Filled to the brim, but how many of those players are active or will remain to be active next season? The issue prior was too many inactive players cluttering teams (in potentially both the VHLM and VHL). Thus, we lost teams.
Recruitment is continuous, yep. You've done good. Retention is something else though. No point adding a team to have them go 6-62-4 and have 1 active player and 6 inactive on their team.
I haven't given it a good look, only speaking off the top of my head but last I looked, a lot were inactive or heavily semi-active. I would give it another season or recruitment and retention if so.