CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):
The window is wide open now
for the Sudbury Miners. After making the
Kehler Cup final last, the Miners goal this year is simple - to get back to the
Kehler Cup Final and avenge last years defeat at the hands of Seattle.
Kehler Cup
odds: 7-1
Key Additions:
Tim Stutzle - LW; Blake Wheeler - RW; Teuvo
Teravainen - W.
Key Departures:
Johnny Gaudreau - LW; Jake DeBrusk – W;
Tanner Pearson - W
The Sudbury Miners ended their 2020-21
season with a 54-18-10 record, good for 1st in the Canosa Conference, 2nd
Overall. They were able to parlay that
regular season success all the way to the Kehler Cup Final, only to lose to the
Seattle Reign in 5 games.
But, now pressure begins for the
Miners. Management and the fans have
tasted success, and feel that the time is now for the Miners. Despite the loss of winger Nikita Kucherov to
Injured Reserve, they are still deep and talented and expectations are to
contend for another Canosa Conference title.
UP AND
COMING PLAYER TO WATCH
While he may spend most of the year in
the minors, keep an eye on highly touted winger, Tim Stutzle. The Miners pulled off a significant trade
with Fort Erie late in the off-season in order to acquire him. He has the offensive skills and grit to
become one of the Miners most productive players in the coming years. It is not unreasonable to expect 25-30 goals
from him when he finally makes his full debut next season.
WHAT A
SUCCESSFUL 2020-21 SEASON WOULD LOOK LIKE
In
the words of Jake Taylor from Major League fame, “Win the whole f**king thing!” A classic line but it is easier said than
done, as the Miners learned last year.
But, it seems to be the general consensus between both management and
fans alike. The fans want to taste
victory and the players want those Championship rings.
BIGGEST REMAINING QUESTION
Ideally, the
Miners repeat last year’s regular season success and deep playoff run. But there are heightened expectations this
year from both fans and management that anything less than another berth in the
Kehler Cup Final will be a disappointment.
The real question is that with these heightened expectations, how will
this team respond when they are expected to win?
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Spencer Knight, G – Boston University (NCAA)
2. Nils Lundkvist, D – Lulea HF (Swe.)
3. Vitali Kravtsov, RW – New York Rangers (NHL)
4. Victor Soderstrom, D – Tuscon (AHL)
5. Ozzy Weisblatt, RW – Prince Albert (WHL)
6. Dominik Bokk, RW – Charlotte (AHL)
7. Braden Schneider, D – Brandon (WHL)
8. Ridly Greig, LW – Brandon (WHL)
9. Wyatt Johnston, C – Windsor (OHL)
10. Matias Maccelli, LW – Ilves (Fin.)
