During the recent transfer window at the end of the 2021 season, LCK was one of the regions with the most changes. Most top teams like T1, Gen.G Esports, DWG KIA, Nongshim RedForce, and Hanwha Life Esports… underwent significant roster changes. Among them, the defending LCK champion – DK, has almost completely revamped its lineup, retaining only the core duo ShowMaker – Canyon.
In addition to the departures of Ghost and BeryL, DK also did not manage to bring back Nuguri as many speculated. The former FunPlus Phoenix player decided to take a break after a tumultuous season in the LPL and the 2021 World Championship. Nuguri’s absence is quite unfortunate, and currently, DK is facing numerous challenges as the two top lane players they recruited during the recent transfer window, Hoya and Burdol, are not performing at their best.
Recently, it has been noticed that Nuguri has started trying harder in ranked games more frequently over the past 3 to 4 days. During his break, Nuguri was not entirely absent from ranked games, but his playtime was quite limited until the last couple of days when the former DK star began playing regularly. Notably, according to the battle history displayed, on January 22 (Vietnam time) alone, Nuguri played as many as 11 ranked games.
This could be seen as a sign that Nuguri might return soon. Furthermore, in the current 2022 season, LCK can transfer players even while the season is ongoing. Nuguri’s increased effort in ranked games could indicate that he will soon come back, likely donning the DK jersey once again.
If Nuguri really makes a comeback, it would be great news for DK and would make the upcoming matches of the defending LCK champion much more exciting. However, with the current meta revolving around the bot lane, Nuguri may find it challenging to receive resources like before. Not to mention, he has been away from the professional scene for a while and will face many challenges in regaining his form.
As for DK, the defending LCK champion of 2021 is not performing particularly well, having lost 2 out of 4 matches since the start of the season. Notably, the two top lane players Hoya and Burdol have not stood out and are considered one of the primary reasons for DK’s fluctuations in performance over the past two weeks.
