Renomitsu

11/10 great article.

I laughed out loud at this. 
You have no idea how much I enjoy reading your articles, whether I’m in them or not. Some of the most in-depth stuff I’ve seen. 

Still Wet Behind the Ears - S66's Best 'First-Gens'
 
Saskatoon, SK - Being the new kid on the block is never easy. Your new 'friends' don't quite understand you, and you've got a few precious days to adapt to a whole new environment. Some of the league's best prospects this season are in fact its newest members, thanks to the league's @Recruitment Crew . There were, in fact, so many that we couldn't even fit half of those above 100 TPE into this article. Since our last few articles were about finding 'value' and 'reach' picks in this year's deep draft class, we need to pay our dues and look at the best with this one.
 
Without further ado - Reddit, SBA, EFL, other VHL members - show us your recruiting skills. This is the cream of the crop - new agent edition.
 

 
C Maximilian Kirbsson @Kirby
Houston Bulls | 6’0” | 195 lbs.
S65 WJC (Team Europe Selection)
TPE: 225 (+28 from week ending 3/17-week ending 3/31)
 
The prospect on this list with the most raw talent, Maximilian Kirbsson is a Swedish center who got his start in the VHL/M with an agent who is most notable for managing gunslinging LSU QB Jake Luck and Syracuse Orange scorer JK Kirby. It’s easy to see, based on this breakthrough agent’s player activity, that he’s Kirbsson is quite likely to stick around for the long haul; the 18-year-old has even overtaken fellow Bull Kari Jurri in draft stock – which is hard enough to do provided there are only a select couple ahead of him now. He’s secured a $750,000 endorsement from Ferda Apparel alongside buddy Kari Jurri (covered below). 
 
In addition to being a breakout draftee, he’s a bit of a sweetheart, citing an adorable interaction with a new fan just a couple of weeks ago. The attention is well-deserved, as Kirbsson led the VHLM in points at the time. It’s hard to argue with stats and results – as the Houston squad presently sits third in the league with 68 points. Admittedly he’s not much of a hidden gem, as he was taken in the first round of the S65 VHLM Draft, but he’ll make any general manager who picks him in the first round rest easy.
 
Projection: Top 4
 
 
 
LW Julius Freeman @rjfryman
Halifax 21st | 6’3” | 210 lbs.
S65 WJC (Team World Selection)
TPE: 233 (+47)
 
Our first American on the list, Julius Freeman has had just a few articles about his soaring draft stock; we won’t belabor the point here. Agent @rjfryman appears to be something of a newcomer to player management, but it hasn’t shown to be a detriment as of yet: Freeman is expected to be a clear-cut first round draft pick, and Halifax likely securing the top playoff seed is even more promising for this left winger. While his +/- (+25) and points per game (76) are impressive to begin with, Freeman’s also accrued 7 game-winning goals over the stretch, so he clearly has the intangibles to go with his high-quality offensive abilities.
 
Projection: Top 6
 
 

 
RW Mikko Aaltonen (@GRZ)
Las Vegas Aces | 6’3” | 200 lbs.
S65 WJC (Team Europe Selection)
TPE: 223 (+42)
 
Aaltonen – whom you may have heard speak just earlier this week shouting out a few 'sleeper' picks in this year’s draft – is the shiny new toy and offensive standout for the high-rolling Aces. Formerly of the Philadelphia Reapers, this young Finnish forward has a stat line that is a result of his time on both the Reapers and Aces. He’s comfortably on pace for over one point a game (58 GP, 70 P) but sports a less-than-ideal -18 while on the ice. Recent success with the Aces has shored this +/- up a bit, and the Aces’ placement at 4th in the league puts them just a handful of points above the Rush and Lynx.
 
Mikko is a traditional two-way forward, with a skill set that mirrors many other top forwards in the draft; he leans a bit more towards raw scorer but has shown flashes of excellence on defense this season that should have GMs chomping at the bit to draft him. If his own confidence is anything to go by, Aaltonen has a place in the league for seasons to come.
 
Agent @GRZ has @hejta to thank for his introduction to the league, though the latter seems to have removed himself from agent duties in recent weeks.
 
Projection: Top 6
 
 

Above: Owen May, not-so-shamelessly taken from his agent's signature
 
G Owen May @FacebookFighter
Houston Bulls | 6’2” | 180 lbs.
S65 WJC (Team Europe Selection)
TPE: 191 (+44)
 
In my Hidden Gems review of the S66 draft, we passed over Owen May in favor of coverage of Rush goalie Clayton Park – but now May gets additional spotlight. Interestingly, Owen May has been projected in multiple mock drafts to overtake standout Wendy Kandee Cain, a reversal of most talking heads’ opinions on the matter from a few weeks prior. To push the point further – he’s actually been projected as early as the 5th overall pick to the Malmö Nighthawks for the S66 Entry Draft. Like defense, the goalie cohort in this draft is quite thin – and with agent @FacebookFighter brand new to the scene, May’s high draft stock is something to be admired.
 
Like a few others on this list, May has the opportunity to play in the S65 World Juniors, which begin shortly; the Swiss netminder sits behind JB Rift, and will likely see a few games’ worth of time on the ice over the course of the tournament.
 
Projection: 1st Round
 
 
RW Arnor Sigurdsson @bluesfan55
Yukon Rush | 6’4” | 205 lbs.
S65 WJC (Team Europe Selection)
TPE: 202 (+43)
 
Sigurdsson is a two-sport forward from Iceland, with experience here in hockey and formerly as a physical centre-forward for Valùr Reykjavik’s youth football team. Though Iceland is hardly a VHL staple, this draftee has shown close to point-per-game production (57 GP, 54 P) on a struggling Yukon Rush team. He has repeatedly shown a game resembling the prototypical power forward, with the build of a defenseman and some skills to match (67 CK, 70 ST, 66 PH) on top of excellent scoring potential.
 
The Rush have a potent offensive attack in general – and Sigurdsson has had to share the limelight with Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Anthony Matthews, and John Frostbeard (whom we’ll discuss a bit later). With a rare skillset it’s rather difficult to predict where GMs will take the young forward; he’s certainly among rare company with an unusual defensive skillset. Will this increase his draft stock, or will GMs be a bit more conservative? My guess is, in spite of his (possible first-round) talent, some GMs may shy away a bit as they try to figure out exactly how a player like Sigurdsson works in the VHL.
 
But if Sigurdsson slips into the second round as we suspect he may, he’d be one hell of a steal. There’s nothing better for a GM than a talented player with a chip on their shoulder.
 
Projection: Late 1st/Early 2nd Round
 
 
LW Kari Jurri @hockeyis66
Houston Bulls | 6’3” | 210 lbs.
S65 WJC (Team Europe Selection)
TPE: 209 (+14)
 
Next on our list is Kirbsson’s teammate and Ferda Apparel winger Kari Jurri. Like Kirbsson, Jurri has a multi-sport agent – and he represents two-way Syracuse F Championship Defense. Though initially an Oslo signee, this young Dutch forward was also drafted by the Bulls just two picks after Kirbsson; frankly, the two forwards have been one of the most lethal combinations in the VHLM today. Jurri presently sits at 83 points on the season (36 G, 47 A) that slots him at about 1.5 P/gm and a respectable +25 while on the ice. Agent @hockeyis66 seems to have a penchant for two-way players, as he’s capable of defending, passing, scoring, and skillfully skating around opposing defenders.
 
Provided his success so far, Jurri’s agent seems to have a winning formula. In spite of his prior clumsiness on the ice (in fact once being described as a freight train, the winger shows plenty of promise for the VHL. His draft stock is quite high – the vast majority of mock drafts have him going in the first round – but he likely does not carry the same clout as his fellow Bulls forward. At the very least, he hasn’t been as much of a media darling and is in fact relatively reserved with the press.
 
Projection: Late 1st Round
 

 
LW/C Bert Meyers @RunnerBert11
Minnesota Storm | 6’1” | 175 lbs.
S65 WJC (Team Asia Selection)
TPE: 197 (+50)
 
The first on this list to be below the 200 TPE cap, Meyers embodies the phrase ‘jack of all trades, master of none.’ Capable of scoring, passing, winning a faceoff, blocking and handling pucks, and defending, there’s very little Bert can’t do. Even his points are split nearly evenly (19 G, 21 A) while playing for a Minnesota Storm team that has made every move possible to win a VHLM title this season. It’s worth noting that Meyers is certainly on the light side of the player base – at 175 lbs., some GMs may have concerns about his ability to stay on the puck if pressured by some of the league’s heavier defenders. A native Wisconsinite, Irish twin, and S65 VHLM draftee, he’s one of the more experienced prospects and has 58 games under his belt – and he’ll be utilizing that experience as he makes the transition from LW => per a recent press release.
 
Agent @RunnerBert11 has taken on a number of responsibilities after seemingly coming to the VHL out of nowhere: among them is Assistant GM-ship for the Saskatoon Wild, and Bert is certain to benefit from his agent’s understanding of the game. Meyers’s agent’s actions may in fact boost the winger’s draft stock itself, as taking on any type of GM role signals a long-term investment in the league.
 
Projection: Late 1st Round
 
D Charlie Paddywagon @DMaximus
Las Vegas Aces | 6’4” | 208 lbs.
S65 WJC (Team USA Selection)
TPE: 186 (+44)
 
I've actually already written about breakout defenseman Charlie Paddywagon, but sometimes one shout-out isn’t enough. His agent @DMaximus, like the last few entries on this list, seemingly appeared out of nowhere – but that hasn’t stopped the Irishman from being labeled with star potential over the last few weeks.  He’s attracted enough attention with his fashion sense to be interviewed and featured by Style Magazine, and is in fact the third of our draftees listed here to receive a Ferda Apparel endorsement. And if other brands were hoping to feature Paddywagon in the near future, that’s too bad – he’s locked in to his Ferda endorsement for the next three seasons.
 
Advertising aside, Charlie’s defense has improved to VHL starter-comparable levels (90 DF, 70 ST); while his offensive repertoire still needs some work, it would see as though this 47th-overall S65 VHLM pick is set to prove the league a newbie defenseman can still make it big.
 
Projection: Early 2nd Round
 
 
D Jerry Garcia @GustavMattias
Houston Bulls | 6’1” | 194 lbs.
S65 WJC (Team USA Selection)
TPE: 182 (+48)
 
Like fellow defenseman Charlie Paddywagon, I’ve already written about Jerry Garcia – but he’s appeared in BOTH of my previous long-form articles. He’s recently declared his affinity for Helsinki, Seattle, and recently-announced expansion team Malmö as his preferred destinations. As one of the top few defensemen in this draft and as part of a seemingly star-studded Houston roster, GMs are sure to be listening.
 
Let’s not beat a dead horse – Garcia knows what he’s doing, I just secretly wanted to ping @GustavMattias again.
 
Projection: Early 2nd Round
 
 

 
RW Nethilia Dissanayake @nethi99
Saskatoon Wild | 6’8” | 197 lbs.
TPE: 164 (+32)
 
The lone Asian player on this list, the exceedingly-tall and lanky Nethila Dissanayake hails from Colombo, Sri Lanka. He’s the last of our ‘agents-from-nowhere’ to appear here, and for good reason – he’s one of the better forwards on a rising (but recently-struggling) Saskatoon team, and the lone Wild player to appear on this list. Perhaps most significantly, he’s the first-ever Sri Lankan to play for the VHLM.
 
He has a lengthy history with hockey, winning 3 cups with the Alabama State Hornets during his college days and had a burgeoning career with the Prince Albert Raiders in the CHL. Overall, Dissanayake has been one of the more productive members of the Wild, securing 69 (nice) points (28 G, 41 A) in just 58 games. He was the 32nd overall selection in last season’s Dispersal Draft, and appears to be on-pace to improve that stock tremendously for the Entry Draft.
 
Projection: Late 2nd Round
 
[>2,100 words; will claim as needed through June]

Rank Change Player Name TPE Team Nat. Member 1   C - Hunter Hearst Helmsley 298 YUK USA Beaviss 2   LW - Shane Mars 275 MIN USA Spade18 3 Up 1 C - Maximilian Kirbsson 215 HOU SWE Kirby 4 Down 1 LW - Kari Jurri 209 HOU NED hockeyis66 5 Up 1 RW - Mikko Aaltonen 206 LVA FIN GRZ 6 Down 1 LW - Dimitri Volosenkov 203 HFX RUS SirRupertBarnes 7   LW - Julius Freeman 195 HFX USA rjfryman 8   C - Jet Jaguar 190 HFX UKR gorlab 9   RW - Shawnomir Jagr 184 SSK CZE TheLastOlympian07 10 Down 1 RW - Arnor Sigurdsson 181 YUK ISL bluesfan55 10 Up 1 LW - Bert Meyers 181 MIN USA RunnerBert11 12 Up 1 D - Aron Nielsen 170 MIN FAR solas 13 Up 1 G - Owen May 169 HOU SWI FacebookFighter 14 Up 3 LW - Valeri Morozov 165 YUK RUS Dangles13 15   D - Charlie Paddywagon 164 LVA USA DMaximus 16   D - Jerry Garcia 160 HOU USA GustavMattias 17 Down 5 D - Rhye Tyr 159 HFX CAN Plate 18 Down 2 RW - Nethila Dissanayake 156 SSK SRI nethi99 18 Up 4 C - Ludvig Sederstrom 156 HOU SWE aleks 20 Down 2 LW - Kyle Sabertooth 154 LVA USA uphillmoss 21 Down 1 G - Wendy Kandee Cain 152 MIN USA SlashACM 22 Down 1 RW - John Frostbeard 149 YUK LAT FrostBeard 23 Up 1 LW - Chico Smeb 143 MIN SKR xDParK 24 Down 1 D - Codrick Past 142 OTT UK Kylrad 25 Up 1 G - Clayton Park 139 YUK AUS leafssteen 26 Up 1 C - Hans Gruber 137 SSK GER TheFlash 27   RW - Emil Passerelli 134 SSK USA SparrowLTD 28 Up 3 D - Rusty Shackleford 131 SSK USA K1NG LINUS 29 Down 5 C - Raphael Nazarians 128 SSK ARM LIL V O D AK 29 Up 3 C - Jordan Joshua Tonn 128 LVA CAN MexicanCow123 31 Up 2 LW - Hunter Wagner 124 GER GER Inf1d3l 31 Up 6 RW - Mat Tocco 124 MIN CZE Matmenzinger 33 Down 4 D - Richard Hejtsel 123 YUK LAT hejta 33 Down 3 LW - John Perdue 123 SSK USA johnnyhockey42 35   D - Andreas Sundell 122 MIN SWE VisualDarkness 36 Up 1 RW - Aleksander Rodriguez 120 OTT USA Jtv123 37 Up 2 D - Cody Parkey 119 SSK PRK SaltyTalty 38 Down 4 C - Nacho 115 HFX USA Nacci25 38 Up 4 D - Samuel Sparrow 115 HOU USA Birdman 40 Up 22 D - Apollo Hackett 113 SSK USA Renomitsu 41 Down 5 G - Luke Derion 112 LVA USA Barracuda 42 Down 1 C - Rhys Chism 111 HOU USA Jake Levine 42 Up 2 D - Beau Buefordsson 111 HOU SKN Radcow 44 Down 5 D - Edward Vigneault 109 HFX CAN Patpou22 45 Down 1 G - Juan Jaundice 101 SSK USA Jus 46 Up 3 D - Anthony Amberback 95 SSK USA Oost 47 Up 2 LW - Edgar Tannahill 91 SSK CAN Gregreg 48 Down 5 D - Titus Stone 90 YUK USA MD9 49 Down 3 D - Papa Gage 87 HFX USA PapaGage 49 Up 5 LW - Blake Laughton 87 HOU CAN Grape 51 Down 3 D - Duncan Jeffers 86 LVA USA Tophdaddy 52 Up 4 G - Kolur Bjoernsson 85 PHI ISL jab3 53 Down 6 RW - Sami Van Den Dreissche 82 YUK BEL TsarPeter 53 Up 7 LW - Cody Smith 82 HFX CAN cody73 55 Down 6 C - Eeli Harju 79 OTT FIN Teztify 55 Up 2 C - BALLS McZehrl 79 OSL GER Rent A McZ 57 Down 5 D - Dwin Championship 78 SSK SWE Award97 57 Down 5 D - Srraxxarrakex II 78 OTT JAP flan 59 Down 5 LW - Blake Gaudette 77 HFX CAN Gaudette 60 Down 1 C - Pascal Batz 75 OTT SWI efiug 61 Down 3 C - Walter Clements 69 PHI SIE cpetrella 62 Down 1 G - Sunny Burst 64 LVA USA Sunburst 63 Up 6 D - Guillaume Fontenette 62 OTT FRA okocha5 64 Down 1 D - Dave John OQuinn 60 YUK CAN JohnOQuinn 64 NEW LW - Devin Gabella 60 HFX USA Gabella19 66 Down 2 D - Dean Clarke 58 PHI USA Kyle 66 Up 17 RW - AJ Axelsen 58 HFX SWE littleboi 68 Down 3 D - Hiromu Takahashi 54 MIN JAP O4L 68 Down 2 D - Finn Theismann 54 HOU GER StaticShocked 68 Up 5 D - MORPHEUS DESTRUCTIOUS 54 PHI IM Abaddon 71 Down 4 D - Fabius Adomaitis 51 HFX LTU Claire 71 Down 4 LW - Micheal Rasmussen 51 LVA CAN Connor mcdavid 71 Up 5 LW - David Clarkson 51 PHI CAN Jacob Kundrat 74 Down 5 LW - Joakim Sederstrom 50 HOU SWE Samee 74 Down 5 C - Adama Traore 50 PHI USA Adama Traore 74 Up 11 C - Charles Alderson 50 HFX USA Kithoo 77 Down 5 LW - Jean ClaudePaul 49 HOU FRA Yusuf Abdul-Latif 78 Down 5 LW - Thomas Vancheck 48 LVA AUT Thomas Vancheck 79 Down 4 C - Markus Lulic Descheneaux 46 LVA CAN mxld17 80 NEW LW - Dylan Doyle 44   USA zepheter 81 Down 4 RW - Karlis Liede 43 MIN LAT DoubleCarl 82 Down 4 RW - Alexis Lafreniere 42 SSK CAN Yehboi 83 Down 4 D - Londortharl 41 LVA CAM MattyG 84 Down 4 D - Yuri Kalerov 40 SSK SWI Camel 85 Down 4 D - Jack Logan 39 YUK USA WeaponX 85 Down 4 D - Quinton Collins 39 OTT CAN Jepox 87 NEW C - Thomas Kennedy 38 OTT AUS Walter Fizz 88 Down 5 D - Jakobe Puffalump 37 LVA CAN Puffalump 89 Down 4 RW - Fudge Popsicle 36 HFX CAN LaprasRuler 89 NEW LW - Ben Hafkey 36   USA itsmclovin 89 NEW C - Logan Swallow 36 PHI USA TriaL Exotic 92 Down 5 LW - Waluigi De Rossi 34 OTT ITA Kitras 93 Down 5 C - Matthew Tolsma 33 SSK CAN matthewtols 94 Down 5 D - Anthony Griffis 32   USA Tygrzz 94 Down 5 G - Marchello Mirabella 32 MIN ITA Wandering_Buffalo 94 Down 5 LW - Tim W 32   USA Spadesy 97 Down 5 C - Gervais Bulhoes 31   CAN HOCKEYBEAST9000
As with all weekly updates, Up/Downs relate to progress from last week. These TPE rankings were correct as of Sunday 3PM EST and were the rankings primarily used for this Mock Draft.
 
First off, for those who haven't seen the status updates, sorry that this is later than originally announced. I thought I would be able to submit a mock with an unnamed expansion team since it seemed pretty inevitable across the board that we were expanding, but was asked to hold off till the announcement of expansion was made. When the announcement was made though, I then had a run of birthday's and Mother's Day that meant my free time wasn't as much as usual. Hopefully I should have next week's rankings up at a swifter time next time around.
 
One thing to note for the Mock Draft is that I have not added anyone who hasn't added TPE to their player in a fortnight. This does not mean that they cannot re-earn their way back onto later Mock Drafts by adding TPE to their player, but given that prospects are generally going to be ranked on their earning rate, a player that hasn't earned TPE in two weeks does not offer anything a prospective team would be looking for.
 
The following Mock Draft has been done based on the VHL Standings as of yesterday (Monday) morning and with the expansion team Malmo Nighthawks picking sixth overall. First off though, to get a gauge on what they need, here's the mock expansion draft.
 
Expansion Draft Selections for Malmo:
From Moscow: Lew Bronstein
Moscow have seven active players currently on their roster, so they’ve got an interesting decision on their hands; protect all them and lose an inactive + a 3rd in likely this season’s draft or free up an active. So Moscow offer up Lew Bronstein (their oldest active) for selection, ADV considers trying to get Von Moltke back active from EFL, but does wind up going with Bronstein.
 
From Calgary: Callum MacElroy
Calgary have seven actives on their pro roster at the minute and elect to protect all of them, leaving a pick between Brian Strong and Callum MacElroy, a pick decided by MacElroy having a chance at earning TPE through the recruitment of Ludvig Sederstrom and Finn Theismann
 
From Vancouver: Jorgon Weyed
Another interesting scenario, I can actually see Vancouver leaving starting goalie Tristan Iseult being left unprotected here but I don’t think Malmo will have much use for a goalie with only two seasons remaining, so they go with Jorgon Weyed.
 
From Davos: Jack Lynch
I originally had Malmo picking Cayden Saint here, but since Malmo don’t want to completely overload on defensemen in this draft, they take Jack Lynch, who has shown solid bursts of activity and could be a very good winger in the future.
 
From New York: Paolo Nano/Vaydar Odinsson
I couldn’t tell from Boom’s topic if he intended to leave the league after this season or later on than that, but I think either way, he’s unlikely to be protected. If he doesn’t retire, I could see ADV taking a punt on him for certain, but if he is retiring, it will likely be Paolo Nano who, for the second consecutive expansion draft, finds a new team.
 
From Helsinki: Dan Montgomery
Vesto Slipher’s retirement has at least provided the Titans with an extra protection for this expansion draft, that I think they will intend to use on Orion Slade. This leaves Helsinki a choice between Dan Montgomery or the younger David Harrison, but I think he’ll go Montgomery.
 
From Toronto: Chace Trepanier
Toronto would have the option of either Trepanier or Lespineau-Lebrunette, but I don’t foresee Malmo having much need for a defenseman entering his final season in the league, so they take Trepanier who regularly submits for welfare.
 
From Riga: Anthony Matthews
I think this will be between Matthews and Basaraba Moore, two players who I think Riga would rather keep, but will likely have to expose to keep up their championship aspirations. I’ll say that, while Moore has displayed better TPE earning than Matthews as of late, Malmo takes Matthews mainly because they could use a center.
 
From Seattle: Gucci Garrop
I think Seattle will be picking here between Sergei Kovalev and Gucci Garrop for their seventh protection. While Kovalev is considerably older than Garrop and not that far ahead in TPE, the GM Blake Campbell
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRST ROUND
 
1st Overall
Moscow Menace select Center Hunter Hearst Helmsley
 
Victor may have announced that his GM player for the Moscow Menace is going to be a centre, but should they win the lottery, I would highly doubt they would be looking at anyone else with their first overall pick. Helmsley gets a guaranteed 12 TPE per week through his recruitment work that winds up also receiving the benefits of TPE-events automatically, so there's very little chance that anyone is going to catch Helmsley in terms of TPE. Don't be surprised to see Victor hold off of adding faceoff points to his GM player until after the lottery is decided.
 
2nd Overall
Calgary Wranglers select Left Winger Shane Mars
 
Calgary already have a couple of very promising wingers in Brady Stropko Jr and Diljodh Starload, but with players like Aksel McKnight and Bryce Zhields either retiring or purely filling in as depth on the second line, they will definitely have a place for Shane Mars in that offense. Like Helmsley, Mars benefits from earning a capped 12 TPE per week from his recruitment job, so unless he leaves abruptly, the pieces are in place for him to become one of the best players in the VHL once he enters his prime. 
 
3rd Overall
Vancouver Wolves select Left Winger Julius Freeman
 
One of the bigger reasons for not just reposting the Mock Draft I made a week ago is the dramatic change in the VHL standings. In my previous mock draft, Vancouver were picking seventh overall but after losing eight of their last ten games, they find themselves picking with one of the first three picks. Vancouver will already have two full lines of offense before this pick (even with losing Weyed to expansion, they’ll still have Matthew Kai promoted to the pros), Freeman offers them a second winger other than Beau Louth who regularly hits the 12 TPE cap. Not only that, Freeman has earned an absurd amount of uncapped TPE through the lottery, which has helped catapult him to seventh in TPE despite joining late on in the process.
 
4th Overall
HC Davos Dynamo select Center Jet Jaguar
 
I remember back in Season 49 that Gorlab’s last player Bobby Digital was selected by the Dynamo and he demanded a trade because he didn’t want to play for them (In fact it was myself who wound up trading for him), but history shouldn’t repeat itself here as he’s talked on the discord about how that wouldn’t be the case this time. Depth at center is probably the main weakness for Davos as Connor McDavid (their current second line center) only earns a max of 6 capped TPE per week while every other forward on the top two lines regularly hit the max 12 capped TPE per week. Adding Jaguar to that and Davos have an incredibly dangerous forward line to keep an eye on.
 
5th Overall
Riga Reign select Right Winger Mikko Aaltonen
 
Reign were likely expecting a top four pick when they traded Leph Twinger for this selection, but with the Wolves falling down the table, the Americans currently find themselves in the wildcard slot. They still get one of their primary targets though in Mikko Aaltonen who, like General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs, is Latvian (or at least GRZ is) and will both now represent a Latvian team. Aaltonen has been max capping very consistently and will be a very good winger for the future, likely replacing the now inactive Kisshan Shan down the line.
 
 6th Overall
Malmo Nighthawks select Goalie Owen May
 
I had to think about this for a bit because there’s a lot of very good skaters still available here and there are some good goalie prospects outside of Owen May, however May is the only one who is consistently capping out at 12 TPE per week and if you were to let him fall to Moscow at 11th, it could wind up becoming a decision you regret in the future. Norris Stopko’s playoffs just last season showed just how important getting the very best goalies can be and, if he continues on his current pace, May can certainly get up there.
 
7th Overall
HC Davos Dynamo select Defenseman Jerry Garcia
 
Davos will be waiting till the fourth after this round is over till their next picks and, with only three defensemen on the roster currently, they’ll probably want to make sure that they can get the best available defenseman in case Riga decide to snap him up with their two consecutive picks. While it’s extremely close between Garcia and Charlie Paddywagon, I’m giving the edge to Garcia here as he’s got the more VHL ready build of the two (which will be ideal for a Davos team that should be looking to compete in Season 66), but both are consistent 12 capped TPE per week earners and this is definitely the closest race for best player at their position.
 
8th Overall
Riga Reign select Defenseman Charlie Paddywagon
 
While Riga don’t necessarily need a defenseman right away, they will likely want to snap up one for the future as, while they do have very active defenseman like Ryan Kastelic, Shawn Glade and Basaraba Moore, they’re currently getting inconsistent activity out of Dylan Nguyen and Bolt Vanderhuge is purely a welfare player. Paddywagon can therefore potentially be the fourth super active defenseman for the team and will rise to prominence once the likes of Glade and Nguyen start to regress after Season 66.
 
9th Overall
Riga Reign select Center Bert Meyers
 
With Matthews gone in the expansion draft, Riga don’t currently have a young center prospect in their system and, with Podrick Cast and Mikka Pajari both hitting regression prior to the start of Season 66, plans need to start being made for their replacement. Meyers, like Freeman, has had an exceptional start to the league and could very well go quite a bit higher than this depending on GM member preference. He may not get many minutes out of the gate, but Meyers will go on to be a key player for this Reign team in the future.
 
10th Overall
HC Davos Dynamo select Right Winger Arnor Sigursson
 
Davos think about snagging another defenseman before they go silent for the next three rounds, but wind up going with the best player available. That would be either Shawomir Jagr or Arnor Sigursson, who are both very similar right now, but they wind up going with Sigursson. While I think Jagr may be the better prospect, it seemed from his media article that Jagr really wanted to go to Moscow, so I think the fact he’s very likely to go there with the next pick would make him extra disappointed if he goes here. Sigursson is still a very good player though, capping at 12 TPE the last few weeks and gives a more physical edge to the Davos forward line.
 
SECOND ROUND
 
11th Overall
Moscow Menace select Right Winger Shawnomir Jagr
 
As mentioned above, Jagr mentioned that this would be his favourite team to be picked by in the draft and this will fill a need for the Menace as they have just two active wingers right now in Matteo and Dan Bailie. I think they would also consider defenseman as well as, after losing Bronstein in the expansion draft, they’d only have Evgeni Komarov and Mitch Matthews who are active, but I think there’s a player he can potentially snap up in the third that fits what he’s looking for at that position.
 
12th Overall
Calgary Wranglers select Defenseman Aron Nielsen
 
Calgary could still use another active forward to add to their roster even after the addition of Mars, but I think they’ll make sure to fill up their second line of defense with this pick. After having his last five players in the VHL being taken no later than second overall, Solas re-enters second round territory for the first time since Season 27. Out of all of the top three defensemen I've had selected this draft, I'd say Nielsen is likely the most VHL-ready player and, while it has been a while since he's made a defenseman, his general understanding of the sim will likely see him distribute TPE a little better in the early goings. He is progressing at a solid rate TPE wise, currently flipping between 8-10 TPE per week, which is good, but not quite the rate of the other defenseman ahead of him. Hopefully this is a return to form for a very good member who has made the Hall of Fame once before with the powerful two-way forward Theo Axelsson.
 
13th Overall
Riga Reign select Center Maximillian Kirbsson
 
It might be surprising to see a player who is currently third in the rankings occupy this space in the draft, but ultimately this was triggered by the fact that I feel like his recent TPE earnings have been off the pace in comparison to the remainder of his forward competition, only earning six capped TPE this week. If he were to return to the form that got him this high up in the rankings though, then Riga have an absolute steal here and, like Meyers, an eventual replacement to the aging pair of Cast and Pajari.
 
14th Overall
Vancouver Wolves select Left Winger Dimitri Volosenkov
 
Another player who is ranked very high but is picked later than maybe anticipated due to recent TPE earning, Volosenkov has already demonstrated he can earn TPE as he’s already set to enter the VHL next season. However, he’s not quite at the same TPE earning pace of the other players taken ahead of him here. I mentioned it in another article I believe, but he really is just 150 words away from capping each week (VHL.com articles), and given that he’s done media articles before, he’s got that capability in him, he just needs to do it to prove he belongs with those taken ahead of him.
 
15th Overall
Helsinki Titans select Left Winger Kyle Sabertooth
 
With losing Dan Montgomery in the Expansion Draft and Bald Guy not having done much to improve his player as of late, Helsinki are desperate for defenseman help, but there’s a lot of depth at this position set for the third round, so they’ll hold off till then. In the meanwhile, they’ll pick the most talented offensive player available in Kyle Sabertooth, a podcaster for the VSN who is more than capable of hitting the 12 TPE cap pretty comfortably with his current radio job. This gives the Titans a player to potentially fill the hole that the retirement of Vesto Slipher creates.
 
16th Overall
Malmo Nighthawks select Right Winger Mat Tocco
 
This may seem like a very early selection for the Nighthawks based off of the rankings, but for an expansion team such as Malmo, this makes a lot of sense. In reality, the Nighthawks are unlikely to be competing for the next couple of seasons, so their prerogative should be less focused on “who is going to help us most in our first few seasons?” and more focused on “who is going to help us most in our third season onward?”. That’s where a player like Mat Tocco comes in, someone who is reaching the TPE cap super consistently (moreso than the players still left to be picked ahead of him in the rankings) and provides a great future offensive threat for the Nighthawks.
 
17th Overall
Vancouver Wolves select Defenseman Rusty Shackleford
 
 Vancouver do already have four defensemen on their roster, but I believe they’ll want to have more future talents in mind for the position given that Samuel Gate has long been inactive and both he and Marvin Harding are entering regression after this season. Rusty Shackleford has been either capping at 12 TPE or getting very close to doing so since creation and should he keep that form up, he would likely continue on to be a better player than Gate was, even though the fifth year defenseman was taken second overall.
 
18th Overall
Vancouver Wolves select Right Winger Nethila Dissanayake
 
Aiming to be to hockey what Murali Murilitharan was for cricket, the Sri Lankan Dissanayake had a bit of an off week last week, only earning 6 TPE, but he’s been an active contributor in discussions and has shown max TPE potential in the past.
 
19th Overall
Riga Reign select Right Winger John Frostbeard
 
Like GRZ taken previously, John Frostbeard is another Latvian member who I’m sure Hedgehog will have an interest in. Frostbeard hasn’t been hitting the cap lately, hitting 7 TPE the last couple of weeks, but he’s certainly shown the potential to be earning much more than that. He’ll still be a very solid player even if he maintains the earning of the last two weeks, but returning to his previous form will be the factor that can turn him into a star.
 
20th Overall
Vancouver Wolves select Left Winger Chico Smeb
 
A member who has made several solid players in the past, Smeb will hope to improve upon those players performances with Chico Smeb. So far he’s on the right track, hitting the pension cap on quite a few occasions. Won’t likely feature on the top lines out of the gate, but will be competing with Volosenkov and Dissanayake for second line minutes down the line.
 
THIRD ROUND
 
21st Overall
Moscow Menace select Defenseman Codrick Past
 
Does Victor take the player who is named after one of his current players? Yes he does. Past has been pretty good at hitting 11 TPE per week with his player and it fills a need for Moscow who, like stated above, only have two active defenseman on the roster.
 
22nd Overall
Helsinki Titans select Left Winger Valeri Morosov
 
Morosov is an interesting case as his TPE per week has varied drastically week-on-week (been anywhere between 4 and 9 capped TPE per week). He’s proved with Otto Axelsson that he can make a solid player, let’s see if he can do the same with Morosov.
 
23rd Overall
New York Americans select Center Hans Gruber
 
Gruber is a player who I think could climb in later Mock Drafts as he’s very regularly hitting his welfare cap of 10 TPE. Gruber will provide a good backup solution for Odinsson down the line should the winger decide to leave New York this off-season.
Edit: Noticed after writing that Gruber changed to Center, but he can still cover for Odinsson for the time being.
 
24th Overall
Riga Reign select Center Ludvig Sederstrom
 
A player who has been earning solid amounts of TPE since joining the league, Sederstrom really only falls here because after the first few centers are taken, their isn’t that much clamour for a center. Riga have already drafted two, but they will play one/two of those on the wings until the retirements/transactions that end Pajari/Cast’s stay with the team.
 
25th Overall
Moscow Menace select Goalie Clayton Park
 
Moscow need a backup plan at goalie to challenge Chase for the number one spot in case he goes missing for a period like he did earlier this season. Park has less TPE than other alternative Wendy Kandee Cain, but has displayed greater potential in earning TPE, so I think he’s more likely to take this spot.  
 
26th Overall
Malmo Nighthawks select Defenseman Apollo Hackett
 
Very much like the Tocco pick, this is quite a bit higher than Hackett sits in the rankings, but he’s earning max TPE per week, something that Advantage is going to want out of his star defenseman. Hackett looks set to rise in future Mock Drafts with continued activity as well.
 
27th Overall
Helsinki Titans select Defenseman Cody Parkey
 
The first defenseman Helsinki take to address their need at the position, Parkey has shown capabilities of hitting the 12 TPE cap and has a couple of recruits (Dwin Championship and Duncan Jeffers) that he will gain lots of recruitment TPE from should he reach the required milestones.
 
28th Overall
Helsinki Titans select Defenseman Beau Buefordsson
 
Buefordsson had an off-week that saw him only claim two capped TPE, but bounced straight back with one that earned him 12 capped TPE, demonstrating his capabilities to earn TPE. Another defenseman, Buefordsson and Parkey could be a very good combination down the line should they hit their potential earnings more regularly.
 
29th Overall
Riga Reign select Left Winger Emil Passerelli
 
Riga pick up a solid winger to finish off the third in Emil Passerelli. While he’s occasionally hit the welfare cap of 10 TPE, one thing he’s had that worked in his favour was the recruit of Juan Jaundice, netting him some extra recruitment TPE.
 
30th Overall
Vancouver Wolves select Center Jordan Joshua Tonn
Vancouver have Beau Louth entering regression, so can start to plan for the future depth of the position with Tonn. Tonn has yet to hit the TPE cap since joining, but is a solid earner nonetheless.
 
3554 Words.
 
 

Gloria Borger
VHL.com ~ Houston, TX
 
The VHL's season 66 draft is in sight for players and teams alike. For teams, its a chance to bolster their roster and build for future championships. For players, it's a lifelong dream finally achieved. I sat down with Owen May as he discussed his future in the VHL and what he expects moving forward. To many the VHL draft is everything. Nothing can compare to hearing your name called. However, May has little interest in the event.
 
"Right now, my sole focus is the Bulls. We're in a playoff race. They're some things that are bigger than my personal desires. Yeah I want to be drafted, I'm really excited to take my next steps but I have a duty to the team I'm currently on. "
 
That appears to be the mood within the Bulls locker room this season. No one wants to leave at the end of the day. Even the Scottish drunkard, and American pothead have been integral parts of the locker room chemistry. The team is upset when they lose and ecstatic when they win, most locker rooms are, but what sets these men apart is their dedication to the team. Very few type A personalities in the locker room makes it a enjoyable environment for a reporter. I asked May where he wants to go when his name is called this draft.
 
"My preference is Helsinki to play with my GM but if I could be on a team with any of the guys in the locker room, I'd be content."

Natural hat trick within the first 10 minutes.

+4... Frostbeard and HHH are proving to be big for Yukon!
 
Just more proof that this draft is gonna be absurdly deep.

Well, I do believe it was more or less a "Thanks, HHH has received too many awards already 1st Star" so, I am happy, but this wouldn't happen without playing with HHH on the same line. So, I guess - huge thanks to @Beaviss !

Surprised the Lynx can still keep it close with Las Vegas after selling off everyone, but good for them. Saskatoon have our work cut out for us if we wanna make the playoffs, that's for sure.

Great games for Juan and Edgar! Definitely needed this win going down the stretch.

Ugh, another rough match vs. Halifax. Have to get our stuff together

I'm going to start off by telling you a little story for those of you who weren't around or weren't paying attention for the last draft (S65). Generally speaking, the draft is run live, with GMs needing to react to other picks being made in real time and there generally being a shitshow around scheduling when to hold it, a bit of chaos when it comes to tracking who's been picked, and some hectic live trades. In S65, for reasons unknown (I would just assume, or hope, scheduling conflicts) the draft was held earlier, I assume over the course of several days, in secret. The thing is, it wasn't actually so secret, because when you see a team trading up in the 2nd round three days before the draft, you have to assume they know who's available at that specific pick.
 
I get that this made life easier on the GMs, but it was just. so. boring. The craziness that is draft day is supposed to be part of the fun around being a GM, and with drafts being run through the portal now, it should be much easier to track who's been picked. Let these draftees have the same fun that I had on my draft day, where there was all sorts of crazy speculation and rumors before my name ever got called. 
 
Bring back the true live draft.
 
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
 
238 words, theme week.

More than enough (aka any at all) discussion will be had around HHH and the high end of the draft, but that's boring as hell. Who cares about first overall anyways? I'm more interested in some of the guys who are on the lower end of the TPE scale, but whose draft stock has been rising, for any one of many possible reasons. Here are a few that jump out to me.
 
1. LW - Kyle Sabertooth: 157 TPE @uphillmoss
Sabertooth will be on the threshold of capping out at the end of this season and therefore forcing himself into the big league. With the way he's been earning of late, I highly doubt the winger will be returning the the M for S66. Moss has been active around the site and on discord, leading me to believe he won't peter out anytime soon as well.
 
2. RW - Emil Passerelli: 138 TPE @SparrowLTD
Sparrow's TPE earnings probably don't jump out at anyone, simply based on the fact that he's been primarily claiming welfare instead of doing a PT. I think he's still a really solid option in this deep draft because of how consistent he's been with his claims every week. On top of welfare, Sparrow tends to do Trivia and Press Conferences, and he has a couple recruits under his wing (ha) that help both his TPE earning potential in the long run and the likelihood of him sticking around for seasons to come. Once again, combine the above with his activity and interaction with other members, and you have a solid depth prospect.
 
3. D - Apollo Hackett: 124 TPE @Renomitsu
I would have to imagine that Hackett is flying under nobody's radar at this point. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to see a team like Riga, who could use someone like him possibly staying in the M another year, take him with a late 1st round pick. I know that may sound crazy considering how many players are already above 200 TPE in this draft class, but I think the long term TPE earning potential that Renomitsu brings greatly outweighs the short term benefits of taking someone with a high amount of TPE on draft day. Between donations, trivia, maximizing uncapped TPE opportunities, and doing a PT every week, Renomitsu has already shown that he's prepared to dig in and better his player. The fact that he was only ranked 40th in the latest S66 draft rankings means he could be the biggest riser in the weeks to come.
 
4. LW - Blake Laughton: 87 TPE @Grape
This pick is a bit of a funny one. Grape went 3 full weeks after creating Laughton before claiming any TPE, but since then, he's been earning welfare solidly every week, with the occasional press conference, trivia answers, or even graphic sprinkled in. For whatever reason, I'm just getting a vibe that Laughton might be one of those slow burning picks, one of those that might stay another season or even two in the VHLM, but in 5 seasons' time is an integral part of a contending team's 2nd line. Honestly there's no real concrete reason to throw Laughton on this list, but I'm just getting a feeling.
 
535 Words, theme week.

Absolutely I can - I'll see if I can find time this upcoming week. If so, I'll probably post it on Thursday/Friday!

Saskatoon Wild Scouting Center, Saskatchewan – Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Shane Mars. Kari Jurri.
 
Long ago, the four nations lived toge – uh, wrong intro. My bad.
 
These three prospects are ostensibly the most talented and highly-sought after players in a draft that is nearly (if not already) 90 players deep.  As expected, they (among maybe a half-dozen other prospects) have received plenty of airtime and speculation: we’re used to hearing the pro comparisons and possible career trajectories, fans clamoring for lower-ranked teams to ‘tank’ their season to get the next most valuable prospect, and so on.
 
To put this in perspective – the last several dispersal drafts have had between forty and seventy draftees; aside from last season’s dispersal (67 players) the next most comparable was a 51-man dispersal ten seasons ago, in Season 56’s draft. When compared with Entry drafts, it’s still potentially the largest field of selectable players in recent history.
 
The lowest TPE pick from S65’s entry draft was Billy Kimber, the thirty-first (although not the last) overall pick of the draft, who had 32 TPE with the season’s live draft rankings; there are 87 players this season with at least that many points waiting for their chance at the pros. Overall, the Season 65 draft had 38 drafted players – this season’s pool would have half of its players go entirely undrafted if the same were to happen this season.
 
Make no mistake – recruiters have been putting in their work and it’s been paying off. But because this season’s draft pool is so apparently deep, players with the potential to make it as World Juniors, World Cup players, or first-round fantasy picks may go without being mentioned until draft time.
 
“We’ve got enough first-round quality wings alone to make up most Entry drafts by themselves,” one anonymous scout commented at a Week 2 VHLM game, “Mars and Jurri are the obvious, but Aaltonen, Volosenkov, Freeman, Sigurdsson, Jagr, Meyers…”
 
“That would have been your average first round in most previous entry drafts. This year? Those are just the top eight prospects between two positions.”
 
General Managers and AGMs make it their job to look into each year’s eligible player list – so let’s take the dive for ourselves and try to find a few hidden gems, why don't we?
 
Inclusion Criteria
(1) S66 Draft Class; currently included in @Tagger‘s most recent Scouting Center rankings.
(2) As of the Week 2 VHLSC rankings, currently ranked below rank 20 (based strictly on TPE, likely to be drafted in Round 3 or later of the current draft)
(3) Early bird gets the worm – draftees with large TPE claims this week will be more highly considered. Last three weeks’ TPE gain will be the main inclusion criterion.
(NOTE – some of these TPEs may be reported several hours before article posting, and may not match current TPEs)
 

 
D Jerry Garcia – Houston Bulls
Current Projection – Mid-Late 3rd Round (23/88)
TPE – 144 (+56 after 3/3)
Garcia is a hybrid of the old-school defensive defenseman with a new-school prototypical skillset. He’s one of the more skilled defenders on a VHLM roster, with the ability to make it to loose pucks and stop many forwards in their tracks. In recent weeks, he’s been hitting the gym and working on his playmaking skills, but he’s still certainly most effective on his team’s half of the ice. The defenseman’s agent (@GustavMattias) has experience in a number of arenas – the most recent being a stint as Team Asia’s World Juniors GM. He’s been cited as an “incredible force for good” in the locker room by his own GM, and one of the prominent voices interfacing with the media for his minor league squad.
 
Perhaps most importantly, Garcia has been putting in plenty of work on the ice and in the gym; many scouts have noted diversification in the defender’s skills in the last couple of weeks alone. His plethora of proficiencies leave him most likely to continue along the defensive defenseman or enforcer route – but we’d be remiss to count out the possibility of development into a two-way defenseman. Regardless, Garcia’s rapid and recent improvement is a sign that GMs in the majors ought to take note of – he’d be a steal in the fourth round and wouldn’t be out of the question for the early third.
 
Scout’s Notes
“He’s well-rounded and is a threat on both sides of the ice because of his passing ability. Something of a black hole for errant passes and chasing the puck down after a big hit.”
“[Jerry] has a penchant for making big hits and blocking big shots. He’s probably your goalie’s best friend.”
“He played guitar for the Grateful Dead and has an ice cream flavor named after him, I mean come on.”
“If I’m a team in need of multiple positions, I’m looking to steal Garcia in the late third, or pick him for value as early as the second.”
 

ABOVE - Hans Gruber, seen here definitely not scheming.
 
C Hans Gruber – Saskatoon Wild
Current Projection – Late 3rd, early 4th round (29/88)
TPE – 125 (+46 after 3/3)
This promising young forward from Germany was traded from Philadelphia in exchange for picks just last Saturday (3/16) with teammates DWin Championship, Cody Parkey, and Brian Strong. Wild GM @Peace made the massive exchange of picks – including what may be over half of the team’s S67 dispersal selections – for a chance to win now.
 
Some suggest Gruber’s something of a grinder or playmaker – and this early in his career, he could probably opt to go either way. It’s hard to pick out one specific strength for the winger, who has shown glimpses of excellence in defense and puck handling in addition to the positional mainstays of passing and scoring. In 34 games in the minors, he’s accumulated 6 goals in 68 shots, and a total of 24 points. He’s presently second on the depth chart – which means he’s quite likely to run into other more-developed forwards and defensemen whenever he’s on the ice. Though his performance does not yet top the league, the Wild GM can rest easy: the young German scored an overtime-winning goal just earlier today in one of his first games with the team.
 
Scout’s Notes
“Sure, I see why he could be easy to sleep on. Plus-minus isn’t too flashy – but take a look at his last couple of games and tell me he can’t at least hold his own with the best.”
“That screamer to clinch today’s game against the Reapers should at least catch your eye.”
“Didn’t this guy steal like $640,000,000 or something?”
 

ABOVE - Clayton Park playing goalie for the Vienna Thunder, Midget AAA team (per biography)
 
G Clayton Park – Yukon Rush
Accolades – 1x WJC Team World (S65)
Current Projection – Early 4th round (32/88)
TPE – 119 (+68 after 3/3)
Buried underneath the (well-deserved) hype for Kandee Cain (@SlashACM) and Owen May (@FacebookFighter) is Austrian netminder Clayton Park, a top-four prospect for this season’s draft. Taken 49th overall (7th round) in the S65 Dispersal Draft, Clayton has stepped up his game considerably and may merit consideration for a pick as high as the early third round depending on how the rest of this season plays out.
 
He sits only behind the newly-reinforced Juan Jaundice in shots against but has managed an 86.6% save percentage in spite of the volume of shots against him, good for third in the minors behind the aforementioned Cain (89.2%) and S65 New York draftee Chase (90.0%). He’s currently in the bottom half of the table for goals allowed (3.39) – but many scouts believe that’s simply a function of the number of shots he’s had to defend this season. Park takes on the style of a classic butterfly goalie; though slightly undersized at 5’ 10” and just 150 lbs. (68 kg), Park has shown solid reaction time, positioning, and rebound control.
 
And don’t worry, even when he’s not playing hockey he finds a way to keep in the cold: he has a long history of downhill skiing in his free time.
 
Scout’s Notes
“Second-best butterfly goalie behind Cain… probably won’t see a ton of ice time in the pros next season but has potential through the roof.”
“Excellent support system, a lengthy history on the ice; if he sticks around he could be pretty good.”
“Clayton Park, eh? You talkin’ ‘boot the one in Halifax?
 

 
RW Mat Tocco – Philadelphia Reapers
Current Projection – Early 6th Round (43/88)
TPE – 98 (+68 since 3/3)
We’re fourteen games (sort of) into the young career of Czech/Italian forward Mat Tocco, and in spite of limited ice time (19.7 mpg, 67th in the minors) he’s racked up a nice plus-minus of +9 with 9 points – not too shabby for a brand-new entry. He has elements of the prototypical sniper-style forward, but with a nice added bonus of being able to skate around slower defenders. As with many of the prospects on the board thus far, Tocco is very moldable – but his strengths right now are mobility and scoring.
 
Though he’s recently had to move to the States, Tocco comes from humble origins. Born of an Italian immigrant and a butcher’s daughter, he’s proven throughout his life that hard work is just part of the process for him; his rapid improvement on the ice over the last few weeks certainly corroborates that. He faces an uphill battle, with nearly twenty wingers above him on most draft boards. If his past is any indicator, however, he’s ready for the test.
 
Scout’s Notes
 “Pretty raw, but the scoring potential is there. We can always use another high-quality sniper in the league; the sky’s the limit for him.”
“Built like a brick sh*thouse for a guy his height. Not surprising to see the number of hits he’s laid out so far.”
“Glad to see all of his hard work pay off. Seems like he’s in for the long haul.”
“I’d like to see a GM reach a little for him. Might not be out of the question to see him late third, early fourth round by the time all’s said and done. Guys that improve as fast as him go on to either have damn good careers or flame out.”
 
Other unlinked references in this article: @Sonnet, @TheFlash, @leafssteen, @Matmenzinger
 
[if possible, I'd like to use this for three weeks' worth of media spots (weeks ending 3/24, 3/31, and 4/7); currently sitting just under 1,700 words.]

Juan Juandice, @Jus the starting goaltender for the Saskatoon Wild, has just been reported to have eaten an entire puck. Reporting live from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, we heard from his teammate on the Saskatoon Wild, defenseman Rusty Shackleford, who claimed that in the middle of what he called "a wild bender," Juandice was apparently convinced to scarf down an entire hockey puck for its "goalie-boosting powers." 
 
While it is unclear what the exact circumstances were leading up to this event, Shackleford was able to ramble out a slurred series of words that were deciphered to mean "It all started when we were talking about how to stop a puck, you must think like a puck. One thing led to another, and the guy was eating a puck. An actual whole puck."
 
It should be noted that Shackleford himself reeked of what can only be assumed to be a copious amount of cheap beer and whiskey, and that he may not be as reliable of a source as one would hope for. 
 

Pictured Above: A picture of what is believed to be the puck that Juandice devoured, part of the way through his feast.
 
Upon further investigation, multiple sources are now reporting that the alleged "puck" may have actually been a Ding Dong all along. 
 
We have reached out to Juandice for comment and are waiting to hear back. 

Oh man, could you imagine if Thunder Bay made a sim league return?

Sick logo.


 
Hi Everybody,
 
As many of you are aware, the VHL is a little crowded. In addition to expanding to an odd number, with now 9 teams in the league, the amount of prospects coming up next season (shoutout once again to our fantastic @Recruitment Crew) necessitated expansion, returning us to a 10-team league. With that said, I will let the league's "newest" GM introduce his franchise:
 
 
Logo Reveal:
 
For those wondering, the expansion draft for this expansion will follow the same rules as last draft (teams may protect 7 players + GM player, players with NTCs must contact a commissioner to confirm they have waived them in order to be exposed, if a team cannot expose at least one active member, the new team may select a 3rd round pick from any of the next 3 drafts [S66-68, thanks again @Devise ? ]).
 
The expansion team will also have a lottery to determine their slotting in each round of the S66 VHL Entry Draft, with equal odds of selecting anywhere from 5-10.
 
Thank you for reading, and best of luck to Advantage in the upcoming season, and beyond!

No one in this league knows.

I’m not sure what league I saw it with (I’ve been out of the game for a while), but I’d also like to test the waters on a ‘theme week’ once or twice a season for Media Spots and Graphics. Lots of players use Welfare – which is an incredible resource for member retention that I’d never do away with – but maybe offer 2-3 uncapped TPE for a Point Task that is in line with a theme (All Stars, WJC/World Cup, etc.). Stick some of the week’s graphics in as headers for World Cup/All Star games or put the Media Spots up for submission and inclusion in a once-per-season VHL Magazine. Don’t make it every week, as that would seriously disadvantage members taking Welfare that also create content for the SBA/EFL. Instead, use this as a way to increase members’ investment in the VHL.
 
I’ll also be the third to agree with @DMaximus. I know I’m not terribly inclined to look at game threads that don’t directly involve my player (except when I’m doing research for media spots or checking for Pick’em/Predict the Score). Encouraging members to write trash talk or even just a GG in game threads a few times a week with TPE requires little effort for implementation, could help foster a better environment among teammates, (maybe even more importantly) set up long-term rivalries.
 
I know sometimes it’s hard to write VHL.com articles (barring some crazy weekend story for some more creative users) because there isn’t as much to talk about outside of game stats; and I think trash talk & hype around games from game thread replies will also encourage people to write more VHL.com/media spot articles.

Name: Apollo Hackett
Position: D
Current Team: Saskatoon Wild
Age: 19
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 215 lbs.
Birthplace: USA
 
Scout Notes (Brief)
Nephew of former S46 draftee Saul Hackett, Apollo makes a relatively late transition to professional hockey after diverting from a potentially successful career in STEM.  He primarily has experience in recreational leagues between junior year of high school and three years’ worth of college – and scouts and GMs are rightfully concerned about his inexperience with the game. He may have a leg up on other prospects because of his level of maturity and his uncle, but lacks muscle memory of many shots, passes, and general wherewithal to be an elite prospect from the get-go.
 
Even if he receives some starting experience in the VHLM this season, he will be far from polished even compared to mid-round Entry Draft picks. However, coincidental thinness at defense in the Season 66 draft may work in his favor. Projected in early fourth round at the earliest, likely fifth or sixth; expect him to play another season or so in the minors before his drafting GM even considers putting him on the ice with the pros.
 
Scouting Report
Strengths
Physicality – Apollo is a staunch defenseman through and through. In spite of his lack of experience, he has the stature and gravitas to intimidate forwards, with a rapidly-improving checking technique to supplement it. He seeks and initiates contact, seeking to set the tone with opposing forwards before the have a chance to get into a rhythm.
 
Defensive Fundamentals – If nothing else, Apollo can rely on the basics of positioning and shot blocking to increase his effectiveness as a defender. He understands basic matchups with snipers, power forwards, and playmakers alike, as well as how to play around and behind the net as necessary. It’s difficult for Apollo to make a boneheaded mistake, but his reliance on his fundamentals may prevent him from neutralizing more refined forwards.
 
Skating – Compared to most VHLM players entering both the Dispersal and Entry draft, this particular defender is quik on skates and can keep up with most any minor league forward. He’ll need extra work to compete with major leaguers, but that can be said of most of his skills at this point in his career.
 
Weaknesses
Offensive Impact – While Apollo can handle the puck, block shots, and lay out hits, he’s something of a liability on offense. Pushing the puck up the ice or towards the net are both significant weaknesses, and must be planned around by coaching staff until he begins to develop competency in these skills. Even simple, short passes can be troublesome for the defender, and shots are essentially a non-factor regardless of where he is on the ice. On power plays he will likely be more of a harm than a help.
 
Big Stages? – Even at the secondary/high school level, Apollo does not have experience with the spotlight. He is relatively reserved off the ice, and hasn’t had a chance to face immense pressure from great players or a large audience – and this may affect his performance in important games. To be clear: he hasn’t fumbled under pressure, he just hasn’t really been exposed to it.
 
Penalties – Apollo has excellent checking and defensive technique generally, but his penchant for contact will often draw more penalties than some of his coaches and teammates would like. Though this has not arisen as a significant issue, it will be up to the young defender to develop his discipline and limit the number of penalty kills his team has to execute.

Name: Apollo Hackett
Position: D
Current Team: Saskatoon Wild
Age: 19
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 215 lbs.
Birthplace: USA
 
Scout Notes (Brief)
Nephew of former S46 draftee Saul Hackett, Apollo makes a relatively late transition to professional hockey after diverting from a potentially successful career in STEM.  He primarily has experience in recreational leagues between junior year of high school and three years’ worth of college – and scouts and GMs are rightfully concerned about his inexperience with the game. He may have a leg up on other prospects because of his level of maturity and his uncle, but lacks muscle memory of many shots, passes, and general wherewithal to be an elite prospect from the get-go.
 
Even if he receives some starting experience in the VHLM this season, he will be far from polished even compared to mid-round Entry Draft picks. However, coincidental thinness at defense in the Season 66 draft may work in his favor. Projected in early fourth round at the earliest, likely fifth or sixth; expect him to play another season or so in the minors before his drafting GM even considers putting him on the ice with the pros.
 
Scouting Report
Strengths
Physicality – Apollo is a staunch defenseman through and through. In spite of his lack of experience, he has the stature and gravitas to intimidate forwards, with a rapidly-improving checking technique to supplement it. He seeks and initiates contact, seeking to set the tone with opposing forwards before the have a chance to get into a rhythm.
 
Defensive Fundamentals – If nothing else, Apollo can rely on the basics of positioning and shot blocking to increase his effectiveness as a defender. He understands basic matchups with snipers, power forwards, and playmakers alike, as well as how to play around and behind the net as necessary. It’s difficult for Apollo to make a boneheaded mistake, but his reliance on his fundamentals may prevent him from neutralizing more refined forwards.
 
Skating – Compared to most VHLM players entering both the Dispersal and Entry draft, this particular defender is quik on skates and can keep up with most any minor league forward. He’ll need extra work to compete with major leaguers, but that can be said of most of his skills at this point in his career.
 
Weaknesses
Offensive Impact – While Apollo can handle the puck, block shots, and lay out hits, he’s something of a liability on offense. Pushing the puck up the ice or towards the net are both significant weaknesses, and must be planned around by coaching staff until he begins to develop competency in these skills. Even simple, short passes can be troublesome for the defender, and shots are essentially a non-factor regardless of where he is on the ice. On power plays he will likely be more of a harm than a help.
 
Big Stages? – Even at the secondary/high school level, Apollo does not have experience with the spotlight. He is relatively reserved off the ice, and hasn’t had a chance to face immense pressure from great players or a large audience – and this may affect his performance in important games. To be clear: he hasn’t fumbled under pressure, he just hasn’t really been exposed to it.
 
Penalties – Apollo has excellent checking and defensive technique generally, but his penchant for contact will often draw more penalties than some of his coaches and teammates would like. Though this has not arisen as a significant issue, it will be up to the young defender to develop his discipline and limit the number of penalty kills his team has to execute.

1. In the latter half of the season now and, while Halifax and Minnesota are quite a few points ahead, there is just 4 points separating 3rd and 7th, which of those five teams (Aces, Bulls, Lynx, Rush, Wild) do you think will finish highest at the end of the season?
Though we're working from a deficit, I think the Wild have a good shot of finishing third or fourth, but the Aces have to be my top pick. They have four capped players and plenty at 150+ TPE.
 
2. Since the last set of questions were asked, the World Juniors Rosters have been selected. What do you think about your nationalities chances at winning the tournament?
I feel optimistic about the USA's chances of winning the WJC. It's readily apparent (as most members have guessed the USA will win in the prediction thread) that they have a deep, high-quality roster that can compete with any other, and manhandle some of the worse WJC rosters.
 
3b. (If you didn't make your World Juniors roster) Were you surprised not to make it onto your team's roster or was it expected?
I was beside myself. How could the USA WJC team not want a 30 TPE D-man?
 
4. Hunter Hearst Helmsley is currently leading the league in points and goals, do you think there's anyone who can stop him from leading in either come the end of the season?
I don't think it's likely. Other teams have similarly-talented players, but Helmsley is the star of Yukon. Their offense, in my opinion, begins and ends with his line, and he's the one on that line with the best scoring chops. It also helps to have a great passer and two-way center like Anthony Matthews to help feed him the puck.
 
5. Give a shout-out to one member of your team who has helped you out and why (maybe a member's player has helped your player perform well in the sim, a member who helped you with PT's, etc.)
@Peace is the easy/obvious answer, but @nethi99 has been active in our Discord and helps promote a pretty good locker room environment.
 
6. Recommend either a video game or a movie for other members to play/watch and why you'd recommend it. 
I'm a big, big RPG guy. Pillars of Eternity & Tyranny are both made by the same company, and have a retro RPG feel remniscent of Baldur's Gate. Lots of character customization, diverse encounters and dialogue trees, incredibly engaging stories, and Tyranny + Pillars of Eternity II are both almost entirely voice-acted. They're great if you like reading and playing creative works, or if you're a fan of Critical Role!

Cody Smith
 

 
Username: @cody73
Position: Left Winger
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 242 lbs
Nationality: 
 
VHLM Career
 

 
Created a week after the VHLM Draft took place, Smith signed a one year contract to play with the Halifax 21st upon declaring his intent to join the VHLM. He had predominantly featured as a third line winger for the 21st whilst also being a part of the second line of the powerplay unit, however a recent change has seen him receive a more prominent role on the team at even strength (playing on the 2nd line) but he's now been removed from the powerplay unit altogether. As a result, the player was averaging 17 minutes per game has only played 16 total minutes in the first two games since the change. Playing alongside highly rated prospects Jet Jaguar and Dmitri Volosenkov may have an adverse effect on Smith's future contribution to the 21st as typically (especially in the VHLM) the higher skilled players will play around teammates with less TPE rather than with them. This is evidenced by his name being mentioned 26 times in the Play-by-Play of his last game as a third line winger as opposed to the seven times he was mentioned in the Play-by-Play of his last two games combined. 
 
Smith is perhaps a little unfortunate to have only three goals to his name (2 at even strength) as he's fired more than enough shots at goal given his limited ice time, it's just goalies are finding a way to save his shots right now and as a result, he only has a 4.2% shooting percentage, surprisingly low given shooting is arguably Smith's greatest strength. The area where Smith has had his best production is his checking, as Volosenkov is the only forward on the 21st to have recorded more hits than Smith to this point. 
 
Player Build
 

 
Smith regards himself as a power forward and, for a VHLM player, he certainly seems to be leaning in the right direction with his build. He doesn't have much TPE invested in checking, but the VHLM is a less physical league than the VHL so adding any TPE into it can get a player the desired results (see his hit tallies thus far). It's also good to see he's invested quite a bit into defense which will help him pick up the loose puck more often. Probably the main area of his game that needs improving before making the pro league is his skating. Power Forwards typically are able to keep hold of the puck put Smith's low skating (only Austen Fourier has lower skating among forwards in the VHLM) currently makes him an easy target for physical defensemen to nail with a big hit. 
 
Main Area for Improvement: Skating
 
As mentioned above, Skating is important for helping a skater maintain possession of the puck. Typically, players will get this to at least 70 prior to hitting the pros.
 
Consider Leaving: Checking
 
If his new place on the second line is going to last the remainder of the season, he's likely going to see his hit totals fall as his line-mate Volosenkov has more Checking right now (60) as opposed to when he was on the third line where the only line-mate who had added to checking (Nacho) was still below Smith (42). Obviously it depends on what approach Smith wants to take with his development, but it may be better to take this opportunity where he knows his hits will drop to improve his offensive attributes rather than challenging Volosenkov for more hits.
 
TPE Earning
 
Total TPE Earned: 78
Average Capped TPE per Week: 5.5 TPE 
 
Smith is currently in his fifth week in the VHL and in his previous four, he has consistently added a decent amount of capped TPE to his player, earning 6 capped TPE in three of those four weeks. The one thing to suggest to Smith is to make sure he always at least submits welfare per week, as there was one week where he missed out and had he submitted he would have earned 8 TPE as opposed to 4.
 
Smith can earn more TPE and maximise his total possible TPE per week by submitting for the 6 TPE Graphic/Media/Podcasts, point tasks, but if he would prefer to keep doing welfare instead then he can still earn up to 10 TPE per week by doing the following (Left off Trivia as Smith has been doing a good job submitting for this already):
 
VHL.Com Articles/Player Cards
 
In the VHL.com forum, players can post a 150 word article or a Player Card (Example here) for 2 TPE each or they can do both for 4 TPE. 
 
Press Conferences
 
Smith has actually submitted for Press Conferences in week's past, but has sometimes not submitted answers or maybe not been provided questions to answer. If the latter is ever the case, you can instead ask other members questions to earn TPE (5 questions for 1 TPE, 10 questions for 2 TPE). If you're struggling for topics, it may be easier to ask questions towards team-mates since you will be more familiar with them.
 
There's also one uncapped TPE task still remaining for Smith to participate in, it's a long one but generates a big reward at the end of it:
 
Biography
 
Submit a 1000 word article covering your players life, how he got into hockey and his hockey career to date for 10 TPE.
 
One note of praise for Smith is that he's picked up on opportunities to earn extra uncapped TPE, submitting a suggestion to the league in this week's event for an extra 2 TPE along with purchasing the first generation package in the store to net him an extra 5 TPE.
 
Draft Prospects
 
While he has been in 60th place in TPE in the Draft Rankings in each of the last three weeks, I feel Smith has the potential to rise up the rankings, especially since he's taken part in a lot of the activities thus far, he just needs to do them more consistently. If he takes on all my advice for TPE earning, he can rise up as high as the fourth round, but even if he only takes on some of that, he can move from his current projection of sixth round to mid-late fifth round.
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Want your Season 66 Player to receive a Rookie Profile like this? Click Here to submit for one!
 
Note: Newer members who may need more help with build/TPE earning advice will have their profiles covered first. All players who submit will get a profile Pre-Draft.
 
Also, if you've already submitted for a Rookie Profile, you don't need to submit again, all submissions are recorded and stored.
 
Tomorrow's Rookie Profile: Emil Passerelli @SparrowLTD