Celebration over; Renegades back to work

The champagne and parade are done and the CCHL champion River Cities Renegades are back to the grind, trying to build on a season for the ages.

Shortly after lifting the trophy before the hometown fans, the team traded the rights to impending UFAs Ryan Malone,Sergei Gonchar. The return for these stars were 2 3rd round draft picks, a 1st rounder and a 5th plus a long-shot NCAA prospect (Daniel Delisle) and a former top prospect in Brian Lee.

Delisle is a big-bodied Centre who could develop into a Wayne Primeau type of player, a strong defensive forward for the 3rd line if everything works out. Lee's star really dimmed this past season but at 23 years of age he may yet turn out as a legitimate top 6 defenseman and was worth a flyer as many of RIV's defensive prospects (aside from Tyler Myers) are still a couple of years away from contributing.

Tim Thomas was re-signed for 2 years and is expected to hold down the fort next season and act as mentor and backup to elite goaltending prospect Jonathan Bernier in the 2011-2012 season.

RIV dipped into the UFA waters and came away with Forwards Chris Kunitz and Marco Sturm and depth D-men Mike Weaver and Martin Skoula. Weaver and Skoula were signed for just 1 year and provide protection for possible injuries to Jan Hejda and Tony Lydman in the upcoming season.

Kunitz was the recipient of a 3 year, $18 million contract, making him the team's highest paid player. Although a controversial move given the salary, Kunitz is expected to fill a top 6 role and plays a game very similar to that of team captain Shane Doan. Sturm, signed for 3 years and $15 million, is ticketed for the 3rd line and has long been regarded as one of the better defensive LWs in the league. He can also fill a top 6 role when needed and pop in 20 goals.

The team is not expected to make any more signings in Free Agency, although that could change if a team chooses to walk away from a winning bid.

River Cities 2009-2010 Preview Part 1

River Cities looks to build on a successful 2008-09 season where they took eventual Jazz Conference champion Dayton to 7 games in the playoffs. The Renegades enter the season as a virtual lock for a playoff spot but team management is expecting a bigger payoff during the postseason.

This is the first part of a 4 part preview of the team. Part 1 is an overview; Part 2 will look at forwards; Part 3 at the Defense and Goaltenders and Part 4 will cover Prospects and any late-breaking news.

Departures:
D Brian Rafalski, RW Victor Kozlov, C Jeff Halpern, D Brian Allen, C Sammy Pahlsson, C Trevor Letowski, LW Ladislav Nagy, G Jose Theodore, RW Chris Clark

Arrivals:
RW Marian Hossa, D Toni Lydman, G Kevin Weekes, LW Cory Stillman, LW Drew Miller, LW Travis Moen, C Radek Bonk

Rookies:
D Luke Schenn, D Roman Polak, D Jonathan Ericsson, D Karl Alzner

Rafalski is obviously the big loss here as his arrival in an early season trade solidified the blue line and the Power Play. The Renegades are hopeful that Dennis Wideman can step into a first pairing and PP quarterback role as Lydman nor any other of the new D-men are anywhere near Rafalski's class offensively. The loss of Pahlsson and Halpern hurt a little but Manny Malhotra is primed to take over the 3rd line C and 1st Penalty-Kill unit duties. Stillman should be an upgrade over the Kozlov/Nagy platoon and on the 2nd PP unit. Moen and Bonk add depth to the 4th line. Miller won't have much of a role this year but is being looked at as a defensive forward and PK contributer for 2010-11 and beyond. Weekes is the backup to Jonas Hiller.

Regarding the rookies, Schenn and Polak will duke it out for the 3rd pairing as the defensive partner for Marek Zidlicky. Schenn has the edge as the team goes to camp. Ericsson will be well down the depth chart and Alzner will likely be designated for the minors. Schenn, Ericsson and Alzner are all expected to be major contributors in the coming seasons and Polak isn't a shabby player either.

As camp opens the line combinations and depth charts are expected to be:

Forwards (LW-C-RW)
Malone-Savard-Doan
Stillman-Carter-Hossa
Laich-Malhotra-Brown
Moen-Fiddler-Mayers
Miller-Bonk-Shannon
Novotny

Defensemen:
Hejda-Wideman
Schultz-Lydman
Schenn-Zidlicky
Polak-Jones
Murphy-Ericsson
Meyer
Alzner (Minors)

Goaltenders:
Hiller
Weekes
Sabourin

1st Power-Play Unit (LW-C-RW-LD-RD):

Doan-Savard-Hossa-Zidlicky-Wideman

2nd Power-Play Unit:

Malone-Carter-Stillman-Zidlicky-Lydman

1st Penalty Kill Unit (F-F-LD-RD):

Malhotra-Fiddler-Hejda-Schultz

2nd PK Unit:

Carter-Mayers-Lydman-Schenn

Notes:
If the PP struggles Cory Murphy could dress as a 7th D-man and PP specialist. That would likely put Moen on the bench as the team goes with 11 Forwards.
Savard, Doan, Hossa and Laich could all see time on the 2nd PK as all are solid defensive forwards.
Dustin Brown and Laich could fill in on the PP if there are injuries or poor performances from Stillman or Malone.
Bonk was brought in for his faceoff prowess and to help on the PP in the event that Savard or Carter get injured. If he dresses it will be strictly as a 4th liner as Bonk is no longer a reliable defensive forward.
A lot of injuries would have to occur for it to happen but Ryan Shannon could put up some productive time on the power-play and as a 2nd or 3rd line forward.