State of the Loons; the Captain returns

After 351 games with the Loons, Kreider left Czepiel’s office shaking hands and saying goodbye. At 35 years old Kreider and Czepiel were unable to reach an extension thus making the Loons captain an unrestricted free agent. In 351 games Kreider was leaving the Loons with 141 goals , 168 assists and a +50. Czepiel surely wanted captain Kreider back but Kreiders best days were behind him and Will Smith is ready to be a full timer leaving Kreider the odd man out. After years of playing on team friendly $4m contracts Kreider wanted to be paid for his past production but in Czepiel’s eyes that is a losing philosophy.

The night before the UFA deadline Czepiel informed Kreider that they were going to go in a different direction and were trading their 1 UFA resign to the Falcons for a prospect and thanked Chris for all he has done for the organization.

What made Chris such an integral part of the organization is he is a local guy born in Boxford, MA and was always around the team, even in the off season. This year was no different. Out of mutual respect Chris continued to use the team facilities as a UFA and the two continued talking about next years roster and how on paper this was the best Loons team of all time, except it was missing a captain.

Last year John Carlson, also at his age 35 season, was given the largest contract in Capeside history : 4yrs $43.1. Originally Kreider was looking for a similar deal but on day 1 of the UFA signing period Czepiel and Kreider shockingly compromised on 4 years $34.8 with a $1.5m signing bonus. First signing bonus in organization history. At the press conference yesterday Kreider cited the growing excitement over the team’s roster and chances next season along with wanting to finish what he started .

Kreider will be given every opportunity to play in the top 6 and his ability to play both wings makes a combination of Kreider Larkin Robertson an intriguing and likely option.

Kreider was definitely the headliner but the Loons signed 4 other players during UFA.

Trevor Moore (4/$14.8) brings top end skating , above average defense and solid offense . Moore likely plays the left wing on the 4th line and pk. Trevor signed after being assured that the 4th line will get more time on ice this season than how the team has usually been run.

Brett Pesce (4/$18.8) is coming off of a year full of injuries and the Loons are getting this top end defensive dman at a discount because of it. Brett will likely be the 7th dman this upcoming year with a bigger role in 27/28.

Connor Clifton (3/$2.7) comes back to the Loons after a few years away. Like Pesce , Connor is coming off an injury filled season and will compete with Pesce for playing time as the 8th dman. Clifton was signed to fill a specific hole amongst the defensemen - a physical first dman.

Anthony Stolarz (4/$7m) is coming off his worst year as a pro and the Loons bought low with the hope of turning his career around. Stolarz will be the 3rd goalie rarely seeing playing time if any at all this year.

Under new ownership the Loons are determined to slow down roster turnover even more then it already has and early line projections are

Laferriere   Eichel   Boldy
Kreider       Larkin   Robertson
Tkachuk     Coyle    Smith
Moore        Acciari   Kastelic

Werenski   McAvoy
Faber   Carlson
York   Hanifin

Otter
Daccord

Scratches: Beniers, Dowd, Leonard, Pesce, Clifton, Stolar