A London Look-Forward

[Aimee 1,135]

One week into the S90 season and the London United are 2-2-1. While not the best start to the season, it is also not uncommon for this current iteration of the team. London has, at least for the last few seasons, struggled to find their footing during the early part of the season. 

Jesse Teno is once more calling the net their home, only backed up by Goat Bot. It is uncertain whether S89 draftee Devon Giguere will be backing them up next season or not but for now, London must continue to rely on Teno to take them game to game.

Returning on the offensive are skilled veterans Leonard Triller, Igor Molotov, Molly the Cat, and Sock Monkey. All had very good previous seasons, but the shots took a downturn in S89. We are hoping that this season will prove to be different. New to the offensive are rookies Nick Sansoe and Thor Odinson who both had amazing production down in the VHLE and hopefully their skills will translate well in the majors.

On defense, we have The Board Game Clue on Skates and Hunor Solyom returning along with a recent pickup in Deron Nesbitt who has been shipped around through the VHL nearly every season, London being his 7th team over his 9-season career. He was acquired in a trade with Moscow in exchange for right winger Adam Rage and a S92 2nd round pick. The defense is also joined by rookie Jack Jeckler who, like the other rookies that have moved up, had a successful 2 seasons in the VHLE.

London was also busy picking up options and resigning prospects who are still making their way through the VHLM and VHLE; 7 players in total.

London’s favorite goalie and Daisuke Kanou winner Jesse Teno has struggled through the first five games of the season, letting in 14 goals total on 175 shots. With a 0.92 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average, Teno is going to be feeling this battle back to a good position. 

The team is sitting in 6th in the European Conference and 12th overall in the league. While one of the worst starting standings for the team in a few seasons, I think London in the past has shown that they are capable of pulling themselves out of the bottom to have a successful season. Given what happened in S88 though, I still think it would be foolish to assume that this team is past their prime completely. With 7 players becoming unrestricted free agents next season, this may be, however, London’s final chance to make an impact with the team as it is. The rebuild is around the corner but it is not here yet. While it is possible that some or many will re-sign with London for their final year, it’s more realistic that that will not be the case and London will need to shed players in favor of cap space and bringing up prospects and bringing in new draftees.

However it goes, we think that London still has a chance to make this season a good one as long as the team keeps doing what they’re doing and continue to work hard.

 

533 words for week ending 8/27/2023

 

Spoiler

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[JCarson 730]

Article Review:  Goalies tend to take losing streaks hard, even when it isn't their fault.  You can feel that struggle in this article, a goalie that has had an amazing defensive career looking at a small sample size of games and feeling angst regarding the outcome.  The humility on display as they look only to themselves, yet a quick glance at the games can tell you the problem isn't in net but on the rest of the ice. The rest of the team needs to step up and provide the support this goalie deserves and in turn they will see this goalie shine in net.

 

I give this article a 8/10.  Stop being so hard on yourself.