GM: Delwin Y
Coach: Willie Desjardins
Last season: 16th overall. In playoffs, lost to Copenhagen
Ins and Outs
(Season 15 to Season 16)
In: Tobias Rieder (free agent), Kevin Bahl (free agent), Kalle Laponen (free agent)
Out: Sam Steel (free agent), Roope Laavainen (free agent), Daniel Sprong (free agent)
Potential Lineup
Nikolaj Ehlers/Jack Eichel/Jordan Eberle
Denis Gurianov/J.T. Miller/Tobias Rieder
Sarah Nurse/Devin Shore/Curtis Lazar
Matias Maccelli/Filip Chytil/Jakub Vrana
Olli Maatta/Brady Skjei
Jeremy Lauzon/Artur Cholach
Patryk Wajda/Markus Steinkasserer
Braden Holtby/Carter Hart
A Question
Stockholm’s management and fans were thrilled to see Braden Holtby – a legend in their franchise – have a great season last year. The 35-year-old won 26 games, had a goals against average of 2.86 and a save percentage of 90.8. Not a single sign that he’s slowing down. But they probably didn’t love what Carter Hart showed them. The 26-year-old is their goalie of the future and some thought he should already be the main man in net in the Swedish capital. But his fifth season as Holtby’s backup was no better than any of his other ones. In fact, his 3.77 GAA was the worst of all his seasons. His save percentage has gone down in each of the last 3 seasons. That’s a major worry for GM Delwin Y, but it’s a worry for another time. This season, Holtby will have Olli Maatta and Brady Skjei in front of him playing defense. It will be the ninth season the three of them have been together and the 13th for Holtby and Maatta as teammates. Maatta is in his prime. Last season he had 81 takeaways (2nd in the league) to only 52 giveaways. Two seasons ago, he pumped in 23 goals (2nd in the league). Up front, Stockholm is a fast but relatively small group. Many of the forwards who will compete for jobs on lines 2 through 4 are interchangeable. Curtis Lazar is different. He is a superb defensive forward and penalty killer. As for the top line, we’ll let Rose have a go at it.
Rose’s Focus
“I have seen a lot of hockey in my days, but I can feel my heart beat faster every time I watch the EEE Line play for Stockholm. I hope they stay together this season. Actually, why wouldn’t they? Wingers Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Eberle both scored 31 goals last season and their center Jack Eichel notched 48 goals. You can’t do much better than that. What makes them so successful is their soft hands and creativity more than anything else. If you are an opposing player, be ready for a long, exhausting shift if they are able to get control in your end because they dart in and out of holes, move the puck skillfully back and forth, and they have the experience to know when to shoot and when to keep looking for a better opportunity. If you want to build a top line, look at the attributes on the EEE Line. Stockholm made the playoffs last season, but with the way the EEE Line, Braden Holtby and Olli Maatta played, I’m thinking they should have finished higher than 16th overall. I’m the nicest person in hockey but right now I’m going to be Mean Rose for a second and ask where the heck the rest of the team was. Wake up this year, you guys and girls!”
