Slow start, goal differential leads Erie Otters to trade for overage goaltender
The Erie Otters have a new starting goaltender.
General Manager Dave Brown, with Erie winless after its first four games, traded goaltender Nolan Lalonde and three draft picks to Sarnia on Tuesday.
In return, the Otters acquired overage goalie Benjamin Gaudreau, the starter for two of Hockey Canada’s recent gold medal teams. San Jose chose the Corbeil, Ontario, native in the third round of the 2021 NHL draft.
“We’re thrilled to be adding a goaltender with a considerable amount of experience in the OHL and, internationally, with Hockey Canada’s national program,” Brown said in a news release. “Ben is someone we know will help lead this group. (He’s) someone with great character and someone we’re excited to add.”
The trade was only the first in a chaotic day for Lalonde, whose 0-2-0-1 start for the Otters concluded his 35-47-5-5 record with them. Sarnia dealt him to Saginaw for a 2024 draft pick.
No waiting for Gaudreau
Brown said Gaudreau, 20, is scheduled to join Erie in time for Thursday’s game at Niagara. He is set to make his home debut Saturday, when the Otters welcome Windsor to Erie Insurance Arena.
Gaudreau had spent his entire OHL career with Sarnia. The Sting selected him with the seventh overall pick in the league’s 2019 draft.
Gaudreau has a career record of 54-43-8-5, including three shutouts. His goals-against average is 3.60.
Gaudreau was in net when Sarnia advanced to the OHL’s Western Conference final this past season. The London Knights eliminated the Sting in six games.
Beyond the league, Gaudreau also backstopped Hockey Canada’s title-winning teams at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championship and last year’s World Junior Championship.
Brown won’t mind at all if Gaudreau’s international success, combined with last year’s OHL playoff run, rubs off on his new teammates.
Not only are the Otters 0-3-0-1 going into Thursday’s puck drop at Niagara, they also haven’t qualified for postseason play since they won the Robertson Cup in 2017.
More: What's new at the arena? Erie Otters return home, fall late to Mississauga
Need to stop shots
Jacob Gibbons was the only other goalie listed on Erie’s roster as of Tuesday. He was in net for portions of Erie’s 5-0 loss at Mississauga in their Sept. 29 season opener and Friday’s 8-0 loss at Guelph.
Erie has been outscored 24-8 over its slow start. Five of those goals were recorded Saturday, when the host Owen Sound Attack won 6-5 in overtime.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Otters acquire goaltender Benjamin Gaudreau in trade with Sarnia
