Claimed:Season 41 Preview: Toronto Legion [Final: 6/6]

[Ninetyfourgoalie 168]

Season 41 Preview: Toronto Legion

 

After owning three of the top five picks in the Season 40 VHL Entry Draft, season 40 was expected to be and truly was a rebuilding year.  Despite their top two picks, Tyler Cote and Jerrick Poole, going straight to the VHL, the team was largely devoid of significant talent while most of their new young additions from the loaded draft class worked on their game in the VHLM.  Although Poole and Cote along with fellow rookie Devin Sundberg paced the team's scoring and were the fourth, fifth, and sixth leading rookie scorers, the team finished far from a playoff spot.  While their 23-43-6 record was an improvement over Season 39, it was only better than the Seattle Bears and the Davos HC Dynamo.  But in this time period, their rookies began to establish themselves as legitimate VHL talents while a number of Toronto's other Season 40 draftees improved in the VHLM, led by Sachimo Zoidberg, the team's sixth overall pick and Season 40 VHLM MVP.  With Season 41 fast approaching, the Legion have high hopes for a seemingly strong roster.

 

The debut of Sachimo Zoidberg will be one of the biggest stories this season.

 

Not only do the Legion return their top five leading scorers in Cote, Sundberg, Poole, Gallo, and Tremblay but we will be seeing four more Season 40 draftees making their debuts.  Sachimo Zoidberg is the player most fans are excited for as his 190 points for the Founder's Cup champion Watchmen led the VHLM.  Scouts around the league are in agreement that he is more than ready to get some VHL action and he should be expected to be an important member of the Legion from the very beginning.  Along with Zoidberg is another winger who had a big season in the VHLM last year, Shadhu Rathod Jr.  Rathod Jr. scored 131 points for the Minot Gladiators and while he is no Zoidberg, his ability will surely be welcomed on a team that was hopelessly thin in Season 40.

 

Toronto will also are expected to be promoting two defensemen, or should I say a defenseman and defensewoman, take in last season's draft.  While neither are projected to be instant stars, they should provide much needed help to Jerrick Poole, who at times appeared as if he were manning the blue line all on his lonesome en route to an All-Star selection as a rookie.  The most important defenseman making the jump to the VHL is Jaime Hill.  Hill spent last season with the Bern Royals before being moved to the Storm at the deadline.  She had an excellent season, picking up 98 points and playing a surprisingly physical game for a girl.  Hill should start the season off as Poole's partner on the first defensive unit, combining to form one of the youngest top defensive pairs in the VHL.  Also coming out of the VHLM is Ed Grr.  Grr never was very impressive last season in the VHLM but this is more a case of a player benefiting from his situation.  Unless he makes major strides in the off-season, he will not be a player the Legion will want on the ice often but an extra body truly can never hurt.

 

Jerrick Poole, the Legion's lone All-Star last season, will be getting some much needed help on the blue line

 

Despite the excitement of adding new players to the team, the Legion are still lacking a  goaltender at the VHL level.  While they made a move to grab the fifth overall pick to grab Fedir Okranitz, many are still wondering if he will make his debut this season.  While he certainly does have the ability to make the move, there are questions within the organization about whether it would be the best move for his development.  Regardless, the future of the Legion rides largely on this newly drafted goaltender as second round pick David Blind is well behind him in terms of development and does not appear to be VHL material.

 

Overall, the Toronto Legion still have an incredibly young team but the future is bright.  With an incredible core group of players and a potential goaltender of the future, the rebuilding period is nearing its end.  While Season 41 most likely will be one marked by mediocrity, the organization has done everything possible to set itself up for long-term success.

[James 77]

nvm

Edited December 9, 2014 by James

[pxzero 65]

Content: 3/3

Well over the word count. I love the sexism in this line: "surprisingly physical game for a girl."   

Good overview of the Legion's rebuild. I hope they do well this season, but I'm really stoked for S42.

 

Grammar: 2/2  Lots of missing commas, nothing truly impactful

• ...was expected to be, and truly was, a rebuilding year - missing commas
• Although Poole and Cote, along with fellow rookie Devin Sundberg, paced - missing commas
• ...Poole, Gallo, and Tremblay, but we will - missing comma
•  ...the Minot Gladiators and, while he is no Zoidberg, - missing a comma
• ...taken in last season's draft. - missing a letter
• ...still lacking a [ ]goaltender - one too many spaces
• ...is newly drafted goaltender, as second round... - missing a comma

Appearance: 1/1

Simple but effective, nice pics. 

[James 77]

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