PR - Saints

Saskatoon Saints Prepare for Battle with Familiar Foe

At the TFHL 18 Draft the Calgary Hurricanes and Saskatoon Saints made a blockbuster trade which saw the longest serving Saint Iljy Bryzgalov (Saint since TFHL 12) and young star Ryan Getzlaf (acquired from Sioux the previous season) depart to their archrival Calgary Hurricanes. Joining the team was veteran super Star Markus Naslund and young sniper Matthew Lombardi. The primary incentive for both sides were Naslund and Getzlaf; with Bryzgalov and Lombardi being somewhat 'throw-ins' last minute to get a deal done. Strangely enough, Bryzgalov has been playing incredible for the Hurricanes and has just completed his best season yet; and Lombardi just won the Art Ross Trophy for most Regular Season pts (sharing the trophy with his teammate Christopher Higgins with 90 pts each). Lombardi's linemate Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Rocket Richard winner, developed an immediate chemistry along with veteran Jason Arnott. Interestingly enough, the Saint's second line often was the stronger offensive line upshowing the top line of Higgins, Sjostrom and Kovalchuk.

The Saints-Hurricanes split the season series this year and are only separated by 4 pts in the standings - playing in an incredibly competive Hunter Division. All six Hunter Division teams made the playoffs this year showing it to probably be the toughest division in the TFHL.

What has changed in Saskatoon?
The Saints have never had playoff sucess, and on the contrary, the Hurricanes have been consistently competitive: the last two seasons they were barely edged out and both times, Bobcats and Wheat Kings, they lost to the team which went on to win the cup. This might just be Bryzgalov's year with the Hurricanes, who are clearly a contender in the East. Not much has changed on the Saints - some players - but mostly still an offensive club with problems on D and in net. But with rookie Marc Cheverie's ability to win, a streak may give them a Wheat Kings-like run.
TFHL18 playoff Newcommers to Saints: Ilja Kovalchuk (Ace), Marc Cheverie (drafted), Matthew Lombardi (Hurricanes), Jani Rita (Pontiacs), Patrice Bergeron (Pontiacs), Ivan Baranka (Pontiacs), Jesse Boulerice (Pontiacs), Eric Hunter (Pontiacs), Tom Kostopolous (Ice), Radim Vrbata (Pain) and some other minor acquisitions signed in UFA or from released players list.
*If the Saints change their playoff fortunes at last, it will be a result of Lombardi (W), Kovalchuk (W), and most importantly, Baranka (D).
'The Departed': Naslund (Marauders), Gonchar (Bobcats), Bryzgalov (Hurricanes), Getzlaf (Hurricanes), Kobasew (W), Biega (D), Williams (D), and many others.

The Perrenial 'Goaltending Question'
It's no secret that the Saints have never been solid in net. Almost every season the Saints' #1 raises some questions and a brilliant backup usually gets the go ahead before the 3rd game of the playoffs. Geoffrey Young has settled the rumours by announcing today that young rookie Marc Cheverie will start Game 1 in Saskatoon against the Hurricanes: "He's earned this start, and Tukka's first concern is for the club. Both Rask and Cheverie are very young goals (21 and 18 respectively) and I'm certain that the two of them will share the load this playoffs. We'll see how Marc does this first game and then Game 2 will be a 'gameday' decision." Bryzgalov will undoubtedly be starting for the Hurricanes tomorrow afternoon in Saskatoon which should present him with added incentive. The Saints and Bryzgalov did not part on the best terms: "Those bastards placed last year's horrible playoff performance entirely on me. The management is incompitent! Young is never patient with any of the young guys...as long as he's at the helm you'll never see the Saints do anything but trade and bitch when ex-Saints make it big," said Bryzgalov earlier this morning. Young's response, "the guy never got himself in shape...was always fatigued and let us down when it mattered. We're not bitter, we traded a playoff flopper for an Art Ross winner. A goalie isn't what makes a team, Ilja didn't understand that. He plays for his own stats, not the teams. And I'm sure the Hurricanes will enjoy their extra time on the links on his account!"

For Young, this playoffs is the test of his plan for the franchise: "If we have another 'early exit', I might be looking at changing how I put together the team for next year. Perhaps, offense isn't the best emphasis and maybe I need to focus more on D and G than I have been. Oh well, time will tell; but I am confident we can knock off Calgary and having the home-ice advantage, I hope we can pull away with two wins here in Saskatoon."