Will post my thoughts on the series in a bit. For now here is a quick rundown of my roster:
Kansas City Scouts
Home Rink: Kemper Arena
GMs: Pwnasarus/JimEIV
Roster
Coach: Pete Green
Assistant Coach: Ted Nolan
Steve Shutt - Mark Messier (C) - Ken Wharram
Paul Thompson - Frank Foyston - Harry "Punch" Broadbent
Ross Lonsberry - Troy Murray - Alf Smith (A)
Gerard Gallant - Ryan Walter - Allan "Scotty" Davidson
Jack Adams
Tim Horton (A) - Frantisek Pospisil
Walter "Babe" Pratt - Barclay Plager
Ron Stackhouse - Barry Ashbee
Lloyd Cook
Johnny Bower
Ed Johnston
PP1: Thompson-Messier-Broadbent-Shutt-Horton
PP2: Smith-Foyston-Wharram-Pratt-Stackhouse
PK1: Lonsberry-Murray-Horton-Pospisil
PK2: Gallant-Walter-Plager-Ashbee
Coaching:
The tandem of Pete Green and Ted Nolan are an absolute force behind the bench. Green will bring the game planning and hockey intelligence that propelled his Ottawa Senators teams to 2 Stanley Cup championships in 6 seasons and a .640 career winning %. Having one of his top scorers in tow during that tremendous run in Punch Broadbent should only help the communications lines between Pete and the players. The Scouts are full of character and leadership from top to bottom, this should only serve to help Coach Green get through to everyone from 1 down to 22. Coach Nolan was brought on for his ability to motivate his teams above and beyond expectations. Ted's penchant for getting the absolute most from his teams every night, coupled with Green's tactical skills will be a huge advantage for the Scouts in the coaching department. Ted is very respectful of other legendary coaches and the history of hockey. He will no doubt help in whatever capacity Coach Green asks of him. We expect Coach Green to handle most of the X's and O's while Coach Nolan serves as a motivator, mentor and general assistant coach. With this tandem we feel the Scouts have one of the top benches in the league.
Goaltending:
Johnny Bower is one of the great clutch goaltenders of all time with a retro Conn Smythe trophy, 2 Vezinas and leading the league in GAA 3 straight seasons to go along with his 4 Stanley Cup wins. An amazing resume no doubt. With current Kansas City Scout Tim Horton and his 6 1st or 2nd team All-Star selections, the 2 former Leafs teammates create a very difficult environment in which to score, especially in the postseason as evidenced by their astounding success. Ed Johnston provides the Scouts with a very capable backup who can certainly contribute positively for the 20 or so games he will play during the regular season. Eddie's positive attitude will be the perfect asset for the reserve goaltender role, a role he served for Team Canada in the Summit Series previously. The 1970 Bruins won the Cup with Johnston backing up Cheevers and Johnston had a very solid regular season getting into 16 games and posting a sub 3.00 GAA. In 1972 he led all post-season goalies with 6 wins and a 1.86 GAA in winning the cup. The Scouts feel he is an outstanding backup goalie for Bower and as evidenced by his 72 season, can even fill in during the postseason if it came to that. However it likely won't as Bower is our horse, but it is nice to have that luxury.
Top line:
The presence of Mark Messier in the pivot brings a toughness/leadership/scoring/do-it-all backbone player to the line. A player that is responsible defensively as well as explosive offensively. The complementary players on the top line each bring different traits in their own respective way. Steve Shutt brings the big goal scorer's mentality to the top line, he can play in front of the net as well as shoot it from the point or the wing. He is also a clutch goal scorer having 3 top 10 finishes in GWG including leading the league in that category in 1976-77. On the right side, Kenny Wharram brings the speed and playmaking ability to go along with Messier's all around game and Shutt's goal scoring ability. Wharram's ability to fly will help press the defense and bring the all-around balance that any effective 1st line has to have.
2nd line:
Another all-around solid line comprised of a complete offensive genius in Frank Foyston, a great skating as well as backchecking presence on left wing in Paul Thompson who also provides smarts and leadership while being no slouch offensively as well, as evidenced by 5 top 10 point finishes and 4 top 10 goal finishes respectively. Punch Broadbent on the right wing brings exactly what you would envision, a crease clearing, no nonsense presence in front of the net, who also has a nose for it. Broadbent's 3 top 10 goal finishes (including leading the NHL in 1921-22, along with winning the Art Ross) combined with his 5 top 10 PIM finishes will pose some headaches for opposing coaches (and players). This line should be one of the better all around 2nd lines in the entire draft. Both the top line and this line bring, playmaking, leadership, defensive presence, a front of the net presence, some speed, goal scoring and toughness via talented players who each contribute to that equation in their own way.
3rd line:
This 2-way line features a former Selke trophy winner in Troy Murray at the pivot who can also chip in quite nicely offensively evidenced by a career high of 45 goals and 99 points in 1985-86. Murray is also a very scary player on the kill with 2 top 10 SHG finishes to his credit in addition to a top 10 GWG season. Rugged Alf Smith takes up his right side and provides physical play as well as timely goal scoring (33 goals in 18 Stanley Cup games). Ross Lonsberry is a protypical 2-way left wing who is a 2 time Stanley Cup champion and exhibited great checking ability as well as play in the corners. He is also a major threat shorthanded having finished 2nd in the NHL in SHG in 1970-71. This 3rd line should be able to both handle top lines defensively as well as score the puck.
4th line:
The 4th line brings a bit of everything to the table, we have some sandpaper (Gallant), Toughness/Leadership (Walter) and one of the premier 2 way players in the NHA before his career was cut short due to his death during WW1 (Davidson). All 3 of these players can skate, all 3 can play defense and all 3 can contribute on the offensive side. We feel like we have one of the better 4th lines in this draft because of the supreme 2-way nature of this line and the Scouts feel comfortable icing it late in games as well. Gallant boasts a top 10 SHG and GWG finish to his credit. 2 players on this line were captains during their playing careers. Ryan Walter led the Capitals for multiple seasons and Scotty Davidson captained a cup winning Toronto team in only his 2nd year in the NHA. Davidson also led the champion Toronto team in goals that season with 23 tying him for 6th in the league and boasted 133 PIMs in 40 NHA games. This is truly an outstanding 4th line full of character and leadership who can also burn you offensively and play a strong 2-way game in the process.
Top D pairing:
The combo of Horton and Pospisil provide just about every combination of game you like to play. Big hits? Horton can oblige. Clear your own zone? Pospisil is there. Rush the puck? Horton again. Big shot from the point? Yep, Horton can do that too. If Horton takes off with the puck, the fact that Pospisil is back there gives the Scouts a great deal of confidence in their own zone. Not to mention I'm sure Johnny Bower loves having his old buddy Tim back there taking care of things as well.
2nd D pairing:
Babe is a puck mover, plain and simple and when you have a puck mover, you have to compliment him with a guy who can take care of his own zone in spades. Barclay Plager is that player, you will always get an honest days work from him and he will run through a brick wall in order to win hockey games. He will be relied upon to take care of the house if Pratt is on the move. Plager can absolutely level you as well as be a very effective penalty killer and shotblocker. He is the perfect compliment to one of the better offensive defenseman in the draft in Pratt. Pratt could also take care of himself when necessary adding in 5 top 10 PIM seasons to go along with his Hart and multiple cups.
3rd D pairing:
This pairing combines the offensive ability of Stackhouse with the shutdown capabilities and pure heart of Barry Ashbee. While Stackhouse would prefer to play a positional game and utilize his shot from the point, Ashbee will be a physical contributor while shutting down his side of the ice and covering for Stackhouse when he feels the urge to rush. Stack gives the Scouts another good, low shot from the point to add to our powerplay and Ashbee gives us a similar player to Plager in that he brings all the characteristics you look for in a defensive d-man, namely heart, leadership, shotblocking, smarts and physical toughness. Ashbee can also contribute on the penalty kill.
