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Mooney · 06-07-2021, 06:43 PM

Expansion is always an exciting time for the league and the expansion draft is the first way these new teams make their mark on the league. GMs all over the league will be worried about keeping their players but it’s a massive building block for the new teams to decide how they want to go about their first seasons in the league. Some teams are content to wait for players to rise up through the ranks but some have a more active approach, especially given some of the high TPE players available in this draft.

I’ve gone through the first 20 picks in the draft (as I forgot how soon the draft was) and picked some thematic strategies for the 2 new teams. Montreal will be picking based on the high TPE currently available in the draft and Philly will be picking for the future with picks aimed at classes not currently in regression. These are fairly arbitrary plans I’ve come up with in terms of drafting strategy but fit the GM players projected timelines.
With the new TPE scale, redistribution of TPE means particular roles players play can easily change around so that won’t be mentioned in this draft (and I also just don’t know enough about the sim for that).
Lets jump right into it with pick #1:

#1 Philly Forge

Select S54: Bork Lazer – 1399 - D - Hamilton
Frick is a top class user and has the exact type of player Philly are looking for. Having recently taken over an ISFL team in need of a complete rebuild, and having previously helped rebuild another team over there, Frick knows what it takes to get a new team off the ground and will be a solid user for

#2 Montreal Patriotes

Select S51: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Jr. 1803 - D - Hamilton
Hamilton are off the board in the first 2 picks as Zlatan does Zlatan things and goes near the top of the expansion draft. Zlatan’s user has already expressed interest in playing in his hometown of Montreal and an S51 defenceman of his quality is a rare find in a expansion draft. He’s the #3 by TPE of players available in his draft but has a whole 5 seasons on the 2 players above him and will be a staple of the Montreal D as they push for early championships.

#3 Patriotes

Select S46: Bobby Sharp – 1902 – C Buffalo
Buffalo follow Hamilton off the board as Bobby Sharp joins Montreal. While Sharp doesn’t have as many seasons left in the tank, 1900 TPE (before regression) is as good as it gets, #1 available by TPE, and cements the concept of going for a championship right now with the top talent available in this expansion draft.

#4 Forge

Select S51: Abel Skinner - 1633 – D Seattle
Philly add a 3rd D to their team but they bank on the fact he wasn’t getting back to their next round of picks. 1600 TPE for an S51 player is a solid solution for many seasons still and a strong starter for their top line immediately.

#5 Forge

S54: Scoochie Stratton – 1272 – G Edmonton
There are a few good goalies in this draft but it’s a vital piece to pick up as you can’t hide a rookie goalie behind other lines. Philly select the best goalie prospect in the draft in Stratton as they continue to pick up S54 players. Stratton is an active member in the community an would be a good user to add as well as securing the future of the position for a long time.

#6 Patriotes

S51: White Goodman – 1358 – G Texas
Montreal don’t waste any time in picking their own goalie. White goodman may not have quite as many seasons going forward as Stratton but he’s the top available Goalie and puts them in a strong spot to start.

#7 Patriotes

Select S46: Mathias Seger – 1873 – D LAP
Another S26 player for Montreal as they look to stack their top line. Seger is into the depths of regression but still fighting it at over 1800 TPE.

#8 Forge

Select S50: James Ronlain – 1638 – W TBB
Philly look for some offensive power finally at #8 as they select their first Winger. Ronlain is one of the slightly older players I have Philly taking but will fill in nicely on their top line to start of the franchise.

#9 Forge

Select S53: Taylor Johansson – 1393 – C Toronto
The top line is completed by Johansson from Toronto. S53 is still on the rise and Johansson is an important piece of the puzzle for the Forge going forward.

#10 Patriotes

S48: Satoshi Zizagooney – 1651 – D Seattle
Seattle lose their second Defenceman and this time its Zizagooney. Another 1600 TPE D but a couple of seasons older than Skinner so goes later on. He’ll be playing on their 2nd line behing Ibra and Seger which is a hell of a combo to have.

#11 Patriotes

Select S45: Nat Emerson – 1678 – W – Baltimore
Montreal complete their top line with another 1600+ TPE player. Emerson is getting towards the end of his career but their skaters on the top line have over 9000 TPE between them and will look like an all star team going into Montreals first season.

#12 Forge

Select S54: Justin Keahi – 1276 – W – TBB
Tampa leave the building as Philly get a steal in the S54 class. Keahl could have gone earlier but without many Wingers selected early on, a top player falls all the way to #12. S54 again for Philly as they look to build around the soon to be peaking draft class.

#13 Forge

Select S51: Luc-Pierre Lespineau-Lebrunette – 1206 – D - BAL
Lespineau will pair nicely with Bork Lazer to give Philly a strong 2nd line defence. While not at the top of the class, TPE doesn’t care about that and 1200 should tide Philly over for the first few seasons as a solid option, especially given the new TPE scaling.

#14 Patriotes

Select S48: Nick Connolly – 1562 – W - Chicago
Another Winger for Montreal as Connolly Slots nicely into their second line and can fill in for Emerson once he retires.

#15 Patriotes

select S49: Jean-Paul Boivin – 1485 – W - Edmonton
Edmonton off the board as Montreal secure another 3000 TPE for their 2nd line wingers. Noka will make the best sigs around for Montreal which is nearly as important as Boivins 1500 TPE.

#16 Forge

Select S50: First-Name Last-Name – 1530 – C – Toronto
Toronto gonto as Philly looks to strengthen the C position. While Johansson could have been their starting Centre, Last-Name gives them a little more oomph going into their inaugural season and at #16 is a great value pick.

#17 Forge

Select S55: Nathan Thomas – 999 – D – San FRan
The first S55 player off the board as Philly continue to recruit more youthful players. A joy to have in the LR, Thomas is a steal at the midway point of this draft. The possibility he tests FA is a risk Philly are willing to take to hope he buys into their plans.

#18 Patriotes

select S47: Boris Poroshenko – 1532 – C - Calgary
Another team have their first player selected as another 1500 TPE player comes to Montreal.

#19 Patriotes

select S57: Vincent Mietitore – 705 – G – Winnipeg
A backup goalie early on for Montreal but a very strong earner from the S57 class and a player who won’t let them down when he gets his ice time. A pick for the next go at the title as well.

#20 forge: select S55: Mack Daddy – 976 – C - NOLA
The last player on my mock and 3 Cs now for philly and their second S55 player. Mack Daddy is a solid earner and one of the top players available from NOLA.

That’s all we’ve got time for before the draft coming up so good luck to the new teams!

(2x first-time media if thats still a thing?)

Henrik · 06-08-2021, 01:24 AM

Almost got them all right eh!

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