Task #13 - 1 TPE
A. Which player from either team has the best name in this series (just the name itself, nothing to do with the player themselves).
Bean Beanman. Putting aside the elegance of the consonance and alliteration, the simple beauty, nay, joy in repetition is wonderful (why, yes... that was a Prince reference). But even then, ask yourself, why "Bean"? What could this mean? Well, in the Orson Scott Card classic "Ender's Game", Bean was the nickname of Julian Delphiki III. A self-deprecating nickname, in fact, which belied his immense value (due to his staggering intellect), but also somewhat ironic, given that beans are a staple food in many diets. So, I contend that this name is not only linguistically beautiful, but it also conveys the player's great value through a reference to the humble haricot, and one of the most intelligent characters in literary fiction. Fight me.



Task #8 - 3 TPE
You just played out your very first season in the SMJHL to start a new chapter in your career. Overall, how would you say you performed in your rookie season? Did you meet expectations you set for yourself individually? What do you need to improve on for next season?

A rookie season is always tough, but if you have the resilience and determination to ride the initial waves, you start to adjust. By the end of the season, if you've put in the work, you can feel really proud of your development and contributions. Of course, there are some disclaimers here, mostly relating to the team environment you're in, and your role within the team... but in general, by the end of your rookie season, you should feel relatively comfortable with your game.

This is exactly how it went for Jamal Nightingale. In the regular season, Jamal performed well enough, finishing as one of the Raptors' top four defensemen by most relevant metrics. He averaged a defensive game rating of 69, which is nothing to sniff at. In the playoffs though, we got to see just how far he had progressed, with multiple excellent defensive performances as the Raptors fell short.

Nightingale himself would admit that while he met his own personal aims -- establishing himself as a top four defenseman on his team, breaking 100 hits and blocks -- overall the season could have been better. Some coaches have suggested he round out his game by developing his offensive contribution a little, and this appears to be the goal for the coming year.




Task #10 - 3 TPE
So your team just got eliminated these playoffs, and have to look forward to next season where hopefully things go differently. What does your team have to be excited about for next season, where they'll have another go at the coveted 4-star cup?

It's difficult to really appraise what exactly went wrong for Colorado last season in the playoffs. The team played well, everyone was prepared, it just wasn't to be. There is perhaps a sense of inexperience playing a part, though, and that absolutely won't be as much of a factor next time around. The rookie group from last season have all matured fantastically, and within a year have reached a point where it's not a stretch to say they can go toe-to-toe with some of the more experienced names in the J.

A crucial point for the Raptors if they are to improve on last season, will be another successful draft and integration of those new rookies. This will require some names to "step up" and take on roles of leadership within the locker room, helping the newcomers to identify and then either mitigate, or eliminate, their weak points. For last season's rookies, they'll be looking to round out their game a little better, too.



Task #11 - 3 TPE
It's officially the offseason. Whether you just won the cup or didn't even make it past the first round of the playoffs, it's time to take a break and look toward the SHL draft. In 150+ words, tell us how you're spending your time this offseason.

After spending a lot of time in the not-quite-tropical climate of Colorado this season, Jamal Nightingale is most looking forward to a return to Jamaica to catch up with family. He has skipped the family reunion the past few years, instead focusing heavily on developing his ability, and now that he has completed a first season of professional hockey and been drafted to the Seattle Argonauts, it's time for a break. "Uncle Mo said I really should take a break this time," Jamal explains. "It's good to grind but you have to have balance, otherwise you flame out. So I'm going back home for the first time in about five years."

Jamal is quick to note that this doesn't mean he will be taking it easy though, stressing that he'd be working on several aspects of his game in preparation for next season. "I've never liked losing," he laughs. "So if I don't want that to happen again in the playoffs next season, I need to do everything I can to be the best player I can be. Taking a break first just lets me recharge and be at full capacity for when I get back into things."



Task #12 - 3 TPE
Write a pre-draft scout report on your player from the perspective of a journalist covering the prospects of the S61 draft class. What do possible SHL suitors have to be excited (or perhaps wary?) about when it comes to potentially drafting your player?

Jamal Nightingale brings size, strength, decent speed, and perhaps most importantly an apparent desire to get physical. His ability to read the play is very strong, and his skating ability is good enough that he doesn't look out of place at this level. Coaches will be pleased with his quiet, yet consistent work ethic, and willingness to put his body on the line. Already emerging as a strong option on penalty kill units, due to his highly physical playing style and laser-focus on shutting down forwards, there is little doubt he can develop into a solid SHL defenseman at the very least.

There are caveats, however. The most significant among them concerning his almost complete reluctance to develop his ability with the puck thus far. As things stand, Nightingale will need some serious development of his game if he is to contribute to the offensive phase without risking turnovers when he's in possession. His puckhandling is not terrible, and he has at least some talent in picking out a pass, but on offense, he appears to be almost an entirely different player when compared to the assured shutdown defenseman we have seen.



Task #16 - Milestones - 3 TPE
https://simulationhockey.com/showthread....pid3083946