Pressure is on Jacob Stone to improve next season

[scoop 3,447]

After an off-season making trades for three skilled forwards, the Malmo Nighthawks are heading into Season 90 with championship aspirations. They have given up several future assets in order to move their competitive window up by a couple of seasons. The team looks to be in a good position to make the playoffs at the very least, but they have their eyes on more than that. The new acquisitions alone will likely not be enough; they will need their returning team members to step up. In particular, defenseman Jacob Stone is someone who the team will depend on taking his game to the next level.

 

Stone is entering his third season in the VHL. He has been a solid player throughout his first two seasons, making the All-VHL Rookie Team in his first year and accumulating 88 points in his first 144 games. For a player who made the jump straight to the VHL on a team that had little expectations, this level of production is just fine. For a generational talent entering his third season on a team that could compete for a Continental Cup, this will not be good enough. For someone who has the capability of being one of the best ever to play in the VHL, he needs to start making more of an impact, especially now that he is on a top team. I think anything less than a 20 goal, 80 point season would be a disappointing season.