Here's the last 2 Akwesasne players and the first 3 Cape Cod players.
Terry Watt
Stats: 25 y/o Defenseman; 5 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts
Thoughts: Watt came in at the very tail end of the season and was all but invisible there. However, during the playoffs, he contributed a goal and two assists in 4 games. If the glimmers of an offensive defenseman we saw during the players continue into the new season, Watt should be very capable of providing some offensive spark for Akwesasne's defensive corps.
Verdict: Obviously needed some time to adjust to his teammates and their playing styles. Worth keeping around just to see if he clicks come October.
Drew Baker
Stats: 25 y/o Left Defenseman; 17 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 Pts, +4
Thoughts: Baker played the first half of the season for the Warriors and didn't return after the first week in December due to an Augusta Riverhawks callup (SPHL) but they've stated their interest in bringing him back. He's defensively responsible and able to keep up with the faster forwards for Akwesasne's trademark gorgeous passing rushes. The big question is whether or not all the time off has effected him, and whether or not he's still interested in heading back north. He did, after all, stay with the Hawks well into the playoffs.
Verdict: Hailing from Georgia, he may be the most likely candidate for the Warriors to trade to a more southern team for some missing puzzle pieces come training camp time.
Cape Cod Bluefins
Cape Cod shares the dubious honor of being one of two teams unable to finish the regular season before closing out. Unlike Rome, however, Cape Cod will be returning for the second FHL season, and looks to maintain most of their core playerbase at the time of their closing. Many of these players also saw limited stints with the teams that had survived through the entire season. After a location change, major staffing overhaul, and most recently a total name change, the Bluefins look to have a much more productive second season.
Andrew Hutton
Stats: 25 y/o Right Wing; 34 GP, 6 G, 17 A, 23 Pts, -7
Thoughts: Hutton came on as the team's captain after stellar college and minor league performances, garnering a collegiate MVP award along the way. Has proved in the past he has plenty of potential to compete with the best of them. An all too common trend at this point, he is held back by the absence of a true first pairing of defensemen. Given a new arena, new staff, and hopefully more new players to work with this season, it's highly likely that his production will only increase.
Verdict: No reason to except that he won't be captaining the new incarnation of the team.
Anthony Cosmano
Stats: 26 y/o Center; 32 GP, 11 G, 9 A, 20 Pts, -2
Thoughts: Cosmano also contributed significant speed to the Cape Cod offensive corps, weaving magic in the offensive zone to create opportunities for his wingers. At nearly half a point per game, he's a solid player with potential to develop as Cape Cod searches for, establishes, and begins to refine a new identity as a hockey team. Cosmano struck a chord as more of a patient, defensive center, waiting for a mistake to take off up-ice at breakneck pace.
Verdict: What role he's used in this year remains to be seen, but make no mistake. Speed is the name of the game here.
Vincent Amigone
Stats: 25 y/o Right Wing; 32 GP, 9 G, 4 A, 13 Pts, -8
Thoughts: A very deserving alternate captain of the team, Amigone's collegiate career was a veritable cornucopia of trophy case material. 4 years of D1, MVP caliber, state golds, scoring medals...the list goes on and on. Limited to just six dozen shots in nearly half that many games, Amigone's offensive potential was limited by the lack of any real team chemistry, as Cape Cod found itself shut down by their opponents time and time again over the course of the season.
Verdict: His experience is another building block that will go a long way toward developing a team, but the base requirements here are going to be having a solid foundation to work from; no home changing, no revolving coaches, etc etc etc.
More on the Bluefins Friday morning!
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