TFHL POWER RANKINGS - Trade Deadline Edition

TFHL Power Rankings - Trade Deadline Edition

Welcome to the TFHL Power Rankings - Trade Deadline Edition. There's been a lot of jockeying for position since the last rankings in October, but it seems, for the most part, the teams have held relatively steady. The Flames and the Sioux have been the biggest movers in this survey, proving that things don't always remain static in the world of FHL Sim hockey So, here we go:

* October Ranking Shown in Brackets

1 (4) – Renegades – Despite a recent 11 game loosing streak, we're still giving the Renegades the nod as the TFHL's best team this time around. Any team that can lose 11 in a row and still be in first place must be doing something right. We'll have to wait and see if the Renegades are the real deal in the final stretch - they definitely have the defense, whether or not they can get their goal scoring up is another question.

2 (3) – Spirit – In stark contrast to the Renegades, the Spirit are currently the league's second highest scoring team. They've managed a respectable goals against tally thus far as well, earning them this week's #2 spot on the Power Rankings. A Spirit/Renegades cup final could be fascinating - defense VS offense, however there are 22 other teams that will have something to say about that finals match up prediction.

3 (11) – Flames – An impressive goals total and an anemic goals against tally has allowed the Flames to shoot up 8 spots from our last survey. There's not much separating the top 5 teams in this ranking, and the Flames could easily end the season in first place should the Renegades continue to stumble.

4 (1) – Bobcats – The reigning TFHL champs have slid out of first place since the last ranking at the quarter season mark, but remain an impressive squad nonetheless. The GM was active at the trade deadline, managing to eek out some deals that should help to solidify their position as a team to beat heading toward the post season.

5 (2) – Blackhawks - The Blackhawks have been posting some solid scoring totals which has kept them hanging around the top of the Western Conference standings. There is a lot of competition in the middle of the Western Conference pack however, so they still have their work cut out for them if they hope to capture the #3 playoff seed.

6 (5) – Pain – One of the league's most consistent teams, the Pain hold their ground in the rankings, falling just one spot. They remain the league's highest scoring team, and their defensive numbers although not the class of the league, can certainly be considered above average. If J-S Giguere can stay healthy down the stretch, I don't think any team is safe having to be paired against this club in Round One.

7 (8) – Saints – With a healthy Chris Higgins all season, the Saints could just as easily be flirting with the lead in the East. They've climbed a modest 1 spot to 7th in this ranking, and should be contending for the cup once all is said and done. Scoring is no problem for the Saints, but if they can put forth an effort at their own end of the ice, look out.

8 (12) – Achaeans - Despite his skeptics, Milan Hnilicka has turned out to be the real deal between the pipes for the Achaeans. He better stay healthy though, cause there are a lot of low cards in the Achaean goalie deck otherwise. Look for the Achaeans to finish middle-of-the pack, but come playoffs, who knows?

9 (7) – Ice – Although they remain one of the league's best defensive teams, the Ice are at the same time one of the leagues poorest offensive threats. The Ice could be living dangerously, but as we mentioned in the quarter-season rankings, a good offense could very well be simply a great defense. They're dealing with some injury problems at the moment as well which certainly can't help matters.

10 (10) – Clubbers – I described the Clubbers in the last survey as 'the vanilla ice cream' of the TFHL – not going to surprise you, but you know what to expect every time. Well, things have changed a bit, and although they stand firm in the #10 spot, they are sporting a disturbing net goals against tally at current.

11 (9) – Rednex – The Rednex could be a sleeper team this year. They're neither dismal nor spectacular, but seem to thrive on just being average. Brent Johnson has been ordinary this season, but a pleasant surprise has been rookie net minder Alexandre Vincent's 2.49 GAA serving in his backup roll. He may not have the experience or stamina to lead the Rednex to playoff glory, but he good be a nice option should the stalwart Johnson show any sign of falter.

12 (21) - Sioux – In the quarter-season rankings, I questioned how this team, with all their potential fire power could possibly be performing so badly. Apparently someone woke up the Sioux offense, because they've been on a tear since then, making the biggest leap of all teams in the rankings as they shoot up 9 spots to #12.

13 (6) – Raiders – The Raiders have fallen in the rankings and the standings since the quarter season report, but I'm not so sure they've changed that much - it just seems their luck may have run out. With the Wheat Kings and Blades showing some late season life, the Raiders could find themselves fighting for that final playoff birth in the West.

14 (17) – Young Guns (formerly the Patriots) – They are currently the leauge's hottest steam. Coming off a big 10 game win streak, the Young Guns have managed to muscle themselves into a playoff spot, maybe even warranting them a higher ranking at the moment than #14. Perhaps a new owner was just what the doctor ordered for this formerly sleepy hockey club, but will it translate into playoff success? We'll have to wait and see.

15 (16) – Hurricanes – The Canes continue to hold their own, and will be battling the Young Guns down the stretch for the 6th place playoff seed. Some help would be welcome on defense if they hope to contend. Like the Young Guns, we'll just have to wait and see how the final weeks of the season unfold.

16 (15) – Wheat Kings – I mused in the last rankings report that the Wheat Kings were a better team than the standings suggest. Sliding a spot to #16, now I'm not so sure. Perhaps the Wheat Kings belong in this position for the time being, but with some deadline trades completed, maybe, just maybe, some of the holes have been plugged in order to launch a playoff run.

17 (14) – Mauraders – It's been the Maurader's defensive play that they've relied on, but goal production remains a problem. They are tied for the league's lowest goal production with the lowly Reservoir Dogs, which can't be good with the surging Aces and Pontiacs nipping at their heals for that 8th Eastern playoff spot. The run up to the end of the season should prove interesting.

18 (22) – Aces – Some recent trades have positioned the Aces for a serious run to make the playoffs. The acquisition of Thomas Vokun and his impressive play has given this team a slight ray of hope. Adding veteran Mike Modano at the trade deadline to compliment this young roster should help fill the leadership void the Aces have been suffering all season. They've also attempted to plug some of their defensive holes by making deals for Artem Chubarov, Lance Ward and Mike Van Ryn.

19 (13) – Apocalypse – The Apocalypse have had some problems putting wins on the board, but they aren't as bad a team as the standing suggest. A few streaks of luck during the season could have this squad contending for a spot in the post season, but perhaps they'll have to be content this year with a good draft pick.

20 (20) – Blades – The Blades look to be about the mirror image of the Aces - can score some goals, but have trouble keeping the puck out of their own net. The Blades are in the tougher Western Conference however, and making the playoffs at this point of the season seems a remote possibility at best.

21 (19) – Pontiacs (formerly Colt 45) – The Pontiacs haven't had a great season by anyone's estimation, but taking advantage of the fact they are in the Eastern Conference, they are still in contention for a playoff spot. Whether they can pull off that feat or not is yet to be seen, but stranger things have happened.

22 (18) – Misconducts – The Misconducts were forced to deal with some key injuries this season, and never quite got it going. Rather than attempt to contend, the Misconducts were wisely active at the trade deadline, unloading some dead wood with expiring contracts for some prospects and draft picks. This team will be scary good in the seasons to come. And, being an Eastern team, they still strangely enough have an outside chance of the playoffs should they be able to go on a run.

23 (23) – Owls – There is a two word solution for the Owl's problems - de-fense! The Owls have the dubious distinction of being the worst defensive team in the league, and that problem has kept them down all season. As predicted last time around, the Owls will be dusting off the golf clubs early this year.

24 (24) – Reservoir Dogs (formerly the Canucks) – Despite a recent 7-2-1 run, the Reservoir Dogs are still stuck with the title of the TFHL's worst team. However there seems to be life breathed into this squad by it's new GM, and with a 1st rounder in their future, things should be much more optimistic next season.