Rising From the Ashes: The Maurauders Adjusting to a Rebuild

[JardyB10 4,865]

MIAMI (JP) - There's an old saying in hockey that goes thusly; "After the Cup, cometh the hangover."

 

And there's no more popular a place to be hungover than Miami, Florida.

 

The team was ravaged by VHLM graduations and waiver losses like no other. Gone were the historical conquerers Alexander the Great (@Shiny) and Napoleon Bonaparte (@CptSquall) to their respective VHL teams. The defence was gutted as S78 1st Rounder Damien Salducci (@Deee.Geee) and Jocke Jockesson (@ThomasSyster) returned to the VHLM draft to oppose the Maurauders in S78. Worst of all, Skyler Rift Trophy winner and starting goaltender @ClapbombsRus went on to make his VHL debut with the Calgary Wranglers.

 

Little enough was left behind. Most notably defenceman Vassily Grigorev (@Noxalpha), who was promptly dealt to the Philidelphia Reapers for a 1st and a 3rd in the S80 Dispersal Draft.

 

While competing for a playoff spot may seem bleak under these circumstances, it has allowed the new additions to the team to shine. Chief among them is team captain Mikey Markov (@JetsFan81), who has put up an incredible 13 goals and 20 points in just 11 games so far this season.

 

On a more earthly scale, we also see the likes of Roberts Stutzle (@Coldex) quietly making a name for himself. After putting up 14 points in 50 games in his inaugural VHLM season with the Las Vegas Aces, Stutzle slid all the way to Round 3 of the VHL Draft, being selected 44th overall by the Calgary Wranglers. Miami GM @InstantRockstar wouldn't wait quite as long in the Dispersal Draft, grabbing the big lanky Latvian winger 21st overall in the 2nd Round. Stutzle has been improving greatly under Miami management, already putting up 6 points in 11 games, matching his goal total from last season, and putting him on pace to shatter his production rates altogether.

 

Meanwhile, the new goaltending duties have fallen to early season waiver pickup Em Em Flex (@oilmandan). With only two mediocre defencemen remaining in front of him, the young goalie has been holding his own, facing an average of 25 shots per game. The amount of action he sees will give him plenty of opportunity to improve over the season, and his 2 assists so far put him on pace to finish the season with 13 points, which is nearly as many as Stutzle got last season as a forward.

 

Speaking of mediocre defencemen, Poopy Peepants is there as well.

 

It will be a challenging season for the Maurauders, but these new faces will be front and center of it all until more mid-season signings make their way to Florida!

 

- 435 words

Edited May 23, 2021 by JardyB10