Grape

Seems like there has been an uptick in quitting posts as of late. Much to the misfortune of some, this is not one of those posts, moreso just a reflection of the past, I guess two years or so. In real life, there have been some massive changes for myself. Going back to my last reflection type post for the end of Vladovechsenkchushkin’s career, I was recently served a major gutpunch, being kicked off of on-campus housing and sprung into a desperate search for a place to live. That was the first time I felt truly lost, and I was close to just giving up entirely, packing up and heading home. In my entire fraternity, I had the support of literally 3 people, and that was just enough for me to tough it out. The VHL also allowed me to have some sort of escape from the real life stressors, as well as some control during an uncontrollable time. Fast forward now, and I made Dean’s list for my last two semesters, graduated on-time, and moved 1000 miles from home to begin life anew and have been working for a little over 6 months now, with complete control over my life. With player careers, it feels like I always start on either a high or a low, and finish on the opposite end, so I guess we’ll see where my new create takes me. But, enough about personal life stuff, it’s time to wrap this into the VHL. Ottawa I became the GM for the Ottawa Lynx on November 7th, 2022, over 2 years ago. I came in at kind of an interesting time. @Moon took over for a brief stint due to some volatile action and I became the Halifax AGM for two days before the draft. Immediately after the draft, Moon was promoted to GM of the Toronto Legion and I was made the GM of Ottawa. In my first season, I made a savvy deadline move for a capped defenseman and created an identify of defense-first, which would fair well in the playoffs, matching up against @badcolethetitan‘s offense-first team, eventually coming out with the Lynx on top and me earning a championship ring in my first season. Since then, it’s been somewhat up-and-down. Despite me being a large proponent against the boom-and-bust cycle in the M, in practice, it was a lot harder to move away from. I’ve had stints of multiple competitive seasons, but really couldn’t avoid having to tank every now and again. Since my first season, I’ve been to the finals two other times, getting walloped once and put up a decent fight in the other, but both losses. With the deletion of the E and the increased cap for the VHLM, it feels like many GMs are still getting their footing set and adjusting to the changes, myself included. I am doing my damnedest to avoid the boom-and-bust cycle, but now it feels like it’s almost just sitting in mediocrity. Looking at the draft and where I stand, it feels like it will be another okay season, not good but not bad. Obviously anything can happen, as we saw with Vegas, but you don’t want to be sitting there complacent in being mid. You want to be the best. As for communication between GMs this season, it was nonexistent. I have no idea what was going on between anyone, and they likely have no idea about anything I’m doing either. It’s hard to stay invested when you lack the knowledge to do so. Things were extremely quiet this season, and from that, I felt my passion wilt a bit with the M. I was below my standards, and at this point, it’s probably getting to where I’ve been with Ottawa too long. When the Malmo job opened, I was told by a handful of people to go for it, that I had a good chance to get it, that I was ready to make that jump. I really did want to jump in there and get it going at the next level, but I felt like I haven’t finished my job down with Ottawa. I wanted to win with a roster that I made, not one handed to me. So when Ottawa lost, I pulled my name out. Now though, it really is time I move on. When a position opens up, and I feel that it’s the right fit, I have to take it. I want to leave Ottawa on a high note, but things can’t always be perfect, so wherever the Lynx are when the opportunity arises, is where they’ll sit when I move on. For now though, I need to stay focused on making the best roster I can. Moscow Bocage is the first player that I have put really any legitimate effort into building up, and even then there was some joking around here and there that sabotaged their development. Coming into the draft class, selected at 12th overall, there really was not much fanfare regarding my player. If I recall, the VSN’s mock draft had me falling out of the first round entirely, and my own teammate, @FTK,who never actually ever made a VHL roster, saw my selection as a reach. Now, I sit 3rd in my draft class in TPE, and 4th active in the league, with a fair few trophies in my cabinet, with at least one more coming my way. With this player being the first ever one that I actually tried with having a good build and earning effectively, having so much success is outstanding. The early days of Moscow were not the best performance-wise, but the engagement in the locker room was great, and when @Spartan drafted Cole, I was honestly having the most fun I’ve had since, probably Season 65-66. Success would roll in and the times were great, but, rather suddenly, things dropped off. Cuts needed to be made, as they always do, and Cole was shipped off to New York. Activity dropped pretty hard, and from what I’ve heard, the grass was not greener on the other side. With Spartan’s savvy moves to continue replenishing Moscow’s roster, I know that my time is likely at an end with the team. Spartan had created an environment that felt the most welcoming and comfortable out of every other locker room that I’ve been in in my over 5 years in the league, and it’s a shame I may not be able to experience it for a long time after this. Bocage had a great season this go-around, and will likely be at least on the leaderboards somewhere next season, but it’s more of a ride off into the sunset, then pushing it one last time. A bittersweet ending. There were hopes that Moscow would achieve greatness more than once, with us having arguably the best roster for multiple seasons, but lightning only struck once, and again, I will likely end up leaving, not on the high note that I wish I could, but on somewhat of a mediocre ending. (1179 words)

Claiming week 4

Transaction ID: 9A423326C3217350J S97 5 Uncapped TPE Doubles Week 1mil Player Store

Can't the reason simply be because Spartan sucks?

I apply

I'm sorry but when someone says they want to leave the league entirely due to lack of communication, how else am I supposed to take that?

Going off of what they said. If that's untrue then maybe clap back at them for lying like that?

Not necessarily a chip on my shoulder. Malmo was a team I took a deeper look at when I had my application out there. The moves have come up in conversation with some members a fair few times and at this point I'm bored and doin it for forum content before I recreate and start larping.

I'm happy you found a place to be comfortable in the VHL. Lucy is a great person to have as a GM, and like I stated in the pod, myself, and many others, would love the chance to one day play for her team. The fact that there was really no interaction with Helsinki is something that should be brought up with the Blues, as that is wholly unacceptable of any team.

Window was closing which is exactly why they should have kept the pick and make the selection. They could've held pat, add assets through the draft, and look towards a quick rebuild. Instead, they used up all their assets and they're gonna be stuck in Warsaw mode for a while

Precisely why this team is fucked. You're stuck perpetually retooling to put together a roster. You know what that gets you? Warsaw.

I love that I knew that Leesburg, VA was a former US capital but not New York

I am the milkman. My milk is delicious

Talking about @LucyXpher and Malmo Quick pod so only 2 claims outta this one

Seeing the notification that I've been mentioned in an article called "Waste of Life" was certainly something

There's a difference between keeping the team together for one final run (like Toronto) and actively sabotaging your future by selling off your assets to buy into one final push. Sometimes you gotta make the hard decisions. Hell, I know my ass is getting traded in the offseason. I wish I could finish out my career with Moscow, with the team that fully believed I could be a franchise defenseman, but I know it's likely not going to happen, and I'm not gonna hold it against Spartan for making that decision. Yea, it's gonna be bittersweet after being there for literally over a year, but sometimes the right choice is the right choice. I've been very open about my thoughts with Malmo and the direction that I would have gone, and you chose a different one, and found at least some success. I'm not against the idea of competing, but I'm against putting the team in a bad spot in the very near future and digging out of the hole that's been made with the all-in push.

welcome back : )

Imagination is building a team from the ground up in your own image, to engage in true craftmanship, collecting draft pick after draft pick and masterfully selecting and grooming each player, building up a true competitor, moving pieces every offseason to continuously extend your window into the golden seasons of your first true selections.

Claiming week 3

Malmo and Toronto should've blown it up instead of competing for a first round exit imo

No, should've sucked more ig

Caps 32nd overall pick That's right baby the cup is coming to DC

I think I was pretty tame this go-around

You guys do know series can also be 4 and 7 games long, right?