Erie Otters 2022 Off-season Thread

[Antiillafire]

He will probably report, at least if I had to guess. Nitra signed Oleksii Myklukha and Phil Knies, and they have other junior players pushing for ice time in Sramaty. Like I said, unless the Nitra offer is truly unbeatable, I’d hope he would go to Erie. But if I was Otters GM maybe I take a quick trip to Alberta in 3 weeks to convince him in person to join

 

[Dhockey16]

Have to get Molnar to report. Can't afford to miss on a high import pick - good import players are often the difference between average and good teams in the OHL. I think he's likely to come to Erie - I can't imagine using a high import pick without knowing in advance the prospect will report.

I'll stick up for Brown/Grieve taking a flyer on Slafkovsky any day of the week. Even if there was a 5% chance he'd report the potential payoff was huge and well worth taking a shot in my opinion. Cernak didn't want to come to Erie at all - he could've been paid well to continue playing in Europe, but they managed to get him here and it made a massive difference. They probably don't win in '17 without him. I have similar thoughts about going after NCAA commits in the regular OHL draft. Even getting a guy like Headdrick to report late in the 16-17 season was a big help. Imagine if Erie had gotten Drake Caggiula and Dylan Larkin (they had rights to both) to report to Erie during the Knoblauch era! I suppose keeping them both away from London was worth the draft pick anyway

 

[NOA]

Have to get Molnar to report. Can't afford to miss on a high import pick - good import players are often the difference between average and good teams in the OHL. I think he's likely to come to Erie - I can't imagine using a high import pick without knowing in advance the prospect will report.

I'll stick up for Brown/Grieve taking a flyer on Slafkovsky any day of the week. Even if there was a 5% chance he'd report the potential payoff was huge and well worth taking a shot in my opinion. Cernak didn't want to come to Erie at all - he could've been paid well to continue playing in Europe, but they managed to get him here and it made a massive difference. They probably don't win in '17 without him. I have similar thoughts about going after NCAA commits in the regular OHL draft. Even getting a guy like Headdrick to report late in the 16-17 season was a big help. Imagine if Erie had gotten Drake Caggiula and Dylan Larkin (they had rights to both) to report to Erie during the Knoblauch era! I suppose keeping them both away from London was worth the draft pick anyway

I agree 100%. Imports/FAs/college commits can really be the biggest difference when building a team. In 2014-15, Erie didn’t have a single import player and failed to convince Larkin to come - but we know now that Larkin was so close to signing. If they land Larkin and actually handled the import situation, they are likely winning the Mem Cup that year. Imagine McDavid, Strome, Larkin, DeBrincat, Import. Wow.

In these recent cycles, they didn’t have a lot of 2nd/3rd round picks to work with so it was all the more important to land imports or a couple college commits. They really haven’t done much of either and it’s been a big miss on their part. Even just Cajka and Ryan Alexander in 2019-20 makes a huge difference. I remember saying back in 2017 when the rebuild started how critical those types of players would be. But when you coaching blows and you miss out on 1st round picks, it’s hard to convince those types of guys to come

Molnar is a big one given where they drafted him and his age. They desperately need this. If they don’t land him and the coaching doesn’t develop players better than they have been then Brown needs fired.

 

[GetOutDaKitchin]

I'm probably reading way too much into this, BUT Molnar did post his Otters draft card to his Instagram story after the Import Draft...At a minimum, I think he's excited about the possibility.

It's not going to be without intrigue, though. He reposted a Slovak IG story this a.m. that translates: "
He was chosen by the club where McDavid played, will he stay in Slovakia or go to his club?"

I'm hopeful the allure of playing guaranteed top-6 minutes in front of NHL scouts on a nightly basis in his draft year is going win out.

 

[DubCee21]

What are the chances of Kulakov making it back to play before next season? It seems that Russia is cracking down on NA based players now for military service/retaliation. With Philly prospect Fedotov last week and now today Kiril Kaprizov arrested for supposedly obtaining fake ID to avoid military service. I won't be surprised to see this happening more frequently and teams all over NA losing Russian players.

 

[Mata]

What are the chances of Kulakov making it back to play before next season? It seems that Russia is cracking down on NA based players now for military service/retaliation. With Philly prospect Fedotov last week and now today Kiril Kaprizov arrested for supposedly obtaining fake ID to avoid military service. I won't be surprised to see this happening more frequently and teams all over NA losing Russian players.

The closer to the end of July and him not returning the more and more it would seem he isn't coming back. From everything I know though he should be back within a week or two.

 

[NOA]

Wellllll Slafkovksy has no chance of coming now

 

[Antiillafire]

He will probably report, at least if I had to guess. Nitra signed Oleksii Myklukha and Phil Knies, and they have other junior players pushing for ice time in Sramaty. Like I said, unless the Nitra offer is truly unbeatable, I’d hope he would go to Erie. But if I was Otters GM maybe I take a quick trip to Alberta in 3 weeks to convince him in person to join

Petrovsky dropping that far makes me rethink this statement a bit. So far CHL route for Slovaks in the past 5 drafts has not been a success. Nitra just had 2 players go in the top 2 rounds, maybe Molnar points to that

 

[NOA]

Petrovsky dropping that far makes me rethink this statement a bit. So far CHL route for Slovaks in the past 5 drafts has not been a success. Nitra just had 2 players go in the top 2 rounds, maybe Molnar points to that

I thought the same thing last night when Nemec went 2nd overall…

 

[Mata]

Petrovsky dropping that far makes me rethink this statement a bit. So far CHL route for Slovaks in the past 5 drafts has not been a success. Nitra just had 2 players go in the top 2 rounds, maybe Molnar points to that

Which is exactly why I made my prior statement. Until Molnar is actually here in the states and commits to the team, our history with imports since 2017 has me more skeptical than a believer. If it's the best for all parties involved, he will be here and we would definitely welcome him and treat him with love and respect.

 

[ArielNederland]

 

[GetOutDaKitchin]

Glad to see he's committed to the squad. With Kyrou, Sova, Morton, Johnston, Sauder and Alboim all returning, I think Holomego will either (a) play Junior A/B somewhere and play a handful of games IF Kulakov returns (similar to the role Alboim was in last year, and Kyrou was in in 2019-20), or (b) initially serve as the 7th defenseman and compete for playing time if Kulakov does not return.

 

[Mata]

Glad to see he's committed to the squad. With Kyrou, Sova, Morton, Johnston, Sauder and Alboim all returning, I think Holomego will either (a) play Junior A/B somewhere and play a handful of games IF Kulakov returns (similar to the role Alboim was in last year, and Kyrou was in in 2019-20), or (b) initially serve as the 7th defenseman and compete for playing time if Kulakov does not return.

I can confirm that Kulakov is back in Erie. He looks leaner than when he left so that could be good in that he'd be faster and stronger.

 

[NOA]

I can confirm that Kulakov is back in Erie. He looks leaner than when he left so that could be good in that he'd be faster and stronger.

Have to think Holomego is a long term signing (similar to Edwards in 2021-22). That said, it could also lead to Erie trading someone like Johnston to make room for the young kids. The signing just gives them added flexibility if needed and makes the competition on the backend intriguing this fall

 

[Antiillafire]

 

[NOA]

Yup I knew the Nemec pick would bite them.

If they don’t land this kid and waste another top 10 import pick … I’m done

 

[Mata]

Yup I knew the Nemec pick would bite them.

If they don’t land this kid and waste another top 10 import pick … I’m done

Brown should be let go before the season if he doesn't report here. There are literally no excuses for his total suck as a GM.

 

[NOA]

Brown should be let go before the season if he doesn't report here. There are literally no excuses for his total suck as a GM.

This might trump it all though. You have sucked for 5 years. You have a 5th overall pick thanks to to the lotto and you land… nothing? Yikes. If that happens it’s beyond excusable. Look, I wanted a high end player at 5th overall but I’ll take another Cajka/Kulakov level player if it just means the kid reports. You can’t afford to just waste this type of pick

 

[Antiillafire]

This might trump it all though. You have sucked for 5 years. You have a 5th overall pick thanks to to the lotto and you land… nothing? Yikes. If that happens it’s beyond excusable. Look, I wanted a high end player at 5th overall but I’ll take another Cajka/Kulakov level player if it just means the kid reports. You can’t afford to just waste this type of pick

And the thing is, there was Slovak guys taken after him that could have made a good impact. Thinking particularly about Vancouver taking heavy centre Samuel Honzek, or smooth dman Jakub Chromiak in Sudbury. 2 players who I feel are much more likely to report (Chromiak 99%).

 

[7D442]

Dave Brown pls report to the Principles office

That’s Dave Brown -to the office ..

you could have given me a round trip ticket and a weeks vaca and I could have given you that info on Molnar beforehand ..

Brown should be let go before the season if he doesn't report here. There are literally no excuses for his total suck as a GM.

 

[NOA]

And the thing is, there was Slovak guys taken after him that could have made a good impact. Thinking particularly about Vancouver taking heavy centre Samuel Honzek, or smooth dman Jakub Chromiak in Sudbury. 2 players who I feel are much more likely to report (Chromiak 99%).

This is my point. When you are picking 5th overall, there are many options. You better first land an actual body before worrying about their impact.

I will say with Chromiak, they have a lot of bodies on the backend. Currently have 8 signed. But it’s still a better alternative than getting nobody at 5th overall.

It’s just inexcusable on so many levels if they don’t land this kid. How much more obvious does it need to be for Dave that your team has been a complete disaster for 5 years, in large part because you lack higher end talent. Some of the best ways to get that type of talent is 1st round picks (they have missed on everyone but Drysdale), FAs/college commits (pretty much nothing to show here), and import picks (no impact players since Cernak). This was a critical draft and they decided to continue their approach by taking a risk player? Why? Why not play it safe? The prior risks we have taken haven’t paid off and have really helped to bury us. I would understand the risk if this was 2015 but it’s not…

I’m beyond furious with the approach of this team the last few years. The amount of moves that just make no sense are piling up. Keeping Hartsburg around, trading Sproule over Sellan, adding Sopa at the deadline, keeping Golden as an OA, etc. And now this potential move. Brown has lost his touch. They need a new voice

 

[Mata]

This is my point. When you are picking 5th overall, there are many options. You better first land an actual body before worrying about their impact.

I will say with Chromiak, they have a lot of bodies on the backend. Currently have 8 signed. But it’s still a better alternative than getting nobody at 5th overall.

It’s just inexcusable on so many levels if they don’t land this kid. How much more obvious does it need to be for Dave that your team has been a complete disaster for 5 years, in large part because you lack higher end talent. Some of the best ways to get that type of talent is 1st round picks (they have missed on everyone but Drysdale), FAs/college commits (pretty much nothing to show here), and import picks (no impact players since Cernak). This was a critical draft and they decided to continue their approach by taking a risk player? Why? Why not play it safe? The prior risks we have taken haven’t paid off and have really helped to bury us. I would understand the risk if this was 2015 but it’s not…

I’m beyond furious with the approach of this team the last few years. The amount of moves that just make no sense are piling up. Keeping Hartsburg around, trading Sproule over Sellan, adding Sopa at the deadline, keeping Golden as an OA, etc. And now this potential move. Brown has lost his touch. They need a new voice

Not sure Brown really had "any touch". He gambled with arguably the best team in OHL history for 4 years and came away with 1 championship, went all in and never recovered. Any GM could have made those moves if they knew there were no repercussions for the better part of half a decade.

 

[NOA]

Not sure Brown really had "any touch". He gambled with arguably the best team in OHL history for 4 years and came away with 1 championship, went all in and never recovered. Any GM could have made those moves if they knew there were no repercussions for the better part of half a decade.

He wasn’t the full time GM with Sherry here. Sherry made those calls in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Brown became the guy in 2015-16. I thought he showed incredible restraint in 2016 which saved them the chance to make a run in 2016-17. He made impressive moves that year and without a doubt the moves that finally got them over the top. Bassin was farrrr worse with much more talent to work with.

Brown’s first bad move from my recollection was the Lodnia trade. It’s been bad ever since.

 

[NOA]

Okay.. far too early for them to make this call but if true.. WOW. Huge. Maybe this helps them get Molnar and that means they trade Kulakov

 

[Kingpin794]

Okay.. far too early for them to make this call but if true.. WOW. Huge. Maybe this helps them get Molnar and that means they trade Kulakov

Wasn't he the same one that said Kasper was going to Ottawa only for Kasper himself to say he's staying in Sweden days later?