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Muerto · 06-18-2021, 11:43 AM

Hello SHL Friends!

With the recent expansion and divisional realignment in the league, couple with a new update scale, I felt it was time to bring back the world famous KFAN Roster Analysis. Despite all the other changes, it's still safe to say that total team TPE will still be the deciding factor in determining a team's chance at success.

When analyzing the rosters, we are taking only a snapshot of where the teams stand at the beginning of the season. Line chemistry and coaching tactics of course can have some effect as well, and teams with many actively updating players can count on getting stronger as the season goes on.

But for now, we work with what we have, and, without further ado, here is how I see the divisions shaking out:

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S60 TEAM ANALYSIS

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*** SouthEast or Atlantic or something ***

Platoon

BALTIMORE PLATOON Platoon

1896 1768 1511
1360 1336 1248
1139 957 942

1800 1624
1243 1231
1142 979

2053 709

>> There's a lot to like here, a solid top line, a nice second line, decent depth on the 3rd line, and a top goalie.
BAP is a younger team that has been on an upwards trajectory for the last few seasons - with MAN and ATL both dropping off a bit, they seem poised to make a shot for 1st in this division.

TAMPA BAY BARRACUDA

1824 1773 1650
1590 1543 1401
1380 1136 1129

1735 1576
1370 1369
988 726

981 221

>> TBB seeing the results of their rebuild coming to fruition. They have the best forward depth in the division and their defense is as good as it has been in a while. They will challenge for top spot here but the goaltending is a bit weaker and I think that is the difference between them and BAP.

Inferno

ATLANTA INFERNO Inferno

1953 1742 1410
994 960 941
931 900 744

1892 1395
1287 1178
774 621

1321 642

>> ATL is transitioning to a younger squad as some of their aging stars have dropped out to be replaced by promising prospects. There's bound to be a few growing pains but they still have a great top line and a decent top 4 defense along with decent goaltending. They should be able to ride that to a playoff spot while the youngsters get a chance to develop.

Forge

PHILADELPHIA FORGE Forge

1425 1330 1181
1121 1012 924
916 914 560

1505 1429
1193 1133
1113 952

1272 1216

>> A new expansion team, PHI did well for themselves to build a good group of players. Despite a lack of true superstars, the depth is strong enough to allow all lines a chance to compete. It may take time for the team to gel but they will be helped along by the best goaltending tandem in the division.

Rage

MANHATTAN RAGE Rage

1571 1532 1383
1290 1087 927
917 884 655

1030 1003
979 753
496 484

1385 227

>> MAN has been selling off assets and collecting a hoard of picks and prospects. It projects to be a challenging season but if you've got to rebuild, might as well embrace it!

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** Great Lakes, maybe NorthEast, not sure ***

BUFFALO STAMPEDE

1991 1794 1732
1699 1683 1586
1245 1002 586

1988 1976
1525 1513
1449 526

1977 290

>> Expansion didn't debuff BUF much. They have 3rd line players who would be top line on many teams in the league. They are a great mix of young and old - they only have 6 regressing players and all are still above 1500 TPE.
It is odd to see a couple of sub-600 TPE players but they should be sheltered by the strength of the roster overall.

HAMILTON STEELHAWKS

2029 1956 1867
1559 1538 1224
1136 1090 789

2006 1781
1585 1165
1000 640

1331 830

>> Yet again, HAM is coming into the season with a wealth of talent across the roster. The loss of Zibra and Bork might sting a bit but they have found capable if not flashy replacements to fill the holes on defense.
The top line should still be able to produce at a high level and the goaltending tandem is strong. They should be able to go toe-to-toe with BUF throughout the season for top spot in this division.

Stars

TORONTO NORTH STARS Stars

2066 1918 1795
1736 1673 1425
1388 747 669

2083 1805
1576 1438
1129 620

1841 169

>> TOR is a very good team with 2 lines full of fantastic players who will lead the way here. They at least only have to compete with 2 of the Great Lakes behemoths instead of 3, if they could shore up the 3rd line depth just a little bit they would be very scary indeed.

NEW ENGLAND WOLFPACK

1941 1793 1491
1467 1345 1155
1096 986 912
900

1983 1838
1161 1114
727 623

1664 679

>> NEW is the team now which will bemoan the fact they have to be in the Great Lakes. They have a lot of talent in the first 2 lines that they should win their share of games, and the 3rd line depth is not bad, it just seems a little bit weaker than the teams ahead of them. I project them to be a strong wildcard team and could surprise in the playoffs.

MONTREAL PATRIOTES

2058 1684 1468
1465 1396 962
907 779 653

1870 1714
1198 1129
866 560

1388 287

>> Another expansion team with a good balance of strong top liners and young players on the rise. There are some big guns that should bring some excitement to a city starved for SHL hockey for too long. They won't be pushovers but the 3rd line depth is a bit behind the more established teams in this division.

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*** West or Pacific or something idk ***

LOS ANGELES PANTHERS

1987 1877 1775
1700 1536 1276
1132 1116 711

1874 1686
1373 1287
1211 957

1714 273

>> LAP wants to be the team to take control of this bloodbath of a new division. They got to say goodbye to TEX, only to see EDM, CGY and SEA arrive. However, they made it through expansion without being gutted and have got some strong young players joining a group that is just hitting its peak, or staying there. Top to bottom, this is a well-balanced squad that should be able to compete with anyone.

SEATTLE ARGONAUTS

2003 1785 1753
1735 1468 1383
1327 1104 1073

1919 1705
1516 1016
937 709

855 409

>> Also continuing their ascent into contender status is SEA. The forward group here is huge, and there are some imposing players on the blue line. Goaltending is the only real weakness but they should be able to overcome that and stay on course and cruise to the playoffs.

EDMONTON BLIZZARD

1896 1769 1685
1446 1401 1346
1336 1012 891

1500 1400
1242 1142
744 ???

609 208

>> EDM still needs to finalize the roster, although I have a feeling they are just waiting to re-sign Scholz, who would be a player to really solidify the blue line. The goaltending situation is not ideal but they have a ton of good to great players who are still a few seasons away from regressing so they should be in fine shape.

Dragons

CALGARY DRAGONS Dragons

1882 1761 1667
1180 1116 1020
946 935 915

1870 1637
1150 1130
778 769

1108 1084

>> CGY has been slowly adding younger players to offset the loss of some aging vets, but still has half a roster full of regressing players who aren't quite what they used to be. The top line is still as good as any in the league, but after that the depth starts to lag behind the other teams. They should be able to compete for a wild-card spot in the playoffs, but they aren't as intimidating as they were a few seasons ago.

pride

SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE pride

1928 1683 1325
1069 1015 927
847 757 621

1848 1371
1331 848
487 ???

1318 690

>> Perhaps unfortunate to be in a new division, SFP has a very young roster which is still developing and has the potential to be very good before long - just not this season. Much improved over seasons past, so they aren't the wretched hive of scum and villainy they once were.
They've played above expectations for a couple seasons now, and if they can do it again, perhaps placing them last in that division will prove to be a bad take!

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*** Central, maybe Flyover Division ***

TEXAS RENEGADES

2014 1704 1704
1703 1577 1561
1403 1126 831

1994 1810
1521 1509
1209 1203

1734 224

>> The defending champs are looking strong again, with an enviable line-up including a beastly defense which will prove difficult to score on. They are in fine form as they look to repeat.

CHICAGO SYNDICATE

1967 1738 1714
1651 1622 1562
1542 1530 1502

2007 1917
1844 1745
1450 841

1111 ???

>> CHI loaded up this season as they look to dominate a new division and conference, moving away from the Great Lakes. This is a frightening roster and should be able to battle TEX for 1st place all the way to the wire. I give TEX the edge because they are the champs, but they won't be for long if CHI has anything to say about it.

Aurora

WINNIPEG AURORA Aurora

1810 1418 1229
1228 1198 976
966 906 787

1535 1344
1186 1135
1074 603

1855 754

>> WPG is still relying on the old guy gang to carry the load, but navigated their way through expansion and the trade of a top-tier defenseman, to head into S60 looking to improve. They are definitely hoping the new update scale allows them to be more competitive but it will not be easy to get much higher than 3rd in the division when you look at the teams above them. The defense and goaltending is strong but they will need to find ways to score despite not having many pure superstars.

MINNESOTA MONARCHS

1904 1739 1408
1357 1195 1093
972 849 835

1666 986
971 891
840 774

1814 612 436

>> MIN comes into the season with a nice-looking forward group and the luxury of 3 goaltenders to share the load. It's an interesting strategy but they might need the extra rest, as the defense squad is solid but not spectacular. They will be eager to make the playoffs and should be able to keep pace with WPG, if they can get some depth scoring.

NEW ORLEANS SPECTERS

1082 1071 1068
1053 1010 971
964 811 730

1908 1294
854 814
785 739

973 961

>> Another team embracing the youth movement, NOLA has some fine young players who will be able to grow into their roles and continue to improve. However, they won't be able to be sheltered in the line-up so could find themselves outmatched in many games, and the team lacks the firepower of a top-tier first line. They will look to play spoiler for this season while looking ahead to the future.

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So there you have it, just follow this guide and earn mucho TPE with your predictions!

Good luck, and have fun!