Devise 4,475 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Are The Titans The Real Deal? Everybody knows how good the Helsinki Titans will be. With one of the most stocked full rosters of great young prospects, the speculation was, that in a few seasons time the Titans will be one of the top teams in the league. However thus far early into Season 40 the Titans look be to be showcasing that they may be ready for greatness a season earlier than some people have predicted. However as it is early in the season, the question remains, are the Titans for real in Season 40? Helsinki currently sits 1 point back in the Victory Cup race of the dominating New York Americans. As a team the Titans are tied in the league with the Americans for the most goals scored with 61 and lead the league with the least goals allowed at 32 in 17 games. Individually the Titans have several key players performing at high levels. Off season trade acquisitions Damon Tyrael and Willem Janssen lead the team in scoring with 25 points. Don Draper is having a hell of sophomore season with 20 points on the back end. Even rookie James Faraday is keeping pace at a point per game. Tyrael and Janssen have provided elite veteran starpower on the young Titans squad Perceived to be a weak spot for the Titans, goalie Kimmo Salo has stayed up there strong with some good numbers. He currently has a .921 save percentage and a league leading goals against average of 1.68. Thus far Salo has stepped up to perform for the Titans in a very big way. But are these stats reflective to the level of play the Titans can maintain all season? It's tough to ignore the relatively easy schedule the Helsinki Titans have had to start the season. Of the 17 games, 9 of them have been against the "lesser" teams in the league. Their 4 wins over Vasteras, a team in the middle of a rebuild is expected. However they were able to output some high octane offense against an elite goaltender in Bagelface. You have two expected wins over the Bears. However in the 3 games against an obviously weak and rebuilding Toronto Legion team, the Titans suffered an embarrassing defeat. The loss to the basement dwelling Legion is one of the low points for the Titans early into the season Still, the team has yet to play another weak team in Davos, so you could argue that despite an easy schedule they will still have some easy games ahead. But a telling fact is that the Titans have yet to play the Americans this season. Realistically, three teams that have the capacity to beat the Titans on any given night are the Americans, Meute, and Reign. They have only played Quebec and Riga twice a piece. While their stomping of Riga is impressive, they are 1-1 against the Meute. At the end of the day it is tough to answer the question of whether Helsinki is truly for real at competing this season. Like another team in their own conference, the Cologne Express, Helsinki is young. Looking at the two teams Cologne has had a much more difficult schedule, and the two teams haven't played head up that much. There is a good chance as the schedule gets more difficult, Helsinki could struggle against some the elite teams. While it is certainly no fluke they find themselves a solid team this season, are they really a team capable of challenging for the Victory Cup? Good enough to steal games from a team like Riga one night, but bad enough to lose to Toronto the next? While I think that the Titans are going to end up leading the European Conference in points this year, I think it will be by a slim margin. The struggles of the Reign will right themselves, just in time for the Titans to hit back to earth. Their early great start will be the deciding factor in what keeps them at the top. However if I had to give a straight up honest answer to the question, Helsinki is for real this season, just not as "real" as the stats would suggest they are. They are not a Victory Cup capable team this season. Ultimately as the season wears on, I believe that the lack of consistency when facing tougher teams on a more regular basis will push the Titans to a solid strong season, but nothing elite. At least not yet. Will, BOOM and Da Trifecta 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kesler 1,514 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOM 8,650 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 no. Why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawksFan19 89 Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Content: 3/3 Helsinki sure has turned this team around. Very good draft this season, as well, good offseason moves. Looking forward to playing up there next season. 754 words. Grammar: 2/2 starpower = star power Appearance: 1/1 Great. FINAL: 6/6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank 5,057 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Claimed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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