State of the Loons; Post UFA

Now we know better than to believe that the Loons would ever be content with their roster as is. Thirty days ago we met with the Loons' front office and they assured us that this year they would be less active and just had "a few holes" to fill in free agency. Well, let's take a look at the few holes that were filled, and also created.

Additions via trade: Patrick Laine, Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie Coyle, Ryan Ellis and a 2019 1st (4th overall), 2nd (32nd), 5th & 7th
Additons via UFA : Zdeno Chara, Jack Johnson, Thomas Hickey, Travis Zajac, Zach Parise, Tomas Nosek, Riley Sheehan, James Reimer and Antti Raanta

Departures: Ryan Donato, Ryan Murray, Brayden McNabb, Jakub Vrana, Jesse Puljujarvi, Brandon Carlo, Matt Niskanen, Jaroslav Halak, Bobby Ryan, Kris Russell and Yanni Gourde.

Phew!

"We are excited with the way our roster looks on paper as of today. We went into last year looking to dump salary, take our lumps and rebuild. But last year's miracle success changed everything. We are very excited to be able to add talented, established players like Parise, Ellis, Chara and Zajac. A few young Finns in Laine and Raanta that have something to prove in a bounce back season next year. And two high draft picks to start rebuilding our system" GM Czepiel commented. "Though we can't lie and say we don't have a few regrets. We knew Carlo was going to be special and our mistake was not waiting to see the ratings before pulling the trigger on deals that sent away Brandon, Murray and McNabb. That's three young 90 rated D-men right there. Those losses forced our hand to go big and older in free agency. Our hope is Johnson, Chara and Hickey can be successful signings like Niskanen was for us last year."

So where does this leave the Loons? After last year Capeside knew they would have money to spend, and boy did they. $94.5 million in UFA this year! $39.25 of that added to this year's payroll, which currently stands at $91.4 million dollars. Capeside better be planning on hitting those CCHL bonuses again.

Unbelievably, the Summer league is already here and as much as things have changed - the same old result. A shootout win. In Capeside's first summer league game we saw exactly what this year's transactions show on paper; an improved offense that netted 6 goals and a rebuilding defense that allowed 5. I would imagine that Czepiel will be working the phones in search of a strong D rated d-man in the coming weeks.

Next up for the Loons will be the annual draft at the end of June. We have already begun to see a couple of the prospects going in and out of the Nest for initial interviews with the front office. We can say that Trevor Zegras, Dylan Cozens and Bowen Byram were seen leaving the Nest offices yesterday afternoon. For the second year in a row the Loons will be picking 4th in the draft and will have some talented offensive players to pick from in this seemingly weak year for defensemen. Though that is if Czepiel doesn't deal the pick away in the next few weeks.