Early Season Prediction: Moscow Menace

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The Menace have been the butt of a few jokes since its creation two seasons ago. Last season they struggled to find consistency but showed promise. A few bold moves by the Moscow GM told the world that Moscow is here to win. The country of Russia has taken a sigh of relief as they feel that the hockey superpower now has proper representation in the national league. However, fans are restless with the lack of results so far. Despite being only two and a quarter seasons old, the pressure to perform in Moscow is extreme. Public government officials have made statements voicing their displeasure with lack of playoffs. However, it appears Moscow is ready to turn it around

 

What's happened so far:

Moscow came off a rough start but was by no means blown away from competition. Moscow won just two games in the first seven contests. Moscow was also only able to get to overtime once in that period. Then the Menace went on a tear where they won all but two games in their next fourteen. It is way too early for anything to be certain but it looks like Moscow is on their way to being a competitive team. They currently sit in second place and nine points above the cutoff line. What's been troubling is a problem that has plagued Moscow since its creation. It's lack of defense. Last year their defense failed them as did there young goalie tandem. Those issues have bared their ugly heads once more. While the problem is there it certainly is better than last year. Right now they've allowed the average amount of goals in the league. However the goal tending and defense have looked in their comfort zone during the current  win streak. It has to be said that what Moscow has gained notoriety for, is there high octane offense which refuses to be shut down.

 

Where to go from here:

Moscow is in a weird place. Is it too early to jump on the hype wagon or should they sell the future to win now? Answer? Yes. No matter the choice it'll be hard to argue that they're doing the wrong thing. Defense is still a big need. Whether that means looking for a defensive forward or a strong defensive defenseman, the area of need is clear. While it may be unlikely, possibly moving their young goaltender and some other pieces for a top goaltender may be an idea, while not optimal. It may become difficult for the Moscow GM to decide a course of action but this reporter believes that an aggressive approach is a good approach.

 

The core is set right now, we'll open this discussion once more at the deadline to see how the current team can compete for it's first ever playoff birth. It could also be possible that Moscow could find itself fighting for a cup at the season's end. Patience will be key for spectators and team officials. Lets see if it will pan out