Ever since we inaugurated the Moscow Hall of Fame in S71, one Moscow great has retired each season making inductions very straightforward and streamlined. First we had Randoms from the S63 draft and then Dan Baillie from S64 (and of course the S65 expansion draft). Now we turn our attention to the S65 class. And although there is no doubt that Gritty is a local legend, there is one bigger name, literally and figuratively, who takes the crown as the best player from that draft. The Menace were extremely fortunate to enjoy the very peak years of future VHL Hall of Famer Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen's career.
There's been a few franchise defining moments along the way - Jet Jaguar falling to 10th overall, Randoms becoming available via trade, and Raymond Bernard somehow being the third goalie selected in S68 after our early goalie struggles - but the free agency coup of S69 might take the cake. Attracting both Gritty and Smitty, halfway through their careers, for free from our direct rivals in Davos was a game changer and led directly to that dominant championship just a season later in S70. Smitty in particular was a huge part of that. Despite being a bonafide VHL star already with a Labatte Trophy to his name before Moscow, Smitty raised his game to another level, winning two more to become the great defenceman of the modern era, with a Brett Slobodzian Trophy in S70 to boot.
He may not have had the longevity of Randoms and Baillie, or other future inductees in Moscow, but Smitty gave his best 3 seasons to the Menace and what a 3 seasons it was. Welcome to the Moscow Hall of Fame @flyersfan1453!
Graphic credit to @gorlab as always