Legion Preview

[der meister 3,366]

As the offseason drags on - I know it hasn't been that long, but man does it feel like it - the Toronto Legion are chomping at the bit to get started. With four potential centers in their top six, including offseason acquisitions Raimo Tuominen and Spanish Moon Moth, who have historically been playing up the middle of the ice. Tuominen, who signed as a free agent with the Legion, has already said that this season will be his last. That said, both Dorji Khan and Konstyantyn Shevchenko have worked extensively during this offseason in not only learning the art of the face off, but also in improving their strength and defensive understanding. For Shevchenko, he's also become much more comfortable speaking English.

 

"We know that Tuo and Moony are probably going to be centers 1 and 2 this year," Shevchenko said, "but it's good to be able to have some flexibility everywhere on the ice. If one of them is feeling wrong in a game, Khan or I can step in and fill that gap."

 

Indeed, the biggest changes have all been amongst the forward ranks for the Legion. Promising winger Inker Belle is in line to make her VHL debut this season, bringing a surprisingly solid two-way game to the second line. Another newcomer is winger Toby Kadachi, a 6'6", 246 pound behemoth who has three straight 70+ point seasons under his belt, including a personal best 39 goal and 75 point affair for the Chicago Phoenix last season.

 

As a side note, every time I write "Chicago Phoenix" I hate the name more than I did the time before. I mean, I get it - big fire in Chicago, city rose from the ashes, blah blah blah. But it's two different cities! You ever hear the expression, "Never trust a man with two first names"? Same thing. I wouldn't trust Robert Charles, and I don't trust Chicago Phoenix. But I digress.

 

In net, the Legion will be running back their same duo as last season, with Toddly Bobbly backing up starter Dalkr Vidarsson. Both netminders are getting on the older side, but Toronto fans have to be hoping they have one good run left in them. For Vidarsson, his 40 wins last season marked his second-best career campaign, and his 6 shutouts tied with his previous best.

 

On the blue line, Andrew Skilton returns after an 81 point campaign to lead the defensemen. DB IV, a 6'3" veteran who put up 61 points last season, is joined by other returning blueliners Gul Dukat and Walter Fitzroy Jr. Like Tuominen, Fitzroy is entering his final season before hanging up the skates for good.

 

Ultimately, it's hard to predict just how well this iteration of the Toronto Legion will perform. Losing last season's leading scorer in Harry Callahan, along with fellow star center Diego Machado, is a tremendous blow. If Tuominen has one last push left in the tank, if Moon Moth can keep up his stellar numbers, this is the year for it, as the Legion faithful are accustomed to seeing a lot of scoring from the center ice position. 

 

Rumor has it Callahan now calls this place 'home'

[JCarson 816]

Looks like Toronto has made a number of changes to  prepare for the upcoming season.  As you noted change is never easy especially as the core of a team gets older and you can never guarantee how the newer players will fill in.  Even if this year is an average year it still looks like there are a number of good pieced to build around so a rebuild will only be about picking up some key pieces and not doing a full restructure.  Good luck in season 98.

 

I give this article a 9 out of 10, great job