Toronto Receives Off-Season Gut Punch

[Doomsday 4,043]

Toronto Receives Off-Season Gut Punch

 

TORONTO - Following the unexpected success of the Toronto Legion in Season 81, both spirits and expectations were high for the young team as they head into Season 82. With major contributions from rookies, including Otto Numinen, Harkat Mulds, Armani Calamari, and Oskar Lindbergh, a lot of the team's future success depends on their young stars to be even better in their sophomore seasons. However, critics of Toronto pointed out that promising teams have been assembled before, and that keeping the team together is the real challenge for General Manager Rylan Peace. As it turns out, it's something being put to the test right off the bat this off-season. 

 

The Legion received unfortunate news when Otto Numinen, who led Toronto with 95 points and is a finalist for the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy as the VHL's top rookie, suddenly and unexpectedly retired from the VHL. Adding to the misfortune was when the agent of Season 81 first round pick Harkat Mulds announced that he would be taking a step back from the league to take a break, although he would remain on Toronto's roster and continue to play. Just as soon as the off-season has begun, the Legion have lost their leading scorer and the development of one of last season's first round picks has been stunted indefinitely in what has been a less than ideal start to Season 82 for Toronto.

 

 

While Numinen's retirement is a big loss, it opens the door for Armani Calamari, taken 17th overall in Season 80, to stake a claim as the first line center in Toronto. With the wealth of young talent on the roster, it was easy to overlook Calamari, but his hard work has helped to put him into a situation where he can step up and become a real leader and difference-maker on this team. Jakub Brozik also stands to take a bigger role on the Legion in his second season after a solid rookie year in which he nearly averaged a point per game. Toronto also holds the ninth overall pick in the upcoming Season 82 VHL Entry Draft, which also holds the possibility of bringing more talent into the fold. 

 

One thing is for certain: this young Toronto team is facing some serious adversity to start the new season, and the way they respond to it will likely shape how it goes for this young Legion team. 

 

Jethro Novacek is an award-winning writer for the MSFL Times, the VHL's favorite source of simulation sports news. He enjoys Tastykake pastries, purveying dad jokes, and being a more reliable source than Barstool.

[Shindigs 1,771]

21 hours ago, Doomsday said:

being a more reliable source than Barstool.

Truly, the highest of standards.

 

Hope the Legion bounce back from this as soon as possible. As last season looked very promising.