Grape

applying
 

With the VHLM Draft concluded and the team rosters actually having players, it’s time to look into each team and where they stack up as of now. Note that this is purely TPE based, and does not take into account claiming potential and history, as well as builds, as that would take way too long to look into. There were a fair bit of inactives, especially on the defense side (where the draft was pretty weak), so teams who look good now after taking those will fall in the future below teams with more active players. The strategy for this draft was definitely to go for goalies and defense first, and while we may not see that now in how the teams break down now, that will definitely be noticeable as the season proceeds. Keep in mind that this is also under the assumption that all players picked will be playing in the M for this season. There are a number of players who exceeded the 200 TPE cap but may choose to stay under for a season.
 
10. San Diego Marlins

Forwards: 10th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 7th
 
A not very active draft day for the Marlins, as they only picked four times in the draft, and now they have four players on their team. I was a bit confused that they took a decent goaltender with their first pick, as I feel like that tender may only be around for a season before making the jump. They also did not draft any defensemen, opting to instead get a full forward line out and work from there. I’d wager that none of the forwards make the jump after a single season, so at the very least, they have a forward core to build around next draft.
 
9. Philadelphia Reapers

Forwards: 7th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 8th
 
I’m a big fan of what Philly did in the draft. They went hard on forwards and have a solid group of players for now and the future. The same issue as San Diego though, as Philly did not get any defensemen and are now barren at that position. I could definitely see this team move on from some of their more high end forwards to bring in solid claiming defensemen to prepare for next season, as well as maintain mediocrity for this season. This is a team that could cause a bit of volatility in the standings, as I do have high hopes for their forward core claiming wise, but as of right now they look pretty weak.
 
8. Ottawa Lynx

Forwards: 8th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 3rd
 
A really decent draft by Ottawa, snagging a great tender and some quality forwards. Again, just like the last two teams, the issue is on defense. Teams are really going to go hard for defensemen in Free Agency and if Ottawa can snag a few good ones, they’ll definitely have a well-built team. They have a forward core that will grow to be fairly decent and a goalie only a few TPE away from being capped. Out of the three teams without any defensemen, this is the best one, but coming out of the draft, it’s hard to overlook that when comparing them to other teams with a more fleshed out roster before free agency.
 
7. Saskatoon Wild

Forwards: 9th
Defensemen: 7th
Goaltending: T-1st
 
Unlike the previous teams, Saskatoon actually has defensemen, although they could use a bit of aging. Their forward core is also pretty barren, only having three forwards. They’ll be one of the few teams looking into acquiring some forwards in free agency, which there is surely to be a good handful of. As of right now, they’ll be banking on their goaltender, who is capped, to keep this team competitive. Out of the gate, it may be a bit rough, but with some savvy free agent pickups and a fair amount of growth sprinkled in, this team could at least manage to stay out of the basement.
 
6. Mississauga Hounds

Forwards: 5th
Defensemen: 6th
Goaltending: T-10th
 
A really short draft for Mississauga, as they only had two picks, and due to the lateness of those picks, I believe the players they got are not very active. This is a team that has a lot of holes and will be one that slides down the rankings unless they make some really good free agency pickups. As of now, their numbers are inflated due to the high TPE inactives they got, but unless the GM can convince them to come back, it might be a pretty brutal year for the Hounds.
 
5. Houston Bulls

Forwards: 6th
Defensemen: 1st
Goaltending: T-10th
 
Houston had a pretty good draft, building up a very strong forward core and, as of right now, have the best defense pairing in the league. They’ll need to grab a tender in free agency but I don’t think that will be the problem. I’d want them to get more depth on defense and I think that will be where they struggle. Defensemen are going to be highly courted in free agency and I don’t know if Houston will be able to bring in any top guns. While their forward core looks to develop into one of the best in the league, I can see their defense dropping down a bit. Still a competitive team but I have concerns as to whether or not they’ll be a true juggernaut or just competitive.
 
4. Miami Marauders

Forwards: 4th
Defensemen: 4th
Goaltending: 4th
 
It was hard not to place Miami at 4th. I mean when every part of their team ranks that, that’s where they probably should be. They have a really good one-two punch that they acquired through a trade, basically nuking the rest of their draft, but they’ll be pretty good this season. A bit top heavy to start, but hopefully their players will stay active and be a nice compliment to their big guns. Defense is somewhat a concern for me, but that’s how it is for pretty much every team.
 
3. Halifax 21st

Forwards: 1st
Defensemen: 5th
Goaltending: 6th
 
Halifax looks like a team that will be really solid out of the gate then slow down and fall off a bit. Their defensemen are concerned on the activity front and there isn’t too much room for growth for forwards. This is a team that needs a big free agency to remain a top contender. Depth is going to be the focus for this team. They already have the top players, at least for the forwards. Now they just need to add some complimentary pieces
 
2. Las Vegas Aces

Forwards: 2nd
Defensemen: 3rd
Goaltending: 5th
 
Las Vegas, I thought, had one of the best drafts out of every team. They made a lot of savvy, smart picks to flesh out their roster and have a lot of room for growth. I think adding one more defenseman would completely solidify this team positionally, and then hope that activity stays high and players keep claiming. I will say, this team looks like maybe a one year core, as a lot of players are already in the 100+ TPE, so expect them to make some big moves both in free agency and in the trade block as they try to push for a championship.
 
1. Mexico City Kings

Forwards: 3rd
Defensemen: 2nd
Goaltending: T-1st
 
Mexico City had an amazing draft, arguably the best out of every team. They went out and got a top tier goaltender who’s already at the cap, as well as a handful of players in the upper 100s TPE wise as well in both forwards and defense. What’s nice to see with this team as well is that one could see some players needing two seasons in the M, which helps this team compete both now and next season. An incredibly strong team who looks to get even stronger. I would like them to pick up another defenseman and probably another forward too just to even out the lines, but all-in-all, an exciting team to watch.
 
This is looking to be a very exciting season in the VHLM. There are a ton of teams that are only a few pieces away from being top contenders in the league. I would like to note that this is looking purely at TPE and it is right out of the draft. There are a ton of solid players in free agency that will change the outlooks of multiple teams. Also, inactives inflate the values. Since I’m not doing a deep dive into every team and their players (maybe I’ll do that for another article), high TPE inactives are going to make some teams look better. While I can’t really factor that, as the season rolls along those will end up fixing themselves. My plan is to look into the lineups and alter the scores on my spreadsheet to compliment ice time allocation, although that might be really difficult and I’ll probably just end up sticking to what I have. A big thing that may be confusing for some is with the goaltender rankings, they are kinda all over the place. I’d like to say that the difference between 1st and 4th is 6 TPE, and every team that actually has a goaltender has one in the mid 100s TPEwise. Goaltending is an important factor, but at least for this season, it isn’t super major since many teams are really close to each other. One last thing to note is that defensemen are going to be the biggest of the three factors at least for a couple of seasons. The defenseman class for both this draft and allegedly the next draft are small compared to the forward class, so teams who are able to bring in solid defensemen are going to fair much better, since they’ll more easily find complimenting forwards to flesh out their lineups than forward heavy teams looking for defensemen to do the same. With all this being said, please take this with a massive grain of salt, as pretty much everything is going to change come the start of the season.

(1688 words. Big claim piece right here 🥵)

With the VHLM Draft concluded and the team rosters actually having players, it’s time to look into each team and where they stack up as of now. Note that this is purely TPE based, and does not take into account claiming potential and history, as well as builds, as that would take way too long to look into. There were a fair bit of inactives, especially on the defense side (where the draft was pretty weak), so teams who look good now after taking those will fall in the future below teams with more active players. The strategy for this draft was definitely to go for goalies and defense first, and while we may not see that now in how the teams break down now, that will definitely be noticeable as the season proceeds. Keep in mind that this is also under the assumption that all players picked will be playing in the M for this season. There are a number of players who exceeded the 200 TPE cap but may choose to stay under for a season.
 
10. San Diego Marlins

Forwards: 10th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 7th
 
A not very active draft day for the Marlins, as they only picked four times in the draft, and now they have four players on their team. I was a bit confused that they took a decent goaltender with their first pick, as I feel like that tender may only be around for a season before making the jump. They also did not draft any defensemen, opting to instead get a full forward line out and work from there. I’d wager that none of the forwards make the jump after a single season, so at the very least, they have a forward core to build around next draft.
 
9. Philadelphia Reapers

Forwards: 7th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 8th
 
I’m a big fan of what Philly did in the draft. They went hard on forwards and have a solid group of players for now and the future. The same issue as San Diego though, as Philly did not get any defensemen and are now barren at that position. I could definitely see this team move on from some of their more high end forwards to bring in solid claiming defensemen to prepare for next season, as well as maintain mediocrity for this season. This is a team that could cause a bit of volatility in the standings, as I do have high hopes for their forward core claiming wise, but as of right now they look pretty weak.
 
8. Ottawa Lynx

Forwards: 8th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 3rd
 
A really decent draft by Ottawa, snagging a great tender and some quality forwards. Again, just like the last two teams, the issue is on defense. Teams are really going to go hard for defensemen in Free Agency and if Ottawa can snag a few good ones, they’ll definitely have a well-built team. They have a forward core that will grow to be fairly decent and a goalie only a few TPE away from being capped. Out of the three teams without any defensemen, this is the best one, but coming out of the draft, it’s hard to overlook that when comparing them to other teams with a more fleshed out roster before free agency.
 
7. Saskatoon Wild

Forwards: 9th
Defensemen: 7th
Goaltending: T-1st
 
Unlike the previous teams, Saskatoon actually has defensemen, although they could use a bit of aging. Their forward core is also pretty barren, only having three forwards. They’ll be one of the few teams looking into acquiring some forwards in free agency, which there is surely to be a good handful of. As of right now, they’ll be banking on their goaltender, who is capped, to keep this team competitive. Out of the gate, it may be a bit rough, but with some savvy free agent pickups and a fair amount of growth sprinkled in, this team could at least manage to stay out of the basement.
 
6. Mississauga Hounds

Forwards: 5th
Defensemen: 6th
Goaltending: T-10th
 
A really short draft for Mississauga, as they only had two picks, and due to the lateness of those picks, I believe the players they got are not very active. This is a team that has a lot of holes and will be one that slides down the rankings unless they make some really good free agency pickups. As of now, their numbers are inflated due to the high TPE inactives they got, but unless the GM can convince them to come back, it might be a pretty brutal year for the Hounds.
 
5. Houston Bulls

Forwards: 6th
Defensemen: 1st
Goaltending: T-10th
 
Houston had a pretty good draft, building up a very strong forward core and, as of right now, have the best defense pairing in the league. They’ll need to grab a tender in free agency but I don’t think that will be the problem. I’d want them to get more depth on defense and I think that will be where they struggle. Defensemen are going to be highly courted in free agency and I don’t know if Houston will be able to bring in any top guns. While their forward core looks to develop into one of the best in the league, I can see their defense dropping down a bit. Still a competitive team but I have concerns as to whether or not they’ll be a true juggernaut or just competitive.
 
4. Miami Marauders

Forwards: 4th
Defensemen: 4th
Goaltending: 4th
 
It was hard not to place Miami at 4th. I mean when every part of their team ranks that, that’s where they probably should be. They have a really good one-two punch that they acquired through a trade, basically nuking the rest of their draft, but they’ll be pretty good this season. A bit top heavy to start, but hopefully their players will stay active and be a nice compliment to their big guns. Defense is somewhat a concern for me, but that’s how it is for pretty much every team.
 
3. Halifax 21st

Forwards: 1st
Defensemen: 5th
Goaltending: 6th
 
Halifax looks like a team that will be really solid out of the gate then slow down and fall off a bit. Their defensemen are concerned on the activity front and there isn’t too much room for growth for forwards. This is a team that needs a big free agency to remain a top contender. Depth is going to be the focus for this team. They already have the top players, at least for the forwards. Now they just need to add some complimentary pieces
 
2. Las Vegas Aces

Forwards: 2nd
Defensemen: 3rd
Goaltending: 5th
 
Las Vegas, I thought, had one of the best drafts out of every team. They made a lot of savvy, smart picks to flesh out their roster and have a lot of room for growth. I think adding one more defenseman would completely solidify this team positionally, and then hope that activity stays high and players keep claiming. I will say, this team looks like maybe a one year core, as a lot of players are already in the 100+ TPE, so expect them to make some big moves both in free agency and in the trade block as they try to push for a championship.
 
1. Mexico City Kings

Forwards: 3rd
Defensemen: 2nd
Goaltending: T-1st
 
Mexico City had an amazing draft, arguably the best out of every team. They went out and got a top tier goaltender who’s already at the cap, as well as a handful of players in the upper 100s TPE wise as well in both forwards and defense. What’s nice to see with this team as well is that one could see some players needing two seasons in the M, which helps this team compete both now and next season. An incredibly strong team who looks to get even stronger. I would like them to pick up another defenseman and probably another forward too just to even out the lines, but all-in-all, an exciting team to watch.
 
This is looking to be a very exciting season in the VHLM. There are a ton of teams that are only a few pieces away from being top contenders in the league. I would like to note that this is looking purely at TPE and it is right out of the draft. There are a ton of solid players in free agency that will change the outlooks of multiple teams. Also, inactives inflate the values. Since I’m not doing a deep dive into every team and their players (maybe I’ll do that for another article), high TPE inactives are going to make some teams look better. While I can’t really factor that, as the season rolls along those will end up fixing themselves. My plan is to look into the lineups and alter the scores on my spreadsheet to compliment ice time allocation, although that might be really difficult and I’ll probably just end up sticking to what I have. A big thing that may be confusing for some is with the goaltender rankings, they are kinda all over the place. I’d like to say that the difference between 1st and 4th is 6 TPE, and every team that actually has a goaltender has one in the mid 100s TPEwise. Goaltending is an important factor, but at least for this season, it isn’t super major since many teams are really close to each other. One last thing to note is that defensemen are going to be the biggest of the three factors at least for a couple of seasons. The defenseman class for both this draft and allegedly the next draft are small compared to the forward class, so teams who are able to bring in solid defensemen are going to fair much better, since they’ll more easily find complimenting forwards to flesh out their lineups than forward heavy teams looking for defensemen to do the same. With all this being said, please take this with a massive grain of salt, as pretty much everything is going to change come the start of the season.

(1688 words. Big claim piece right here 🥵)

With the VHLM Draft concluded and the team rosters actually having players, it’s time to look into each team and where they stack up as of now. Note that this is purely TPE based, and does not take into account claiming potential and history, as well as builds, as that would take way too long to look into. There were a fair bit of inactives, especially on the defense side (where the draft was pretty weak), so teams who look good now after taking those will fall in the future below teams with more active players. The strategy for this draft was definitely to go for goalies and defense first, and while we may not see that now in how the teams break down now, that will definitely be noticeable as the season proceeds. Keep in mind that this is also under the assumption that all players picked will be playing in the M for this season. There are a number of players who exceeded the 200 TPE cap but may choose to stay under for a season.
 
10. San Diego Marlins

Forwards: 10th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 7th
 
A not very active draft day for the Marlins, as they only picked four times in the draft, and now they have four players on their team. I was a bit confused that they took a decent goaltender with their first pick, as I feel like that tender may only be around for a season before making the jump. They also did not draft any defensemen, opting to instead get a full forward line out and work from there. I’d wager that none of the forwards make the jump after a single season, so at the very least, they have a forward core to build around next draft.
 
9. Philadelphia Reapers

Forwards: 7th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 8th
 
I’m a big fan of what Philly did in the draft. They went hard on forwards and have a solid group of players for now and the future. The same issue as San Diego though, as Philly did not get any defensemen and are now barren at that position. I could definitely see this team move on from some of their more high end forwards to bring in solid claiming defensemen to prepare for next season, as well as maintain mediocrity for this season. This is a team that could cause a bit of volatility in the standings, as I do have high hopes for their forward core claiming wise, but as of right now they look pretty weak.
 
8. Ottawa Lynx

Forwards: 8th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 3rd
 
A really decent draft by Ottawa, snagging a great tender and some quality forwards. Again, just like the last two teams, the issue is on defense. Teams are really going to go hard for defensemen in Free Agency and if Ottawa can snag a few good ones, they’ll definitely have a well-built team. They have a forward core that will grow to be fairly decent and a goalie only a few TPE away from being capped. Out of the three teams without any defensemen, this is the best one, but coming out of the draft, it’s hard to overlook that when comparing them to other teams with a more fleshed out roster before free agency.
 
7. Saskatoon Wild

Forwards: 9th
Defensemen: 7th
Goaltending: T-1st
 
Unlike the previous teams, Saskatoon actually has defensemen, although they could use a bit of aging. Their forward core is also pretty barren, only having three forwards. They’ll be one of the few teams looking into acquiring some forwards in free agency, which there is surely to be a good handful of. As of right now, they’ll be banking on their goaltender, who is capped, to keep this team competitive. Out of the gate, it may be a bit rough, but with some savvy free agent pickups and a fair amount of growth sprinkled in, this team could at least manage to stay out of the basement.
 
6. Mississauga Hounds

Forwards: 5th
Defensemen: 6th
Goaltending: T-10th
 
A really short draft for Mississauga, as they only had two picks, and due to the lateness of those picks, I believe the players they got are not very active. This is a team that has a lot of holes and will be one that slides down the rankings unless they make some really good free agency pickups. As of now, their numbers are inflated due to the high TPE inactives they got, but unless the GM can convince them to come back, it might be a pretty brutal year for the Hounds.
 
5. Houston Bulls

Forwards: 6th
Defensemen: 1st
Goaltending: T-10th
 
Houston had a pretty good draft, building up a very strong forward core and, as of right now, have the best defense pairing in the league. They’ll need to grab a tender in free agency but I don’t think that will be the problem. I’d want them to get more depth on defense and I think that will be where they struggle. Defensemen are going to be highly courted in free agency and I don’t know if Houston will be able to bring in any top guns. While their forward core looks to develop into one of the best in the league, I can see their defense dropping down a bit. Still a competitive team but I have concerns as to whether or not they’ll be a true juggernaut or just competitive.
 
4. Miami Marauders

Forwards: 4th
Defensemen: 4th
Goaltending: 4th
 
It was hard not to place Miami at 4th. I mean when every part of their team ranks that, that’s where they probably should be. They have a really good one-two punch that they acquired through a trade, basically nuking the rest of their draft, but they’ll be pretty good this season. A bit top heavy to start, but hopefully their players will stay active and be a nice compliment to their big guns. Defense is somewhat a concern for me, but that’s how it is for pretty much every team.
 
3. Halifax 21st

Forwards: 1st
Defensemen: 5th
Goaltending: 6th
 
Halifax looks like a team that will be really solid out of the gate then slow down and fall off a bit. Their defensemen are concerned on the activity front and there isn’t too much room for growth for forwards. This is a team that needs a big free agency to remain a top contender. Depth is going to be the focus for this team. They already have the top players, at least for the forwards. Now they just need to add some complimentary pieces
 
2. Las Vegas Aces

Forwards: 2nd
Defensemen: 3rd
Goaltending: 5th
 
Las Vegas, I thought, had one of the best drafts out of every team. They made a lot of savvy, smart picks to flesh out their roster and have a lot of room for growth. I think adding one more defenseman would completely solidify this team positionally, and then hope that activity stays high and players keep claiming. I will say, this team looks like maybe a one year core, as a lot of players are already in the 100+ TPE, so expect them to make some big moves both in free agency and in the trade block as they try to push for a championship.
 
1. Mexico City Kings

Forwards: 3rd
Defensemen: 2nd
Goaltending: T-1st
 
Mexico City had an amazing draft, arguably the best out of every team. They went out and got a top tier goaltender who’s already at the cap, as well as a handful of players in the upper 100s TPE wise as well in both forwards and defense. What’s nice to see with this team as well is that one could see some players needing two seasons in the M, which helps this team compete both now and next season. An incredibly strong team who looks to get even stronger. I would like them to pick up another defenseman and probably another forward too just to even out the lines, but all-in-all, an exciting team to watch.
 
This is looking to be a very exciting season in the VHLM. There are a ton of teams that are only a few pieces away from being top contenders in the league. I would like to note that this is looking purely at TPE and it is right out of the draft. There are a ton of solid players in free agency that will change the outlooks of multiple teams. Also, inactives inflate the values. Since I’m not doing a deep dive into every team and their players (maybe I’ll do that for another article), high TPE inactives are going to make some teams look better. While I can’t really factor that, as the season rolls along those will end up fixing themselves. My plan is to look into the lineups and alter the scores on my spreadsheet to compliment ice time allocation, although that might be really difficult and I’ll probably just end up sticking to what I have. A big thing that may be confusing for some is with the goaltender rankings, they are kinda all over the place. I’d like to say that the difference between 1st and 4th is 6 TPE, and every team that actually has a goaltender has one in the mid 100s TPEwise. Goaltending is an important factor, but at least for this season, it isn’t super major since many teams are really close to each other. One last thing to note is that defensemen are going to be the biggest of the three factors at least for a couple of seasons. The defenseman class for both this draft and allegedly the next draft are small compared to the forward class, so teams who are able to bring in solid defensemen are going to fair much better, since they’ll more easily find complimenting forwards to flesh out their lineups than forward heavy teams looking for defensemen to do the same. With all this being said, please take this with a massive grain of salt, as pretty much everything is going to change come the start of the season.

(1688 words. Big claim piece right here 🥵)

With the VHLM Draft concluded and the team rosters actually having players, it’s time to look into each team and where they stack up as of now. Note that this is purely TPE based, and does not take into account claiming potential and history, as well as builds, as that would take way too long to look into. There were a fair bit of inactives, especially on the defense side (where the draft was pretty weak), so teams who look good now after taking those will fall in the future below teams with more active players. The strategy for this draft was definitely to go for goalies and defense first, and while we may not see that now in how the teams break down now, that will definitely be noticeable as the season proceeds. Keep in mind that this is also under the assumption that all players picked will be playing in the M for this season. There are a number of players who exceeded the 200 TPE cap but may choose to stay under for a season.
 
10. San Diego Marlins

Forwards: 10th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 7th
 
A not very active draft day for the Marlins, as they only picked four times in the draft, and now they have four players on their team. I was a bit confused that they took a decent goaltender with their first pick, as I feel like that tender may only be around for a season before making the jump. They also did not draft any defensemen, opting to instead get a full forward line out and work from there. I’d wager that none of the forwards make the jump after a single season, so at the very least, they have a forward core to build around next draft.
 
9. Philadelphia Reapers

Forwards: 7th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 8th
 
I’m a big fan of what Philly did in the draft. They went hard on forwards and have a solid group of players for now and the future. The same issue as San Diego though, as Philly did not get any defensemen and are now barren at that position. I could definitely see this team move on from some of their more high end forwards to bring in solid claiming defensemen to prepare for next season, as well as maintain mediocrity for this season. This is a team that could cause a bit of volatility in the standings, as I do have high hopes for their forward core claiming wise, but as of right now they look pretty weak.
 
8. Ottawa Lynx

Forwards: 8th
Defensemen: T-10th
Goaltending: 3rd
 
A really decent draft by Ottawa, snagging a great tender and some quality forwards. Again, just like the last two teams, the issue is on defense. Teams are really going to go hard for defensemen in Free Agency and if Ottawa can snag a few good ones, they’ll definitely have a well-built team. They have a forward core that will grow to be fairly decent and a goalie only a few TPE away from being capped. Out of the three teams without any defensemen, this is the best one, but coming out of the draft, it’s hard to overlook that when comparing them to other teams with a more fleshed out roster before free agency.
 
7. Saskatoon Wild

Forwards: 9th
Defensemen: 7th
Goaltending: T-1st
 
Unlike the previous teams, Saskatoon actually has defensemen, although they could use a bit of aging. Their forward core is also pretty barren, only having three forwards. They’ll be one of the few teams looking into acquiring some forwards in free agency, which there is surely to be a good handful of. As of right now, they’ll be banking on their goaltender, who is capped, to keep this team competitive. Out of the gate, it may be a bit rough, but with some savvy free agent pickups and a fair amount of growth sprinkled in, this team could at least manage to stay out of the basement.
 
6. Mississauga Hounds

Forwards: 5th
Defensemen: 6th
Goaltending: T-10th
 
A really short draft for Mississauga, as they only had two picks, and due to the lateness of those picks, I believe the players they got are not very active. This is a team that has a lot of holes and will be one that slides down the rankings unless they make some really good free agency pickups. As of now, their numbers are inflated due to the high TPE inactives they got, but unless the GM can convince them to come back, it might be a pretty brutal year for the Hounds.
 
5. Houston Bulls

Forwards: 6th
Defensemen: 1st
Goaltending: T-10th
 
Houston had a pretty good draft, building up a very strong forward core and, as of right now, have the best defense pairing in the league. They’ll need to grab a tender in free agency but I don’t think that will be the problem. I’d want them to get more depth on defense and I think that will be where they struggle. Defensemen are going to be highly courted in free agency and I don’t know if Houston will be able to bring in any top guns. While their forward core looks to develop into one of the best in the league, I can see their defense dropping down a bit. Still a competitive team but I have concerns as to whether or not they’ll be a true juggernaut or just competitive.
 
4. Miami Marauders

Forwards: 4th
Defensemen: 4th
Goaltending: 4th
 
It was hard not to place Miami at 4th. I mean when every part of their team ranks that, that’s where they probably should be. They have a really good one-two punch that they acquired through a trade, basically nuking the rest of their draft, but they’ll be pretty good this season. A bit top heavy to start, but hopefully their players will stay active and be a nice compliment to their big guns. Defense is somewhat a concern for me, but that’s how it is for pretty much every team.
 
3. Halifax 21st

Forwards: 1st
Defensemen: 5th
Goaltending: 6th
 
Halifax looks like a team that will be really solid out of the gate then slow down and fall off a bit. Their defensemen are concerned on the activity front and there isn’t too much room for growth for forwards. This is a team that needs a big free agency to remain a top contender. Depth is going to be the focus for this team. They already have the top players, at least for the forwards. Now they just need to add some complimentary pieces
 
2. Las Vegas Aces

Forwards: 2nd
Defensemen: 3rd
Goaltending: 5th
 
Las Vegas, I thought, had one of the best drafts out of every team. They made a lot of savvy, smart picks to flesh out their roster and have a lot of room for growth. I think adding one more defenseman would completely solidify this team positionally, and then hope that activity stays high and players keep claiming. I will say, this team looks like maybe a one year core, as a lot of players are already in the 100+ TPE, so expect them to make some big moves both in free agency and in the trade block as they try to push for a championship.
 
1. Mexico City Kings

Forwards: 3rd
Defensemen: 2nd
Goaltending: T-1st
 
Mexico City had an amazing draft, arguably the best out of every team. They went out and got a top tier goaltender who’s already at the cap, as well as a handful of players in the upper 100s TPE wise as well in both forwards and defense. What’s nice to see with this team as well is that one could see some players needing two seasons in the M, which helps this team compete both now and next season. An incredibly strong team who looks to get even stronger. I would like them to pick up another defenseman and probably another forward too just to even out the lines, but all-in-all, an exciting team to watch.
 
This is looking to be a very exciting season in the VHLM. There are a ton of teams that are only a few pieces away from being top contenders in the league. I would like to note that this is looking purely at TPE and it is right out of the draft. There are a ton of solid players in free agency that will change the outlooks of multiple teams. Also, inactives inflate the values. Since I’m not doing a deep dive into every team and their players (maybe I’ll do that for another article), high TPE inactives are going to make some teams look better. While I can’t really factor that, as the season rolls along those will end up fixing themselves. My plan is to look into the lineups and alter the scores on my spreadsheet to compliment ice time allocation, although that might be really difficult and I’ll probably just end up sticking to what I have. A big thing that may be confusing for some is with the goaltender rankings, they are kinda all over the place. I’d like to say that the difference between 1st and 4th is 6 TPE, and every team that actually has a goaltender has one in the mid 100s TPEwise. Goaltending is an important factor, but at least for this season, it isn’t super major since many teams are really close to each other. One last thing to note is that defensemen are going to be the biggest of the three factors at least for a couple of seasons. The defenseman class for both this draft and allegedly the next draft are small compared to the forward class, so teams who are able to bring in solid defensemen are going to fair much better, since they’ll more easily find complimenting forwards to flesh out their lineups than forward heavy teams looking for defensemen to do the same. With all this being said, please take this with a massive grain of salt, as pretty much everything is going to change come the start of the season.

(1688 words. Big claim piece right here 🥵)

The new TPE system has been implemented for a handful of seasons now, and I feel that a fair amount of people have a solid grasp on it. For those who don’t, then this may be for you
 
STHS Ratios
Every stat has a ratio attached to it that impacts an aspect of your game. These ratios are different for each stat and being knowledgeable of them will help you maximize your TPE allocation. Let’s focus on scoring for this. 
As you can see, there are 3 stats that affect scoring: Offensive Vision, Slap Shot, and Wrist Shot. The numbers correlate to the stat boost for each TPE level you put into the stat, so every level you have in offensive vision will add 0.3 to your scoring. 
 
Levels and TPE
If TPE levels were linear, then getting to the max level would be super easy; however, it’s a gradual process. 
 

 
Based on the scale, it costs:
- 70 TPE for 0 - 70
- 10 TPE for 70 - 75
- 15 TPE for 75 - 80
- 50 TPE for 80 - 90
- 40 TPE for 90 - 95
- 40 TPE for 95 - 99
225 TPE to max 1 stat
 
And while the cost of TPE increases for each level, the ratios stay the same.
 
Ratio Scaling
Due to the increasing cost of levels and the stagnant ratios, dedicating all TPE to one stat in a category is worse than spreading it out

 
Let’s say you’re a VHLM player that wants to max out their scoring stat (limited to 200 TPE). What one might do is put all their TPE into offensive vision, having them hit level 96 and Scoring would be at 68.8. The alternative method is to spread out the TPE across all scoring stats, and put 80 TPE into offensive vision (Level 75), 70 TPE into Slap Shot (Level 70), and 50 TPE into Wrist Shot (Level 50), which would cause scoring to be at 76.9, about 8 better than putting everything into one stat. When you’re focusing on boosting stats, make sure NOT to max a single stat without first adding to other stats in the same categories
 
Full Scale
Breakdown of all categories and subsequent stats that add into them. Keep in mind there are some categories that are pretty much useless. Categories you can pretty much ignore are Discipline, Leadership, Penalty Shot (it’ll be boosted when you increase your scoring anyways), Faceoffs (unless you’re a center), checking somewhat, and fighting (unless you’re a goon). Important stats to focus on are Puck Handling (gotta hold onto the puck), Defense (helps with positioning), skating (speed), passing and/or scoring (gotta get points somehow), and strength (keep balance better).

 
Best Allocation for the VHLM
Since this is mainly geared towards newer players, I’d also like to provide my subjective view on a super good build for the M that can also be used as a starting template for the upper leagues. With 200 TPE max, I would allocate:
- 60 TPE into Stick Handling (Boosts both Puck Handling and Skating)
- 50 TPE into Poke Checking (Boosts both Defense and Strength)
- 20 TPE into Speed (Boosts only Skating)
- 70 TPE into Offensive Vision (Boosts both Passing and Scoring)
 
This allocation will result in a stat line of:

Which is more than good enough to compete as a top player in the VHLM. Extremely balanced and still allows a lot of room to focus on really anything you want to in the future leagues.

The new TPE system has been implemented for a handful of seasons now, and I feel that a fair amount of people have a solid grasp on it. For those who don’t, then this may be for you
 
STHS Ratios
Every stat has a ratio attached to it that impacts an aspect of your game. These ratios are different for each stat and being knowledgeable of them will help you maximize your TPE allocation. Let’s focus on scoring for this. 
As you can see, there are 3 stats that affect scoring: Offensive Vision, Slap Shot, and Wrist Shot. The numbers correlate to the stat boost for each TPE level you put into the stat, so every level you have in offensive vision will add 0.3 to your scoring. 
 
Levels and TPE
If TPE levels were linear, then getting to the max level would be super easy; however, it’s a gradual process. 
 

 
Based on the scale, it costs:
- 70 TPE for 0 - 70
- 10 TPE for 70 - 75
- 15 TPE for 75 - 80
- 50 TPE for 80 - 90
- 40 TPE for 90 - 95
- 40 TPE for 95 - 99
225 TPE to max 1 stat
 
And while the cost of TPE increases for each level, the ratios stay the same.
 
Ratio Scaling
Due to the increasing cost of levels and the stagnant ratios, dedicating all TPE to one stat in a category is worse than spreading it out

 
Let’s say you’re a VHLM player that wants to max out their scoring stat (limited to 200 TPE). What one might do is put all their TPE into offensive vision, having them hit level 96 and Scoring would be at 68.8. The alternative method is to spread out the TPE across all scoring stats, and put 80 TPE into offensive vision (Level 75), 70 TPE into Slap Shot (Level 70), and 50 TPE into Wrist Shot (Level 50), which would cause scoring to be at 76.9, about 8 better than putting everything into one stat. When you’re focusing on boosting stats, make sure NOT to max a single stat without first adding to other stats in the same categories
 
Full Scale
Breakdown of all categories and subsequent stats that add into them. Keep in mind there are some categories that are pretty much useless. Categories you can pretty much ignore are Discipline, Leadership, Penalty Shot (it’ll be boosted when you increase your scoring anyways), Faceoffs (unless you’re a center), checking somewhat, and fighting (unless you’re a goon). Important stats to focus on are Puck Handling (gotta hold onto the puck), Defense (helps with positioning), skating (speed), passing and/or scoring (gotta get points somehow), and strength (keep balance better).

 
Best Allocation for the VHLM
Since this is mainly geared towards newer players, I’d also like to provide my subjective view on a super good build for the M that can also be used as a starting template for the upper leagues. With 200 TPE max, I would allocate:
- 60 TPE into Stick Handling (Boosts both Puck Handling and Skating)
- 50 TPE into Poke Checking (Boosts both Defense and Strength)
- 20 TPE into Speed (Boosts only Skating)
- 70 TPE into Offensive Vision (Boosts both Passing and Scoring)
 
This allocation will result in a stat line of:

Which is more than good enough to compete as a top player in the VHLM. Extremely balanced and still allows a lot of room to focus on really anything you want to in the future leagues.

The new TPE system has been implemented for a handful of seasons now, and I feel that a fair amount of people have a solid grasp on it. For those who don’t, then this may be for you
 
STHS Ratios
Every stat has a ratio attached to it that impacts an aspect of your game. These ratios are different for each stat and being knowledgeable of them will help you maximize your TPE allocation. Let’s focus on scoring for this. 
As you can see, there are 3 stats that affect scoring: Offensive Vision, Slap Shot, and Wrist Shot. The numbers correlate to the stat boost for each TPE level you put into the stat, so every level you have in offensive vision will add 0.3 to your scoring. 
 
Levels and TPE
If TPE levels were linear, then getting to the max level would be super easy; however, it’s a gradual process. 
 

 
Based on the scale, it costs:
- 70 TPE for 0 - 70
- 10 TPE for 70 - 75
- 15 TPE for 75 - 80
- 50 TPE for 80 - 90
- 40 TPE for 90 - 95
- 40 TPE for 95 - 99
225 TPE to max 1 stat
 
And while the cost of TPE increases for each level, the ratios stay the same.
 
Ratio Scaling
Due to the increasing cost of levels and the stagnant ratios, dedicating all TPE to one stat in a category is worse than spreading it out

 
Let’s say you’re a VHLM player that wants to max out their scoring stat (limited to 200 TPE). What one might do is put all their TPE into offensive vision, having them hit level 96 and Scoring would be at 68.8. The alternative method is to spread out the TPE across all scoring stats, and put 80 TPE into offensive vision (Level 75), 70 TPE into Slap Shot (Level 70), and 50 TPE into Wrist Shot (Level 50), which would cause scoring to be at 76.9, about 8 better than putting everything into one stat. When you’re focusing on boosting stats, make sure NOT to max a single stat without first adding to other stats in the same categories
 
Full Scale
Breakdown of all categories and subsequent stats that add into them. Keep in mind there are some categories that are pretty much useless. Categories you can pretty much ignore are Discipline, Leadership, Penalty Shot (it’ll be boosted when you increase your scoring anyways), Faceoffs (unless you’re a center), checking somewhat, and fighting (unless you’re a goon). Important stats to focus on are Puck Handling (gotta hold onto the puck), Defense (helps with positioning), skating (speed), passing and/or scoring (gotta get points somehow), and strength (keep balance better).

 
Best Allocation for the VHLM
Since this is mainly geared towards newer players, I’d also like to provide my subjective view on a super good build for the M that can also be used as a starting template for the upper leagues. With 200 TPE max, I would allocate:
- 60 TPE into Stick Handling (Boosts both Puck Handling and Skating)
- 50 TPE into Poke Checking (Boosts both Defense and Strength)
- 20 TPE into Speed (Boosts only Skating)
- 70 TPE into Offensive Vision (Boosts both Passing and Scoring)
 
This allocation will result in a stat line of:

Which is more than good enough to compete as a top player in the VHLM. Extremely balanced and still allows a lot of room to focus on really anything you want to in the future leagues.

The new TPE system has been implemented for a handful of seasons now, and I feel that a fair amount of people have a solid grasp on it. For those who don’t, then this may be for you
 
STHS Ratios
Every stat has a ratio attached to it that impacts an aspect of your game. These ratios are different for each stat and being knowledgeable of them will help you maximize your TPE allocation. Let’s focus on scoring for this. 
As you can see, there are 3 stats that affect scoring: Offensive Vision, Slap Shot, and Wrist Shot. The numbers correlate to the stat boost for each TPE level you put into the stat, so every level you have in offensive vision will add 0.3 to your scoring. 
 
Levels and TPE
If TPE levels were linear, then getting to the max level would be super easy; however, it’s a gradual process. 
 

 
Based on the scale, it costs:
- 70 TPE for 0 - 70
- 10 TPE for 70 - 75
- 15 TPE for 75 - 80
- 50 TPE for 80 - 90
- 40 TPE for 90 - 95
- 40 TPE for 95 - 99
225 TPE to max 1 stat
 
And while the cost of TPE increases for each level, the ratios stay the same.
 
Ratio Scaling
Due to the increasing cost of levels and the stagnant ratios, dedicating all TPE to one stat in a category is worse than spreading it out

 
Let’s say you’re a VHLM player that wants to max out their scoring stat (limited to 200 TPE). What one might do is put all their TPE into offensive vision, having them hit level 96 and Scoring would be at 68.8. The alternative method is to spread out the TPE across all scoring stats, and put 80 TPE into offensive vision (Level 75), 70 TPE into Slap Shot (Level 70), and 50 TPE into Wrist Shot (Level 50), which would cause scoring to be at 76.9, about 8 better than putting everything into one stat. When you’re focusing on boosting stats, make sure NOT to max a single stat without first adding to other stats in the same categories
 
Full Scale
Breakdown of all categories and subsequent stats that add into them. Keep in mind there are some categories that are pretty much useless. Categories you can pretty much ignore are Discipline, Leadership, Penalty Shot (it’ll be boosted when you increase your scoring anyways), Faceoffs (unless you’re a center), checking somewhat, and fighting (unless you’re a goon). Important stats to focus on are Puck Handling (gotta hold onto the puck), Defense (helps with positioning), skating (speed), passing and/or scoring (gotta get points somehow), and strength (keep balance better).

 
Best Allocation for the VHLM
Since this is mainly geared towards newer players, I’d also like to provide my subjective view on a super good build for the M that can also be used as a starting template for the upper leagues. With 200 TPE max, I would allocate:
- 60 TPE into Stick Handling (Boosts both Puck Handling and Skating)
- 50 TPE into Poke Checking (Boosts both Defense and Strength)
- 20 TPE into Speed (Boosts only Skating)
- 70 TPE into Offensive Vision (Boosts both Passing and Scoring)
 
This allocation will result in a stat line of:

Which is more than good enough to compete as a top player in the VHLM. Extremely balanced and still allows a lot of room to focus on really anything you want to in the future leagues.

The new TPE system has been implemented for a handful of seasons now, and I feel that a fair amount of people have a solid grasp on it. For those who don’t, then this may be for you
 
STHS Ratios
Every stat has a ratio attached to it that impacts an aspect of your game. These ratios are different for each stat and being knowledgeable of them will help you maximize your TPE allocation. Let’s focus on scoring for this. 
As you can see, there are 3 stats that affect scoring: Offensive Vision, Slap Shot, and Wrist Shot. The numbers correlate to the stat boost for each TPE level you put into the stat, so every level you have in offensive vision will add 0.3 to your scoring. 
 
Levels and TPE
If TPE levels were linear, then getting to the max level would be super easy; however, it’s a gradual process. 
 

 
Based on the scale, it costs:
- 70 TPE for 0 - 70
- 10 TPE for 70 - 75
- 15 TPE for 75 - 80
- 50 TPE for 80 - 90
- 40 TPE for 90 - 95
- 40 TPE for 95 - 99
225 TPE to max 1 stat
 
And while the cost of TPE increases for each level, the ratios stay the same.
 
Ratio Scaling
Due to the increasing cost of levels and the stagnant ratios, dedicating all TPE to one stat in a category is worse than spreading it out

 
Let’s say you’re a VHLM player that wants to max out their scoring stat (limited to 200 TPE). What one might do is put all their TPE into offensive vision, having them hit level 96 and Scoring would be at 68.8. The alternative method is to spread out the TPE across all scoring stats, and put 80 TPE into offensive vision (Level 75), 70 TPE into Slap Shot (Level 70), and 50 TPE into Wrist Shot (Level 50), which would cause scoring to be at 76.9, about 8 better than putting everything into one stat. When you’re focusing on boosting stats, make sure NOT to max a single stat without first adding to other stats in the same categories
 
Full Scale
Breakdown of all categories and subsequent stats that add into them. Keep in mind there are some categories that are pretty much useless. Categories you can pretty much ignore are Discipline, Leadership, Penalty Shot (it’ll be boosted when you increase your scoring anyways), Faceoffs (unless you’re a center), checking somewhat, and fighting (unless you’re a goon). Important stats to focus on are Puck Handling (gotta hold onto the puck), Defense (helps with positioning), skating (speed), passing and/or scoring (gotta get points somehow), and strength (keep balance better).

 
Best Allocation for the VHLM
Since this is mainly geared towards newer players, I’d also like to provide my subjective view on a super good build for the M that can also be used as a starting template for the upper leagues. With 200 TPE max, I would allocate:
- 60 TPE into Stick Handling (Boosts both Puck Handling and Skating)
- 50 TPE into Poke Checking (Boosts both Defense and Strength)
- 20 TPE into Speed (Boosts only Skating)
- 70 TPE into Offensive Vision (Boosts both Passing and Scoring)
 
This allocation will result in a stat line of:

Which is more than good enough to compete as a top player in the VHLM. Extremely balanced and still allows a lot of room to focus on really anything you want to in the future leagues.

I'll apply

Only the best and most elite quarter of the league though

Applying

Applying

Applying for both

We spoke earlier about the draft, and spoke about it's successes, and after the draft completed, the roster still had to make some final changes to be considered 'complete' also. The first big step was signing the rookies that LA intended to have play up, and then of course just fill out the roster as best they could. This season, is going to be the season of rookies as Cameron Elsby @Spence King makes the jump to the pro league after officially signing an extension with the club, as well as Art Vandelay @Gustav (1st OA pick) and Callum Murray @Berocka (3rd OA Pick). Returning teammates included Finn Davis @M1nT, Nic McMuffin @Ente2997, DB III @wcats, Deagun Rust @Spade18 and Barron Kruulenstein @LefLop. As also mentioned in our previous article, James Glove Dropper @Jamomayo joined the team and now... Bob Vladovechsenkchushkin @Grape has filled out the roster. 
 
6 Forwards, 4 Defenders & 1 Goalie... this team looks like a dream. While they may be underdogs and may look less fierce than some of the other rosters, the LA Stars do plan to make a push this season & especially next season as they look to continue to grow together. 

1. Basically just show them around the city and get dinner with them. Make them accustomed to the area and feel like a part of the team.
2. I have an underwater bunker at the bottom of Lake Mälaren. It only emerges in the winter when the lake freezes over. The town is unaware of its existence and therefore I don't need to pay property taxes
3. The most powerful exercise that one can do is a power clean. Not only does it work multiple muscle groups, but doing it just makes you feel like an absolute sigma male.
4. Slapper above the circle, celly with a glove twirl and point.
5. One cannot go wrong with a good steak.
6. Probably end up around 2nd in the league. Defense is one of the best in the league but offense is around 3rd. Should be a good season for sure.

Love the rankings. Personally I think you're overvaluing goalies a bit too much. Istanbul should be #2. Goalies at this range don't really have too much of an influence, so long as they're serviceable.

It's hard to rank over potential. These rankings are based on where they are now, not where they will be during the season. Teams can look very different at the start of the year. I mean, when I started my sheets last season, Saskatoon was ranked near the bottom for a good bit, but they were claiming really well and consistently rose in the rankings, eventually becoming a top ranked team. With all of these before the season starting, it is better to take it with a grain of salt. So much can change week by week

With the massive influx of players in the VHLM due to the draft now assigned to their teams, with plenty more in free agency soon to be added, the rankings have been jumbled and shifted, with last season’s top teams moving down and the bad teams moving up, and a ton of potential with each squad. There is plenty of room for these placements to change, and one could argue for really any team to be at the very least competitive. Of course, some teams will eventually be able to be ruled out once the season actually starts. The losses have to go somewhere after all.
 

10. Mexico City Kings
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 8
Mexico is one of the smaller rosters in the league right now, and also one of the weakest. They are the only team in the league as of now that does not have two or more defensemen, which hurts the team significantly. They are also the only team that lacks a goaltender. The lack of a goaltender is something that cannot be overlooked lightly. There is one in free agency that is at least starter level. Bringing them in could definitely improve this team in the rankings. The same can be said with acquiring a defenseman as well. Where the team is at now, however, this team is not a threat.
 

9. Philadelphia Reapers
Offense Rank: 9
Defense Rank: 9
Philadelphia is a very weak team at this point, BUT they have a goaltender, and a pretty good one at that. They boast a pretty solid defensive core, although pretty low on TPE, growth is the main focus for this team. I doubt this team will be very competitive, but they should look pretty good going into next season. They are likely to sell off a few pieces, as some will hit the 200 TPE cap before the end of the season, to make a legit push for the next season.
 

8. Mississauga Hounds
Offense Rank: 10
Defense Rank: 4
Mississauga could definitely be a team to make great strides for this season. As of now, the majority of their forwards are fresh out of the draft, so there is not much TPE to go around between them. Their defense is much more established and is definitely the strength of the team. If their forwards put a great effort in claiming, this team could be a decent threat.
 

7. Saskatoon Wild
Offense Rank: 3
Defense Rank: 10
The typical regression after a successful season. Their forward strength maintained a solid form, obviously a step back but still should be formidable. The massive weak spot (and I mean massive) on the team is the defense. A defense TPE average of 58 is not something a team can compete with. While their offense might keep them in the hunt, their defense will hold them back from truly competing.
 

6. San Diego Marlins
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 6
San Diego has a pretty average offense and defense at this point. What is big for this squad is that they almost have a full roster, and having most of those players already in the 100s. This team could definitely sneak up on some other squads if growth and building goes right. They should look good for this season and the next, so long as claiming goes right.
 

5. Houston Bulls
Offense Rank: 5
Defense Rank: 7
Houston boasts a slightly more experienced squad than other teams, may it also be one of the more depleted rosters still primed for competition. They are at a bit of a crossroads, as while they would definitely make the playoffs as of now, they also likely won’t be able to compete. Should they make a push for the Cup, or sell off at the deadline? It all depends on how they sim. They could certainly go either way.
 

4. Halifax 21st
Offense Rank: 8
Defense Rank: 2
Halifax actually broke my spreadsheet. I only have room for a max of twelve players for each position, and Halifax has FOURTEEN forwards. So many forwards, probably should have drafted more defensemen, but I digress. One could look at that initial offense rank and wonder why this team is ranked so high, and it is mainly due to potential. Their offense is brought down because of the guys fresh out of the draft in the 60s TPE, whereas removing those guys, the ranking is boosted. This team could 100% be a strong, competitive team, so long as their players stay active and keep claiming. While weak now, they should be an absolute unit as the season progresses. 
 

3. Miami Marauders
Offense Rank: 4
Defense Rank: 3
Miami is similar to Houston, in the fact that their roster is smaller, but with a higher TPE. This team has a higher likelihood to make a push than sell off than Houston, in my opinion. A lot of this team will likely be leaving after this season, and they will likely be very good coming out of the gate. Of course, over the course of the season, this team could slip, as their players hit the cap while other teams keep growing, boasting more depth as well. At the very least, playoffs are a guarantee.
 

2. Las Vegas Aces
Offense Rank: 1
Defense Rank: 5
Las Vegas showcases a very strong offense right out of the gate, with their defense lagging behind slightly. Pretty much the entirety of this team will be gone come next season, so the time to compete is now. This team is going to be very competitive throughout the season, and likely going to get stronger through free agency and the deadline. It is definitely the year to go all in and break the bank.
 

1. Ottawa Lynx
Offense Rank: 2
Defense Rank: 1
Ottawa, while another smallish roster, is arguably the strongest, most balanced team as of now. High TPE players on both sides. It is another team that will have pretty much no players by next season, and also another team that should go all in for this year, mainly focusing on adding to their forward core to compete with the strong Vegas lineup as well as the deep up-and-coming teams below them. 
 
These rankings were surprisingly difficult to actually make because so few teams were balanced on both offense and defense, with a lot of variation between the two cores. Of course, that should be the expectation coming out of the draft, with retended players being stronger and the team drafting a position of need (where the retention was not), teams are going to look unbalanced. This is also one of the more deep teams I have seen in the VHLM, with a decent amount of parity as of now. This should be a pretty good season to view and plenty of fluctuations should occur in the rankings. I really do not see a real clear-cut contender coming into the season, with many teams definitely in the picture. All-in-all, this should be a pretty good season for the VHLM.
 
(word count: 1181)

With the massive influx of players in the VHLM due to the draft now assigned to their teams, with plenty more in free agency soon to be added, the rankings have been jumbled and shifted, with last season’s top teams moving down and the bad teams moving up, and a ton of potential with each squad. There is plenty of room for these placements to change, and one could argue for really any team to be at the very least competitive. Of course, some teams will eventually be able to be ruled out once the season actually starts. The losses have to go somewhere after all.
 

10. Mexico City Kings
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 8
Mexico is one of the smaller rosters in the league right now, and also one of the weakest. They are the only team in the league as of now that does not have two or more defensemen, which hurts the team significantly. They are also the only team that lacks a goaltender. The lack of a goaltender is something that cannot be overlooked lightly. There is one in free agency that is at least starter level. Bringing them in could definitely improve this team in the rankings. The same can be said with acquiring a defenseman as well. Where the team is at now, however, this team is not a threat.
 

9. Philadelphia Reapers
Offense Rank: 9
Defense Rank: 9
Philadelphia is a very weak team at this point, BUT they have a goaltender, and a pretty good one at that. They boast a pretty solid defensive core, although pretty low on TPE, growth is the main focus for this team. I doubt this team will be very competitive, but they should look pretty good going into next season. They are likely to sell off a few pieces, as some will hit the 200 TPE cap before the end of the season, to make a legit push for the next season.
 

8. Mississauga Hounds
Offense Rank: 10
Defense Rank: 4
Mississauga could definitely be a team to make great strides for this season. As of now, the majority of their forwards are fresh out of the draft, so there is not much TPE to go around between them. Their defense is much more established and is definitely the strength of the team. If their forwards put a great effort in claiming, this team could be a decent threat.
 

7. Saskatoon Wild
Offense Rank: 3
Defense Rank: 10
The typical regression after a successful season. Their forward strength maintained a solid form, obviously a step back but still should be formidable. The massive weak spot (and I mean massive) on the team is the defense. A defense TPE average of 58 is not something a team can compete with. While their offense might keep them in the hunt, their defense will hold them back from truly competing.
 

6. San Diego Marlins
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 6
San Diego has a pretty average offense and defense at this point. What is big for this squad is that they almost have a full roster, and having most of those players already in the 100s. This team could definitely sneak up on some other squads if growth and building goes right. They should look good for this season and the next, so long as claiming goes right.
 

5. Houston Bulls
Offense Rank: 5
Defense Rank: 7
Houston boasts a slightly more experienced squad than other teams, may it also be one of the more depleted rosters still primed for competition. They are at a bit of a crossroads, as while they would definitely make the playoffs as of now, they also likely won’t be able to compete. Should they make a push for the Cup, or sell off at the deadline? It all depends on how they sim. They could certainly go either way.
 

4. Halifax 21st
Offense Rank: 8
Defense Rank: 2
Halifax actually broke my spreadsheet. I only have room for a max of twelve players for each position, and Halifax has FOURTEEN forwards. So many forwards, probably should have drafted more defensemen, but I digress. One could look at that initial offense rank and wonder why this team is ranked so high, and it is mainly due to potential. Their offense is brought down because of the guys fresh out of the draft in the 60s TPE, whereas removing those guys, the ranking is boosted. This team could 100% be a strong, competitive team, so long as their players stay active and keep claiming. While weak now, they should be an absolute unit as the season progresses. 
 

3. Miami Marauders
Offense Rank: 4
Defense Rank: 3
Miami is similar to Houston, in the fact that their roster is smaller, but with a higher TPE. This team has a higher likelihood to make a push than sell off than Houston, in my opinion. A lot of this team will likely be leaving after this season, and they will likely be very good coming out of the gate. Of course, over the course of the season, this team could slip, as their players hit the cap while other teams keep growing, boasting more depth as well. At the very least, playoffs are a guarantee.
 

2. Las Vegas Aces
Offense Rank: 1
Defense Rank: 5
Las Vegas showcases a very strong offense right out of the gate, with their defense lagging behind slightly. Pretty much the entirety of this team will be gone come next season, so the time to compete is now. This team is going to be very competitive throughout the season, and likely going to get stronger through free agency and the deadline. It is definitely the year to go all in and break the bank.
 

1. Ottawa Lynx
Offense Rank: 2
Defense Rank: 1
Ottawa, while another smallish roster, is arguably the strongest, most balanced team as of now. High TPE players on both sides. It is another team that will have pretty much no players by next season, and also another team that should go all in for this year, mainly focusing on adding to their forward core to compete with the strong Vegas lineup as well as the deep up-and-coming teams below them. 
 
These rankings were surprisingly difficult to actually make because so few teams were balanced on both offense and defense, with a lot of variation between the two cores. Of course, that should be the expectation coming out of the draft, with retended players being stronger and the team drafting a position of need (where the retention was not), teams are going to look unbalanced. This is also one of the more deep teams I have seen in the VHLM, with a decent amount of parity as of now. This should be a pretty good season to view and plenty of fluctuations should occur in the rankings. I really do not see a real clear-cut contender coming into the season, with many teams definitely in the picture. All-in-all, this should be a pretty good season for the VHLM.
 
(word count: 1181)

With the massive influx of players in the VHLM due to the draft now assigned to their teams, with plenty more in free agency soon to be added, the rankings have been jumbled and shifted, with last season’s top teams moving down and the bad teams moving up, and a ton of potential with each squad. There is plenty of room for these placements to change, and one could argue for really any team to be at the very least competitive. Of course, some teams will eventually be able to be ruled out once the season actually starts. The losses have to go somewhere after all.
 

10. Mexico City Kings
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 8
Mexico is one of the smaller rosters in the league right now, and also one of the weakest. They are the only team in the league as of now that does not have two or more defensemen, which hurts the team significantly. They are also the only team that lacks a goaltender. The lack of a goaltender is something that cannot be overlooked lightly. There is one in free agency that is at least starter level. Bringing them in could definitely improve this team in the rankings. The same can be said with acquiring a defenseman as well. Where the team is at now, however, this team is not a threat.
 

9. Philadelphia Reapers
Offense Rank: 9
Defense Rank: 9
Philadelphia is a very weak team at this point, BUT they have a goaltender, and a pretty good one at that. They boast a pretty solid defensive core, although pretty low on TPE, growth is the main focus for this team. I doubt this team will be very competitive, but they should look pretty good going into next season. They are likely to sell off a few pieces, as some will hit the 200 TPE cap before the end of the season, to make a legit push for the next season.
 

8. Mississauga Hounds
Offense Rank: 10
Defense Rank: 4
Mississauga could definitely be a team to make great strides for this season. As of now, the majority of their forwards are fresh out of the draft, so there is not much TPE to go around between them. Their defense is much more established and is definitely the strength of the team. If their forwards put a great effort in claiming, this team could be a decent threat.
 

7. Saskatoon Wild
Offense Rank: 3
Defense Rank: 10
The typical regression after a successful season. Their forward strength maintained a solid form, obviously a step back but still should be formidable. The massive weak spot (and I mean massive) on the team is the defense. A defense TPE average of 58 is not something a team can compete with. While their offense might keep them in the hunt, their defense will hold them back from truly competing.
 

6. San Diego Marlins
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 6
San Diego has a pretty average offense and defense at this point. What is big for this squad is that they almost have a full roster, and having most of those players already in the 100s. This team could definitely sneak up on some other squads if growth and building goes right. They should look good for this season and the next, so long as claiming goes right.
 

5. Houston Bulls
Offense Rank: 5
Defense Rank: 7
Houston boasts a slightly more experienced squad than other teams, may it also be one of the more depleted rosters still primed for competition. They are at a bit of a crossroads, as while they would definitely make the playoffs as of now, they also likely won’t be able to compete. Should they make a push for the Cup, or sell off at the deadline? It all depends on how they sim. They could certainly go either way.
 

4. Halifax 21st
Offense Rank: 8
Defense Rank: 2
Halifax actually broke my spreadsheet. I only have room for a max of twelve players for each position, and Halifax has FOURTEEN forwards. So many forwards, probably should have drafted more defensemen, but I digress. One could look at that initial offense rank and wonder why this team is ranked so high, and it is mainly due to potential. Their offense is brought down because of the guys fresh out of the draft in the 60s TPE, whereas removing those guys, the ranking is boosted. This team could 100% be a strong, competitive team, so long as their players stay active and keep claiming. While weak now, they should be an absolute unit as the season progresses. 
 

3. Miami Marauders
Offense Rank: 4
Defense Rank: 3
Miami is similar to Houston, in the fact that their roster is smaller, but with a higher TPE. This team has a higher likelihood to make a push than sell off than Houston, in my opinion. A lot of this team will likely be leaving after this season, and they will likely be very good coming out of the gate. Of course, over the course of the season, this team could slip, as their players hit the cap while other teams keep growing, boasting more depth as well. At the very least, playoffs are a guarantee.
 

2. Las Vegas Aces
Offense Rank: 1
Defense Rank: 5
Las Vegas showcases a very strong offense right out of the gate, with their defense lagging behind slightly. Pretty much the entirety of this team will be gone come next season, so the time to compete is now. This team is going to be very competitive throughout the season, and likely going to get stronger through free agency and the deadline. It is definitely the year to go all in and break the bank.
 

1. Ottawa Lynx
Offense Rank: 2
Defense Rank: 1
Ottawa, while another smallish roster, is arguably the strongest, most balanced team as of now. High TPE players on both sides. It is another team that will have pretty much no players by next season, and also another team that should go all in for this year, mainly focusing on adding to their forward core to compete with the strong Vegas lineup as well as the deep up-and-coming teams below them. 
 
These rankings were surprisingly difficult to actually make because so few teams were balanced on both offense and defense, with a lot of variation between the two cores. Of course, that should be the expectation coming out of the draft, with retended players being stronger and the team drafting a position of need (where the retention was not), teams are going to look unbalanced. This is also one of the more deep teams I have seen in the VHLM, with a decent amount of parity as of now. This should be a pretty good season to view and plenty of fluctuations should occur in the rankings. I really do not see a real clear-cut contender coming into the season, with many teams definitely in the picture. All-in-all, this should be a pretty good season for the VHLM.
 
(word count: 1181)

With the massive influx of players in the VHLM due to the draft now assigned to their teams, with plenty more in free agency soon to be added, the rankings have been jumbled and shifted, with last season’s top teams moving down and the bad teams moving up, and a ton of potential with each squad. There is plenty of room for these placements to change, and one could argue for really any team to be at the very least competitive. Of course, some teams will eventually be able to be ruled out once the season actually starts. The losses have to go somewhere after all.
 

10. Mexico City Kings
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 8
Mexico is one of the smaller rosters in the league right now, and also one of the weakest. They are the only team in the league as of now that does not have two or more defensemen, which hurts the team significantly. They are also the only team that lacks a goaltender. The lack of a goaltender is something that cannot be overlooked lightly. There is one in free agency that is at least starter level. Bringing them in could definitely improve this team in the rankings. The same can be said with acquiring a defenseman as well. Where the team is at now, however, this team is not a threat.
 

9. Philadelphia Reapers
Offense Rank: 9
Defense Rank: 9
Philadelphia is a very weak team at this point, BUT they have a goaltender, and a pretty good one at that. They boast a pretty solid defensive core, although pretty low on TPE, growth is the main focus for this team. I doubt this team will be very competitive, but they should look pretty good going into next season. They are likely to sell off a few pieces, as some will hit the 200 TPE cap before the end of the season, to make a legit push for the next season.
 

8. Mississauga Hounds
Offense Rank: 10
Defense Rank: 4
Mississauga could definitely be a team to make great strides for this season. As of now, the majority of their forwards are fresh out of the draft, so there is not much TPE to go around between them. Their defense is much more established and is definitely the strength of the team. If their forwards put a great effort in claiming, this team could be a decent threat.
 

7. Saskatoon Wild
Offense Rank: 3
Defense Rank: 10
The typical regression after a successful season. Their forward strength maintained a solid form, obviously a step back but still should be formidable. The massive weak spot (and I mean massive) on the team is the defense. A defense TPE average of 58 is not something a team can compete with. While their offense might keep them in the hunt, their defense will hold them back from truly competing.
 

6. San Diego Marlins
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 6
San Diego has a pretty average offense and defense at this point. What is big for this squad is that they almost have a full roster, and having most of those players already in the 100s. This team could definitely sneak up on some other squads if growth and building goes right. They should look good for this season and the next, so long as claiming goes right.
 

5. Houston Bulls
Offense Rank: 5
Defense Rank: 7
Houston boasts a slightly more experienced squad than other teams, may it also be one of the more depleted rosters still primed for competition. They are at a bit of a crossroads, as while they would definitely make the playoffs as of now, they also likely won’t be able to compete. Should they make a push for the Cup, or sell off at the deadline? It all depends on how they sim. They could certainly go either way.
 

4. Halifax 21st
Offense Rank: 8
Defense Rank: 2
Halifax actually broke my spreadsheet. I only have room for a max of twelve players for each position, and Halifax has FOURTEEN forwards. So many forwards, probably should have drafted more defensemen, but I digress. One could look at that initial offense rank and wonder why this team is ranked so high, and it is mainly due to potential. Their offense is brought down because of the guys fresh out of the draft in the 60s TPE, whereas removing those guys, the ranking is boosted. This team could 100% be a strong, competitive team, so long as their players stay active and keep claiming. While weak now, they should be an absolute unit as the season progresses. 
 

3. Miami Marauders
Offense Rank: 4
Defense Rank: 3
Miami is similar to Houston, in the fact that their roster is smaller, but with a higher TPE. This team has a higher likelihood to make a push than sell off than Houston, in my opinion. A lot of this team will likely be leaving after this season, and they will likely be very good coming out of the gate. Of course, over the course of the season, this team could slip, as their players hit the cap while other teams keep growing, boasting more depth as well. At the very least, playoffs are a guarantee.
 

2. Las Vegas Aces
Offense Rank: 1
Defense Rank: 5
Las Vegas showcases a very strong offense right out of the gate, with their defense lagging behind slightly. Pretty much the entirety of this team will be gone come next season, so the time to compete is now. This team is going to be very competitive throughout the season, and likely going to get stronger through free agency and the deadline. It is definitely the year to go all in and break the bank.
 

1. Ottawa Lynx
Offense Rank: 2
Defense Rank: 1
Ottawa, while another smallish roster, is arguably the strongest, most balanced team as of now. High TPE players on both sides. It is another team that will have pretty much no players by next season, and also another team that should go all in for this year, mainly focusing on adding to their forward core to compete with the strong Vegas lineup as well as the deep up-and-coming teams below them. 
 
These rankings were surprisingly difficult to actually make because so few teams were balanced on both offense and defense, with a lot of variation between the two cores. Of course, that should be the expectation coming out of the draft, with retended players being stronger and the team drafting a position of need (where the retention was not), teams are going to look unbalanced. This is also one of the more deep teams I have seen in the VHLM, with a decent amount of parity as of now. This should be a pretty good season to view and plenty of fluctuations should occur in the rankings. I really do not see a real clear-cut contender coming into the season, with many teams definitely in the picture. All-in-all, this should be a pretty good season for the VHLM.
 
(word count: 1181)

With the massive influx of players in the VHLM due to the draft now assigned to their teams, with plenty more in free agency soon to be added, the rankings have been jumbled and shifted, with last season’s top teams moving down and the bad teams moving up, and a ton of potential with each squad. There is plenty of room for these placements to change, and one could argue for really any team to be at the very least competitive. Of course, some teams will eventually be able to be ruled out once the season actually starts. The losses have to go somewhere after all.
 

10. Mexico City Kings
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 8
Mexico is one of the smaller rosters in the league right now, and also one of the weakest. They are the only team in the league as of now that does not have two or more defensemen, which hurts the team significantly. They are also the only team that lacks a goaltender. The lack of a goaltender is something that cannot be overlooked lightly. There is one in free agency that is at least starter level. Bringing them in could definitely improve this team in the rankings. The same can be said with acquiring a defenseman as well. Where the team is at now, however, this team is not a threat.
 

9. Philadelphia Reapers
Offense Rank: 9
Defense Rank: 9
Philadelphia is a very weak team at this point, BUT they have a goaltender, and a pretty good one at that. They boast a pretty solid defensive core, although pretty low on TPE, growth is the main focus for this team. I doubt this team will be very competitive, but they should look pretty good going into next season. They are likely to sell off a few pieces, as some will hit the 200 TPE cap before the end of the season, to make a legit push for the next season.
 

8. Mississauga Hounds
Offense Rank: 10
Defense Rank: 4
Mississauga could definitely be a team to make great strides for this season. As of now, the majority of their forwards are fresh out of the draft, so there is not much TPE to go around between them. Their defense is much more established and is definitely the strength of the team. If their forwards put a great effort in claiming, this team could be a decent threat.
 

7. Saskatoon Wild
Offense Rank: 3
Defense Rank: 10
The typical regression after a successful season. Their forward strength maintained a solid form, obviously a step back but still should be formidable. The massive weak spot (and I mean massive) on the team is the defense. A defense TPE average of 58 is not something a team can compete with. While their offense might keep them in the hunt, their defense will hold them back from truly competing.
 

6. San Diego Marlins
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 6
San Diego has a pretty average offense and defense at this point. What is big for this squad is that they almost have a full roster, and having most of those players already in the 100s. This team could definitely sneak up on some other squads if growth and building goes right. They should look good for this season and the next, so long as claiming goes right.
 

5. Houston Bulls
Offense Rank: 5
Defense Rank: 7
Houston boasts a slightly more experienced squad than other teams, may it also be one of the more depleted rosters still primed for competition. They are at a bit of a crossroads, as while they would definitely make the playoffs as of now, they also likely won’t be able to compete. Should they make a push for the Cup, or sell off at the deadline? It all depends on how they sim. They could certainly go either way.
 

4. Halifax 21st
Offense Rank: 8
Defense Rank: 2
Halifax actually broke my spreadsheet. I only have room for a max of twelve players for each position, and Halifax has FOURTEEN forwards. So many forwards, probably should have drafted more defensemen, but I digress. One could look at that initial offense rank and wonder why this team is ranked so high, and it is mainly due to potential. Their offense is brought down because of the guys fresh out of the draft in the 60s TPE, whereas removing those guys, the ranking is boosted. This team could 100% be a strong, competitive team, so long as their players stay active and keep claiming. While weak now, they should be an absolute unit as the season progresses. 
 

3. Miami Marauders
Offense Rank: 4
Defense Rank: 3
Miami is similar to Houston, in the fact that their roster is smaller, but with a higher TPE. This team has a higher likelihood to make a push than sell off than Houston, in my opinion. A lot of this team will likely be leaving after this season, and they will likely be very good coming out of the gate. Of course, over the course of the season, this team could slip, as their players hit the cap while other teams keep growing, boasting more depth as well. At the very least, playoffs are a guarantee.
 

2. Las Vegas Aces
Offense Rank: 1
Defense Rank: 5
Las Vegas showcases a very strong offense right out of the gate, with their defense lagging behind slightly. Pretty much the entirety of this team will be gone come next season, so the time to compete is now. This team is going to be very competitive throughout the season, and likely going to get stronger through free agency and the deadline. It is definitely the year to go all in and break the bank.
 

1. Ottawa Lynx
Offense Rank: 2
Defense Rank: 1
Ottawa, while another smallish roster, is arguably the strongest, most balanced team as of now. High TPE players on both sides. It is another team that will have pretty much no players by next season, and also another team that should go all in for this year, mainly focusing on adding to their forward core to compete with the strong Vegas lineup as well as the deep up-and-coming teams below them. 
 
These rankings were surprisingly difficult to actually make because so few teams were balanced on both offense and defense, with a lot of variation between the two cores. Of course, that should be the expectation coming out of the draft, with retended players being stronger and the team drafting a position of need (where the retention was not), teams are going to look unbalanced. This is also one of the more deep teams I have seen in the VHLM, with a decent amount of parity as of now. This should be a pretty good season to view and plenty of fluctuations should occur in the rankings. I really do not see a real clear-cut contender coming into the season, with many teams definitely in the picture. All-in-all, this should be a pretty good season for the VHLM.
 
(word count: 1181)

With the massive influx of players in the VHLM due to the draft now assigned to their teams, with plenty more in free agency soon to be added, the rankings have been jumbled and shifted, with last season’s top teams moving down and the bad teams moving up, and a ton of potential with each squad. There is plenty of room for these placements to change, and one could argue for really any team to be at the very least competitive. Of course, some teams will eventually be able to be ruled out once the season actually starts. The losses have to go somewhere after all.
 

10. Mexico City Kings
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 8
Mexico is one of the smaller rosters in the league right now, and also one of the weakest. They are the only team in the league as of now that does not have two or more defensemen, which hurts the team significantly. They are also the only team that lacks a goaltender. The lack of a goaltender is something that cannot be overlooked lightly. There is one in free agency that is at least starter level. Bringing them in could definitely improve this team in the rankings. The same can be said with acquiring a defenseman as well. Where the team is at now, however, this team is not a threat.
 

9. Philadelphia Reapers
Offense Rank: 9
Defense Rank: 9
Philadelphia is a very weak team at this point, BUT they have a goaltender, and a pretty good one at that. They boast a pretty solid defensive core, although pretty low on TPE, growth is the main focus for this team. I doubt this team will be very competitive, but they should look pretty good going into next season. They are likely to sell off a few pieces, as some will hit the 200 TPE cap before the end of the season, to make a legit push for the next season.
 

8. Mississauga Hounds
Offense Rank: 10
Defense Rank: 4
Mississauga could definitely be a team to make great strides for this season. As of now, the majority of their forwards are fresh out of the draft, so there is not much TPE to go around between them. Their defense is much more established and is definitely the strength of the team. If their forwards put a great effort in claiming, this team could be a decent threat.
 

7. Saskatoon Wild
Offense Rank: 3
Defense Rank: 10
The typical regression after a successful season. Their forward strength maintained a solid form, obviously a step back but still should be formidable. The massive weak spot (and I mean massive) on the team is the defense. A defense TPE average of 58 is not something a team can compete with. While their offense might keep them in the hunt, their defense will hold them back from truly competing.
 

6. San Diego Marlins
Offense Rank: 6.5
Defense Rank: 6
San Diego has a pretty average offense and defense at this point. What is big for this squad is that they almost have a full roster, and having most of those players already in the 100s. This team could definitely sneak up on some other squads if growth and building goes right. They should look good for this season and the next, so long as claiming goes right.
 

5. Houston Bulls
Offense Rank: 5
Defense Rank: 7
Houston boasts a slightly more experienced squad than other teams, may it also be one of the more depleted rosters still primed for competition. They are at a bit of a crossroads, as while they would definitely make the playoffs as of now, they also likely won’t be able to compete. Should they make a push for the Cup, or sell off at the deadline? It all depends on how they sim. They could certainly go either way.
 

4. Halifax 21st
Offense Rank: 8
Defense Rank: 2
Halifax actually broke my spreadsheet. I only have room for a max of twelve players for each position, and Halifax has FOURTEEN forwards. So many forwards, probably should have drafted more defensemen, but I digress. One could look at that initial offense rank and wonder why this team is ranked so high, and it is mainly due to potential. Their offense is brought down because of the guys fresh out of the draft in the 60s TPE, whereas removing those guys, the ranking is boosted. This team could 100% be a strong, competitive team, so long as their players stay active and keep claiming. While weak now, they should be an absolute unit as the season progresses. 
 

3. Miami Marauders
Offense Rank: 4
Defense Rank: 3
Miami is similar to Houston, in the fact that their roster is smaller, but with a higher TPE. This team has a higher likelihood to make a push than sell off than Houston, in my opinion. A lot of this team will likely be leaving after this season, and they will likely be very good coming out of the gate. Of course, over the course of the season, this team could slip, as their players hit the cap while other teams keep growing, boasting more depth as well. At the very least, playoffs are a guarantee.
 

2. Las Vegas Aces
Offense Rank: 1
Defense Rank: 5
Las Vegas showcases a very strong offense right out of the gate, with their defense lagging behind slightly. Pretty much the entirety of this team will be gone come next season, so the time to compete is now. This team is going to be very competitive throughout the season, and likely going to get stronger through free agency and the deadline. It is definitely the year to go all in and break the bank.
 

1. Ottawa Lynx
Offense Rank: 2
Defense Rank: 1
Ottawa, while another smallish roster, is arguably the strongest, most balanced team as of now. High TPE players on both sides. It is another team that will have pretty much no players by next season, and also another team that should go all in for this year, mainly focusing on adding to their forward core to compete with the strong Vegas lineup as well as the deep up-and-coming teams below them. 
 
These rankings were surprisingly difficult to actually make because so few teams were balanced on both offense and defense, with a lot of variation between the two cores. Of course, that should be the expectation coming out of the draft, with retended players being stronger and the team drafting a position of need (where the retention was not), teams are going to look unbalanced. This is also one of the more deep teams I have seen in the VHLM, with a decent amount of parity as of now. This should be a pretty good season to view and plenty of fluctuations should occur in the rankings. I really do not see a real clear-cut contender coming into the season, with many teams definitely in the picture. All-in-all, this should be a pretty good season for the VHLM.
 
(word count: 1181)