Hello everyone, no order here. I'm going to keep it simple and sweet and give a letter grade for each team based on tier. Team name, what I feel of the roster so far.
S Tier - On paper preseason favorites.
A Tier - Well rounded roster, missing an X-Factor to put them over the top.
B Tier - Will fight for playoffs
C Tier - Needs some things to go right, but should be competitive
D Tier - You traded your first round pick and went full Bedard.
Bully Sticks HC (B-)
Solid starting forward line....and it kinda ends there.
What I like: The Logo. This team seemed to know how they wanted to approach the draft, Gambabis built a good forward line that starts with him, complimented by Nairuj who was a big surprise last season on C, and flanked by Killzone who I feel was pretty solid pickup early.
What I don't like: I'm not quite sure what to make of Bannock and Odd guy on defense. Your offense is only as good as the dmen who can stop the other team and get it out of your zone. I don't mind the Whisperz for Magilla trade but I really am not sure who comes off the bench to make an impact during the season.
This team hits their ceiling if... Nairuj takes that next step from being a surprise, to a legitimate gamebreaker on C, Killzone is a t3 RW, Gambabis plays like his hotstreaks last season, and someone on the defense steps up and is "the guy"
This team bottoms out if... Their defense can't break out, or stop anyone. Killzone gets frustrated, Gambabis has trouble with being west, they need to play people off the bench a bunch.
Gold Standard (A-)
Swizz got his guys and had a good draft, but he himself will be key in making this team a contender.
What I like: I love the Duhesne pickup, great guy, fast player, he is a C/RW asset. Defense is anchored by Jewbakka who's just a very good two way D type. Neal's always been an average LG player, which is fine for RR. Synergy is someone I'd absolutely have taken a risk on as a captain in round 3-4, like that pickup. GoatedTJ is a solid G as well.
What I don't like: How many penalties Duchesne takes, I hope he has cleaned this up. Rage is so up and down as goalie it's insane. I've seen him shutout lgahl teams filling in for us, I've watched him not be able to make a save or read a defense. I don't know either OG or Showtime, both as RW's probably shouldn't play over Duch, so I question those pickups.
This team hits their ceiling if... Duchesne is the t5 player in the league he should be, Swizz cleans his game up a bit and becomes more than just a "hold up on the right stick" threat.synergy slots in as a legit starting Dman. GoatedTJ plays 90% of the games.
This team bottoms out if... Synergy, I've written about you 3 times now, pressure is on. For some reason Duchesne doesn't catch a groove with this team. Neal is ok on C, Jewbakka is meh, Rage has to play alot.
Golden Company Elephants (B+)
No one stands out on this team, and that's ok!
What I like: Love the Teneur pickup, everyone knows I love me some Ten. I know very little about most of these players, but one thing I do know is Ploop is a decent player, and specifically targeted these forwards, and my gut feeling is they're going to work together very well. This team kinda feels like Collonelli's team last season with a little extra seasoning to it. Superstar in net is always a great get.
What I don't like: Who's the "Go-to" player? Who's the guy that makes people say "fuck I don't want to go up against X tonight" Superstar's connection can sometimes suck ass, and he lets in some softies sometimes. Teneur's ability to argue builds with me, if this guy doesn't come out with lockdown as a trait ploop you literally bench him, PLEASE.
This team hits their ceiling if...Ploop is that guy on C, or at least t3 / t4. Chemistry and cycling is better than teams trying to outskill. Teneur figures out NHL24 and causes MAYHEM (inside joke). Superstar is a wall, Jwhisperz and Maserati are great peices off the bench.
This team bottoms out if...They don't have the skill to keep up. They don't find a true LD. Superstar lets in saucer passes from mid ice, no one off the bench can contribute, they lose 9-0 in game 1 of a series, everyone is getting an early night's sleep.
Just Gonna Send it (A-)
Cup winning team bring back their core, minus a few obvious peices. Is it enough this time?
What I like: Jelly recreated what he knows, that Zuuuuub + Attree + Audacity won him alot of games last season. He did his research, and brought in Phiist and Premierplayer, who aren't just 2 solid players, but 2 guys who have played together forever. You identified RD was a weak position, so you grabbed Cruel before it got insane.
What I don't like: You win a cup with rufio, you have Huge, Snowowen, and Skiippy literally write to their congressman about how unfair life is, and YOU SKIP OVER HIM TWICE IN THIS DRAFT. I don't know who top line tom is, and I'm not sure HoodStank makes the same impact mada did.
This team hits their ceiling if... Jelly continues to grows as he did last season. Attree and Cruel go from being 2 2A defensmen, into 1B's. Audacity has another Vezina type season, Zuuuuub goes off again, and the PP + Phiist connection is for real.
This team bottoms out if... Premier catches an attitude, this team realizes no Costa hurts and Prime beating everyone 1 on 1 isn't an option anymore , Cruel and Attree are just, ok. Audacity's pad stacking on basic wrist shots from the blue line becomes a problem, if Tom ain't top line material.
Lucky 7 (B-)
Jalbert has also chosen to run it back, but why?
What I like: Bringing back the Jalbert Binz and Norris combination, at points last season it was hard as hell to defend the cutting. Betwen Hoss Peck Sniff and Fatal, you have great depth. I'll stand on my hill saying Bishop is a very good goalie and can steal games.
What I don't like: This logo. You're running back a team, with less star power, that didn't make the playoffs last season? You had a locker room with availability and emo issues, and you brought Bishop back? What did you draft Hoss to do, LD or G?
This team hits its ceiling if... Jalbert makes a move for a stud LD and puts Hoss in net. They find consistency on LW this season, they don't have forwards like swizz and buckalaaa running around like MUST HIT PEOPLE WHAT IS DEFENSE, Jalbert + Biz + Norris become the most dominant right side in the league.
This team bottoms out if... You rely on Bishop to be more than a backup. You're still looking for a LD to compliment Jalbert. Binz continues to run a dangler on C with very little defensive traits. Norris has just an OK season.
Maine Event (A)
Snow did an AWESOME job getting talent, so what happens when Yung ruins it?
What I like: Round after round Owen got talent. Bayne with the second last pick of the draft? 3 Dmen who'd be #1 dmen on 7 other teams? Chumlee and Yung as wingers? A guy I've heard is a stud in net? TP who can be an emergency fill and do things? I don't see holes on this team.
What I don't like: The scenario in which Yung absolutely explodes, and the fact this team will have to tiptoe around it all season. The attitude on this guy is not to be taken lightly, he's made real life threats to people over league losses before. There's a trade off in talent for maybe a slight attitude issue, but this isn't slight. And if that goes south, is Tetro REALLY ready to fill those shoes?
This team hits its ceiling if... The team on paper translates to the ice, they have the most talent. Owen adds more to his game than just front of the net tips, Costa takes the C role and flourishes. Yung doesn't do what everyone expects he will, Belfour is the undisputed #1 G, Tetro and TP fill in seamlessly.
This team bottoms out if...Do I even need to say it at this point? Costa struggles without attree \ rufio. Chum lee misses wide open nets and dives, LD availability becomes a problem. Snow doesn't take that step.
Medium Sized Men (B)
XxX The Bayside Tigers select, SirMikeKnight in the second round? XxX
What I like: The rufio pickup, going and getting Bagshot first overall when C was a weak non-captain position. Picking up players you know, and building a base of guys who have played together and enjoy doing so. Hockeymike as a backup C option, and Beruuce's utility as a butterfly goalie.
What I don't like: Maybe it's just me, but when I played 2 games with SirMikeKnight as a fill in Dman i was scared he was gonna harm himself, all I heard weas "jesus fuck I suck" after he turned it over a bunch. Wingers are reliable, but a dropoff from saini gammbabis and hoss. Who's playing G when Huge "has to work" (Read: run from JGSI).
This team hits its ceiling if... Bagshot is the best C in the league, Mikeknight isn't a liability, wingers are good enough. Hockeymike figures out what defense is, and Beerose is a swiss army knife. Bayside does what they do best and win games any ways they can.
This team bottoms out if... The wingers aren't good enough.Bagshot is good, but other Cs are just as good, Rufio tries to do too much on offense, Hockeymike has to play more than he needs to, Sirmikeknight is what I think he is.
Mighty Deks (A-)
A playoff team if they don't spend 2 weeks using the waiver wire.
What I like: Accurate knows what he wants and doesn't care what you think. Chandler + Saini is a gross combination, Prodigy used to be really good, so if he finds that game again he'll fit right in. A lot of depth.
What I don't like: There's not a TON to not like about this team. Chandler can get caught sometimes on C, thats the tradeoff you get with him. Saini is west and missing 2 weeks. I don't see a LW I love unless it's prodigy?
This team hits its ceiling if... Honestly, they can roll out Chandler \ Saini as much as possible. Accurate and fraaqside are a gross dpair, Darius can make enough saves in net, Noquarter surprises us and is a great LW.
This team bottoms out if... Availability becomes an issue. Defense is, average. Prodigy isn't who I think he is, fraaqside struggles on defense, no LW steps up and takes over, Accurate starts handing out gifts at the deadline because of ball hockey again.
Moneyshot (B)
The team known for its defense takes on a new identity this season.
What I like: Texas is another captain that is very decisisve in how he wants to make a team. Hoodler going first round, snagging reidel early, and Iamstilltyping are 3 good forwards to start with. Buckley as the last pick is an asbolute steal by the way.
What I don't like: The team that was known as a wall last season, snagged a C who's got questionable defense, and 2 Dmen who from my experience, aren't the best defensively? I'm assuming Texas is going in net unless I'm missing something. Sbrangy and Seid can do things with the puck, but the games we played against them last season, were basically free straight line entries into the zone the entire game, there was absolutely no gap control.
This team hits its ceiling if... Hoodler is a two way center, Riedel goes OFF, Sbrangy and Seid effect say "go fuck yourself Prime" and become 2 average defensive dmen. Texas has another Vezina (runner up) season, and one of these LW is actually really good.
This team bottoms out if...This defensive trio reverts back to pre-blow up ZPG days. The bench doesn't really contibute. Hoodler looks bad on defense, LW isn't a thing, typing is very ok bvut a huge downfall if reidel isn't in the lineup. Texas doesn't have the same season as last season.
Plan B, top team (C)
Plan B. Top team, is not a top team, it's more than a team name, it's a drafting strategy for Rob.
What I like: Rob did one thing and one thing only, he watched every combine game twice and picked players where his eyes told him "this is a good player". Rob's progress as a dman has trended up, and he's very aware of who he has to become for this team to succeed. The depth may not be bad, and the forwards could quietly be a REALLY good line, and lippy in net is always a solid option.
What I don't like: Bardown in the first round is a.....stretch, A top 5 / 6 pick could have did way more damage than Bar down. You're taking a chance on a ton of combine guys, who may not be ready for the upper echelon of the league. This defensive pairing is the opposite of what I said with Sbrangy and Seid. Upshall and Rob will be decent defensively, but holy shit if you forecheck hard enough you may have a field day.Diablo is the "michigan king", that's cool, what else does he do?
This team hits its ceiling if... They don't fall into the ZPG / NGFB hole from last season. They indentify early its gonna be tough, but if they can jump the hurdles, the talent is there. I'd like to see Rob move someone for a puck strong dman, if he can't develop into that guy. GDolla is the real deal, bar down becomes a leader instead of a whiney bitch, and Lippy continues a Vezina (runner up) season with another one.
This team bottoms out if... They get a few losses, and it goes downhill fast. This team gives up on Rob, the defense cannot get the puck out of their own zone, Lippy doesn't get easy defensive reads, the forwards just aren't all they're cracked up to be, Ledvinka is, just o