Hi and welcome back to the fourth and last of my season previews. Lee, the remaining division to be previewed all all three previous Trans Cup Winners, The Tokyo Dragons, the Singapore Dipsomaniacs and the Taipei Typhoons.
LEE division
Taipei
Hat.. no, I'm not going to go down that road today. The Typhoons won the cup in last season and they only needed 18 games to do so. They did ok in both the FA and the Entry draft and after having pulled of a few trades the team is looking strong. Peter Forsberg and Bobby Orr are expected to have great seasons. GM Easton has a new favorite line in Brendl, Ciger and Dopita. Ville Nieminen was traded to Tokyo during the offseason. I couldn't predict such a move from Easton.
Grade card
Centers: A
Right W: A
Left W : A
Defense: A
Goalies: A
OVgrade: A
Singapore
The Dips weren't able to repeat their accomplishment from last season. The team has lost key players in the FA draft every season, yet manages GM Sedsy to rebuild his team. RW Owen Nolan was lost this season but he was or is hoped to be replaced by Jay Legault. GM Sedsy has decided to give up some depth to remain competitive. It remains to be seen if that was a good move.
Grade card
Centers: A-
Right W: A-
Left W : B+
Defense: A-
Goalies: A
OVgrade: A-
Melbourne
The Sits are looking really strong this season. I dare to say that they will make the playoffs this season. GM Tim Kastelle, who is more known for his interest in birds than hockey has somehow managed to put together an impressive team. The Aussies will have to count on their veterans to chip in. Rob Blake is on his last year on his current contract.
Grade card
Centers: A-
Right W: B+
Left W : A
Defense: A
Goalies: A
OVgrade: A-
Hong Kong
The Hurricanes chocked the Dragons in the playoffs last season. This year the team from Hong Kong will struggle to make the playoffs. GM Howe, how experienced he may be, will find that the life in the LEE can be cruel. We've seen a lot of changes being made to the team. Can Hong Kong regain its great team chemistry from last season despite the trades ?
Grade card
Centers: B
Right W: A-
Left W : B+
Defense: A-
Goalies: A-
OVgrade: B+
Calcutta
The Joy will probably find themselves outside the playoffs for the fourth time in TWHL4. One of the most important players on this team, Patrick Roy, was re-signed during the FA draft. Another key member of the Joy, Markus Naslund has been traded to Europe. Jovocup and Mattias Ohlund will have to play exceptional if the Joy shall make it to the playoffs. Same thing goes for HS Joe Malone.
Grade card
Centers: A-
Right W: B
Left W : B
Defense: A
Goalies: A
OVgrade: B+
Tokyo
The Dragons lost both Pavel Bure and Sergei Fedorov in the FA draft. Both players have been brought back since then though but the price was high. The awesome depth that existed last season is not so awsome any longer. The Dragons are one of the teams that could go all the way and win the cup this season. Don't expect the team to get as many points as last season though.
Grade card
Centers: A
Right W: A
Left W : A
Defense: A
Goalies: A
OVgrade: A
Overview
Tokyo
Taipei
Melbourne
Singapore
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Hong Kong
Calcutta
OK, thats how I see this ending now lets take a quick recap.
Overview Overview Overview
Stockholm Rio Toronto
Rome Cape Town Vancouver
Prague Mexico Chicago
London Santiago L A
------------ ------------ ------------
Berlin Cairo Montreal
Moscow Havana NY
And here is the entire class, by grade and by alphabetical order.
Stockholm: A
Taipei: A
Tokyo: A
Cape Town: A-
Melbourne A-
Rio: A-
Rome: A-
Singapore: A-
Toronto: A-
Vancouver: A-
Calcutta: B+
Chicago: B+
Hong Kong: B+
L A: B+
Mexico: B+
Santiago: B(+)
Berlin: B
Cairo: B
London: B
Montreal: B
Prague: B
Moscow: B-
New York: B-
Havana: C+