🏒 Season Preview: Simon T Hockey Simulation League Team

🔥 Team Identity & Strengths

This squad is built around depth at center, veteran leadership, and a balanced mix of offensive creativity and defensive grit. With a strong core of versatile forwards and a defense that leans physical, this team is poised to compete hard every night.

🧠 Forwards Breakdown

⭐ Top-Line Talent

• Pierre-Luc Dubois (PA 75, SC 65, DF 79): A two-way force with elite endurance (EN 99) and puck handling (PH 88). He’ll anchor the top line and power play.
• Jonathan Huberdeau (PA 85, SC 70, PS 83): Playmaking maestro with high experience and leadership. Expect him to rack up assists.
• Matthew Knies (SC 72, SK 84, EN 95): Young, fast, and physical. A breakout candidate with top-tier skating and scoring upside.

🧱 Middle-Six Depth

• Ryan Strome, Ross Colton, and Brett Howden offer solid faceoff ability, defensive responsibility, and scoring depth.
• Shane Wright (Age 21): A rising star with elite endurance (EN 96) and puck handling (PH 77). He could be a sleeper for top-line minutes.

💥 Bottom-Six Grit

• Brandon Tanev and Taylor Hall bring speed and tenacity. Hall’s leadership and experience will be key in tight games.
• Jonny Brodzinski and Thomas Novak round out the depth with reliable distribution and defensive awareness.

🛡️ Defense Corps

🧱 Physical & Defensive Specialists

• Luke Schenn (CK 91, DF 84, EX 88): A bruiser with elite checking and leadership. He’ll be the enforcer on the blue line.
• Jake McCabe and Erik Cernak: Tough, defensively sound, and capable of logging heavy minutes.

🧠 Puck Movers

• Samuel Girard and John Marino: Agile defenders with strong passing and skating. Ideal for transition play and second-unit power play.

🔄 Depth & Versatility

• Nick Jensen offers a steady presence, while Jordan Spence (scratch) is a promising young option with high endurance (EN 96).

🧤 Goaltending

• John Gibson (RT 77, HS 82, PH 75): A proven starter with solid reflexes and positioning. He’ll be the backbone of the team.
• Jakub Dobes: Young and athletic, he’s a capable backup with room to grow.

🧊 Scratches & Flex Options

• Conor Sheary: A versatile forward with strong puck handling and scoring. Could rotate in for energy and depth scoring.
• Jordan Spence: A future top-four defenseman with elite endurance and skating.

📈 Season Outlook

This team is built to contend. With a mix of youth and experience, strong center depth, and a reliable goaltender, they should be in the playoff hunt. Key success factors will be:

• Health and consistency from top forwards
• Defensive discipline
• Goaltending stability

If Shane Wright and Matthew Knies take the next step, and Gibson holds the fort, this team could surprise and make a deep run.