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Fire Tortorella

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  1. Like
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from Spartan in Suggestion: Updated Attributes Log   
    QoL
  2. Fire
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from rory in Suggestion: Updated Attributes Log   
    @Will @Josh Would it be possible to show an "updated attributes log" under Player Management showing your previous updates? Even something like the past 5 updates would be beneficial showing where the TPE was applied and how much.
  3. Hmmm
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from Lemorse7 in Suggestion: Updated Attributes Log   
    @Will @Josh Would it be possible to show an "updated attributes log" under Player Management showing your previous updates? Even something like the past 5 updates would be beneficial showing where the TPE was applied and how much.
  4. Like
    Fire Tortorella reacted to LucyXpher in VSN Presents - S92 Junior Showcase Tournament Recap   
    Graphic credit: @Triller
     
     
    On Monday evening, the VHL’s Junior Showcase Tournament wrapped with Game 6 between the Warriors and the Steel.  With the Warriors already in control of the series at three games to two, they clinched the Season 92 Junior Showcase Tournament in a 4-3 victory that featured a three point performance by Connor Simard @Alex99 and a stellar night in goal by Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu.  While the Steel managed to keep the Warriors’ top line off the scoresheet in game 6, it was the second line players of GM @Nathan_8’s squad that pushed them over the top in this game as Simard, Bruhmaninho @BigBruhman, and Robinson @isaak combined for 3 of the team’s 4 goals.  6:04 into the 3rd period, Simard would bury the game winner on the powerplay from de Trueno @Thunder and Robinson.  The Steel would draw back to within 1, but the Warriors would seal the Steel fate with an empty netter by Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877 and that was all she wrote.  In the ensuing celebrations, an ecstatic Nathan had only two words for any who may have doubted his managerial pedigree, “I’m him.” 
     
    It’s hard to argue with the confidence of a manager who clinched World Junior Championship gold with Team World and the Junior Showcase Championship on back-to-back nights.  Safe to say, his managerial career is off to a hot start and he’ll be carrying this confidence into his first season as general manager for the Mississauga Hounds in the VHLM.  And while the Warriors’ triumph may be the top story of the tournament, it was far from the only one.  
     
     
    ════ ⋆★⋆ ════
     
     
    www.hitsfordays.jst - Okay, here’s a random fun fact for you, would you believe that the top three hitters in the JST were Wladyslaw Mintus @mintusaurus, WWumbo @Fire Tortorella, and Walter Jinn @Adrest245?  Welcome to the world of weird and wacky... or maybe that's just my tired brain getting overly excited about the letter W.  Did I mention that the Warriors won the JST?  Sorry-- on with the article!
     
     
    Fire Brigade
     
    At one point in the regular schedule, the Brigade were the class of the field.  In my preview article, I had the Brigade ranked 5th in the early roster power rankings and it seems that @samx's squad took that to heart.  From days 11-25 of the tournament, the Brigade were unbeaten– 11-0-0 during that stretch, outscoring their opponents 32-15.  Unfortunately, the Brigade cooled off immediately following this hot streak and lost their next 6 in a row, finishing the season 3-4-4 in their next 11 games.  For the Brigade, it was perhaps a case of peaking at the wrong time.  Though they still finished the regular season in 2nd place behind the Warriors, their late struggles seemed to shake their confidence in the playoffs as they fell to the Steel in 6 games in the first round, despite having home ice advantage.  
     
    Notably, Tyler Lawson @Nyx was the Brigade’s leading scorer throughout the regular season and the playoffs.  The 14th overall selection of the Helsinki Titans scored 26 points in the 30 regular season games and followed that up with 9 points in the Brigade’s 6 playoff games.  Defender, Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher, and winger, UghSike @UghSike, both led the team and were among the tournament’s top scorers during the Brigade’s 11 game tear, but both cooled off considerably down the stretch, finishing with 22 and 21 points respectively.  The team boasted a strong two-way game with players like Goncalves @leandrofg, Reynolds Jr @Crstats23, and Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito leading the way in that respect, but seemed to lack scoring punch at times, conceding points in a tournament high 6 shootout or overtime losses.  Though they led the tournament with 212 shots blocked, the Brigade conversion rate of 9.91% on the powerplay was nearly 5% lower than the league average.  
     
    While goaltending was thought to be a question mark for this team entering the tournament, it proved to be a strength as Da TypThond @Erik and Kendra Cavill @Firekiss both posted solid numbers in the regular season, highlighted by Da TypThond’s .918 SV% and 1.84 GAA.  In the playoffs, however, Cavill struggled to a .877 SV% and 4.75 GAA in all 6 starts for the Brigade.  Though it would be unfair to pin the Brigade’s playoff disappointment on Cavill who performed well during the regular season, it was certainly a performance to forget.  
     
     
    Solid Steel
     
    In my preview for the Steel, I suggested that if they chose to play Kolesinska @chikn and Swift @lilchrist on the same line along with Artav @jake, they could boast one of the most complete starting lineups in the tournament.  While Swift and Kolesinska didn’t play together all season on the Steel’s top line, they did play together on the team’s tournament best powerplay.  Perhaps the team I was most accurate about in that preview, the Steel placed a solid 3rd in the tournament, never losing more than 3 games in a row or winning more than 4 in a row.  The Steel were consistently a solid team throughout the tournament with Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee leading the way from the blueline, notching 34 points in 30 games.  He was also tied with Trimiskez Artav with 13 goals, which was the second highest goal total in the tournament.  
     
    Despite the Steel’s consistency, there were some anomalous numbers on their stat page, including Abenduct and Dukat @MSouthworth both being a minus rating throughout the tournament at 5-on-5.  For the Steel, the statistical performance of goaltender, Ondrej Vencko @Mutti, was also a bit mystifying.  With a .904 SV% and 2.07 GAA in a tournament-high 17 starts, Vencko’s numbers were respectable, though perhaps not as impressive as his closest rivals from this past season in the VHLM.  Vencko, however, did claim the distinction of the tournament’s most victorious goalie, claiming 12 wins with only 5 losses on his record.  In the playoffs, however, Vencko was arguably outperformed by his backup, Austin Goulet III @Tuchy, who posted a .919% compared with Vencko’s .903%, though both goalies held a record of 3-3.  
     
    For Steel GM, @dstevensonjr, this tournament has to be considered a success.  Entering the playoffs as the 3rd seed and knocking off the Brigade in the first round, the Steel were in the final with a chance to win it all. Despite losing the first two games of the finals on the Warrior’s home ice, the Steel pulled off two wins in their own barn to draw even at two games apiece.  Unfortunately, they lost a close game 5 to the Warriors 4-3 which was punctuated by a Jean-Pierre Devote @eagle_3450 hattrick, and then the 4-2 loss in game 6.  While they didn’t achieve their desired outcome, the Steel proved to be a formidable opponent throughout the season and measured up competitively against the eventual champions.  
     
     
    No Rush
     
    If it wasn’t for the performance of Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish, I’m not sure where this team might have finished… Where have I heard this story before?  Lovstrom paced the field of netminders with a .931 SV%, a 1.44 GAA and an impressive 4 shutouts in 15 games.  Compare those numbers to his counterpart, Connor Hellebuyck @HockeyFan4Life, who is no slouch between the pipes, and you start to see why Lovstrom was so important to his team.  For his part, in an equal sample of 15 games, Hellebuyck posted a .902% and 2.51 GAA.  While he won the same number of games as Lovstrom, it’s clear which goalie gave his team the best chance to win.  In the best of 5 play-in round, Lovstrom still managed a respectable .906, despite a shocking 4.50 GAA which likely reflects more on the team’s performance in front of him as the Rush would fall in 4 games to the Royals, who were the tournament’s weakest team through the regular season.  
     
    Offensively, the Rush were led by 2nd overall selection in the S93 VHL draft, Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor, who finished the tournament with 24 points in 30 games, followed closely by Oliver Loo @Misty with 20 in 30.  Notably, Loo was a net 2nd in the tournament at +11 in 5-on-5 play and tied for net 3rd in goals, also with 11.  In the play-in round, Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8 led the team with 6 points in 4 games, though the team seemed to lack scoring throughout that series against the Royals, managing to score only 2 or fewer goals in three of the four games.
     
    The Rush never really seemed to get going in this tournament, losing three consecutive games on four separate occasions, while only managing a three game winning streak at one point during the schedule.  Having the second fewest total goals in the tournament with 62, the Rush were asking a lot of their goaltending tandem– and not to put too fine a point on the goaltending disparity in the Rush crease, Lovstrom only allowed 22 of the team’s 66 goals against.  With a goal differential of only -4, the Rush were not so far off the mark that they weren’t competitive game to game, but they did seem to lack the offensive spark that would have put them in contention for the JST title.  In the end, the overall result was not what the Rush would have hoped for, though the tournament still provided a spotlight for some of the team’s brightest stars.   
     
     
    We’ll Never Be Royals…
     
    Okay, maybe that subtitle is a little harsh, but I’m trying to keep things light so allow it... please?  Finishing last in the regular season with only 9 wins in 30 games, the Royals never really got going in the Junior Showcase Tournament.  Going 9 games without a win in the middle of the season certainly doesn’t help the cause either.   After their top goal scorer and point getter, Steve French @Seabass, who had 11 goals and 10 assists in 30 games, the next highest goal scorer on the Royals only had 7 goals and 17 points. You might be surprised to learn that this player was selected 1st overall in the recent VHL and VHLE drafts, and also went 1st in the VHLM draft a season ago.  While I don’t think for one second that this JST performance is indicative in the slightest of what Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica is or might become, it is a surprising outcome for a player and a team that I had among the favorites to win the tournament.  
     
    Revisiting this Royals roster, it’s frankly shocking how poorly this team performed in the tournament, despite featuring the likes of Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer, Forum Content @frescoelmo, The Phantom of the VHL @Hogan, Maple Dogwood @dogwoodmaple, Felicia Hardy @JCarson, Toby Cooke @KRZY, and the aforementioned Bucatini and French.  With the tandem of Wazinski @samthemancub and Benson @Benson, two proven goaltenders at the VHLM level, it’s even more puzzling that this team allowed the most goals in the tournament– 77!  With a goal differential of -18, they were in a class of their own at the bottom of the table.  Look, I don’t want to pile on a team that had a run of bad luck so I’ll reiterate what I said before– I don’t think their record is indicative of the quality of the players on the roster.  Chalk it up to bad puck luck, chemistry, low morale, or just speak the unspeakable name.
     
    Here’s the thing, whatever the Royals were in the regular season, they were a different team in the playoffs.  Take Forum Content, for example, who scored 17 points in the regular season, but 18 points in the playoffs in 20 fewer games!  Oaks and Bucatini experienced similar scoring bumps, both recording 15 points in 10 playoff games.  The Royals would dispatch the Rush convincingly in the best-of-five play-in round, and matched up quite competitively against the eventual champion Warriors, losing in 6 games.  If nothing else, the tale of two teams that was the Royals in this tournament is just another example of how fickle the game can be at times– or perhaps we just give the devil his name… Simon.
     
     
    The Warriors are… them?
     
    If their GM, Nathan, is him, then they are them, but let’s not get bogged down in semantics.  The bottom line is that the Warriors were the class of the tournament.  The only team with more than a +1 goal differential, the Warriors lapped the field with an absurd +20 in 30 games, finishing the tournament with a record of 21-8-1. In the regular season, Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG led the way with 16 goals and 30 points in 30 games, while Jean-Pierre Devote pitched in 20 assists to go with his 8 goals.  Jillian Woods and Ray Stanton @horoscope were standouts on the back end, logging 23 and 21 points respectively, but it was the Warrior’s goalie who may have really stolen the spotlight.  Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen played an unbelievable tournament, recording 11 wins with only 4 losses in his 15 starts, a .924 SV%, and a 1.51 GAA.  In the playoffs, AKK continued his strong run of form with 8 wins and only 3 losses, a .920%, and a 2.72 GAA.  While Lovstrom may have had slightly better percentages and Vencko, more wins, AKK played the most consistent tournament of those 3 top goalies and deserved every bit of his team’s victory.
     
    Throughout the tournament, the Warriors never really struggled and, unlike the Brigade, managed to heat up at just the right time.  Down the stretch, the Warriors racked up 11 wins in their last 12 games and went into the playoffs flaming hot.  In the playoffs, they would never face elimination and took care of business against the resurgent Royals and the consistent Steel. While the Brigade came the closest in the regular season to reaching the level of the Warriors, they seemed to lack the bona fide starting goaltender that the Warriors had to go along with a strong blueline and a frightening forward corps.  This was a well constructed Warriors team that found a way to win most nights and delivered on the lofty promises made by their GM before the tournament started.  Fair play and congratulations to the Warriors on a dominant Junior Showcase Tournament!
     
     
    ════ ⋆★⋆ ════
     
     
     Players of the Tournament:
     
    Goalie: Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu
    Regular Season (11-4-0, .924%, 1.51 GAA, 2 SO)
    Playoffs (8-3-1, .920%, 2.72 GAA)  
     
    As I suggested earlier, I think AKK was the most consistent goalie throughout the tournament and played a huge part in his team’s success.  While his last season in the VHLM may not have played out the way he hoped, his JST performance reminded us why he’s considered among the best goalies in his draft class and was a highly rated prospect in the recent VHL and VHLE drafts.  Congratulations to Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen on a fantastic tournament.
     
     
    Skater: Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee
    Regular Season (30GP, 13G, 21A, 34P)
    Playoffs: (12GP, 9G, 13A, 22P)
     
    There’s really not much debate when it comes to the top skater of the tournament and who I would consider the tournament MVP.  Abenduct led the tournament in points as a defenseman, scoring the second most goals, and recording the highest assist total.  He was also 3rd in shots blocked, 6th in hits, and played the 4th most minutes of any player in the tournament.  In the playoffs, he led the tournament in points again, had the 2nd most goals, 3rd most assists, and was 2nd in shots blocked.   It was an absolutely dominant performance by Abenduct at this tournament and there’s really no other player who performed at the same level throughout both the regular schedule and the playoffs.  Though he came up short in the finals with the Steel, it wasn’t for lack of effort.  Congratulations to Benjamin Abenduct for his incredible individual performance and a great run to the final.
     
     
    ════ ⋆★⋆ ════
     
     
    And that concludes my coverage of the S93 Junior Showcase Tournament!  Thank you to all the players and managers for giving us an entertaining showcase, as well as the simmers and commissioners who made it all happen behind the scenes… despite a few hiccups and a false start.  I wish the best of luck to all the players continuing their careers-- some returning back to the M, while others are moving up to the E, and even potentially the VHL as early as this season.  We’ll see what the future holds for this generation of players, but if this JST was anything to go by, the future is bright!
     
     
     
    LucyXpher for VSN
    Claim 03/24/24 - 2676 words
    Claim 03/31/24
  5. Like
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from STZ in My Random VHL Thoughts - S92 - Part 8   
    So, S93 starts...soon? This upcoming year I'll be playing for the Stockholm Vikings. I honestly forget if most players play one or two seasons in the VHLE if they're higher earners - I think it's one season but not 100% sure. Either way, hopefully we're able to be competitive and have a fun season. I'll be going into the season on the lower end of the TPE scale for the VHLE so my individual stats may not be that good but hopefully I can pick it up towards the end of the season. The Flyers stink again - the last couple games were the first time all season I turned them off before the end of the game. Having a coach that stifles offensive creativity to grind out results in a "re-building" season is manageable when they're winning but very hard to watch when they're not. Went and saw Dune: Part Two this weekend. I haven't read the books but very much enjoyed both Part 1 and Part 2 and was surprised that my wife did as well.
  6. Cheers
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from mattyIceman in Answer 3, Ask 3   
    1.) There used to be the Quebec City Meute, but then the league was informed at some point that "La Meute" are a far right separatist group. Don't remember what the team was changed to, moved, or eliminated. If I had to pick a league, I'd put a team in the VHLM.
     
    2.) Not really a huge listener of music, so just what anyone/everyone else is listening to.
     
    3.) I do like cold pizza, but it has to be something simple like a cheese pizza, pepperoni, etc... Any type of "specialty" pizza is better reheated. Kind of related fun fact - part of the reason I loved Little Caesars $5 Hot and Ready pizza in college was that it tasted exactly the same "fresh" as it did reheated in my microwave the next morning!
     
    1.) Injuries/fatigue in the VHL - would you be OK with it?
    2.) What's a skill you plan to learn or would like to learn?
    3.) What's the latest book you read?
  7. Haha
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from Ahma in Teach Gustav About the NHL   
    Fire Tortorella.
  8. Haha
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from Alex in Teach Gustav About the NHL   
    Fire Tortorella.
  9. Like
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from AJW in Trivia question has the wrong answer, a rant   
    If we're offering suggestive criticism on trivia, I wish we were told what the correct answer is if we get it wrong.
  10. Like
    Fire Tortorella reacted to dlamb in Trivia question has the wrong answer, a rant   
    Shameless plug, relevant:
     
     
  11. Like
    Fire Tortorella reacted to Victor in Trivia question has the wrong answer, a rant   
    Hmm yeah then I suppose Wozniak stays and I just need to add Szat Jr
     
    Lol wtf is that question. Portal will be updated though.
     
    Wasn't a huge fan of the one that tripped me up the other day either. Trivia submissions increasingly seem to be about how to catch people out and less about just asking something semi interesting.
  12. Haha
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from jacobcarson877 in S92 Experience Points   
    Wwumbo - claiming 3 experience.
     
    Where is the training camp topic???
  13. Like
  14. Like
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from jacobcarson877 in My Random VHL Thoughts - S92 - Part 6   
    Actual 150 word word vomit because I said I'd watch Parks and Rec with the wife 30 minutes ago Ottawa lost in the first round of the playoffs. Not exactly unexpected and we didn't lose 4-0 and completely roll over so not disappointed either. Would have been nice if we progressed further in the playoffs but it wasn't in the cards this season. What's my opinion on the Seattle Bears backup goalie kerfuffle? Don't have one! One of the biggest benefits of no longer being commissioner, BOG, etc... is that I don't have to pay attention anymore. Yeah it was nice knowing everything that was going on but part of what I learned is that some of "you" are weird with a capital W and some of "you" are actually bad people - but that has definitely been cleaned up from where we were previously with our member base. Move over Fortnite - Helldivers is the new game taking up my time besides CHEL. Very fun, especially when you play with a 4 man squad.
  15. Hmmm
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from Gaikoku-hito in My Random VHL Thoughts - S92 - Part 6   
    Actual 150 word word vomit because I said I'd watch Parks and Rec with the wife 30 minutes ago Ottawa lost in the first round of the playoffs. Not exactly unexpected and we didn't lose 4-0 and completely roll over so not disappointed either. Would have been nice if we progressed further in the playoffs but it wasn't in the cards this season. What's my opinion on the Seattle Bears backup goalie kerfuffle? Don't have one! One of the biggest benefits of no longer being commissioner, BOG, etc... is that I don't have to pay attention anymore. Yeah it was nice knowing everything that was going on but part of what I learned is that some of "you" are weird with a capital W and some of "you" are actually bad people - but that has definitely been cleaned up from where we were previously with our member base. Move over Fortnite - Helldivers is the new game taking up my time besides CHEL. Very fun, especially when you play with a 4 man squad.
  16. Cheers
    Fire Tortorella reacted to Will in Answer 3, Ask 3   
    1. Of course, the introduction of Tommy fokin' Shelby 
    2. I came here looking for easy questions bro... my unpopular opinion, particularly relevant here, is that I just don't find sports all that interesting to watch or follow. Honestly haven't watched a NHL game in a couple years. Going to a game in person is obviously a different story but I'm definitely not paying for a sportsnet subscription anytime soon. 
    3. I guess partly it comes down to personal taste like I think graphics is definitely not fun but overall I feel like reviewing is kind of bottom of the barrel activity. 
     
    1. You can go anywhere in the world, where are you and you're player spending the off-season?
    2. What's the funnest way to earn TPE? 
    3. Whose your VHL hero? 
  17. Like
    Fire Tortorella reacted to CowboyinAmerica in Why not just get rid of the backup goalie rule?   
    I don't really care about the goalie rule one way or the other, but since nobody's talking about it - the hardest of passes on fatigue. I remember being in a (basketball?) league that tried it once, and there's nothing more demoralizing to activity than saying, "I know you're max earning and chasing records/titles/etc., but you're just going to not be involved now because the sim engine said so." Rule of Fun > Realism
  18. Like
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from badcolethetitan in Answer 3, Ask 3   
    1.) A little bit of a cop out answer, but I'm just happy to be back in the league. Haven't had a player in a minute.
    2.) Flyers - going by the standings "above expectations" but this is supposed to be a re-build. Until I actually see rebuilding trades being made I can't say "meeting expectations". And as I'm typing this seems like Drysdale just injured his shoulder again!
    3.) I'd go back to 8 season careers only.
     
    1.) What's something you've recently enjoyed more than you thought you would?
    2.) What's something you've recently enjoyed less than you thought you would?
    3.) Is re-creating at the trade deadline too advantageous?
  19. Like
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from Banackock in My Random VHL Thoughts - S92 - Part 7   
    So, it's the off-season for me. Waiting for the Junior Showcase Tournament to start, which I think it does shortly? The tournament seems like a good idea just to have more games to look forward to and maybe to teach/allow another member on simming. Is re-creating at the trade deadline too advantageous? One of the old ideas I proposed in the BoG (stolen straight from PBE) was the idea of "catch up" TPE. Previously someone who created after the trade deadline only had the default amount of TPE or carry over TPE. We then added catch up TPE (pretty sure it's half of the total possible capped TPE since the trade deadline?) but I would proposal changing that to 100% of the amount. Yes, this means a new create could end up with more TPE than someone who created the week before, but that's on the previous member for not "capping" rather than punishing the new player for not creating at the opportune time. Two weeks until the trade deadline - Flyers better start selling!  
     
    Weekly reminder for @eaglesfan036 to earn TPE and update his player. Daily reminder for @eaglesfan036 to install Helldivers 2.
  20. Like
    Fire Tortorella reacted to CowboyinAmerica in CIA’s Early, Probably Wrong S93 Mock Draft   
    CIA’s Early, Probably Wrong S93 Mock Draft
     
    The playoffs are here, and that means the event that absolutely everybody is waiting for. No, of course not the playoffs, who cares about those? No, what everybody is really focused on is the VHL Draft, the illusion of hope that will inevitably crush 15 out of 16 teams each season.
     
    And this draft is a particularly interesting one. At the beginning of this particular draft cycle, there was a belief it’d be a weak draft year. There weren’t many recreating members, after all, especially with a few high profile S83 players instead preferring to take some time off before recreating. It also didn’t help that most of those early creates were all forwards, meaning there wasn’t going to be much variety at the top of the draft.
     
    Then, the deluge happened. Spurred on by a renewed recruitment drive on Youtube, new members began to enter in drove. The result is a draft with more first generation players than we’ve seen in any time in recent memory. And since many of those new members joined at the same time, there really isn’t much separating anybody in the draft. Indeed, as of Sunday, Feb. 18, there are fourteen players between 221 TPE and 199 TPE. Yes, that’s just 22 TPE, separating the fourth and seventeenth ranked players in the first round.
     
    In my opinion, that means this could very well be the craziest draft we see in a long time. It also promises to be the most unpredictable, and a lot is going to depend on unknown GM preferences and scouting meetings that haven’t happened yet. In fact, it would be a fool’s errand - downright irresponsible, in fact - to try and predict any of this before the lottery has even occurred.
     
    Luckily, downright irresponsible is why I’m here. Before I get into the mock, there’s two important things to keep in mind:
     
    1. This is one person’s opinion, and I know nothing. I’m very purposefully not active on Discord outside of my locker rooms, so I don’t know who’s friends with who or player plans that may have been discussed on there. I’m making picks based on what I know and team fits.
     
    2. If you’re dissatisfied with where I put you, please absolutely take it personally. It’s because I hate you, specifically, person I’ve never met in real life.
     
    Now with that in mind, let’s get to picking. TPE totals are as of Sunday afternoon.
     
      1. Seattle Bears: C Antonia Bucatini, Houston Bulls, 354 TPE, @CowboyinAmerica
     
    I swear I’m not doing this to be conceited, and I think there’s a very good chance that Gianfranco Del Rocco is the first name on the draft board for a few lottery teams (more on that in a second). But I do expect Bucatini to be one of the top two, both because of the agency’s history and also the raw TPE total. As it relates to the Bears specifically, I’ll just say this: I’ve only actually created one forward before. That player, Gabriel McAllister, went first overall in S56 to the Bears and a relatively new GM named Bana. Four seasons later, Bana had his first title, and McAllister was named Playoff MVP.
     
      2. HC Davos Dynamo: LW Gianfranco Del Rocco, San Diego Marlins, 327 TPE, @Victor
     
    The easiest pick on the board, put it in pen. While some drafts have surprises, I’ll be a bit shocked if myself and Victor aren’t 1-2 in some order. And while Del Rocco falls to Davos here, I wouldn’t be shocked if he was top on their draft board regardless. After all, Victor is a former Davos GM, many of his best seasons as a member were with the franchise, and Davos could be looking for new blood after having CIA’s Booberry just a few seasons ago. Plus, Davos actually has the best combined chance at the first pick in the lottery (32.5%), giving them a chance to make this a reality.
     
      3. Vancouver Wolves: LW Forum Content, Miami Marauders, 221 TPE, @frescoelmo
     
    This is where I believe things start to get interesting. The easy pick would be winger Jean-Pierre Devote, who has the most TPE on the board. There’s also an argument for one of the more active first gen players who would provide a high upside. But I’m going with door number 3 in winger Forum Content. Fresco is one of the very, very few sim league members who have been around longer than I have (read: we’re old), and given past member history, there’s less of a chance of burnout than perhaps some of the newer members. The Wolves have their top-end talent from their host of S92 picks, what they really need are steady players to fill out the roster. Content certainly has the capability to be a star, but the high floor is even more important for me here.
     
      4. Chicago Phoenix: LW Jean-Pierre Devote, San Diego Marlins, 276 TPE, @eagle_3450
     
    Early on in this drafting cycle, Devote was promoting himself as a potential first overall pick. And while he may have fallen a tiny bit behind Bucatini and Del Franco in terms of training points earned, there’s still all the makings here of a potential star. That potential mixes nicely with what the Phoenix need here, because I view Chicago as the exact opposite of Vancouver: A lot of really solid players, but in desperate need of a high ceiling player who could be the leader of the team into a new generation. That’s also why I think some enterprising first gens could be in consideration here, but Devote’s TPE advantage right now and previous earning gives the advantage.
     
      5. HC Davos Dynamo (from Warsaw): D Lucy Leitner, Houston Bulls, 215 TPE, @LucyXpher
     
    A lot has been made of Davos getting this pick from Warsaw, so what now will they do with it? I have two immediate thoughts: First that they may not want two forwards in the lottery knowing there will be many available later, and second that Alex is not a GM afraid of taking a chance on first gens. So with that in mind, we see a first gen off the board here in Leitner. One of those coming to the league early in the season, Leitner has been a revelation on the blue line for the Bulls, averaging more than a point per game. Their insightful articles have also been a revelation, and show someone both invested in the league and not as prone to potential burnout in what may be a longer Davos rebuild.
     
      6. Riga Reign: D Benjamin Abenduct, Houston Bulls, 208 TPE, @Schnee
     
    The Reign are my single most intriguing team as we enter the draft. Barring a bit of lottery luck or playoff lack of luck, they have three first round picks that sit in the middle of the first round. That gives them an opportunity to take a few chances, or perhaps even trade up with a team that’s looking for more established players (Chicago?). But as I’m not predicting trades, I wouldn’t be surprised if Riga takes a similar tactic to Davos’ last pick and knows there are forwards later. Thus, Leitner’s linemate Abenduct is the pick, a first gen who has been a continuously strong earner since joining at the beginning of the season. With Cobalt Burns set to retire and new defensemen in the prospect pool, Riga desperately needs some youth on the blue line.
     
      7. New York Americans: LW Chris Reynolds Jr, Houston Bulls, 213 TPE, @Crstats23
     
    New York has a lot of offensive talent right now, but only one forward in their pool younger than S88 (last year’s first round pick Wayne Gretzky). So I’d expect them to go forward, and the third straight Bull to go off the board in Reynolds would seem to be a perfect fit. Reynolds’ agency proved to produce loyal players given Pete Mitchell’s eight seasons in Davos, something that relatively new GM STZ should value given that the Americans are still trying to build a new identity. Reynolds has also been a consistent earner, even if not always at the max, and the Americans have seemed to value long-term consistency as evidenced by the Gretzky pick.
     
      8. Prague Phantoms: RW Annie Oaks, Las Vegas Aces, 206 TPE, @Noodle Enjoyer
     
    With Prague being eliminated in the wild card round, it would seem to be the end of an era. Four of their starters are retiring this offseason; stars John Jameson and Nikolas Kauppi are following next season. With a full rebuild potentially looming on the horizon, that screams to me a first gen who Prague can mold over time and serve as the centerpiece as more players come in with high picks in coming seasons. Between both Saskatoon and Las Vegas, Oaks has emerged as one of the VHLM’s top offensive talents and can be exactly that type of scorer Prague can build around. A perfect earner as far as I can tell, Oaks also has star upside to be the next in a line of top earners once Jamerson and Kauppi are gone.
     
      9. Toronto Legion: D Gul Dukat, Miami Marauders, 199 TPE, @MSouthworth
     
    This is where the draft order could start to change based on the playoffs, and the Legion certainly wouldn’t mind picking last in the first round. But if they’re here, an infusion of youth into the defensive core is a must if they’re going to extend their window of opportunity. Dukat is the third of the three first gen defensemen I’d expect to go earlier than some may expect, providing high-level upside as long as their earning stays consistent. Much more of a defensively-oriented player than either Leitner or Abenduct, Dukat would also fit in nicely with a team that has high-profile scorers in Jaks and Atlas, but could use a bit more blue line strength.
     
      10. Riga Reign (from London): LW UghSike, Miami Marauders, 202 TPE, @UghSike
     
    You thought I was going to pick a different forward here? Ugh, sike! (Sorry, it was the low-hanging fruit.) After going defense with the first pick, and with S91 draftee Red Panda fully entrenched at goalie, going forward with their next two firsts makes sense for the Reign. UghSike has been a consistent earner since joining, recently topping the 200 capped mark for the VHLM. And even if the points haven’t necessarily been there yet with Saskatoon or Miami, that will change in time as long as the TPE stays consistent. A good team/player fit, as Riga has had success bringing first gens along.
     
      11. Riga Reign (from D.C.): RW Nathan Ecker, Houston Bulls, 199 TPE, @Nathan_8
     
    And with the next pick, Riga goes to the opposite side of the ice, taking right winger Nathan Ecker. Another first gen who came in near the start of the season, Ecker started off slow for the Bulls but picked his game up near the end of the season, ending with 25 goals while playing on Houston’s second line. But more important than that is a desire to be involved with the league, as evidenced by a JST GM position. That portends good tidings for long-term league longevity, and once again Riga is a good landing spot for first gens.
     
      12. Moscow Menace: C Tyler Lawson, Houston Bulls, 172 TPE, @Nyx
     
    I’m curious where Moscow would go: recreating members who might occasionally get welfare but provide consistent earning (Nabokov, Kolesinska, French), or a first gen who has a higher ceiling, but potentially a lower floor? But having two late firsts allows them to split the difference, and I’m predicting a newer member in Lawson here. Although Lawson joined a little later than some players who have gone already, only getting in 56 games with the Bulls, he nonetheless has been a consistent earner and quickly worked his way up draft boards. The Menace do have three young talented centers in Gunner, Ruutu and Richmond, but Lawson’s current build could easily be molded to play on the wing as well.
     
      13. Moscow Menace (from Los Angeles): D WWumbo, Ottawa Lynx, 172 TPE, @Fire Tortorella
     
    What, you thought my returning player spiel in the previous section was just about forwards? The same logic could apply just as easy to defensemen - and perhaps moreso, given that Andersson isn’t too far from regression and Pereira is a semi-regular welfare earner. WWumbo may see some welfare himself, but in a defensive pool with less depth than forward, a consistent earner and VHL regular would be welcomed into Moscow. Just don’t hire Torts as the team’s coach.
     
      14. Helsinki Titans: G Jorgen Lovstrom, Philadelphia Reapers, 202 TPE, @Pifferfish
     
    Wait, a goalie hasn’t gone yet? Yes, it’s a rough market for goalies this season for two main reasons. First, there are a few talented ones, meaning teams could feel they can afford to wait and not miss out. And second, five of the picks in the mid-first are owned by Riga and Moscow - two teams with young goalies of their own who aren’t looking for a replacement. But those factors are Helsinki’s gain, as they get a talented netminder in Lovstrom here. The goalie for the VHLM-leading Reapers, Lovstrom has shown he knows how to win - important for a Helsinki team that may be looking to extend its window even beyond Fuukka Rask’s retirement in two seasons’ time.
     
      15. Malmo Nighthawks (from Calgary): RW Yermolai Nabokov, Philadelphia Reapers, 205 TPE, @fonziGG
     
    What do you get for the team that has everything? There are some talented goalies on the board, but Malmo has a few prospect goalies to replace Ash Sparks, including last year’s 10th overall pick Olafur Gunnleifsson. Defense is the strength of the team already with a few young players. So forward is where I’m going, and with a known member in Fonzi. Nabokov has a few welfare claims to his name, but the Fonzi agency has also demonstrated an ability to make strong players if motivated. Landing on the reigning Victory Cup champions would seem to be strong motivation, especially since it looks like the team’s core will continue winning for a few seasons.
     
      16. HC Davos Dynamo (from Malmo): G Ondrej Vencko, Houston Bulls, 182 TPE, @Mutti
     
    With their two lottery picks in this mock, the Dynamo already selected a forward and a defensive player. So when entering the rebuild, what’s left? Why, a goalie of course? It’s a matter of preference between Vencko and Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen, but I’m going with the first gen here. Outside of one hiccup week, Mutti has been a consistent earner since joining the league on a youthful Bulls team, emerging as the lead goalie in the run to the five seed. The Dynamo certainly have no problem with first gen goalies (see: Lachlan Summers), and Vencko would be ready to go upon Summers’ ultimate retirement.
     
    Just missed first round:
     
    RW Trimiskez Artav @jake - Was on track to be at the top half of the lottery, but two welfare weeks followed by not updating this week worries me. Can get back to things quickly though.
     
    RW Miner vHLer @Rhynex Entertainment - I’m so excited to see how the build idea works. But with a lot of depth in the draft, I’m not sure teams would be as excited.
     
    C Vanuza Kolesinska @chikn - For teams wanting a consistent presence, Kolesinksa is your player. But I’m expecting more swings for first gens this draft.
     
    RW Steve French @Seabass - Same reasoning as above, though I’m curious whether the agency’s past association with Moscow means anything with their late firsts.
     
    G Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu - Goalie is just going to be a tough position this draft with who currently holds firsts. But I’m sure someone like L.A. or London would love to trade back in to the late first and pick them up. 
     
    D Ray Stanton @horoscope - My dark horse first round pick, given how many teams need defense. Has been a strong earner since joining mid-season, if the scouting interview goes well a team could swing for the high upside.
  21. Like
    Fire Tortorella reacted to LucyXpher in VHLM Playoffs Preview   
    Have you ever wondered where the word "playoff" comes from?  No? Just me? Okay then...
     
    Well, I'm going to tell you what I learned anyway.  The term, playoff, is a combination of two English words, "play" and "off" (duh). What is interesting is that the two words have somewhat contrasting definitions.  "Off" is a word commonly used as a preposition to describe the position or place of something, usually a non-primary or negative location.  It has also been traditionally used to describe something being sent away or ended, an antonym of "on".  It's why we might say a deal is off, or we turn off lights. "Play", on the other hand, is a term that commonly refers to the beginning or engagement in an activity, usually a game.  While off is typically a term of negation, play is a positive term referring to the start and continuation of some action.  At the beginning of the season, you might hear the phrase, "play on", signaling the commencement of the game.  "Play off", on the other hand, suggests the beginning of the end, a call to wrap up action and determine a winner.
     
    The first known use of the term was in the 1607 play, “Lests to Make You Merie” by Thomas Dekker and George Wilkins.  Eventually, the term would be used with more and more frequency in the sporting world.  While the literal meaning, to begin to end, is retained in the contemporary definition, the term gained a more specific attachment to the particular set of post-season games leading up to the awarding of a championship.  Those games became known as playoffs-- games played with the sole purpose of concluding a season by determining a winner.
     
    And so, as the VHLM regular season comes to a close, so commences the playoffs, the beginning of the end of Season 92.  Though the regular season has already concluded, the season is far from decided with the most important games yet to be played.  Two teams (Halifax and Mississauga) have already been eliminated from contention, but the remaining 8 teams will matchup to determine who will raise the Founder's Cup as VHLM champions this season. With the linguistic lesson out of the way, let's look at the four first round playoff series that will kick off the endgame of Season 92.
     
    (1) Philadelphia Reapers vs. (8) Saskatoon Wild
     
    Coming off of a dominant regular season which saw them win 54 of 72 games, amassing 112 points, the Philadelphia Reapers are the favorite in this series.  There is, however, a lot of intrigue around this series as it sees this season's top regular season team against the Season 91 Champions, albeit with a very different roster from the team that actually won the Founder's Cup.  Saskatoon enters the playoffs with 68 points, just over half as many as Philadelphia, and only 28 wins in 72 games.  Despite the extreme disparity in regular season record, this series may prove to be a lot closer.  On paper, many analysts have been critical of this Reapers roster which boasts only 1 bona fide all star skater in Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG.  With that said, the Reapers are full of players punching above their weight, providing offense and defense well above their projected value.  Players like Enn Jinn @jhatty8, Magni Jinn @DontCallMeCarson, and beaubeau primetime @Bobo are making the most of their ice time and are contributing greater value than their attributes might predict.  Behind all of this is probably their most important player, goaltender Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish, who has made a strong case to be considered the top goalie in the VHLM this season with a .918%, 2.34 GAA, 3 shutouts, and 48 wins in 62 starts.  With his importance to the Philadelphia roster, it is this writer's opinion that he should also be in consideration for MVP honors.  It's difficult to imagine where the Reapers would be without Lovstrom's stellar play and he may well be the difference between winning the Founder's Cup or a disappointing first round exit.  
     
    Lining up against the Reapers, Saskatoon actually compares favorably on paper-- in fact, if Saskatoon had retained Annie Oaks, Forum Content, and UghSike at the trade deadline, they would probably line up as the favorite in terms of team composition.  Even with the departure of these players, Saskatoon still boasts a forward group that compares to Philadelphia's collection, and I'd be tempted to give Saskatoon the edge on defense with Carson Tripp @Cartripp14 leading the way from the back end. Where Saskatoon falls behind is at the goaltending position.  Austin Goulet III @Tuchy is a fine goalie prospect, but he frankly does not hold a candle to the aforementioned Lovstrom, and if Saskatoon is going to win, Goulet III is going to have to find another level.  
     
    Prediction: Philadelphia comes into the playoffs riding the high of regular season dominance, the impact of this run of form is high player chemistry and team morale and I don't think that evaporates overnight.  Look for Philadelphia to continue their strong play into the postseason, but don't be surprised if the Wild make things interesting.  I predict the  Reapers take the series in 6 games (4-2) and move on to the semifinals.  
     
    (2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (7) Ottawa Lynx
     
    After the stunning acquisition of phenom, Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer, from the Saskatoon Wild at the trade deadline, Las Vegas enters the playoffs with one of the most potent top-6 forward groups in the VHLM.  Oaks, along with Caeser Monterrey @CaptainGatsby, Piston Maicupp @MandyManiac, Elle Aura Ashe @Lynersify, and Stinky @taylorherd are among the most dynamic forwards in the league and are the stuff of nightmare for opposing defenses.  On the back end, Vegas also boasts the league's top scoring defenseman in Bric Sheithaus @Oldhead91.  Vegas also has solid depth throughout the rest of their forward and defense corps and should matchup favorably against almost any opponent in this year's playoffs.  Goaltender Hugo Boss @Dil is a solid option between the pipes, but will need to be on his "A" game (pun very much intended) if the Aces are to make good on their championship aspirations.  Vegas GM, @McLovin, possessed a solid hand in a competitive team this season and decided to play it aggressively, going all-in at the trade deadline to strengthen his forward group and give his team every chance for success. Time will tell if this gamble pays off.
     
    On the other side, Ottawa is lead by the two-headed monster that is Wayne Shotzky @Kenamatic and Ivan Ivanov @KmaddFPS.  The two of them are tied for the league lead in points with 111 in 72 games, with Ivanov scoring a stunning 50 goals and Shotzky not far behind with 48.  To say that the Lynx's success hinges on these two players is a bit of an understatement.  Beyond their big two, Ottawa has Steve French @Seabass and The Phantom of the VHL @Hogan on offense, as well as WWumbo @Fire Tortorella on the back end as their top option.  After these players, Ottawa's depth falls off fairly quickly and their goaltender, Alexander oviechkin jr @penguinb19 leaves something to be desired in goal.  With another season of development, the rest of this roster will likely round into contending form, but at the moment it is difficult to see how Ottawa wins this series if Ivanov and Shotzky are kept at bay.  
     
    Prediction: Vegas' scoring depth proves to be too much for Ottawa's defense and goaltending and Vegas powers their way to a decisive series victory in 5 games (4-1). 
     
    (3) Mexico City Kings vs. (6) Miami Marauders
     
    The series between Mexico City and Miami may well be one of the most intriguing in the first round because of how well these two teams compare with one another entering the post-season.  Though Mexico City managed a better record through the regular season, it wasn't by much with 87 points compared to Miami's 81.  The two teams split the season series with an even 4-4 record against one another.  The parity goes deeper as each team scored exactly 23 goals and allowed 23 against, with Miami holding a slight edge in the shots department with 244 to Mexico City's 221.  By all accounts, this is going to be very close series between two evenly matched teams.  
     
    Mexico City has a well balanced group of skaters with notable names such as Trey Daniels @Tdan04, Loona Buckzo @WildfireMicro, and French Fries @solyom leading the way up front, and Free Gorlab @eaglesfan036 and Chuck E Cheese @a_Ferk their head honchos on defense.  In goal, Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu is among the top goalies in the VHLM and should give Mexico a shot to win every night.  It is hard to find holes in the Mexico roster, but if one had to be named it would be their depth outside of their top three forwards and top two defensemen.  They'll be relying on big performances from players deeper in the roster if they hope to make a long run in these playoffs.  Their regular season record shows that they are capable of such performances, but consistency will be the key to their playoff success.
     
    Miami, not unlike Mexico City, also boasts a well balanced roster.  They do seem to have an advantage in the forward department with deadline acquisitions Forum Content @frescoelmo and UghSike @UghSike bolstering an already strong corps featuring Matthew Highmore @NineIQ v2, Joe Shmo @matt sovick, and Vanuza Kolesinska @chikn.  On paper, their defense also seems to matchup favorably against Mexico City with Pierre Ennis @DeciBell4 and Gul Dukat @MSouthworth being their big two, while Bilbo Teebaggins @SackButter has had a strong showing this season as well.  The one possible area of weakness for Miami might be in goal with Shaunca @shaun1979 having an inconsistent season at best.  If he can find his game and peak at the right time, the Marauders have the tools to beat Mexico City, but it's a lot of pressure to put on a young goalie and the jury is still out on whether he has what it takes to lead the way.  
     
    Prediction: There is so little between these two teams so it's difficult to see how this series doesn't go the distance.  I'm going to hedge my bets with Shaunca and Miami's depth and say that the Marauders edge the series in 7 (4-3).  
     
     
    (4) San Diego Marlins vs. (5) Houston Bulls
     
    In a first round full of intrigue, this series between the Marlins and the Bulls might have the most eyes on it.  San Diego features one of the strongest forward groups in the league while Houston owns the distinction of being the leagues most improved team, growing from a group of green rookies into a legitimate championship level team over the course of the 72 games season.  The Marlins owned the Bulls in the season series, winning 6 out of 8 games between the two sides, but it should be mentioned that a good number of these games were played earlier in the season and the Houston roster has changed quite a bit since then.  The Bulls have bounced back with wins later in the season, proving that they can beat San Diego and adding to the intrigue surrounding this series.
     
    The Marlins, like Las Vegas, ice a lethal top-6 forward group.  Dietrich Reingaard @JigglyGumballs, Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor, Jean-Pierre Devote @eagle_3450, Wayne Gretzky @MubbleFubbles, and Dwight schcrute @Jamomayo (a former Houston Bull) make up the Marlins top five players, and could all be top line players on any team in the VHLM.  Maverick Goncalves @leandrofg is also a strong player who provides excellent depth for San Diego, however there is a fairly steep drop-off beyond him.  If you asked the Marlins, they'd probably tell you that they are as deep as they need to be, allowing their top players to play more minutes instead of having lower roster players eat up time, but it remains to be seen whether this strategy will hold up over a 7 game series.  On defense, San Diego is strong and actually boasts decent quality through all 6 of their defensemen.  Dustin Moore @Maxx leads the way as their top defender, but Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877 is a strong up-and-comer that the Marlins will also be leaning on in these playoffs.  Finally, at goaltending, Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub has had a stellar season with a .904%, 2.91 GAA, and 35 wins in 64 starts.  Some scouts would argue that he's probably been the beneficiary of a good team defense in front of him, but he certainly has shown the capacity to deliver the quality performances when called upon.  
     
    The Houston Bulls are probably the deepest team in the VHLM.  GM @AJW (who is expected to be a GM of the year candidate) has done an exceptional job of scouting new talent and building an environment in which these young players can grow and ultimately flourish.  The team he has built is strong all the way through the lineup with 4 lines, 3 defensive pairings, and 2 quality goaltenders that can be rolled out at any time.  In the forward group, captain Trimiskez Artav @jake led the way this season with 43 goals and 45 assists for 88 points.  Joining him at the top of the depth chart are trade deadline acquisition, Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica, Chris Reynolds Jr. @Crstats23, Barry McOckiner @LanerDUST, Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8, and Tyler Lawson @Nyx.  Quality depth options Murray Connolly @Blakemac22, Filip Zinek @FiZi, and Jack Dickens @Mystery_boy98 complete the top 3 lines for the Bulls.  The Bulls' 4th line is home to one of the leagues most infectious leaders, Miner VHLer @Rhynex Entertainment, affectionately known in the Houston Locker-room as "SuperBot".  Micah Cederbaum @MicahC and Dylan Boland @shadowbloxgame round out the forward corps, both having solid campaigns for the Bulls in minor roles.  The Bulls are among the league's strongest on defense with Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee at the top of the chart with 81 points in 68 games. Frequent defense partner, Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher, has also had a strong showing this season for the Bulls, as well as one of the league's most physical players in Cody Toland @ctoland102.  Bufert T Smustice @Crummer77, Toby Cook @KRZY, and Charles Losfeld @losfail round out the defense. The Bulls also boast what is possibly the best backup goaltender in the VHLM in Herald Benson @Benson. Starting goalie, Ondra Vencko @Mutti, should see the majority of starts in the playoffs, but should he falter, Benson is more than capable of shoring up the net.  I've spoken to scouts about Vencko and I've learned that he's made some adjustments in his game recently that have really unlocked some of his potential.  His recent starts have reflected this and, lately, he's been well above his season average of .892%.  He could be a bit of a sleeper, I'm told, when it comes to playoff MVP candidates, provided the Bulls go far.  
     
    Prediction: Those who have followed my writing throughout the season should know that I cover the Bulls regularily.  Despite that, I want to give San Diego some love.  I believe their top-6 forwards certainly have what it takes push Houston to the limit, but they'll be up against strong competition on the Bulls' blueline.  It's a close series in every respect and I'd be shocked to see one team or the other run away with it.  I'm still going with the Bulls, but I think it's going to take 7 games (4-3) with an overtime winner to decide it. 
     
    ---
     
    And so it begins: The playoffs kick off tonight and I, for one, cannot wait to see how the VHLM shakes out.  I'll be following these story lines through each round and updating you on the series so stay tuned for more! If you have any comments or disagree with one of my predictions, feel free to tell me! 
     
     
    Lauren Lambert for VHL.com
    Claim for 11/25/24 (2651 words)
  22. Like
    Fire Tortorella reacted to aimkin in Relocation please?   
    To the dismay of many, the conversation around moving London to Scotland seems to have not caught any traction. We are unsure why as the idea is absolutely fool proof and would only benefit the VHL by reaching into an untapped market. It would also allow for some injection of new life and colors into the VHL. No one needs another red, white and blue team when a Scottish team could have beautiful oranges for their highland cow mascot-to-be.
     
    “I’m disappointed that the conversation hasn’t gone anywhere,” said London goalie Jesse Teno. “It’s something I really believe would be good for everyone involved. I want everyone to know that once I retire, I will be putting my efforts into trying to bring hockey to Scotland.”
     
    Who knows if the Board of Governors will ever take up the issue but we’re all hoping that they at least give the idea a go.
     
    151 words for week ending 2/18/2024
     
  23. Love
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from jacobcarson877 in A Way Too Early S94 Draft Preview   
    WWumbo
  24. Cheers
    Fire Tortorella reacted to Hogan in Writer's Block   
    Old head
  25. Haha
    Fire Tortorella got a reaction from Banackock in My Random VHL Thoughts - S92 - Part 5   
    Well, the Ottawa Lynx are up to 7th in the standings. With only 8 games left and 10 points out of 6th, it would take a miracle to get that high in the standings, but I guess 7th wouldn't be too bad considering how we were playing halfway through the season. I think we would have a "chance" in the playoffs against any team other than the number one seed. We definitely wouldn't be the favorites, but I wouldn't say it's outside the realm of possibility that we can pull off an upset. You know what game I've (and @eaglesfan036) have been playing? Fortnite. Hadn't touched it for at least 4 or 5 years, started playing two or three weeks ago, and now I am absolutely cracked at getting an auto shot gun, sitting in a room, and waiting for someone unsuspecting to enter. A show I've been "watching" (using the word loosely) is the Bachelor - only because he is from my hometown and some of the dates are to places that I go to - the Collegeville Italian Bakery slaps. I can only take 15ish minutes of the show though - last week there was KFC at a pool party and everyone was excited???
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