VSN Presents: S92 UFA Class Winners & Losers

[Gaikoku-hito 1,781]

 

With the UFA period coming to close with most players either weighing up the final offers before putting ink to paper; it is time to look back and quickly see who the winners are coming out to Free agency period and maybe some that lost ground. Lets have a quick look at these winners and losers....

 

 

Winners:

 

      London United　

 

While they were not the most active during the UFA period they did manage to sign the biggest remaining forward on the board in Center Sjin @Sjin as the writing was rather on the wall that the player was going to re-sign when they were seen completing press conference duties in the London media a few days before putting ink to paper. London topped that signing by bringing in Left winger Halvar Torbjorn @Rayzor_7 from Seattle Bears in what should be a great depth addition. Traded for Defender Scoish Velociraptor Maloish @youloser1337 from Seattle Bears to reduce some of the drop off of losing Hunor Solyom @solyom & Deron Nesbitt  @AW13 last season but were unable to secure a true number one defender to boost their defensive core. So I have them winners for their ability to re-tool their offense and forward group but could also be viewed as Losers for not being able to completely rebuild the back-end. Creating a clear weakness for a team that should have Championship aspirations.  

 

 

  Calgary Wranglers

 

Hard not to have the Wranglers as winners as the UFA period closes when they collected one of the hottest UFA players in defender Skor McFleury @Alex via a sign and trade from Malmo Nighthawks. Calgary also signed defender Pope Francis @nurx from Los Angeles Stars providing some youthful depth to their defensive core. With bring in McFleury meant someone had to be shipped out to make the cap work so out goes defensive minded Malum Maellard @frescoelmo to New York Americans for a couple of picks in S93 draft. Calgary Wranglers have improved their team on paper to best in North American Conference and will hope that adding offensive minded defender in Skor McFleury will kick start an lack luster offense from last season.

 

 

    D.C. Dragons

 

D.C. needed a goalie and had to pay the price by trading for goaltender Henry Tucker Jr @NSG from Riga Reign in what should be a season or two rental but they couldn`t risk their whole season if they didn`t make this move. They will still need to find a long-term solution in net but have bought themselves sometime and have brought themselves back into the conversation for the Continental Cup. Icing on top of the cake is also the re-signing of Jason @Jason kranz prior to the UFA period starting giving him one final kick at the Cup!! 

 

 

 

Losers:

 

  Warsaw Predators

 

For a team that has improved a lot during the off season most that has been done before the UFA market opened and done via trades; so as other team improved their overall depth it has been Warsaw that has fallen back the most. It just seems other teams did more to improve during the period. The signing of goaltender Geoff Bezos @Quik; most likely a back-up this season and left winger Tim Riggins @Jayhawk; (since moved to defense) seems more like lateral moves rather than moves made to drive the team forward. In the end Warsaw seen the depature of Jack The Ripper @Ripper (Seattle), Noodles Marconi @Eynhallow(HC Davos), and John Poremba Jr @CrlineDijohn14(HC Davos). While re-signing Tater Tottingham @Trunkxolotl, Doug Britton @Doug Britton and Tim Riggins @Jayhawk. While trading for Dogwood Maple @dogwoodmaple, Alfred Champagne @Anthique, Rex Wolffe Gregor @oilmandan and Clueless Wallob @DMaximus . With so many moving parts one would assume a great leap forward but it just feels like the team made small improvement and also got a lot older.

 

 

   Los Angeles Stars

 

Los Angeles took care of business before the UFA period in the re-signing of center Todd Cooke @KRZY and right winger Adam Rage @MrMom but lost out on improving the defensive core and even lost defender Pope Francis @nurx to the Calgary Wranglers. They still have two open slots on the back-end but might be comfortable giving a ton of ice time to the Jake Wylde, Sterling Labatte Trophy winner and first All-star Elias Lampi @Pifferfish; but I assume that they will be working the phones as they need to improve this area if they are going to make a last effort with an aging core at the Continental Cup.

 

 

  Toronto Legion

 

Toronto have two open slots at forward and will look to fill these slots before the start of the season. While they still look to re-sign right winger Montgomery Burns @LastOneUp; who continues to hold out with reported multiple offers on the table from different teams around the league. Even if he does re-sign in Toronto; Toronto will be still looking for another forward to fill out their roster with limited available. While Toronto was busy during the period in re-signing Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr, Jimmy MacElroy @Xflexz, Diego Machado @Dadam30 and Evan Bihler @Eb14 could be viewed as wins but when you are a week away from opening your defense of the Continental Cup and you have two open forward slots; it rather leaves a uneasy feeling in your mouth.

 

 

Vancouver Wolves, Seattle Bears and HC Davos Dynamo are not consider losers even though they didn`t improve that much as all three teams are completely in the re-building stages or just started into a re-build. They are re-builders!!

 

While some team look like they came out of UFA period better than when they started; and others not so much!! It is still a long way to the start of the season so all the team could still improve with an odd late signing of a UFA as a few are still outstanding and/or via trades.

 

Some of these teams also still have question marks around aspect of their team like the London United and the Los Angeles Stars as they both team have great offense but some of the worst defense in the league entering the season.  On the other end of the spectrum, you have teams that are clearly more defensive minded in Helsinki Titans, Calgary Wranglers and Malmo Nighthawks all of whom might struggle to score this season. What I am trying to say? Fuck Knows!! All teams have issues and it will come down to how these teams deal with their weakness and strengths that will determine their success this season. Watch for some surprises this season as I am predicting me might see a few as we all do!!

Edited January 5 by Gaikoku-hito

[AJW 1,881]

[NSG 495]

yay i didn't make us lose the UFA thingy