League of Legends: How every LEC team should improve in the offseason

Excel Esports – AD Carry

We begin with a team that only managed to pick up nine wins in their debut season at the highest level of European League of Legends, Excel Esports. The Summer Split’s 10th placed line-up struggled to develop any synergy or momentum in 2019 and as a result their “Excel Esports la la la la la” chant made more of a mark on the LEC stage than their roster did.

The UK-based organization did show some glimmers of hope towards the back end of the season however as they looked to stage a miraculous comeback, climbing from the foot of the table to the playoffs with just four weeks to go. But it wasn’t to be, and despite winning three games out of four in Weeks 6 and 7, Excel finished the season in dead last, failing to make the top six in either split.

It was during this short period of success that Excel fans believe LEC viewers saw the “true Excel” and the potential of a relatively inexperienced roster was briefly realized. Expect was a rock in the top lane, Caedrel dictated the early game, Mickey proved himself to be a capable carry when ahead, and Mystiques was landing hook after hook. The missing piece of the puzzle was the AD Carry, Jesper “Jeskla” Klarin Strömberg.

That’s not to say that the Swedish marksman was a weak link, nor should he immediately be replaced if Excel wants to find success in the LEC, but Jeskla was certainly the player with the smallest impact even when his team was playing well. In the Summer Split, Jeskla had the lowest KDA of any ADC (2.1), while also having the second-lowest CS per minute (8.7).

These sort of stats are unsurprising from a player on the 10th place team, but when you consider his overall damage share was 28% – the third-highest of any marksman – you’d expect the Swede to have made a larger imprint on the LEC audience’s minds in 2019.

With one full competitive season under his belt, along with the backing and guidance of fellow countryman Hjarnan on Excel’s Academy roster, 2020 could be the year Jeskla proves how talented he is, carrying his team to playoffs for the first time. Or new head coach Joey “Youngbuck” Steltenpool could look elsewhere during the offseason, bringing in new blood to build his Excel roster around.