Senior Admin Will 4,660 Posted September 11, 2016 Senior Admin Share Posted September 11, 2016 Is Koponen a Separatist? The VHL's 50th season has concluded and, with it, so has Aleksi Koponen's contract! Actually, he has a player option but all signs lead us to believe he intends to test Free Agency. Koponen's rookie years were spent in Helsinki where he helped bring home two Continental Cups before being moved to the Quebec City Meute, where he has spent the last two seasons. That leaves him with 2 seasons to go before hitting the VHL's 8 season limit. And so, it isn't entirely surprising that he's open to leaving Quebec given that he hasn't found much success in Quebec. Time is running out and it makes sense that he at least wants to consider his options. That being said, Koponen hasn't confirmed that he will indeed leave Quebec. In an interview given shortly after the Meute were eliminated from this season's playoffs, he appeared to keep all his cards on the table: "At this point I can't say what I will do, because I do not know. I have been in contact with Quebec management but we have not come to an agreement and likely won't before free agency opens. I'm not prepared to close any doors yet, but I am looking forward to reviewing my options and seeing where my talent would be best served in the final seasons of my career." This free agency cycle could spell trouble for Quebec City, who have 4 key players set to be eligible in Aleksi Koponen, Unassisted, Greg Clegane, and Jeff Hamilton. If they manage to keep all of these players, the Meute will remain in a good position to be competitive in S51. If they lose even one or two of these players, however, Quebec could have difficulty making up the difference. Quebec isn't the only one with high stakes in this particular free agency though, in fact virtually every team should have a stake in it this season because it's a freakin' big one. Not just in size, either - there is a lot of big names potentially up for grabs this season. On top of the Quebec players listed previously, you have Tyson Kohler coming off his rookie contract with the Cologne Express and now three-time cup winner Black Velvet from Toronto. This presents a golden opportunity for upcoming teams with a bunch of rookie contracts and lots of cap space - if they could woo even a few of these high-impact free agents, they could go from zeroes to heroes overnight. With less than enthusiastic anticipation of the S51 draft, free agency may well be the star of the show this off-season. It will be very interesting to watch these free agents either make or break teams. solas, Toast, gregreg and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrick 4,741 Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Join me. We can create a super team with Unassisted and Black Velvet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLastOlympian07 2,388 Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 3 minutes ago, Kendrick said: Join me. We can create a super team with Unassisted and Black Velvet. and Shawn Muller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrick 4,741 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 1 hour ago, TheLastOlympian07 said: and Shawn Muller Not a chance we'd go to that place. Sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOM 8,649 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Come home Aleksi......come home. Daniel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banackock 7,978 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 4 hours ago, TheLastOlympian07 said: and Shawn Muller Nah, we know where he's gonna be next year. @Draper Shame the Legion are losing Wingod. I know a team who has a great young goalie and a spot open for an elite center. Best of luck during your decision. Beketov 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FacePuncher 1,343 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 @Draper come be with me, I'll make you sandwiches before every game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Admin Will 4,660 Posted September 12, 2016 Author Senior Admin Share Posted September 12, 2016 14 minutes ago, ADwyer87 said: @Draper come be with me, I'll make you sandwiches before every game Now now, I'm a veteran player, I need a drink before every game! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da Trifecta 1,896 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 54 minutes ago, Banackock said: Nah, we know where he's gonna be next year. @Draper Shame the Legion are losing Wingod. I know a team who has a great young goalie and a spot open for an elite center. Best of luck during your decision. Wow you literally just named Helsinki. How nice of you to recruit for them Daniel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FacePuncher 1,343 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 25 minutes ago, Draper said: Now now, I'm a veteran player, I need a drink before every game! Well, my player is Russian, so all I've got is vodka. But I've got A LOT of vodka, so there's that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel 565 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 4 hours ago, Da Trifecta said: Wow you literally just named Helsinki. How nice of you to recruit for them who ever said the VHL wasn't a generous community? Da Trifecta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil 5,111 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Hamilton and Koponen will be the best forward/defense duo since... S47 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissioner Beketov 8,939 Posted September 12, 2016 Commissioner Share Posted September 12, 2016 7 hours ago, Draper said: Now now, I'm a veteran player, I need a drink before every game! I'll bring the scotch! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel 565 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 12 hours ago, boom said: Come home Aleksi......come home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOM 8,649 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solas 1,947 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 18 hours ago, boom said: Come home Aleksi......come home. Didn't know Koponen was from Calgary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higgins 3,618 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 CASH IN BOYS @STZ @Victor @Draper @sterling @Kendrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STZ 5,339 Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 what a drama queen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Admin Will 4,660 Posted September 13, 2016 Author Senior Admin Share Posted September 13, 2016 5 minutes ago, STZ said: what a drama queen STZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglesfan036 4,593 Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Draper has an excellent taste in music Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOM 8,649 Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Draper tastes excellent Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrick 4,741 Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Claimed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evrydayimbyfuglien 600 Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Review: I'm ashamed at how long this went unreviewed. Everything looks good. Of course we know how this played out now. Good luck this season if I haven't told you prior. Uh, I guess that's really all I have to say about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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