cvandenberg22
Registered User
- Dec 25, 2012
- 104
- 52
OHL Future Watch: Erie Otters
The Erie Otters have had a couple of down seasons after the departure of some of the best players the OHL has ever seen in Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat. They are starting to make some strides, but need to continue to replenish the draft pick coffers that were depleted when they made their trades to make a run at OHL Championships and Memorial Cups.
Forwards
Erie’s 2 best forwards will be overage players next season, which doesn’t necessarily fit with their contending timelines. Chad Yetman (2000, C) scored 43 goals this season and Maxim Golod (2000, LW) had 78 points to lead the Otters in scoring. They will have to decide whether they keep both, or do they trade them for draft picks and/or young players. Connor Lockhart (2003, C) was their 3rd overall pick and is a small, highly skilled player who should be a threat every night. He is their cornerstone and they need to build young forwards around him. Colby Saganiuk (2003) recently committed to the Otters, leaving the US Under 17 program where he was buried on the depth chart. Austen Swankler, Hayden Fowler, and Daniel D’Amato are all depth forwards who are 2001s. This is an area where they can make a major impact through the CHL Import Draft as they have two spots that are available.
Defense
Jamie Drysdale (2002, RD) will be the top defenseman in the OHL if he is returned by whatever NHL team drafts him in the top 5 of the draft. He will play 30 minutes a game in all situations and will be the anchor on Canada’s World Junior Team. They will have to decide who they keep out of Kurtis Henry (19 points) and Jack Duff (18 points) as they were the next best defenseman on the roster and they are both 2000 born players. Cameron Morton (2002) made some strides, but the hope is that 1st rounder Spencer Sova (2004) and late 2003 born Christian Kyrou can play some major minutes.
Goaltenders
Aidan Campbell (2002) has emerged as an exciting prospect for the Otters and looks like a steal as a 12th rounder in 2018. He is huge (6-5) and there is a good chance that he will be drafted by an NHL team in June. Forbes Anderson (2003) or 3rd round pick Nolan Lalonde (2004) will challenge for the backup role.
Draft Capital
The Otters do not have the assets to go after the OHL title next season, so they either have to stay with what they have, or trade their major pieces (Yetman, Golod and Drysdale) and compile draft picks and/or young players who fit with the timeline of potential impact players like Lockhart, Saganiuk, and Sova.
In conclusion, much of what the Otters become is dependent on the NHL return of Drysdale, the success of their CHL import draft selections and the development of their young players. I don’t feel that they have the tools to compete for an OHL title, so trading some of their top overagers, 2001s, or even Drysdale should be considered if they can get some picks back to build around their 03s and 04s.
The Erie Otters have had a couple of down seasons after the departure of some of the best players the OHL has ever seen in Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat. They are starting to make some strides, but need to continue to replenish the draft pick coffers that were depleted when they made their trades to make a run at OHL Championships and Memorial Cups.
Forwards
Erie’s 2 best forwards will be overage players next season, which doesn’t necessarily fit with their contending timelines. Chad Yetman (2000, C) scored 43 goals this season and Maxim Golod (2000, LW) had 78 points to lead the Otters in scoring. They will have to decide whether they keep both, or do they trade them for draft picks and/or young players. Connor Lockhart (2003, C) was their 3rd overall pick and is a small, highly skilled player who should be a threat every night. He is their cornerstone and they need to build young forwards around him. Colby Saganiuk (2003) recently committed to the Otters, leaving the US Under 17 program where he was buried on the depth chart. Austen Swankler, Hayden Fowler, and Daniel D’Amato are all depth forwards who are 2001s. This is an area where they can make a major impact through the CHL Import Draft as they have two spots that are available.
Defense
Jamie Drysdale (2002, RD) will be the top defenseman in the OHL if he is returned by whatever NHL team drafts him in the top 5 of the draft. He will play 30 minutes a game in all situations and will be the anchor on Canada’s World Junior Team. They will have to decide who they keep out of Kurtis Henry (19 points) and Jack Duff (18 points) as they were the next best defenseman on the roster and they are both 2000 born players. Cameron Morton (2002) made some strides, but the hope is that 1st rounder Spencer Sova (2004) and late 2003 born Christian Kyrou can play some major minutes.
Goaltenders
Aidan Campbell (2002) has emerged as an exciting prospect for the Otters and looks like a steal as a 12th rounder in 2018. He is huge (6-5) and there is a good chance that he will be drafted by an NHL team in June. Forbes Anderson (2003) or 3rd round pick Nolan Lalonde (2004) will challenge for the backup role.
Draft Capital
The Otters do not have the assets to go after the OHL title next season, so they either have to stay with what they have, or trade their major pieces (Yetman, Golod and Drysdale) and compile draft picks and/or young players who fit with the timeline of potential impact players like Lockhart, Saganiuk, and Sova.
In conclusion, much of what the Otters become is dependent on the NHL return of Drysdale, the success of their CHL import draft selections and the development of their young players. I don’t feel that they have the tools to compete for an OHL title, so trading some of their top overagers, 2001s, or even Drysdale should be considered if they can get some picks back to build around their 03s and 04s.