GM: Martin Sayle
Coach: Ken Hitchcock
Last season: 4th overall. In playoffs, defeated St. Petersburg
Ins and Outs
(Season 13 to Season 14)
In: Jakub Petruzalek (free agent), Danis Zaripov (waivers), Phil DiGiuseppe (free agent), Casey DeSmith (free agent), Ville Husso (free agent), Olen Zellweger (draft), Devon Levi (draft), Yan Kuznetsov (draft)
Out: Andes De La Garma (free agent), Jean-Gabriel Pageau (waivers), Vincent Trocheck (free agent), Noah Hanifin (trade), Brandon Dubinsky (retired), Adam Lowry (free agent), Anton Slepyshev (free agent),
Potential Lineup
Johnny Gaudreau/Auston Matthews/Marko Dano
Boone Jenner/Simon Hjalmarsson/Joakim Hillding
Anthony Beauvillier/Jakub Petruzalek/Danis Zaripov
Nils Hoglander/Anton Lundell/Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Seth Jones/Dougie Hamilton
Drew Doughty/Nikita Voles
Victor Hedman/K’Andre Miller
Jonas Korpisalo/Elvis Merzlikins
Three Questions
1. Matthews … ? General Manager Marty Sayle shocked and shook the EURO League on May 7 with a message titled “Matthews …” in which he said star winger Auston Matthews and the Tridents are contemplating a divorce. “He (Matthews) feels we don’t have the big stage that his generational talent deserves so he’d like to go to a larger market where his star can truly shine,” Sayle wrote. Somehow the message to general managers was leaked to the public (Stephen R, we know it was you) and the fan base in Denmark reacted by angrily making Danish pastries with less care and skipping over paragraphs in many Hans Christian Andersen novels. It was really ugly. Sayle wanted a top 6 center, along with quality picks and/or prospects for Matthews but there were no takers. The price seemed reasonable for a big 26-year-old who last season reached 100 points for the first time in his 6-year career. Matthews has scored between 32 and 38 goals every season in the league. He has worked really well with his wingers, Johnny Gaudreau and Marko Dano. Late in the off season, there was still no movement on the trade and Matthews and Trident fans were still together, looking at each other with uneasy, smile-less faces.
2. De La Garma … ? Copenhagen had a significant salary cap issue and Andres De La Garma knew getting the kind of money he wanted would be next to impossible, so he made it known he would test the free agent market between seasons. The Mexican netminder has been the Trident starter for 6 seasons and he has helped them win 2 EURO Cups in the last 4 seasons. During Copenhagen’s rise to the top tier of the league, De La Garma won 40 games for four straight seasons. But Sayle already has a new starting goalie in place. He traded Noah Hanifin to Munich for Joonas Korpisalo, a 28-year-old Finn with tons of experience with Bern and Munich. He hit the 90 save percentage one season but has never gone over it. Coach Ken Hitchcock’s systems, along with Korpisalo’s maturation, should see him over 90 for a few seasons.
3. How is Sayle at the draft table? One of the best. For sure. With his pick late in the first round of the Season 11 draft, Sayle gambled on Finnish center Anton Lundell, who was probably a little too skinny to ever play in the league. Or at least that’s what a lot of scouts thought. Today, after getting his Websim attributes with Florida in the NHL, Lundell is a solid bet to be the team’s offensive leader in 7 or 8 seasons. He could step into the lineup this season and has an 88 PO rating. Season 10 pick Alex Newhook is another prospect who panned out for Sayle. He might not play this season but his 83 PO rating will help down the line. Season 9 first-round pick K’Andre MIller is penciled in to be partners this season with one of the league’s best-ever defensemen, Victor Hedman. Miller has perennial all-star written all over him once he puts in a few seasons.
Rose’s Focus
“Copenhagen’s strength in its great seasons has been its depth through out the lineup. But player salaries have grown and it’s going to be tough for the Tridents to maintain that formula. I have always marveled at how Simon Hjalmarsson plays. The Swedish center has had to take a back seat in ice time to Auston Matthews, Brandon Dubinsky and Vincent Trocheck over the years, and look at the numbers he’s produced! He has scored 64 to 74 points and has been +14 to +27 over the last four seasons as a third-liner. He might be the most underrated player in the league. Coepnhagen acquired Jakub Petruzalek, who is bigger and more defensive than Hjalmarsson with a slightly better OV rating. To me the big question is do you take Hjalmarsson off the third line and promote him up the ladder? I would be afraid to mess with something that has worked so well. It would like making me commissioner of the league. Sure, I would be an improvement, but I don’t want to lead a league that doesn’t have a great secretary and accountant.”
