GM: Brett Warbeck
Coach: Todd Reirden
Last season: 24th overall. Missed playoffs
Ins and Outs
(Season 14 to Season 15)
In: John Klingberg (free agent), Dmitry Orlov (waivers), Carl Lindbom (draft), Kevin Clark (free agent), Denis Gribko (waivers), Layne Viveiros (waivers), Mason Marchment (waivers),
Out: Igor Shesterkin (waivers), Thomas Chabot (free agent), Christian Fischer (free agent), Ryan Johansen (free agent), Ryan Donato (free agent),
Potential Lineup
Nick Schmaltz/Valentin Nussbaumer/Mikko Lehtonen
Tim Stutzle/Victor Rask/Kevin Clark
Adam Lowry/Yegor Sharangovich/Sven Andrighetto
Mason Marchment/Pavel Zacha/Nathan Bastien
Jakub Krejcik/John Klingberg
Darnell Nurse/Layne Viveiros
Dmitry Orlov/Erik Andersson
Carl Lindbom/Jake Oettinger
Three Questions
1. Will Hanover surprise people this season? The Scorpions have talent and depth this season and don’t count them out of making a huge leap in the standings, maybe even into a playoff position. Not too many GMs have the good problem that’s facing GM Brett Warbeck this season. He has a lot of excellent young skaters who aren’t ripe enough just yet to be inserted into the lineup. But they would development more if they get ice time now. It’s a really difficult decision. Cole Caufield, Cole Sillinger and a few good young defensemen with names other than Cole fit into that category. If he gets them into the lineup, that could cost him wins, which could douse the Scorpions’ playoffs dream. The GM has to decide what the goal is this season and with this club, it’s a tough call.
2. Who is the team’s goalie? Excellent question. With Igor Shesterkin (age 27) and Jake Oettinger (24) signed long-term, it looked like they might take turns driving Hanover’s goalie truck. Then Carl Lindbom was picked second overall in the draft and he would want a seat in the cab too. That’s two too many drivers, when you think about it. GM Brett Warbeck let Shesterkin go, although that had to be a bitter pill to swallow. So Lindbom and Oettinger will get to show what they are made of. Luckily, they have a solid set of defensemen in front of them. The blue line corps is a mix of offense and defense, hitting and slick puck handling, braun and brain. Hanover has an unwieldy 15 defensemen on the team right now, so if you’re a EURO League GM, throwing a defensemen into a trade offer isn’t going to move the needle at all. Maybe it’s the beer talking, but for a last place team, Hanover is exciting. Its fans have to be excited, not only for this season but also for the future, when Simon Gnyp, Sean Durzi, Cole Caufield and Cole Sillinger join Lindbom, Tim Stutzle, Valentin Nussbaumer and the rest of the Scorpions.
3. If you are playing Hanover, what can you expect? The Scorpions can skate, so you might find yourself chasing them at times. But for the most part, your defensemen can expect to get out of their own zone unmolested. The Scorpions forwards are generally smaller guys, Adam Lowry and the big fourth line aside. But by the time you approach the Hanover blueline, keep your head up. Jakub Krejcik has evolved into a heat-seeking missile. Darnell Nurse, as you all know, is tough, and one of the newest additions to the team, Layne Viveiros, is one of the most underrated players in the league and he does not mind sending a forward onto the seat of his pants. Erik Andersson is back there too, and he will hit you. The point is, Hanover will take a physical toll on your team.
Rose’s Focus
“My niece’s son Bagel is only 4 and I’m proud of him because he wears the gifts I give him and he acts a lot older than his age. He is already reading at a Martin Sayle level. No wait, that was last year. He’s reading at a John Charles level currently and he soon will be reading at a 5th grade level. The point is he seems more mature than he should be. Kevin Clark is the opposite. The former first-round draft pick is now 30 years old, but because he only has played 8 games in the league, he plays at a 21-year-old’s level. His Experience attribute is just 54. But he likes to hit, he’s quick and he has a good shot. Hanover signed him to a no movement clause, so Clark should get loads of playing time and I’m very interested to see – finally – what he can do. By the time that happens, Bagel should be reading at a Tony B level. “
