Post by James on Oct 10, 2023 22:48:55 GMT -7
The Legendary Fire Sale of Summer 23. It was the event of the summer. How do you over shadow a draft with a generational talent in it? You trade off pieces of the best defense core to ever be assembled. Like Nick Fury blowing up the Avengers, there were key players shipped out in multiple deals with only the lowly Tyrants being pathetic enough to get a cast off within the division. The best defense in the league, almost 300 points for, better than any of the precap dynasty Knights teams. The heart of his franchise ripped up and scattered. Being faced with the unpleasant task of finding a home for one of his franchise contracts, Terry did the only thing he could. He blew it up. After winning the division 4 out of the past 5 seasons and adding his name to the Linden cup twice, Terry insured he wouldn't be doing either of those things again for quite some time. Sure at the draft he talked a big game, "I added good players!" "I can still compete." "I'll still make the play offs", and like Mr Penner just proved, (Where is my f**k**g drink?) Anything can happen if you make the playoffs.
He is not wrong. I want him to be, but he is not. In a division with Baby Blades, lowly Tyrants, bubbling Wannabes, and perennial under achieving Flames, the less legendary Legends should still make a push for the playoffs. Winning the division isn't going to happen, and unless lady luck takes his side in the playoff, there won't be much hope there either. What a glorious division! Like the Platinum of the first 25 years of the league, the Premier has one great team and then a bunch of teams hoping they either make the playoffs or do bad enough to secure first overall. (that should burn everyone, all at once...) Lets take a look at the contenders for #1 overall 2024.
The Blades. Bedard could score 200 points and Kucherov put up 120 and this team is still the best bet for first pick. The youngest team in the league (I didn't do the actual math but I think its evident), Aj has acquired every defenseman on the Dobber best prospect dman list. The forward depth is one or two injuries from depleted, and even Dobber would point out that Prospects do not win fantasy hockey games. Unless this team's baby guns all grow up simultaneously with their Star-in-the-Making 1st overall pick. There will be one or two more 1st overall picks joining their ranks. My pick for dead last.
The Roadrunners. Clearly AJ was inspired by Kevin Smith's rebuilding model. Suck hard, draft first, and eventually you will have some decent players. Blind squirrels find nuts sometimes, but are they tasty nuts or Lafreniere? Hughes, Cauffield, Boldy, Zegras all look decent. But with a defense featuring can't find his own net, never mind the other teams net, Oliver Ekman-Larson, this team is doomed for relegation and could be in the running for another 300 games played prospect come draft 2024. My pick for second last, 2nd overall 2024.
Playoff teams? The Tyrants. The only Premier team gifted a prize in the firesale, Wayne might have a decent defense corps, if they stay healthy. Now the second best D in the division, Tyrants have stars in McKinnon and OV, and decent depth. Probably the biggest short term beneficiary of the firesale, the playoffs are a given. Or are they? The Tyrants seem to find a way to lose. Would anyone be surprised if they were on the outside looking in? Actually, in this post fire sale division that would be a surprise. Don't bet on them to be better than anyone in the Platinum division, but should be good enough for second best in the Premier and a first round exit.
The Flames. "Any team with Leon on it should compete. Should." The same should be evident for the team with Connor McDavid on it. But somehow, McDavid's team was in the running for Beddard until the final game of the season. When he drafted McDavid I offered to swap teams. My Dad laughed, but I was serious. This team should be winning divisions. Unfortunately McDavid had more assists that anyone else on the team had points. Bounce back seasons from Johnny Hockey and Patrick Laine should help McDavid carry this team back to the playoffs. Although with that goaltending and weak D-fence, the Flames might have to settle for fourth.
The Legends. Even post fire sale, the Legends should be in the mix. They still have stars at every position. They will still be a threat for second in the division. They have prospects that could make contributions. When all the dust cleared, they still have a decent team. A shadow of the team that won the division, but still competitive. Unless you are trying to compete with the Knights.
The Knights. The best defense in the league, by committee, rather than flush with star power. The Knights should win it all this year and for many years to come. Top wingers under the age of 30, top prospects on the rise, key contributors like Crosby and Stamkos with lots of gas left in the tank. There really isn't any weaknesses in the lineup. Cap compliant for at least the next couple of years, the Knights will win the Premier division this year. Can they overcome the massive expectations and beat the best of the Platinum in the end? That's why we play the games. Last year's record setting first half of the season got derailed by some unfortunate luck but when you are this good, you can make your own luck. And thanks to the Legends fire sale there should be nothing between puck drop and the division title except another 1000 points for, and some epic trash talk.
The pot is stirred, still a little sticky on the bottom, but stirred.
Thanks for reading. Game on.
He is not wrong. I want him to be, but he is not. In a division with Baby Blades, lowly Tyrants, bubbling Wannabes, and perennial under achieving Flames, the less legendary Legends should still make a push for the playoffs. Winning the division isn't going to happen, and unless lady luck takes his side in the playoff, there won't be much hope there either. What a glorious division! Like the Platinum of the first 25 years of the league, the Premier has one great team and then a bunch of teams hoping they either make the playoffs or do bad enough to secure first overall. (that should burn everyone, all at once...) Lets take a look at the contenders for #1 overall 2024.
The Blades. Bedard could score 200 points and Kucherov put up 120 and this team is still the best bet for first pick. The youngest team in the league (I didn't do the actual math but I think its evident), Aj has acquired every defenseman on the Dobber best prospect dman list. The forward depth is one or two injuries from depleted, and even Dobber would point out that Prospects do not win fantasy hockey games. Unless this team's baby guns all grow up simultaneously with their Star-in-the-Making 1st overall pick. There will be one or two more 1st overall picks joining their ranks. My pick for dead last.
The Roadrunners. Clearly AJ was inspired by Kevin Smith's rebuilding model. Suck hard, draft first, and eventually you will have some decent players. Blind squirrels find nuts sometimes, but are they tasty nuts or Lafreniere? Hughes, Cauffield, Boldy, Zegras all look decent. But with a defense featuring can't find his own net, never mind the other teams net, Oliver Ekman-Larson, this team is doomed for relegation and could be in the running for another 300 games played prospect come draft 2024. My pick for second last, 2nd overall 2024.
Playoff teams? The Tyrants. The only Premier team gifted a prize in the firesale, Wayne might have a decent defense corps, if they stay healthy. Now the second best D in the division, Tyrants have stars in McKinnon and OV, and decent depth. Probably the biggest short term beneficiary of the firesale, the playoffs are a given. Or are they? The Tyrants seem to find a way to lose. Would anyone be surprised if they were on the outside looking in? Actually, in this post fire sale division that would be a surprise. Don't bet on them to be better than anyone in the Platinum division, but should be good enough for second best in the Premier and a first round exit.
The Flames. "Any team with Leon on it should compete. Should." The same should be evident for the team with Connor McDavid on it. But somehow, McDavid's team was in the running for Beddard until the final game of the season. When he drafted McDavid I offered to swap teams. My Dad laughed, but I was serious. This team should be winning divisions. Unfortunately McDavid had more assists that anyone else on the team had points. Bounce back seasons from Johnny Hockey and Patrick Laine should help McDavid carry this team back to the playoffs. Although with that goaltending and weak D-fence, the Flames might have to settle for fourth.
The Legends. Even post fire sale, the Legends should be in the mix. They still have stars at every position. They will still be a threat for second in the division. They have prospects that could make contributions. When all the dust cleared, they still have a decent team. A shadow of the team that won the division, but still competitive. Unless you are trying to compete with the Knights.
The Knights. The best defense in the league, by committee, rather than flush with star power. The Knights should win it all this year and for many years to come. Top wingers under the age of 30, top prospects on the rise, key contributors like Crosby and Stamkos with lots of gas left in the tank. There really isn't any weaknesses in the lineup. Cap compliant for at least the next couple of years, the Knights will win the Premier division this year. Can they overcome the massive expectations and beat the best of the Platinum in the end? That's why we play the games. Last year's record setting first half of the season got derailed by some unfortunate luck but when you are this good, you can make your own luck. And thanks to the Legends fire sale there should be nothing between puck drop and the division title except another 1000 points for, and some epic trash talk.
The pot is stirred, still a little sticky on the bottom, but stirred.
Thanks for reading. Game on.