GM: Bryan Camara
Coach: Kris Knoblauch
Last season: 13th overall. In playoffs, lost to Munich
Ins and Outs
(Season 16 to Season 17)
In: Artturi Lehkonen (free agent), Josh Morrissey (free agent), Jared McCann (free agent), Kristian Kuusela (trade), Joel Nystrom (trade), Joel Hofer (draft), Kyen Sopa (trade), Brandon Hagel (trade), Martin Misiak (trade)
Out: Claude Giroux (free agent), Juuse Saros (trade), Danny Dekeyser (free agent), Anders Lee (trade), Matt Dumba (trade), Evgeny Solomonov (free agent), Brock McGinn (free agent), Emil Bemstrom (trade), Cody Hodgson (free agent), Lias Andersson (free agent),
Potential Lineup
Max Domi/Mat Barzal/Kristian Kuusela
Artturi Lehkonen/Trevor Zegras/Spencer Smallman
Jared McCann/Logan Cooley/Alexey Toropchenko
Vladislav Saiko/Shane Pinto/Brandon Hagel
Brandon Montour/John Marino
Josh Morrissey/Maxim Noreau
Artjoms Lapiks/Joel Nystrom
Robin Lehner/Joel Hofer
A Question
How did Lisbon settle its question at goalie?
Lisbon solved some problems nicely in the off-season. No more will the coach have to worry about giving goalies Robin Lehner and Juuse Saros enough games to keep both happy. General Manager Bryan Camara drafted Joel Hofer as the goalie of the future and will let him learn from Lehner for a season at least. Saros is the main man in Bern now thanks to a trade that brought Lisbon a first-round draft pick in return. Camara gained another first-round pick in the off season, trading his own in the recent draft to Amsterdam for its top pick next season. He was gambling the Ajax pick will remain a better one than his own and to make the gamble easier to swallow, he got a starting defenseman (Joel Nystrom) in the deal. But before we start buying tickets for Lisbon playoff games consider this: the team was 15th best in shots allowed and 9th best at goals allowed. That is a substantial difference and reflects the facts the goalies – Lehner and Saros – did their job well. Both had save percentages of 90 or higher. All eyes will be on untested Hofer to see if the team loses more often with him in goal. The team also needs to generate more offense this season, and it should, because the top forwards are still pretty young and improving all the time. The shrewd addition of Kristian Kuusela as the top line right wing could be a big boost. In three of the last four seasons, the 5-9 forward has come up with more than 30 goals and 70 points. And the move that generated the most interest in Portugal was the signing of free agent left wing Artturi Lehkonen, fresh off a season in which he scored more than 70 points for the first time ever before averaging a point per game in 24 playoff games and walking away with the EURO Cup and Playoff MVP trophy.
Rose’s Focus
“I enjoy watching Lisbon play. In goal, they have been solid and should be again this season. Knowing Robin Lehner is back there enables the discerning fan (yes, me) to concentrate on what’s happening in other segments of the rink. I like looking to see who’s back checking and picking up open men. I like seeing a forward streaking into a good spot to take a pass. That’s just me. And I really like watching Lisbon’s flashy and adventurous forwards do their thing. Sure, they don’t win all the time, but they have creativity and desire. They know how to put on a show. The defense corps, however … I see some room for improvement. Here is what I would like to see: Brandon Montour, stay in the defensive zone occasionally and stop leaving John Marino to defend 2-on-1s every shift. John Marino, you are totally underrated but you aren’t great at pushing people out of the slot, so tie up their sticks. Josh Morrissey and Maxim Noreau, you guys are going to do fine as the second pair but you are getting older and losing muscle. Fix that. And Artjoms Lapis and Joel Nystrom get on and get off. Why am I doing all the coaching, Bryan? Are you going to pay me?”
