CowboyinAmerica 2,887 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Three Upcoming Free Agents to Watch We’re settling into the home stretch of the VHL’s Season 44, and between the Calgary/Quebec North American fight and the three-way tango that is the top of the European Conference, there is plenty of excitement and drama to talk about. So, naturally, that’s why I’m not going to talk about it, and instead look forward to the offseason. If there’s one thing that is lamented even more than the lack of trade deadline deals, it’s the absence of true free agent movement. Last year, Nicklas Karlsson and Niklas Kurri were the only name-recognition players that jumped ship, and that was considered a busy year for free agency. Since Odin Tordahl way back in Season 36, I can’t think of a single earth-shaking free agency change; more often, players switch teams in trades. However, one look at the contracts forum, and you realize that this trend may soon change. There are a number of players who could very well hit open free agency this year—and, unlike years past, actually decide to do something with it. Here are the three free agents I believe you should start watching out for through the end of this season. (S42) C Bismarck Koenig – Cologne Express Let’s come out and say the obvious: Boom isn’t exactly known for staying loyal to any particular team. Whether it’s leveraging his way out of Toronto with Tordahl, signing Tordahl with Davos then later forcing his way to New York, or heading to Cologne from Davos with Koenig, Boom is a man who likes to jump around. Thus, it’s no surprise that, even with the high premium Cologne paid to extract him from Davos before Season 43, Koenig has not signed an extension beyond the mandated three-year rookie deal. There’s also the question of how long Cologne will be looking to compete. Goaltender Brock Waldron will be entering the final year of his career, and it’s unlikely that Cologne will end up with one of the S45 trio of goaltenders. Grabbing a veteran goaltender such as Mikaelson, meanwhile, would take assets that Cologne can’t really afford. World Peace and Raymond will be gone to retirement as well, and there aren’t many options to upgrade a weakened defense (hold that thought). I can absolutely see the scenario of Koenig re-signing a one year deal for a last gasp with Cologne; absent that, New York is a team to watch, with or without Miller at GM, given Boom’s former associations with the franchise. I’d also expect Stockholm to be in play as a natural replacement for Slaughter, although having too many S42 players may result in cap hell for the Vikings. (S38) D Jake Wylde – Quebec City Meute Wylde is in a bit of a similar situation as Koenig: Who knows whether the Meute are going to go for one final ride or start rebuilding? However, Wylde is in a completely different stage of his career, and he’s nearing the end without the ring that could define his career. It could very well happen this year with Quebec City. But if it doesn’t—or even if it does and he wants another—it could very well become a Ray Bourque situation where the aging veteran scrambles for one last chance. Luckily for STZ, due to lessened defensive talent elsewhere in the S38, S39 and S41 drafts, he could pretty much name his choice in terms of team. If the aforementioned Express wanted to go for one last gasp, Wylde would fit perfectly. The Americans would love a veteran presence as they shoot to break their playoff-less streak. Calgary will have cap space following the retirements of Zoidberg and Ruutu and has need for a top-tier defenseman; same deal with Stockholm, Slaughter’s retirement, and Morgan’s lack of development. For a guy who has been a Helsinki company man much of his career, free agency has to be a tantalizing development. (S40) D Jerrick Poole – Toronto Legion And finally, we circle back to the one player who I thought was going to make last free agency more interesting than it turned out to be. Poole is a strange dichotomy: He’s both the least likely and the most likely player to make a move. There’s a one percent chance that he actually starts next season with Toronto, and that one percent is wanting to be loyal to Molholt and provide a future trade chip. However, there’s also a sizable chance that Poole is dealt in the next four days—to Stockholm or elsewhere—and instantly re-signs in his new home, thus depriving free agency of another top player. For the purposes of this article, let’s split the difference and assume that Molholt doesn’t receive what he wants in trade talks, Boubabi’s protestations fall on deaf ears, and Poole hits free agency. Similar to Wylde, there will be a wide variety of suitors for Poole’s services, although the talking points will be slightly different. With Poole having only three years left in his career, I could forsee him looking to sign a contract that finishes his career in one spot, with a chance to win all three years. Stockholm would be an excellent landing point in that case and would have to be considered the favorite considering the trade talks; Calgary and New York could also be in play here too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Victor 10,934 Posted July 27, 2015 Admin Share Posted July 27, 2015 Zeptenbergs > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowboyinAmerica 2,887 Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 Zeptenbergs > Would have included everyone if I didn't write too damn long-winded as it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molholt 2,185 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Zeptenbergs > Coming back to me obvi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglesfan036 4,598 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 wow some reallly good FAs next season I hope they all enter FA just for the excitement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOM 8,739 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 I'm a confirmed traitorous cunt, so who knows what may happen. STZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kesler 1,514 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 If STZ leaves me I will be heartbroken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STZ 5,357 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 QC have been super well-behaved in game threads after I posted that 590 eaglesfan036 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toast 887 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Content 3/3 - I didn't know that we were set to have such a good FA on our hands. I only hope that at least two of these guys end up looking for new suitors, because I love seeing GMs desperately plead with players to head over to their teams. Free Agency could be quite the event this time around! Grammar 2/2 - Absolutely nothing. I just want to nitpick on one tiny thing. offseason -> off-season Appearance 1/1 - Everything looks fine here! Final 6/6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotAVHLM-GM 1,858 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 I'm a confirmed traitorous cunt, so who knows what may happen. Betray free agency and re-sign with us? <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglesfan036 4,598 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 QC have been super well-behaved in game threads after I posted that 590 I'll have to unleash the beast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kesler 1,514 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Claimed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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