I think Thompson has a relatively easy job next year. He has cleared out a load of really high earners and aging players. They just came to the end of their cycle; the likes of Fretter, Valdix, Fitzgerald et al are all league and play off winners - players that beat our own team to the league 2 seasons ago - a team that we all fawn over.
It's too easy to say he didn't do his homework when really it was just a case of a year too many for a lot of players, which you don't know until that season. Now he has the wages of those high earners available, players who due to their age and family circumstances are expensive. They've got their Brits sorted - most would walk into any team in the league. Expectations are probably at their lowest ever in Sheffield and they'll see this as a rebuilding year. Any trophy will be seen as a bonus.
I'd say Lord has the hardest job next year; expectations here are massive, bigger than Sheffield. Fans expect us to win every trophy and entertain - the hysteria at the beginning of the season proved that. Fans who fanboy over the clubs every move now were saying very different things in September/October. We have to compete in the CHL and have every team trying to better us. Our player's wage demands have gone up after so much success too.
Cardiff and Andrew Lord has rocked British ice hockey the league is improving year on year, two of the biggest teams in EIHL have had to rebuild due to our success.
I can see a lot of teams using the Fife model I.E a very busy goalie and a young fast skating team that are more affordable due to being single and without "commitments" this is what Sheffield are looking at doing.
As far as players expecting more money there is no guarantee that they will be as effective on another team chemistry and culture can massively affect morale and playing. If players want more money then fine but there is a lot of players waning to play for us, whilst money is great being looked after and treated properly is also huge too, remember the Devils have never gassed a player and the club have looked after our injured players too Tyson was sent to a specialist in Canada for conclusion treatment.
I am looking forward to next season it will be a massive challenge to repeat our success but watching GB get promotion was amazing and partly due to a better on ice product, I would like to see our team ice some faster skaters this probably upset the toughness brigade lol.