Welcome to the S72 VHL Recruitment Mock Draft!
In this mock draft I will be, to the best of my abilities, predicting the selections of the S72 VHL Entry Draft. Without further ado, lets get into the mock draft:
Round #1
#1. HC Davos Dynamo
C - SS Hornet- @McWolf - 377 TPE -
Davos is coming into the draft hot, with both first and second overall picks. Davos, a team who has struggled for countless seasons, seems to have an opportunity to turn things around in this draft. After a very succesful showing by Davos' second overall selection in last seasons draft, Roque Davis, Davos needs to keep it going by selecting two more players to help lead their team into the future. With the first of these picks, I see SS Hornet being taken. Hornet, a 6'2" 210 lb. monster, would be an excellent choice for Davos' future #1 centre. After a strong showing in both his S70 and S71 season's in the VHLM, one can say Hornet is practically VHL ready. He is on pace to hit the VHL with around 400 TPE, so his scoring defence, and skating will be a huge factor in helping set him apart from his fellow draftees.
#2. HC Davos Dynamo
LW - Robin Winter - @Sonnet - 325 TPE -
Robin Winter, a 6' 1" 200 lb. winger who finished off an exceptional season with the Minnesota Storm, is who I see being Davos' second selection. Two big, fast, and talented forwards are just what Davos needs to build it's team for the future. Winter is a do-it-all kind of player, with excellent abilities in skating, puck handling, passing, scoring, defence, and some great strength. I expect Winter to compliment Hornet very well playing on his wing. Both of these players, along with Roq.Sue Davis selected last season, will be a force to be reckoned with.
#3. Calgary Wranglers
D - Latrell Mitchell - @dasboot - 305 TPE -
With Brady Stropko Jr retiring after this season and Charlie Paddywagon the season after, Calgary is going to need someone to help keep their d core alive along with Edwin The Encarnacion. After a great showing for the Minnesota Storm last season, Latrell Mitchell would be the best bet to give Calgary a young face to partner up with Encarnacion. Calgary has a strong core for their future, including names like Encarnacion, Lafontaine, Kris Rice, Sigard Gunnar, and Mikko Lahtinen. Bringing in Mitchell, a player with strong defence, scoring, passing, puck handling, and skating stats, is a very smart move for Calgary with two of their top defenceman eyeing retirement.
#4. Vancouver Wolves
RW - Jungkok - @tfong - 249 TPE -
With Vancouver's star players in Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Julius Freeman heading into retirement after the next two season, the Wolves need to begin planning for the future. A large peice of that, is winger Joe Proto who was selected 8th overall by Vancouver just last season. I believe Jungkok will be Vancouver's selection at #4 overall to assist Joe Proto in giving their forward core a fresh and future focused revamp. Jungkok put up some great numbers last season playing for the San Diego Marlins, where he put up 102 poits, 278 hits, and 53 shot blocks.
#5. Seattle Bears
D - Randy Marsh - @oilmandan - 278 TPE -
After a cup-winning performance by Seattle this past season, Seattle looks to bolster their squad for future, so that they can success longterm. This makes Randy Marsh a great prospect for Seattle, as it will allow Seattle to cycle out Berocka Sundqvist and Hulk Hogan, their top two defencemen. Although they have 3 more seasons a piece left in their careers, it's never a bad idea to plan for the future. Randy is a hard-hitting and fast moving defenceman, who has the ability to laser a puck.
#6. Calgary Wranglers
D - General Zod - @Matt_O - 276 TPE -
Calgary is back on the clock with their second pick in the first round, this time at 6th. The Kryptonian can be an excellent fit along with Latrell Mitchell, as stated above, and a great addition to Calgary's defensive core. Dru-Zod, other than his exceptional defensive ability, was able to use his his skating, puck handling, strength, and passing to put up 74 points for Las Vegas last season.
#7. Vancouver Wolves
C - Andrew Su - @Da_Berr - 247 TPE -
If Vancouver wants to build their forward core for the future, they are going to need more than wingers like Joe Proto and Jungkok. They are going to need a centre like Andrew Su. Su put up a nearly 100 point pefromance for the cup-winning Ottawa Lynx this past season. His scoring, defense, puck handling, and skating abilities make him a great asset for any team. He would make a great addition to Vancouver's offense.
#8. Malmo Nighthawks
D - Alex Letang - @Spartan - 215 TPE -
Maml makes their first appearance on the board here with pick 7. Malmo's defense, in it's current state, is lackluster. With only one standout defenseman in Condor Adrienne, the Nighthawks are in need of another impact player for their blueline. Alex Letang, fits that role to a tee. Letang is a 6'0" 180 lb. defenseman with great skating, puck handling, scoring, and defense. Although he put up only 56 points in a season which saw 5 defenseman surpass the 100 point mark, Letang has great potential to be a start for the Malmo Nighthawks, which is exactly what they need.
#9. HC Davos Dynamo
RW - Gino DiGiannantonio - @pennypenny - 305 TPE -
Davos comes back with their final pick of the first round, by taking Gino DiGiannantonio. Gino will help round out Davos' future forward core along with the likes of Robin Winter and SS Hornet. Gino has arguably the best shot in this draft class, which is seen in his 58 goals last season with the Yukon Rush. Gino helped push Yukon into the finals, where the ultimately lost against the Ottawa Lynx.
#10. Helsinki Titans
LW - Valtteri Vaakanainen - @Jubo07 - 341 TPE -
With the loss of Julian Borwinn, Alexander Pepper, and Kronos Bailey to retirement, it's time for a few new faces to lead Helsinki to their future. Valtteri Vaakanainen is set to help the Titans begin their next era along with the likes of Jim Bob and Hiroshi Okada. Valtteri is right up there with Gino in terms of having a lethal shot, posses great puck handling skills, solid defensive abilities, and top tier speed. He is a top 3 talent in this draft class and will be the face of Helsinki's franchise.
#11. Moscow Menace
C - Lucas Brandt - @twists - 212 TPE -
With stars Jet Jaguar and Mat Tocco looking at retirement in just two seasons, Moscow needs to bring in some prospects who can replace them in due time. Lucas Brandt, can be a major part in that. The 6'0" 180 lb. centre for the Halifax 21st last season put up a respectable 87 points in his 72 games. He put his body on the line for 106 shots blocked and threw up 76 hits. He has great defensive ability, great shooting, puck handling, and skating.
#12. Seattle Bears
D - Spencer Elsby - @Spence King - 208 TPE -
Spencer Elsby would be a great future linemate with Randy Marsh, who I also predicted to go to Seattle. Spencer, along with his great defensive ability, has respectable passing, skating, and puck handling abilities. For a player as tall as him, at 6'3", he is a mere 160 lbs. This makes him a practical twig on skates, but if he works hard enoug at improving his skill he can overcome his size.
Round #2
#13. Vancouver Wolves
D - DeFenz Mann - @Mike - 200 TPE -
Hey would you look at that, Vancouver is back on the clock (you'll be seeing alot of that in this second round). I see DeFenz Mann coming at 13th overall for Vancouver, purely because of his excellent two way ability. His defensive, skating, scoring, and puck handling skills are up to par with many others in this draft class. Mann is a big boy, coming it in at 6'3" and 200 lbs., and I can see him being plenty useful on Vancouver's blueline.
#14. Helsinki Titans
RW - Timothy Brown - @a_Ferk - 191 TPE -
Don't judge Timothy Brown just based off his size. At only 5'11" and 165lbs., Timothy through up 144 hits for Saskatoon last seson. Along with his good scoring, defense, skating, and puck handling, this little guy isn't afraid to throw his body up against his opponents.
#15. Vancouver Wolves
RW - Gregg Stallion - @SweatyBeaver - 173 TPE -
Well this kid is an absolute... Stallion. Although he missed 4 games last season, he put up an outstanding performance for the struggling Houston Bulls last season. His 95 points, 107 hits, and 43 shot blocks are incredible for a player coming it at just 6'0" 180lb.
#16. D.C. Dragons
RW - Chris Hylands - @Hylands33 - 197 TPE -
Although he only managed to put up 34 points last season, Hylands is one of the top ranked players for the next VHLM season. He prides himself in his scoring and defensive ability, with his passing and skating not that far off aswell. He continues the trend of little guys who arent afraid to put up hits, as he had 103 of them with his 6'0" 175lb. frame.
#17. Helsinki Titans
RW - Michael Mac - @LastOneUp - 171 TPE -
Here comes Michael Mac, a player with great abilities in both passing and scoring. His defense, puck handling, and skating are also some of his biggest strengths. His 61 point performance for Mississauga last season was far more than what was expected from this newcomer, and has shown he has the ability to go above and beyond for his team taking 56 shot blocks and giving 94 hits last season.
#18. Riga Reign
D - Viktor Alexei Kamenov - @BigTittySmitty - 168 TPE -
Kamenov will be a great pick here for Riga in my opinion. He's a big guy coming it at 6'8" 210lbs., and his more than willing to sacrifice his body for his team, as seen in his 152 shots blocked. His big frame allows him to be feared by the opposing team, and should be because hes not afraid to hit. This is seen in his 163 hits last season for the Mexico City Kings.
#19. HC Davos Dynamo
G - Zamboni Driver - @Tape-to-Tape - 179 TPE -
Zamboni Driver will be the first goalie selected in the S72 VHL Entry draft, and I expect it to be Davos with pick #19. He had a good showing last season for San Diego in both the regular season and the playoffs. Davos could use a goalie to either backup Joakim Bruden or take the starter mantle for himself, and I believe that would be Zamboni Driver.
#20. Malmo Nighthawks
LW - Joe Exotic - @Joe Exotic - 164 TPE -
Joe Exotic struggled last season with Philadelphia, only managing to put up 17 points in his shortened 64 game season. He has made strides for improvement, and it remains to be seen how he will produce with one more season in the VHLM. Assuming his production picks up, this could be an excellent pick by Malmo, here late in the second round.
#21. Vancouver Wolves
D - Liam Flaten - @flatl99 - 158 TPE -
Liam Flaten put up a respectable 31 points as a defenseman last season for Philadelphia, and still has a shot to prove himself in the VHLM in this upcoming season. By playing his cards right and giving it his all next season, he could make himself a spot on the Vancouver Wolves roster the season after that, as I believe it will be Vancouver who takes the 6'2" 210lb. defenseman at #21.
#22. Vancouver Wolves
C - Jay Jones - @TTtheT - 142 TPE -
Jay Jones is a sniper who played for the Saskatoon Wild last season putting up 42 points and 110 hits. He has a big frame coming it at 6'3" and 210lbs. With the right development he could definately crack the Vancouver roster after one more VHLM development season. His prized asset would be his great shot, which will be a deadly force next season in the minors.
#23. Moscow Menace
LW - Joseph Gainer - @joeg - 146 TPE -
A player with with good scoring, defense, passing, and puck handling is who Joseph Gainer is in a nutshell. Although he is 6'0" and 210 lbs., Gainer isn't really the type to put up alot of hits or blocked shots. He makes up for this though in his offensive ability, putting up 33 points in 56 games for Mississauga last season.
#24. Seattle Bears
D - Riley Knight Gee - @KnightRiley - 133 TPE -
To close out the second round the S72 VHL Entry Draft, I expect the Seattle Bears to select Riley Knight Gee. Knight Gee put up an outstanding 63 points, 127 hits, 193 shots blocked in 68 games played. Going off stats alone, he is already better than some of the players selected above him in the second round. He has equally worked on his passing, scoring, defense, and skating, which make him a threat on ice both offensively and defensively.
And that concludes the S72 Recruitment Team VHL Mock Draft. If you disagree with my choices, feel free to comment below what you would change and why. With that being said, good luck to both the players and teams involved in the S72 VHL Entry Draft, which will be happening TOMORROW @ 3PM EDT
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