2023/24 Seattle Sea Lions Season Preview
Apr 1, 2018 21:36:19 GMT -5
bjernagris (PHI), mattgough60, and 1 more like this
Post by brob89 (NSH) on Apr 1, 2018 21:36:19 GMT -5
The Seattle Times – Sean Quinton
What a fun season last year was for fans in Seattle. We made the playoffs! We even made it past the top seeded Winnipeg Jets into the second round. And even better, Vegas missed! Ha! Losers. Ok, gloating finished. On the back of excellent performances from Julius Honka, Adam Mascherin, and Nick Pastujov, the Sea Lions fans got their first taste of NHL playoffs. We liked it. We loved it. We want some more of it! (In your face, Nashville fans. We're getting in our gloating while it can still be got. But for reals this time, now I'm finished.) The team doesn't look poised exactly for another run like last year, but who knows, stranger things have happened.
Major(ish) Offseason Changes:
In:
River Beattie (Trade), Hank Crone (Trade), Kalle Ervasti (AHL), Isac Andersson (Trade), Matthias Brenne Halvorsen (AHL), Caleb Jones (AHL)
Out:
Austin Wagner (Trade), Matt Dumba (UFA), Taylor Raddysh (Trade), Warren Foegele (UFA), Jeremy Lauzon (Retirement), Joey Anderson (UFA)
This offseason was decidedly less exciting for Seattle Sea Lions fans. Without an expansion draft or an expected high pick or lots of cap room, not much was to be expected of this offseason. And boy did management deliver the goods on that! If you're a long time (2 years counts, right?) Sea Lions fan, you have to be excited about the opportunity to get a glimpse of some young players who have been working their way up steadily in the system and are looking to take another step forward, but not much is expected of any of this year's offseason additions. Kalle Ervasti, the 2nd round pick of the franchise's inaugural draft, looks great, but for an offensive defenseman, he hasn't really been much of a point producer at any level. Is there any reason to think that that is about to change? Isac Andersson, who was picked up in a trade with the team that must not be named, is the other more interesting addition. But he seems poised for a bottom line/penalty killing role at this point, so not much can be expected from him at this point other than showing that he can play a responsible two-way game when he gets the chance. All in all, I think I'm not alone in saying, "at least we didn't trade away a top pick again."
Projected Lineup:
Tkachuk- Bitsadze - Sokolov
Pastujov - Hugg - Mascherin
Aaltonen - Bellerive - Beattie
Crone - Andersson - Brenne Halvorsen
(The only
) Lauzon - Honka
Schemitsch - De Haan
Pelletier – Ervasti
Brizgala
Vejmelka
Goalies:
Goaltending was something of a strength for the Sea Lions last year. For most of the year, Montembeault and Vejmelka formed a strong partnership in net, both sporting a strong GAA and SV%. At the deadline, however, Montembeault was moved essentially for the less proven goalie, Adam Brizgala and moving up 31 spots in the draft. At the time, that was seen as something of a peculiar decision considering Montembeault's strong play and the fact that Seattle was right in the thick of the fight for the final few spots in the Western Conference playoffs. Brizgala quickly silenced all critics with a .932 SV% and a sub 2.00 GAA over 8 games as the season came to a close. Vejmelka was given the reins in the playoffs, and did decently well with the opportunity. But with this year being a contract year for Vejmelka and a number of other (Honka!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?) important players for this team, it's likely that Brizgala will be given more of a chance to stake a claim for the #1 job this year.
Defense:
Any discussion about our defense starts and finishes with this: Honka done got robbed. He deserved that Orr trophy, for sure. Most valuable defender by. a. mile. Picking him up last off season was something of a masterstroke, and the addition of De Haan only served to further solidify defense as the strength of this team. Schemitsch had another impressive season, and Pelletier stepped up impressively well after the tragic career ending injury to the elder Lauzon. And while there are perhaps more questions this year than last with Sandin and Dumba both having moved on; this Defense still looks to be a significant strength for this team. And like I said before, starts AND finishes: Honka done got robbed!
Offense:
Not much has changed in the top 9 for the Sea Lions. Perhaps the biggest question marks are regarding whether or not the 1st line can have a bounce back season, and whether or not the 3rd line can continue their solid play from last year. Those are both pretty big question marks at the moment. The 1st line is totally unchanged from the failure of last year, so it's not clear why management would expect to receive different results. Alternately, 2/3 of the 3rd line have been changed, and if the preseason means anything (it usually doesn't. Evan Barratt for MVP, anyone?) they might be a disaster. But with that said, this team is young and continuing to develop. Vincent Trocheck (last season's unsung hero!) and Mike Amadio are the only forwards over the age of 25, and neither project to have much opportunity to have an impact this season. So this year will likely be another season with some growing pains for Seattle's offense, but hopefully fans can be patient. And hopefully the highly touted (and paid) Mikhail Bitsadze will learn how to play hockey properly outside of mother Russia.
2018-2019 Outlook:
Another year of low expectations sounds about right, methinks. It was a blast to make the playoffs last year, and to make it into the second round to boot! But the Vegas money is against us, and we all know the house always wins. But the Vegas money is also against Vegas, so at least there's that small consolation.
What a fun season last year was for fans in Seattle. We made the playoffs! We even made it past the top seeded Winnipeg Jets into the second round. And even better, Vegas missed! Ha! Losers. Ok, gloating finished. On the back of excellent performances from Julius Honka, Adam Mascherin, and Nick Pastujov, the Sea Lions fans got their first taste of NHL playoffs. We liked it. We loved it. We want some more of it! (In your face, Nashville fans. We're getting in our gloating while it can still be got. But for reals this time, now I'm finished.) The team doesn't look poised exactly for another run like last year, but who knows, stranger things have happened.
Major(ish) Offseason Changes:
In:
River Beattie (Trade), Hank Crone (Trade), Kalle Ervasti (AHL), Isac Andersson (Trade), Matthias Brenne Halvorsen (AHL), Caleb Jones (AHL)
Out:
Austin Wagner (Trade), Matt Dumba (UFA), Taylor Raddysh (Trade), Warren Foegele (UFA), Jeremy Lauzon (Retirement), Joey Anderson (UFA)
This offseason was decidedly less exciting for Seattle Sea Lions fans. Without an expansion draft or an expected high pick or lots of cap room, not much was to be expected of this offseason. And boy did management deliver the goods on that! If you're a long time (2 years counts, right?) Sea Lions fan, you have to be excited about the opportunity to get a glimpse of some young players who have been working their way up steadily in the system and are looking to take another step forward, but not much is expected of any of this year's offseason additions. Kalle Ervasti, the 2nd round pick of the franchise's inaugural draft, looks great, but for an offensive defenseman, he hasn't really been much of a point producer at any level. Is there any reason to think that that is about to change? Isac Andersson, who was picked up in a trade with the team that must not be named, is the other more interesting addition. But he seems poised for a bottom line/penalty killing role at this point, so not much can be expected from him at this point other than showing that he can play a responsible two-way game when he gets the chance. All in all, I think I'm not alone in saying, "at least we didn't trade away a top pick again."
Projected Lineup:
Tkachuk- Bitsadze - Sokolov
Pastujov - Hugg - Mascherin
Aaltonen - Bellerive - Beattie
Crone - Andersson - Brenne Halvorsen
(The only
) Lauzon - HonkaSchemitsch - De Haan
Pelletier – Ervasti
Brizgala
Vejmelka
Goalies:
Goaltending was something of a strength for the Sea Lions last year. For most of the year, Montembeault and Vejmelka formed a strong partnership in net, both sporting a strong GAA and SV%. At the deadline, however, Montembeault was moved essentially for the less proven goalie, Adam Brizgala and moving up 31 spots in the draft. At the time, that was seen as something of a peculiar decision considering Montembeault's strong play and the fact that Seattle was right in the thick of the fight for the final few spots in the Western Conference playoffs. Brizgala quickly silenced all critics with a .932 SV% and a sub 2.00 GAA over 8 games as the season came to a close. Vejmelka was given the reins in the playoffs, and did decently well with the opportunity. But with this year being a contract year for Vejmelka and a number of other (Honka!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?) important players for this team, it's likely that Brizgala will be given more of a chance to stake a claim for the #1 job this year.
Defense:
Any discussion about our defense starts and finishes with this: Honka done got robbed. He deserved that Orr trophy, for sure. Most valuable defender by. a. mile. Picking him up last off season was something of a masterstroke, and the addition of De Haan only served to further solidify defense as the strength of this team. Schemitsch had another impressive season, and Pelletier stepped up impressively well after the tragic career ending injury to the elder Lauzon. And while there are perhaps more questions this year than last with Sandin and Dumba both having moved on; this Defense still looks to be a significant strength for this team. And like I said before, starts AND finishes: Honka done got robbed!
Offense:
Not much has changed in the top 9 for the Sea Lions. Perhaps the biggest question marks are regarding whether or not the 1st line can have a bounce back season, and whether or not the 3rd line can continue their solid play from last year. Those are both pretty big question marks at the moment. The 1st line is totally unchanged from the failure of last year, so it's not clear why management would expect to receive different results. Alternately, 2/3 of the 3rd line have been changed, and if the preseason means anything (it usually doesn't. Evan Barratt for MVP, anyone?) they might be a disaster. But with that said, this team is young and continuing to develop. Vincent Trocheck (last season's unsung hero!) and Mike Amadio are the only forwards over the age of 25, and neither project to have much opportunity to have an impact this season. So this year will likely be another season with some growing pains for Seattle's offense, but hopefully fans can be patient. And hopefully the highly touted (and paid) Mikhail Bitsadze will learn how to play hockey properly outside of mother Russia.
2018-2019 Outlook:
Another year of low expectations sounds about right, methinks. It was a blast to make the playoffs last year, and to make it into the second round to boot! But the Vegas money is against us, and we all know the house always wins. But the Vegas money is also against Vegas, so at least there's that small consolation.