birthday). If things are looking bleak by the trade deadline, I would consider moving Kulakov and/or Gilmartin/Bressette. Saganiuk probably doesn’t bring much in return coming off an injury. Thus we might as well move one of the next year overage forwards now to get something in return. I think Bressette is our best player and will go along way in helping Spence and Molnar develop. Thus that make’s Gilmartin most dispensable. If Lalonde can get things turned around, I would look to move him during the offseason.

 

[NOA]

I could see moving Gilmartin or Bressette (wouldn’t like that) to get a younger forward. Looking at our overage situation next year, we have Bressette, Gilmartin, Saganiuk as forwards and Kulokov as defense (not sure if Johnston is considered overage next year or not with him having an October birthday). If things are looking bleak by the trade deadline, I would consider moving Kulakov and/or Gilmartin/Bressette. Saganiuk probably doesn’t bring much in return coming off an injury. Thus we might as well move one of the next year overage forwards now to get something in return. I think Bressette is our best player and will go along way in helping Spence and Molnar develop. Thus that make’s Gilmartin most dispensable. If Lalonde can get things turned around, I would look to move him during the offseason.

Based on past practice and how the organization has handled things, I don’t see any world where Bressette is traded unless he requested such move. He’s our best forward and a near lock to be here next year unless a pro team signed him which seems unlikely but not impossible. The team has been in a rebuild forever but at some point they have to get out of that and start winning.. so getting rid of someone like Bressette hurts you next year. Next year they potentially have Bressette, Molnar, Terrance, Spence, Alfano, Saganiuk in the forward group. That’s at least something to work with.

yes Bressette would have value but I’m not necessarily sure they need the picks right now nor can they afford to totally tank again. We might think they suck and they are done this year, but I’m sure management views it differently and thinks with Saganiuk/Gilmartin back and Molnar new to the team, they can salvage things.

On the other hand, they keep playing this middle game of buying/selling. Traded away Lockhart but brought it Gilmartin. Moved Kyrou but added Downey. It’s annoying. If they just sold off everything from the beginning of this rebuild, yes they would have won 10-15 games and sucked, but they would have been better off long term. That includes just selling off Drysdale in year 2 for a ransom. Instead they have been riding this wave of limited resources and then any time they get resources, they use right away for cheap pieces that don’t really upgrade the team…

So if you are going to sell Bressette, then I would make the decision to move someone like Sova too. Go all in with tanking or don’t do it at all.

 

[G0Otters]

Based on past practice and how the organization has handled things, I don’t see any world where Bressette is traded unless he requested such move. He’s our best forward and a near lock to be here next year unless a pro team signed him which seems unlikely but not impossible. The team has been in a rebuild forever but at some point they have to get out of that and start winning.. so getting rid of someone like Bressette hurts you next year. Next year they potentially have Bressette, Molnar, Terrance, Spence, Alfano, Saganiuk in the forward group. That’s at least something to work with.

yes Bressette would have value but I’m not necessarily sure they need the picks right now nor can they afford to totally tank again. We might think they suck and they are done this year, but I’m sure management views it differently and thinks with Saganiuk/Gilmartin back and Molnar new to the team, they can salvage things.

On the other hand, they keep playing this middle game of buying/selling. Traded away Lockhart but brought it Gilmartin. Moved Kyrou but added Downey. It’s annoying. If they just sold off everything from the beginning of this rebuild, yes they would have won 10-15 games and sucked, but they would have been better off long term. That includes just selling off Drysdale in year 2 for a ransom. Instead they have been riding this wave of limited resources and then any time they get resources, they use right away for cheap pieces that don’t really upgrade the team…

So if you are going to sell Bressette, then I would make the decision to move someone like Sova too. Go all in with tanking or don’t do it at all.

Trust me I am not advocating to trade Bressette as he is one of the few players you can count on. If playoffs look like a long shot by early January then I think we move Gilmartin and Saganiuk if possible for younger forwards and use our 1st round draft pick next year for a defenseman as we will be losing Morton. Moving an overage forward would allow us to keep Kulakov assuming he comes back next year. No way I trade Sova with our offense sputtering to score.

 

[NOA]

Trust me I am not advocating to trade Bressette as he is one of the few players you can count on. If playoffs look like a long shot by early January then I think we move Gilmartin and Saganiuk if possible for younger forwards and use our 1st round draft pick next year for a defenseman as we will be losing Morton. Moving an overage forward would allow us to keep Kulakov assuming he comes back next year. No way I trade Sova with our offense sputtering to score.

I’m not suggesting Sova either but the point being that if you trade Bressette, you should go all in on tanking because that’s would you would be doing by moving him anyways. Therefore, Bressette is almost certainly not a trade candidate unless they get a crazy good offer and/or he wants out

I also just don’t think they can get young forwards for someone like Gilmartin / Saganiuk. So if that is your logic in trading them, it’s a bit of a stretch and probably unrealistic. Like you could probably get a spare part or a player of Smith/Artichuk quality, but you aren’t going to get a younger player worth getting for those types of players…
Kyrou fetched a decent 2005 but Kyrou has high end value. Saganiuk/Gilmartin are the classic players you trade for picks only. Something like a 3rd and 4th for Gilmartin? Maybe? That’s probably high end

Kulakov is an import so using both OA/import on him next year would be stupid but also on par with the moves this team makes so probably in play for us. No other franchise is likely doing that though. They have Johnston as an OA defender and would than have Saganiuk/Bressette. Gilmartin is an NHL pick and unlikely to return but still possible. If he does, they should trade him but also given the history of moves, im sure we keep him and then we owe London another 3rd round pick. Ideally, gilmartin goes pro and you don’t have to worry about it. Use your 1st round import on a defender to supplement Kulakov loss. Always use OHL 1st round picks on forwards unless you have a can’t miss Drysdale. Offense harder to come by. Defensively they have Sova, Johnston OR Kulakov, Daviault, Alboim, Sauder, Henry, Holomego. They also have the chance to take an import defensemen if they move on from Kulakov. They still have the bodies on defense for next year - at least 7 signed and potentially 8 if they want Kulakov. If not, they have 7 signed and the import draft as an option.