Expansion Teams Through a Third of the Season

[McWolf 3,115]

The Chicago Phoenix currently holds a 4-20-0 record, good for only 8 points in 24 games. Their 2.00 goals for per game ranks them last in the league by a distance. Their bright spot this season so far is rookie goaltender Jean-Pierre Camus, who has generally been having trouble keeping the puck out of the net, but he did show glimpses of the elite potential he has been tabbed with.

 

The Warsaw Predators are second to last in the standings, thanks to a 9-15-1 record. This probably comes as a disappointement for the Polish franchise, after they nabbed the two most sought-after free agents of the last of season: borderline Hall of Famer Hunter Hearst Helmsley and starting goaltender Nicolas Fomba.

 

The London United comes 3rd to last, one point over Warsaw, with a 10-16-0 record. Their offense has been firing, led by expansion draft selection Guy Lesieur, but they were the first team to allow 100 goals this season, as their multiple goaltenders can't seem to get into their stride.

 

The Los Angeles Stars have been the better expansion team all season, even surpassing a pre-existing D.C. Dragons team in the standings, with an 11-12-3 record. Veterans Sigard Gunnar and Tyler Barabash Jr are both sitting in the top 2 spots in the scoring race, supported by fellow veteran Markus Nygren's 33 points. It does bring the question however: was getting veterans the right expansion draft strategy?