Helsinki Making Moves

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After Trades, Helsinki Titans Hope to Make the Leap

 

Last season was a disappointing one for the Helsinki Titans, with a growing team with minor playoff aspirations on the outside looking in. Heading into this offseason, there was speculation that the team’s front office didn’t want a repeat performance, particularly with a lot of the team’s young players coming into their own.

 

And now, just 48 hours into the VHL’s offseason, it’s clear that wasn’t just talk. The Helsinki Titans appear poised to make the leap from rebuilding to contender.

 

The Titans conducted two trades yesterday, both shipping off the team’s assembled draft capital and prospects in exchange for players who can help them win now. The first saw them bring star defenseman Erlantz Jokinen and winger Gustislav Nasherov (a previous Titans player) over from the Calgary Wranglers in exchange for a package of picks, including the ninth overall pick in this year’s draft, and prospect Bob Chicoine . The second saw Florida Man join the squad from the rebuilding L.A. Stars in exchange for longtime forward Magnus Verlander, prospect Cameron Elsby, and an S84 second.

 

Taken together (and with the promotion of William Groves and Milan Dvorak from the VHLE), the Titans now have a full squad of both young and veteran players committed to winning now and in the future. It’s a sweet spot that goalie Xavier Booberry feels particularly happy about.

 

“I knew we were biding our time to make our move, and I’m happy that it’s here,” Booberry told reporters soon after the moves were announced. “I think we’re going to be real contenders this season. It’s on us players to execute, to be sure, but I really think the front office has put us in a position to succeed here.”