BLITZ 07 TEAM REVIEW - FLORIDA - A LEAGUE

[LA Robbie]

FLORIDA PANTHERS - BLITZ 07 A LEAGUE

COACH: XDEATHSBLOODX

TEAM LINK: http://www.blitz94.com/draftab/rosterinfo.asp?team=FLA

TEAM OVERVIEW

The Blitz 06 B league runners-up have progressed to the A league this season, but that's not the only change. Coach XDeathsbloodX has moved the team from Ottawa to Florida in search of a better tan, and a completely new offensive unit has been assembled in order to take on the best of the best.

The defence that did so well at both ends of the ice in Blitz 06 has been kept intact but the 314 combined points of last season's Burrows, Sandstrom, Francis line have gone to be replaced by 3 guys who scored 227 points between them last season. Is the forward line going to be clinical enough for life in the A league in Blitz 07?

If Florida can get Brett Hull firing at his best and bring big points out of their support players they'll hope for a successful debut A season by holding their own against the big boys.

TEAM MAKE-UP

So lets start with that forward line. Last season's was all muscle and power with Bellows, Sandstrom & Francis. Sandstrom's 101 goals and 143 points were brilliantly supported by the other two, to blast them to the B league finals. This season big Brett Hull is the guy the forward line will be centered around. With his 9 weight he's tough to knock down, and he can hit too. His physical presence on the ice means he can dominate smaller defences with or without the puck, and a lot of his goals are going to come even when he's under pressure. His 4/4 speed is good enough and with his 5 offensive awareness he gets in the right places to finish the attacking plays. This is where the controversy starts. Is he a good enough shooter to be the go to guy? His 6 shot power is truly awesome. He really does boom it. When it hits it can be unstoppable. But there's the problem - the 3 accuracy. When he's on, he's on, but when he's not he can need 4 or 5 good chances to get a goal. Will he get those chances in the A league?

Hull's career Blitz record is excellent in terms of point scoring, but a mix in terms of goal scoring. Is this due to his lack of consistency, or due to his being swapped from C to wing? In Blitz 04 & Blitz 06 he scored over 100 goals and 86 in Blitz 01, but in his other 3 Blitz seasons his best tally is 62. He's a superb player, but can he equal the guaranteed goals XdeathsbloodX had last season with Sandstrom's 5/5 shot?

Supporting Hull are 5 guys who combined might just have all the qualities Hull might lack to make a cohesive, varied attacking unit. On this season's roster we also have Owen Nolan, Ulf Dahlen, Chris Kontos, Gilbert Dionne & Craig Simpson returns for his 3rd consecutive season with Xdeath. Nolan is an accomplished forward who should be equally at home at C or on the wing. With 4/4 skating, 4/4 shot and 3 passing he can do everything well, even if it's not to the elite level. With the qualities he has there's no reason this can't be a breakout season in what has been to date, a fairly average Blitz career. Dahlen is similar to Nolan. A fairly average career to date, but the ability is there with 3/4 skating, 3/4 shot and 3 passing. Kontos is a Blitz cult hero, and it could be a real coup for Florida having him on the roster this season. His 3/3 skating and 3 passing look pretty average, but his 3/5 shot has served him brilliantly over 6 Blitz seasons, scoring over 100 points in 5 of them. He has a 2.754 point average, which is up there with the elite of the elite. There's no doubt about it - this guy scores goals, and achieves more than the sum of his stats too regularly for it to be fluke. Florida have a real sleeper here for sure!

Dionne & Simpson round off the forward line. Dionne is averagely skilled with 3/3 shooting and passing, but has nice 3/4 skating. He won't let anyone down if needed..........but how much will he play? & Simpson is the returning squad player who should have a part to play with his 4/5 shot. He's got over a point a game average in his Blitz career and will certainly contribute in Blitz 07. All the forwards have something to offer and seem to have all the potential to gel into an effective unit that, between the 6 of them could well add up to the points lost from the departures after Blitz 06.

The Panthers will be delighted to have kept hold of 3 of their 4 Dmen from Blitz 06 too. Kevin Hatcher, Mikhail Tatarinov and Stephane Richer are joined for this season by Bob Rouse, and, like the forwards, look like an effective group.

Hatcher is a huge hitter, with the skills to make him one of the games elite Dmen. His 12 weight and big checking is also backed up with his 3/3 skating, classy 4 passing, and a huge 5/2 shot, which has helped his teams to the tune of 57 goals and 172 assists in his 248 career Blitz league games. He averages just under a point a game, and adds a new offensive dimension to any team. Tatarinov has a less illustrious career record, but Blitz 06 was a breakout season for him under deathsblood at Ottawa, as he added 60 points to the team, 53 of them assists. His 4 passing and 5/1 shot mean he's sure to get points and his big hitting despite his 8 weight means he can hold his own on D too. A great looking partnership with Hatcher.

Richer looks more average all round, and is certainly the backup in the group, whilst Bob Rouse is the second biggest hitter on the roster and is quick enough to use it with his 3/3 skating. He'll be useful on the penalty kills.

In goal Florida also have another coup after securing Tom Barrasso. His elite ratings make him one of the most sought after goal tenders in the game, and he adds more defensive stability as Florida look to cope with the A league quality offences. A solid rock to base the team on for sure.

STARS

Brett Hull will lead this team. His ability to play the physical game and that incredibly powerful shot will be key to Florida's success this season. Behind him he has a lot of solid backup, but he's the go to guy here for sure.

Likewise on D, Hatcher will be expected to take the majority of the responsibility, and chip in a few goals to boost the team's chances of success. He's ably assisted by Tatarinov who Florida will be hoping can pick up where he left off last season.

In goal we have a star keeper too in Barrasso, and he'll certainly earn his fair share of points for his team.

WEAKNESSES

First of all we have to ask the question: Can the likes of Nolan, Dahlen & Simpson really step it up this season and become regular starters? Someone has to assist Hull on this team to make up the points lost from the departures and to cope with the A league quality opposition. IS Kontos going to start? There are question marks about whether the support players in this group, with a lack of passing ability (No one over 3 on the offensive line), and a lack of speed (Hull, Nolan & Dahlen have 4 speed, but there's no one better) can become reliable A league names. Guess we'll see.

That aside, has this team lost a physical edge since Blitz 06? The D looks solid, and with all 9 & 8 weights on offence they can hold their own, but there's no enforcer in this team. No big hitter on the offensive line, as Ron Francis was last season. Florida will need the D to hold there own against the best in the business without a player who can maybe help them out in a tight game.........again, Hull will be expected to take the responsibility in this regard.

PRE-SEASON PREDICTION - PLAYOFF CONTENTION

Much depends on whether the very best can be gotten from Florida's supporting cast on offense. The goalie & D look great, and are going to win the team points with the goals & assists they'll provide for sure. The biggest question mark here is on offense - Will Hull's 6/3 shot be accurate enough in the A league? Will Nolan, Dahlen, Simpson & Dionne be able to have breakout seasons & prove themselves A league players? and will Kontos be able to add to the legend that is his Blitz career to date?

I don't see any reason why Florida can't live with the best of them and have a solid debut A season. They look like they have everything needed to hold their own, but is this roster able to achieve more than that? If they can qualify for the playoffs I think it'll count as a huge success and give the Panthers a lot of heart to carry in to Blitz 08.