Bladerunners - Offseason Review

The Bladerunners:

LW: Sejna-StL P3

Left wing will need to be a priority for the Bladerunners at the next ED, as they have no players in the pipeline other than Sejna, and he looks to be a career AHL player rather than a FUNHL contributor.

Rating: 1

C: Stefan-Dal P4, Hudler-Det P3, Staal-Car P3, M.Koivu-Min P2, Malkin-Pit P2

Stefan, Hudler, and Koivu will all probably be released or traded. Stefan is now in Bonk territory and has no serious offensive ability. Hudler may yet make the Red Wings and contribute on one of the top lines, but so far he hasn't done anything but be above average in the AHL. Koivu the younger may eventually mature into an Ollie Jokinen style pivot, but it will take years of waiting.
However, Staal will be an anchor on one of the Bladerunners top two lines for the next couple of years, and Malkin will join him this year or next.

Rating: 4

RW: Hossa-Atl FP, Avery-LA RFA, V.Bure-StL P2

Rating: 4

Hossa remains an elite gunner for the right side, one who should all things considered hit the top 10 in league scoring. A shoot first winger, Hossa's assist total will depend more on the health of his elite linemate than on his own average playmaking ability. Avery had so worn out his welcome with the Kings last year they kicked him off the team before the end of the season. Volatile and loud mouthed, he could the NHL's pim king next year, or he could be auditioning in the AHL. High reward, but very high risk. Bure is superfluous to the teams interests, even though his production merits considering as as a depth winger. He no longer has ppg ability, and his lack of defense is deadly to him now that he has lost a step of that once elite speed. I expect he'll be dealt or released to make room for a prospect with a higher ceiling and lower age.

D: Boucher-Dal RFA, Pothier-Wsh RFA, Kraijcek-VCR P3

Rating: 2

Boucher is not likely to ever return to being a +/- threat, but he should still claw his way to 25 pts or so on the Dallas D making him a decent if unspectactular #5 or 6. Pothier will now be playing on a rebuilding Washington team instead of a Stanley Cup threat Ottawa squad. On the Senators he was a +/- gem, for the Caps, he simply won't be. How he fits in offensively into his new team will determine whether he can maintain a role. Kraijcek has a fresh start with his new team, and he could finally have a breakout season. Here's the rub, his production is most likely to be highest early on until a decision is made to keep him with the team or not, and an early promotion to capitalize on his success could backfire. Otherwise, his stock has improved to the point where he merits consideration as the teams best blue-liner going into the draft, and without question their most valuable.

G: Luongo-Vcr FP, Grahame-Car RFA, Miller-Buf P3

Rating: 4

The real question (indeed the existential question for the Bladerunners entire season) is whether Luongo lives up to the ability with Canucks D in a way he didn't with the Panthers. How confident is the team in Luongo being not just a starter but someone who hits the top 5? Grahame will split too much time with some MVP of the playoffs to post decent numbers, and after being humiliated in Tampa Bay as a starter his value isn't high even as a backup. Miller is the wild card. He could be the key starter for a very good Buffalo team, but one that has embraced offense as its new calling card. In short, he might be in a Grant Fuhr situation where despite obvious brilliance, his numbers are rarely elite. That said, he's an intriguing possibility to supplant Luongo should there be a crisis of confidence. Overall, the position should be a 5, the team has invested an FP and has a backup who is one of the highest calibre prospects at the netminder position - but there are too many question marks and novel situations (and in Miller's case contract concerns) to warrant that high a rating.

Overall: 15