Reapers Interesting Stories

Heading into RHL 18, the Reapers have many interesting stories for the fans and team to watch.

Amongst the many stories is the goaltending glut controversy the team faces. Not wanting to lose Craig Anderson in the expansion draft, the team had little choice as they had to protect the two goalies they felt could be most useful, both for long term value and for ability to play regular amounts of games.

Even with Anderson gone, there remains yet a glut in net. Ryan Miller who backstopped the team last year to an unlikely playoff spot is a bit of a fan fave. However he is commanding an astronomical salary for his skills and the Reapers are unlikely to keep their RFA, even unlikely to meet his demand to retain rights.

Alex Auld has been a Reaper for two seasons now, posting amazing numbers. However Auld's ratings have plummetted and he is unlikely to make the team next year. Still he has a contract that keeps him locked up into RHL 19 which makes moving him difficult.

The two dispersal pickups are the most likely to share duties in net this year. Manny Legace and Martin Gerber both post decent if not great numbers. Both goalies have reasonable salaries, and the two should be stable enough on the back end with the offense in front of them to win some big games.

The next question is on the blueline. The team enters free agency with two contracted dmen for next year. All their others are RFAs or UFAs. The gaps require major attention. Who they will go after is a different question. The team if they can shed some large salary may make a big pitch, but it is believed instead they will try a platoon of solid but not spectacular dmen this year. The emergence of Travis Roche is huge for the team, in a time when they need dmen worse then ever.

Travis is also one of those interesting stories for the Reapers entering RHL 18. Originally drafted in the Reapers first ever Entry Draft, Roche sat and sat and sat and sat awaiting his chance to make the lineup. Now more then 4 years after being drafted, he will get to play in his first game. Roche has developped his skills nicely entering into this season, though many feel he has no long term value. Still for an original Reaper and the first that they drafted in that first year to make the team, it is a great story. The Reapers just didn't think it would take 4 years before any of the 12 picks they had that inaugural year would crack their lineup.

Another intriguing story is the return of two more original Reapers. Niko Kapanen was a Reaper for their first year, then left, then came back last year to have a career season. Unfortunately he has seen his stock plummet over the summer, but the Reapers opted to keep him on out of respect for his history with the organization. Also, Radim Vrbata is in a similar boat but on a different side of the lake. Vrbata was an original Reaper who had success his first year, then struggled and last year returning to the Reapers was quite brutal. However he has turned his career around, looks to be much more useful this season and could be a key piece for the Reapers next year as well.

Finally the last of the interesting scenario's takes place with Teemu Selanne. Teemu was to be an initial pick of the Reaper organization in their first ever expansion draft. Right up until the deadline, the team had him pencilled in. In the last minute the team had a change of mind, and forfitted the pick. Now, over four years later, Selanne finally arrives in Guelph where he nearly ended up so many seasons ago. This time he is welcomed with open arms as the team locked up the UFA to be instantly, and hopes he can bring in added scoring to their lineup.

Last year the scoring was limited to one line. Shane Doan, Martin Straka and Niko Kapanen were the majority of the offensive attack. All three return this year, but the additions of Vincent Lecavalier, Jiri Hudler and Teemu Selanne will give the Reapers two dynamic offensive lines to hopefully offset for their shortfalls on D and maybe in goal.

This season promises to be a more exciting one, with higher scoring games.

By the way, as an exclusive to the BLOG Verse faithful, rumour has it that the Reapers will be trying to resign Peter Forsberg in auction to return him to the team where he had so much success for two seasons. More on that to follow.

Reporting for your Reapers,

Sal Trachan