Prompt 1

M'Baku Olubori is honored by the opportunity. In recent seasons, rather than lean into the spotlight as the team’s captain, it’s fallen to other players to step up instead of the reclusive Irish winger. Baku minds not at all, happy to help out and a natural in front of a mic. Despite the broadcaster’s best attempts, Baku evades their questions trying to put the focus on his impressive season results (though, he does allow himself a sly smile when the announcers pointed out Olubori was 2nd in the SHL with 39 event strength goals, despite playing on the team’s 3rd line for much of the year).

Instead, Baku shifts focus to his teammates’ impressive S79 season. He’d give new starter Beau Kavanagh his flowers, heap praise onto new addition Peter Tingle, and highlight progress his young linemates (Inge Baardsen and Brandon Gilleyes) made as the season went on. When conversation turns to the first round matchup with Tampa Bay, Olubori would cite the Platoon’s 4-1-1 record in the regular season and ability to keep pace with the defending Eastern Conference champs. He’d parrot the coaches’ mantra about forechecking hard, limiting chances close to the net, and forcing mismatches.

As we all know now, that was for little as the Platoon fell in 6 games to the Barracuda. Division of Hell, indeed.