You feel that slight chill in the air? Yes that means hockey season is right
around the corner. For the Erie Otters, that means training camp is here.

The players, both veterans and prospects, check-in on Saturday for the first
time in the 2018-19 season. Among the things that will happen on opening day
are fitness testing, a veteran';s practice and then an inter-squad prospect';s
game.

So what has changed since we last checked in with the Otters? Lots actually,
including a major trade of one of their most important players.

You can catch up on their early summer happenings right here. We discussed
Jamie Drysdale at the U-17';s, Petr Cajka being selected at the import draft
and the team hiring Shane Clifford as their goaltending coach.

After that, the Otters traded Ivan Lodnia to the Niagara Icedogs in exchange
for Danial Singer and a 5th round pick in 2019. Does this seem like an
underwhelming return to you for the Otters? That';s because it was an
underwhelming return but out of the team';s control. Lodnia wanted out. The
team made the best deal they could given the circumstances.Ivan Lodnia took his
 talents to Niagara after an August trade. (Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Then came the news of Singer and his failed test. Both teams discussed this
before the trade was completed. The trade still happened anyway. The Otters
believe they are getting both a good player and person. Singer will miss the
team';s first eight games and make his debut for the Otters against the Icedogs
 in October.

As for Lodnia, this has been coming for a while. There was lots of thought he
could be traded before the start of last season. His agent Dan Milstein
confirmed that possibility. It never happened. Now he';s in Niagara. Draw your
own conclusions. Lodnia wanted out. He had his reasons. Both he and his agent
didn';t want to say what was really going on out of respect for all those
involved. It';s time to move on.

And that';s what we';ll do here. The 2018-19 season is almost here. The Otters
enter the new season coming off a disappointing season that started to show
good signs towards the end. They did miss the playoffs as a result.

Their coaching staff is back including Chris Hartsburg, B.J. Adams and Wes
Wolfe. They have many returning players and some exciting new ones on board.
They';re confident and ready to rise.

Can the Otters meet up with rising expectations? That is the central theme that
 we';ll be watching as the season unfolds. Do they have enough to make good
progress and make a trip to these playoffs? I';ll share my prediction at the
end. For now, let';s look at the roster.Jamie Drysdale is part of a young
Otters core hoping to use this season as a springboard to bigger things. (Photo
 by Aaron Bell, OHL Images)The RosterNew Faces

Jamie DrysdalePetr CajkaDanial SingerBrendan Hoffmann

Now Gone

Ivan LodniaStephane PatryPatrick FellowsCade RobinsonTroy LajeunesseCarson
EdwardsonOwen Headrick

Current OA';s

Kyle MaksimovichChristian GirhinyOne open spot

Notable NHL Draft Eligibles

Emmett Sproule (2019)Cajka (2019)Hayden Fowler (2020)Drysdale (2020)

Three Things to WatchCenter Ice Looking Good

Don';t look now, but the Otters have some depth down the middle. Gera Poddubnyi
 is back. There was some thought he might not be back. But it was Stephane
Patry that has moved on. Hayden Fowler has a late birthday, otherwise, he';d be
 eligible for this draft and not the 2020 draft. He can play the middle. He
looks dynamic too.

Their import pick Petr Cajka is a projected first-round pick by some in this
draft. He can play center. Alex Gritz can play there. Joseph Mack can too. The
team has options. Now the question is how will it shake out before opening
night?State of the Goalies

Both Anand Oberoi and Daniel Murphy knew how important a summer this was. With
both expected to share the crease this season, there is an opportunity for
someone to stand out and earn more playing time. Who will that be?

It will be interesting to see the impact of Shane Clifford on this duo.
Clifford as many of you know coached Flyers'; prospect Carter Hart. Oberoi and
Murphy aren';t Hart by any means, but they certainly will see some improvement.
 One of these players taking the next step will be paramount if the Otters hope
 to make noise in 2018-19.The Underrated Otters

I just get the sense this team is a little underrated. They';re coming off a
down season. Most fans look at London and other teams making major noise.
Expect these Otters to play fast and aggressive. They have some impact players
that are scratching the surface of how good they';ll be in Fowler, Sproule,
Golod, Cajka and Drysdale to name a few.

This season will be a season of growth for this young core. In terms of making
major noise, that seems set to start with the 19-20 season. But don';t sleep on
 this team. They should shock a few people especially if a team isn';t ready to
 play their best. The Otters will go through normal growing pains but they are
expected to be better in 2018-19.

17 veterans, 1st rounders Drysdale & Cajka, headline 60 players expected to
open @ErieOtters camp today...but no Ryan Alexander #Erie #OHL
pic.twitter.com/DnVI1uVQ8o

- Victor Fernandes (@GoErieHockey) August 25, 2018

My 2018-19 Prediction

I do think the Otters are a playoff team. I have them finishing 6th in the
Western Conference. I don';t think many realize how good and young this Otters
defense is. Ryan Martin is healthy again. Jack Duff is ready to take the next
step. Aidan Timmermans, Josh Wainman, Kurtis Henry, Luke Beamish and Brendan
Kischnick provide nice depth. The biggest question for me if can they keep the
puck out of their net?

I think this team is at least a year away from making major noise in the
league. But they will be fun to watch grow and develop. They should gain
valuable experience in a playoff series that will only help later.

I think this season will be remembered as the stepping stone to greater things
for this team. Can they meet those expectations? We';ll all see together. Enjoy
 the ride everyone.

The post 2018-19 Erie Otters Season Preview appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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