Big LHL Season preview 1

The Big LHL has completed its first on-line draft and the 4th season begins October 5th for the Lanny McDonald Cup. The draft had its mistakes but went about as smoothly as can be expected. Frozen Tundra is the defending champs and CCCP was the regular season champ in 2003-2004. Unlike the Big LFL there are no clear cut favorites this year. In this season preview I have broken the league into four categories.

The top category is in tribute to the great Lanny McDonald’s mustache which is even bigger in person. These teams should make the playoffs and contend for the title. The second grouping is Mike Bullard’s mustache; these teams are a step below the elite teams, much like Bullard’s stache in comparison to Lanny’s. The third group is Theo Fleury’s bottle; these teams may make it to the playoffs or end up in a ditch with Bill Laforge. The last grouping is dedicated to the gray matter of the man who led to the Flames into their 90’s downfall, Doug Risebrough’s brain. These teams are composed of Gary Leemans, Alexander Godynyuks, Jeff Reeses, Michel Petits and Craig Berubes. The first part of this blog will be teams 10-14 in no particular order

Doug Risebrough’s Brain:

Taichung Tikis

• Staches: The Tikis have a fair amount of firepower for an expansion team. Sakic, Hossa and Demitra are solid fantasy players. McCabe and Stuart lead a decent defense that has potential.
• Mullets: Taichung took some gambles with perpetually hurt players like Allison and Samsonov. Teaming them with underachievers like O’Neill, Hemsky and Frolov could be a recipe for disaster. Goaltending will also be big in the 14 team LHL and I don’t think Lehtonen and Cujo can get it done.
• Question: Does Burnaby Joe have another year in him? The Tikis should make the playoffs if Sakic repeats what he did two years ago. I doubt he will be able to on 36 year old skates and with an average team.
  

Pike Place Flying Fish

• Staches: The Fish are a year or two away from making the playoffs but took some big steps with the acquisitions of Crosby and Gonchar. The Fish may get lucky this year if the development of players like Legwand, Stall and Denis continues.
• Mullets: I do wonder why the worst team from a few years back has injury bugs like Koivu and Palffy playing along with old-timers like Tkachuk and Amonte. Additionally, it can't be a good idea to be banking so heavily on the Penguins.
• Question: Will any of the goalies have big years? All three goalies Conklin, Thibault and Columbus play for borderline play-off teams. Pike Place will need two of them to step up if he wants to make the playoffs
  

DaMing Dynamos

• Staches:DaMing has two of the youngest goalies who will be needed quickly if the Dyanmos want to end up out of the cellar. Raycroft and DiPietro could put up huge numbers but may still be a year away. DaMinghas also assembled a rock solid defense and this may fianlly be the year that an LHL team with a solid defense makes the playoffs. Barnaby and McCarty will keep the Dynamo in the running for PIMs every week.
• Mullets: Age and injuries. The Dynamo season rests on the oft injured shoulders of Kariya, Langenbrunner and Blake. If they can return to form the Dynamos may return to the playoffs.
• Question: Which senior center will be on the injured list the longest? Turgeon (36), Modano (35) and Roenick (35) are the key for the Dynamos. DaMing owner Dave Whitehead will be doing cartwheels if two of them manage to make it through the year unscathed.
  

Taichung Mighty Fucks

• Staches: The Fucks made improvements in the off season and now have something to build on. Years of inaction have decimated this franchise but they now have a few building blocks in Bertuzzi, Tanguay and Ribeiro. Taichung may also have found decent goaltending with Cloutier and the Lightning duo of Burke and Graham.
• Mullets: Unfortunately for Taichung there is little of anything else on this team. Leetch anchors a weak blue line and Slegr has killed many a fantasy team. Injuries could kill the Fucks and the bench doesn’t have much depth or quality.
• Question: How many games will Mario play? Mario is the difference between the basement and the playoffs. If he plays 60 games the Fucks may get lucky and make the playoffs. He is 40 with a history of a back problems. Which reminds me of another of Ryan Davidson's baseball players and lokk where that got you?