Roster Highlights
Philipp Lindner, Michael Kernberger, Kevin Macierzysnski and Niklas Bretschneider – four league-experienced local players will now wear the Sharks jersey.
Lindner and Kernberger, in particular, will have to shoulder a lot of ice time, while for 34-year-old Macierzynski, it remains to be seen whether last season was an offensive outlier (given a two-year contract, that wouldn't be good).
It's fair to assume that both defenders – even if Lindner's performance is always inconsistent – will contribute more than the two forwards.
After the ECHL experiment with Matt Vernon (who returned to that league), Sam Harvey crossed the Brenner Pass to sign with the Sharks. He is accustomed to a lot of ice time from Bolzano, and that won't change in Innsbruck.
The 28-year-old should provide solid goaltending and give his team a chance for more points than in previous seasons.
Offensive leader Steve Owre is fit again after his knee injury, and the late signing Sebastian Benker – one of the few positive aspects of last season – also remained.
Brady Shaw's return failed because all parties involved in the "internal incidents" two years ago could not be consulted in time. Instead, Nikita Scherbak, an undoubtedly gifted, albeit enigmatic, winger, came from Villach.
So, three potential offensive players; since PK specialist Justin Richards' impact is easily predictable, ECHL player Brett Davis must be the link between scorers and grinders.
If he succeeds positively in this, the Sharks should score more than in previous years. He definitely brings size and mass to an otherwise rather lightweight lineup.
Roster Question Marks
On defense, just like in previous years, Noah Kerber (toughness), Winston Frimmel (size), and Elias Stöffler (skater) will contend for the 6th and 7th spots. That's acceptable if the top-5 hold up.
Joel Messner (who came from Bruneck) will hardly be out of the lineup; Lindner will also be used in all situations (power play), and Kernberger will provide solid defensive work. Still on tryout, Quinn Wichers will likely be a depth player; therefore, Connor Mayer – who played under Coach Ryan Kinasewich in Utah – better become a solid defensive defender, otherwise, the whole thing will quickly become top-heavy.
Up front, eleven league-experienced forwards are available; for veterans like Thomas Mader, Kilian Rappold, Lukas Bär, and even Bretschneider, their contributions can be predicted even before the season starts. Marcel Witting stands above them due to his PK strength and dedication, though offensively he is naturally limited.
A high-scoring lineup is not apparent, and in case of injuries – which would likely bring Kerber forward again – the roster quickly thins out, though this applies to all weaker ICE teams.
The debacle surrounding Shaw, Patrick Kudla – a very weak skater – officially extended last year only to be let go in the summer – all of this fits the amateurish image that has persisted for years.
However, TIWAG funds have provided a solid financial foundation for years, which Hanschitz's successor – whoever that may be – should build upon. The goings-on behind the scenes should be just as interesting this year as those on the ice.
Areas for Potential Reinforcement
Including tryout player Wichers, only nine foreign players are on the roster. Should the need arise, further adjustments or additions could be made, especially in case of long-term absences...
Outlook
Another last-place finish seems impossible; the Sharks' roster appears somewhat deeper than in previous years. However, leaving four teams behind for a top-10 spot presents a challenging task...
