Page 96 of Scoring Position

Let’s not mince words—the Indianapolis Fuel have bombed so hard, this season is basically a statistical crater. After the team traded away their top young defenseman anda pick for a middling center, tanked in the rankings, shipped off their budding superstar, and made headlines with a game-fixing scandal involving their head coach, fans could be forgiven for wondering if they’ve hit rock bottom or if the Fuel will find a way to dig their way out.

Frankly, we’re all tired of stories about this train wreck, so let’s talk about an unexpected upside—an aforementioned alleged bottom-six center is turning into a legitimate 2C.

Since his move to second line, Wright has met the challenge with admirable determination and considerable success. With Kirschbaum out of the picture, our predictive model anticipated a 27 percent decrease in scoring—even accounting for the slightly higher expected possession numbers provided by a bolstered defense. The Fuel have managed to mitigate that decrease to a reasonable eleven points.

I won’t sugarcoat it. This team is still legitimately bad. But with Wright up front and reinforcements on the blue line, a new voice on the bench, and young blood getting a look at ice time beyond the checking line, they have the opportunity to become a team worth watching.

Which brings Fuel fans and management to a central question: To keep Wright, or not to keep him?

For the Fuel, Ryan Wright is Mr. Right Now. For the Wright price (sorry, couldn’t resist), he’s a no-brainer. He’s a known factor, and he works well with his teammates on and off the ice. A modest contract would easily fit on the books.

The only question is, with everything that’s happened this year, will he want to re-sign?

“KOLYA!” NICO’Smother appeared on the screen, smiling warmly. “You look well. How are things in Vancouver?”

Nico smiled back. “They’re good, Mama.” The Orcas were on a hot streak, sitting in the second playoff spot in their division with a week left in the regular season. “A little rainy. It’s funny.”

She tilted her head.

“How much the guys complain about it.” He rolled his eyes. Most of them had played here for years. Surely the rain couldn’tstillbe worth talking about. “Some of them have never lived in northeastern Germany.”

His mother laughed. “Not everyone is cut out for five months of solid gray skies and little daylight.”

Nico tried to imagine Ryan in it. He must have grown up with weather like this. But he couldn’t decide if he could blame Vancouver weather for Ryan’s generally sunny outlook—perhaps as a coping mechanism—or if the unrelenting drabness would get to him too. “I guess not. How’s Papa?”

“I’m here!” His father slid into the picture, dish towel in hand. He must have just finished with the dinner dishes. “For a little while, at least. We have a game tonight.”

Nico nodded. “How’s the team looking?”

Brightening, his dad launched into a detailed analysis of the makeup of the team he coached. This was a way they could bond over hockey without Nico feeling persecuted. It was easier to hear from a distance, too, that even when his father criticized his players, he liked them and had good things to say as well, and wanted them to succeed.

Nico should’ve fired him years ago.

“And then there’s Kurt,” his dad went on, shaking his head. “He reminds me of your Ryan, actually.”

Nico didn’t know if that possessive was a slip of the tongue or if his dad was fishing… or whether he should brace for something nasty or just wait and see. “How so?”

His dad lifted a shoulder. “He’s small, smaller than his teammates, but everyone seems to like him. He could be good, really good—but he doesn’t take it seriously enough.”

From his dad, that was almost complimentary.

“But maybe he will take a page out of Wright’s book. He seems to be playing well now,” his father added.

With some effort, Nico managed not to let his mouth fall open. Maybe he and Ryan were back to texting each other, talking to each other, even flirting. And maybe Nico had been following exactly how well Ryan’s new work ethic had been paying off.

But he wasn’t quite ready to trust his dad with that knowledge. Ryan was earning his way back into Nico’s good graces. His dad had some way to go yet.

Belatedly, he realized he needed to answer. “Oh—yeah. I think the new line combinations in Indianapolis are working well.”

Ugh. He mentally crossedTV analystoff his list of post-retirement career options.

Mama rescued him by cutting in with “You talk too much hockey! I want to hear about what Nico thinks of the city.”

His dad kissed her forehead in apology and said, “I should be going anyway. Keep your head up.” He’d started saying that in lieu of goodbye when Nico had been waist high, and he had loved it as a kid, because he knew it meantKeep yourself safeandI love you.

“You too, Papa.”

He was telling his mother about buying a bike and taking it out on off days so he could explore the city when his phone buzzed and a new text notification popped in at the top of the screen.

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