By Dylan Callow
This is the 2nd part of 4 in the season preview series. We’re going to take a quick look at the Demitra Division
tonight and make a prediction on their final standings. Here’s my evaluation (keep in mind we haven’t finished trading so it’s not set in stone).
I am evaluating the Goaltending, Top 4 Defense, and Top 6 Forwards based on their current OV ranking, taking into account the amount of players 30 years of age+. These are ranked out of 10.
I will also evaluate the team’s top 5 prospects, which in my description are the top 5 players in terms of PO who haven’t yet reached their potential. This is ranked out of 5 points.
Finally, I will look at the team’s available cap space to make deals to improve their team. This section will be evaluated out of 3.
Note: This is an interesting prediction as I tried to not only compare the teams in this division, but also how they stacked up to the Scholder Division. From this, I can make a prediction on the Southern Conference standings.
Goaltending:
The Demitra Division is weaker between the pipes than Scholder, as only one goalie is above 85OVR, and that is Cam Ward, who will have his first full season with Athens. Athens takes the goalie ranks by a mile due to a great backup in Crawford.
Many of the other goalies in the division are lower tier #1 goalies, but having said that Paris’s Rask had 40 wins last season and should repeat the feat with a strong team in front of him.
Teams to watch will be Madrid/Prague, as the goalie duties will be split this year and transferred over by the end of the season to Lehner and Hovinen. Let’s see if either one of these young goalies can rack up 20 wins.
Out of 10:
Athens: 9 Points
Madrid/Prague: 5 Points
Paris: 4 Points
Bratislava/Milan: 3 Points
Top 4 Defense:
If we compare the defenses of the Demitra Division to Scholder’s, we can see that the Demitra Division’s teams have really built for the future. They have young superstars in the works in Myers, Karlsson, Byfuglien, Pietrangelo, and Letang.
Bratislava best defenseman in Chara has dramatically regressed, but Tyler Myers can now handle a top 2 role after a blossoming in the previous year.
Milan traded Byfuglien to Athens, which helps to shift the balance of power in the division, as Athens has a very competent top 4.
However, the top defense is still in Paris has both Pietrangelo and Letang as their top 2 defenseman, showing the EURO league that the future is indeed now. They are and will be the best pairing in the league for a number of years.
Prague has a collection of #3/4 defenseman, but they might need to upgrade in order to help out Miller.
Out of 10:
Paris: 10 Points
Athens: 7 Points
Madrid: 6.5 Points
Bratislava: 6 Points
Milan: 4 Points
Prague: 3.5 Points
Top 6 Forwards:
In a flurry of trades, Milan has completely rebuild the team with draft picks and propsects. 5 of their top 6 of last year has been lost to trade, FA, and retirement (Callahan, Moulson, Kaylvas, Brown, Alfredsson)
Prague has also traded Parise and Vanek and lost Michael Ryder, but also have a variety of prospects.
While Paris has acquired a solid 2nd liner in Mikko Koivu, the top groups are Athens and Madrid, who have really good 2nd lines to match what should be some dominant 1st lines.
Out of 10:
Athens/Madrid: 8 Points
Paris: 7 Points
Bratislava: 6 Points
Prague: 5 Points
Milan: 2 Points
The Future (Top 5 Potential Players):
The Demitra Division has by far the best collection of young players I have seen yet, and is heads and shoulders over the Scholder Division. Madrid has two generational talents in Landeskog and Karlsson, as well as Couturier, Pavelski, and Brodin. They could have two legends very, very soon.
However, Athens is not far behind in O’Reilly, Kronwall, as well as Backes, Oshie, and Shipachov. Prague has Nugent-Hopkins, Galenchyuk, Hovinen and Yakupov. Round that out with Paris’s Pietrangelo, Letang, Malkin, Hamonic, and Kuusk and you will have the leagues most competitive division in 2 years.
Out of 5:
Madrid: 5 Points
Paris: 4.5 Points
Athens/Prague: 4 Points
Bratislava: 3 Points
Milan: 1 Point
Cap Flexibilty:
Milan has a payroll under 45M, which allows them the opportunity to go out and acquire 2 or 3 impact players. However, other than Prague, teams in this division might have trouble with cap space if they want to go out and acquire more depth.
Out of 3:
Athens: 3 Points
Milan/Prague: 2.5 Points
Bratislava: 1.5 Points
Paris: 1 Points
Madrid: 0 Points
Projected Final Standings in the Division:
1st Place: Athens (acquired a franchise goaltender, should lead a competitive division)
2nd Place: Paris (Consistent depth in all areas, especially defense)
3rd Place: Madrid (about 2-3 years away from their full potential)
4th Place: Prague (I’m liking the acquisition of top young players, but they aren’t ready to compete yet)
5th Place: Bratislava (Some top players could be traded for a rebuild here.)
6th Place: Milan (rebuilding and this young team might get pummelled most nights)
