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+---- Thread: Hamilton Steelhawks Roster Analysis (/showthread.php?tid=74131)
- Hallsy - 03-31-2017
The Hamilton Steelhawks are entered Season 34, with the play-off drought streak that is the longest in franchise history. General Manager Ben Dover's number one goal this season is to make the post-season so their core players can gain some experience on what it means to play in the playoffs in the Simulation Hockey League. However, this is a very young team that is still developing so its very important to just keep on with the plan and do not try to trade for regressing players or older players by giving up futures. Their future with Ben Dover, Danny Foster, Jon Ross, Ben Waters, Ronnie Westbrook, Brennan Kennedy, Kyle Kylrad, Taro Eichelele, Ludwig Koch Schröder, Kornel Kasparek, postitivesMartin Svensson and Luke Atmey is looking pretty bright then add in the fact that they have the 1st and 3rd overall picks in the upcoming draft and should grab two franchise players, makes this team have the potential to be one of the best teams in the league very soon. They have a lot of areas of their game that they need to work on to get better. Last season they had the league's worst face-off, goals against and penalty kill. Which is kinda expected when you got a very young team as these are areas of the game that usually take longer to develop. There positives to last season like their power-play that featured star defenceman Ben Dover, who lead the league in Power-Play Goals. They need to be better five on five however as despite having a top three power-play they were bottom three in Goals For Per Game last season. So far they haven't done anything to improve the team externally, so the improvements need to be within the Hamilton Steelhawks locker room. They need to work harder as individuals and team so that this team can make their next step into a play-off team. Now let us look at the players that should be better next season.
Ben Dover is a mammoth of a defenceman, that has a booming slap shot. Which was on display plenty of times last season. He is a strong offensive defenceman that kind of plays like a Brent Burns in the National Hockey League. Mobile, strong puck mover that can put up the numbers offensively. He is also not bad defensively. He was top ten in points last season. If this team has any chance of making the post-season, he needs to duplicate those numbers and maybe improve upon them. Last Season he had totals of 18 goals, 23 assists for a 41 point season. 55 Hits and 72 Block Shots, he was easily the best defenceman and player on the steel Hawks last season. Could he enter the top five in scoring among defensemen next season?
Jon Ross
Ross needs to be better next season. He is their number one center heading into next season, once again. He only had 11 goals last season which is somewhat disappointing as he wasn't having troubles getting the puck on net, as he had 136 shots on net. He also got hit 112 times, which is a massive amount. This is one area that needs to be work on so Hamilton can possess the puck more in the offensive zone and not keep on losing it to the other. Another area he needs to work on is his face-offs too, as he only won 48.55% of face-offs last season. Ross, however, one positive was his ability to set-up his teams mates as he leads the team in assists with 27. Hopefully, he can break the 40 point mark next season and be among the best players in the simulation hockey league.
Danny Foster
Is an important player for the Steelhawks, he might not be the most talented player offensively, but he is a shutdown defender that makes simple plays and works hard and is one of toughest players to play against. Sadly, he couldn't duplicate his incredible rookie season, but he still was able to win the turd Ferguson award. If he can dig deep and be the player that he was in his rookie season. This team defense might be looking for adamant for next season. His worth to the steel hawks is pure defensive and the PK. He is a pillar to the Penalty Kill, A for them getting ice time and B, When he is on it, he simply is unstoppable.
Ben Waters
Is the starting goalie for next season, Waters had a pretty good first full season as the starter for the Hamilton Steelhawks, he faced a lot of rubber, and he was able to go 19-19-5 last season. Does he need to be better, yes. But considering that was his 1st full season and that he is a very younger netminder on a bad team. I think he can only get better from here on. He needs to get a .900sv% at minimum for this team to be successful. I feel that this is possible, but he needs to work on his overall game this off-season. He is still the team's franchise goaltender as goalies do not need to work out as much with the Simulation Hockey League. The closer to 1000 he gets the better for Hamilton.
Luke Atmey
Was one of the better rookies last season in the Simulation Hockey League. He came in blazing with two hat tricks on the season and scoring 16 goals which lead all forwards on Hamilton. He was a part of the rookie line on the second line for Hamilton that impressed early into the season. We might see them separated next season as they kind of struggled late in the season but I wouldn't be surprised if they go back to greater. Atmey might need to work on his ability to play more minutes as he only played 18 mins per game last season. They need to be a top player offensively next season. Luke Atmey needs to come out and be the teams best goal scorer and hit the 20 goal plateau in a season.
Taro Eichelele
Is a hard-working two-way player that got 34 points last season. He got 11 power-play assists last season which was most on the team. He was a valuable player on the power-play, and he might need to work on his ability to find the back of the net, he leads the team in shots on net, but he was only able to muster ten goals which are somewhat disappointing. He played on the top line, but next season, you might see him become a 3rd line, a power-play specialist with some PK time and see if he can be more efficient.If he can carry the league's worst 3rd line next season and make it better, Hamilton might have an excellent shot at the post-season. Needs to be a + player
Brennan Kennedy
Kennedy is a two-way forward with some grit to his game. He improved by two goals last season from his rookie season. Was kind of hoping for more. He was given more ice time and didn't really do much with it. He is an all-around player that just needs to keep on battling, 101 hits are quite impressive for not a known power-forward/forechecker. He was quite lackluster on the power-play. I think next season you could see him be more productive offensively on the top line. I believe we are waiting for this talent to officially arrive at the SHL and dominate like the protected top line winger that we expected him to become.
Ronnie Westbrook
Was a rookie standout next season with his all round play, he was a +6 on a bad team was able to get 32 points. He is pretty much Jon Ross 2.0 as he got hit way too much and he was poor in the face-off circle, and he only scored 11 goals which are still I suppose 10% shooting which is all right. People who are expecting him to be pretty bad it's a great thing that he showed his doubters wrong and was a stud. Ronnie is one of the more important players for the steel hawks off the ice, and that is where his real value is at.
Ludwig Koch Schroder
Played the most minutes on the Steelhawks roster last season. He was expected to have that breakout season like Dover had last season. LKS is also still a free agent this season and if he leaves that dampers the Steelhawks ability to make the post-season. He needs to stay. LKS had a poor season and me 110% expect one of the hardest working players in the Simulation Hockey League is going to be better next season. Hopefully, he can take a step like Dover did last season and become that 40 point top pairing defense man that we all know he can become.
Kornel Kasparek, aka Generational Talent, has been a consistent 20 point getter in the Simulation since his debut in S31. We should be able to expect the same from him, and Dover as developed a very nice chemistry and should produce more as Dover should be able to carry more of the play next season. Might see his role diminish as the Steelhawks get better but he should bring good depth to the table for a very long time.
Kyle Kylrad was the worst rookie on the Hamilton Steelhawks roster last season. Which shouldn't mean to be a bad thing but he is on the same level as Westbrook and atmey, and we should expect that Kylrad is going to improve the most out of these three players. Kylrad is a young sniper that should just keep on getting better and better, who just recently signed a three-year 5mil per season deal. He needs to finish more, was drafted as a prolific goal scorer and 9% shooting was somewhat disappointing hopefully, he can hit 13% shooting and be a 17 goal scorer next season.
Martin Svensson had a poor season, plain and simple. A season like this is just unacceptable as he didn't create offense and he bleed Goals Against. He played on one of the worst lines in hockey, and maybe you can't fault him for this but it was a down year, and we totally expect this promising player to bounce back and have a great season.
This draft is going to be an important selection to help shape the future of the Hamilton Steelhawks whenever you get the 1st and 3rd overall picks in one draft; you should expect two players that can be pillars of the team. They won the draft lottery with having the worst odds to do, so that is promising for them. They need guys that are willing to be apart of the process and team building that is happening, here in Hamilton. They are not trying to fix the team in an off-season, sometimes slow and steady wins the race. This is something that has to be done right, and so far Hamilton is falling suit to this promise. I truly don't expect this team to be busy with trades or even Free Agents as realistically no Free Agent is going to leave their teams like the usually do.
This is a young team that simply isn't happy with their results last season as they missed the playoffs once again. Is this another development season or will we see this team play a hard, fast pace game that wins hockey games in the Simulation Hockey League?
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1923 words- Merica - 03-31-2017
need a new goalie