[2772 words through wordcounter.net, ready for grading]

With the season winding down, I thought I’d take an in-depth look at each team, and see what next season might look like for them. What does the roster depth look like? Who’s graduating? What spots need to be filled through the draft? Let’s find out.

Note that I am only discussing players on the active roster. If a rookie was drafted and they still aren’t on their team’s roster at this point in the season, they’re unlikely to be relevant in future. I did not include healthy scratches either. It sounds harsh, but I’m trying to keep this focused.

Anaheim Outlaws

This is a strong, active roster on paper, with 16 players having updates last week or this upcoming week. They’ve been a contender all year in the SMJHL, but what does next year look like?

Offense
Centres by TPE: Ivan Maximus (757), Kevin Robinson (460), Taylor Johansson (219), Rikard Hammarberg (202).
LWs by TPE: C.T Carragher (343), John Forfeit (273), Ziggy Tambo (223), Ethan Price (217)
RWs by TPE: Leonid Kofix (427), Rhys Pritchard (425), Bale (333), Pooks Halloway (206)

This is a well-rounded offensive unit that will mostly stay together for next season and beyond. Assuming a cutoff of 600 TPE for likely SHL call-ups, Ivan Maximus is the only obvious casualty for next season on the offense. Fortunately, Kevin Robison is still well under the cutoff and their other two centres are fairly young, so the Outlaws should be able to patch this roster hole without issue.

Defense
Ursin Zimmermann (638), Nicholas Owens (616), Alex Petrenko (491), Grant Thurber ©(242), Yompy Stearf (190), Andreas Stacks (183)

Here’s where it starts to get a little painful. Anaheim is already at risk of losing Ursin Zimmermann and Nicholas Owens to the majors, and Alex Petrenko is getting up there as well. Grant Thurber is a converted centre, and the bottom pairing needs more seasoning before they can step into bigger roles. It may suit the Outlaws well to draft a blue-chip prospect for the back end.

Goaltending
Strom Chamberlain (405), Separa Borro (216)

Chamberlain is the bona fide starter for Anaheim in only his second season, and one of the best in the SMJHL. However, they won’t have him forever. He has already played a couple games for Winnipeg this season, and while Vivian Leblanc continues to hold down the fort for the Jets with over 800 TPE, they don’t currently have a good backup goalie so Chamberlain is likely to go up to the majors again. Separa Borro will be counted on to step into a bigger role in the future, but will Anaheim draft a goalie to push the rookie for ice time?

Draft needs: Depth at all the forward positions, a top-four defenseman or two, and a backup goalie.

Anchorage Armada

A tough season for the Armada, but the gang is mostly staying together for next season and shows promise. With 11 players updating for last week or this week, they’re doing pretty well on the activity side.

Offense
C: Daniel Bischoff (717), Mitchell van der Heijden (576), Cyril Vyskoc (297), Danny White (236) Santtu Rasanen (225)
LW: Chris de Siren (242), Braden Lowrie (216)
RW: Stan Hanson (423), Jay Reeves (314)

Ooh boy. The Armada had two great centres this year, but Bischoff is probably gone and van der Heijden isn’t long for the SMJHL either. After those two, it’s a sharp drop-off. The Armada need forwards, and lots of them. Luckily, Danny White and Chris de Siren were incredible pickups in the last SMJHL draft and Braden Lowrie has a lot of promise as well. If their current players continue to develop, they should be in good shape, but look for Anchorage to improve their winger situation in the next draft.

Defense
Augustus Wang (775), Ulrik Bergstrom (323), Berry Blue (317), Ryan Cvitkovich (LW) (316), Vladimir Khristorozhdestvensk (196), Brooks Wayne (171)

Similar to the forward situation, the Armada have one great defenseman who is probably not coming back for next season in Augustus Wang, and a bunch of good players around the 315-325 TPE range. Grabbing a good defenseman to round out the top four and possibly allow Cvitvokich to play forward should help.

Goalie
Ian Venables (453), Sergei Potvinov (290)

Both these goalies are solid and aren’t going anywhere. These players performed admirably behind a defense that gave up the most shots in the league.

Draft needs: A top-four defenseman, and as many good wingers as possible.

Carolina Kraken

A great offensive team, but the offense is likely to be stripped for parts in the next couple seasons, with six forwards above 570 TPE. 13 players have updated last week or will this week, so it’s an active roster where players love to be.

Offense
C: Tom Fiddler (614), Michael Fitted (601), Stirling McTavish (370), Buster Cherry (163)
LW: Alexander Wachter (579), Kenny Creller (573), Jimmy Wagner (248), Wilhelm Schumacher (172)
RW: Alexei Rykov (739), Joseph Weston (661), Velveteen Dream (428), Rinako Yukikami (173)

This offense is absolutely electric, and a big reason why Carolina has been a contender all year. The problem? It’s about to be blown up in the offseason. Rykov is gone to the SHL, Weston is probably gone, and Tom Fiddler and Michael Fitted could leave soon as well. Jimmy Wagner has impressed in his rookie season. They need a couple more forwards like him to develop to deal with the roster exodus.

Defense
Ricky Bobby (LW) (595), Zbigniew Pokrywka (345), Ambacas Cuddles (256), Michael Lee (227), Ben van Dijk (216), Wyatt Ruschkoff (213)

The Kraken have elected for a defense by committee approach. Cuddles has been a breakout prospect on defense, while Lee and van Dijk have provided useful depth. Ruschkoff has plateaued and won’t be part of the long-term solution, but even if Ricky Bobby leaves, the Kraken should be able to weather the storm.

Goalie
Mike Hroch (417), Frans Eller (258)

Carolina already had one of the better goalies in the SMJHL in Hroch, and then went out and got the top goalie prospect in the S52 draft. No issues for them in net.

Draft needs: Forwards to replace the ones they’ll be losing. Some more defensive depth wouldn’t hurt either.

Colorado Raptors

Colorado has turned themselves into a contender pretty nicely, with 15 players updating last week or this week. The best part for them is that it seems like a roster that should mostly stay together for next year.

Offense
C: Henrik Lundqvist Jr. (522), First-Name Last-Name (490), Simothy Drunkebird (390), Tomas Grygera (172)
LW: Henrik Lekberg Osterman (760), Sven Svenson (249), Ragnar Skallagrimsson (182), Carlos Brown (180)
RW: Hariken Urawa (422), Chris Cerullo (246), Hiroshi Ohira (235), Matthew Anderson (176)

This offense should mostly stay together for next season, and is fairly young, with rookies Svenson, Cerullo and Ohira leading the charge. The looming Henrik Lekberg Osterman-sized hole in the roster is alarming, but Sven Svenson should be able to fill that spot in his sophomore season.

Defense
Daniel Kuster (572), Denver Wolfe (455), Heat Siecker (309), Bradley Barkov (236), Bryce Turner (235), Glen Anders (201)

Kuster is an outside risk to leave, but this unit should mostly stay together otherwise for a while.

Goalie
Samat Beibitzhanov (364), Jerry Huuveri (228).

Neither of these goalies is a threat to leave, and Huuveri in particular has impressed as a rookie.

Draft needs: Get a replacement for Osterman at left wing, and pick up another defenseman to develop for when Kuster leaves.

Detroit Falcons

This team is in excellent shape for this year, with 18 players updating last week or this week. And with no players a major threat to leave, the Falcons are in shape to be terrifying for next season.

Offense
C: Luke McMaster (315), Edward Willaims (249), Reid Sutherland (248)
LW: Kaarlo Kekkonen (559), Cassidy Lhotsky (282), Zoltan Topalo (243), Frederick Wanesly (240)
RW: Cal Labovitch (435), Jmac NCheese (289), Burlok Sulfurgold (249) Paddy Kane-Reilly II (212)

For lack of better words: holy hell this offense is nightmarishly strong if their players continue to develop, and there’s no reason to believe they won’t. The only thing that can throw a spanner in the works is Kekkonen being called up early, and as he’s on pace to win the scoring title this season, nothing is impossible.

Defense
Khabib Nurmagomedov (LW) (388), Guy O’Shea (316), Magnus Liljestrom (247), Jack Kanoff (240), Toki Wartooth (238), James Brown (192), Ttam Renkrac (176), Joseph Fantobens (160)

The defense is just as young as the offense and quickly developing. This unit will be here for a while yet.

Goalie
A Jobin (213), Oleg Igorevich Burov (202)

Despite being a rookie, Jobin seized the starting role and isn’t letting it go. Neither of these players are leaving anytime soon.

Draft needs: Start looking for the successors to Kekkonen and Labovitch and you’ll be good.

Halifax Raiders

The most inactive team yet with only nine players updating last week or this week, the Raiders have a handful of high-TPE players, but also have a lot of holes on the roster.

Offense
C: Julien Villeneuve (241), Bjornoson Bjornosonson (217), Alexander Roach (172)
LW: Thicc Cheezy (469), Marty Sertich (198), Luke Niemie (165)
RW: Al Kayhall (502), Indigo Trevino (367), Lucas Hellquist (227), Rapid Eagle (177), Jim E. Russell (155)

The good news is, Indigo Trevino is a legit scoring threat who is in contention for the goal-scoring title this year. However, this offensive group is in need of more young talent, especially at the centre position. Marty Sertich and Lucas Hellquist look very promising and should play a big part in the offense next year. Trevino can’t carry this team on his own, so acquiring a playmaker to get him the puck would be prudent.

Defense
Abel Skinner (555), Valentin Kalashnikov (242), Simon Moreau (235), Jack von Arx (196), Blake Feaux (185), Izzy Dudemiester (183)

Abel Skinner is a legitimate top-pairing defenseman, and Valentin Kalashnikov is quickly joining him as a solid #2. However, the rest of the depth chart currently consists of two free agents and two currently or nearly inactive players. Halifax wouldn’t go wrong grabbing a defenseman with a high pick next season.

Goalie
Olli Saarinen, Jr. (404), Skyler Stevens (155)

Saarinen has been solid in goal for the Raiders, and isn’t quite near the level where he may be called up to the SHL yet. Skyler Stevens never became active, so the Raiders should likely consider getting a new backup.

Draft needs: Top-end defensemen and/or centres, depth on the wings, and a backup goalie.

Kelowna Knights

An intriguing team, they are losing a couple key positions but appear to be in position to fill them nicely. The Knights have 12 players who updated last week or this week.

Offense
C: Ryan Shepard (775), Morgan Forestier (327), Rocco Berni (254), Ethan Duncan (234)
LW: Andrey Barbashev II (697), , Gylfi Eriksson (494), Theo Golury (339), Jaska Seppala (250)
RW: Kalevolaripaavo Käspertommevisnapuu (560), Micklaus Engel (297), Oscar Cordero (250), Antti Antinen (202)

It’s pretty obvious that both Shepard and Barbashev likely won’t return for next season, but the Knights are actually in pretty good shape here. They have the pieces to slide up to replace them, with a bevy of active young players. When Antti Antinen is your lowest- TPE forward at 202, you’re in good shape.

Defense
Danila Zhernov (436), Luciano Vessot (429), Adam Scianna (429), Noah Nystrom (325), Michael Preeb (208), Mikkel Asmus Sondergard (155)

No issues with the defense here, as the gang should stay together for at least another season or two.

Goalie
Luca Del Vecchio (593), Cillian Kavanagh (345)

Del Vecchio is probably leaving for the SHL soon, but the Knights happen to have his successor on the roster already in Cillian Kavanagh.

Draft needs: Some depth pieces to keep going in the future once their best players graduate.

Newfoundland Berserkers

A pretty good team that fell off a cliff towards the end of this season, this team looks active and promising, with 11 players updating last week or this week. However, the two best defensemen on the roster are probably gone and need replacing.

Offense
C: Rintarou Okabe (559), Johnny Patey (273), Riley Kuse (230), Gregory Stiemsma (171)
LW: Thomas Vanice (599), Steve Harrington (251)
RW: Cody (380), Slatt Potts (365), Ryuuki Minamino (237), (Clean) Andrei Kostitsyn (218), Patric Twist (212), Mattias Birdstrom (172)

The most obvious hole on the roster is at left wing, with only graduation candidate Thomas Vanice and rookie Steve Harrington on that side. Rintarou Okabe is also a possibility to jump to the SHL after next season, so the Berserkers should focus on filling these two slots.

Defense
Akira Ren (800), Disisde Dayudie (723), Jakob Hamr (448), Jukka Timonen (247), Vince Chalut (198), Jebany Franciszek (173)

This defensive group is about to lose their two rocks, as both Ren and Dayudie are likely to be called up to the SHL for good. Timonen is really impressing as a rookie, but they need more bodies on the back end.

Goalie
Steven Vassallo (287), Ryan Aaron (184)

Vassallo has had a rough season and is inactive, but Aaron is still a ways away from catching up, so a goalie draft pick isn’t out of the question here.

Draft needs: Blue-chip defensemen to replace losses, left wing, centre. Possibly a new goalie.

St. Louis Scarecrows

The Scarecrows are a strong team this year, with depth at every position. They’re also active, with 14 players updating last week or this week. The main issue is in planning for the future at a critical position.

Offense
C: Yamamoto Mitsuharu (405), Danny Marston (356), Trey Nets (307), Alex Reyer (229)
LW: Aron Hernadivic (756), Ruslan Zaporozhets (500), Eric Hudson (242), Boris Franciszek (226)
RW: James Ronlain (659), Sasha Dangelchek (454), Mega Tron (336), Kriss Darzins (182)

Hernadivic and Ronlain likely won’t be coming back full-time next year, but the Scarecrows appear to have the pieces to replace them without much trouble. The offense is well-rounded and all around the same TPE level, so replacements should be seamless.

Defense
Luc-Pierre Lespineau-Lebrunette (427), Flash Gordon (392), Erben Kasius (249),  Axel Meszaros (243), Marian Elsner (203), Trevor Johnson (199), Tucker Centennial (171)

A solid group, and none of them are graduating soon. Flash Gordon in particular is an emerging star. Another depth piece to add to this group wouldn’t hurt.

Goalie
Elizabeth Doyle (578), Jason Voorhees (169)

And here lies the problem right now. Elizabeth Doyle is at 578 TPE and was called up earlier this season to the Buffalo Stampede. Jason Voorhees is close to going inactive, so if he doesn’t come back, Doyle’s replacement needs to be picked up in this upcoming draft.

Draft needs: A new goalie to replace Doyle when she’s called up full time, and depth pieces up front to develop and fill in for the graduating Hernadivic and Ronlain.

Vancouver Whalers

A strong defense anchors this team, and the offense does its job. Unfortunately, only six players updated last week or this week, and disaster may be looming at the worst possible position.

Offense
C: Stracimir Petrovic (398), Austin Powers (197), Lligma Broomstick (191)
LW: Francois Breton (460), Marcus Ohlsson (357), The stingray that Killed steve irwin (305), William Hartmann (237), Miro Slapskinnenen (199), Lucas Leclerc (181)
RW: Nicholas Corrigan (254), Dario Medici (248), Jacob Rizzo (182)

A lot of forwards on the roster, and none are projected to graduate during this season, but if you take a closer look, it’s not as good as it looks. Some of the younger wingers haven’t updated in a few weeks, so if that doesn’t change soon the Whalers may need to pick up some higher-ceiling options in the draft.

Defense
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Jr. (619), Mikas Bieksa (485), Sven Yxskaft (422), Sabo Tage (407), Tommy Outlaw (159), Tiberius Maximus (155)

Possibly the best top-four unit in the league, Ibrahimovic will likely graduate, but he can hopefully be replaced through the draft. So where’s the fire?

Goalie
White Goodman (533), Joe Simpson (180)

Simpson looks to be inactive, but Goodman is a stud. He shouldn’t be too much of a threat to graduate this year. Let’s see, the Texas Renegades own his rights. Time to look in on the goaltending situation and OH GOD NO.

You see, Texas’ current starter is Patrick Niederreiter, at 491 TPE. The backup is an old-guard guy at Hank Scorpio at 200 TPE. If Texas decides to make Goodman their starter for next season, the Whalers are in trouble, as Joe Simpson doesn’t project to be a starting goalie.

Draft needs: Goalie, forward depth, and a defenseman to fill in for Zlatan Ibrahimovic Jr.