Thread starter
#1
Hallo.
every year i seem to write one of these out of boredom & excitement for the new season!
Let's take a look at the EIHL for 17/18, starting with the teams
Coventry Blaze:
What can be said about the Blaze - a team that promises to be almost unrecognizable from last years disaster.
Kevin Nastiuk looks a great find in net, certainly one of the top goalies in the league this coming season.
However as with previous years, Coventry look very weak at the back end. Patterson certainly looks a capable D man, however looks to be the only true first liner on that team. Kevin Noble will undoubtedly be thrown in on that first line - as a player I like Kevin Noble, always someone to watch & plays a pretty well rounded game... but is he a first line D man? Is he heck. Running with 3 brit D men all under the age of 22 is borderline madness & a recipe for disaster. Fingers crossed there's an additional import to come.
Coventry look a decent team up-top thus far, Dingle, Courchaine in particular look great players, however at the back they will struggle this year, (haven't we said this before?)
Projected: 7th
Edinburgh Capitals:
Probably the surprise package of the year & not necessarily in a good way. In reality nobody has any clue how this team will pan out. a combined 363 games KHL experience through the team & a couple of real good finds it seems. Early doors Caps signed Cazzola - who has every whiff of a player Belfast/Sheffield will be after by Christmas if history tells us anything!
In D'Orazio they have a proven D man at this level & other than Vorobyev there is a massively changed roster, as would be expected from such a veteran coach.
In reality Edinburgh could finish anywhere in this league, as the players signed would not have been on anyone's radar this off season. These last few signings for the Caps could be crucial, however there are concerns certainly over their goalie, extremely young & largely unproven on any stage.
Projected: 9th
Braehead Clan:
A team that so much is expected of but very little is delivered.
Starting at the back end, Ryan Nie in net. Backstopped his DEL2 team to relegation 3 out of 4 seasons. Appears to be an "ok" signing, but not someone that jumps out as anything other than ordinary.
in Oslanski on D they have signed a 25 year old who is through his hockey playing career -145 (according to EP), however an ECHL all star in 14/15 & in Cameron Burt appear to have signed a very good D man.
However as a team with a rumoured big budget, Cescon is a player that they should be looking to improve upon & rolling 2x U23 brit D men is a big no no for a team looking to achieve this season, hopeful for additional firepower at the back for certain for the Clan.
Braehead always appear to have major firepower up-top, and this year looks to be no exception with Brace, Embach & Brooks appearing to front their top unit; and with the addition of Jacob Doty appear to be a seriously no nonsense team, expect some entertaining games when the Clan go 3-4 down against some of the big guns.
Projected: 6th
Cardiff Devils:
A wise man once said to me "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" (ok he probably wasn't wise but still...) and any player signed from a team that completed the "Nottingham Grandslam" (that's 3 out of 4 trophies...) is a good addition to the team.
Keeping the core of a team that won so much can only be a good thing & adding firepower where needed.
Replacing Batch & S. Hotham on D with Reddick & Paris appears a strong move in undoubtedly the best D core in the league & combined with a GOOD goaltender, proven at this level is a recipe for victory.
Other notable additions up-top - Matt Pope added in allowing Andrew Lord to filter down to probably the third line, top scorer in the Asia league last year and a very good addition & the absolute nuisance that is Faryna added as an apparent direct replacement for Culligan.
Devils have a completed roster signed (1 still unnanounced) and are rumoured to be carrying a spare player if the right candidate becomes available.
Projected: 2nd (CC Champions) ( Gardiner Champions)
Fife Flyers:
This really is a total guess, no goalie signed, 2 full D lines missing & only a few forwards signed up, Fife sure have left it late this year, to announce the players at least.
in Moyer they have a very good experienced leader & additions in LeBlanc & Heelis look more than capable.
As with all the smaller teams in the EIHL Fife will sign a couple of good goal scorers but will really struggle down the order for secondary play.
With so much of a roster left it's a difficult one to predict, but losing Dingle is a massive blow for them.
Projected: 8th (Erdhart Champions)
Belfast Giants:
Again another team that have left their announcements rather late this season, but appear to have recruited extremely well. No goalies signed, however extremely good additions in Cole jarrett & Kevin Raine, the former appears to be a very capable scorer with Raine a solid shut down guy. Adding Martinelli back to the roster is more than surprising as personally i thought he struggled last year, given his skating, PIMS & Points in comparison to previous seasons.
It wouldn't be a Belfast roster without 75% being well on their way to retirement and this year is no different.
A Few real studs signed in Ferland, Johner, Riley, Saviano & Sylvestre it's almost impossible to pick a top unit.
Belfast still have a little while to go but this year i think have the roster to win some major silverware, however with 2 more players allowed Brits over 25 & not a single U23 contract inked - will they run 4 lines?
Projected: 4th ( POFW Champions)
(Second half to follow )
every year i seem to write one of these out of boredom & excitement for the new season!
Let's take a look at the EIHL for 17/18, starting with the teams
Coventry Blaze:
What can be said about the Blaze - a team that promises to be almost unrecognizable from last years disaster.
Kevin Nastiuk looks a great find in net, certainly one of the top goalies in the league this coming season.
However as with previous years, Coventry look very weak at the back end. Patterson certainly looks a capable D man, however looks to be the only true first liner on that team. Kevin Noble will undoubtedly be thrown in on that first line - as a player I like Kevin Noble, always someone to watch & plays a pretty well rounded game... but is he a first line D man? Is he heck. Running with 3 brit D men all under the age of 22 is borderline madness & a recipe for disaster. Fingers crossed there's an additional import to come.
Coventry look a decent team up-top thus far, Dingle, Courchaine in particular look great players, however at the back they will struggle this year, (haven't we said this before?)
Projected: 7th
Edinburgh Capitals:
Probably the surprise package of the year & not necessarily in a good way. In reality nobody has any clue how this team will pan out. a combined 363 games KHL experience through the team & a couple of real good finds it seems. Early doors Caps signed Cazzola - who has every whiff of a player Belfast/Sheffield will be after by Christmas if history tells us anything!
In D'Orazio they have a proven D man at this level & other than Vorobyev there is a massively changed roster, as would be expected from such a veteran coach.
In reality Edinburgh could finish anywhere in this league, as the players signed would not have been on anyone's radar this off season. These last few signings for the Caps could be crucial, however there are concerns certainly over their goalie, extremely young & largely unproven on any stage.
Projected: 9th
Braehead Clan:
A team that so much is expected of but very little is delivered.
Starting at the back end, Ryan Nie in net. Backstopped his DEL2 team to relegation 3 out of 4 seasons. Appears to be an "ok" signing, but not someone that jumps out as anything other than ordinary.
in Oslanski on D they have signed a 25 year old who is through his hockey playing career -145 (according to EP), however an ECHL all star in 14/15 & in Cameron Burt appear to have signed a very good D man.
However as a team with a rumoured big budget, Cescon is a player that they should be looking to improve upon & rolling 2x U23 brit D men is a big no no for a team looking to achieve this season, hopeful for additional firepower at the back for certain for the Clan.
Braehead always appear to have major firepower up-top, and this year looks to be no exception with Brace, Embach & Brooks appearing to front their top unit; and with the addition of Jacob Doty appear to be a seriously no nonsense team, expect some entertaining games when the Clan go 3-4 down against some of the big guns.
Projected: 6th
Cardiff Devils:
A wise man once said to me "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" (ok he probably wasn't wise but still...) and any player signed from a team that completed the "Nottingham Grandslam" (that's 3 out of 4 trophies...) is a good addition to the team.
Keeping the core of a team that won so much can only be a good thing & adding firepower where needed.
Replacing Batch & S. Hotham on D with Reddick & Paris appears a strong move in undoubtedly the best D core in the league & combined with a GOOD goaltender, proven at this level is a recipe for victory.
Other notable additions up-top - Matt Pope added in allowing Andrew Lord to filter down to probably the third line, top scorer in the Asia league last year and a very good addition & the absolute nuisance that is Faryna added as an apparent direct replacement for Culligan.
Devils have a completed roster signed (1 still unnanounced) and are rumoured to be carrying a spare player if the right candidate becomes available.
Projected: 2nd (CC Champions) ( Gardiner Champions)
Fife Flyers:
This really is a total guess, no goalie signed, 2 full D lines missing & only a few forwards signed up, Fife sure have left it late this year, to announce the players at least.
in Moyer they have a very good experienced leader & additions in LeBlanc & Heelis look more than capable.
As with all the smaller teams in the EIHL Fife will sign a couple of good goal scorers but will really struggle down the order for secondary play.
With so much of a roster left it's a difficult one to predict, but losing Dingle is a massive blow for them.
Projected: 8th (Erdhart Champions)
Belfast Giants:
Again another team that have left their announcements rather late this season, but appear to have recruited extremely well. No goalies signed, however extremely good additions in Cole jarrett & Kevin Raine, the former appears to be a very capable scorer with Raine a solid shut down guy. Adding Martinelli back to the roster is more than surprising as personally i thought he struggled last year, given his skating, PIMS & Points in comparison to previous seasons.
It wouldn't be a Belfast roster without 75% being well on their way to retirement and this year is no different.
A Few real studs signed in Ferland, Johner, Riley, Saviano & Sylvestre it's almost impossible to pick a top unit.
Belfast still have a little while to go but this year i think have the roster to win some major silverware, however with 2 more players allowed Brits over 25 & not a single U23 contract inked - will they run 4 lines?
Projected: 4th ( POFW Champions)
(Second half to follow )