GM: Jason Haupt
Coach: Sheldon Keefe
Last season: 24th overall. Did not make the playoffs.
Ins and Outs
(Season 15 to Season 16)
In: Chris Martenet (free agent), Peyton Krebs (waivers), Max Jones (free agent), Aliaksei Protas (free agent),
Out: Dylan Sikura (trade), Alexey Toropchenko (trade), Radek Faksa (trade), Teuvo Teravainen (trade), Oscar Klefbom (free agent), Ryan Murray (free agent)
Potential Lineup
Olli Palola/Jack Hughes/Andrei Svechnikov
Matthias Asperup/Mikhail Grigorenko/Rickard Rakell
Max Jones/Nejc Kastelic/Oliver Wahlstrom
Markus Granlund/Luke Kunin/Christian Fischer
Danilo Tomasevic/Adam Fox
Travis Dermott/Ivan Provorov
Chris Martenet/Rasmus Sandin
Ilya Sorokin/Mackenzie Blackwood
A Question
Anything surprising about Gothenburg this year? For one, only 7 teams allowed fewer shots on goal than the Frolunda did last year. That’s surprising. But maybe even more surprising is that for a last place team, this team has impressive depth. If you look at the forward lines, you have some dynamic young studs like Jack Hughes and Andrei Svechnikov and then you can scan down the depth chart past Rickard Rakell … Oliver Wahlstrom … Max Jones … and there on the fourth line are guys with OV ratings of 76, 77 and 79. If they can find the right playing styles for all those guys, the Frolunda could be a handful. On to the blueline and talk about a dynamic pair of puck movers getting prime ice time in Adam Fox and young Danilo Tomasevic. They would be leaving opposing forwards in their dust for sure if the game wasn’t played on ice. And when they scoot to the bench, the next defense pair will feature veteran Ivan Provorov, who is probably the best player on the team, and steady Travis Dermott. Big Chris Martenet was added to the help clear the front of the net and he will be useful on the penalty kill. In goal, Ilya Sorokin and Mackenzie Blackwood have pretty good goalie ratings and they will need to play to their potential. They didn’t last year. The Frolunda’s worst attribute last season was the powerplay. It was no help at all. But while Gothenburg finished last a season ago, they look to have the talent to finish several rungs up the ladder in Season 16.
Rose’s Focus
“I think it was in 1960 when I entertained a fella named Punch Imlach. He always wore a fedora hat even though those had gone out of style. This particular day, he seemed pretty lost. I told him, ‘Hang in there. Your team has a lot of good youngsters. Try putting that Dave Keon kid with Mahovolich and see if they click.’ Well, they clicked and Punch’s Toronto Maple Leafs won 4 Stanley Cups through 1967. I feel like offering similar advice to Jason Haupt, GM of Gothenburg. ‘Jason,’ I’d say. ‘You need a weird nickname that no one else will ever use. Punch is taken. Maybe Intestines Haupt or Pirouette Haupt. And start wearing a fedora. If you don’t know what that is, look it up on your Google machine. You have eight players 25 or younger with PO ratings of 80 or higher. You have 15 prospects who were drafted in either Round 1 or Round 2 of the last three NHL drafts. Try putting that Jack Hughes kid with Svechnikov and see if they click.'”
