What is going in Moscow?

[jRuutu 2,519]

The off-season is moving on and the VHL Draft is fast approaching. Teams around the VHL are coming up with last-minute strategies for the different scenarios that might become a reality during and after the draft if trades between certain teams take place or if interesting options become available. One of the players many teams have reportedly scouted is Moscow Menace defender Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage who scored 105 points last season. The unofficial sources claim a 4th round pick has been set as a "fixed price" by the Moscow Menace management for the services of Obuz. Sources close to Moscow state the management is refusing to let the player go any cheaper despite Obuz having only one more season left before they retire from VHL. Numerous teams around the VHL could be interested in having an elite-level offensive player on their team even for one season, but the price has proved to be too much, so far at least.

 

A shocking twist came earlier today when Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage and Moscow Menace organization announced Obuz will play as a center during the upcoming season. Many experts believe Moscow Menace as an organization is getting desperate to move Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage, so they are doing all they can to make Obuz appear more valuable as a player. However, it is unclear just how much of a boost to the trade value the change of position actually is when you take into consideration Obuz has played their whole career in VHL as a defender, and even in the juniors they have played as a forward extremely rarely, perhaps never. No official game reports can be found where Obuz was a forward. From the point of view of the player, we must give credit to the player for having the guts to try a new position.

 

Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage is a proven scorer in the league. Over point per game with almost 150 goals from the blueline are statistics of a killer offensive player. However, it is one thing to prove you can do it from the back, totally different when you have to be in the middle yourself when the action is in front of you and behind you at the same time. Traditionally, Moscow has relied on the center being in the middle as often as possible, so that is something that could help make the transition less painful as Obuz is able to play "on rails" in many scenarios.  

 

What if Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage is not going to be traded? The move to the middle during the off-season more than likely means Obuz and Moscow are forced to start the season together to show the rest of the league that Obuz can play in the middle. I think this type of approach is the smartest option also for Obuz and Moscow as the team could very well realize Obuz brings something extra to the position and helps Moscow play solid hockey as a team. If something like that were to happen I don't think Moscow is interested in moving Obuz. Then again, a 4th round pick could end up being too good to turn down, especially if the learning curve of a new position turns out to be a steep one.