Pre-Season Preview: #8 Lake Erie Shtonsters

Coach: Evan Tynan
Trophy Case: POH5 Manager of the Year

POH5 Regular Season Finish: 5th
Postseason Finish: First Round Loss

Pre-Season Rank
Forwards: 9th
Defensemen: 10th
Goaltenders: 3rd
Coaching Pedigree: 5th
Overall: 8th
Projected Win Total: 62

Keepers:
C Joe Thornton (3rd Year in Lake Erie)
RW Jarome Iginla (3rd Year)
RW Marian Hossa (3rd Year)
D Jack Johnson (2nd Year)
G Martin Brodeur (3rd Year)

Outlook
GM Evan Tynan enters his fourth season with the Shtonsters. In his first three seasons, Tynan has led the franchise to three consecutive playoff berths, including a POH4 Finals appearance. Joe Thornton (32 years old), Jarome Iginla (34), Marian Hossa (32) and Martin Brodeur (39) all return for a third straight season in Lake Erie. With the nucleus of the team growing a bit long in the tooth, concerns have been raised about the future of the franchise. The 26-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury may be the long-term answer in net for Tynan. But outside of centerman Mike Richards (26), there isn't a whole lot else on this team in the way of keeper potential. The front line of the Shtonsters can best be described as underwhelming. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise for a team that annually focuses on the goaltending categories. Johnson, Mark Streit, Chris Pronger and Ryan Suter form a skank group of blue-liners, and much will be expected of Streit after missing all of the 2010-11 season. Brodeur, Fleury and Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom form one of the best goaltending trios in the league. The question remains: will the goaltenders be stout enough all season to support a less-than-stellar group of point scorers? The answer to this question will go a long ways in determining the fate of the Shtonsters in POH6.

Players to Watch:

RW-Marian Hossa

Since signing with the Chicago Blackhawks two seasons ago, Hossa has missed 45 games. As a result, the production we've come to expect from the Czech product hasn't quite been there. He has five times topped the 35-goal mark, and if he can stay on the ice for 75+ games this season we'll likely see anywhere between 35-40 goals.

D-Mark Streit 

After finishing last season with no elite defenseman options on the roster, Tynan took a chance on young Jack Johnson...hoping the young Los Angeles King would continue developing in POH6. But make no mistake, Streit is the man to watch on the Lake Erie defensive front. Streit totalled 62, 56 and 49 points in the three seasons following 2010-11 (which he missed with a shoulder injury). If he gets back to that level and avoids further injury, this could be a strong defensive unit.

G-Martin Brodeur

Most Princes of Hockey analysts suspect this will be Brodeur's final season with Lake Erie whether or not he comes back for the 2011-12 season. The future hall of famer needs to stay on the ice in order for the Shtonsters goaltending unit to live up to it's expectations in POH6. The Devils are widely expected to be better this season, and Brodeur could enjoy one last trademark campaign before floating off into fantasy irrelevancy.