Erie Otters 2022 Off-season Thread

[Mata]

Not sure if this means anything...

 

[NOA]

Not sure if this means anything...

Wasn’t the hlinka just in Alberta? I doubt this means anything but ya never know

 

[NOA]

This can’t be too surprising but wow, what a wasted 3rd overall pick this was. At least they are just accepting the loss and recouping assets now rather than when it’s too late

Alfano put up decent numbers last year as a rookie 04. He has size (6’3) which is the bigger need on this team right now.

With 6 eligible OAs next year, this also moves Erie down to 5 and gives them more flexibility. You either trade Lockhart now or potentially risk losing out on more assets by waiting. If Lockhart has a big year, he could go AHL. If he doesn’t have a leap, then he’s likely back but less valuable given his age. Overall I don’t hate the idea of trading him but I don’t understand why there can’t be a conditional pick or 2 that is tied to his production as a potential OA. Something like that. Unless Alfano ends up being productive, this has a chance to be a bad trade yet again. But it probably had to be done especially with the rumors that Lockhart might not have been the best locker room guy. He might have asked for this trade.

Gosh we really need Molnar.. I think if we add him, it makes me feel better about the direction given the potential youth on this team

 

[7D442]

Anyone have insight on Alfano and his style game and comparison stats to Lockhart in rookie years ??

 

[Erie Otters Zone]

I’m really surprised by this but I guess I understand it. Hope this new guy can play well. I’m getting flashbacks to trading Sproule to the Petes last year

 

[NOA]

I’m really surprised by this but I guess I understand it. Hope this new guy can play well. I’m getting flashbacks to trading Sproule to the Petes last year

Between the Lockhart rumors earlier in the year, the size concerns on the team, his lack of development last year, and the pending 2003s about to enter their 4th year - it definitely makes sense that they were going to trade one of them. Saganiuk, Bressette, Lockhart the only real options. Kyrou could be moved but that’s a deadline deal if you do it. Lockhart the only other one with value. My only surprise is I would have thought they would wait until camp/preseason. Potentially his value increases depending on how he looks in that. So this tells you 1 of 2 things or both: 1) Lockhart requested a trade and/or the team doesn’t want him here for camp. 2) They don’t think his value will get much higher

 

[NOA]

From prior to his 2020 draft selection

 

[Square Corners]

From prior to his 2020 draft selection

Been downhill since unfortauntely. Seems like a change of scenery trade for both teams

 

[OHL Fan]

Looking back they were both wrong on Alfano. Hope he can turn things around and needs change of scenery and can be the power forward most had him pegged out to be. Still early.

I think moving Lockhart was a good move as you needed size and wasnt working out in Erie.

 

[Mata]

This can’t be too surprising but wow, what a wasted 3rd overall pick this was. At least they are just accepting the loss and recouping assets now rather than when it’s too late

Alfano put up decent numbers last year as a rookie 04. He has size (6’3) which is the bigger need on this team right now.

With 6 eligible OAs next year, this also moves Erie down to 5 and gives them more flexibility. You either trade Lockhart now or potentially risk losing out on more assets by waiting. If Lockhart has a big year, he could go AHL. If he doesn’t have a leap, then he’s likely back but less valuable given his age. Overall I don’t hate the idea of trading him but I don’t understand why there can’t be a conditional pick or 2 that is tied to his production as a potential OA. Something like that. Unless Alfano ends up being productive, this has a chance to be a bad trade yet again. But it probably had to be done especially with the rumors that Lockhart might not have been the best locker room guy. He might have asked for this trade.

Gosh we really need Molnar.. I think if we add him, it makes me feel better about the direction given the potential youth on this team

I guess you can kinda look at it one of two ways...

We get uncomfortable and make trades of some of our bigger name players to push OR we have confidence in our current roster.

It's definitely an uneasy feeling given how Sproule worked out last year and was a bad ROI. From what I've heard, this could be good for Connor. He wasn't perceived well in the locker room and being a 3rd pick, maybe just needs a change of scenery to jump start things in which case, as you pointed out it could be a very bad trade, yet again.

I hope we get the better end, but only time will tell.

 

[Mata]

Looking back they were both wrong on Alfano. Hope he can turn things around and needs change of scenery and can be the power forward most had him pegged out to be. Still early.

I think moving Lockhart was a good move as you needed size and wasnt working out in Erie.

He was a 2 ppg player for Southern Tier AAA and then covid hit...

25 points in his "rookie" campaign isn't awful given he, like so many, lost a true rookie season to Covid. A big forward who can shoot, hopefully eat up space in the lanes...I would show signs of promise.

I don't think he is an immediate impact player, which to me is concerning, but 2 years from now if developed could be a stud if his finishing is as good as Brock projected it to be.

 

[OHL4Life]

He was a 2 ppg player for Southern Tier AAA and then covid hit...

25 points in his "rookie" campaign isn't awful given he, like so many, lost a true rookie season to Covid. A big forward who can shoot, hopefully eat up space in the lanes...I would show signs of promise.

I don't think he is an immediate impact player, which to me is concerning, but 2 years from now if developed could be a stud if his finishing is as good as Brock projected it to be.

problem for me is that there are plenty of 04s who did not play last and still did really well in the ohl this year, so why did they succeed and others did not.

 

[OHL Fan]

He was a 2 ppg player for Southern Tier AAA and then covid hit...

25 points in his "rookie" campaign isn't awful given he, like so many, lost a true rookie season to Covid. A big forward who can shoot, hopefully eat up space in the lanes...I would show signs of promise.

I don't think he is an immediate impact player, which to me is concerning, but 2 years from now if developed could be a stud if his finishing is as good as Brock projected it to be.

I get it but last year was a young OHL as there were so many rookies, that were 03s, 04s and 05s. A lot of high scoring games and weak d corps and goaltending.

Covid did affect all kids who didnt play but it may have helped some. I mean maybe if he or other 04s played their Covid year, they may have been better last year or not. No guarantees.

A lot of high rated 04s didnt do well last year and could be the Covid missed year affected them, or maybe they were overvalued?

 

[NOA]

Looking back they were both wrong on Alfano. Hope he can turn things around and needs change of scenery and can be the power forward most had him pegged out to be. Still early.

I think moving Lockhart was a good move as you needed size and wasnt working out in Erie.

Well clearly they weren’t right or I doubt PBO moves him. Does offer insight into the potential he had or still has and the type of player he is. Which is more what I was speaking to

 

[Mata]

I get it but last year was a young OHL as there were so many rookies, that were 03s, 04s and 05s. A lot of high scoring games and weak d corps and goaltending.

Covid did affect all kids who didnt play but it may have helped some. I mean maybe if he or other 04s played their Covid year, they may have been better last year or not. No guarantees.

A lot of high rated 04s didnt do well last year and could be the Covid missed year affected them, or maybe they were overvalued?

He ranked 38th in 04 born players for points last season, Spencer Sova was the only Otter above him on our current squad.

Lowe, Smith and Ross combined had less points than him (28 vs 20) . I get we kinda give up a solid player as far as points go in Lockhart, but we lost one of our only true big men up front in Hoffman and we have multiple Lockhart's already on the roster.

It makes sense if he was a locker room cancer...it makes sense from a standpoint of wanting to get bigger. I hope he performs and it kinda makes sense in my head as to why we got him, but only time will tell if it was a good move.

 

[Mata]

Also to note: This move would give Molnar a greater sense of securing a top line having moved on from Lockhart who was a top 6 in most of our projections and in some cases a top 3. As NOA pointed out above, this may help our case with Molnar and also makes him even more of a "must get him here" pick as opposed to a...it would be nice.

 

[Mata]

Cohen, Bressette, Molnar?
Saganiuk, Sedore, Terrance
Spence, Alfano, Artichuk/Ross

That would leave...
Lowe/Smith, Artichuck/Ross, Edwards

 

[NOA]

He was a 2 ppg player for Southern Tier AAA and then covid hit...

25 points in his "rookie" campaign isn't awful given he, like so many, lost a true rookie season to Covid. A big forward who can shoot, hopefully eat up space in the lanes...I would show signs of promise.

I don't think he is an immediate impact player, which to me is concerning, but 2 years from now if developed could be a stud if his finishing is as good as Brock projected it to be.

To be fair, Erie didn’t get much out of their 2004s. They had promise but Lalonde was put in a tough spot, Sova didn’t meet expectations, and Ross was limited. So if nothing else there is another 04 on the roster with potential. Now guys need to develop…

 

[NOA]

Cohen, Bressette, Molnar?
Saganiuk, Sedore, Terrance
Spence, Alfano, Artichuk/Ross

That would leave...
Lowe/Smith, Artichuck/Ross, Edwards

In a world where we get Molnar .. I actually feel better about things. Molnar, Terrance, Alfano, Spence, Artichuk, Ross, Edwards, Lowe, Smith, Sova, Alboim, Sauder, Holomego, Lalonde, and Gibbons(?) all being eligible to return next year without an OA tag. 9 forwards, 4 defense, 2 goalies. That’s a good group in terms of amount. But Molnar is necessary from a talent standpoint to add here.

 

[Mata]

In a world where we get Molnar .. I actually feel better about things. Molnar, Terrance, Alfano, Spence, Artichuk, Ross, Edwards, Lowe, Smith, Sova, Alboim, Sauder, Holomego, Lalonde, and Gibbons(?) all being eligible to return next year without an OA tag. 9 forwards, 4 defense, 2 goalies. That’s a good group in terms of amount. But Molnar is necessary from a talent standpoint to add here.

I have to think if Antiilafire is on point with Molnar's wishes, and there is no reason to think otherwise, Brown simply cleared room to guarantee Molnar top minutes in a last ditch effort to get him here sooner rather than later.

If Molnar does report and is on par with Lockhart skillwise or better we have come out ahead. I'm not really sure how Alfano fits in long term, but at least on paper he strengthens our 04 class considerably without threatening top 3 minutes in addition to a couple draft picks (maybe the better end of things). He may factor in to the PP2 or PK, but outside of that it seems the ceiling right out the gate would be at most second line with line 3 being the most realistic.

 

[NOA]

I have to think if Antiilafire is on point with Molnar's wishes, and there is no reason to think otherwise, Brown simply cleared room to guarantee Molnar top minutes in a last ditch effort to get him here sooner rather than later.

If Molnar does report and is on par with Lockhart skillwise or better we have come out ahead. I'm not really sure how Alfano fits in long term, but at least on paper he strengthens our 04 class considerably without threatening top 3 minutes in addition to a couple draft picks (maybe the better end of things). He may factor in to the PP2 or PK, but outside of that it seems the ceiling right out the gate would be at most second line with line 3 being the most realistic.

Hmm this theory is intriguing. Molnar has pretty much been 50/50 for a bit of time now. If you ask me, getting top mins here could be huge for his growth and exposure. I don’t know why Erie couldn’t guarantee him the minutes with Lockhart here but does this just show Molnar, “Hey we are seriously. You are the guy here.” ?? In other words, there would be no doubt that things would be featured through him first and foremost. Spence too young. Cohen, Bressette, Saganiuk non NHL picks and not the same ceiling.

I like the theory but I’m not sold that it’s tied to it (though I totally want it to be). Especially because Molnar still needs talent around him to be successful. Spence and Terrance have it but are they ready to play that big of a role? I just think Lockhart likely wanted out and/or they have had character type concerns. Not to mention they have stressed the need to get bigger. Losing DAmato/Hoffmann pretty much meant they had nobody with size. Alfano at least fills a huge need with size and Lockhart removes a redundant piece.

 

[Savard18]

Well clearly they weren’t right or I doubt PBO moves him. Does offer insight into the potential he had or still has and the type of player he is. Which is more what I was speaking to

Well, Peterborough owes you one. Maybe Alfano ends up being your Sproule. I’ve got more faith in Alfano having a complete resurrection than Lockhart becoming what was projected.

 

[EON]

Overall I like this trade. I don't think Lockhart was hitting his ceiling here and Alfano adds some size and talent to their '04 group. My only complaint is the lack of a conditional tied to him playing as an OA, but not a huge deal. Next season still pretty much hinges on signing Molnar and solving the backup goalie issue though.

 

[Antiillafire]

Not sure if this means anything...

The team is flying home, doesn’t mean anything. Although this could…


I know it’s just a social media post but this means there is at least some communication between him and the Otters. Compare that to other Slovak high import picks (Sykora, Misiak, Chromiak), none of their clubs have posted about them outside of their selection because none of them are coming for sure.

 

[7D442]

I like this trade

Probably a good time to do it now since the Pete’s were loving the Sproule thing… So here you have another player who under performed for us based on high expectations that we had ..( will prob excell for them too) and never going to lead us to the promised land… Might as well take a player that will play for you longer in duration of time, could have an upside, much bigger / stronger and rookie year stats almost the same .:and you get a 2nd and 3 rd rnd pick.. that’s 3 for 1..

My point is : Who was really going to ever give you more than that ??