Toronto's Tribulations: Mac ASSlas?

[v.2 1,406]

Mac Atlas in Game 257 after PJ Daniels scores in the 3rd to put Chicago up 3-1

 

     Toronto, Ontario - Entering his 3rd VHL season, Toronto Legion centre and now captain of the team Mac Atlas is having a tough first half.  He has 23 points in 33 games, and while Atlas has picked up steam slightly as of late these numbers are huge disappointment to both the young star player and the organization.  Overall, the Legion are not meeting expectations.  Management and fans had hoped to see the team make a nice comfortable push for a playoff spot, ending their current playoff drought and officially putting an end to the ongoing rebuild under GM Mooner @Moon. 

 

     On paper, the Legion looked poised to make the playoffs.  However as analysts further delve into the makeup of the Legions roster many questions remain.  Should Atlas be playing on a line with his draft mate Jimi Jaks?  Is there a severe lack of chemistry top to bottom on the roster?  Should management have been more aggressive this offseason?  It is impossible to find all of these answers now.  But, one thing for certain is that management is not even close to hitting the panic button.  The "core four" in Atlas, Jaks @kelvi, Bob @Baby Boomer, and Castle @animal74 are still developing nicely and still have a year or so to hit their primes.  Atlas' struggles remain puzzling, but a lacklustre free agency resulting in the legion picking up inactive players to be his line mates definitely doesn't help production.

 

     On the topic of production, 2nd line centre Jimi Jaks leads the team with 11 goals, 16 assists, and 27 points - on pace to slightly beat his numbers from his rookie season.  Legion Goaltender Joel Castle sits in the top 5 amongst all VHL goaltenders touting an impressive 0.934 save percentage.  A very promising stat considering the legions lacklustre record so far this season.  Rookie defender Bobby Bob has 3 goals, and 12 assists for 15 points in his 33 games played thus far.  Not bad for the kid but where his stats show promise in the defence categories - 44 hits and 64 shot blocks.  Free agent signing Weenuk Warrior @KnightRiley is having some trouble meshing with his new team, sporting a rather ugly -10 despite scoring 7 goals.  Another free agent pick up in Phoebe Bridgers @PhoebeIsQueen holds their own on the first line with Atlas, outshining him by a point and carries a better +/- stat.

 

     Overall, the Toronto Legion have found themselves in bleak territory once again.  Hoping for another top draft pick again after this season seems to be the reassessed focus for the management group.  The glaring hole in the legions roster right now is  on the wing and management hopes to find some goal scoring winger help soon, ideally a sniper to form some chemistry on the first line with 1C Mac Atlas.  Optimism does still remain as the Legion have been in all very close games, the team continues to develop, and management experiments with different lineups.  Time is likely running out for this season for this young core, but Legion fans are still strapped in for the ride.

 

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Edited July 3, 2023 by v.2

[Baby Boomer 728]

Tough season, but I like where we are going

[STZ 5,360]

Mac Atlast place