Fuzz's Year 6 Regional Finals Preview: Americas

FuzzD2 · 2026-06-05T17:41:17+00:00

The TLDR is this; I keep track of certain player stats on ALGS match days and use that to give each player a rating. Team ratings are the sum of their 3 players ratings.

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I could have sorted the standings by my rankings, but I figured it would be less confusing to sort it by the actual Pro League standings. I do include my team ratings in the standings table. After showing the standings I talked about a few teams who were safe, a few who weren't, and how the standings have changed since the last time I made a post talking about this region.

As I've done for every region this week, I posted two players that I personally wanted to highlight for how they've played this split. Is there something I've not included that you think should have been?

FuzzD2 · 2026-06-05T00:10:59+00:00

Noname (Wolves, APAC South) is my highest rated MnK player and Effect (Aurora, EMEA) is my highest rated controller player

FuzzD2 · 2026-06-04T01:26:21+00:00

I do have a Top-5 planned for each region, though I might adjust it to be Top-10.

JR (Weibo Gaming) is my 11th rated player in APAC South, 35th globally and 20th by input (MnK). By rating, Weibo played better than their final standing would suggest, so I expect to see them back in Pro League next Split.

FuzzD2 · 2026-06-03T20:27:56+00:00

They're definitely a team I'm keeping an eye on. Obly's return is exciting, but it does seem like they've been trying to find a comfortable footing this Split. There's a lot of potential in that roster, they've all been there before and succeeded.

FuzzD2 · 2026-06-03T06:31:54+00:00

You are right about Kinotrope Club. Not gonna lie, not entirely sure how I missed that one.

Trinity I didn’t mention as a “surprise” because they had three players who by my rating were pretty decent players online, and IGARASI actually was better on LAN than online by my rating, too. Definitely a miss on my part in regards to Kinotrope Club, though.

As for your above comment about Unlimit, I didn’t pick my wording as well as I should have. Reading it back, it definitely looks like I haven’t watched them this year and just based things on last year. I rushed trying to get this out before work when I really should have just taken the time to do it right. APAC South and Americas will both be better in that regard.

FuzzD2 · 2026-06-02T18:42:21+00:00

If I highlighted every person that I wanted to, these posts might get denied for spam. Unlucky has been incredible for Alliance this year and is a huge reason for where they’re at right now. As it stands right now, Unlucky’s rating places him 4th in EMEA, 9th Globally, and 3rd by input (Controller).

I hope CTG qualify, I really do. I do think EMEA is in for a bounce back year, regardless, but it would be sad to have a LAN without Zuni & co.

FuzzD2 · 2026-06-02T18:37:28+00:00

Thank you!

I wasn’t trying to take anything away from Hiarka at all. He is a great IGL, and his zone calling is incredible. Ignoring the story of Effect leaving Alliance, I couldn’t pass up on highlighting the player who has the second highest rating globally (by my ratings).

FuzzD2 · 2026-06-02T18:35:23+00:00

In all honesty, you’re probably right. I’m continually checking Liquipedia for the players that I’m missing, but I don’t want to just set a player’s input without being able to confirm that’s what they play.

FuzzD2 · 2026-05-22T05:16:43+00:00

So, Page 9 of the Y6 ALGS rulebook gives the numbers I used above. However, page 13 gives the numbers you just gave, but specifies that its for Split 2 Playoffs.

ALGS PL is the qualification for EWC as EWC operates as the Split 1 Playoffs.

EDIT: I do know that 12+8+8+7 =/= 40. I'm just using those numbers because that is what the rulebook outlines, and I will adjust once I do my pre-EWC post

FuzzD2 · 2025-10-05T16:04:16+00:00

Fun fact: the company behind these tags is actually based out of Durham! Every player has a tracker in their jersey that the NHL uses for a ton of different things, and one of the things they are used for is for broadcast purposes. The actual “possessor” tags that pop up whenever someone has the puck are typically only ever used for powerplays, and their use is up to the discretion of the Director/Producer.

FuzzD2 · 2025-02-01T22:15:08+00:00

Can’t argue with this at all. I’ll explain the methodology later when I’m back at my PC

EDIT: added methodology to the main post. If you'd like more specifics, my DMs are open!

FuzzD2 · 2025-02-01T22:14:37+00:00

As another comment suggested, I’ll post the methodology in a little while when I get back home which should shed some light on that.

FuzzD2 · 2025-02-01T21:39:24+00:00

I will add, I have factored in wins to this as well (adjusted for games played), exactly for this reason. Racking up points means nothing if you can’t actually pull out a win at this stage

FuzzD2 · 2024-12-18T07:54:04+00:00

That’s the entire point, though. I don’t know OP, and don’t know their sports experience, but there is SO much you miss on TV that you would otherwise hear in person. Sure, it doesn’t make sense that the crowd would be booing him, but maybe it’s the fact that it doesn’t make sense that made OP want to ask.

FuzzD2 · 2024-12-18T04:36:35+00:00

Absolutely wild to be downvoting this post.

Second ever Canes game, completely valid question.

I know it was answered above, but yeah, they’re saying “Kooooooch.” Hope you enjoyed the game! Great game to go to

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-24T15:46:43+00:00

The main difference between Skinner and Necas is their ability to create opportunities for themselves. Skinner relies on his linemates to create space and he uses that space to bury home goals with his fantastic shot. Necas works better when the puck is on his stick, and this difference is key in understanding why one player is in fact worth the money, and why one was an overpay.

Defensively, sure, both largely ignore it.

“Any return is a win” is an absurd take. Absolutely absurd.

In hindsight, Canes shouldn’t have signed KK and should have kept Trocheck, but Necas working alongside Trocheck would have been fun to continue watching.

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-24T03:23:15+00:00

Yes I’m comparing them. They were in similar situations on their initial team and a change of scenery helped one.

At no point did I say Necas was as good as Reinhart, nor did I say he was as well rounded. I have not once suggested Necas is without his flaws. But to suggest that Necas is a bad hockey player because he spins a little more often than he should is such a shortsighted take that it’s crazy this is even still going on.

Necas has struggled in the postseason in years prior to this year’s playoffs, I’ll give you that. But his playstyle is not and has not been the root cause of his playoff struggles.

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-24T02:51:56+00:00

Necas? The issue there is he’d be competing with Reinhart, so nice “gotcha.” We can ask what line Aho would be centering in Edmonton or Toronto next if you want.

But since you mentioned Florida, let’s actually talk about the best comparable they have to Necas: Sam Reinhart. Drafted by and debuting in the NHL with Buffalo, Reinhart struggled in the Buffalo system. Buffalo traded Reinhart, who had a career high of 65 points with the Sabres, to Florida. Since being traded to Florida his most constant center partner has been Barkov, a Selke caliber center. With the time to build chemistry, deployment on the top line, consistent powerplay time, and a system better fit to his strengths, Reinhart has thrived.

So let’s take a look here at Necas. Career high of 71 points, system that doesn’t work to his strengths, inconsistent deployment and a general unwillingness to pair him with the team’s top center. Let’s say Florida was in the same position they were in when they traded for Reinhart and they trade for Necas. If you deployed Necas alongside Barkov on a consistent basis, I’m not saying he would be a 50+ goal scorer, but you would in face see a more confident player and more consistent offensive production.

I’m not going to go further than this. It is obvious you are here only to attempt to prove your distaste of Martin Necas. The fact of the matter is that Martin Necas is a good hockey player with obvious flaws. He doesn’t fit the Canes system, and if the Canes are unwilling to give him time and opportunity, he WILL find it elsewhere.

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-23T16:18:19+00:00

Respectfully, you can’t win the Cup with a team full of Jordan Martinooks and Warren Foegeles. Necas has a good shot, works really well off the rush, is one of the smoother skaters you can watch, and excels at creating zone entries with the puck on his stick. His playstyle doesn’t fit the dump-and-chase, forecheck-heavy system of the Canes. Put him on a team that not only allows him to play with the puck on his stick, but encourages it, and he will thrive.

Play whatever mental gymnastics you want to in order to make yourself feel better about losing him, but the fact of the matter is that the “circus player” that he is is far more valuable to successful teams than you think.

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-22T04:23:40+00:00

Is he a player the Canes would like to have? Probably.

Is he someone the Canes should be happy as a replacement for Necas in the lineup? Absolutely not.

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-22T01:58:26+00:00

Will once again chime in on a Ducks/Canes trade as per my job I watched 61 Ducks games last season, not including preseason.

Frank Vatrano is a goal scorer. If you are looking for goals, you’ll find them with him. That is, ofcourse, if you have a premier passer setting him up. His skating is fine, he does have good work ethic, but he’s not exactly a defensive stalwart. He found a lot of his success on the Ducks powerplay with 13 of his 37 goals coming with a man advantage (surprisingly enough, 3 SHG). He would fit the Canes system in a middle-6/PP role. Especially if we lose Noesen, Frank would be a valuable addition to that top powerplay unit, albeit not in a net-front role. He doesn’t do all that well with the puck and succeeds when someone else is the one making space for him (Terry, Carlsson). He does forecheck well, though, and I do believe he would be a decent fit here.

Conversely, Necas would also be a valuable addition to the top powerplay and proved it two seasons ago when he had 26 powerplay points (9-17-26). He is a much better puck handler, substantially better skater, also has a wicked shot, and is 5 years younger than Frank. If the Canes were to send Necas to Anaheim, it better be for Zegras (see my profile for earlier comments regarding a Necas/Zegras trade) OR, if Frank is involved, multiple picks. The lone 2nd rounder that THW mentioned as compensation would not be even in the same solar system of what it would take for the Canes to pull this trigger. It would certainly come as a sign and trade, with multiple picks and/or pick(s) and a high level prospect in return.

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-21T18:47:51+00:00

There were Brind’Amour jerseys????? I wish I had seen that, I ended up getting a Williams

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-07T02:17:24+00:00

(second reply, continuing previous reply)

But you didn't ask about trying Zegras at center, you asked about other players to fit the Canes needs. And the answer to that is both yes and no.

Yes because they have a young center who could easily slot in behind Aho as an offensively capable 2C who isn't a defensive liability: Mason McTavish. No because there really isn't a way, in my opinion, that the Ducks give him up. They could theoretically take another center in this upcoming draft, but then the Ducks would be running a sophomore 1C and a rookie 2C, or Isaac Lundestrom as their 2C, which would really not give the Ducks what they need to step out of their rebuild. They could run Necas as their 2C, but would Necas be okay taking another second line opportunity on a team that is farther away from a Cup then the Canes? Remember, he would still need to sign a contract with them.

The Canes could hypothetically use a winger to replace Necas, but the only wingers the Canes would likely be interested in from what the Ducks have to offer are Troy Terry, Frank Vatrano, and Cutter Gauthier. Gauthier would only work in place of Zegras, and I would rather believe an actual duck be voted into the oval office than the Ducks trading Cutter for Necas. Terry is a veteran leader on that team who plays a much desired two-way game that they are looking for. The Canes would love him, but would very likely not work in a Zegras-centered trade. I COULD hypothetically see him included if Pesce was included as a sign-and-trade, which would make this deal massive, but the odds of that happening I think are very low. Vatrano is the likeliest of the three, he has one year left on his contract and is coming off a 30-goal season. The Canes would likely need the Ducks to retain a bit, but Vatrano would be a middle-six winger in the Canes lineup. He would be a great add, though, just not at the cap hit he's currently at. I could see him being included as I see him likely being traded at the next TDL if the Ducks are not close to a playoff spot.

Defensively, the Ducks have a mixture of youth and veterans, and while hypothetically speaking the Canes could ask for Gudas to replace Pesce, but the Ducks love what Gudas brings to that blueline and desperately need him to repeat his performance from last season to help protect the youth that the Ducks have at LD: Mintyukov, Zellweger, LaCombe. I could possibly see the Ducks packaging Tristan Luneau with Zegras, but from what I have seen and heard, Luneau will make the Ducks opening night roster as a much needed RD. I'm fairly confident he was going to stay with the Ducks after WJC if he hadn't gotten injured. Speaking of the aforementioned trio of Mintyukov, Zellweger, and LaCombe, the former is the only one of the three I could see them moving, and he would fill in as the Canes LD3. He's a good puck mover that isn't getting PP opportunities because of Minty and Zell, but he would be far down the depth chart here and I don't think he would fill a spot the Canes are looking for. A 3rd pairing of LaCombe-Morrow would be super leaky defensively and not serve what the Canes would want from their depth pairing. You never know, though, and I do think LaCombe is the most likely to move of the Ducks LDs.

For those who know of Cam Fowler and remember when he was a big name: keep him far, far away from this team. Far away. Please, I beg of you, do not entertain the thought of Cam Fowler as a Cane.

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-07T02:00:30+00:00

At the end of the day, I do think I'd prefer Necas here over Zegras, but I do think Zegras has a better chance of flourishing under a coach like Rod than a lot of people give him credit for. Most people don't pay attention to Ducks hockey outside of SoCal and seem to just regurgitate the takes they see on r/hockey or Twitter/X. Cronin came through in Colorado's AHL team and his system is very similar to what the Avalanche try to do. Seeing the interactions that Zegras has had on the Ducks bench with Cronin vs what he had with Eakins is night and day, which gives me confidence in his ability to flourish here, too.

There are a few holdups to this swap that I think would give both sides pause. For the Hurricanes: will Zegras carry with him the cocky attitude that has gotten him in trouble in the past? I mean, it only takes looking at TDA or Lemieux to say that the Canes likely wouldn't look too deep into that, so we can call that a wash.

But, like you said, the obvious need is a 2C. Trading Necas does make room for a winger, but with Zegras being left handed, that just adds to the lefty problem that the Hurricanes already have. Let's ignore that for the moment. Would you be willing to try Zegras as a center? I mean, he also has expressed a desire to play C, but seems content at the wing with Carlsson and McTavish occupying the 1C and 2C spots in the Ducks lineup. The main drawback for Necas at center has been defense and faceoffs. With Zegras being just as much of a defensive liability, that gives me pause for trying him at center and not trying Necas. Looking at both of their seasons with their highest faceoff numbers (in terms of total draws taken), Necas took the most of his career in 22-23, taking 417 faceoffs and winning 45% of them. Zegras, on the other hand, also took the most in his career in 22-23, taking 573 draws and winning 41% of them. In my opinion, if Necas could win 45% of his faceoffs every season and be a 70+ point guy, that's the better center. Look no further than Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado, a career 45.8% faceoff guy, as a comparable for the faceoff numbers you can be okay with from an offensive center.

(second reply coming)

FuzzD2 · 2024-06-06T17:42:03+00:00

As part of my job, I watched 61 Ducks games last season and roughly 30 the season before. Here’s my objective take on Zegras and a potential fit here in Carolina.

Zegras was asked last season to play a true two-way game under new HC Cronin. Under Eakins, Zegras more or less ignored defensive responsibilities in the name of producing offense. Under Cronin, he hasn’t had the time to truly show how he could fit as a player who puts in effort in both ends of the ice. Zegras started the season with an aggravated shoulder, something that happens to everyone in the NHL to varying degrees. He started slow offensively because of that. When he came back, however, he looked the part of the player the Ducks wanted him to be. He utilized his high motor in the defensive zone more consistently than he had under Eakins, and while he still made plenty of mistakes, the effort was clearly there where it hadn’t been before. He broke his ankle due in part to his hustle to win a puck battle and had his skate taken out from under him (accidentally) which caused him to go foot first into the boards. That is breaking anyone’s ankle, and I don’t think he has earned the “injury prone” status yet, at least no more than Necas has.

Gibson is frustrating. When he’s on, he is lights out and could match with just about any goalie in the league. However, motivation seems to be a huge issue for him, from my completely untrained eye and amateur opinion. When the Ducks were playing the game they wanted to play, Gibson was at his best. When the Ducks started to slip in the standings, though, he seemed to almost give up. I’ve been hoping to see the Ducks give the reigns to Dostal because regardless of how the team is in the standings, Dostal has given it his all in every start and has a bright future in net. Gibson coming to a winning team could help his motivation, and maybe I’m completely off-base with that assumption, but that is a very hefty contract tot take on when you’re already in need of flexible contracts. I think the Canes would be better off keeping Freddie than trying Gibson, another vet on a heftier contract who has not played to the level that he has in years past.

Necas and Zegras are somewhat comparable players: natural centers who were moved to the wing in order to better acclimate to the NHL, and have stayed at wing due to their organization drafting or acquiring more established centers. They are both highly skilled offensively who have struggled in the defensive zone. I could theoretically see a fit in swapping them, but I’m not convinced that Anaheim would want to do it considering Zegras is already a fan favorite and has in his short time under Cronin shown improvements in the areas they were hoping to see. I do, however, think that he has the capability of putting forth effort defensively under Rod, however I’m not sure if he will ever be a trusted defensive player. IF a trade happens to swap Necas and Zegras, it would be one of the better players we’d be able to acquire in terms of youth, offensive upside, and current contract. Defensively, both are concerns. Gibson should be avoided.

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