GM: Petr Barilla
Coach: John Tortorella
Last season: 22nd overall. Did not make playoffs
Ins and Outs
(Season 16 to Season 17)
In: Jakub Vrana (free agent), Alexandre Carrier (free agent), Peyton Krebs (waivers), Mason Marchment (free agent), Tim Bozon (free agent)
Out: Filip Forsberg (free agent), Andres De La Garma (free agent), Jared McCann (free agent), Brendan Perlini (free agent), Matthias Bieber (free agent), Kevin Fiala (free agent), Tyler Myers (free agent), Brendan Lemieux (free agent), Josh Anderson (free agent)
Potential Lineup
Michael Bunting/Aleksander Barkov/Jakub Vrana
Mason Marchment/Mason McTavish/Andrei Kuzmenko
Tim Bozon/Ryan Johansen/Petteri Puhaaka
Peyton Krebs/Jason Brancheau/Beck Malenstyn
Esa Lindell/Thomas Chabot
Darnell Nurse/Rasmus Andersson
Derrick Pouliot/Alexandre Carrier
Noah Paixao/Adin Hill
A Question
How will New Athens be different than Old Athens? Athens’ short-term history has been to make a ton of changes every year and last year, the new pieces of the puzzle never really fell into place. In fact, they were barely on the table. The Gods were last in the league in shots on goal. They placed 22nd – the franchise’s worst-ever finish – and then real changes occurred. The GM was out and has been replaced by Petr Barilla. The nickname has changed, as was the uniform. Fans in Greece are looking for a new dawn. Barilla’s moves in the off-season seem to be sending this message to his fans: let’s be patient and take this a little at a time. A new philosophy from the Philosophers, if you will. His free agent acquisitions were almost all players who haven’t hit 30 years of age yet. Lots of 27-to-29-year-olds on this team. Except in goal. Young Portuguese backstop Noah Paixao will get lots of games, it appears, although we expect to see a lot more of Adin Hill this season. In front of them is a solid defense corps, bolstered by the addition of Alexandre Carrier, who is on his third team in three seasons. He’s very good defensively, even if his offensive skills are wobbly. Two other additions – Tim Bozon and Beck Malenstyn – are good defensive forwards and they should also help the team keep pucks out of the Athens goal. Offense might be where the team needs help and patience. Defenseman Thomas Chabot will help create chances for sure for the Philosophers. Another key for the team will be Andrei Kuzmenko the right wing on the second line with Mason McTavish and Mason Marchment (The Masonic Line?) because can really shoot the puck well. Another challenge will be to get Kuzmenko more chances.
Rose’s Focus
“How to increase shots on goal. That is what everyone in Greece is talking about these days. The Philosophers have a different look this season and it’s too early to tell if that’s a good thing or not. Newcomers Jakub Vrana and Michael Bunting were signed because of their offense ratings and they will likely play on either side of veteran playmaker Aleksander Barkov. I love my shoes. Look how cute they are. I have style oozing out of my butt, don’t I? You know whose shoes I would not like to be in right now? Vrana, Bunting and Barkov’s. That’s whose. I know Coach John Tortorella and so do the Athens fans who have had his back for 16-plus seasons now. Patience is not their strong suit. They will put all kinds of pressure on all the Philosophers and especially those top forwards if things don’t go well early. My advice to them is to always wear their helmets – in the game, after the game, in the shower and on the way home. Torts has been know to throw things in anger and his loyal following throughout Athens and the Greek countryside have learned from him.”
