S59 mPT #4 Cup Favorite
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leafsftw1967
Moderators Moderator
As the SHL season fifty nine regular season comes to an end there is a clear Challenge Cup favorite which are the Hamilton Steelhawks. My criteria for a challenge cup favorite is fairly simple. To be a cup contender you have to be a team that looks to have a legitimate chance to win a championship. Star power, depth, getting results in the regular season with a strong process to back it up, having a manageable path through the playoffs with the right matchups. All of that must be taken into account when deciding a cup favorite and Hamilton checks all these boxes.
The defending Challenge Cup champions have the same core of players that won it all a year ago with the exception of Michael Scarn and have not been hit hard by regression. They have arguably been the best team in the league for the last five seasons since the switch to the FHM sim engine and I expect their domination talent wise with their highly skilled roster and extensive FHM line strategy tactics will take them to another cup. The Hamilton Steelhawks have the best records in the league three quarters of the way through the regular season, have great forward depth, an outstanding defense probably being the best in the league, and so many high end superstars it is not even funny. If that is not enough they added about a two hundred and fifty tpe upgrade on the wing with SLATT Potts for Alexei Rykov just before the trade deadline which should only continue to improve their scary offensive depth. Hamilton also has the best goal differential in the league with an unbelievable plus one hundred and three while having the toughest matchups in the league playing in the “Champions League” SHL equivalent division in the Great Lakes. Hamilton has pretty much clinched a bye to the second round of the playoffs meaning they will also be resting, having extra time to prepare and will be given the luxury of playing one less team on their road to the finals. Thus, Hamilton is the most obvious and easiest choice as the top contender for the Challenge Cup. |
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