Patrick Asselin is back with Cardiff Devils and their Elite League title rivals are looking on in awe at their player recruitment.
Devils have signed 14 import players, bringing back key men and adding four in Bryce Reddick, Drew Paris, Justin Faryna and Matt Pope.
Asselin is pure class at Elite level and there is no question in my mind that League champions Devils will be significantly improved in 2017-18 which is a major achievement by head coach Andrew Lord.
His team looks deeper offensively. They are younger, faster and tougher.
Lord has opted not to bring back an out-and-out enforcer, but they do have a number of players who will drop the gloves when needed.
New signings Faryna and Pope can put up more than a point per game and both are willing to fight any player in the UK. Paris, Mark Louis, Josh Batch and Lord are others ready to step up.
Canadian Patrick Bordeleau was brought in to add a tough edge last season, but, looking back, he proved to be the major disappointment of a hugely successful season.
With ‘Bordy’ in the line-up Cardiff’s other tough players felt they didn’t need to step in because that’s why he was in the team. But the big man didn’t seem willing to fight when needed.
By the end of last season netminder Ben Bowns was being run into by opposing players and there was no reaction from Devils.
For the new season Cardiff have six guys more than willing to step up to back up their team-mates – and if anybody runs goalies Bowns or Thomas in the new seasons there will be repercussions.
Devils have a team who won’t be intimidated by any opponents.
That will give Asselin, Joey Martin and Co, the high end forwards, confidence to focus on creating and scoring goals knowing their backs are covered.
The return of Asselin may not be the end of Devils’ recruitment. Lord could yet bring in an extra import if the right man is available, while he may look at adding one or two under-23 players on two-way contracts.
Asselin joined Devils last season after taking a full year off from playing in 2015-16, but, despite the time away from hockey, he quickly established himself as an impact player in the UK.
He finished with 21 goals and 38 assist (59 points) in 67 games. His 21 goals were third highest on the team and included five powerplay goals plus four game winners.
Asselin formed a formidable line alongside Joey Haddad and Layne Ulmer, a trio who solidified the Devils with two top lines. Either one could pick apart opposing teams.
Before joining the Devils, Asselin starred for Sonderjyske HC in the top Danish League, winning three championships in a row, twice being selected on the year-end All-Star team and once leading the league in goals and overall points.
Lord says: “Patrick is a great two-way forward and as good as he is offensively, he is responsible on the back check and in his own end.
“He is a big game player and can make those game-changing plays that leave you in awe. It wasn’t just important for us to bring him back, it was vital.”
The return of Asselin means the Devils have managed to bring back every single one of their top seven scorers on the team from last season. He is set to arrive into the UK this weekend along with all of his teammates ahead of training camp which officially starts on Monday.
Devils signings for 2017-18 season:
Netminders 2: Ben Bowns, Thomas Murdy.
Defence 6: Andrew Hotham (import), Bryce Reddick (import), Mark Richardson, Gleason Fournier (import), Drew Paris (import), Mark Louis (import).
Forwards 12: Josh Batch, Patrick Asselin (import), Matt Pope (import), Jake Morissette (import), Layne Ulmer (import), Andrew Lord (import), Joey Martin (import), Joey Haddad (import), Sean Bentivoglio (import), Matthew Myers, Craig Moore (British u-23), Justin Faryna (import).
Ticket information is available via 0800 0842 666 or on the club’s official website at cardiffdevils.com