Erie Otters 2022-23 Season Thread

[Mata]

The first goal against us was 100% on Nicholls. He has to make the save from the top of the circle in the one on one.

The second goal was an extra long shift for us and Kyrou made a very uncharacteristic mistake leaving Nicholls out to dry.

Nicholls did make a hell of a save with around 6 left to keep us in the game before the empty net goal.

Terrance was everywhere. Spence has a ton of promise and needs a line to play with sooner rather than later. Saganiuk has established himself as the best "little man".

I just don't understand this continuation for the past couple seasons:

32 - 17 on shots in our favor and we lose...either we just aren't getting good opportunities (same as last season) or we need to be more creative. We outworked Kingston most of that game and still came up short.

 

[NOA]

The first goal against us was 100% on Nicholls. He has to make the save from the top of the circle in the one on one.

The second goal was an extra long shift for us and Kyrou made a very uncharacteristic mistake leaving Nicholls out to dry.

Nicholls did make a hell of a save with around 6 left to keep us in the game before the empty net goal.

Terrance was everywhere. Spence has a ton of promise and needs a line to play with sooner rather than later. Saganiuk has established himself as the best "little man".

I just don't understand this continuation for the past couple seasons:

32 - 17 on shots in our favor and we lose...either we just aren't getting good opportunities (same as last season) or we need to be more creative. We outworked Kingston most of that game and still came up short.

Here we go again. Same season. Same team. I just hope we eventually trade Kyrou. Also, glad we got Gilmartin and jumped the gun on “buying” this year. Big difference that has made

 

[DubCee21]

The second goal was an extra long shift for us and Kyrou made a very uncharacteristic mistake leaving Nicholls out to dry.

This is actually very characteristic of Kyrou dating to early last year. He very rarely busts his ass to get back after leading the rush or going deap in the offensive zone. Many times he lollygags straight to the bench instead of actually rejoining the play in his zone. He has good offensive ability but he is a defensive liability. IDK why this kid isn't a forward because he has a shoot first mentality, doesn't like to pass, often leads the rush, and takes his time getting back after doing so. Not good traits for an effective defenseman.

 

[NOA]

This is actually very characteristic of Kyrou dating to early last year. He very rarely busts his ass to get back after leading the rush or going deap in the offensive zone. Many times he lollygags straight to the bench instead of actually rejoining the play in his zone. He has good offensive ability but he is a defensive liability. IDK why this kid isn't a forward because he has a shoot first mentality, doesn't like to pass, often leads the rush, and takes his time getting back after doing so. Not good traits for an effective defenseman.

Or .. and hear me out here.. they could coach better? It’s amazing to me that we have a “defensive” coach and yet we are sloppy on the backend despite a lot of talent and a lot of experience. I’ve complained about BJ since day 1 because I don’t think defensive teams win in this league. So not only do they have a bad offense, their defense continues to underachieve. If your speciality is defense, it might be smart to coach and play that side of the game better. Just a thought. Seems like a waste to have a defensive head coach but a team that don’t play great defense. What a concept. Nothing that I would sign up for as a GM but hey, Dave Brown just keeps proving me right

This all starts and ends with Brown. He’s been horrendous in recent years which is well documented in this thread. How he has a job still is beyond me. The only thing saving us is firing him and hiring a legit talent to come in and fix this mess

 

[Moroz]

I agree with virtually everything said above. It truly is deja vue all over again with this team. The responsibility for that falls squarely on the GM and the coaching. They have had more than enough opportunity to right the ship, but they stubbornly refuse to change course, the Gilmartin trade being the latest example of that. As I think Einstein said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

I would add one comment about the goaltending. We have had historically bad goaltending over the past few years, and Brown has been grossly negligent in addressing this need. Nothing Nicholls did last year would suggest that he is anywhere close to being an adequate OHL backup, much less a starter. In two games this year, he has an .858 save percentage. League average goaltending and the Otters are probably 1-0-1, and maybe 2-0-0.

If Brown believes that he has addressed this situation by drafting Gibbons, then play him! What is the reason for not doing so, especially in back to back games? If Gibbons is not ready, then we are left with the same tandem we had last year. Perhaps there is reason to hope that Lalonde will improve to be a league average, or better, goaltender this year. That is yet to be seen. But are we going to wind up running him into the ground as we did last year, because the back up cannot be relied upon?

Goaltending is 75% of the game - when you have it. It is 100% of the game when you do not. It is hard to overstate how demoralizing bad goaltending can be on the rest of the team, especially a team that is young and struggling to achieve some level of respectability. As a fan who has been a season ticket holder from the first day that the team came to Erie,, I have to say that I also find it very demoralizing and frustrating.

 

[Erie Otters Zone]

Good news I’d that there is only 4 teams with a win in the West. We’re not the only ones in a rough start but gotta win tomorrow

 

[NOA]

Wow, huge news! Congrats Nolan!



I’m convinced the kid should have been drafted this year but his numbers were the product of a bad team. If he wore certain OHL logos, he would have been selected…

Either way, this is even more impressive because it means he stood out so much that CBJ wanted to keep him. Great stuff! Hopefully a boost in his confidence and Erie finally found their #1

 

[OttersFan]

Nicholls holding strong that period. I don’t want to jinx anything.

Anyone want to take a preditction on how many penalty minutes we will have by the end of the season? We need to stay out of the box.

 

[Mata]

Wow, huge news! Congrats Nolan!



I’m convinced the kid should have been drafted this year but his numbers were the product of a bad team. If he wore certain OHL logos, he would have been selected…

Either way, this is even more impressive because it means he stood out so much that CBJ wanted to keep him. Great stuff! Hopefully a boost in his confidence and Erie finally found their #1

Curious if that's why Gibbons stayed on. Perhaps Lalonde moves up instead of staying in Erie and goes to Cleveland at some point.

 

[NOA]

Curious if that's why Gibbons stayed on. Perhaps Lalonde moves up instead of staying in Erie and goes to Cleveland at some point.

I don’t think he can. The rules still apply regarding his age and AHL eligibility. And also I doubt Columbus wants to rush that process even if they could. Gibbons is here because you simply need a backup on opening weekend and Lalonde is still in camp…

 

[NOA]

Look, I’m not trying to be dramatic 3 games into the year but wow this team blows. They are so clearly the same damn team we have seen the past 4 seasons and I just don’t understand what the hell has to give for them to finally change directions. The management has literally run this team into the mud and they can’t move. The piss poor trades, the coaching hires, the inability to draft in the early rounds, the import draft, etc etc etc. You name it and I’m sure they have a done a bad job at it

To add some insult to injury, Lockhart is quietly off to a hot start in Peterborough. It’s early there too but if that kid puts up 90-95 points like what the actual hell. If I’m Terrance, I’m asking for a trade asap. We can’t develop players and we simply don’t know what we are doing as an organization. They say they want to win but what are you doing to make that happen? Why is BJ Adams the coach? A team with horrible performance and development over 4 years decided to just stick with their interim guy and keep the same assistants around. I didn’t like Hartsburg either but the assistants are part of the blame too. We don’t invest enough resources. Too cheap to be good but then we wonder why fans don’t support the team. Because you (the organization) don’t invest enough for us (fans) to invest in you.

I can’t take it anymore and I’m ready to just check out so I don’t have to deal with the frustration anymore.

 

[Mata]

Look, I’m not trying to be dramatic 3 games into the year but wow this team blows. They are so clearly the same damn team we have seen the past 4 seasons and I just don’t understand what the hell has to give for them to finally change directions. The management has literally run this team into the mud and they can’t move. The piss poor trades, the coaching hires, the inability to draft in the early rounds, the import draft, etc etc etc. You name it and I’m sure they have a done a bad job at it

To add some insult to injury, Lockhart is quietly off to a hot start in Peterborough. It’s early there too but if that kid puts up 90-95 points like what the actual hell. If I’m Terrance, I’m asking for a trade asap. We can’t develop players and we simply don’t know what we are doing as an organization. They say they want to win but what are you doing to make that happen? Why is BJ Adams the coach? A team with horrible performance and development over 4 years decided to just stick with their interim guy and keep the same assistants around. I didn’t like Hartsburg either but the assistants are part of the blame too. We don’t invest enough resources. Too cheap to be good but then we wonder why fans don’t support the team. Because you (the organization) don’t invest enough for us (fans) to invest in you.

I can’t take it anymore and I’m ready to just check out so I don’t have to deal with the frustration anymore.

And this is supposed to be the weaker of the 2 conferences we are currently playing...

The oberservation is accurate however, new coach, same MO. I have to think it starts at the top and trickles down as many have stated and the ones who suffer the most are these kkds followed by the fans.

 

[OttersFan]

This team owes Nicholls dinner and a drink. I know I’ve talked down on him before, but he held his own today. He proved himself.

The rest of the team is nonexistent. Sure it’s early in the season and on the road, but it needs to be addressed before it spins out of control. 0-2-1 isn’t a good start.

If I’m Jim Waters, I’m on the phone with DB and BJ to wake them up starting last week. On top of fighting attendance with high school football/NFL, you’re now losing fans for being the same team you were during the “rebuild”. At some point you have to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and kick the mud off our boots and make a story for ourselves. All we’ve done is hit copy and paste season after season. Enough is enough.

As I’ve typed this Spence gets his first OHL goal. Good for him and hope he can find his grove.

 

[G0Otters]

This team owes Nicholls dinner and a drink. I know I’ve talked down on him before, but he held his own today. He proved himself.

The rest of the team is nonexistent. Sure it’s early in the season and on the road, but it needs to be addressed before it spins out of control. 0-2-1 isn’t a good start.

If I’m Jim Waters, I’m on the phone with DB and BJ to wake them up starting last week. On top of fighting attendance with high school football/NFL, you’re now losing fans for being the same team you were during the “rebuild”. At some point you have to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and kick the mud off our boots and make a story for ourselves. All we’ve done is hit copy and paste season after season. Enough is enough.

As I’ve typed this Spence gets his first OHL goal. Good for him and hope he can find his grove.

There had been a lot of Nicholls bashing on this board. I think he has proven in preseason and the regular season thus far that he is a capable backup. He played an unbelievable game today. The way the rest of the team played, it should have been a 10-1 score.

 

[three dog night]

Eastern Ontario trips always tough.

 

[Mata]

There had been a lot of Nicholls bashing on this board. I think he has proven in preseason and the regular season thus far that he is a capable backup. He played an unbelievable game today. The way the rest of the team played, it should have been a 10-1 score.

Bashing or objectively talking about the reality of the situation?

A .849 save percentage with a 4.4 GAA and questioning whether or not he was going to be OHL caliber is fair game IMO heading into this season.

Preseason saw a jump to .893 and 2.68 but not against final rosters. A opening road stretch has him .889 and 2.95 which a noticeable turnaround. They are also playing weaker teams.
I think a reasonable back-up is fair, he seems to have improvrd thus far but he had 1 outstanding game and then 2 games where a decent goalie would have kept their team in the game.

 

[NOA]

Bashing or objectively talking about the reality of the situation?

A .849 save percentage with a 4.4 GAA and questioning whether or not he was going to be OHL caliber is fair game IMO heading into this season.

Preseason saw a jump to .893 and 2.68 but not against final rosters. A opening road stretch has him .889 and 2.95 which a noticeable turnaround. They are also playing weaker teams.
I think a reasonable back-up is fair, he seems to have improvrd thus far but he had 1 outstanding game and then 2 games where a decent goalie would have kept their team in the game.

Overall he played well. The problem is that Erie played their best game Thursday and he played his worst which cost them a game / extra point. Yes, he’s a bit better than last year .. so far. It’s early. Let’s see if that holds. Because last year I seem to remember he started decent too. Let’s see if he can sustain a .885-.890 all year. If so, I’ll take that in a backup on this type of bad team

 

[G0Otters]

Overall he played well. The problem is that Erie played their best game Thursday and he played his worst which cost them a game / extra point. Yes, he’s a bit better than last year .. so far. It’s early. Let’s see if that holds. Because last year I seem to remember he started decent too. Let’s see if he can sustain a .885-.890 all year. If so, I’ll take that in a backup on this type of bad team

He also got injured last year and then was not given enough playing time to develop. From what I have seen this season, he has played well keeping the team in the game. Poor defense cost us the three games more than goalie play, not to mention lack of offense. Consistently losing faceoffs is not going to help the cause. I think the Gilmartin trade was stupid. His addition has pushed Spence to the third line when Spence looks like he could handle being on the second line. Hopefully they start playing better over the next two weeks otherwise it could be a long year.

 

[Mata]

Overall he played well. The problem is that Erie played their best game Thursday and he played his worst which cost them a game / extra point. Yes, he’s a bit better than last year .. so far. It’s early. Let’s see if that holds. Because last year I seem to remember he started decent too. Let’s see if he can sustain a .885-.890 all year. If so, I’ll take that in a backup on this type of bad team

Correct, his first 3 were good quality starts. He got torched in his next 5 games including one where he was pulled.

Then he settled down a little until his last 3 games of the season where he was torched again. I can't remember if he started and was pulled twice or if he went on in relief.

I mean, given our team start I'm not sure if MAF would prevent goals being scored lol.

As long has he improves from last season and can settle above I'd say .875 I would consider it a positive sign, however, regardless of how he does he's unfortunately gone next season.

 

[Guy In Burlington]

Was at the game yesterday. Erie plays dump amd chase too much, especially when most of their forwards aren’t going to win a lot of puck battles. They also don’t pass. Weren’t making the goalie move at all, until maybe Spence’s goal.

Liked Morton’s energy, and Nicholls was excellent. Needed to have a D clear out his crease on a couple. Deserved the third star if anybody did.

 

[NOA]

Lalonde sent back down to Erie

Was at the game yesterday. Erie plays dump amd chase too much, especially when most of their forwards aren’t going to win a lot of puck battles. They also don’t pass. Weren’t making the goalie move at all, until maybe Spence’s goal.

Liked Morton’s energy, and Nicholls was excellent. Needed to have a D clear out his crease on a couple. Deserved the third star if anybody did.

So in other words, bad coaching?

 

[Guy In Burlington]

Lalonde sent back down to Erie


So in other words, bad coaching?

I don’t know. Sometimes you can lead a horse to water but that’s it.

 

[NOA]

I don’t know. Sometimes you can lead a horse to water but that’s it.

I personally think it all starts with coaching and philosophy with this team. Their players aren’t really developing and go to other teams to find success. I will keep blaming the coaching until some other explanation seems more reasonable. But if the coaching is bad then who gets the blame? The guy that hires the coach …

If this team had better coaching, let alone a better GM who built a better roster, then they would be way past the rebuild phase. Knoblauch would have this same team in the middle of the pack 5/6 seed. BJ and his staff? Probably 8/9 seed. They keep settling for mediocrity so that’s what they get. In the meantime, I won’t be investing real money into them. Haven’t been to a live game since middle of last year and don’t plan on going to one again until real changes occur

 

[Mata]

I personally think it all starts with coaching and philosophy with this team. Their players aren’t really developing and go to other teams to find success. I will keep blaming the coaching until some other explanation seems more reasonable. But if the coaching is bad then who gets the blame? The guy that hires the coach …

If this team had better coaching, let alone a better GM who built a better roster, then they would be way past the rebuild phase. Knoblauch would have this same team in the middle of the pack 5/6 seed. BJ and his staff? Probably 8/9 seed. They keep settling for mediocrity so that’s what they get. In the meantime, I won’t be investing real money into them. Haven’t been to a live game since middle of last year and don’t plan on going to one again until real changes occur

I would agree...

Sometimes you have a phenomenal coaching staff and the assistants will branch out, start their own careers. Some will do well, some have hit their ceiling and will not do so well in a more advanced role. To a degree I think that's what is coming to fruition in Erie.

Look, these guys can obviously coach, but are they the correct fit in their current positions from the Knoblauch days? So far the answer is no. It wasn't Hartsburg, BJ is losing steam quite quickly and while Wes and Vince seem to be amazing people, they too may fall short.

I guess I just don't understand this need to hold onto the past. Loyalty to some extent, but it's becoming pretty ridiculous for fans.

I fully expect a 100% cleaned house if we do not make playoffs again starting with DB and whatever philosophy he is trying to bring in. His trades have been kinda awful, his drafting (especially in the import draft) is pretty sub par. Now, add into that a coaching staff that isn't nurturing these kids to full potential, or the vast majority of them anyways, and we will have a 20 - 25 win season every year with a consistently high draft pick and that's just not good enough. There is no reason Erie shouldn't be making a playoff run every 3 - 5 seasons on a regular basis.

On a positive, it is good to see Lalonde come back to Erie. Perhaps his leadership and abilities will help propel us into the win column and help figure some stuff out on the ice.

 

[Savard18]

Did anybody notice Connor Lockhart is leading the league in scoring? Haha. One. That’s not gonna continue. Two. He hasn’t developed much in Peterborough. Its not like he’s developed a ton in 5 weeks or whatever. Maybe it’s more about coaching systems and bench decisions with some of these kids?