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Buyers and Cellars
(Part 2)
Welcome back! It’s time to check in on the early trade predictions that were made. Last
time it was first to worst starting with the Lincoln Division. Due to lack of efforts and I ran out of
nice things to say about the bottom dwellers we will go from the bottom to the top. Sorry
Raptors, but at least you are above ground and fighting extinction again.
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Show-Me Division
(mostly seller’s)
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RAPTORS (0-5)
1 st up, the Raptors. Let me start by apologizing for putting your players on every
team’s wish list. I didn’t notice I did that. It should show you that you have talent to
work with there. Now, we’ve found the 3rd captain! I’m still not saying who it was
though, use this info as fuel for your fire to finish the season strong. There seems to be
fewer negative emotions or maybe it’s not perceived as negative emotions now. Shout
out to RP for keeping your head up and giving your team a chance! They are close to
piecing this together and being able to make a playoff Run. They have too much depth
to be a winless team. On to the trade side of things. Sit down and hold on for this one.
Raptors are using Berkman like the T-cats did with Payne. Sometimes it just doesn’t
work. Find a new role for him or ship him out. Bring in something new. It’s a small
market for big names right now. But that’s a name that can get you something in return.
Trouble is he only holds value for this season, (going back to the draft) so he will have
to go to a team that’s looking to make a run this year.
Teams to trade with: Every. Last. One. Has been licking their chops and waiting
to get their hands on some of these players and help them use that cap.
Needs: defense and tendy to work together and a quarterback.
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YETIS (0-4-1)
2 nd , the yeti’s get Stubby and Loehr back this next game. This should allow them
to win some of those close games. Theres still a chance to sneak into a bottom playoff
spot. With Jackson and Griffin anchoring down the defense in front of Stubby, adding a
good two-way player might get you back on track as well. Adding a depth player who
helps your tier 4 and tier 5 players stand out could go a long way also. This team
should not be winless after looking at their roster. Let’s look at who they should move.
He’s a good player but I don’t think his style fits here. Gehrig could be shopped to a
team that plays gritty hockey or needs that energy. It’s not easy trading someone who
brings multiple levels to the game but if their style doesn’t fit its time to move on. Ask
the Thunder cats and possibly the Raptors soon...
Teams to trade with: Cudas, Outlaws, Wolves
Needs: lets talk about this in two or three more weeks after they play with their
whole team.
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VENOM (3-2)
Up next, Venom. Sneaking out a couple wins since the last article. Did they
finally start to gel. Maybe the teams they played are having a bit of an identity crisis.
Either way good for them. this only helps their trade value. Raising the question, are
they buying now? And who do they move if they need that one piece to set them over
the top. The top guys here need to find a way to get the tier 4 and 5 involved. Pipas
should have more than 0 points. He can skate and has a decent shot. I know,
sometimes its tricky for him to get over the boards when his shift is over, but still,
somebody help this guy get some points. If not, moving Stradtmann or Lucas is what I
would watch for. Theres just a small market for what they have to offer. I’m curious to
see how they play in front of Hart once he returns. Is a goalie trade still on the table?
Teams to trade with: Thundercat’s, Raptors,
Needs: consistency (it seems they might have found it.)
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BARRACUDAS (3-2)
4 TH this time. but don’t let it fool ya. Remember, reversed the order this time so I
will say nice things about the Cellars. One win and one loss since the last article. A
loss to the Outlaws and a win over the Raptors. Nothing has really changed here. You
won the game you should have won and struggled to figure out the Outlaws. I still think
this is a fundamentally sound team. I know its not their style but maybe what they are
missing is that WOW factor. There is plenty of talent out there that is becoming
available or will be soon. I just don’t know who they trade to get that piece. I do think to
get a big name you have to give up a big name. Aside from captains $14 is the highest
cap spent on a player. The difference is 1 contract year. Haselhorst can be resigned,
T. Duffin must enter the draft. Watch for one of these guys to move.
Teams to trade with: Venom, Sting, Raptors
Needs: WOW factor (not world of warcraft)
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JETS (4-1)
Finally, for the Show-me division, the Jets. Who also went 1 – 1 since the last
article. Beating a team that they should beat in the Yeti’s. While putting up one hell of a
fight against the Wolves. Quinn likes the guys who are coachable and listens to him as
he knows how to win. Except for Combs, he doesn’t listen to Quinn at all. Sometimes it
feels like he says the opposite just to keep Quinn on his toes. Combs is probably ready
to go with the opposite of whatever I write in this article. He makes the league more fun
though. Anyway, the Jets are already in the mix of top teams, and Quinn already has
the avengers assembled. So, who comes out wand what do they need? I think they
must move a middle of the pack member for something over the top. A three-way trade
and multiple pieces could happen for this team. Names like Kelly and Olbrich are my
first thoughts. You might even see Wolves Legend Matt Lesko on the trade block.
Teams to trade with: Outlaws, Yetis, Moose.
Needs: high hockey IQ player
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Lincoln Division
(mostly buyers)
MOOSE (1-3-1)
When you look at the Moose, its hard understand how they do not have a better
record. Theres’s talent up and down the line up. A pretty good core group of guys that
all went to the same school. Costillo and Lyons paired up together has always been
something fun to watch. Its possible the individual efforts need to become more of a
team game. I don’t think they stay at the bottom of this division for long if they start
playing like a team. Find a way to incorporate the lower tier guys. The goalie has just
as many points as half of your team. Some of the lower point guys are defense so little
to no points are expected. Once that issue gets figured out playing these guys will be
even more difficult. Williams, Sotnyk, or Heatherly could find themselves in a different
jersey before the Season is over.
Teams to trade with: Sting, Cudas, and Jets
Needs: use the whole team
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THUNDERCATS (4-1)
Next team up in the division. Those Pesky Cats… in two games they went from
4 th to 1 st . They have the goaltending. They have the scoring ability. They have the
Defense. Then they struggle to beat the Raptors. They play to their competition
instead of putting games away. Trying to relax with a lead has almost cost them a
couple of times now. This is another team that is well built and currently firing on all
cylinders. As for right now I don’t think these guys will be moving anybody. That may
come back to bite them though. I think every cup winning team has made a trade the
year they won the cup. Can they break that mold? If they do make a trade, I would
think it sets up who ever they trade with for next year. Maybe some future
considerations, cap, or contract years at the draft.
Teams to trade with: N/A (ego related)
Needs: stop letting the other team stay in the game.
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OUTLAWS (3-2)
The 3 rd team we will talk about in the Lincoln division Outlaws. Going 1-1 in the last 2
games and putting their overall record at 3-2. Should have been 4-1 if not for that HUGE
upset at the HFC night. Ya can’t win them all, am I right? Still, a solid, young team that
will skate circles around most teams they play. It seems to be affective for the most
part. What are they missing this year? Is it a true defenseman? Or a high-end scorer?
They lost both this year. In order to fill those holes you would have to be willing to move
a middle tier guy. I think they can do one but not both. Trade Meagher for more
defense or trade Gruebner for more offense. Maybe I’m looking at that backwards? I
think you have a better chance of getting a goal scorer from someone who has too
much defense or getting a better defense man from someone who needs that scoring
ability.
Teams to trade with: Wolves, Thundercats,
Needs: top tier Offense or Defense.
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WOLVES (4-1)
4 th on this list. Wolves. Still waiting for an entire roster to be there. It’s happened twice
in two years. Life is busy for everyone, so I understand. They have scoring. They have
defense. It seems shaky at times, but I think they are using the regular season to
gauge what they can do with who they have and who they can move where. Its better
to do that early when you still have time to recover if it doesn’t work. Look for these
guys to go for a defense man. Somewhere around the middle of the pack a nice tier 3
or low 2 if the stars can align. Might also be a captain trade if Amato misses another on
a no call no show. If you can’t find an ideal trade for Amato now who can they move?
Rick is making a splash on the stat sheet so that adds some pressure to the Wolves
former goal leader (Yeargain.) He does have a two-year deal that is cap friendly!
Teams to trade with: Sting, Moose, Venom
Needs: 2 nd or 3 rd Defenseman
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STING (3-2)
We saved the best for last. Or what used to be the best. On paper its another
solid team. The games they lost could of went either way. a unique style of play if they
get the lead early its hard to beat them without a big moment in the game. A strong
penalty kill, a power play goal, something to swing the momentum. Maybe that’s just
how they approached our team. It was working well for them. until it didn’t… I think
they’ve only been stopped on the powerplay one time this year also. Up until the last
game their PK was phenomenal as well. So what are they looking for? In my opinion,
stay out of the box. This unit works best as a whole. Estes is a lock down defender but
at his level maybe a few more points would help. Utilize that third line! Any trade they
make would be lateral for how good their roster is already. Maybe there’s a sleeper
trade out there that I don’t see. aside from changing the identity of the team and going
heavy offense move one of the guys that I like to call quarterbacks. Theres a few teams
that need one.
Teams to trade with: Jets, Yetis, Raptors, or Venom.
Needs. Decent refs ( I’m kidding ) situational awareness.
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Buyers and Cellars
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Probably not the best title since “The League” is anti-tanking and everyone should be able to compete. Judging by the title and the first sentence you can guess what this is going to be a bout. That’s right, TRADES!! Along with speculations of what each team needs and might do to improve their run for the cup! This is my first attempt at an article and might appear like a Junior high student, or even a grade schooler wrote this. Enough rambling, I'll start with the Lincoln Division since the league favorite Wolves are in that one. Let’s go from first to worst (by division)!
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Lincoln Division
(division of parity)
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STING
First up, (but 2nd in our hearts) the Sting. A team that’s does not shy away from making trades, big or small. Coming off a gut punch of a loss after blowing a 6ish goal lead, the Sting are 2-1. I wouldn’t look for them to make a major move at this time. Especially with Weber coming back at some point. Figuring out how to utilize their third line might be more beneficial for now. Unless a complete meltdown happens look for them to target players like Jeremy Pflasterer if they want a short-term answer, or Jerad Steinmann if they want someone with years on their contract. I can’t remember if Steinmann has been here or not so I’m not sure if this will add another team to his GRHL punch card.
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Needs: Depth scoring. Their big 3 have 35 points and the rest of the team has 11.
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WOLVES
Next up, the true #1 (jersey sales don’t lie) the Wolves. Also not afraid to make big trades. That seem to work out for everyone except them. Coming off a dominant win and doing so without two key players, the Wolves are headed in the right direction. They have all the pieces to make a good run, but the same was said last year and we know how that story ended. The Wolves might be the oldest average age team in the league. Look for them to target younger or high energy players that can give the old timers a break. Jordan Nevels might be a decent fit here. Maybe even some of that suburban dad rage Kyle Gehrig brings to the table. Possibly even Trae “I don’t spill the beans anymore” Wargo.
Needs: Youth and rostered players to show up. Like the Sting, budgets are tight so a trade will take some magic.
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OUTLAWS
3rd on the list, Last year’s cup champions the Outlaws. That was last year get off your high horse and move on. Quit living in the past. Maybe that’s me reliving that moment (it still hurts.) Anyway, a nice come from behind win in their last match. I’ll tell you this for free, the last two games the other Kleinschmidt has played he didn’t appear to be comfortable on D. Numbers don’t lie though, he’s still producing. I think they should be shopping for another solid D-man for two reasons. 1) Get Grant back to what he’s good at, Offense. 2) Another good defenseman to help tighten up the zone and keep the game more manageable. Brad Foiles is a good fit anywhere at a fair price also. Willie Webb might bring some grit and defense they need. Close to that price range is Drew Estes, but I don’t see the Sting sharing him, especially within the division.
Needs: Defense to let Grant get back to Forward. Like the rest of the division, budgets are tight so a trade will take some magic.
THUNDERCATS
4th on the list, the Thundercat’s. Solid from top to bottom and a goalie that’s playing some real good hockey right now. Coming off a win, but they can’t seem to put teams away that they should be walking on. They play to their competition and nothing more. I think they have too much pride (very punny) to make a trade that makes the gap wider in their victories. Maybe they need to change a mental preparation instead of a trade. Maybe captain Quigley coming back is the answer. Scott Robben could bring a little more Defensive structure to help the cats maintain that comfortable lead at the end of games. If defense isn’t the way to go, time to pour it on with more offense. Brett Lucas can add a few more to the totals. They have a supporting cast that compliments his style of play also.
Needs: Depth scoring and Defense. The Thundercats have $3 in cap space.
MOOSE
Finally, The Moose. The record is misleading. Another loaded roster and well-builtteam. Coming off a loss but missing some big names like Costillo and Lyons. I’m not sure thoseskates can be filled when they are out. Moose are beating who they should and competing withthe rest. There are two ways the Moose can go as far as trades. A little more help on the backend for Lyons would go a long way on this team. Or you can continue with the high energy, runand gun style. Ill mention a few names that I have mentioned before for these guys. A player like Josh Heatherly goes well with both plans and a little brotherly love could be a line for them. I’m not sure the Wolves will trade him as he’s been solid for them. but that style of player would be nice for the Moose. Jordan Nevels brings some high energy.
Needs: Depth scoring and Defense. The Moose have $2 in cap space and a contract year.
Show-me Division
(division of imparity)
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JETS
1st in the division and League. The Jets, a team that their beloved leader has assembled in previous leagues. Or at least had some similarities. He likes what he likes. 3-0 the last remaining undefeated team this year. The combined opponents record is 2-7 so take that undefeated record lightly. This team will need to make a trade at some point. So here we go.This could be a landing spot for the first goalie trade. It’s not because theirs is playing bad, itssimply because the offer they couldn’t refuse that sets them up for the following season. Will it be Frank Hart, Andy Stubblefield, or RP? Side thought here. I’m not sure a 1:1 goalie trade is fair so it will be interesting to see who else moves in this deal.
Needs: Roster players to show up.
BARRACUDAS
2nd on the list, Barracudas. When they show up, they’re good. When they don’t show up, they’re still alright half of the time. Another well rounded team (it must be a Hellman thing;)the only team with a negative goal differential and a winning record. Does that mean you need more offense or better defense? Or did you just have one off game? Aaron Gruebner would be a good fit here, offering more offense and defense. Nick Moore would offer the same thing as Gruebner. The trick is getting those teams to make that trade. These guys might have to pull a multi team trade to get what they need.
Needs: their roster to show up.
VENOM
3rd team up, Venom. This team has plenty of talent and a top 3 tendy, in my opinion. They still struggle to find a way to win. Or they give away the leads they do get. They play the first ten minutes of the first and sometimes the last ten minutes of the third. What happens in between is yet to be answered. Lack of focus might be the easiest answer. Two similar player sin Stradtman and Lucas. One of these big names should be moving. They need someone to accent one of those big names and keep teams on their heels and out of their own zone. We already know Stradtman works well with Mullins. I bet he can work with Lucas also. Maybe the Thundercat’s would like to have Stradtman back? Another multiteam trade with big names could happen here. don’t forget moving the goalie also!
Needs: Tighter defense.
YETIS
4th team. The Yetis. They went all in last year and it’s showing this year. Not to mentiontheir tendy has a busy schedule so far. He is the difference maker that can steal a game or twofor them. they still must find a way out of their zone and more sustained pressure in theoffensive zone. Stradtman could fit in here. but that means Griffin will have to find a new homealso. Be on the lookout for multi team trades and goalies to move! Maybe Habermehl could end up here if the cards align.
Needs: Offense and Stubby.
RAPTORS
Last, the Raptors. The same core guys for a while and still can’t figure out their identity. With out looking who’s the third captain on the Raptors? I had to look also. Keep the emotions in check and lift your teammates up for starters. On to the trades part. with $18 in cap remaining, you would think the Raptors could find a way to bring in a big-name player. Trouble is 2 players salaries is the most you can retain at a given time. I think sawyer is the highest salary on that team. This will have to be a tricky trade with multiple teams. Structure is needed on this team. Stubblefield flips this team around. His play helps but he brings more than that to the table. Could this be the first captain trade also? Imagine someone like Quinn whipping the Raptors into shape. If only their shade of red were to his likings…
Needs: Offense and goaltending
2024-25 DRAFT PREVIEW
Show Me Division
The Barracudas are in a great position for the season. They brough back most of their players this off season, Jared Gilomen joined the captain group, and they finally have a rostered goalie who is projected to play the entire season. The Cudas only have $3 to fill one open position. With Cort and Jared likely playing defense this captain group should be targeting a forward. If I’m the Cuda’s, I’m either going to put up players to draw out money with my first couple of picks or I’m going to try and sneak in an Aj Flach or Zac Ruyle type of player in hopes to get them at only $3. The Barracudas biggest issue is going to be the fact that every team will be able to outbid them up until the late 3rd round. So, I have them taking the best of the remaining players with a 1 year $3 deal at the top of the 4th round. I can see this captain group reaching out to teams before and during the draft to try and trade a cap year or two in exchange for cap dollars. As it sits right now, I see them with a surplus of 3 years. The Venom and Thundercats (T-money) are the Cudas best chance to make a trade happen during the draft.
The Jets had a solid team last season and if they could have that exact roster this season, they would win the Show-Me division. Unfortunately, the departure of Jared Gilomen to the Barracudas captain group leaves the Jets in an interesting position. I don’t see anyone in the draft with Jared’s caliber of defense that they would be able to snag at his price point. Instead in my mock draft I chose the safe route and split the salaries fairly evenly with the Jets 2 picks, I don’t see this captain group carrying that mindset going into the draft though. The Jets will be patient and look for a contract similar to Hemker’s or Haselhorst’s that they can get the most value out of. I also see the Jets making their first pick towards the end of the second round while there is still some decent talent left in the draft. If they have more than $4 remaining, they will likely take their 2nd player a couple of selections later near the top of the third round. The alternative here is they will take a player that doesn’t necessarily fit their scheme, but the value is too high to pass up. They will then hit up the trading block after a game or 2 to find someone more suitable. This is a very knowledgeable captain group and will find a way to be at the top of the Show-Me this season.
Time to rustle some feathers with the Raptors comp pick. The Raptors are going to look to improve their scoring, but with the new rules they don’t have the same player pool that they would have had with last year’s rules. Aaron Gruebener is a solid player but lacks the goal scoring ability that the Raptors are going to want with this pick. Chris Niemeyer has excellent scoring potential, but the contract value may not be good enough for the Raptors to use their Comp pick on him. I actually have the Raptors selecting Brad Foiles over Nick Moore with their comp pick. Nick moves the puck better than Brad, excels as a playmaker when given the right tools, and gives them better value contract wise. However, Brad’s utility mixed with a 1 point per game average over the last two seasons is too good pass up. If the last two seasons have proven anything, it’s that having a rostered player that can play any position to include goaltending is an absolute must and can win you the cup. With $34 left for 3 players, I see the Raptors targeting Brady Griffin, Rj Pluhar, or Nick Moore in the first round. This should then give them $16-$18ish dollars to select their last 2 players and given their history of having a balanced team they will likely split that salary evenly for the last 2 spots.
The Venom have 5 roster spots with $48 in cap space and the 2nd overall compensation pick. The Venom’s comp pick is a no brainer for me, and they will choose to select Drew Estes, who I’d say is the number one overall player eligible to be a comp pick this season. Drew brings the ability to shut down the top scorers in the league and the ability to move the puck vertically down the rink when given space. Drew has 17 goals and 42 assists in his 1st two seasons in the GRHL and I’d wager he has 9 or more goals and 20+ assists this season for the Venom. For the remaining picks I see the Venom choosing players with size or speed. They have shown in the past to value big forwards and I see them take 2 in this draft mixed with 2 smaller speeder forwards. I see the Venom playing a 2x2 this season with Mearns jumping into the 2nd and 3rd lines periodically to take advantage of matchups and throw off the opposing teams that are trying to lock him down. I think the Venom will have a very balanced team this season with a strong defense and their scoring coming from the top 2 lines. I almost feel sorry for any forward looking to post up in front Frank this season and having to contend with this defense, but I for one can’t wait for the opportunity and hope to play at least one game against these guys this season. I also see them having the fewest goals against and Frank Hart as the league’s top goaltender in 2024.
The Yetis may have traded away Nick Weber for a chance at the cup, but this team is still solid at its core with Bryan Rucker, Kyle Gehrig, and Scott Robben all under contract for $9 or less. That leaves the Yetis’ captain group $30 to fill 4 spots. I see them targeting a forward early in the draft to play with Jared Jackson or to solidify scoring on the second line, and then targeting a defenseman like David Hempen or Brady Riechmann with their second pick. After these two picks the Yetis should be sitting around $5 or so to grab 2 more forwards for their third line. Despite selling the farm last season for a chance at the cup, the Yetis still look solid on my mock draft teams. The Yetis 1st pick is going to set the tone for them, and it will come down to how much they are willing to spend to solidify their offence. If they can get their guy for $18 or less, I think they will have an opportunity to put together a special team. I don’t think they will be able to win the Show-Me division this season given they will have less than $8 a player to spend on 4 open spots, but I don’t think they will be far behind those top divisional teams.
Lincoln Division
The Moose have some new faces in the captain group with Stephen Craig and Kyle Watson replacing Kenny Van de Hey and Joshua Pate who both moved to waivers. The new captains will have a simple draft this season with only having 2 roster spots to fill and 1 of those spots will be filled with the 1st overall compensation pick. Nick Costillo made it very clear that the 1st overall compensation pick would be used on Brent Lyons. I’d expect the Moose to choose to keep him on the roster for 2 seasons at $18. Brent is my 2nd overall available comp pick but his familiarity to this captain group and team will bring an immediate return and makes sense for the Moose. Brent also brings strong offensive capability to this defensive unit and will pair nicely with Hemker. Brent only had 13 goals and 10 assists last season, but I see him finishing closer to his 2022 totals of 23 goals and 34 assists. Brent and Hemker will both help the forwards transition into the offensive zone quickly and remove pressure off Craig in his first season as the Moose starter. The Moose should be giving up fewer shots this season living by “The best defense is a strong offense” motto. After the comp pick the Moose will have $5 and 3 cap years available for their final pick. The Moose are set defensively and should try to target a mid-tier forward early in hopes to sneak through a player that might otherwise cost more in the middle of the draft. The Moose lean heavily on Nick Costillo for their offense and will continue to do so as I’ve heard they are moving to a 3 forward 1 defenseman format. I expect Nick to run with both the first and second lines and cause absolute chaos for opposing captains to plan against. I question if they will keep a top-heavy format or try to make sure all 3 lines will have even scoring potential. One thing is certain and that’s this will be a very dangerous team in the offensive zone.
The 2024 Sting are in an ideal position this season. They have $41 to fill 4 roster positions and their compensation pick is going to give them deadly scoring potential that opposing teams will have to contend with. I have the Sting selecting Jordan Stradtman with the 3rd overall comp pick. Jordan is this year top offensive player available as a compensation pick. Jordan was a top 5 scorer last season and I expect to see the same output if not better this season. This captain group is going to have fun this season finding ways to rollout Jordan and Tyler to keep opposing defenses on their toes. Off season pickup Nick Weber should be putting up career numbers this season as the setup man for both Tyler and Jordan. The Sting will have $25 and 6 contract years after taking Jordan and I’m torn with the Sting in this position, because they could opt to spending up to $23 to bring in a 3rd forward and solidify 3 scoring lines, however I see this captain group grabbing a lesser-known player on a value contract in the middle of the second round. I’d like to see the Sting target a player capable of playing forward and defense to give them flexibility during the season, as you will see in my mock draft. I expect TK, Windmiller, and Baker will all see career numbers this season. Lastly, I’m excited to see who the Sting target as a second setup man to go with their top 3 forwards. This captain group plays a lot of hockey and will certainly do their homework to put forward one of the best scoring teams in the GRHL this season. This should be an exciting draft for the Sting. Although, they may struggle in the first matchup against the Moose, I see the Sting battling with Costillo and the Moose all season for the top spot in the Lincoln division and possibly in the semifinals.
We’re just going to call the ThunderCats (T-money) from now on, because this team is rolling in roster cap every draft and this year is no different with $49 to spend on 4 spots. The Thundercats are a team built on capitalizing on the transition and forcing turnovers in offensive zone behind the net. I think they will take either Brett Lucas or Ben Kleinschmidt early in the first round. But I’m leaning more toward Lucas as I think he fits their team profile better and has some chemistry with Cory Johnson from last season’s State Wars tournament. For the next 2 picks, I have them choosing players that play in the weekly pickup games as they will already know these players. The final pick will depend on how much money is left in the bank. They might get stuck in a position where they can’t outbid any team for a good portion of the draft and must sit back and wait towards the end of the draft to make their final selection. Which if I remember correctly is what happened to them during the 2023 draft. The ThunderCats (T-money) are going to have a helluva team this season, but I think they will struggle for the first couple of games of the season. I know, I know I say that about them every year, but I think it takes this team a couple of games to find their identity and start playing their game vs the game their opponents force them to play. I have them 3rd in the division going into Christmas break, but I promise if you sleep on this this team, they will drop 18+ goals on you. Look for them to make it at least to the semifinals if they play well at both ends of the rink.
Watching the Wolves last season was like watching the Hawks in the Mighty Ducks movie. They had the momentum and talent going into the playoffs to make a push for the cup, just to lose to the up-and-coming team that made some midseason adjustments. And then to have Yeargain fall 2 goals short of my hot take is the cherry on top of the cake. I’m kidding of course. For the most part this is the same team that was favored to win it all last year and is strong enough to make a run in the playoffs if they get some momentum going late in the season. Unfortunately, the Wolve only have $12 in cap space and the Lincoln division might be the strongest we have seen yet. I have the Wolves selecting a player or two that might cause them to be the most penalized team in the league but will also add some ferocity to the Wolves to help them contend in a speedy Lincoln division. The first pick I have for the Wolves is a guy that they have overlooked in the past but brings a well-rounded skillset and will affect the team in a positive way if he stays out of the penalty box. The second pick I have for the Wolve has played with them before, but they will likely have to spend more than they want to bring him back onto the team. The Wolves Captains will need to play the waiting game in this draft and try to find a player that fits their mold and can help bring in the scoring that Nick Moore took when he left for free agency. I like Chris Niemeyer and Brian Shedelbower for the Wolves first pick but it will depend on what they go for in the draft and how much other tea. The question here is when will the Wolves pull the trigger on their first pick? If they get FOMO and choose someone too early, they will likely overpay, but if they wait too long, they will likely end up in a similar situation position to the 2023 Venom and have more cap space left than they would like.
The 2023 Gateway Cup Champions are in a bit of a precarious spot in the 2024 draft. The Outlaws have $35 and 6 cap years for 5 open spots. In my mock draft I have them targeting Ben Kleinschmidt to go along side Grant, Aj, Shaw, and Wendel and see them planning to play a keep away style of game that leverages their speed. I was originally thinking the Outlaws would play a 2x2 style of play with AJ, Shaw, Grant, and Ben playing defense and ensuring that 2 of them would be always playing. But after previewing the other 9 teams I’m at a crossroad in my thoughts on the Outlaws. If they go with the above-mentioned draft and style of play, they will be competitive all season, but will it be enough to give them a solid chance at the cup in this projected powerhouse division? That’s a tough question to answer pre-draft. My other thought for them is to take Nick Moore or Brady Griffin with the hopes of also having enough to take Mason Kelly as well but lack the cap years to sign players long term. They still only have 6 cap years for 5 players unless they make a deal with the Cudas and acquire more cap years. But if they don’t position themselves to win this year, they will lose Grant to Free Agency in the next off season. So, for the sake of not drawing this out with what a trade might look like, I’m going with Plan A for the Outlaws, and they select Ben Kleinschmidt with the 1st or second pick.
GRHL Free Agency
Free agency is here, and we have 7 potential GRHL Free Agents this off season that we will go over. This year we have 7 forwards with varying skillsets they can bring to teams. The biggest question is will the teams these players land on utilize them in a way to maximize the skills these players bring to the table.
Jared Steinmann – Jared is a two-way forward that should play on the bottom 6 but is best served playing on the third line and using his skating ability to cause havoc for opposing teams. Jared skates well and can get back to slow down the rush on defense, but he lacks the pure shooting skills of a top line forward. With that said, Jared plays heads up hockey and could find time on the top lines if paired with a purely offensive talent or paired with another forward teams are looking to create space for. For these instances I could see him paired with Tyler Krapf (Sting), Brandon Payne (Wolves), Jared Jackson (Yetis), or Jordan Stradtman (Draft). Jared’s salary of 1yr $8 or 2yr $9 will likely have him go to the draft as I see him at his cap value. Look for Jared to be a midround pick in this year’s draft at $7.
Chris Niemeyer – Chris is more of a sniper type of forward who will look to shoot more than he passes. He is best suited to playing on the second line with a player of similar speed and skill or a player that will go to the net and free up space for Chris to move the puck or shoot. Despite Chris having a shoot first mentality, he is a willing passer if he trusts the person he is passing to. For this, it’s important to try to keep him with the same forward or forwards early on to build that chemistry. He skates well and will get back on the rush, but he will battle for pucks in the corner or behind the net and isn’t likely to be the first person back to support the defense. My top 3 teams for Chris to land to during Free Agency or the Draft are the Outlaws, Barracudas, and the Jets. Chris’s cap hit of 1yr $9 or 2yr $10 is where I see his value to be at. He is the first of 3 free agents I can see getting picked up prior to the draft.
Eric Urban – Eric is a two-way forward with the potential to play defense. I see him best suited for a 3rd line forward that will play around the opposing team’s net or a 2nd line forward whose job is to hang back and support the defenseman on teams playing with 3 forwards and 1 defenseman. Eric is not afraid of contact or grinding out the puck around the boards or the net. He is a bit raw in his potential and will make a few mistakes with the puck, but he will make far more plays than he gives up. Eric has a good mix of size and speed but lacks the scoring potential teams look for in the top 2 lines. Eric’s cap hit of 1yr $2 or 2yr $3 is a solid value for the potential a team gets. I see a team picking him up in Free Agency locking in a solid third line player and keeping a low cap hit to save money for the draft. My top 3 teams for Eric are Venom, Jets, and Sting.
Brett Miller – Brett is a third line forward/defenseman, but I like him better as a forward. He is absolutely not afraid of contact and will physically challenge opposing players for the puck. Brett is very raw skill wise and will do best on a team that will coach him on both positive and negative plays. Brett has good forward skating ability but lacks transitional skating skills at the moment. He plays a lot of hockey and is improving each week. With that said I see Brett as a $1 player currently and we should see him getting picked up in mid to late rounds of the draft as teams fill out their rosters. My favorite teams for Brett are the Outlaws and Sting, teams he has played for in the past and understand his skillset and how to utilize him.
Jason Housholder – Jason is a third line forward who sees the game well but lacks the skating ability to be a consistent threat with the puck. He also has solid positioning when transitioning into the defensive zone that helps limit his skating woes but should not be expected to shut down the league’s top speed skaters. With that said, Jason’s vision and opposing defenses tendency to ignore him allow for him to set up in gaps with space to shoot the puck. To get the most out of Jason’s skillset they should have him setup in front of opposing goalies for screens and rebounds like how the Venom utilize Joey Blackwood, or as the 3rd forward on an offensive line and let him play between the offensive and defensive faceoff circles. I see Jason as a $1 player and likely picked in the final round of the draft.
Nick Moore – Nick is the most talented free agent available this year and should be playing on the team’s 1st or 2nd lines. He is also capable of playing as an offensive defenseman for teams looking for help moving the puck or more scoring potential. He is a well-rounded playmaker who can feed the play or step into the slot and snipe corners. He has excellent hands and good speed to pair with a solid wrist shot. Nicks biggest drawback is playing time. He has missed a couple of games in each season, but when Nick is available teams are getting an excellent playmaker that looks to push the puck forward any chance he gets. When it comes to contract value Nick’s 1yr $17 and 2yr $19 are subjective and will vary from team to team and how many games they think they will get out of him during the season. My top 3 teams for Nick to potentially land during free agency or the draft are the Thundercats, Raptors, and Venom. If he goes into the draft Nick will be either a first-round pick that teams use to draw money out of the draft, or a mid-late round value pick a team will try to get for a discount as the high money is long spent.
Nick Ruffini – Nick Ruffini is an interesting free agent this offseason. His 1yr $3 is certainly enticing for a team looking for a solid 3rd line skater. Unfortunately, Nick was on LTIR for all but one game last season, and I was unable to get confirmation from Nick on when he is likely to return. Teams will likely pass on Nick during free agency due to the uncertainty of when he will return. However, a team that drafts him and is patient with him as he gets back to the speed of the game should see a good return late in the season and into the postseason. I see Nick being drafted with the final few picks of the draft. My top team for Nick to land on is the Jets for $1-$2 on a 2-year contract. To me this is Quinn Helman’s ideal player. A guy he can get cheap and coach up to play at a higher level than what he showed up to the team as.
Make sure to discuss on the GRHL socials on what you agree with and what I got wrong with my free agency take.