SHL Teams

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Many believe longtime alcoholic and future mouth cancer patient Marktwon Petes GM Mark Peterson is to blame for the Petes controversial selections in the early rounds of the 07-08 draft. That combined with last years poor offensive production, lack of any team chemistry, and failing to win only two of eleven home games at Petes Snuffdome are the main reasons the Petes are rated to finish dead last.

The Roughhosers won the first ever Copenhagen Cup back in 2002-2003 since then they have not made the playoffs. The �Hosers showed promise early on last season and then plummeted in late November to remain as cellar dwellers for the rest of the campaign. If the Roughhosers don�t want to finish in the basement again they are going to need their GM Trent Rumpel to stop abandoning his team a month into the season, otherwise the only bright spot down south in RumpyVill is Joe Thornton.

It really showed that the Assassins were missing their General Manager Greg Manson at the 07-08 draft when they selected unheard of goaltender Dan Turple. This among with several other dire selections could lead to a long season in Gregville. If Gregville wants to make it anywhere out of the last three spots in the league sophomore Evgeni Malkin and Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk are going to have to carry the entire Assassin roster on their backs.

The Leafs are the longest serving Saskatchewan Hockey League franchise never to make the playoffs and don�t expect that to change anytime soon. The Leafs got off to their best start in franchise history last season but much like the �Hosers with the desertion of the team by their GM Adam Olchowy the Leafs ended up falling far far away from a playoff spot. With the added incentive of money to go along with the Copenhagen Cup this season and interest in first round draft choice Mikka Kiprusoff Adam Olchowy might stick around till Christmas time this year.

Every year Brantown drafts the same seemingly harmless players that help the club tiptoe into the playoffs and for the last two years make Copenhagen Cup final appearances winning one of them. This season however GM Brandon Allen has gotten away from players like Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg. He has drafted a new core group of guys with the likes of Alexander Ovechkin and Martin St. Louis. The goaltending duo is decent but the defense is one of the worst groups in the league and will probably ultimately lead to the Slammers missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Adam Wilkinson and the Adamville Falcons are much too familiar with playoff disappointment. They have made the playoffs every single year the SHL has been existence but have never made the dance. For that matter the Falcons have never picked up a banner neither. The Falcons roster is the hardest to rate as you have no idea what is going to happen with this team. There is not telling whether or not Jaromir Jagr, Maxim Afinogenov, and Milan Hejduk are going to be able to put the puck in the net consistently. One thing is for certain the Falcons have a solid goaltending duo in last years Goaltender of the Year Martin Brodeur and veteran Dominek Hasek. The Falcons may or may not make the playoffs but don�t expect them to challenge for an Eastern Division title.

The Harperbeach Harpoons could be this year�s version of last years Fort Macfie Gangbang; an expansion team that snuck into a playoff spot. Picking up Sidney Crosby third overall in the first round of the draft will pay dividends all season long as this expansion club tries to figure out their identity in the league. The Sedin twins and Markus Naslund will help Crosby with the offensive load. The Harpoons defense is average and with an underrated goaltending trio look for the Harpoons to make the playoffs in their inaugural campaign.

After making it to the post-season in their expansion campaign Fort Mac took an early first round exit courtesy the Dionland Twisters. After drafting Roberto Luongo in the first round of the draft this year the Gangbang could really do some harm if Luongo can stand on his head which he is going to need to do with an offensively minded defensive core in Fort Mac. The forwards are among the leagues best but what very well could make or break the season in Fort Macfie is if Daniel Briere can produce in his new settings.

Some say selecting Vincent Lecavalier first overall was a bit of a gamble but if Hans Johansen is as ingenious as he was last year it will pay off. To repeat as Copenhagen Cup Champions the Gold Jackets are going to need last years Defensemen of the Year Sheldon Souray to pilot the special teams. With Marty Turco gone to Scott City this year�s starting goalie Martin Biron is going to have to steal a couple wins. The Jackets will make the playoffs but with this years crop of brilliant General Managers (minus Peterson) it will be tough but possible for the Jackets to repeat as Copenhagen Cup Champions.

Excluding when the Twisters captured the Copenhagen Cup Championship title back in 2003-2004 the Twisters are known for late-season collapses. They always have an exceptional regular season and don�t assume that will change this year. Jarome Iginla the seventh overall selection in the draft could lead the SHL in points if he stays healthy. Dion Phaneuf is going to quarterback a solid Power Play unit in Dionland. Kari Lethonen is going to have to be able to carry this team in the playoffs if the Twisters want to be the first team in SHL history to win two Copenhagen Cups.

Three straight Eastern Division Championships is quite an accomplishment in this well established league. The Grrrowl are not satisfied with that at all and are gearing towards a Copenhagen Cup run. They re-acquired Marian Hossa and added fellow European snipers Marian Gaborik, Pavel Datsyuk, and Martin Havlat. They have an above average defense as long as they can stay healthy which was a problem last year. They have the best all-around Goaltending trio in the league that should steal them a couple wins on the road. Look for the Grrrowl to battle with the Iceholes, and Gangbang for the Eastern Division crown.

Rookie GM Derek Berg put together a stellar troop on draft day. Acquiring once SHL young-guns now proven all-stars Dany Heatley, Henrik Zetterberg, and Rick Nash was a big step. Then going out and picking up towering blue-liner Jay Bouwmeester in a trade with Marktown solidified the back end. Combine those with selecting Henrik Lundqvist twenty-first overall in the draft and you have yourself a dangerous lineup. If the Harpoons are the Gangbang of last year, the Iceholes have a very good chance of being this year�s version of last year�s expansion Gold Jackets.