Hello everyone,
Santa Claus here. Just a few days before I take the flight to go around the world bringing gifts to all girls and boys, I wanted to take a look around the CCHL to show you what Santa would put under each team's tree if I could this Christmas.
We'll start with the Corfield Conference, and finish in the Canosa.
Fort Erie - Continued growth and development for Shane Wright to eventually become the Falcons' number two center.
Calgary - I'd get Bedard some help in Chicago so that disaster allows him to prosper for your roster. Right now, Celebrini is passing him and we all know that's not a true measure of who they are as players.
Capeside - I'd get you two trades to fully accomplish your stated goal of having an all stars and stripes roster. Who knows, maybe one day the best American player Matthews could join your roster.....
Niagara Falls - a good accountant to allow you to get the finances in order. Trading Kane and Stammer was a good start, but getting Doughty off the books and completely turning the page on the Thunder of the past would be instrumental in balancing the books. Unfortunately, despite what Justin Trudeau says, the budget won't balance itself.
Seattle - Seattle slowly continues to rebuild a bit after a championship a few years ago. If anything I'd get them a time machine to speed it up but something tells me patient Cam if sitting lurking in the weeds just waiting to pounce as it is.
Baltimore - A year in the Battalion have relocated and done a reasonable job rebuilding but could benefit from having regular lineups submitted to avoid having players playing fatigued.
Springfield - Oh the 'Topes have fallen back a bit this year but good old St. Nick thinks they'd be a top five team in the conference if they had another top-six forward that could score 30 goals. If I could get them anything, it would be that!
Halifax - Oh the Norsemen hit the ATM hard this past offseason and broke the bank for Kasherov.......err I mean Kucherov. The future is bright in Halifax with Celebrini coming next year but the cost of the rebuilding team is quite high for a rebuilding team - but then again they've got it in spades still. If anything, I'd get them a moving truck for Karlsson but a destination might be hard to achieve for a player that can't produce at the level of his pay anymore. However, in the CCHL, there's always a way to move a contract.........
Amos - would somebody get Amos a top six winger already? I seem to think there is a shortage of them around the league and Wisborg must be hogging them all. In all seriousness, I hope Amos get a top six winger but will that be enough to get into the dance this year? It's hard to say.
Chippawa - Oh this one was easy for this fat guy in a red suit - it's a giant can of patience for the rebuilding-then competitive- then rebuilding Jacks on a weekly basis. Simon rewards patience and consistency so trying to constantly adjust the lineup for new faces will always produce less than stellar results. Patience is a virtue and should be exercised in the 'wa right now!
Fergus - It's been a tough year in Fergus and it all started in the nets where Saros was supposed to be the guy. However, instead of being the guy, he was the gas can and was an unmitigated disaster (editor's note: He hasn't been much better in Niagara Falls). I hope Fergus can find a goaltender for their longterm future and never experience such turbulence again.
Wisborg - Seriously two championships in the last few years and a crazy record setitng pace this year should get you nothing but that's not how I work as the official CCHL Santa. So this year, we're going to get you a player from Finland to add to your roster of Swedes - in this day and age you need to be inclusive so we're making you be Scandanavian inclusive (whatever that means!). Bottom line is you get a Fin!
Iceland - My favorite Canadian McDavid plays for your team and while I'd love to get him something nice (he's only got one championship), I'm not going to do that. I'd say some secondary scoring but GM Silvio has been working on that already so if I had to give this team anything, it would be somebody to come in and teach Evan Bouchard how to play defence and become the total package. If he could do that, the IceCats would be even scarier than they are today!
Victoria - Victoria, much like Seattle have been patient in their build but it's the time where the team could potentially use an aggressive move to put them over the top. The team has the assets to do so, and for this Christmas I'm going to gift them the will do to do so in order to repeat as Canosa Conference champions!
Georgetown - The Millers have had quite the run after the disasterous start to the year for the first ten games. Larkin has become a star and for Christmas we are gifting the team great ratings for Dylan Guenther for next season. He's going to be that good and the Millers are lucky to have him.
Las Vegas - a collection of superstar forwards in the top six isn't echoed on defence as the team has a regular cast of players that aren't quite at the level of their forward group. It's an expensive roster that may only have one shot given the bank account, so Santa gifts the Aces an "Ace" defenceman (see what I did there?) for a playoff run.
Parry Sound - a team that is great up front needs some help on the back end as well so I'll gift them a defenceman too! There are obvious trade targets around the league and while known for his patience, this could be when GM MC capitalizes on his young assets to bring in a talented blue liner for the top of the lineup. They got their goalie earlier this year and now it's time for Santa to get them their defender.
New Mexico - Santa's going to give you the gift of banning you from building around Buffalo Sabres players! While Santa has a soft spot for the Sabres himself, it's not paying off in the CCHL for next year so Santa is gifting you a new game plan! It's not that yours is bad, it's just that the Sabres are making it bad somehow (again) this season. Until Pegula sells, unfortunately it probably won't change much!
Willowdale - Willowdale has a ton of young prospects to come and are on the cusp of a playoff spot this season with their off-season acquisitions. I'm gifting you the ability to sell high on the remaining veterans and go hard at one more draft to really help put the team on the map for a long time to come!
Chattahoochie - Santa should get you an easier team name to spell but since he's not in charge of relocation, he can't do that. He can however gift you a time machine so the 'Dads can speed up the development of their young talent to come. Jarvis is already there, but the help is coming and the future looks bright in the city of hoochies!
Denver - After contending last year, the Spurs have been shown the heels of many other CCHL teams and have struggled through the first half of the season. Santa assures you of a better second half and a playoff berth is within reach this season - but the real gift is Santa giving you a little pixie dust in trades to allow the team to build for a more competitive future beyond 2025 should they move veterans. Oh and at least one more player from the Avalanche this season seeing as the team seems to like those guys!
Val-d'Or - Santa concludes this by giving the gift of a greater second half of the NHL season for Slafkovsky - as the Nuggets need him to take a massive step this season. They didn't aquire him to be Kotkiniemi the sequel so Santa will ensure he takes that step for them so next year is even better. Santa will also gift you a time machine because a top four defence with the group on the horizon the Nuggets have will see them as a playoff team for a decade. Time is just such a fleeting thing - you want tomorrow today but at the same time, you don't want to rush the present. Better days are ahead for the Nuggets thanks to the patience of GM JF!
Well there you have it, Santa has visited again this year. No lumps of coal were given this year either, so take solace in that!
With that, I must get to sleep in preparation for the journey to come tomorrow. Until next year, I'm CCHL Santa saying have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy World Junior tournament!
