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After a relatively disappointing S56 season, finishing fourth in the Western Conference and bowing out in the 2nd round of the playoffs, the Raptors entered the S57 SMJHL Draft with 6 picks in the first four rounds, two of them being first rounders. By drafts end they walked out with 7 new prospects, including names such as Basil Sivart, Ruedi Huber, Rovolio Clocksberg Jr, Noel Blanchet, and 4th round steal Leon Schweingruber. On top of this, Raptors management made a few savvy free agent signings to bring in forwards Brian Ruddy and Twenty Twenty.

Coming into Season 57, most people pegged the Raptors as a rebuilding squad, expected to finish somewhere near the bottom of the table. Simulation Hockey Network’s preseason power rankings tabbed the Raptors as the 9th ranked team, placing them ahead of only Kelowna, St. Louis, and Detroit. However, one SHN reporter had the Raptors as high as 3, and at the time many thought this prediction was a bit absurd, but boy does that unanimous voter look smart now.

After 14 games played so far in the regular season, the Raptors find themselves tied for first in the Western Conference with 22 points, along with the Anaheim Outlaws and Kelowna Knights. However, the Raptors have 4 and 3 games in hand over those teams respectively. Colorado’s coaches have done a great job utilizing their young lineup, and while they may be young, I think some people have overlooked how good the Raptors are in key positions. Colorado is a team built from the net out, with 2nd year Yanno Rosejac proving he is a top goalie in the league behind what is also one of the top defensive cores in the J, sporting names such as Jed Mosley Jr, Ruggs McOoooh, Ren-Ekelemchi Shimizu-Okoli, and rookie phenom Basil Sivart. On the top forward line they have great players like sniper Jarmo Kekalainen, solid two-way forward Josh Dolphin, and the rugged Juni Panda.

What Colorado has managed to do this offseason is in my opinion pretty impressive. They identified the fact that they had a very talented young goaltender in Rosejac, as well as 5 or 6 capped defenseman. They also had a full top forward line and a couple 2nd/3rd liners to mix in, and they used the draft to fill out the remainder of the forward core, as well as sprinkle some youth into the defensive core in Basil Sivart. The Raptors are already in a good spot with an 11-3-0 record being led by the defense and top line. If the young forward core keeps developing and the coaches gameplan remains effective, the Raptors could find themselves as a four star favorite by the end of the season. And I haven’t even mentioned the fact that Colorado has THREE first round picks for next seasons draft. This gives management a ton of options. That’s three very valuable assets that they can use either to draft and keep replenishing the squad with young blood, or they can use them to acquire help, either this season or next.

In summary; the Raptors window is wide open.

Approved, +5 TPE @JT3