Erie Otters 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[OttersFan]

Don’t expect them to pull Burns. Erliden is also injured on the bench. He has a groin strain.

 

[frontsfan67]

Terrance gone to team USAs camp. Frasca is also scratched. Hadn't heard he was hurt.

Is there a chance he is included in a deal for some guy?

Based off stat total he probably needs a change in scenery I assume and he still could be a decent 19 year old and a good 20 year old in this league so he has some value still

 

[Mata]

Don’t expect them to pull Burns. Erliden is also injured on the bench. He has a groin strain.

So now our worst fears...

Groin strain on number 1 goalie that COULD potentially nag on for some time and no confidence in the BUG.

Murphy's law this season...if it can go wrong. It will go wrong.

 

[ZinErie]

So now our worst fears...

Groin strain on number 1 goalie that COULD potentially nag on for some time and no confidence in the BUG.

Murphy's law this season...if it can go wrong. It will go wrong.

If it was that bad he wouldn't be the back up. Curran is signed.

 

[OttersFan]

So now our worst fears...

Groin strain on number 1 goalie that COULD potentially nag on for some time and no confidence in the BUG.

Murphy's law this season...if it can go wrong. It will go wrong.

I heard it’s mild for what it’s worth. That doesn’t mean something mild can’t turn into something bigger. Hopefully he’s able to rest and take care of it during the break and be ready to return.

If it was that bad he wouldn't be the back up. Curran is signed.

I’m wondering if he wasn’t able to come up on short notice or billet availability.

 

[LDN]

Interesting. I also thought Erie would be more where Kitchener is. Obviously you have an amazing 06 group so likely next year is the year as long as Schaefer is back. The question is do you do a light sell (eg trade Terrance )…. Or do you add a bit and go for it in the playoffs and take your chances at a huge 2nd half? Your OAs are playing well

 

[NOA]

So now our worst fears...

Groin strain on number 1 goalie that COULD potentially nag on for some time and no confidence in the BUG.

Murphy's law this season...if it can go wrong. It will go wrong.

Bad timing too with Terrance/Schaefer gone..

 

[NOA]

Interesting. I also thought Erie would be more where Kitchener is. Obviously you have an amazing 06 group so likely next year is the year as long as Schaefer is back. The question is do you do a light sell (eg trade Terrance )…. Or do you add a bit and go for it in the playoffs and take your chances at a huge 2nd half? Your OAs are playing well

Many people have come on this thread to suggest that maybe next year is the year… please stop.. because it’s not. They lose Fimis, Alfano, Misiak, and Terrance. They potentially lose Erliden and Schaefer. Even if the two latter names are back, they still are losing 4 of their top 5 forwards. Not to mention some depth pieces like Hughes are also gone. Their cupboards are too dry to make up that amount of production lost and their young forward talent is pretty much non existent. Even in a world where Royston and Challenger become actual top 6 forwards next year, you still aren’t close to as good as the forward group this year. So, even if Schaefer returns they would wise to sell, sell, sell. Spence + Schaefer would both fetch big returns and they can start worrying about the next cycle of players

I’m a bit surprised they haven’t done more with this current roster but we all knew the BUG was a huge question mark. They are 14-5-4 with Erliden so their record should be a bit better with just competent backup goalie play but somehow they are just rocking with Burns still. Bold strategy…
In addition, I never liked the SB hire from the beginning as I think SB is one of the most overrated hockey coaches out there. You don’t have to agree with me but this guy is supposed to be a defensive coach and yet their structure is a mess and the strength of the team is forward group and yet they aren’t consistent or as productive as most thought they would be. A lot of people liked the SB hiring because they thought it was a ‘safe’ move and yeah, I guess that’s true if you just want to be average which I guess is all they want to be now. Bottom line is Hartsburg and BJ were disasters but they also had low talent. SB just happened to join as the team started building up talent again so yes their record is improved over years past but imo they are underperforming across the board. A legit coaching staff would have this team in a better spot.. just my opinion

 

[dino200022]

I think Erie goes as far as Erliden can take him. He has proven he can be a game stealer,

They seem to be at a point where it is either bring a few pieces in and see what happens, or ship a few pieces out and grab some picks. I would not feel overly confident in Schaefer being back next season, but selfishly I hope he is so I can see him play another year!

 

[NOA]

I think Erie goes as far as Erliden can take him. He has proven he can be a game stealer,

They seem to be at a point where it is either bring a few pieces in and see what happens, or ship a few pieces out and grab some picks. I would not feel overly confident in Schaefer being back next season, but selfishly I hope he is so I can see him play another year!

They need to do one or the other. I hate standing pat especially with where they are at and heading. Problem is, I think there is 0 chance they sell off any pieces.. It’s going to be either buy a little or stand pat. They aren’t selling ..

 

[dino200022]

They need to do one or the other. I hate standing pat especially with where they are at and heading. Problem is, I think there is 0 chance they sell off any pieces.. It’s going to be either buy a little or stand pat. They aren’t selling ..

I would agree, if they have a healthy Erliden in net buying a few pieces is probably the smart thing to do. I still think Erie will end up in second in the division provided Erliden is healthy enough to play 50-55 games. Kitchener is going to start sliding here soon. It is a 3 team race in the West at this point Erie, London, Windsor so adding a few players including a backup tendy would make the most sense. Just my opinion

 

[billoink]

Rumour for a while Musty to Erie for Challenger as part of the package, any thing on your end regarding a deal?

 

[IceDogs452]

X2 2nds x4 3rds x5 4ths Challenger… they have the assets to go and get some pieces. Marcus Vandenberg trade last year was x2 3rds for a goalie. Challenger plus picks still the front runner for Musty but that would be most of your picks.

 

[Mata]

They need to do one or the other. I hate standing pat especially with where they are at and heading. Problem is, I think there is 0 chance they sell off any pieces.. It’s going to be either buy a little or stand pat. They aren’t selling ..

Unfortunately I think hindsight, the moves have largely been a bust to this point and development isn't where it should be.

The Sova turned Frasca trade appears to be a bust. Sova could have shored up the defense, even with a backup role to Schaefer.

This leads to Misiak being kept on the roster. Yes, he has a higher upside than Molnar and Chicago likely has their hand in it, but Molnar + Sova > Misiak + Frasca to this point IMO.

Daviault hasn't progressed really in his time here. He's our clear number 2 defender behind Schaefer, but Sauder has become steady, Henry improved a decent amount (albeit is in a slump right now), Holomego is lost, Ambrosio, D'Alessio, Knight, and Willis will all need time to develop.

Edwards is a shell of himself last season, Messier is nowhere to be found. Hammond and Roysten haven't made the necessary jumps to this point IMO. Hughes provided a little spark and helped shore up our middle 6-9 and created some competition thus far. A solid role player and free pick-up.

Clarke, Phillips, Challenger, are largely ineffective. I expected Challenger to maybe push 3rd line but I'm not so sure he gets there this season unless there is a sell off.

Fimis and Alfano are playing about where I expected and given all the hype for Spence in his draft year, he's marginally improved each season. Perhaps he will need more time like Byfield did, but I fully expected him to carry this team at times. He's a leader, but not a game changer like a 2nd pick should be to this point. Terrance is a leader, but I also feel like he's almost hit a plateau.

Erliden so far is as advertised, but for how long running him 75%+ of the starts and our BUG is a disaster.

We don't compete against London, Winsdor, Kitchener very well and we struggle against the worst teams in the league.

Are we in 4th in the conference, yes, but with a very "stacked" team. If there isn't enough confidence in this squad, DB needs to sell off at least Schaefer, Spence, and possibly another forward to try and get some younger talent/draft picks here. This was our year to run with it as the moves so far have rendered next season one of desperation, again. If we watch our top players walk with zero compensation, the next 3 - 5 years are extremely painful.

 

[Mata]

Rumour for a while Musty to Erie for Challenger as part of the package, any thing on your end regarding a deal?

Given how the team is playing, I don't believe Musty makes a major difference in this team. We have 3.5 solid defenders and no BUG. Even if we added arguably one of the best forwards in the game, our back line without Schaefer and Erliden is not going to hold up against a top caliber team.

 

[dirty12]

Given how the team is playing, I don't believe Musty makes a major difference in this team. We have 3.5 solid defenders and no BUG. Even if we added arguably one of the best forwards in the game, our back line without Schaefer and Erliden is not going to hold up against a top caliber team.

Musty is an excellent playmaker and can score. He is exactly what is needed to bring out the offence in Misiak and Terrance imo.

 

[Mata]

Musty is an excellent playmaker and can score. He is exactly what is needed to bring out the offence in Misiak and Terrance imo.

And how does he fix the glaring holes in the back line or our BUG? It's robbing Peter to pay Paul so to speak.

The team has way too much it needs to sort out before making a trade to further diminish the next 3 - 5 years.

 

[NOA]

Musty is an excellent playmaker and can score. He is exactly what is needed to bring out the offence in Misiak and Terrance imo.

Yeah and regardless, they need Erliden and Schaefer to make a run.. just like London needs 2 of their top players in the lineup to make a run. Like yes, without them they aren’t as good but those are significant lineup changes especially in net

I agree that Musty would still make a difference because a great offense helps your defense with puck possession. And Erliden is good enough to steal 1/2 games in a series anyways right now, I don’t think their offense is taking them far enough.

Their best bet is adding a top end forward and finding some cheap alternative at the BUG spot. Then take your chances. Next year, just sell, sell, sell and hope like hell that Schaefer is back to help you land pieces in a rebuild