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**JamesT** · 08-25-2021, 02:53 PM

The team that I got to call home for 99% of my SHL career, the Edmonton Blizzard

has gone through many changes this season. With new management in charge (Keygan stepping down, Boom taking over as Head GM and Bfline being the new Co-GM). They have made drastic changes for the upcoming season to bolster their lineup and improve from a mediocre season prior. The new duo of Boom and Bfline did not waste any time and made some great moves to strengthen their team for this upcoming season. From what I have seen in their locker room, expectations are high for this team.

I feel the biggest strength for the Edmonton Blizzard this season will have to be their blueline. The average TPE for their d core is 1616 TPE and that is tremendous. Having a solid foundation of elite defencemen will help shut down the opposing teams and help relieve the pressure from their goalie. In the off-season the new management were able to acquire Seattle's Defencemen Gabriel Johnson in a trade. Gabe has a workhouse for Seattle the past few seasons and will make the top 4 D in Edmonton one where opposing teams will scratch their heads on how to get past and try to create offensive zone time.

Looking at Edmonton's Blue line they have:
William Hartmann
Gabriel Johnson
Karl Scholz
Axel Foley
Satoshi Zizagooney
Jakob Hamr

That is a terrifying defensive lineup to look at and I would hate to be trying to be on the other side having to face up against that.

The forward group took a bit of a hit this season with William Hartmann moving from F to D. Edmonton's forward lines are likely to be:
JP Bolvin - Daniel Laforest - Julio Tokolosh
(Clean) Andrei Kostisyn - Tony Pepperoni - Kyle Sutton
Leon Athanasios - Kaapo Kampainen - KnockedOut ByOvehkin

Not as terrifying compared to their defensive lineup with an average TPE of 1295 but with Edmonton's coaching we have seen in the past, they know how to score goals and utilize their roster to the best of their abilities.

In net is where we see the major disadvantage Edmonton will play out this season.
Tyler Ward
Matvei Stevlaco

We have seen in FHM that having a superstar goalie does not always results in wins, but we have seen how having a low TPE goalie can burn you many times during games. Matvei is an IA goalie with only 177 TPE and Tyler Ward has 700 TPE. There will be tough games when Edmonton faces off against offense heavy teams such as CHi, TEX, BUF, BAP, HAM, TOR to name some of the powerhouse teams of the SHL This is where having the addition of Gabe Johnson will hopefully help out.

I liked what Edmonton has done for this season and expect them to do fairly well in the regular season (finishing top 2 in their division). Edmonton always finds a way to make the playoffs and I believe they have the longest playoff streak in the entire league!

In the playoffs I see them moving past their 1st round opponent but if they have to play against CHI or TEX I would have to give the edge to them based on the goalie situation.

(540 words)

*CptSquall* · 08-25-2021, 11:58 PM

Approved, +5 TPE to @JamesTruong

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