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leftwing42 · 08-21-2019, 08:16 PM

(2x first article bonus)

As we're just past the halfway point on the SMJHL season it's a good time to take a look at the Anaheim Outlaws and what they've done relative to the rest of the league and their previous years, and what to expect going forward.

Overview
Through 29 games the Outlaws have 28 points with a record of 12-13-4. This is good for just 9th in the league. After a decent start, that saw them as high as 3rd in the league, the Outlaws have gone through a slump over the last week or so of games. With a record of 2-6-2 in the their last ten, and 7-9-4 in their last twenty games, the Outlaws will have to turn it around and get back to the early season form if any playoff success is to be had. To go along with the poor win-loss record, the Outlaws currently have the worst goal differential in the SMJHL, with a -23. However, there is hope of turning the season around. Special teams is a strength for the team. The Outlaws possess the 2nd best powerplay in the league, operating at a 22.55% with the man advantage, and they have a PP + PK rating at 99.74%. The shot differential for Anaheim is middle of the pack, at 6th, suggesting that the team will even out with the goal differential more the later the season goes on and the puck luck bounces the other way. One area the Outlaws are great in is face offs. At 51.25% the team sits at 2nd in the SMJHL, and with 3 out of the 4 centers being rookies, this looks to be a strength for the long term. With a high face off percentage expect this possession to translate into better overall stats once the team's rookies improve.

History
The Outlaws have been one of the best teams in the SMJHL over the past 2 years. With back to back visits to the championship game, including a win in the s47 season, this success gives some idea to the struggles the Outlaws have faced this season. Only 5 skaters remain from that s47 championship squad, along with backup turned starter goaltender Patrick Niederreiter. The following season, after the finals loss to Vancouver, the Outlaw's top 2 centers graduated, along with their number 1 defense man and starting goalie. This lead to a very large rookie class from the incoming reddit draft, with 8 skaters being put into the lineup, and rookie goaltender Tobias Lindeman being signed partway through the season to play backup. This lends further hope to the idea of improvement the later the season goes. As the rookies get more time to improve and develop the Outlaws should see overall improvement while these players grow into the roles they've been put into.

Standout Players
D Jerry Mander - The best player for most of season for the Outlaws. Mander has posted 8 goals and 19 assists for 27 points in 29 games to go along with a team leading 22:43 average ice time. This is good for first in the entire SMJHL for points. In addition to his offensive prowess, Mander has been a go-to defender as well, blocking 38 shots and playing 2:43 of penalty kill time each game, both good for second on the team. Mander is set to pass his career high of 32 points, set in s48.

F Lallo Selman - The 3rd year Outlaw is in the midst of his best campaign so far, posting 13 goals and 9 assists for 22 points in 29 games. Selman has spent time leading the league in goals, currently tied for second, and is among the leaders for shots as well. In a similar vein to Mander, Selman has been a top defensive forward for the Outlaws, blocking the most shots among forwards and playing the second most penalty kill time on the team. With a pace of 38 points, Selman is on pace to break his pervious career high of 34, set in s47.

F Nick Connolly - The Outlaw's captain has also been a solid top line winger this season. With 12 goals and 8 assists for 20 points in 29 games, Connolly has managed to stay just inside the top ten left-wing scoring in the league, showing leadership on the ice as well as off. Connolly, much like the others, is also poised to have a career year and break his previous high of 30 points, set in s48.

F Ivan Maximus - The first draft pick of the Outlaws, 9th overall, Maximus is enjoying a very prolific rookie season, puttin gup 1 goal and 14 assists for 15 points in 29 games. Because of the graduations, Ivan Maximus has been put on the first line of the Outlaws due to lack of centers, and has performed admirably. Maximus has consistently been one of the top rookies this season, currently 5th in rookie scoring and looking like a potential rookie of the year and top SHL prospect.

Looking forward
The Outlaws are going to have to have a strong push to finish out the season if any post season success is to be had. The remaining schedule is far from favorable for them though. They do play the Colorado Raptors 3 more time, a team which the Outlaws have gone 4-0 against this season, with 1 shootout win. However they also play Detroit 3 more times, Lethbridge 3 more times, and St. Louis 4 times, all teams the Outlaws have yet to beat this season, regulation time or otherwise. Despite this, the Outlaws have a strong foundation moving forward. The strength along the wings to go with youth down the center, the team is in a period of transition, and the crop of youth injected from the draft this season should help in the future. Even if there isn't a 3rd straight trip to the finals expect the Outlaws to remain a top team going forward.

(word count 1028)

BDonini · 08-21-2019, 08:24 PM

*thiefofcheese* · 08-22-2019, 09:24 AM

shutdown · 08-22-2019, 07:18 PM

nice article! get that guap Outlaws

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