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Arkz · 07-26-2021, 05:53 PM

Well that was a long one, wasn’t it? Another season in the storied New Orleans Specters franchise comes to a close, and the rebuilding efforts continue. Season 56 saw the Specters go 28-15-7 over 50 games, and end with a positive goal differential of 29. They came in second in their division, behind the Texas Renegades, and went on to lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Atlanta Inferno, 4-1. A solid, if unremarkable season. Since then, however, it's been tough sledding for the Specters. Here are their records in the following seasons: 22-41-3 in Season 57 (first round playoff loss), 10-50-6 in Season 58, 12-49-5 in Season 59, and 14-50-2 in Season 60. Woof. But hey, technically trending in the right direction.

True rebuilds in the SHL are a difficult process. Some teams (*cough* *cough* Hamilton) never experience true rebuilds, just reloads. With New Orleans losing a number of players due to retirements and other departures, there wasn’t a ton of talent left on the team that was still in their prime, with a few notable exceptions. Still, the future is bright for New Orleans, and they should be ready to start competing against the mid-level teams in the league again soon. But if you just look at the record, it’s easy to dismiss New Orleans and the players on the team. That’s why I’m going to go through the roster, talk about each player individually and also take a look at the future to come.

First, let’s talk about the roster as a whole. This season, New Orleans had an average TPE of just about 1,000. That is good for second-last in the league, with only Manhattan behind them by about 100 TPE. To put that into context, Toronto had the highest average TPE in the league with 1679. As expected with a rebuilding team, the forwards are a mix of the very young and the very old. Though the average age of the forwards is Season 53, the actual heavy lifting is being done by folks from Season 56 and Season 57, with even a person from S58 on the list. The defense is led by Lyle Odelein III, who would be an MVP candidate if he was on a different team. We’ll get to him in a moment, but only two of the defenders are over 1,000 TPE, though there should be another joining them soon. The starting goaltender for the Specters is a Season 57 player, so there is clearly still an opportunity to grow there. All in all, each position group is right around 1,000 TPE average, with opportunities for young players to make their mark. Let’s get into them.

Position Group: Centers

Nicolaj Muller, S47, 1010 TPE, @esilverm
Muller has been a dependable player for the Specters for quite a few seasons now. Muller had 12 goals and 21 assists on the season, for 33 points with an average time on ice of 21:06. I’m going to skip the plus/minus for all of these players, because unless otherwise noted it's bad. Muller, however, had one of the better spreads at -49. There’s a still 17 players left in the league from Season 47, with Muller near the bottom in terms of overall TPE but some of the players in that class are among the best players in the league, like Aaron Wilson, Eko Van Otter, Corey Kennedy, Esa Pamborg, Theo Morgan, Harry Carpet, and more. Muller was tied for fourth on the team in total points, and third in assists. All-in-all I don’t think you can expect more from a player like Muller at this stage in his career, but the Specters will need to take a hard look at their center group in the following seasons.

Xavier Doom, S56, 1209 TPE, @JKortesi81
One of the bright spots for the Specters, Doom is coming off a Rookie of the Year winning campaign and continues to be the most effective offensive force for New Orleans. Doom had 18 goals and 24 assists for the Spooky Bois, highest on the team in both categories. He was also second on the team in PIM, which is impressive given some of the ‘talent’ in that category. Unsurprising given its age, the S56 still has 45 members in it still, with Doom in 14th place in terms of overall TPE. When the Specters’ fortunates change, it’s going to be because of players like Doom and their continued development. I don’t want to go as far as to state that Doom has this team on his shoulders going forward, but best case he’s sharing it with like four other players.

Kenny Creller, S51, 1071 TPE, @Mook
You’re going to notice a theme here among the Specters’ position groups. Usually there’s a couple old timers in the line, balanced by one or two young guns. Creller is slightly younger than Muller, but not by much. Creller was the third center for the team, scoring 4 goals and 10 assists with 18:30 average time on ice. Creller is near the end of his career, but continues to grind it out with the Specters as the young talent is still developing behind him. It’s a bit of a thankless job for Creller, but an important one and the team wouldn’t function without him.

Position Group: Left Wing

Vlastislav Malik (A), S57, 1078 TPE @leafs1997
This is another player we’re going to put in the same general class as Doom, in that they are a young, incredibly talented player that is still building their skill set. Malik scored 17 goals, with 20 assists on the season, and had the best plus/minus on the team with -45. He also led all Specters’ forwards in average time on ice with 22:20, owing to his time on the power play and penalty kill units. I also have to mention the hits. Malik doled out 187 hits on the year, by far the most out of anyone on the squad. That’s a tremendous sign of a two-way player. Malik is third in his class in TPE, and continues to advance at a steady rate. The sky's the limit for this player, but he’s still a bit too raw to be able to compete with other top lines around the league. The hope in New Orleans is that he continues to develop at the same rate, and if so, he’ll be one of the top players in the league with Doom and Kauppinen.

Slava Petrov, S56, 1030 TPE @ckroyal92
Another young player on the left wing, Petrov pitched in 16 goals, 14 assists on the season, very strong marks for the team overall. Petrov also had the highest shooting percentage on the team, with 14%. Petrov is in the middle of his class in terms of total TPE, but if he’s able to continue earning there should be a continued spot for him on the second line wing position. The likely top line of Doom, Malik, and Kauppinen will be one of the top lines in the league within a few seasons, but it will be up to players like Petrov to ensure there’s little drop off when the other units step onto the ice.

Alexei Rykov, S50, 811 TPE, @RaginCajun
The elder statesman out there on the left wing, Rykov had 4 goals and 10 assists on the season, with roughly 18 minutes in average ice time. The Specters aren’t asking too much of Rykov at this stage in his career. Get out there on the ice, clear pucks, and give a chance for the top lines to catch a breather. To that end, Rykov has had some success but this may be a spot that the Specters are going to look to upgrade as soon as possible.

Position Group: Right Wing

Valtterri Kauppinen (A), S56, 1205 TPE, @Pythonic
The right wing looks to be a potential position of strength for the Specters going forward. Kauppinen however is the clear standout, and among the top forwards for New Orleans along with Malik and Doom. Kauppinen came over in a trade and has had an immediate impact, scoring 16 goals and adding in 20 assists in the Season 60 campaign. That puts him tied for third on the team in terms of total goals with Petrov, but adding in four extra assists. He was third on the team in terms of total points, only one behind Malik but with 2 minutes less average ice time during the course of the season. As is the case with Mailk and Doom, Kauppinen has the potential to be one of the top forwards in the league and with a line built to dominate in a few season’s time. But it's up to these three players to continue to develop and to deliver on their potential.

Nikolaj Boyle, S58, 819 TPE @zaynzk
The youngest forward for the Specters, Boyle finds himself thriving despite being in a tricky position. With 9 goals and 24 assists, he had one of the highest point totals on the team despite his comparatively low TPE. Still, he’s getting a lot of opportunities with his 21:11 average ice time, including time on the power play. Boyle tied Doom in terms of assists on the season, and will have high expectations going into the next season. Boyle needs a little bit more seasoning compared to the other young guns of New Orleans, but he’s on the right track and 19th in a large class for total TPE.

Olivier Cloutier, S46, 1053 TPE @Jenny
From the youngest forward for New Orleans to now the oldest, Cloutier has had a storied career with New Orleans. They were second on the team in points way back in season 54, and proved they can still bring it even today. 13 goals, 15 assists on the season in 17 minutes of ice time a night. Some of the other skills are getting lost to time, but Cloutier still manages a good amount of takeaways for their trouble. As the sun sets on a marvelous career, Cloutier can probably still hold onto a roster spot on this team into next season. After that, it could get difficult if the youth on the team continues to develop.

Position Group: Left Defense

Lyle Odelein III ©, S48, 1997 TPE @Huck24
No discussion about the Specters’ defense, or really the New Orleans team as a whole, can really be complete without touching on Odelein III. Far and away the leader on the team in TPE, Odelein III is far and away the most important player to the Specters. 11 goals and 19 assists for the defenseman is the most among all the other defenders for the Specters, and more than all but a few of the forwards as well. He leads New Orleans in ice time with 23:15 and takeaways by a fairly large margin. But what really sets Odelein III apart is the physical play. 312 blocked shots. Think about that number, 312. Hard to believe that a goalie pair that faced close to 3,200 shots over the course of the season could have seen even more had Lyle not been on the ice. Were Odelein III on a different team with a higher profile, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’d be a regular contender for defenseman of the year. As it stands though, he is still beloved by the New Orleans faithful and his teammates as he continues to anchor this team into the future.

Ole Olson, S58, 889 TPE, @Amidships
The Lyle Odelein III of the future, or so the Specters hope. Olson’s rookie season was a long one though he found a way to contribute, adding in 3 goals and 18 assists. He also had one of the better plus/minuses of the team as well in his 20:11 of ice time a night. If Olson is able to get a handle on his giveaways, then he should help anchor a very strong second D-pairing for the Specters. Olson finds himself as third in his class in overall TPE, though only by two and that could change at any time. While he’s going to need some time to get fully up to speed and to round out his skill set, he could be the defenseman of the future for New Orleans.

Bradley Barkov, S53, 854 TPE, @MarlinManiac4
Rounding out the last of the left defensemen for the Specters, Barkov still manages to get close to 17 minutes of ice time a night. In that time, he scored 2 goals and pitched in 12 assists. Interestingly, Barkov was very strong on the puck, with by far the fewest giveaways amongst his peers on the right side even when accounting for less ice time. Barkov is making the most of his time on the ice, though with Olson joining the team he’s been moved to the third pairing. Still, he’s going to need to try and keep pace with his skill set if he is to remain on the team as the youth develops.

Position Group: Right Defense

Conner Hutton, S55, 1367 TPE, @overdoo
Odelein III’s partner is skilled enough to stand on his own outside the outsized influence of his partner. Hutton had 6 goals and 16 assists on the season, and featured a balanced physical game of 128 blocked shots and 114 hits. He also is one of the very few players for the Specters who had more takeaways (25) than giveaways (24). Hutton is the other half of the bedrock for the Specters on the defensive end, and this pairing can compete with many of the top pairs around the league. Hutton himself is 16th in his class in terms of overall TPE, but not too far behind the top 10. As Odelein III gets older, it will be up to Hutton to carry the torch until the next generation is read.

Darnell Johnson, S48, 857 TPE, @frithjofr
Old man Johnson isn’t the oldest member of the New Orleans Specters (that honor goes to Cloutier), but it’s close. A long-time veteran and lifer with the team, Johnson still finds ways to contribute even as he is getting into his advanced years in the league. 5 goals and 11 assists for the second-pairing defenseman is still good, and he averaged the second highest amount of short-handed time on ice this season. He was also second on the team in blocked shots with 183 and second in hits, with 150, showing that even as Johnson edges closer to retirement, he’s still able to make his mark on the ice and in the hearts of fans everywhere.

Vili Tuga’tuga’bo’atu, S56, 828 TPE, @Wasty
Finally, we come to Vili, the youngest member of the New Orleans defensemen aside from Olson. Vili is making his impact on the third pairing with Barkov, adding in 2 goals and 6 assists on the season in his close to 17 minutes of ice time. It’s a thankless job, but one that Vili is handling deftly. 117 blocked shots and 102 hits on the season show his physical side, and his 21 takeaways put him right in line with the rest of his team despite his decreased ice time. With Johnson advancing in age, there’s a spot in the second pairing for Vili if he’s able to continue growing and take the next step with his career.

Position Group: Goalies

Jon St. Ark, S57, 1066 TPE, @Arkz
Finally, we come to the netminders. In his first full season as the starter for New Orleans, St. Ark went 11-41, with a 4.65 GAA and .901 SV%. Not great stats, but when you figure that he was facing almost a shot a minute (.79 to be exact), it starts to put things into context. Still, it can only go up from here for the young netminder. Overall, he’s fourth in his class in terms of total TPE, but within striking distance of the leaders. The Specters spent a first round pick on St. Ark with the expectation he will be their starting goaltender for years to come, and so the hope is that he will continue growing and expanding his skill set. New Orleans has a tradition for skilled goalies, and he has a lot to live up to.

Olli Saarinen, Jr., S52, 973 TPE, @prettyburn
Saarinen Jr.’s stat line isn’t too different from St. Ark’s when you break it down. 3-9-2 on the season, with a 4.74 GAA and a .909 SV%. A bit higher in save percentage, but letting in slightly more goals per game. Saarinen had a very strong season last year, despite the difficult record of 9-39. Still, this makes Saarinen Jr. one of the most capable backups in the league, and at least for now he could step in for St. Ark if needed. Saarinen Jr. finds themselves in 12th in terms of total TPE among the S52 class, and the fourth goaltender in that list. New Orleans will hope that Saarinen is able to keep pace with St. Ark so that they have a robust goalie stable for the foreseeable future.

New Orleans Specters of the Future

Friedensreich Hundertwasser, LW, S58, 884 TPE, @Asked Madden
File Hundertwasser under the list of players you'll see in the black and purple very shortly. The winger has been a standout on the St. Louis Scarecrows for the last few seasons, and just wrapped his last campaign with 15 goals and 19 assists. Though he started on the right side, he has been playing on the left for St. Louis this season, and it remains to be seen where he will slot in when he makes his SHL debut. Still he’s a very close fifth in his class in total TPE, and should be one of the building blocks of the future for New Orleans.

Jean-Locke Zidane, D, S58, 861 TPE, @Nictox
The top defensive prospect in the Specters’ minor system, Zidane has been suiting up for the Anchorage Armada in recent seasons with fellow New Orleans’ prospect Vile Kurri. In S60, Zidane had 10 goals and 21 assists, and averaged the most time out of anyone on the power play. He also had 100 blocked shots and an outrageous 222 hits, which is just a mind boggling number to consider. When he eventually is called up to join the Specters full time, he will bring a much needed balanced attack.

Vile Kurri, C, S59, 613 TPE, @SlashACM
Speaking of top prospects, Kurri is the top center in the minor system as well. Also playing for Anchorage, Kurri had 12 goals and 31 assists last season for the boats. His 92 blocked shots and 135 hits were also top amongst forwards for his team, showing his grit as a two-way player at the center position. Given the age of the other centers for New Orleans, he may find himself up in the big leagues before too long.

Lebron Brady, RW, S59, 559 TPE, @Jackers41
Another St. Louis prospect, Brady had 15 goals and 26 assists for the Scarecrows last season. Playing the most time out of anyone on his team on the power play, the Scarecrows showed a lot of trust in Brady to get it done when necessary. He needs a bit more seasoning, particularly with the defensive side of his game, but he could be a key piece for New Orleans going forward.

Iorek Byrnison, G, S59, 560 TPE, @Mooty99
The top goalie prospect for the Specters, Byrnison is coming off a season where he was the top netminder for St. Louis. 20-27-8, with a 3.3 GAA and .905 SV%, it is up to Byrnison to see if he can continue developing and take Saarinen Jr.’s spot in the top league. He’s certainly shown that he has the stamina and skill set to be a starting goalie, and he’ll keep St. Ark honest as Byrnison continues to develop.

Sabarro Torretta, D, S59, 495 TPE, @santej29
Playing on the left side for the Newfoundland Berserkers, Torretta had a strong year for the storied franchise. With 14 goals with 27 assists and time on both the power play and penalty kill units, Torretta has shown that he can do it all for his SMJHL club. He could bring a nicely balanced skill set to the SHL if he’s able to break through and make it to the Specters.

Erik Andrews, C, S59, 420 TPE, @frijolhead
Andrews is a young prospect, playing center for Newfoundland. 10 goals and 15 assists for the Berserkers in only 12:08 average ice time is impressive, particularly when he’s not spending any time on the power play and a bit of time on the penalty kill. Still, Andrews has some work to do on his game if he’s going to be wearing the Specter before long.

Duncan the Walrus, D, S60, 470 TPE, @SouthPaw
One of the top defensive prospects for the Specters, Duncan plays for the Maine Timber in the SMJHL. In S60, he had 3 goals and 21 assists on the year, while playing serious minutes on both the power play and the penalty kill. Couple that with his 125 blocked shots and 124 hits, and you have a puck moving defenseman that could be a real asset for New Orleans in the seasons to come. While he still has his SMJHL journey ahead of him, Specters fans will be watching Timber games and keeping their eyes on the Walrus.

Ragnar Ragnarsson, RW, S60, 393 TPE, @SMD414
One of the top wingers for the Vancouver Whalers, Ragnarsson had a great year for himself in S60. 27 goals and 25 assists put him in rare air on the team, especially when he only had 14:36 average time on the ice. The defensive side of his game needs a little work, but he could be a real offensive spark for the Specters when he is eventually called up to the big club.

Haunted Hall of Fame

In addition to the play on the ice, there were also more than a few things going on off it. One of those exciting things was the announcement of the Haunted Hall of Fame! Five individuals who all had a huge impact on the history of the Specters. While they all have their own posts as it befits their achievements, I wanted to include them here as well!

TheDangaZone - Co-GM - S46-S53

Richard “Dick” Physt - D - S46-S50

Aleister Cain - G - S46-S57

Demaricus Smyth - F - S46 - S55

Oisin Fletcher - F/D - S46-S50

Nicholas Williams - F - S46-S57

Congratulations to all who have made it into the first class of the Haunted Hall of Fame! There’s more than a few players on the Specters’ roster now who may also join their spooky brethren there some day, but it is quite an example that this inaugural class has set. They are great examples of players and people that the current and future generation of Specters will attempt to emulate in the seasons to come.

On a personal note, I want to say how much I enjoyed last season with everyone in New Orleans. I’ve been part of championship teams and I’ve been part of teams that have hovered near the bottom all year, and I honestly believe team success (or lack of it) doesn’t mean much if you don’t enjoy the people you are with. Folks on this team make me laugh, think, and enjoy every day in this league. While we haven’t seen the success we want on the ice yet, I fully believe that this team will be able to get it done and can compete with the top teams in the league soon.

To my current teammates, thank you for another enjoyable season and blocking so many shots that I didn’t then have to try (and fail) to stop. To my teammates of the past, thank you for being part of this journey with me and all you’ve given me and New Orleans. And to my future teammates, I can’t wait to win some games and some cups with you in the (hopefully) very near future!

Stay Spooky!

(4,020 Words)

zaynzk · 07-26-2021, 09:29 PM

Spooky

***Ohtaay*** · 07-26-2021, 09:56 PM

Nice write up!

Huck24 · 07-27-2021, 12:59 PM

Great read and a great group of players!!!

Specters

DeletedAtUserRequest · 07-27-2021, 01:15 PM

+1

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***JKortesi81*** · 07-27-2021, 11:44 PM

@Arkz you’re the best. <3

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