The Timing of this Piece is Wholly Ironic

[der meister 3,246]

               The Toronto Legion are off to a rather curious start to the season. After fourteen games, they find themselves with a 7-6-1 record, good for 15 points, which is 4 points behind the Conference-leading Calgary Wranglers. It also puts the Legion a mere 5 points ahead of the cellar-dwelling Los Angeles Stars, who sport a 5-9-0 record. Just as concerning as their middle of the pack place in the standings, if not more so, is their goal differential, which stands at a -3. As recently as the weekend, the Legion were atop the table but had a dead even goal differential, so this slide toward the middle is not entirely unexpected. The Legion are the highest-placed team in the Conference with a negative differential, but that might not last for long. Currently on a two-game skid, the Legion may soon be facing pressure from the Seattle Bears, who are winners in their last two, and sit only 3 points behind Toronto.

 

               For those of you who have been reading my columns for any length of time, you'll know that the main focus is almost always on defenseman Ryuji Sakamoto, a brash speedster of a blueliner who picked up the sport shortly before graduating high school in Japan. Statistically, Sakamoto is off to his best career start, currently leading the Legion in scoring. We're nearly at the 20% mark of the year and Sakamoto is on track to shatter many of his personal bests, including doubling his 8-goal campaign from last season, and adding over 50% to last season's total points with a 65-point pace, compared to last season's 44 points. The offensive gains have not come at the expense of his defensive game, however, as Sakamoto is currently 5^th in blocked shots and just outside the top 10 in hits. Season 86 seems to be the coming out party Sakamoto predicted.

 

               But where does that leave him, and the Toronto Legion? With one year left on his contract after the current season, I have watched Sakamoto grow increasingly discontented with the team's performance. His communication with his teammates and management has grown strained despite his excellent individual performances. If I’m being frank, I would be shocked if Sakamoto didn't test unrestricted free agency when his deal is up. I haven't expressed this opinion to him, but I also would not be surprised if the team decides to move him in a trade, should they continue to falter in the standings, though that is nothing more than my speculation. Even though Sakamoto is the youngest player on the Legion blue line, one would have to think the return for a player who appears to be growing into a star role in the VHL would be phenomenal for a team that, to put it bluntly, seems in desperate need of a retooling. Like anything, however, only time will tell what new Legion bench boss Moon decides to do. He may even choose to make a deal to ship Sakamoto out of Toronto sooner rather than later as a way of putting his stamp on the team and the direction he wants to take them.

 

What does the future hold for Sakamoto?

[Banackock 8,141]