GM: Igor Kirunov
Coach: Dave Tippett (contract expired)
Last season: 7th overall. In playoffs, lost to Dublin
Ins and Outs
(Season 14 to Season 15)
In: Par Arlbrandt (trade), Fyodor Malykhin (trade), Jan Kovar (trade), Anthony Duclair (free agent), Jaden Schwartz (free agent), Michael Stone (free agent), Bartek Bison (draft)
Out: Robin Lehner (trade), Talgat Zhailauov (free agent), Stefan Ulmer (free agent), Morten Madsen (waivers), Marius Holtet (free agent), Alexander Burmistrov (free agent), Jakob Silfverberg (free agent), Denis Malin (trade), James Van Riemsdyk (free agent), Craig Smith (free agent), Jack Callow (free agent), Jyri Martinez (free agent), Kyle Okposo (free agent), Mikhail Grigorenko (free agent), Keith Kincaid (retired)
Potential Lineup
Matthias Sjogren/Bo Horvat/Par Arlbrandt
Petr Vrana/Fyodor Malykhin/Jan Kovar
Yanni Gourde/Jaden Schwartz/Anthony Duclair
Bartek Bison/Nick Suzuki/Vasili Podkolzin
Aaron Ekblad/Maxim Chudinov
Rasmus Ristolainen/Jaccob Slavin
Jonas Siegenthaler/Niclas Almari
Attila Adorjan/Janis Voris
Three Questions
1. How did Minsk do in the off season? General Manager Igor Kirunov wheeled and dealed pretty well in recent months. In trades, he acquired three forwards and in free agency, he was able to sign two more to give the team great depth up front. The coach will be able to mix up lines without worrying too much about quality dropping off. Hussar forwards are now among the fastest in the league, and there should be a team toughness aspect to Minsk now because most of the forward corps likes to hit and go to the “dirty” areas of the ice. As a group, they hustle and they back check. Minsk fans have reason for great optimism this season.
2. Is Attila Adorjan ready to be the No. 1? The Hungarian/Romanian goalie was highly touted in his draft year and was selected 6th overall by Munich. After four seasons, he came to Minsk and has won 48 games for them to just 16 losses with a GAA of about 2.54. Minsk fans long for another Carey Price, the man who helped them win 2 Cups a half-dozen years ago. Simeon Varlamov and Robin Lehner weren’t that guy. Maybe Adorjan, who is just 28, can be. Directly in front of him, he should be able to work with the same six defensemen all year. Aaron Ekblad has missed just 2 games in 10 years and all the Hussar Dmen have super high durability ratings. Michael Stone, a defenseman signed as the 7th defenseman, may never get a chance to play this season. The Hussar defensemen are the main reason Minsk was third-best in the league last season at limiting opponents’ shots on goal. There is no reason to think they won’t be as good this season.
3. What should Minsk fear the most? A lot of little things. Two of Minsk’s four centers aren’t strong on face-offs, but that’s not too big of a deal, right? They don’t have a big forward so they will have to rely on their quickness up front and that could wear on them late in games. Jan Kovar, a RW, should be one of the Hussars’ top scorers this season and he will be counted on to score goals. But he’s 33 now and shouldn’t be as durable as he used to be. Yanni Gourde might be the best penalty killer on the team, but he also will be in the penalty box more than any forward not named Anthony Duclair. And again, face-offs. Aside from Jaden Schwartz and Bo Horvat, most of these guys would lose draws every time. Even to Rose.
Rose’s Focus
“I get the feeling Minsk’s defense is going to be strong – like my niece’s new boyfriend – for many years, and I’m including the goalie position in that feeling. Only 2 of those 7 starters are over 30, and then just by a few weeks. The forward lines is where Minsk is getting along in age. Six of the top 7 forwards are 31 or older. That tells me the team has to be in “win now” mode. Injuries to key players could be devastating for this team so they need to be as healthy as they can be. I switched back to the all bratwurst and pastries diet and am feeling quite fit. That’s my free advice for them this year. Let’s see if Igor (Kirunov) finally listens to me.”
