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[WHLinsider]

Edmonton Road Runners


Off season grade = D
Key players in = Bjugstad, Ferland, Mittlestadt, Gostibehere (briefly), Neal, DeBrusk, Cirelli
Key players out = Malkin, Zuccarello, Gallagher, Brown, Wood, Gostibehere (moved out after acquired, refused to report to Edmonton), Lowry, Duclair


While many moves were made, the Road Runners have taken a step back this off season overall. Not enough was brought in to mitigate the significant loss of Malkin, Zuccarello, Gallagher, among others, although they did get a lot younger and cheaper in the process.


Season outlook = 10th


The Road Runners will see the anvil fall on their season just short of making the top 8. The playoff push will give fans some excitement, with a glimpse into the future with some of the younger players brought in. They just simply won’t have enough firepower this season after the key departures. The prospect pool is very bare...and there are big questions surrounding their goaltending.

The RR are relying too much on expecting a big step from the young players brought in, which isn’t likely going to be big enough to keep in contention once they start to go H2H with the top 2 tiers.

[GinFizz]

ouch...

For clarification, ERR traded Mittlestadt to some dumb #moose

#badtrade

[havanablast21]

[FONT="][FONT="]Edmonton Road Runners[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Off season grade = D[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Key players in = Bjugstad, Ferland, Mittlestadt, Gostibehere (briefly), Neal, DeBrusk, Cirelli[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Key players out = Malkin, Zuccarello, Gallagher, Brown, Wood, Gostibehere (moved out after acquired, refused to report to Edmonton), Lowry, Duclair[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]While many moves were made, the Road Runners have taken a step back this off season overall. Not enough was brought in to mitigate the significant loss of Malkin, Zuccarello, Gallagher, among others, although they did get a lot younger and cheaper in the process. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Season outlook = 10th[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Road Runners will see the anvil fall on their season just short of making the top 8. The playoff push will give fans some excitement, with a glimpse into the future with some of the younger players brought in. They just simply won’t have enough firepower this season after the key departures. The prospect pool is very bare...and there are big questions surrounding their goaltending.

The RR are relying too much on expecting a big step from the young players brought in, which isn’t likely going to be big enough to keep in contention once they start to go H2H with the top 2 tiers.[/FONT]

Starting to sweat the review of the RC Leafs

[WHLinsider]

Fort Francis Muskies


Off season grade = B


Key players in = Romanov, Gustavsson, Woo
Key players out = Bertuzzi


While not a lot of moves, Muskies GM has been quite deliberate where he swings his rod as he has made some very good long term moves. Even though they shipped out the quietly effective Bertuzzi, that trade netted them 4 picks in total, 2 of the picks already used allowing them to draft Broberg + Dorofeyev. Added to the fact they also drafted Kaapo Kakko, Puistola, Tomasino, plus the existing young fish including Glass, Steel, Puljujarvi, Tkachuk, Theodore, the young building blocks are coming into place nicely for Fort Frances....something needs to keep the fans energized in that city.


Season Outlook = 24th


Despite the last place projection, the young school of players Muskies GM is assembling will be making a quick rise up the standings in the coming years. In 2-3 years this team could be very formidable casting their hook into a higher tier very soon.

[WHLinsider]

Starting to sweat the review of the RC Leafs

Right”f”ully so....

[WHLinsider]

Glasgow Kiss


Off season grade = B-


Key players in = Murray, Niku
Key players out = Zadina, Schmidt


After a long, exhaustive search, Kiss GM was able to wrap his lips around a legitimate number one goalie this off season. The price was expensive with having to smooch prospect goal scoring machine Zadina goodbye, but the GM is still smiling about the deal.


They also won the lottery giving them the 1st overall pick, laying their lips on Jack Hughes. Kiss GM has already flown Hughes in to tour around the city. They took him shopping at Style Mile, visited the local Botanical Gardens, showed him the scenic area of Loch Lomond, and concluded the tour at the quaint Clydesdale Distillery. Jack was very impressed with the red carpet tour.


Season outlook = 19th


Franchise C....check. Franchise G....check. Depth....to be determined. Another bottom tier finish is expected, but the Kiss have enough to continue acquiring multiple high picks in the 2020 draft to expedite a rebuild, including owning their own expected lottery pick. This lipped team will start to get plenty of shine and gloss in the coming years....

[WHLinsider]

Grand Rapids Griffins


Off season grade = C-


Key players in = Haula
Key players out = Rinne, Kadri


Trading away a top flight goalie, and a downgrade of the highly reliable Kadri to Haula, are not the moves I anticipated the Griffins to be making. Griffins GM is rumoured to be on the hot seat heading into the season after being a top tier bubble team in recent years. The Griffins owner has been shedding out big dollar contracts and hasn’t seen the playoff ROI since they sunk their claws into the championship trophy way back in the inaugural WHL season.




Season outlook = 8th


Putting all of their Griffin eggs in Mrazeks’ basket is a gutsy decision. Lots will be riding on keeping Mrazek over Rinne. This team has excellent high end talent in their nest that will keep them in the top tier all season. With the lack of a deep prospect pool, the window is open now and with aging veterans that window may not stay open much longer before a full rebuild begins to get underway.

[havanablast21]

Top flight goalie...Rinne...nice to hear!

[GinFizz]

Top flight goalie...Rinne...nice to hear!

Brown nosing the Insider.......

[WHLinsider]

James Bay Cougars


Off season grade = A


Key players in = Hedman, Monahan, Carlson, Marchessault, E Karlsson, Lundqvist, Galchenyuk, Perry


Key players out = Tkachuk, Dahlin, Ehlers, Reilly, Pulock, Valimaki, Orlov, Connolly, Eakin, Zacha




ME....OW what an off season for the Cougars. As cougars are known for...they took full advantage of an opportunity to get what they want, capitalizing on a number of cap strapped teams landing some big names to immediately pounce themselves into contender status. To top off the big makeover this off season, the Cougars also relocated to James Bay.


Season outlook = 3rd


Cougars enjoyed their surprise finish last season. It was a happy ending last season for the GM to unexpectedly be within the top tier after a late season surge to come from behind. Despite going against expectations of a Cougar by trading away younger talent for older talent, the Cougars GM hit it out of the park with his off season trading bringing in elite talent to take the next step for the franchise. These new look Cougars will be leaving claw marks all throughout the WHL in the upcoming season.

[havanablast21]

Brown nosing the Insider.......

Nice to Hear cause he’s now on my team.

[InForAPenny]

No pressure. Cougars better perform this year

[WHLinsider]

Lake Erie Monsters




Off season grade = B
Key players in = Arvidsson


Key players out = None


While it was a quiet off season, the Monster GM acquired one of the best contracts in the entire WHL. They honed in on one target, and they were successful in acquiring the reliable, young Arvidsson locked up at just $4.2 million per season until 2024. An absolute bargain for $ per productivity, especially with some of their massive contracts on the books.


Season outlook = 6th


This season the Monsters will make some noise in the upper tier. It’s a big year for this aging roster, and I expect they mortgage more of their future to push to contend this season. Monsters have some of the best fantasy players in the game with Ovechkin, Stamkos, and Wheeler, so they have high expectations from the fans and ownership. Pressure is on to achieve success before the window is shut.

[Magicstew]

[FONT="][FONT="]Glasgow Kiss[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Off season grade = B- [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Key players in = Murray, Niku [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Key players out = Zadina, Schmidt [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]After a long, exhaustive search, Kiss GM was able to wrap his lips around a legitimate number one goalie this off season. The price was expensive with having to smooch prospect goal scoring machine Zadina goodbye, but the GM is still smiling about the deal. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]They also won the lottery giving them the 1st overall pick, laying their lips on Jack Hughes. Kiss GM has already flown Hughes in to tour around the city. They took him shopping at Style Mile, visited the local Botanical Gardens, showed him the scenic area of Loch Lomond, and concluded the tour at the quaint Clydesdale Distillery. Jack was very impressed with the red carpet tour. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Season outlook = 19th [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Franchise C....check. Franchise G....check. Depth....to be determined. Another bottom tier finish is expected, but the Kiss have enough to continue acquiring multiple high picks in the 2020 draft to expedite a rebuild, including owning their own expected lottery pick. This lipped team will start to get plenty of shine and gloss in the coming years....[/FONT]

Kiss Management out to surpass projected outlook. Lots of caproom for improvement. Hughes looking impressive in his new Kilt.

[metaldude26]

Kiss Management out to surpass projected outlook. Lots of caproom for improvement. Hughes looking impressive in his new Kilt.

Let's make a trade.