Erie Otters 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[NOA]

I think Stan had to do something because the Frasca/Spence reuinion has, at least to this point, been a failure.

Spence being in his draft year can help the Otters in the short term significantly from a marketing perspective should he and Schaefer both be top 5 (they likely will both be top 10).

In doing so, Terrance has been forced to take more of a grit role, as was described. IMO Roysten, Hammond, and Messier have not taken the necessary jumps to this point and Edwards has regressed. Call it whatever you want, but I feel the top 9 on paper to start were stellar and haven't played to expectations, Terrance included. If they were, we wouldn't be seeing line shifts reminiscent of the Hartsburg Era.

Mostly agree with ya but me personally, I never was hyped about the ‘top 9.’ Certainly the top 7 on paper had high expectations but I think many (I know i definitely did) had some pause about the forward depth and I was worried from the get go about their 8/9 forwards (let alone a useless 4th line) really slowing down any hope at consistent offensive production. Right now, they are only in position to ‘stack’ one line so it’s not unexpected that this one stacked line is the one doing the most damage. They need another top 6 forward to really create more balance and help someone like Terrance out. Until that happens, there is a definite ceiling to how good this team can be. Terrance is a good player but he’s not somebody who can carry offense on his own and if he were, he would have been a top 1st round NHL pick..
he’s a 2 way forward who has some skill to do damage on the offensive end, especially at this level, but when he’s playing with Edwards, Royston (their 6th, 8th best forwards?) then he’s going to be limited in Butlers system.

 

[drearyerie]

I think Stan had to do something because the Frasca/Spence reuinion has, at least to this point, been a failure.

Spence being in his draft year can help the Otters in the short term significantly from a marketing perspective should he and Schaefer both be top 5 (they likely will both be top 10).

In doing so, Terrance has been forced to take more of a grit role, as was described. IMO Roysten, Hammond, and Messier have not taken the necessary jumps to this point and Edwards has regressed. Call it whatever you want, but I feel the top 9 on paper to start were stellar and haven't played to expectations, Terrance included. If they were, we wouldn't be seeing line shifts reminiscent of the Hartsburg Era.

Mostly agree with ya but me personally, I never was hyped about the ‘top 9.’ Certainly the top 7 on paper had high expectations but I think many (I know i definitely did) had some pause about the forward depth and I was worried from the get go about their 8/9 forwards (let alone a useless 4th line) really slowing down any hope at consistent offensive production. Right now, they are only in position to ‘stack’ one line so it’s not unexpected that this one stacked line is the one doing the most damage. They need another top 6 forward to really create more balance and help someone like Terrance out. Until that happens, there is a definite ceiling to how good this team can be. Terrance is a good player but he’s not somebody who can carry offense on his own and if he were, he would have been a top 1st round NHL pick..
he’s a 2 way forward who has some skill to do damage on the offensive end, especially at this level, but when he’s playing with Edwards, Royston (their 6th, 8th best forwards?) then he’s going to be limited in Butlers system.

I feel like Hammond has had an upward swing in his development, but not enough to make an impact playing on the 2nd line. Royston hasn't developed nearly enough and Messier has always been nothing more than a "personality" 4th liner.

The Otters need to be all in at the trade deadline this year because next season's team is not going to be good. As much as I'd love for them to go out and get Musty, I feel like they need a solid RHD before anything else. Ideally, they snag a top 6/9 forward to round out the holes on the wings.

 

[ZinErie]

Blaming Terrance's production this season on the lack of talent on his wings is conveniently forgetting that his production was down in the 2nd half of last season.

 

[DubCee21]

Blaming Terrance's production this season on the lack of talent on his wings is conveniently forgetting that his production was down in the 2nd half of last season.

I don't think anyone conveniently forgot anything. He literally sat in the press box at World Jrs for a month while getting zero playing time. His production immediately after naturally took a hit. He is the type of player that feeds off of other skilled players. That has taken a hit this year with a steady rotation of lesser skilled wingers than last year. Add on to that, he has been put into both a leadership role and taken on more defensive responsibility.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Thanks for the replies. More encouraging to hear that he's playing good hockey overall. He was never going to be a pure offensive guy at the NHL level anyway, going to need to be a "details" type player and those are encouraging reports on that end.

 

[ZinErie]

Misiak is out again tonight against the Soo. Challenger in the lineup.

 

[OttersFan]

Misiak is out again tonight against the Soo. Challenger in the lineup.

He looked fine at the jersey auction. By fine, I mean he wasn’t in a boot or crutches. Seems to be precautionary as far as injury. We know SB isn’t going to push someone who doesn’t feel 100%.

 

[ohloutsider]

Is Stan Butler semi-retired? Everytime they pan over the bench he is busy looking up watching the the big screen, lol. Not the SB I remember.

 

[Mata]

Is Stan Butler semi-retired? Everytime they pan over the bench he is busy looking up watching the the big screen, lol. Not the SB I remember.

He's biding his time. When he came on board it was supposed to be like a 2 - 3 year project to turnaround the team.

 

[OttersFan]

He's biding his time. When he came on board it was supposed to be like a 2 - 3 year project to turnaround the team.

I still think he could be GM, but what do I know.

I don’t think I’ve ever watched our coaches actually coach during the game. The only time they pull the whiteboard out is during timeouts. Other teams often draft up where to fix mistakes. Might just be their philosophy.

 

[Mata]

I still think he could be GM, but what do I know.

I don’t think I’ve ever watched our coaches actually coach during the game. The only time they pull the whiteboard out is during timeouts. Other teams often draft up where to fix mistakes. Might just be their philosophy.

Yes, he could still end up there but his coaching time-frame was 2 - 3 years.

 

[ZinErie]

Misiak and Ambrosio scratched again tonight versus Saginaw. Someone in one of the Otters Facebook groups said Misiak is in concussion protocol. Haven't heard why Ambrosio is out.

 

[7D442]

If Stan Butler is a defensive minded coach - then why can’t we clamp down on D ??

 

[chl2024]

Misiak and Ambrosio scratched again tonight versus Saginaw. Someone in one of the Otters Facebook groups said Misiak is in concussion protocol. Haven't heard why Ambrosio is out.

Heard Ambrosio is day to day with an injury from the WJs. Makes sense because they aren't healthy scratching him. Hopefully he's back soon.

 

[ZinErie]

If Stan Butler is a defensive minded coach - then why can’t we clamp down on D ??

I'll give them a pass for last night's game. Powerplays were 7-1 in favor of Saginaw. Spirit were 3 for 7 on the pp, Erie was 1 for 1.

 

[OttersFan]

The Flint announcer has to be one of the worst in the league.

 

[uDunnoNEthing]

The Flint announcer has to be one of the worst in the league.

He’s not good.

But there are worse.

 

[EOtterstracker]

Callum Hughes, a cousin of Jack, Quinn, and Luke, has left the West Kelowna Rockets of the BCHL to join the Otters, according to Jeff Marek.

 

[chl2024]

With players able to move around, I would bet they will change out a D too. Not sure how many they can hold on a roster, but there might be cuts to make room