Over the weekend, longtime TSM mid laner Bjergsen retired after a career that spanned seven years in the LCS. And now, as the league transitions into a new era without its most recognizable name, teams throughout North America will look to move forward into what might just be the most hectic offseason the region has ever seen.
While TSM is obviously going to feel the strongest impact from Bjergsen’s retirement, the entire landscape of professional League of Legends in North America is going to experience the ripple effect from the retirement of the best player in LCS history.
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When a name like Bjergsen bows out of professional play, everyone takes notice. TSM will be looking to bolster its roster with a new mid laner while many organizations throughout the league will be scrambling in a market for free agents alongside TSM—a team that no one expected to be in the hunt for a new mid laner this offseason.
Here are some teams that will feel the strongest fallout from the retirement of Bjergsen, as well as TSM’s subsequent search for a new franchise player in the upcoming future of the League Championship Series.
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Cloud9
If there’s been one team in the LCS that’s stood toe-to-toe with TSM during the Bjergsen era, it’s Cloud9. Over the course of the last seven seasons, Bjergsen has become synonymous with the TSM vs. C9 rivalry. And now, as both teams’ rosters evolve ahead of the 2021 season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see C9 and TSM go head-to-head in developing young talent across the board.
Evil Geniuses
After a year of “almosts” and “what-ifs,” Evil Geniuses will surely be looking to retool its roster heading into the 2021 season. And largely, that retooling process will begin in the mid lane. But with Bjergsen retiring and TSM entering the fold, EG has one more major piece of competition in the search for a franchise player.
Immortals
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After what might go down as one of the most lackluster seasons in the history of North American League, Immortals will certainly be looking to rebuild its roster around some sort of dependable anchor. Whether that player will come in the form of a mid laner is yet to be seen, but at the very least, it’s fair to assume that Bjergsen’s retirement—and TSM’s subsequent search for a new mid laner—could throw a wrench into Immortals’ plans this offseason.