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From the start of the season, San Francisco has been the favorite with an absolutely stacked lineup and there's no reason to think that won't continue. Their roster is one of the best of all time and they have lived up to their lofty expectations. Anything less than a cup would be a disappointment for this team and I expect them to pull through with a victory. (69 words, +1 TPE)


San Francisco has assembled an incredible team and of course their success over the past few seasons is something every franchise should strive to achieve. A look over their roster before the season should have made it very clear that they are the prohibitive favorites with an absolutely stacked team. Of course having the best team on paper doesn't always equate to championships, so it is equally impressive that they were able to actually deliver by making it to the finals (and ultimately prevailing). Building a team this strong can't really be done by just doing one thing right, it has been a multitude of things that have led to this juggernaut roster. Obviously excellent drafting plays a big role, but trades and free agent signings have also helped assemble this team. There certainly does tend to be a high level of loyalty to the SHL though, so drafting well is probably the most important factor. The Pride put together several great draft classes around the S68-S72 area and the fruits of those picks blossomed into a lineup that now features third liners that would be first liners on other teams. San Francisco has had some seasons where they aren't clear cut favorites and are amongst the strong teams but perhaps not the strongest, but the best testament to their dynasty building is that they have consistently fielded top 3 teams on paper over multiple seasons while their rivals just haven't been able to match their longevity. (252 words +4 TPE)