Moscow Menace opening line up projected

[Gooningitup 1,290]

The Moscow Menace are projected to pick 6th overall so keeping that in mind i will make some predictions of its opening line up and who to watch for.

 

First off is Evgeni Komarov

How he was aquired: Seattle expansion draft pick.

Seasons Left:7 

Player Type: Defensive defender/Enforcer

 

Evgeni Komarov is probably one of the closest things to a lock. The only thing that could prevent this is the Bears deciding to keep him after all. Though i don't see them doing this. Evgeni is a Russia born player, who will instantly become a fan favourite for his style of play. Just this past season with the Ottawa Lynx Komarov set a VHLM record for PIMs, he also topped the leader boards for hits. He is going to be a welfare/radio earner as well as practice facility. Which puts him in the 8 TPE a week range. Which will make him a solid player but likely not a star. However he will hold the other team accountable and bring a fun time to the team.

 

Karl Von Moltke

How we was acquired: Calgary expansion pick

Seasons Left: 5

Player Type: Depth Scoring Winger

 

Once a highly touted prospect, he has disappeared into the abyss of inactivity. If he comes back this could be a huge steal. If not he just projects as a solid depth winger till the team builds a full roster and squeezes him out.

 

Kostin Mulligan 

How he was acquired: Vancouver expansion draft pick

Seasons left: 5

Player Type: Physical defensive winger

 

Mulligan is going to be the catalyst of the offense if he is available. That is a bit of a problem because well, hes not very offensive. He will out hit Komarov, and plays as good defense at this stage in Komarovs career. However, his offense is lacking, its not awful but when he projects to be one of the best players on the team that could be a bit of an issue

 

Dan Ballie

How he was acquired: Davos expansion draft pick

Seasons left: 7

Player Type: Scoring Winger

 

He is probably the best offensive tool, to this point he a slow burning prospect who well he has more TPE than Komarov its only due to the hold out. He projects to be a very solid second line winger if he continues to progress at the pace he has to this point. 

 

Dan Montgomery

How he was aquired: Helsinki expansion draft pick

Seasons left: 5

Player type: Two way center

 

Montgomery is the only center picked to this point. His build also gives him the best chance to be the star offensive player on this team. Pairing him with Baillie, Mulligan brings a dynamic together each have different strengths. A steady earner he likely will be the number 1 center for a few seasons depending on how drafting goes. 

 

Erik Parker

How he was acquired: New York expansion draft pick

Seasons left: 7

Player Type: Two way defensemen

 

Another slow burning prospect, he is a solid defender when it comes to moving the puck, shooting, defense, and skater. Hes is ying to Komarovs yang, Both project to be 2nd pairing guys on contenders so being different builds could be great for the team. That is as long as he continues to grow as a prospect.

 

Kissan Shan

How he was aquired: Riga expansion draft pick.

Seasons left: 6

Player Type: Two way winger

 

Based on the roster early on he likely lines up beside Mulligan, Montgomery on the top line. He is a very balanced build passing and scoring which is a double edged sword in the Sim. However he is a solid young prospect earning at a decent rate. He could project to be a 1st/2nd line winger down the road if he keeps earning.

 

 Lew Brostein

How he was aquired: Toronto expansion draft pick

Seasons left: 4

Player Type: Defensive defender

 

All he's put into is checking and defense really. Hes the oldest of the projected picks, and is probably the least active minus Moltke whose inactive. He will likely line up on the second pair, just given the other 2 Komarov and Parker are at least more active.

 

Elasamobranch Fish

How he was acquired: 6th overall in the upcoming draft.

Seasons Left: 8

Player Type: Defensive defender

 

This obvious can change based on how the lotto goes they can pick anywhere from 4th to 9th(how i have not a clue). So we are going to just piggy pack off the scouting networks projection of 6th overall. Fish has been a very steady earner, his build sadly is very similar to both Komarov, and Brostein but hes younger and earning TPE at a very solid rate.

 

Joe Nixon

How he was aquired: 15th overall this past draft

Seasons left: 8

Player Type: Goalie

 

Nixon is a huge TPE earning beast, but due to overcrowding in net. He falls, to the Menace who know a good goalie will fall to them hence why the avoid picking one in the first round. Nixon looks like the potential number 1 goalie if he continues to earn at this current pace.

 

Opening line up projection: 

 

Left Wing- Center - Right Wing

 

Mulligan- Montgomery - Shan

Baillie- draft pick/FA/CPU- Moltke

 

 Left Defense - Right Defense

 

Komarov - Fish

Parker- Brostein

 

Nixon

 

Overall its a young roster with plenty of holes to fill and players needing to grow into their roles. However its a solid expansion starting point to build on the coming seasons. 

 

 

[Exlaxchronicles 415]

With players like this its time to play a hard hitting defensive game and utilize what offence they have on the PP. 

If the league BOG is willing to expand players careers to ten years I would play for Moscow right now for free.

Edited February 13, 2019 by Exlaxchronicles