Erie Otters’ Playoff Berth Shows Significant Progress In Their Plan

Erie Otters’ head coach Stan Butler came into the media room soaking wet Saturday after his team upset the Saginaw Spirit 5-4. The win was significant on multiple fronts.

On a personal level for Butler, the win was his 800th CHL win in his long, storied career as a head coach. While he jokingly admitted the 800 wins meant that he was old, he gave credit to the teams he’s coached over the years. The reason he was soaking wet was because the Otters gave him a celebratory Gatorade/Powerade bath in the locker room.

The win was much more than Butler’s 800th win. It signaled that the plan started by the Otters last season with Butler’s hiring was working. Now they’re starting to see some of the fruits of it.

Quick Refresher

The Otters had a dreadful 2022-23 season. They had to dismiss coach B.J. Adams. It marked an important time in the franchise as they were now looking for their third head coach in a short amount of time.

To the Otters’ front office, experience mattered. They wanted someone who is a proven winner that could help reshape their locker room and get them back on the right track once and for all.

GM Dave Brown turned to someone he was familiar with hoping he could do the job. After some time away from hockey for health reasons, Butler joined in.

Butler joined the Otters at a time where a full evaluation of the team was needed. He was allotted the rest of the 2022-23 season to see where players were and what items needed addressed.

The Otters made an interesting move at the OHL Trade Deadline acquiring Pano Fimis from the Niagara Ice Dogs. The Otters were thought of as sellers. So why would the Otters buy? The move was met with a lot of criticism.

As it turned out, this move signaled the start of a long-term plan for the Otters to return to the respectability they’re known for. Fimis was regarded as one of the best players in his age group, He was also a center, something the team desperately needed in their lineup.

Brown acquired Fimis not just for the end of last season, but for this season and potentially next season too. That timeline fits when the Otters were expected to be good thanks to their young talent on the roster.

This playoff berth in 2023-24 is just the start of where the Otters are hoping to go. A plan is starting to come together.

2023-24 Hasn’t Been Easy

While the Otters will see playoff hockey at Erie Insurance Arena again for the…