Moscow Menace on the European tour

[jRuutu 2,488]

The S97 regular season schedule of Moscow Menace has inspired Menace fans around the internet to speculate what is going on. In the first 25 games, Moscow plays against North American teams only four times. When taking into consideration the poor quality of games in the European division last year, many have wondered what kind of effect playing so many games against potentially weaker teams has on Moscow's form. You don't have to be a hockey expert to know that it is the tighter games and games against better teams and players that help to reveal weaknesses in the tactics and lines, it is the battles against the top players that help players and coaches to see where the players need help with the most.  When a team plays against potentially weaker teams night after night, the players can almost coast by as the quality difference on the ice is so great. The players will get to put up solid numbers, which will help to boost morale and confidence,  but when considering improvements and working towards the main goal - the playoffs, these types of long runs against weaker teams are not good for any team and player.

 

Was the schedule made like this on purpose? Some fans have gone as far as suggesting the schedule for Moscow Menace was made "EU heavy" to ensure Moscow Menace can finish first in the regular season, which would mean Moscow is first for third time in a row. Having a strong start to the season will almost certainly mean Moscow finishes high in the standings as the quality of the players in the roster is solid,  the team has elite veteran players with elite younger players, so even if the "real games" are rare in the early parts of the regular season, Moscow Menace team can rely on the veteran players to guide the team on and off the ice.  

 

The Moscow Menace general manager, Euron Leonidas, has deep connections to the top of the league. Having a favorable schedule is more likely to happen when the general manager has an open line to the top. There have been some rumors coming in from inside the league that suggest Euron might have pushed his luck too far by trading up to 2nd overall and acquiring Kazuma Satou in the S97 draft. The Moscow Menace GM notoriously managed to acquire the 1st and 2nd overall picks in the S94 draft while remaining competitive, a move that was according to the rumors seen as "not fair" by the league leadership. By moving up to the 2nd overall position and drafting an elite-level prospect, once again Euron managed to show the whole league that just because you are at the bottom does not mean the top should not be allowed to finish first. The schedule could be seen as a way to get back at Euron and make it that much more likely the good feeling of a hot start will cause Moscow to stop working hard.

 

As mentioned earlier in this article, the easier schedule has its clear disadvantages. Despite Moscow having two great regular seasons in the past few years, the regular season success has not translated into playoff success, Moscow did not make the finals in either of the seasons. If and when Moscow once again finishes first in the regular season and does not make it into the finals, the meaning of this regular season schedule will certainly start even more speculation among the Moscow fans.