Grading the Analfist Fit - Europe

[STZ 5,389]

Grading the Analfist Fit - Europe

 

 HC Davos Dynamo 
Fit Grade: C
Positional Needs: Davos has no firsts in the upcoming draft, but surely if they did acquire one, it would be to obtain a center. WIndow to compete is now, so would likely be targeting older players.
Overview: I would actually enjoy returning to Davos. I played there for only a few seasons, but they were tanking and from what I remember the place was a ghost town while I was there. I think Analfist actually would fit in with a minor retooling. However, the team is loaded with wingers. Their defensecore and goalie situation looks pretty tight. Likely in the off-season this team will look to add some forward veterans, and not likely to trade up to acquire a top first round pick. I gave this a C Grade as it would be a fit, but the likelihood of this transpiring is very low.

 

 Moscow Menace
Fit Grade: A
Positional Needs: Moscow is built well through a number of seasons. The age group is rather staggered. Three oldest forwards are players, this would be a fantastic opportunity to add a young forward, who at 400+ TPE will be able to step into the roster immediately.
Overview: Must admit this is partial bias. Obviously there would need to be a monumental collapse where Moscow loses early in playoffs, and then trades up to snag Analfist as they finished second in the European Conference. I would love to return to the Menace after spending all 8 seasons with Hard Markinson. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Moscow trades with a competing team like Prague or London in order to get a top three pick to select Analfist. Packaged with a player like Karjalainen (who had a huge drop off last season), a deal to get Analfist could happen.

 

 Malmo Nighthawks 
Fit Grade: B-
Positional Needs: Need a future goalie. Forward depth is also a priority. Currently in a good position for defense for the next four seasons. No first round pick in S88.
Overview: Malmo is in a very interesting position. They proved to be a pretty underrated team, as many people did not expect to see them come in third in the European Conference. Malmo spent a 1st and a 2nd to acquire Matty Fire and Reese McFleury, so it’s safe to say they were confident that their window was now. I think the fit grade would have been higher if there were more assets to move, and if Malmo still held their first pick in this year’s draft. Malmo has some very good young pieces, and are likely anticipating McFleury to slot into the forward core in a few seasons, so possibly the only focus in this upcoming season is maintaining their current roster, and possibly looking at future goaltending options.

 

 Riga Reign 
Fit Grade: A+
Positional Needs: Young, well-rounded team. Have two 1sts in the upcoming draft. Core is set with the centerpiece being The Frenchman. The goalie and defense core is pretty secure. Adding a complimentary piece would be huge.
Overview: Riga is a future juggernaut, as hedge has once again built a team that looks to be strong for seasons to come. They were sellers at the deadline, acquiring a second 1st round pick with Davos’, yet overachieved and still made it into a wildcard playoff spot. Although they have played themselves out of a lottery pick, it is a good indication of where this team is heading. They are stacked with some very strong young players, with player managers that have a history of building very accomplished players. In the last three drafts they have drafted S. McFleury 2nd Overall, Frenchman 1st overall, St. Louis 5th overall and Tucker Jr 8th Overall. They have built their core through drafting, and it has already paid dividends on the ice. They have the assets to get another top pick in this draft. While defense might be a focus, it has been proven that teams can be successful running three defensemen. Imagine adding Analfist to the future first line with The Frenchman and Sadie St. Louis. 

 

 Warsaw Predators 
Fit Grade: A
Positional Needs: Entering a Rebuild. Could see a firesale in the offseason, or they might try and run it back one more time. Considering they snuck into the playoffs due to a tie-breaker with London, they might have seen the writing on the wall, and will look to start building for the future.
Overview: Warsaw is a very good team, however they did underachieve this season, and they are only getting older. It might be time that the franchise looks at their team and decides what the direction of the team is. They have the pieces to make a big splash in the off-season. They have four players who have applied over 1000 TPE by the off-season. With London, Prague, and maybe even New York looking to add a veteran player, they could find themselves with a top five pick in the draft, if they explored that option. They currently do not have a pick, and you wonder whether it is worth sacrificing a S89 pick in order to keep the pipe-dream alive. Predators could take advantage of the market and jumpstart a rebuild a couple seasons earlier than if they just let all their players play out their career. Analfist would be a solid franchise piece, and they could likely get another top end draft pick in S88 and S89 if they were to sell-off now.

 

 London United 
Fit Grade: A
Positional Needs: Forward depth. Goalie position and defense look good and have future pieces. Losing Chaing in the off-season and adding a few young forwards in Triller and Poremba.
Overview: I actually think London and Analfist could be a match made in heaven. The team is built very well, yet has underachieved and missed the playoffs due to a tie-breaker. However, they have drafted very well, and developed some star young players. Their team is built around Jesse Tuno, a stud goalie who was drafted 10th Overall in S85. They have two future starting defensemen in Gregor and Poremba Jr. Molly the Cat and Retoslav are both top end forwards with over five years of career left. Adding Analfist to this team shores up their first line for year’s to come, and just adds another piece to build around if they do need to retool in a couple seasons. The unfortunate loss of Chiang and possibly Hari Nalwa could prove to be a blessing in disguise, as they could use this opportunity to take the team in a new direction. Clearly what the team is currently doing is not working, so adding a player like Analfist, as well as Triller, could be the spark the forward core needs. London had mediocre goal scoring last season, so the addition of Triller, a playmaking winger, and Analfist as a sniper could change the dynamic quickly.

 

 Prague Phantoms 
Fit Grade: A+
Positional Needs: Cap relief. They look to add a solid forward on a rookie contract in order to ice a competitive team. They have underachieved, so while being a top tier team on paper, they will have a lottery pick this upcoming season.
Overview: How in the world is this not a playoff team? The Prague Phantoms will look at this season as a disaster. They have built a very strong team through drafting, and yet it just hasn’t been able to get the job done. This is not a scenario where you would look at blowing it up. In actual fact, this might have been a better scenario than inching into playoffs, and then losing in the first round. Clearly this team will be against the wall in salary. They have very little flexibility in their defense, as they are all on affordable contracts. Where you’ll likely see movement is Godlander or Kotkakoivu being moved in the final year of their career. A scenario where they get a top three pick, and then move Godlander and a defense for a defensive upgrade, and then drafting a top end forward is very realistic - in fact, might be the optimal move here. It is very important that Prague uses their first round pick to take on a rookie contract who can step into the VHL immediately. They need the cap relief now, and will likely be having to shed cap on an annual basis, as their quality players continue to bump up the salary bracket. This could very well be the best fit for FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY Analfist.

 

 Helsinki Titans 
Fit Grade: A-
Positional Needs: Stud defenseman. Could use another star forward, but their defense should be their main priority in the upcoming draft. Good starting pieces for their rebuild, they could be a force in a few seasons from now.
Overview: Helsinki has been through a lot in the past few seasons. It seems as though they have been staggered for a few years, and haven’t won or had anyone on the team win an award since S84. However, they have pulled themselves back out of the hole, and now look to actually have a bright future ahead. Built around goaltender, Fuukka Rask, who they obtained with the 14th overall pick in the S86 Draft. In that same draft they selected Daryl Dixon at 3rd overall, who had a pretty solid rookie season last year. Helsinki is in a position where they can add another strong prospect and be a contender in a few seasons. Likely their main target is Jacob Stone, but Analfist would be a hell of a consolation prize if they were to lose the lottery.

 

 

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1500+ Words

Claiming 3/5 and 3/12

[Spartan 4,531]

I don't think there's a trade package possible to make a team give up their opportunity to select you, but as always, would love to bring you back if it was possible. We'll see how things go, but I'm sure you'll enjoy and thrive wherever you end up

[Triller 1,687]

Not sure what the future holds in London but I will be there for it!  Playmaker to your sniper sounds like a fine future!

[OrbitingDeath 3,228]

Frenchman would ike Analfist fit on his line

[BOOM 8,816]

The French like Analfisting? 

[twists 413]

L Davos

[STZ 5,389]

Claiming 3/12