GM: Chuck Massaro
Coach: Lindy Ruff
Last season: 17th overall. Did not make the playoffs.
Ins and Outs
(Season 15 to Season 16)
In: Tyler Johnson (free agent), Tanner Jaillet (free agent), Leon Carlsson (draft), Luke Hughes (draft), Simon Hjalmarsson (free agent), Niclas Almari (waivers), Morten Madsen (free agent), Vasili Glotov (free agent)
Out: Pavel Francouz (free agent), Brendan Perlini (free agent), Mats Rosseli Olsen (free agent), Tyson Barrie (free agent), Jared Cowan (free agent)
Potential Lineup
Tyler Johnson/Troy Loggins/Zemgus Girgensons
Joakim Nygard/Josh Norris/Victor Olofsson
Rhett Gardner/Simon Hjalmarsson/Colin White
Talgut Zhailauov/Connor Korte/Kailer Yamamoto
Michael Matheson/Jonas Brodin
Robin Grossman/Gurkan Cetinkaya
Will Butcher/Niclas Almari
Connor Hellebuyck/Spencer Knight
A Question
Bratislava had a disappointing Season 15, but at the end, things really turned around. Giving up hope to make the playoffs, Coach Lindy Ruff threw young goalie Spencer Knight into the fire to cook up some experience points for the youngster, and the team responded very well to having him back there. They had a winning record with him in goal (15-13-1) which was pretty miraculous for this lot. In Bratislava’s last game of Season 15, they destroyed Berlin 4-3 with Troy Loggins picking up 4 points. Even today, you can see powder blue dots on the ice in front of the visitors bench from the Smurfs’ little tears. That was the highlight of the year for the Eagles. But it got even better from there. GM Chuck Massaro cleverly moved up several slots in the draft lottery conducted by his co-worker Sepp Blatter and Bratislava picked Leo Carlsson, a big, smooth forward from Sweden who should join the team this season after about 25 games. Luke Hughes, a defenseman picked in the Season 13 draft will join the club at the same time. Hughes is the younger brother of Zurich’s Quinn Hughes and Gothenburg’s Jack Hughes. Actually, Bratislava has a nice young defense corps forming, although there is really not much offense coming on the distant horizon. If we seem to be focusing on the long-term and ignoring Season 16, there is a reason for that. Ruff and management don’t want to talk about it. They said if they somehow manage to get into playoff contention, at any point during the season, then they will be willing to talk.
Rose’s Focus
“I have never settled down with a man and got married, mainly because I want to give more fellas a chance to experience ‘A Bed of Rose.’ As I have said before, I’m a giver. Victor Olofsson is good looking and yes, I am willing to give him some attention now but I really don’t expect to ever be Mrs. Olofsson. Hahahaha, that makes me laugh just thinking of it. I mean he’s handsome, sure; but do you really think I’m going to settle down with a guy whose career best season was 63 points? That happened last season, by the way. Maybe if he can get that total up to 80, then I’ll give him a good look. Coach Lindy Ruff saw Fiddler on the Roof just before training camp started and he said he was inspired by Yente the matchmaker. He is doing the best he can for Victor, who has never been able to find the Marner to his Matthews. Ruff plans to play him with offensive-minded Josh Norris and Joakim Nygard and let Zemgus Girgensons, Troy Loggins and newcomer Tyler Johnson have first-line duties that will mainly involve chasing the best opposing forwards all over the ice. That’s fine, as far as I’m concerned. If Victor’s going to audition with me, he needs to conserve his energy.”
