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*Buster* · 09-04-2020, 10:17 PM

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1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

Though Oliver Cleary's S55 may have progressed with a whimper, it is hard to say it didn't end with a bang. Cleary was overall pretty unhappy with the way his S55 went. With the promise from Los Angeles that he would be the top defensemen on a stacked roster, a few moves in the off-season left the team much weaker than they would thought. Cleary ended up with 24 points this season, lower than the 35 to 40 he had previously expected. He communicated this in the SHL media when he wrote a tell all article about the troubles this season in Los Angeles. Cleary expects that his S56 will be much better. He controls his own fate as a free agent. His plan is to weigh his options and find a team who will be the best fit for his career with a good chance at a Challenge Cup. Next season already looked to be much better.

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158 words

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2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

This offseason will be extra exciting, as it features the rare expansion draft! Write about how you think the expansion draft will play out, either for one or both of the expansion teams or from an SHL team's perspective.

For this, I'm going to focus on the perspective of an expansion General Manager. Originally before the expansion lists were released to the public, it sounded like teams may let players go to the draft who could help both teams be contenders from the getgo. To an extent this happened but not in the way many expected. Lots of good players were released in the expansion draft. Guys like Theo Morgan, Alistair Cain, Oliver Cleary and Bo Kane are eligible to be selected by both Atlanta and Seattle. The issue is that every player I mentioned won't is a risk for their own reasons. Cleary, Morgan and Kane could all be going to free agency. Cain is an interesting case because people feel like he could cause issues in a new locker room. So how do I expect the draft to go? I expect one GM to load up on higher TPE players while the other GM tries to go younger. Being that Van Otter is a younger player, I expect Atlanta to try and draft more established players while Seattle focuses on building young talent and building through the real draft.

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192 words

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3. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

It's too late for this go-around of expansion, so hypothetically - should there be SHL franchises in other continents? I saw some interesting European proposals in the PT. Should these - or proposals for any other continent that's not North America -

become a reality in the SHL?

I think that an SHL expansion to different continents could work. The biggest argument for it is that the SHL has no travel and the biggest thing holding international expansion back in the real world is travel costs as well as time zone issues. Even though the benefits are there, I do think it wouldn't really work unless the SHL committed to multiple teams in those areas. The argument against it is how do you balance the divisions? Is a team in Sweden considered an Eastern team? Which division do they go in? I think logistical issues funny enough is the reason I would avoid it being done unless the league fully commits.

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113 words

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4. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

Which SHL or SMJHL team was the best team to not make the finals this season and why?

The best SHL team to not make the finals is the Manhattan Rage. It might be a bit odd to pick a team that didn't even make it out of round one but the odds were stacked against the Rage. Ola Wagstrom was unfairly punished for the crime he committed, losing 4 playoff games for something that happened way in the past when you could have given regular season games. Had they had him all series, they likely beat Hamilton and give Buffalo a run for their money. Manhattan is stacked all around with multiple 2000 TPE players and a great goaltender in Larson.

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104 words

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13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.

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a. Both of these teams have stacked defenses - which team do you think has the defensive advantage in this series?

Between the two defence cores, I think Buffalo has the advantage. Even though the Spectors have more high quality defensemen, their best defender is Rex Kirkby. By straight TPE, Buffalo has three defenders better in Darrow, Scoop and Selich. Though their worst defender is worse, it is hard to beat the 3 best defenders in the league over a 7 game series.

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62 words

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d. What is your favorite name from a player appearing in this series? Why do you like that player's name?

My favourite name in this series is easily Lyle Odelein III. Why is this my favourite name when it isn't funny or interesting really at all? It is my favourite solely due to how confusing the name is. Obviously Lyle Odelein I is a real former NHLer. Lyle Odelein III plays on the Spectors. But where exactly is Lyle Odelein II? Has no one ever asked this question?

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68 words

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e. There are several animal names in this series - which of these animals is the coolest? sloth, hippo, otter, monkey, fox, kirby.

Obviously the best animal in this series is super obvious. The best animal is the sloth. First, sloths are universally loved. If you're a man and you're trying to figure out a date with a girl you have a crush on, find the nearest sloth and bring her to see it. Instantly she will fall in love. Second, they just kind of hang out and don't do anything too quickly. That sounds super awesome. Sloths rule.

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76 words

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16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.

Verification: Buster

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