While yes, there are a few games left in the regular season of Season 24 in the SHL, I personally feel like the nominees and winners are set in stone. I have done this the previous two seasons and have been pretty accurate with my predictions. This time I am going to do two awards a day to spread it out a bit. Let's get to it.

Aidan Richan Trophy (Breakout Player) Candidates

Maxim Horvat: The first overall pick is finally shedding that bust label. After the losses of Lionel Byrde, Taylor McDavid and Chico Salmon, the Renegades relied on guys like Horvat and he did just that. Horvat currently sits near the top of the SHL scoring race....something very few would have predicted. He has improved a number of his totals including goals (9 -> 21) and points (37 -> 54). While the move from defense to forward resulted in his defensive numbers lowering, without Horvat, the Renegades are not a playoff team.

Valterri Bottas: The finnish DMan is finally showing the makings of a true SHL Superstar. Bottas was borderline below average last season finishing with just 22 points. His defensive numbers were there but the Panthers drafted him to be the workhorse on the back end. His defensive totals took a slip this season but his offensive numbers were amazing. He has a 23 point difference this year with 45 points and has been every bit of what the Panthers had hoped he would be.

Alonzo Garbanzo: With another season of polishing, the first ever pick in JayTee's tenure as GM has finally proven why he was every bit deserving of that #2 draft pick. Last season, while the Chiefs played great, Garbanzo was just average. He finished with 27 points on the season which was good for only fourth in D scoring on the team. This season the Chiefs gave Garbanzo an increased role on the team and the Captain knocked it out the park. Garbanzo saw increases in assists (19 ->37), points (27 -> 42), hits (106 -> 155), and shot blocks (58 -> 66). These increases in nearly every important statistical category, merits a nomination for Garbanzo.

Winner: Alonzo Garbanzo : This award will be tight and whoever wins is honestly deserving, but the sheer statistical improvement in a number of categories makes Garbanzo my winner.


Coach of the Year Nominations:

Tanner (Hamilton): When your team reels off two 6+ game win streaks, you have to be in the conversation. Tanner has been great extracting the most out of his top guys to get the job done and it shows as they lead the East in points. However I feel like the fact that 15 of their wins came on streaks will be a detriment and leave Tanner off the winners podium.

Alex/Four Four (Texas): No one thought they could hang after the terrible off-season they had. Critics and fans wrote them off for the year. But when you have a GM tandem as great as Alex and Four Four, you know to expect the unexpected. Texas sits in the top five in goals for, goals against, powerplay %, shots for and faceoff%. The leaders in Texas have done a great job and should be in the discussion.

JayTee (Minnesota), Wasty/Morley (LAP), Leafs (Win): With parity being so strong in this league, it is hard to come up with a third nominee here.

JayTee's Chiefs sit first in Goals for, Shots against and face off percent. They are also top three in goals against. More of this is because of the talent in the Chiefs lockeroom but as the only person to have won coach of the year, there is merit to JayTee's line combos playing a factor.


Wasty/Morley and the Panthers sit in first in the Western conference and ultimately first in the league. That alone warrants a nomination. On top of this the Panthers are at or near the top in goals for, goals against, shots for and faceoff percentage. Wasty and Morley have done a great job with assets they have had and have a great case.

My personal choice for the #3 spot is Leafs. The Jets are also near the top of almost every statistical category while doing so with less talent than the Chiefs and the Panthers. Leafs has done a great job once again and deserves to be that third nominee.


Winner: Alex and FourFour (Texas) : These two have done an amazing job while losing three of the best players in the league. The maximized the talent of guys like Lahey and Horvat and in my opinion have been the best team in the SHL this season and deserve to win this award.

Awesome article. I'd pick Horvat over Garbanzo for the Richan -- strictly because, like you said, Texas lost its 3 best people and he stepped up BIG time -- but your reasoning is otherwise sound and awesome. :D

JayTee (Minnesota)

Too soon. :((

(Thanks to Tweedle, Dion.OvOxO., & Kylrad)

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Thanks for the nom!

28 is old you fucking moron

NEW plays the long con too often to be in the GMotY conversation

NEW plays the long con too often to be in the GMotY conversation

Coach of the year should just be Alex I never touched lines it was all him

Jordin FourFour III

Wat about me 4 Richan

S23 12G 21 A 33p 0 65pims 149 hits 7bs

S24 16G 42a 58p +16 69pims 194 hits 20bs



Richan is most improved not breakout.

Originally posted by McJesus@Jul 15 2015, 03:05 PM
Wat about me 4 Richan

S23 12G 21 A 33p 0 65pims 149 hits 7bs

S24 16G 42a 58p +16 69pims 194 hits 20bs



Richan is most improved not breakout.

You also came off an mvp season the year before that. You improved from maybe one season to the other, but you have always been a star.

Originally posted by Josh@Jul 15 2015, 04:12 PM


You also came off an mvp season the year before that. You improved from maybe one season to the other, but you have always been a star.

Still most improved from last season that's the whole point of the award


And it was in S21 where I was MVP

Originally posted by McJesus@Jul 15 2015, 03:14 PM


Still most improved from last season that's the whole point of the award


And it was in S21 where I was MVP

The award doesn't say most improved player from one season to the next....it literally says most improved player.

If CGY does very well in the playoffs, give GMOTY to Esa. First season for the guy and playoffs..

Originally posted by Birks@Jul 15 2015, 03:18 PM
If CGY does very well in the playoffs, give GMOTY to Esa. First season for the guy and playoffs..

These awards aren't given to people based on playoff success. He definitely has a chance at coach of the year.... but GM of the Year? Definitely not since he brought in one player during the off-season in Daugvins.

Originally posted by McJesus@Jul 15 2015, 03:14 PM


Still most improved from last season that's the whole point of the award


And it was in S21 where I was MVP

How in any way are you a breakout player? )

28 is old you fucking moron

Originally posted by Josh@Jul 15 2015, 04:20 PM


These awards aren't given to people based on playoff success. He definitely has a chance at coach of the year.... but GM of the Year? [b]Definitely not since he brought in one player during the off-season in Daugvins.[/b]

Jordin FourFour III