GM: Dennis Lee
Coach: Andrew Brunette
Last season: 14th overall. In playoffs, lost to Copenhagen
Ins and Outs
(Season 16 to Season 17)
In: Valeri Nichushkin (trade), Ryan Graves (trade), Chris Martenet (trade), Nazem Kadri (free agent), Kent Johnson (trade), Ty Dellandrea (trade), John Leonard (trade)
Out: Alexis Lafreniere (trade), Hampus Lindholm (trade), Thomas Powell (free agent), Zach Bogosian (free agent), Tyler Ennis (free agent), Martin Ruzicka (free agent),
Potential Lineup
Elias Pettersson/Matt Duchene/William Nylander
Timo Meier/Pierre-Luc Dubois/Val Nichushkin
Kaapo Kakko/Dominik Pas/Pavel Buchnevich
Nick Robertson/Kent Johnson/Ty Dellandrea
Nick Leddy/Michael Del Zotto
Oliver Ekman-Larsson/Ryan Graves
Jindrich Barak/Erik Andersson
Alex Nedeljkovic/Rudy Rigoni
A Question
What are Dublin’s strengths this year? Having two strong forward lines and a very experienced, conservative group of defensemen will get you far in a hockey season and Dublin definitely has that this season under new GM Dennis Lee. Starting with the defense, it’s a group of veterans who, for the most part, are excellent at taking care of the back end. Their age makes them a bit more fragile and less powerful than they once were, but big Chris Martenet is the 7th defenseman and he’s ready to throw around his 6-6 body when called upon. Ryan Graves, acquired in a trade with Kosice, is a fixture on the blueline if there ever was one. He has stamina, durability and defensive smarts that will make him impossible to take out of any lineup. Up front, the Guinness Chuggers have the potential to make you worry about defending two very different kinds of forward lines. One could be all flash and speed, while the other could be made up of big, physical guys who can score if you can’t tie them up in front of your net. Everyone thinks Luc Dubois should have made more of an offensive impact in the league than he has so far because he seems to have all the physical tools. At age 27, his best years should be starting now and with Val Nichushkin and Timo Meier on his wings, that could make for a line you would rather not go up against if you’re not a fan of bruises. But Dublin’s scoring machine will most likely be the line of Elias Pettersson, William Nylander and Matt Duchene. Pettersson scored 40 goals last year and 39 the season before that. Nylander scored 42 times last year and came up 2 points short of his first 100-point season. And the resilient Duchene is a proven offensive threat. He has played a lot – about 26,040 minutes – since being drafted in Season 1 by Belfast and in 1,240 career games he has averaged more than a point per game with 1,287 points. Last season, he strung together 101 points for the Chuggers and it was his sixth 100-point season.
Rose’s Focus
“Other hockey analysts suggest the Guinness Chuggers will have trouble making the playoffs in the difficult Northern Conference in Season 17. Not me. I have looked over things thoroughly and I think that if a couple dominos fall Dublin’s way, we will see Dublin playing past Game 82. If – and this is the big if for them – the third line comes through as I think they can. Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic will do a fine job if the team in front of him can reduce the 32.35 shots per game he faced last season. Can they? Can Ryan Graves make that much a difference for the team? Maybe he and a slight change in coaching philosophy will shrink that number a little. Hopefully that will be enough for Nedeljkovich, who is 28, to keep his focus intact. His 90.1 save percentage over four seasons proves he can do the job. But I will be really looking at how Dominik Pas and Pavel Buchnevich do this season. Pas has developed into a good two-way forward whose forte is getting the puck from opponents and not giving it up. Last year, his +/- took a dip. Get that up to where we know you can have it, Dom. Buchnevich is mostly offense and he will need to connect with young Kaapo Kakko or whoever else is on the left wing if Dublin is to succeed. There you have it. Sorry to put so much pressure on you, Dominik and Pavel, but you are making $2.5 million and $4 million this year. Spend some of those millions on tissue paper if your feelings are hurt.”
