State of the Loons; Post Free Agency

Weeks prior to annual Unrestricted Free Agency meetings were held in the Pond's offices on the direction of the team. The room was reportedly divided right down the middle. After this past year's Patrick division championship but subsequent playoff failure there was a strong push for a transition year. Half of the room wanted to play the kids (Will Smith, Frank Nazar, Matty Beniers, etc) stockpile some cash and build for the future. The other half of the room pointed out that it will be unlikely to ever have a player along the lines of a Jack Eichel and we should do all we can to make a run at a Kehler Cup while we have a superstar leading the way. Executives left the room that day without a decision being made.

Over the next week Capeside analyzed the free agent class and saw that at best there were 5 targets that could improve the current roster - and only 3 of those had a place in Capeside with our strict theme of American only. Rumors of newer CCHL teams pledging to throw cash around in order to be competitive furthered our uneasiness around bidding. So it was decided that we would be aggressive at the 3 or 4 targets that made sense and our future would be based on those free agent's decisions.

Contracts were offered to Massholes John Carlson and Connor Murphy veteran Minnesotan Anders Lee. Injuries to Capt Kreider, McAvoy and Zegras left huge holes that these three could fill. After an extended wait all three agreed to don the neon green and black. Alex Lyon signed to be the 3rd string goalie and Luke Kunin agreed to a one year deal to bring some grit to the team, most likely in practice. 

After all was said and done, nearly $28m was added to this year's payroll. A far cry from a transition year. In the team's press conference introducing the newest Loons Czepiel inserted that constant attention will need to be kept on the team's performance. "We need to be vigilant in order to remain financially responsible." Sounds like at the earliest sign of struggles roster moves will be made.

This is how the roster shapes up post free agency

Caufield     Eichel     Boldy

Lee           Nelson     Vatrano

Kreider      Beniers     Coyle

Beecher     Dowd      Duhaime

Werenski     Carlson

Faber           Hanifin

Murphy        McAvoy

Otter

Daccord

Lyon

Bench: Zegras, Will Smith, Nazar, Cole Smith, Kunin, Pacioretty, Wahlstrom, York, Thrun, Harris