Team: 2023-24 Custom Team

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 7, 2023

Published: Aug. 8, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Cap matters.

Players must have the letter 'a'. Hot takes only, no obvious picks (e.g. Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Alexander Ovechkin, Cale Makar).

While we're avoiding the obvious big names, we are also not wanting to simply throw in rookies or bad players. These are players that, for their position or cap hit, you could argue a better/different player for the role but would still accept this player as a solid choice.

For example:

Chabot is a stud. However, at 8m it would make sense to grab Adam Fox or Cale Makar for a little bit more and make it work. For this ACGM, I'm happy to grab Chabot here and have him be my top defenseman. Some may say he isn't up to it, but he is underrated and could easily lead a team's backend (and has throughout OTT's rebuild). So, while everyone agrees he is a good player it could be considered a bit of a hot take to have him selected at the best D-man available. Even if we rule out Makar and Fox, Hedman, Sergachev, and Hamilton could all still be argued in his stead. Ergo, hot take to consider him the best since everyone outside the top-3 positionally are always hotly contested.

Reasoning:

Forwards:
Almost didn't take the entire first line since they are all great players, but they're all trying to rebound from a disappointing 2022-23 season. Hoping they rebound, but it is risky.

Hoping Marchment rebounds to his 2021-22 performance and that Wright reaches his potential. giving him 2C minutes should help with that, or will dry up the scoring on that line.

Joseph-Copp-Garland line could be unreal defensively and feisty... Or could be a defensive liability (looking at you, Garland). As such, picking them over other reliable grinders/two-ways (Domi-Faska-Copp and drop drop Garland & Joseph, for example) would be a hot take.

Defence:

Already covered Chabot. Larsson can be a top-pairing shut down D I think. Brannstrom is underrated and easily plays second line. Can help cover for Dumba, who could return to his prime MIN days. I like Durzi and Clarke is a highly touted prospect. Like them as a high potential high mistake risk line.

Goalies:

Markstrom and Hart have been unreal at points in their careers, but there are some contentions about their standings now. Picked them for that reason - both could end up being unreal, or they could struggle. Markstrom was elite with VAN, Hart has had some rough patches. Would love to see how it played out.