Erie Otters 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I
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Krangers08
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I don't understand why they took him in the first place. However, if coaching staff and leadership figured it out this quickly, perhaps just an oversight that really didn't cost the team much.
I was just about to say.. nothing about him suggested he was worthy of an OHL roster spot. Says more about just the state of their drafting / developing. The depth of the roster is not good enough. Even Messier shouldn’t be here given his age / production. Bottom line is guys like Artichuk, Logan Sawyer, Vital Dinis (ha, what a pick that was!) are either not good enough or won’t even sign here and yet in recent years, they used REAL assets in the draft to pick them (2nd, 2nd, 4th respectively). If even one of them could play on the 3rd line like a Kyle Pettit or Nick Betz type, this team would be in a much better spot - let alone if 2 of them were on the roster. The last “successful” 2nd round pick they had is 2012, Pettit and I would argue for where they took him, it was more like a C+ grade on that pick. You really have to go back to 2010, Pelech, to find a hit. Since that time, they haven’t drafted anything worth a damn in the 2nd round and had some MAJOR misses. Granted, they haven’t had a lot of 2nd rounders but all the more concerning and impacting it has been.
Agree - drafting could be so much better …
I just don’t understand like half of what they do .. I mean if Mess wasn’t 6-4/6-5- hadn’t played for Pens Elite rather locally w that connection there trying to build , or had the family pedigree he wouldn’t have been chosen
All of those things even combined still don’t translate to anything even near average as far as production goes ..
Which is why I said those players “are either not good enough or won’t even sign here.” Still speaks to poor drafting and a wasted pick either way… whether they can play or not or whether they sign or not - bottom line: they are missing wayyyy too much on their early round picks.
and yet somehow DB is still in charge. It makes zero sense. And I don’t want to diminish development either because the players that have left in recent years have mostly found success elsewhere. Even Edwards, who they sent back down at the beginning of the year, and then he comes back for the second half of the season and is a PPG player. Like how does the coaching/development team not recognize or find a way to better work with a kid that clearly has some talent to AT LEAST be on the roster over guys like Messier, etc
Looks like Edwards is back to practice, which is great sign
They simply can’t have Messier, Royston, Hammond spread out on the top 3 lines and expect to get any type of consistency on the offense. I’m all for giving them a chance with top talent, but not all in one game or multiple games in a row while they bog down the top talent on each line. Also I think Schaefer was at the home opener red carpet thing, so would have to think that means he’s not contagious / is feeling better? Not sure when he got diagnosed but if the LDN preseason games are any indication (he did not play in either game), then it’s likely been about a month (since 9/6). I think we see him back in about 2 weeks or so
They simply can’t have Messier, Royston, Hammond spread out on the top 3 lines and expect to get any type of consistency on the offense. I’m all for giving them a chance with top talent, but not all in one game or multiple games in a row while they bog down the top talent on each line. Also I think Schaefer was at the home opener red carpet thing, so would have to think that means he’s not contagious / is feeling better? Not sure when he got diagnosed but if the LDN preseason games are any indication (he did not play in either game), then it’s likely been about a month (since 9/6). I think we see him back in about 2 weeks or so
Generalsupdates
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3 Minute Minor
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ngl im thinking that same logic from watching Oliver Phillips. Big boy but 0 coordination
Wolfman Jack
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Not confirmed yet but expect it to be at some point today. Knowing DB, he probably just got released and sent to SBY for free
I'm curious to the return, if any. Lots of moves with Da Silva departing, Molnar now gone, Toroptsev off the roster. We know Schaefer and Edwards aren't at full strength yet.
Current roster
13F
7D
2G
I would think as customary with years past we'd want at least 2 more skaters rostered to account for injury, suspension, other.
22 man roster isn't out of the ordinary. I'd rather the 23rd and 24th guys were getting regular ice time elsewhere.
This isn't going to be of popular opinion, but the kids generally improve the most in practice, not games. That being said, a rotation of younger players consistently practicing at a higher level than the junior league they are sent to would be my preferred approach as a coach.
The exception being, if I didn't think the player was ready for the OHL level but had slower development compared to others his age. Almost similar to the rotation of Henry/Holomego last year, however it appeared Henry took more games as the season went on.
Is it frustrating you don't have the opportunity to play 64 games, sure, but both Henry and Holomego got 40+ games and that experience for the OHL would be better than 40 games in juniors.
Yeah I think the roster total is fine for now, assuming Edwards is really close to be back if not already. My prior post showed him in a light blue at jersey (with Fimis’ line) and not a non contact jersey. I would imagine Edwards plays this weekend or if not then he is back by next weekend. I also expect Schaefer back in the next few weeks
It’s possible they plan to make a trade to add someone in the coming days but generally speaking 13F, 7D is ok - assuming they know Edwards/Schaefer will be back in the lineup by mid October. But I agree with others - I would like another forward or defenseman on the roster
admittedly though in Edwards case though- I believe it was all about PT.. he didn’t play much for the otters year one , then was reassigned to the other “O” ojhl or whatever ..
Then worked his ass off over the summer and lit it up and got a ton of playing time once reassigned ..came back to the otters and had been on fire last year before the injury
Can’t deny the amt of top line minutes he got up there - helped him develop is my guess
The same was true of Kyrou. Some kids do need that development from the OJHL or whatever its called, but at the same time, the development of Henry/Holomego (not as much Holomego) last season I think provided more growth for them than the OJHL would have.
I don't think it is a one size fits all for the guys. Our 1st round picks are typically ready year 1. It starts to get cloudy as you move into later rounds. I didn't really think Roysten was "ready" last year. Would he have developed more in the OHJL or the OHL with limited minutes?
Toroptsev got sent down last year and played pretty well for North York. He was just sent down again. Is the development on par with similar prospects? Would he benefit more playing OHL minutes in a limited fashion but practicing with the Otters full time?
I guess I can't really answer what the best route is for any player because it varies. You just have to trust the coaching staff to do what's best for each young man and then trust their embodiment of work.
Wolfman Jack
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