A Look at S73 Saskatoon

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Here I will be taking a look at the roster this upcoming season for our active players as defined by the new VHLM rule. Winning a Founder’s Cup back to back is something that nobody has been able to accomplish in a long time, and I think we have the potential to make another playoff run this year.

 

Keith Krestanovich | 242 TPE | Acquired: S72 Draft

 

Captain Keith Krestanovich is one of the few returning members from last year’s squad. Picked in the expansion draft by the newly formed London United team, Keith decided that it would be best this season if he stayed in Saskatoon for a chance at the possible repeat. It is very likely that he’ll lead the team again this year, in both a leadership capacity and as our top player.

 

Dan Baillie Jr | 232 TPE | Acquired: S72 Draft

 

Dan Baillie Jr was a very overlooked player for the Wild last season, playing most of the season on the third line behind star wingers Komarov and Brown. DBJ is still a force to be reckoned with however, which demonstrates how deep the S72 Saskatoon team really was. Baillie will cap very quickly, and it is expected that he will play on the first line with Krestanovich.

 

Bobby Wyman | 223 TPE | Acquired: S71 Draft

 

With the departure of Tyler Walker to the VHL and King Kruul being lost to free agency, it is up to Bobby Wyman to be the anchor on an extremely young Wild defense. Wyman is notable for his high intensity checking game and defensive prowess. In the first stretch of the season, the Wild will really have to rely on Wyman to lead the defense as the blueline is a major question mark heading into the season.

 

Jesper Norberg | 190 TPE | Acquired: S73 Draft

 

Norberg is one of the new faces in the locker room this season, and also of the highest status. The Wild took Norberg with their first round selection in the S73 draft, adding to their already stacked right wing position. It is likely that either Norberg or Dan Baillie will have to play on their off wing for most of the season, due to the lack of left wingers on the team.

 

Cal Conway | 180 TPE | Acquired: S72 Draft

 

Saskatoon’s starter this season will be none other than last year’s backup, Cal Conway. With the departure of Gyrfalcon, Conway will finally get to step into the starting role and show what he is capable of. Cal Conway’s stats from last season were impressive, so if he keeps up the pace it will be a godsend for the Wild. Conway is the wild’s only active goaltender, however.

 

Florent Vericel | 128 TPE | Acquired: S73 Draft

 

Another new face to the locker room, Florent Vericel is a player that is looking to prove himself. Vericel did not leave his former club, the Miami Marauders on good terms and seems to want to become a top earner and make them regret their decision. As of right now, Florent remains the only active left winger on the team with more than 100 TPE. He will likely play second line minutes for the foreseeable future. 

 

Brian Strong Jr | 120 TPE | Acquired: S73 Draft

 

A bit of a steal in the draft, Saskatoon was able to nab Brian Strong Jr in the second round. Strong is the sole active centre above 100 TPE and because of this will likely get first line minutes. Strong considered a very reliable earner with his auto 12 for being EFL staff, and reliability is very important in sim leagues. If Strong is able to earn near the cap come playoff time, the Wild will have a very significant first line. 

 

Erik Hjalmarsson | 98 TPE | Acquired: S71 Draft

 

Erik is a very unusual sim leaguer, being one of the ones that rely solely on practice facility to gain TPE. Due to these circumstances he is on a slow path to improvement, and it is almost certain he will be the Wild’s 4th or 5th defenseman by the end of the season. However, since he claims the practice facility every week he is considered active under the new rules and I included him. 

 

Emi Rune | 97 TPE | Acquired: S73 Draft

 

Don’t let the relatively low TPE count fool you, Emi Rune will be an elite defenseman by the season’s end. Emi is a consistent updater gaining the cap of 12 TPE per week, and it is expected that Rune will be somewhere around the 200 TPE mark if their current point earning continues. The youth of the defense will likely require Emi to step into a first pairing role right away, which is a lot to ask of a young defenseman. 

 

Agapov Askarov | 71 TPE | Acquired: S73 Draft

 

Agapov Askarov is one of two brothers to recently join the VHL from Russia. Unfortunately the Wild were unable to draft his brother Vsevolod, the goalie. Agapov, like Emi Rune, could potentially make or break the Wild’s season. If Askarov and Rune are able to consistently update and earn, the Wild’s defense will improve significantly. Agapov is going to be a positive locker room presence, as he is managed by a well known and well liked sim leaguer named Kachur.

 

Riley Couture | 70 TPE | Acquired: S73 From Miami

 

Riley Couture was the only player to be traded to Saskatoon after the draft, but a welcome one. Riley is the last piece to the Wild’s top 2 lines if everything goes to plan, where they will be slotting in at that second line centre position by the end of the season. Riley is another player who you shouldn’t count out because of TPE totals, and she is a positive locker room presence as well.

 

Brodie Landry | 42 TPE | Acquired: S73 Draft

 

Brodie Landry is Saskatoon’s wildcard this season. It is unknown if he will earn consistently, but he submitted a graphic this week which is a start. Landry would be a welcome addition to Saskatoon’s defense by the end of the regular season, as he could replace Erik Hjalmarsson in the top four.

 

Word count: 1016, claiming for weeks ending July 19th and July 26th

 

Edited July 19, 2020 by a_Ferk

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Claiming for week ending July 26