Season Previews 2012-2013 - Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

2011-2012 Record: 68G-23W-42L-3OT-49P

Potvin-Veliky-Carrier

Guevremont-Farrell-Lavoie

Campbell-Clarke-Beaton

Murphy-Bishop-Corriveau

Millman/MacEachern

Haché-Woodworth

Oligny-Leduc

Arsenault-Desmarais

Deslauriers

Hoznik

Trudeau

Top 5 scorers in 2011-2012

Brunelle 68G-30g-55a-85p

Carrier 66G-27g-43a-70p

Lavoie 65G-23g-24a-47p

Clarke 68G-14g-26a-40p

Kindl 62G-18g-20a-38p

Overagers - Jonathan Oligny, Dany Potvin and Alexandre Lavoie

Euros - David Hoznik and Adam Veliky

Additions: David Hoznik, Justin Haché and Jonathan Oligny

Losses: Jonathan Brunelle, Denis Kindl, Cory Macintosh and Sébastien Payette

The Screaming Eagles come into this year as a young rebuilding team that still has a veteran presence. They are not expecting to contend this year, however management made several moves over the off-season that would lead one to believe there is plenty of room for the Screaming Eagles to surprise people this year.

This off-season the Screaming Eagles reloaded a lacklustre back-end by acquiring Justin Haché from Shawinigan for a 2013 1st, Jonathan Oligny from Drummondville for a 2013 3rd and David Hoznik from Victoriaville for a 4th in 2013. Without taking from the current depth the Screaming Eagles were able to ensure the fans will be more optimistic coming into this season than last. The Screaming Eagles also had a bevy of high picks in this springs entry draft where they selected 6 players in the first 3 rounds of the draft, replenishing their system with much needed talent. Their first 3 three picks were strong two-way forward Clark Bishop with the 3rd overall pick, strong technical goalie Alex Bureau at 21 and scoring forward Zach Moody of Nova Scotia at 32nd.

For forwards, the Screaming Eagles head into this season with concerns over who will carry the offensive load with the departures of Jonathan Brunelle and Denis Kindl. William Carrier, Alexandre Lavoie and Adam Veliky are the most likely candidates, but beyond them it is up in the air which depth forwards will be able to contribute. I could certainly envision Kyle Farrell, Bronson Beaton and Michael Clarke being the key depth scorers next year. Watch for the Screaming Eagles to be locked in many low scoring games next year.

On defense, the Screaming Eagles are looking much better than last year heading into this season. The additions of steady defensemen Justin Haché and Jonathan Oligny will bring a calming presence to a back end that had notable issues away from the puck in their own zone and in breaking out of their own zone. With all of the crew becoming one year older, expect far better from the Screaming Eagles defence which will help them compete in a Maritime division bursting with offensive talent.

Between the pipes the Screaming Eagles head into next season in very stable shape, with the newly acquired David Hoznik expected to start and last years starter Philippe Trudeau currently appearing to be the back-up. Hoznik is an above average Q goaltender, who was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks   71st overall in 2011. He is the type of goalie who could certainly go out and steal Cape Breton some games this year, which will be well appreciated by Screaming Eagles fans who are used to the likes of M.A. Fleury, Ondrej Pavelec and Olivier Roy tending the crease for their team. Expect Philippe Trudeau to be used as trade bait heading into the pre-season, as the Screaming Eagles have 3 capable Q back-ups in Jacob Fancy, Francis Léonard-Mayer and Alex Bureau.

I fully expect the the Eagles to improve on their 49 points from last year, but the additions certainly won't carry them to being contenders. At best I see a difficult team to play against that fights to stay around the .500 mark, which is not bad considering how young of a team the Screaming Eagles will be icing.

Burning question - How much room do the Screaming Eagles have to improve with their new additions?

Prediction - 4th in Maritime Division, 13th in QMJHL