Wheat Kings - PR

Wheat Kings Ready To Go

The Saskatchewan Wheat Kings began training camp today with grins on their faces.

"This is the year, we're looking good," newly ordained captian Daymond Langkow said.

Long on the losing end of fate's fickle moments, the Wheaties are looking to stave-off pessimism this year. After an injury to Daymond Langkow lead to a collapse in the final ten games of last year and the Kings missing the playoffs by one point, GM Tyler Young was very active in trades and Free Agency over the off-season, dealing 'uber'-star Peter Forsberg shortly after elimination, signing two key players in free agency, and many other moves besides. Now many observers have commented that this may indeed be the most solid Kings roster ever.

Forwards:
There is quality at every position but the forward corp is the most improved, and probably the best group the Wheaties have had in their history. It begins with last year's 'The Second Best Line in the League' of Keith Tkachuk, Daymond Langkow, and Daniele Briere: last year they all finished amoung the league's top scorers, with Tkachuk finishing fifth in league scoring. New additions include Scott Gomez, acquired for the mercurial Denis Arkhipov, Teemu Selanne, through free agency, and Chris Drury, reacquired in the Forsberg deal after a brief stay with the cross-town Saints. Those players will join a much improved returning group of young-guns Scott Hartnell, Danius Zubrus, and Niklas Hagman. Other than Forsberg, who was mediocre during his stint with the Kings, the Wheat Kings managed to make these additions without trading away any significant players.

Defence:
It's not how big it is, it's how you use it. The Wheaties' d-core is definately on the short side with only five quality d-men, however, four of them are young, extremely talent, and dominant when on the ice - which will be a lot. Kim Johansson leads Michael Jones, Dan Sprang and Robyn Regehr, as the Wheaties attempt to see if quality will triumph over quantity. Veteran Slava Suchy rounds out this corp. The only significant loss of the off-season, that of Matt Schneider, really hurts here, and there are serious questions whether his offense off the rush can be replaced.

Goal:
The best is yet to come . . . after taking a trip last year on the carousel of TFHL trades, former Vezina winner Roberto Luongo, who was dealt from the Kings to the Misconducts to the Saints to the Kings in the matter of a couple months, returned home around mid-season and was dominant - taking the Kings from ninth to third in the conference in the matter of thirty-some games. He will have a full season with the Kings this year - the last time that happened, two years ago, he won the Vezina and took the Kings to the semi-finals; now this year, with a better team in front of him, who knows what we could do. Filling a serious longtime deficiency, the Kings went out and picked-up the best unrestricted goalie available, to play back-up. Chris Osgood will allow the Kings to rest Luongo without trepidation: "In the past we wore-out Roberto," coach Mike Keena commented, "because we knew if we didn't play him, we would lose; it's probably why we were eliminated two years ago, and
it probably contributed to the late season collapse last year - we can't expect the guy to play a hundred games a year."

Prospects:
For the first time, the Kings are in a position to actually develop their assets. Last year's first overall pick, Steve Bernier, agreed to terms and will play the season on the farm. Bernier is described as a Mike Bossy-type goal machine. He will join newly acquired Valtteri Filppula, who lead the TFFHL last year in goals, and Keith Ballard, a promising young defenceman, as well as grinder and all-around pain-in-the-neck to be, Brian Sutherby, and the Kings' goalie of the far distant future, Kari Lehtenon, who is looking to improve after a lucklustre showing last year.