It’s that time of year when pre-season games have started and fans of each respective team start to predict where they might finish this upcoming season. The FHL UK team are no different so once again we have had a go at predicting the final Elite League standings based upon our player valuing system.
This season though we want to know if you can do better than us and predict all ten teams correctly? If anyone can get all ten teams in the correct order then we will send you a FHL UK branded puck. The overall winner will also win a FHL UK branded cap. If more than once person gets the same number correct then the tiebreaker will be based on who is closer predicting the points score of the league winner.
*** To enter, send your predictions to our email address or via social media (Twitter/Facebook) by midnight on the 9th September. Don’t forget to include how many points you think the league winner will get as well. ***
| 1st | Sheffield Steelers |
| 2nd | Belfast Giants |
| 3rd | Nottingham Panthers |
| 4th | Cardiff Devils |
| 5th | Glasgow Clan |
| 6th | Guildford Flames |
| 7th | Coventry Blaze |
| 8th | Manchester Storm |
| 9th | Fife Flyers |
| 10th | Dundee Stars |
In terms of our predictions we have Sheffield just edging Belfast this year. This is largely because we think Sheffield have a bit more scoring from their defence although it will be very close between the two top teams. It will also be very close for third and fourth between Nottingham and Cardiff. We’ve been impressed with Nottingham’s signings over the off-season but if Ben Bowns stays healthy for the year then Cardiff may well snatch third.
A little bit behind the top four, but quite a way in front of seventh, we have Glasgow and Guildford who we found it very hard to split. Two very similar teams with the deciding factor being the more settled scoring up front for Glasgow with Roy and LaPorte both returning. Coventry Blaze come in a solid seventh place with the chance for a higher position if one or more of their new forwards exceed our predictions. The loss of Brock Trotter is huge though as our initial valuations had him as one of the top scorers in the league.
Manchester Storm grab the last play-off position in eighth with a small gap to the bottom two. Improvements look to have been made to a leaky defence but there are still questions around a proven goal scorer. Fife and Dundee are ninth and tenth in our predictions respectively. Fife have improved their roster from last year while Dundee have lost a number of their scorers, such as Charlie Combs. With a lot of unfamiliar names we favour Fife over Dundee although both have scope to pass Manchester for eighth.
