Post by krakengm on Nov 5, 2022 16:37:07 GMT -5
Kent, WA - For their first AsHL season, the Seatac Aviators hope to be competitive. Several additions to the club in the past week will give them a chance to do so. The club has gone out and signed three veteran forwards, a veteran defenseman, and a coveted young winger. The addition of rookie left winger Brandon Biro is probably the most exciting long-term signing for the club, but the vets will definitely help to make Seatac very competitive.
Seatac added veterans Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Steenbergen in a trade with Carolina a few weeks back. Gerbe is expected to give the club top line minutes, while Steenbergen has gone from the third line to a player who will have to fight to stay in the lineup. Steenbergen has been there before and relishes the challenge.
"I did not expect to be handed a job. When I got traded here I knew there would be more opportunities, but one look at the roster told me that more guys would be coming in. They got some strong vets, and I'm good with that," said Steenbergen.
That's music to his new coach's ears. "I know he's a competitive guy, and the new fellows coming in here will give me quite a bit to work with," said coach Jeff Daniels.
The club has brought in Rocco Grimaldi (C/RW), Kyle Clifford (LW), Brett Ritchie (RW), and Robert Bortuzzo (D). All four players have varying degrees of experience in the NsHL, and will be given a chance to make Seattle. However, the organization has a lot of depth in terms of tweener forwards who could be strong AsHLers or good role players with the Kraken. These players come to Seattle with the expectation that they will be wearing Aviator uniforms, but all are determined and effective enough to ensure that it is not a foregone conclusion.
Based on the projected Kraken roster, here is our best guess as to what the opening night Aviator lineup would look like if there are no further deals for Seattle:
First line: Ryan Donato or Dominik Simon between Nathan Gerbe and Anton Blidh
Second line: Alex Barre Boulet between Brandon Biro and either Rocco Grimaldi or Brett Ritchie
Third line: Jansen Harkins between Kyle Clifford and Ritchie or Grimaldi
Fourth line: Aarne Talvitie or Tyler Steenbergen between Marian Studenic or Keegan Kolesar
Additional Forwards: Peter Abbandonato and Walker Duehr
Defensive pairs:
Top pair: Robert Bortuzzo and Sebastian Aho or Brogan Rafferty
Second pair: Roland McKeown and Lucas Johansen
Third pair: Egor Zamula and Matt Kiersted or Daniil Miromanov
Additional Defense: Colton White
Goalies:
Starter: Kaapo Kahkonen
Backup: Arvid Soderblom
Additional goalie: Felix Sandstrom
"No matter what happens with the Kraken, we expect to have a deep lineup here in Kent," said Daniels. "There are going to be some good battles to be in the lineup, and we have lots of options within the lineup. There are several guys who can play multiple positions effectively, so when we have injuries in Seattle we'll still be in good shape. I can't wait for training camp."
It's safe to say the entire state of Washington can't wait to see what their new franchises can do.
--- Stephen Hunter for the Kent Reporter
Seatac added veterans Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Steenbergen in a trade with Carolina a few weeks back. Gerbe is expected to give the club top line minutes, while Steenbergen has gone from the third line to a player who will have to fight to stay in the lineup. Steenbergen has been there before and relishes the challenge.
"I did not expect to be handed a job. When I got traded here I knew there would be more opportunities, but one look at the roster told me that more guys would be coming in. They got some strong vets, and I'm good with that," said Steenbergen.
That's music to his new coach's ears. "I know he's a competitive guy, and the new fellows coming in here will give me quite a bit to work with," said coach Jeff Daniels.
The club has brought in Rocco Grimaldi (C/RW), Kyle Clifford (LW), Brett Ritchie (RW), and Robert Bortuzzo (D). All four players have varying degrees of experience in the NsHL, and will be given a chance to make Seattle. However, the organization has a lot of depth in terms of tweener forwards who could be strong AsHLers or good role players with the Kraken. These players come to Seattle with the expectation that they will be wearing Aviator uniforms, but all are determined and effective enough to ensure that it is not a foregone conclusion.
Based on the projected Kraken roster, here is our best guess as to what the opening night Aviator lineup would look like if there are no further deals for Seattle:
First line: Ryan Donato or Dominik Simon between Nathan Gerbe and Anton Blidh
Second line: Alex Barre Boulet between Brandon Biro and either Rocco Grimaldi or Brett Ritchie
Third line: Jansen Harkins between Kyle Clifford and Ritchie or Grimaldi
Fourth line: Aarne Talvitie or Tyler Steenbergen between Marian Studenic or Keegan Kolesar
Additional Forwards: Peter Abbandonato and Walker Duehr
Defensive pairs:
Top pair: Robert Bortuzzo and Sebastian Aho or Brogan Rafferty
Second pair: Roland McKeown and Lucas Johansen
Third pair: Egor Zamula and Matt Kiersted or Daniil Miromanov
Additional Defense: Colton White
Goalies:
Starter: Kaapo Kahkonen
Backup: Arvid Soderblom
Additional goalie: Felix Sandstrom
"No matter what happens with the Kraken, we expect to have a deep lineup here in Kent," said Daniels. "There are going to be some good battles to be in the lineup, and we have lots of options within the lineup. There are several guys who can play multiple positions effectively, so when we have injuries in Seattle we'll still be in good shape. I can't wait for training camp."
It's safe to say the entire state of Washington can't wait to see what their new franchises can do.
--- Stephen Hunter for the Kent Reporter