CCHL preseason 2009-10

Well here we are again, another CCHL sim hockey season is just about ready to roll. The new APBA disk was extensively play tested and should provide us with a great season. The off-season free agency bidding was improved through the walk away option. It has reduced salaries to some degree, thanks to all who participated and to those who made suggestions and gave feedback.

What I have noticed from the small sample of the pre-season is how some of the leagues teams have really changed their rosters. Also the finances have started to show its ugly face so I would urge you to really pay attention to the ticking time bomb that salaries have become.

Lets take a closer look at some of the key players heading into this season.

Evgeni Malkin is going to be a monster this season and Beverly Hills is bound to benefit from that. A 5 passing rating is nothing to sneeze at. Mr Malkin is rated to play all 3 forward positions. Another nice rated player in Kimmo Timonen who garnered a 4 DEF rating to go with 4 Sk and Pa. He will log a ton of ice time.

The Ibex have felt the pinch of their playoff runs and championships in the past. The roster is not only tiny but is only a key injury away from being a run of the mill team. Any team that has Kovalchuk will certainly be able to score goals in bunches as his 5 Sk and Pa show. His partner in crime is Alfredsson who has his usual assortment of 4 ratings. Goalie is clearly an issue that needs to be addressed if this team is going to make the playoffs.

Budapest, the newest team in the CCHL parleyed their picks and draft into a fairly solid team. They have nice balance and some good defensive ratings especially at center and LW. The top line of Sedin, Franzen and Iginla should be enough to put this expansion team into the playoffs. The key player is Zdeno Chara who could play about half the game for the Honved.

Calgary has spent a ton of money in free agency over the past few seasons and the talent level of the club shows it. They have good depth especially at LW and despite some low defensive ratings I see the team as making the playoffs. Brian Rafalski got a 5 Pa and should anchor the powerplay, while Huselius received a 5 Sk rating! Money could become an issue but they are well setup to make a run of it for the next season or two before they will have to address the bank account.

Copenhagen has arrived. This is a very good team. They are young, talented and in my opinion could challenge for a cup final run in the next season or two. Richards and Kopitar at center are a very fine 1 - 2 punch with Patrick Kane on the wing everyone else is just gravy. Bobby Ryan, Stamkos, Versteeg, Wheeler, Frolik, Bernier. Wow that is some scary skill levels. Green and Barker on the blueline not to mention Burns and Seabrook round out a very high level blueline. With Quick and Vokoun in nets this team is prime meat and will be a force to be reckoned with.

Dayton ? they suck

but seriously they have had so many changes I have to write a chapter on them and frankly with all the work Bill has done on the CCHL he and his team deserve it.