We’re still a few weeks away from the off-season, yet we already have a bunch of rumors to go over! This latest batch pertains to TSM FTX and the two roster changes that are rumored to be in the works: one in the mid lane — Tristan “PowerOfEvil” Schrage giving over his spot to the Swedish legend Søren “Bjegsen” Bjerg — and one in the bottom lane, with Martin “Rekkles” Larsson rumored to be joining this perennial NA giant after parting ways with G2 Esports.

If you’re watering at the mouth, know that you’re not in the minority!

First of all, Bjergsen’s return to pro play still hasn’t been made official at the time of this writing. With that being said, it looks like a “done deal” and will probably be confirmed once the 2021 World Champions are crowned. The fact that PowerOfEvil is entering free agency is also quite telling.

Whether he’ll stay in North America or perhaps return to Europe is anyone’s guess. Still, if we had to take a wild stab in the dark, we’d say he’ll probably still compete in the LCS as he’s a hot commodity and can probably earn more for his services as well. 

Still, most top-tier teams already have their mid laners. He could potentially join Dignitas QNTMPAY, Immortals, or return to FlyQuest, but all three options feel like a step back career-wise. We assume that Evil Geniuses will keep Daniele “Jiizuke” di Mauro, but if the two parties happen to part ways, PoE would no doubt fit like a glove. 

He’s a spectacular mid laner and can rub shoulders with the very best in the world; having him on a mid-tier team would truly be a waste of his talents.

With PowerOfEvil out of the equation — and Rekkles seemingly being close to donning the TSM FTX jersey — it’s fair to say that this venerable North American giant will look and play a lot different than what we’ve seen throughout 2021. It might not be a tectonic shift, but things will change nonetheless. 

With Bjergsen in the mid lane, we’ll probably see the return of the more reserved TSM — doubly so if Rekkles comes along, a player known for his “farm early and fight late” style of play. Additionally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t say that TSM often found a lot more success whenever they employed this more controlled playstyle. With some of the best and most seasoned players under their banner, they’ll have a very solid chance at reclaiming the LCS throne come 2022. 

With that being said, we really shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves until TSM FTX makes things official. These rumors, exciting though they are, should always be taken with a grain of salt.