Guildford Flames

The returning core

Guildford finished 5th in the Elite League last season before a quarterfinal playoff exit, and head coach Paul Dixon returns to a squad that has actually turned over far more than it first appears — a wholesale rebuild of the forward group sits behind one high-profile blue-line addition.

Captain Matt Alvaro is back, and a genuine returning core remains: Tyler Busch, Mathieu Gosselin, Zack Milton, Jonathan Racine, Joshua Waller, Travis Brown, Justin Fazio, Adam Long, Jack Jacome and Samuel Talbot have all extended with the club this summer.

Summer reinforcements

The standout addition is defenceman Karl Boudrias, who arrives directly from champions Belfast Giants, a real statement signing for a club aiming to close the gap on the league' top sides. Nate Kallen, Jake Willets and Jordan Power also join the blue line, from Vienna Capitals, Reading Royals and Coventry Blaze respectively.

Up front, the turnover is bigger than a single headline signing suggests. Cole Sanford arrives from Cardiff Devils, Brett Neumann from Glasgow Clan and Chase Gresock from Rouen in France. The most recent confirmed arrival is Justin Ducharme, who joins from Fife Flyers and adds some much-needed forechecking to the forward group.

In goal, Brad Arvanitis joins from Maine Mariners, providing Fazio with some much-needed competition in a real 1A and 1B scenario alongside returning veteran Adam Long.

Departures & outlook

The departures list is longer than a single headline loss. Goaltender Jake Kupsky left for Belfast Giants back in February, in effect the reverse of the Boudrias deal months later. On the blue line, Marcus Tesink, Charlie Curti and Sean Comrie have all moved on, while up front Ethan Strang, Lewis Hook, Nick Seitz, Cole Ully, Josh Nixon, Jake Coughler and Tyler Preziuso have all departed — several of last season' first-year pros among them. Jamal Watson also leaves, for Germany.

With only Jonathan Racine and Travis Brown retained on the blue line and the forward group also rebuilt heavily, Guildford' season may hinge on how quickly the new pieces find chemistry with Jacome, Waller and the rest of the returning core.