PR - Misconducts

Misconducts Finish Dead Last

After playing extremely well during the first couple months on the season, the Miami Misconducts fell apart. The reasons for the collapse are numerous including taking too many penalties, awful special teams play, and a sub par defense. GM Robert Maxwell stated at the end of the year press conference that measures will be taken this off season to rectify the problems and get the Misconducts back to playoffs after two straight seasons of being the worst or second worst team in the league, He has been criticized recently for having dealt this year's first round pick a couple of seasons ago for a player no longer on the team. However he was quick to point out that he also was able to acquire the fourth overall pick in this years draft which will land another good young player to go along with their nucleus of Andy Sackrison, Carey Price, Cody Wild, Robby Blaze, Jordan Staal, and Gilbert Brule. All six players figure to play a major role in how the Misconducts finish next year. Price stole a few games this year for the team, but he also cost them quite a few as well. Two key factors attributed to his poor play this season. One being the lack of a quality defense unit. The other was the lack of a proven veteran backup. Price seemed to play a lot better when Roberto Luongo was with the team last year and he seemed to miss him an awful lot this year. Mika Noronen did an adequate job filling in , but he wasn't able to play enough games to keep Price fresh. Sackrison and Staal scored most of the big goals for the team late in the year. They figure to see time together both of the top line and the top power play unit this season barring a big free agency signing. Those three players plan to be a big part of this team for years to come and will ultimately determine if the Misconducts will ever become an elite team in the TFHL.

Draft Prospects Wined and Dined

With the season now over for the Misconducts they have turned their attentions to the the draft. At their end of the year press conference GM Maxwell confirmed reports that the team had an additional four scouts and increasing their scouting budget by 5 million for the next year. It was considering a wise move by the franchise that holds over 20 draft picks with in the next three years. With that amount of picks they can basically pick and choose who the want to go after and try to get in the draft. Among the potential draftees they visited South Beach this week were LW James Van Riemsdyk, RW Patrick Kane, C Sam Gagner, C Kyle Turris, D Karl Alzner, and D Keaton Ellerby. Their most likely targets from this group would appear to be Alzner and Ellerby as the Misconducts ranked as one of the worst defensive teams in the league. The organization feels that Ellerby is pretty much a Zdeno Chara clone, a good solid two dman who takes up a lot of space. Alzner they feel can develop into a future captain. He has all the intangibles the team is looking for and they feel he can bring the right attitude to a defensive corps that was really lacking any personality last year. Two names who appear to be not on the teams radar right now are that of Russian Alexei Cherepanov and Angelo Esposito. The team believes that Esposito will no longer be there when they pick at number 4 and have decided to not bring him in for a work out. Cherepanov on the other hand, is not being looked at because the teams feels that they won't be able to get him over from Russia this next year. They have had a few conversations with Cherepanov's agent and he has expressed that he has no desire to play for Miami this season and will honor the last year of his contract in Russia if the Misconducts select him.

Trade Rumors

The Misconducts only made one small move at the trading deadline this year. They sent Ryan Whitney and Boris Valabik to the Wheat Kings for Byron Bitz and two third round picks. It was their least active trade deadline day in the history of the franchise. Veterans such as Andreas Karlsson, Brenden Morrow, Henrik Sedin, Ben Ulmer, Glen Murray, Richard Matvichuk, and Colin White all stayed put Leading to speculation that this off season could lead to a lot of trades by the Misconducts. Management has let it be known that only four or five players are untouchables at this point. Rumor has it they have already agreed in principal to deal that will see one of their first line players from last year traded. It has been confirmed yet who it or with what team the deal has been made, but it is believed to included a top ten draft pick coming back to the Misconducts. Apparently the Misconducts have contacted several teams drafting at the top of round one to see if their pick or picks were available. They are still believed to be looking for more draft picks with in the next four years.