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Wearingabear · 07-16-2020, 12:00 AM

The S55 SHL Draft has just finished up and we saw quite the event tonight, with over 50 players getting drafted into the big leagues. Emotions ranged from high to low as hours of mock drafts were thrown out the window tonight with some surprise moves across the board. Texas traded up to secure Theo Kondos 5th OA, a set of trades happening in the 2nd and 3rd rounds so GM's can get their picks in and build up their rosters. However, the first two rounds were seemingly dominated by the Water Dogs who had 7 total picks to help bolster themselves up for the future. After finishing up a year that nobody ever wants to remember, the Barracuda are setting themselves up to be contenders in a few seasons. This draft will be the new cornerstone of that team. S55 rookies are going to remember their teammates forever, having been apart of a historic draft.

The new GM and Co-GM, Trella and Dwight Knight had a plethora of picks and a lot of scouting help to make sure that this draft was as successful as possible. Overall they drafted 8 new players who will all need a few years of development in the SMJHL teams before making the jump up into the big show. Let's meet this year's Tampa Bay Barracuda Draftees:

In the 2nd overall pick, the 'Cuda selected LD Colin Lambert! @rum_ham

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Colin Lambert comes to Tampa Bay from the St. Louis Scarecrows, where he played an incredible rookie season. Lambert, originally from Ohio, stepped up in a big way this year on the blue line. He scored 7 goals, 18 assists, 25 P, had a +/- rating of 15, blocked 27 shots and had 42 hits. His +/- rating was 2nd best on the Scarecrows and his DGR of 70 tied with Axel Meszaros for best on the team. It should be no shocker that Lambert went 2nd OA in this year's draft. He's racked up the most TPE in his class with 320, and has a lofty bank account that is more than most teams entire payrolls. This future superstar has a lot to live up to being the 1st guy picked by a team that had 7 picks in the first 24. TBB will be looking at him, to set the tone for this draft class.

Next up, going 12th OA was LD Igor Victory! @Wearingabear

This one took a lot of mock drafts by a bit of surprise, most had Victory going in the 2nd round this year. This product of the Anchorage Armada was part of a small, but successful rookie class and the only defenseman out of the group. Playing mostly on the Armada's 3rd D pairing, he put 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 pts, had a +/- of 1, was in the box for 28 PIM, blocked 30 shots, and had 51 hits. He's got a lot to work on, but shows his versatility playing as a winger for Team Finland in this season's WJC, much in the style of Big Buff or Brent Burns. The TBB management saw a lot of potential in this rookie out of Tampere, Finland. He earned a modest amount of TPE through out the year, and recently hosted the S54 SHL Hall of Fame Ceremony.

Continuing in the first round, two picks later at 14th OA, the Barracuda select LD Jöörgüštrâäd DuBølk! @MCP_

Another LD coming in hot this round (spoiler, all 4 1st rounders were LD), DuBølk is coming off a rookie year in the 'J with the Anaheim Outlaws. This Swedish born defender stands at a massive 6'8 and weights 245 pounds, and will be a force to reckon with on the blue line. DuBølk played in all 50 games, scored 5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points, had 40 PIM, 55 hits, and 22 shots blocked. During the Outlaw's cup run, he put up 2 goals, 3 assist, 5 points, and had 10 hit. Currently sitting at 292 TPE and around $28MM in the bank, DuBølk is another great addition to this team.

The last pick in the first round, at number 16, Tampa Bay selected LD Adrik Baranov! @Jorec

The last pick in the first round, the first of back to back picks, and the last LD drafted this year by the 'Cuda, Adrik is a part of a large rookie class for the Maine Timber. Baranov put up impressive numbers for a rookie blue liner, scoring 4 goals, 17 assists, 21 points, had over 100 SOG, 26 hits and 30 blocked shots. His 109 SOG was the best by a D and 3rd best overall on the Timber this year. If he keeps firing, they're bound to go in. With 282 TPE and $23MM in the bank, he's set to contribute along with the rest of these first round picks.

The second of the 'Cuda's back to back picks, at number 17, RW TURG TURG! @ThisSeemsFishy

Another product of the Anchorage Armada, TURG TURG is by far the most eccentric player and best named player Tampa drafted this year. TURG played mostly on the 3rd line and managed to net 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points and blocked 30 shots. However, his best part of his game this year is his responsible play, with 15 takeaways and only 4 giveaways all year, that +11 differential shows he can play in all 3 zones and be a huge contributor, even when he's not scoring. He's got 274 TPE and around $14MM in the bank.

The first pick in the second set of back to back picks, at number 23 LW Pavel Kharlamov! @RippleLuck

Another St. Louis product, Pavel went 69th OA in the SMJHL draft last year, and now moves up 46 spots to be taken 23rd in the SHL draft. A little streaky, he scored 4 goals, 10 assist, 14 points in the regular season, most scored in the first half, but was able to put up 3 goals in 7 games during the Scarecrow's playoff run. If he can stay consistent, he'll be another integral part of this cornerstone draft this year. Already up at 297 TPE and he has $20MM stashed away.

The second pick in the second set of back to backs in the second round, number 24, LW Jesse Seppanen! @crutch

This Espoo, Finland native joins the Barracuda after being drafted by the Maine Timber in the S54 SMJHL Entry Draft. Another part of the large rookie class out of Maine, Jesse put up 9 goals, 12 assists, 21 points for the Timber. With 98 hits and 43 PIM, Jesse brings a much needed physical edge to this draft class. 250 TPE and just over $10MM in the bank, he ranks lower than some of his other draftees, but he has a few years of development and he'll be ready to take the stage at the big show.

The final and 8th pick of this year's draft, at 49th, RW Taylor Gervais!

The Barracuda now drafted 3 of the Armada's 5 eligible rookies in this year's draft. Taylor spent most of the year playing on the Armada's 3rd line alongside TURG TURG. Gervais had moderate success at putting up points this year, he scored 8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points and had 25 hits and 25 blocked shots. If Gervais and TURG can continue to creat some chemistry on the Armada, they should see that carry over when they called up to the 'Cuda. Gervais has earned 267 TPE and has $5MM sitting in the bank right now.

With these 8 picks, the Barracuda are expected to sign all of them and have them be the start of a new generation in Tampa Bay. The coaching staff, management, and fans will all be looking for great things to come with the addition of these players. After a few crazy days of scouting, deliberation, bickering, mock drafts being thrown out the window, this year's draft comes to end. Welcome to 'Cuda Country boys.

-Dictated, not read by Dick S. Lapper, freelance bs artist.

2x draft media, ready for grading.