A new season of Super League is taking shape, and it's time to stack everyone up. Many moves will be made in the August trading window, which always proves to be very formative for the upcoming season. Unlike last year, I do think every team has a real chance at making the playoffs. I've based my ranking on proven GM ability, draft capital, and tradable rostered talent.

1. Bona Vista Beer Wolves

New season, new identity, and a new chance to achieve greatness. The guys behind Bud Ice Penguins have stuck to the formula of what's made them great - stacking draft assets. There have been discussions on another perfect season internally, and that I can't see given the expanded, 12 team format. What I do see is one of the strongest front offices in the game with max ammo. You'd be stupid to bet against Bona Vista.

2. Zark's Sharks

The win now attitude of the Sharks front office will be tested this season. With 0 picks in the top 4 rounds, there's a lot of work to be done in the first pick trading window. What the Sharks lack in draft capital they make up for in tradable players and GM knowhow. There are a lot of teams positioned to be better than the Sharks today, but I have to bet on the talent the Sharks have displayed over the years in August. The Sharks could be much lower on this list come week 1 if they are not the clear winners of the offseason.

3. Sacks in the City

The defending champs have a lot of options this offseason. Nathan will have many key players to trade, which should lead to an increase in draft capital over the modest 2 picks in the top 4 rounds currently. Nathan has proven to be a top GM and garners respect across the league. With Steven and Dion out of the mix, there's another team for Nathan to trade with. Sacks in the City will be tested immediately in week 1, with a finals rematch vs Parma

4. Washington Fantasy Team

Despite calls from POTUS to rename the franchise, WFT enters the season as respected as anyone in the league. Highly mobile and business oriented, this front office has proven to create successful seasons. I think the title of best GM in the league is on the line this year. Given division rival Sharks will be starting in the same position this season, it will be a great test to see who is the ultimate rebuild machine. WFT is used to working with no pick capital, and I'm done doubting them preseason

5. Slat's Slimes

There's a sneaky contender north of the border. While the Slimes Super League tenure has not been the sexiest, Sam is still one of the better GMs in the league, and comes in with a nice collection of draft assets. The existing roster is not stacked to say the least, so a big draft is needed with 7 picks in the top 4 rounds. Staying ahead of the Sharks and WFT will be crucial for the championship aspirations of the Ontario based club.

6. The Bridge Road Orcas

It feels like Jack has taken the same approach to most seasons in Super League, and ends up around the middle each year (except for his initial championship season, of course). It will be interesting to watch and see if this team decides to take different courses of action this year to reach a higher floor. They project as-is to be fighting for a playoff spot once again.

7. Parma Pirates

The Pirates are coming off a finals appearance, where they came up short. It feels like the Pirates have operated similarly to the Penguins (now Beer Wolves), where they have a very good season, then a rebuilding one. There are many roster decisions to be made this season for the Pirates, all of which will be crucial to the team competing again this season.

8. Joe Gaul's franchise

Play Action Jackson is dead, but the franchise continues on with Joe Gaul at the helm. He will inherit a pretty decent situation, with a stock set of picks and Lamar Jackson. It remains to be seen how Joe will adjust to Super League action. Making timely and accurate decisions will be key for everyone, and most of all Joe Gaul. This team likely has the most room to rise or fall.

9. OG Shay Shay

In what could only be described as a disaster season in 2024, this front office looks to make progress and finally get back on top in 2025. Jacob is the biggest wild card GM in the league, and will undoubtedly have something up his sleeve this August. As it stands now, he is a bit behind on pick capital, with him being one of four teams without at least four top picks in the first four rounds (that's a lot of 4's). Clearly, an offseason with progress made is badly needed. The challenge will remain Jacob's ability to shuffle the deck in a positive way.

10. For(th)ky Down

It was a free trial run for this team last year, inheriting a bit of a mess left over from the infamous Carter Tracey. While things have started to move in a positive direction, I think a massive draft would be needed to catapult this team into the mix for a playoff spot. Luckily for Jackson, he has a little bit of draft ammo this year. I expect Jackson to be competitive in the division, which will be his biggest chance to get in the playoffs. I do think this team deserves better branding though. Parenthesis in a team name???

11. GIRTH

After losing throughout their inaugural season, betting heavily on Anthony Richardson, and acquiring 2 lotto picks, you can't say it's been an uneventful Super League tenure for this front office. On paper, GIRTH has the ammo to be a top team, but Super League has proven over and over again that it's about more than what's on paper. GIRTH will have to convert those picks into productive pieces. The lottery definitely offers some variability, but at worst he has two top 6 picks coming in. This team desperately needs better keeper talent, so watch for them to be a buyer going into August. They could move up significantly in the coming weeks, but it's all theoretical right now for GIRTH. 

12. Shit Eating Skunks

The toilet bowl loser remains on the bottom in this first poll. You don't get a name like Shit Eating Skunks by accident. The Skunks fans have demanded some sort of action this season from Tyler. At the very least, he's in the running for another top pick to add to the young core he's building. I do think this team has a chance at the playoffs, but we need to see a lot more from the front office before he gets into my top six.