ALL-STAR BREAK: Team Prospects

With just over nine weeks remaining in the season, there is still plenty to play for - though admittedly, some teams have more to play for than others. So, with nothing better to do with my time on a cold and damp Sunday afternoon, a brief look at the 12 FHL teams and their prospects for the balance of the 2019-20 season.




BADGER BOB
GM: John Chester
Leading for a good chunk of the season, Badger Bob now find themselves out of the money - the team recently dispatched to 6th place overall. The Bobs however still have a very good view of the loot, the 2018 FHL Cup champion lodged a mere 14.0 points from 2nd place and it’s $250.00 prize. Third place is even closer, of course, GM Chester’s crew trailing $150.00 by just 8.4 points. The coveted FHL Cup (and $600.00) is also still in play, the Jersey Bobs currently seated 61.8 rows behind 1st place. With a record of 10-6, the team is a virtual lock to make the H2H playoffs where they can claim a share of the $200.00 kitty.


BLULINERS
GM: Ken Hamilton
The Bluliners have been one of the better second half teams, the Original Six franchise trekking mostly northward in recent weeks. Claiming what would be their 5th FHL Cup remains a possibility, the team trailing the top spot by 60.8 points; a second-half deficit that has been vanquished many times in the 27 year history of the league. With regard to runner-up cash, the Bluliners trail $250.00 (2nd place) by only 13.0 points; $150.00 (3rd place) by 7.4. With a H2H record of 9-7, the Bluliners have an inside lane to the seven-team postseason field, however they’ll have to win at least two of their final six H2H matches to qualify.


BOULDER FLYERS
GM: Paul Morgan
The Boulder Flyers were wallowing near the bottom of the pile before a 93.4 point week rocketed the team into contention. The Flyers have played better since, the team currently holding the $250.00 3rd place money card. Second place is just 5.6 steps up the road. For the Flyers to win their 4th FHL Cup, they’ll have to, at the very least, outplay the 1st place squad by 53.4 points over the final nine weeks of the season. With a H2H record of 8-8, the Flyers are holding the seventh and final playoff ticket. To qualify - and to have a shot at the $200.00 H2H playoff purse - they’ll have to win three of their remaining six matches, possibly more.


CENTRAL RED ARMY
GM: Tom Buker
For the Central Red Army to land in the money, they’ll have to abruptly reverse course, the 11th place team currently seated 100.3 point in back of 3rd place ($150.00). While the number is daunting, the deficit may be doable. The Army fell on hard times soon after Sidney Crosby was carted to the shelf. The future Hall of Famer is healthy again. As such, it’s far too early to count out GM Buker and his troops. With regard to the H2H playoff chase, there is very little room for error. With history saying you need a .500 record to qualify, the Army, 6-10, will have to win five of their final six matches to be considered.


CHERRY PICKERS
GM: Ron Recoskie
The Cherry Pickers have spent most of the season off the grid, the first year franchise never rising to great heights, nor sinking to cellar-contending lows. Currently seated in 7th place overall, the Pickers are still very much in the chase for a season-ending payday; the Pick just 51.5 points from the green pastures of 3rd place ($150.00); 2nd place ($250.00) not much further outside of their grasp (57.1 points). While currently holding a ticket to the H2H playoffs - which would provide the team with a shot at $120.00 (H2H champion); $50.00 (2nd) and $30.00 (3rd) - the Pickers, 9-7, have work to do as they must win two, possibly three of their final six matches to lock a spot.


ICE HOGS
GM: Steve Henry
The Ice Hogs future is bright (as in, bright green) the team currently lodged in 2nd place overall; 47.8 points in back of the top prize of $600.00 (1st place). The Hogs are also in possession of the best H2H record, a mark of 12-4 providing the two-time FHL Cup champion with a one game lead over the Misconducts. If they finish with the best record, they’ll receive an automatic berth in the H2H semifinals - and a much wider path to the H2H champion prize of $120.00. Knowing how the tide can quickly turn, GM Henry isn’t counting his checkins (sic) just yet. While the Hogs are a safe bet to finish with some sort of cash in hand - with so many teams clipping at their heels - they could just as easily depart the season with nothing.


MISCONDUCTS
GM: Dave Smalley
The Misconducts are a bit of an anomaly, the team hot on the heels of the league’s best H2H record despite being housed in the lower half of the standings. With a mark of 11-5, GM Smalley sits just one game in back of a first round playoff bye. With a bye, the Misconducts odds of winning H2H money would increase significantly - three of the four semi-finalists guaranteed a season-ending payday. Overall-wise, despite being holed-up in 9th place, a money finish is still within range, the Misconducts sitting just 67.5 points in back of $150.00 (3rd place).


POLAR BEARS
GM: Mike Elya
It’s a been a miserable campaign for the Polar Bears, the 2016 FHL Cup champion spending most of the season buried in the FHL basement. Their H2H picture is just as bleak, the Bears sporting a league-worst record of 3-13 and no hope of qualifying for the postseason. So what is there left to play for? Plenty, if you don’t want to be saddled with the FHL booby prize for finishing dead last. In the 27 year history of the league, only three FHL Cup champions have been awarded the Laughing Bag. For the Polar Bears to avoid being grouped with that infamous trio, they’ll have to outpoint the 11th place team by 74.3 points over the final 69 days of the season.


ROCKY ROCKS
GM: Rocky
Rocky Rocks has been cursed, seemingly from the start of the season - the first year franchise strapped with a lousy 4-12 record despite playing well for much of the campaign. Their bad luck can also be seen if you take a trip to the FHL infirmary. There you’ll see Jake Guentzel and Dougie Hamilton, both players lost to season-ending injuries. While there hasn’t been much to smile about over the first 16 weeks of the season, there is still plenty to play for - the Rocks, despite their hardships, still within earshot of the money. Currently lodged in 8th place overall, 3rd place cash ($150.00) is just 52.5 points in the distance. A 2nd place finish is not out of the question, the Rocks trailing a $250.00 payday by only 58.1 points.


SC COBRAS
GM: Mike Murphy
The SC Cobras are sitting just outside of the money, the 4th place team trailing 2nd place ($250.00) by only 12.1 points; 3rd place ($150.00) by just 6.5. The Cobras are also in position to make a run at the coveted FHL Cup and it’s $600.00 prize, the fifth year franchise just 59.9 points in back of 1st place. With regard to the H2H playoff chase, the future isn’t entirely black, but it’s not nearly as bright. With seasons-past saying the qualifying standard is a .500 record, the Cobras, 7-9, will have to win at least four of their final six matches to join the postseason conversation.


VEGAS VIPERS
GM: Lawrence Miller
The Vegas Vipers are currently seated in 10th place overall; 141.6 points in back of 1st place. While an FHL championship is likely out of the question, claiming a share of the Top-3 $1,000.00 purse remains a possibility. With over two months remaining in the season, the Vipers sit 88.2 points in back of 3rd place ($150.00) and 93.8 points in rear of 2nd place ($250.00). While no one is betting the farm on the Vipers finishing in the money, greater deficits have been erased in the past. H2H-wise, their prospects are greener. Though they currently reside outside of the playoffs, the 7-9 team is a postseason possibility, the Vipers needing to win at least four of their final six matches to bag a berth.


WILD DUCKS
GM: Scott Collard
The Wild Ducks are in a very familiar position at the All-Star break, the 9-time FHL Cup champion currently perched atop the FHL, leading the 2nd place Ice Hogs by 47.8 points; the 3rd place Boulder Flyers by 53.4. Considering their pedigree past - and their almost 50.0 point overall lead - the smart money is on the Wild Ducks to hoist the 2019-20 FHL Cup (and pocket $600.00) at seasons end. The playoff bound squad is also in-line for a H2H payday, the Ducks, 10-6, a solid bet to advance to the money round and claim a share of the $200.00 H2H postseason purse.