Additions (Excluding Draft Picks): Ryan Reaves (trade), Emile Poirier (trade), Andrey Makarov, Jarred Boll, Steven Pinizzotto
Subtractions: Brendan Smith (trade), Nicklas Jensen (trade), Ian McCoshen (trade), Patrik Elias (unsigned), Patrick Marleau (unsigned), Francois Beauchemin (unsigned), Brian Campbell (unsigned), Tyler Bozak (trade)
Promotion From Prospects: Matt Puempel
After significant changes last season, the Bombers team is finally stable with the core players intact. The team will rely on some key promotions from the farm team to step up this year. Most importantly, the team has picked up some of the best ushers available in the Baghdad - picking up core players like Ryan Reaves, Jarred Boll, and Steven Pinizzotto to properly walk customers across the IED strewn stadium.
(Left: Saviour Jason Zucker with his 58SC) Forwards: After Patrick Marleau showed why the SJ Sharks can't win a cup - and then gracefully replicated the feat for the Bombers, the team decided to part ways with Mr. Un-clutch. "Look, this guy taught us how to lose in all sorts of manners. We lost to the Bullies - that's about as low as you can go," noted an unnamed member of the team who is rumored to be GM, coach and president of the organization. The team will rely on some fresh blood coming from Michael Raffl and Jason Zucker to fill the scoring needs. Defensively up front, the team is balancing its lines, finally coming to term with Michael Frolik after having him sit a season. Frolik will provide a balanced offensive/defensive role and will be used on the top line to provide relatively more toughness on the Giroux/Ennis/Frolik line. Luke Glendening gets the best opportunity, joining David Backes' 3rd line to even up the scoring / defensive traits. Jason Zucker may get promoted from the 4th line to the 3rd line in Glendening's spot should Luke if the force is weak in that one. Bombers GM is currently satisfied using Zucker on the 4th line to even up the offensive balance on that line. The biggest surprise is Brad Marchand spending some time in the farm to teach the youngsters how to play cheap and agitate other players. Marchand is expected back in the pro-league once playoffs begin. Second biggest surprise was resigning both Purcell and Maroon to $3.35mm contracts hoping they play with Connor McDavid and Perry/Getzlaf respectively in the NHL - although both of those signings are expected to rot away in the farm until next year. The team has high hopes for Charles Hudon making the team next year.
(Right: Team promotional picture with Roman Josi) Defence: No significant changes on D, although Andrej Sustr gets promoted to the big show because of his affordable contract. Fedor Tyutin will also be in the farm but is expected back up once playoffs begin. The team solidified its core by resigning Roman Josi to 3 years for only $5.75mm. The team expects to lock in Ekman-Larsson next year as well solidifying its #1 and #2 core, although negotiations may be tumuluous. The industry expects Bombers GM to lowball OEL until he caves in. Brendan Smith was let go because of his inability to skate, play defense, or do anything useful at a cheap price. Dumba is expected to man the PP in the future alongside OEL and Josi once he develops further. Ville Pokka will be expected to get promoted next year once he establishes himself as a solid and cheap defensive option. Ryan Pilon immediate retired after getting drafted by the Bombers - he realized how stacked the team's depth was, and realized he would never be good enough to make such an *elite* group of D. His NHL Combine Test scores will be plastered all over the farm's dressing room to motivate new prospects NOT to be like him.
Goaltending: No changes. Team acquired Andrey Markarov to bolster depth.
Third Jersey: After various experimentation using a) Bomberman theme, b) Fantastic 4 theme (box office bombs) and c) Vancouver Canucks jersey (continuously bomb during the playoffs), the team settled on its newest 3rd jersey design - a simple B.
Fans complaining about the design will be forced to trade with [Team A] and [Team B]. The GMs of those teams will remain anonymous to protect the identity of those individuals.