Grape

Disclaimer: Numbers not completely up to date. Calculations were made at the beginning of the week.
 

Mexico City Kings
Current Ranking: 8
My Ranking: 10
 
Mexico City is clearly the worst team in the VHLM at this time. They have the weakest forward group and defense group, and the only shining spot on their team is in goal. It’s pretty obvious that this is a tank season for the Kings, hoping to snag some top tier talent in the draft, and with the removal of the draft lottery due to the promotion of 2 VHLM teams to the VHLE, that’s pretty much guaranteed. In terms of draft picks, they hold all their picks plus an extra 5th and 6th. With few players primed to graduate to the VHLE next season, they could be a top end team by next season. Selling off the few pieces they have could give them an extra kick in terms of draft capital. Feel free to dismiss this team for this season, but beware of them next season.
 

Miami Marauders
Current Ranking: 10
My Ranking: 9
 
While Miami is definitely better than Mexico City, it’s not by much. Their offense, defense, and goaltending are all 9th on my list, basically determining the Marauders as the 9th best team in the league. Just like Mexico City, it's tank season. In terms of draft picks, they hold all theirs but their 6th, but also have an extra 4th and 5th. Examining the team, however, there appears to be more pieces they could sell off. They have several players, at least one for each position who could be moved. Nevertheless, Miami and Mexico are in a tank competition, and with the assets Miami holds, they could very well stay 10th and beat out Mexico for 1st overall.


Las Vegas
Current Ranking: 4
My Ranking: 8
 
This team pisses me off. Now I know my numbers are a bit outdated, but they have not improved enough within the week to be doing this well in the league. Their forwards and defense are below average, yet they’re finding success. It is still early in the season and teams are usually jumbled around. Some start hot and some start cold, and in the case of Las Vegas, they’ve come bursting into this season. I expect them to cool down and sink near the bottom of the standings. I doubt they’ll sell any pieces. The start they’ve gone on will likely cause the team to buy some much needed star talent to boost their forward core. If they can get some big TPA players on both offense and defense, they’ll be justified sitting near the top; as of right now, however, I’m just waiting for them to burn out.


Mississauga Hounds
Current Ranking: 2
My Ranking: 7
 
Mississauga is similar to Las Vegas in that despite their relatively weak roster, they’re finding a great deal of success. Both offense and defense are below average, and the roster isn’t fully fleshed out. If this team wants to maintain its position in the league, it needs to bring in some high level talent. Much like Las Vegas, without any big changes made, I fully expect this team to fall off.


Philadelphia Reapers
Current Ranking: 5
My Ranking: 6
 
Despite both the offense and defense being ranked 7th on my standings (outdated likely but kiss my ass), I see them finishing one above those rankings as 6th. During the week in which I was a lazy fucker, they ended trading their top goalie to somewhere (probably Halifax). Even with the downgrade in goal, I’m pretty confident that the team will slot in at 6th.


Saskatoon Wild
Current Ranking: 7
My Ranking: 5
 
Saskatoon looks to be a pretty average team. They’re filled up with mostly rookies, so growth is the main thing going on with the team. They’re not going to be a world beater this season, but should look better next season. If they do decide to go on a run, and they have some pieces there, they’ll need to flesh out their defense and bring in some star forwards, but expectations for this team going into the playoffs are pretty low. 


Halifax 21st
Current Ranking: 9
My Ranking: 4
 
Halifax 100% deserves to be better. They have a very strong offense and an above average defense. The thing that’s killing them right now is goaltending. They NEED a better goalie. No hate towards the ones they have, but they just aren’t high enough TPA to put this team in contention. This is a strong team that’s really just one piece away from having the record of a good team. Make the move Halifax. Just do it so I can feel a little better about my rankings.


San Diego Marlins
Current Ranking: 6
My Ranking: 3
 
San Diego is a very strong looking team. They have very good goaltending and a very formidable defense and an average offense. The biggest thing that San Diego needs to do is bring in some more higher end forwards. Defense and goaltending is very strong, and it’s hard to necessarily find a weak spot in the team, but forward is their weakest area. Of course they’re a step behind the 2 teams ahead of them, but one can only do so much.


Houston Bulls
Current Ranking: 3
My Ranking: 2
 
Houston is a powerhouse of a team. Their offense and defense are both 2nd in the league, and, planning this out, I had their weakness being goaltending, they go out and acquire a high end goaltender. The only thing the team needs to do is finish up their roster, acquiring one more forward and defenseman. They’re not going to be above the 1st place team, that team is an absolute wagon, but they are definitely secured in the number 2 spot.


Ottawa Lynx
Current Ranking: 1
My Ranking: 1
 
Ottawa is a superstar team. There’s always at least one every season, and it’s Ottawa this year. They have the top offense in the league. They have the top defense in the league. They have a very solid goaltender and backup. This team is going to shred up the regular standing, and then probably lose in the 2nd round. All Ottawa needs to do is add some forward depth to finish up their roster, but other than that, it’s easy riding for the rest of the season.

 
Conclusion
Since I was a lazy little boy and didn’t write this shit earlier in the week, the numbers I came up with are a bit outdated; however, my assumption is that everyone grew and applied at an average rate, and therefore teams should be slotted in relatively back in their correct spot. The evaluation lengths felt a bit dwindling the further along I went on this, but there’s only so much one can write about a team. I could go much more in depth with them, but I’m lazy so no thanks.

Words: 1161

Disclaimer: Numbers not completely up to date. Calculations were made at the beginning of the week.
 

Mexico City Kings
Current Ranking: 8
My Ranking: 10
 
Mexico City is clearly the worst team in the VHLM at this time. They have the weakest forward group and defense group, and the only shining spot on their team is in goal. It’s pretty obvious that this is a tank season for the Kings, hoping to snag some top tier talent in the draft, and with the removal of the draft lottery due to the promotion of 2 VHLM teams to the VHLE, that’s pretty much guaranteed. In terms of draft picks, they hold all their picks plus an extra 5th and 6th. With few players primed to graduate to the VHLE next season, they could be a top end team by next season. Selling off the few pieces they have could give them an extra kick in terms of draft capital. Feel free to dismiss this team for this season, but beware of them next season.
 

Miami Marauders
Current Ranking: 10
My Ranking: 9
 
While Miami is definitely better than Mexico City, it’s not by much. Their offense, defense, and goaltending are all 9th on my list, basically determining the Marauders as the 9th best team in the league. Just like Mexico City, it's tank season. In terms of draft picks, they hold all theirs but their 6th, but also have an extra 4th and 5th. Examining the team, however, there appears to be more pieces they could sell off. They have several players, at least one for each position who could be moved. Nevertheless, Miami and Mexico are in a tank competition, and with the assets Miami holds, they could very well stay 10th and beat out Mexico for 1st overall.


Las Vegas
Current Ranking: 4
My Ranking: 8
 
This team pisses me off. Now I know my numbers are a bit outdated, but they have not improved enough within the week to be doing this well in the league. Their forwards and defense are below average, yet they’re finding success. It is still early in the season and teams are usually jumbled around. Some start hot and some start cold, and in the case of Las Vegas, they’ve come bursting into this season. I expect them to cool down and sink near the bottom of the standings. I doubt they’ll sell any pieces. The start they’ve gone on will likely cause the team to buy some much needed star talent to boost their forward core. If they can get some big TPA players on both offense and defense, they’ll be justified sitting near the top; as of right now, however, I’m just waiting for them to burn out.


Mississauga Hounds
Current Ranking: 2
My Ranking: 7
 
Mississauga is similar to Las Vegas in that despite their relatively weak roster, they’re finding a great deal of success. Both offense and defense are below average, and the roster isn’t fully fleshed out. If this team wants to maintain its position in the league, it needs to bring in some high level talent. Much like Las Vegas, without any big changes made, I fully expect this team to fall off.


Philadelphia Reapers
Current Ranking: 5
My Ranking: 6
 
Despite both the offense and defense being ranked 7th on my standings (outdated likely but kiss my ass), I see them finishing one above those rankings as 6th. During the week in which I was a lazy fucker, they ended trading their top goalie to somewhere (probably Halifax). Even with the downgrade in goal, I’m pretty confident that the team will slot in at 6th.


Saskatoon Wild
Current Ranking: 7
My Ranking: 5
 
Saskatoon looks to be a pretty average team. They’re filled up with mostly rookies, so growth is the main thing going on with the team. They’re not going to be a world beater this season, but should look better next season. If they do decide to go on a run, and they have some pieces there, they’ll need to flesh out their defense and bring in some star forwards, but expectations for this team going into the playoffs are pretty low. 


Halifax 21st
Current Ranking: 9
My Ranking: 4
 
Halifax 100% deserves to be better. They have a very strong offense and an above average defense. The thing that’s killing them right now is goaltending. They NEED a better goalie. No hate towards the ones they have, but they just aren’t high enough TPA to put this team in contention. This is a strong team that’s really just one piece away from having the record of a good team. Make the move Halifax. Just do it so I can feel a little better about my rankings.


San Diego Marlins
Current Ranking: 6
My Ranking: 3
 
San Diego is a very strong looking team. They have very good goaltending and a very formidable defense and an average offense. The biggest thing that San Diego needs to do is bring in some more higher end forwards. Defense and goaltending is very strong, and it’s hard to necessarily find a weak spot in the team, but forward is their weakest area. Of course they’re a step behind the 2 teams ahead of them, but one can only do so much.


Houston Bulls
Current Ranking: 3
My Ranking: 2
 
Houston is a powerhouse of a team. Their offense and defense are both 2nd in the league, and, planning this out, I had their weakness being goaltending, they go out and acquire a high end goaltender. The only thing the team needs to do is finish up their roster, acquiring one more forward and defenseman. They’re not going to be above the 1st place team, that team is an absolute wagon, but they are definitely secured in the number 2 spot.


Ottawa Lynx
Current Ranking: 1
My Ranking: 1
 
Ottawa is a superstar team. There’s always at least one every season, and it’s Ottawa this year. They have the top offense in the league. They have the top defense in the league. They have a very solid goaltender and backup. This team is going to shred up the regular standing, and then probably lose in the 2nd round. All Ottawa needs to do is add some forward depth to finish up their roster, but other than that, it’s easy riding for the rest of the season.

 
Conclusion
Since I was a lazy little boy and didn’t write this shit earlier in the week, the numbers I came up with are a bit outdated; however, my assumption is that everyone grew and applied at an average rate, and therefore teams should be slotted in relatively back in their correct spot. The evaluation lengths felt a bit dwindling the further along I went on this, but there’s only so much one can write about a team. I could go much more in depth with them, but I’m lazy so no thanks.

Words: 1161

Disclaimer: Numbers not completely up to date. Calculations were made at the beginning of the week.
 

Mexico City Kings
Current Ranking: 8
My Ranking: 10
 
Mexico City is clearly the worst team in the VHLM at this time. They have the weakest forward group and defense group, and the only shining spot on their team is in goal. It’s pretty obvious that this is a tank season for the Kings, hoping to snag some top tier talent in the draft, and with the removal of the draft lottery due to the promotion of 2 VHLM teams to the VHLE, that’s pretty much guaranteed. In terms of draft picks, they hold all their picks plus an extra 5th and 6th. With few players primed to graduate to the VHLE next season, they could be a top end team by next season. Selling off the few pieces they have could give them an extra kick in terms of draft capital. Feel free to dismiss this team for this season, but beware of them next season.
 

Miami Marauders
Current Ranking: 10
My Ranking: 9
 
While Miami is definitely better than Mexico City, it’s not by much. Their offense, defense, and goaltending are all 9th on my list, basically determining the Marauders as the 9th best team in the league. Just like Mexico City, it's tank season. In terms of draft picks, they hold all theirs but their 6th, but also have an extra 4th and 5th. Examining the team, however, there appears to be more pieces they could sell off. They have several players, at least one for each position who could be moved. Nevertheless, Miami and Mexico are in a tank competition, and with the assets Miami holds, they could very well stay 10th and beat out Mexico for 1st overall.


Las Vegas
Current Ranking: 4
My Ranking: 8
 
This team pisses me off. Now I know my numbers are a bit outdated, but they have not improved enough within the week to be doing this well in the league. Their forwards and defense are below average, yet they’re finding success. It is still early in the season and teams are usually jumbled around. Some start hot and some start cold, and in the case of Las Vegas, they’ve come bursting into this season. I expect them to cool down and sink near the bottom of the standings. I doubt they’ll sell any pieces. The start they’ve gone on will likely cause the team to buy some much needed star talent to boost their forward core. If they can get some big TPA players on both offense and defense, they’ll be justified sitting near the top; as of right now, however, I’m just waiting for them to burn out.


Mississauga Hounds
Current Ranking: 2
My Ranking: 7
 
Mississauga is similar to Las Vegas in that despite their relatively weak roster, they’re finding a great deal of success. Both offense and defense are below average, and the roster isn’t fully fleshed out. If this team wants to maintain its position in the league, it needs to bring in some high level talent. Much like Las Vegas, without any big changes made, I fully expect this team to fall off.


Philadelphia Reapers
Current Ranking: 5
My Ranking: 6
 
Despite both the offense and defense being ranked 7th on my standings (outdated likely but kiss my ass), I see them finishing one above those rankings as 6th. During the week in which I was a lazy fucker, they ended trading their top goalie to somewhere (probably Halifax). Even with the downgrade in goal, I’m pretty confident that the team will slot in at 6th.


Saskatoon Wild
Current Ranking: 7
My Ranking: 5
 
Saskatoon looks to be a pretty average team. They’re filled up with mostly rookies, so growth is the main thing going on with the team. They’re not going to be a world beater this season, but should look better next season. If they do decide to go on a run, and they have some pieces there, they’ll need to flesh out their defense and bring in some star forwards, but expectations for this team going into the playoffs are pretty low. 


Halifax 21st
Current Ranking: 9
My Ranking: 4
 
Halifax 100% deserves to be better. They have a very strong offense and an above average defense. The thing that’s killing them right now is goaltending. They NEED a better goalie. No hate towards the ones they have, but they just aren’t high enough TPA to put this team in contention. This is a strong team that’s really just one piece away from having the record of a good team. Make the move Halifax. Just do it so I can feel a little better about my rankings.


San Diego Marlins
Current Ranking: 6
My Ranking: 3
 
San Diego is a very strong looking team. They have very good goaltending and a very formidable defense and an average offense. The biggest thing that San Diego needs to do is bring in some more higher end forwards. Defense and goaltending is very strong, and it’s hard to necessarily find a weak spot in the team, but forward is their weakest area. Of course they’re a step behind the 2 teams ahead of them, but one can only do so much.


Houston Bulls
Current Ranking: 3
My Ranking: 2
 
Houston is a powerhouse of a team. Their offense and defense are both 2nd in the league, and, planning this out, I had their weakness being goaltending, they go out and acquire a high end goaltender. The only thing the team needs to do is finish up their roster, acquiring one more forward and defenseman. They’re not going to be above the 1st place team, that team is an absolute wagon, but they are definitely secured in the number 2 spot.


Ottawa Lynx
Current Ranking: 1
My Ranking: 1
 
Ottawa is a superstar team. There’s always at least one every season, and it’s Ottawa this year. They have the top offense in the league. They have the top defense in the league. They have a very solid goaltender and backup. This team is going to shred up the regular standing, and then probably lose in the 2nd round. All Ottawa needs to do is add some forward depth to finish up their roster, but other than that, it’s easy riding for the rest of the season.

 
Conclusion
Since I was a lazy little boy and didn’t write this shit earlier in the week, the numbers I came up with are a bit outdated; however, my assumption is that everyone grew and applied at an average rate, and therefore teams should be slotted in relatively back in their correct spot. The evaluation lengths felt a bit dwindling the further along I went on this, but there’s only so much one can write about a team. I could go much more in depth with them, but I’m lazy so no thanks.

Words: 1161

1. We could use a boost in scoring. Hard to compete when we can't put the puck in the net
2. I see this team as finishing 5th in the league. Once we find some consistency and we start accumulating more TPE, I think we'll come into our own.
3. I don't know why but I very much love the LA Chargers jerseys.
4. Not new but Bob has been doing very well this season, mainly in the hits department, which is what I wanted.
5. Megamind is a cinematic masterpiece and you cannot tell me otherwise.
6. Coke for mixing, Pepsi for drinking.

I am auctioning off a video of me peeing my pants

alright you pass... barely.

If it ain't too late I'll apply. If it is then I place a curse upon your bloodline

While the vagueness could lead to more reports, that increase in frequency wouldn't lead to an increase in punishment. Specifics would allow really no wiggle room for the mods when it comes to choosing a decision and a subsequent punishment. The vagueness allows for the mods to look at and listen to both sides and better determine if it was actual harassment or genuine miscommunication. Yea it's sucky that there's no hard definition for harassment, but no matter what we come up with if we want to have one, nobody is going to feel happy and someone is going to feel alienated.
 
It is tough to understand the full picture as an outsider, but at the end of the day the privacy of the members takes priority and we gotta respect that. I'm confident there was a deeper conversation about this with all members involved in private that better outlined what is to be expected. I will agree with you though that a good chunk of the response from the male userbase came off as lip-service and lacked a genuine feeling of caring, but that's what you get with the internet. Hard to really convey feeling through text and it's my hope at least that the male users that responded do mean what they say and aren't just trying to score some social points.

While the vagueness could lead to more reports, that increase in frequency wouldn't lead to an increase in punishment. Specifics would allow really no wiggle room for the mods when it comes to choosing a decision and a subsequent punishment. The vagueness allows for the mods to look at and listen to both sides and better determine if it was actual harassment or genuine miscommunication. Yea it's sucky that there's no hard definition for harassment, but no matter what we come up with if we want to have one, nobody is going to feel happy and someone is going to feel alienated.
 
It is tough to understand the full picture as an outsider, but at the end of the day the privacy of the members takes priority and we gotta respect that. I'm confident there was a deeper conversation about this with all members involved in private that better outlined what is to be expected. I will agree with you though that a good chunk of the response from the male userbase came off as lip-service and lacked a genuine feeling of caring, but that's what you get with the internet. Hard to really convey feeling through text and it's my hope at least that the male users that responded do mean what they say and aren't just trying to score some social points.

The issue with that is adding in specifics is going to cause more unnecessary reports from third parties. Let's say you're saying stuff to me that would, in the specifics, be seen as harassment, but I'm completely fine with it, it's in good fun, I don't care, etc. etc. A person could come into it with a lack of context and report you, despite the situation being fine. You are now punished because someone else felt harassed on my behalf. For this instance, we need to keep things general and at a case-to-case basis so as to ensure that someone isn't wrongfully reported.

The issue with that is adding in specifics is going to cause more unnecessary reports from third parties. Let's say you're saying stuff to me that would, in the specifics, be seen as harassment, but I'm completely fine with it, it's in good fun, I don't care, etc. etc. A person could come into it with a lack of context and report you, despite the situation being fine. You are now punished because someone else felt harassed on my behalf. For this instance, we need to keep things general and at a case-to-case basis so as to ensure that someone isn't wrongfully reported.

The issue with that is adding in specifics is going to cause more unnecessary reports from third parties. Let's say you're saying stuff to me that would, in the specifics, be seen as harassment, but I'm completely fine with it, it's in good fun, I don't care, etc. etc. A person could come into it with a lack of context and report you, despite the situation being fine. You are now punished because someone else felt harassed on my behalf. For this instance, we need to keep things general and at a case-to-case basis so as to ensure that someone isn't wrongfully reported.

For real. These are good measures and it's good that the issues at hand are getting taken more seriously, but boy could you have formulated this any more like a hollow corporate press release or HR mail 😅?
 
If have not followed the recent incident(s) too closely but what I find a bit unfortunate is how vague this all is. Someone who wasn't here for the situation itself will have no idea from this post what it was all about, and as an extension will find it hard to improve his own behavior based on it. All we really get out of this is a rather generic "read the rules" and "harassment is bad", is that really enough?
 
I think we need to take a more concentrated effort to better ourselves and give people the chance to learn from this. I'm pretty sure that the problem with the user who that most recent controversy was about wasn't that he thought that harassment was okay, the problem was that his definition of harassment differed from that of the female userbase. If we want to bridge that gap we probably need to be a bit more specific about what is acceptable and what isn't.

The Mississauga Hounds sit at the bottom of the VHLM, with a record of 9-52-6. It is clear that they will not be competing this season and are in a brutal rebuild, with only 3 players on their roster. The question is, however, do they have the pieces needed to compete next season, or will they be in for another year of misery.
 
As stated before, Mississauga has 3 players currently playing on their team. Of these players, two of them, Mikhail Lospenov (@Gretzky didnt lift da puck) and Nayt Bedard (@Hawk E), look to possibly push to be in the VHLE next season, depending on how they’ll claim going forward, maybe barely not making it, maybe intentionally trying to stay down, who knows. Jean Francois Papineau (@HabsFanFromOntario) is brand new to the league and has yet to make a claim. So, next season the team could very easily look even more depleted than before, with only their goalie returning. So the question is, will they be able to draft a squad ready to compete?
 
The team has, for this upcoming draft, 8 picks, with 2 4ths. They do have ownership over their own first, but both their 2nd and 3rd are from contending teams, meaning that they will be at the near end of those rounds. They’ll likely be able to draft an absolute stud with their first selection, someone who will immediately be the face of their franchise. The 2nd will likely net them another pretty good looking player, and the 3rd and 2 4ths will bring in some more needed talent. The 5th, 6th, and 7th will bolster the depth of the team. Hopefully their draft could net them a couple gems that’ll give them a needed boost, however, no matter how you cut it, the team will be very weak in either offense or defense, or brutally mediocre in both. If both their forwards leave, they’ll need to split their 8 picks probably with 5 forwards and 3 defensemen. If both forwards stay, they may be more inclined to do an even split, therefore having a full top 6 and top 4. Either way, depth will be a concern, and they’ll need to do a good job picking up free agents, or perhaps make some slick trade deals, if they do intend on going all in.
 
Based on their position player-wise and draft-wise, I cannot say that Mississauga would be a major competitor next season. It’s hard for a gutted team to push for a championship the next season, and even harder when you lack the plethora of draft picks to build the team up. They’ll likely be kept in mediocrity, and would be wise for them to sell at next season’s deadline to have a more fleshed out rebuild. While they may be able to draft decent talent this offseason, I cannot be too sure that they’ll be able to carry the load completely. The top end teams not only have maxed players, but depth as well, the majority of them with complete rosters. For Mississauga to succeed, all draft picks need to be a hit and depth must be acquired via free agency, as trading picks at this point would be far too risky.

The Mississauga Hounds sit at the bottom of the VHLM, with a record of 9-52-6. It is clear that they will not be competing this season and are in a brutal rebuild, with only 3 players on their roster. The question is, however, do they have the pieces needed to compete next season, or will they be in for another year of misery.
 
As stated before, Mississauga has 3 players currently playing on their team. Of these players, two of them, Mikhail Lospenov (@Gretzky didnt lift da puck) and Nayt Bedard (@Hawk E), look to possibly push to be in the VHLE next season, depending on how they’ll claim going forward, maybe barely not making it, maybe intentionally trying to stay down, who knows. Jean Francois Papineau (@HabsFanFromOntario) is brand new to the league and has yet to make a claim. So, next season the team could very easily look even more depleted than before, with only their goalie returning. So the question is, will they be able to draft a squad ready to compete?
 
The team has, for this upcoming draft, 8 picks, with 2 4ths. They do have ownership over their own first, but both their 2nd and 3rd are from contending teams, meaning that they will be at the near end of those rounds. They’ll likely be able to draft an absolute stud with their first selection, someone who will immediately be the face of their franchise. The 2nd will likely net them another pretty good looking player, and the 3rd and 2 4ths will bring in some more needed talent. The 5th, 6th, and 7th will bolster the depth of the team. Hopefully their draft could net them a couple gems that’ll give them a needed boost, however, no matter how you cut it, the team will be very weak in either offense or defense, or brutally mediocre in both. If both their forwards leave, they’ll need to split their 8 picks probably with 5 forwards and 3 defensemen. If both forwards stay, they may be more inclined to do an even split, therefore having a full top 6 and top 4. Either way, depth will be a concern, and they’ll need to do a good job picking up free agents, or perhaps make some slick trade deals, if they do intend on going all in.
 
Based on their position player-wise and draft-wise, I cannot say that Mississauga would be a major competitor next season. It’s hard for a gutted team to push for a championship the next season, and even harder when you lack the plethora of draft picks to build the team up. They’ll likely be kept in mediocrity, and would be wise for them to sell at next season’s deadline to have a more fleshed out rebuild. While they may be able to draft decent talent this offseason, I cannot be too sure that they’ll be able to carry the load completely. The top end teams not only have maxed players, but depth as well, the majority of them with complete rosters. For Mississauga to succeed, all draft picks need to be a hit and depth must be acquired via free agency, as trading picks at this point would be far too risky.

Don't go awol on us too alright pal? If you do I may have to go and find you myself.

The VHLM, on a season to season basis, is extremely volatile. You’ll see the top team in the league one season become a complete bottom feeder the next and back to superstardom the season after that. The idea of sustainable success is not attempted nor is it viable. The majority of players are in that league for 2-3 seasons. There is no such thing as a consistent core. The strategy implemented by most successful VHLM GMs is as follows:
 
1- Let’s say your team is middle of the pack, you will likely make the playoffs, but you will not be at all successful in them. Because of this reality, you decide to sell off most of the team, only leaving those who will be around for 1-2 more seasons
2 - Through the players you traded away, you acquire a ton of picks, some for this upcoming draft, some for the next one. Your team plummets in the standings and you become a bottom feeder
3 - Finishing near the bottom of the league, your own draft picks will be very high. You use those draft picks and those obtained to draft a ton of players
4 - This is where it comes down to actual player development. There are two different paths this could go down
a - Players develop at a usual pace, and you have a legitimate team. If this is the case, continue to step 5
b - Players do not develop at a usual pace, so your team is still mediocre. If this is the case, go back to step 1
5 - Now that your team is successful, and you’re pushing the top of the standings, it’s time to add those final pieces that’ll push you over the edge. Trade away nearly all your lesser developed but promising players and draft picks for closer to max TPE players to make you a juggernaut.
6 - Probably lose in the playoffs to a team that’s weaker on paper, or win it all, but most likely lose because the sim hates you.
7 - Most of your players are now in the VHLE or VHL, and your team looks to be pretty awful next season. Trade away players that have one season left in the minors for some draft picks to both solidify you as a bottom feeder as well as give the players leaving another shot at the championship. Go back to step 2.
 
There have been very few teams that are consistently top teams in the VHLM, but it has happened. These consistently good teams, not just mediocre, but actually GOOD, is what separates the VHLM GMs, to potential top tier VHL GMs. The VHL is where you have a consistent core to build around. You’re not one and done in that league, unlike the VHLM. Now, I’m not talking down to the VHLM GMs. They’re building a team to win, so it’s fair that they’d use the most effective strategy. I’m fairly certain, if placed into the VHL, they would adjust accordingly. I’m merely saying that the ability to show consistency in a heavily inconsistent league is super special.

The VHLM, on a season to season basis, is extremely volatile. You’ll see the top team in the league one season become a complete bottom feeder the next and back to superstardom the season after that. The idea of sustainable success is not attempted nor is it viable. The majority of players are in that league for 2-3 seasons. There is no such thing as a consistent core. The strategy implemented by most successful VHLM GMs is as follows:
 
1- Let’s say your team is middle of the pack, you will likely make the playoffs, but you will not be at all successful in them. Because of this reality, you decide to sell off most of the team, only leaving those who will be around for 1-2 more seasons
2 - Through the players you traded away, you acquire a ton of picks, some for this upcoming draft, some for the next one. Your team plummets in the standings and you become a bottom feeder
3 - Finishing near the bottom of the league, your own draft picks will be very high. You use those draft picks and those obtained to draft a ton of players
4 - This is where it comes down to actual player development. There are two different paths this could go down
a - Players develop at a usual pace, and you have a legitimate team. If this is the case, continue to step 5
b - Players do not develop at a usual pace, so your team is still mediocre. If this is the case, go back to step 1
5 - Now that your team is successful, and you’re pushing the top of the standings, it’s time to add those final pieces that’ll push you over the edge. Trade away nearly all your lesser developed but promising players and draft picks for closer to max TPE players to make you a juggernaut.
6 - Probably lose in the playoffs to a team that’s weaker on paper, or win it all, but most likely lose because the sim hates you.
7 - Most of your players are now in the VHLE or VHL, and your team looks to be pretty awful next season. Trade away players that have one season left in the minors for some draft picks to both solidify you as a bottom feeder as well as give the players leaving another shot at the championship. Go back to step 2.
 
There have been very few teams that are consistently top teams in the VHLM, but it has happened. These consistently good teams, not just mediocre, but actually GOOD, is what separates the VHLM GMs, to potential top tier VHL GMs. The VHL is where you have a consistent core to build around. You’re not one and done in that league, unlike the VHLM. Now, I’m not talking down to the VHLM GMs. They’re building a team to win, so it’s fair that they’d use the most effective strategy. I’m fairly certain, if placed into the VHL, they would adjust accordingly. I’m merely saying that the ability to show consistency in a heavily inconsistent league is super special.

The VHLM, on a season to season basis, is extremely volatile. You’ll see the top team in the league one season become a complete bottom feeder the next and back to superstardom the season after that. The idea of sustainable success is not attempted nor is it viable. The majority of players are in that league for 2-3 seasons. There is no such thing as a consistent core. The strategy implemented by most successful VHLM GMs is as follows:
 
1- Let’s say your team is middle of the pack, you will likely make the playoffs, but you will not be at all successful in them. Because of this reality, you decide to sell off most of the team, only leaving those who will be around for 1-2 more seasons
2 - Through the players you traded away, you acquire a ton of picks, some for this upcoming draft, some for the next one. Your team plummets in the standings and you become a bottom feeder
3 - Finishing near the bottom of the league, your own draft picks will be very high. You use those draft picks and those obtained to draft a ton of players
4 - This is where it comes down to actual player development. There are two different paths this could go down
a - Players develop at a usual pace, and you have a legitimate team. If this is the case, continue to step 5
b - Players do not develop at a usual pace, so your team is still mediocre. If this is the case, go back to step 1
5 - Now that your team is successful, and you’re pushing the top of the standings, it’s time to add those final pieces that’ll push you over the edge. Trade away nearly all your lesser developed but promising players and draft picks for closer to max TPE players to make you a juggernaut.
6 - Probably lose in the playoffs to a team that’s weaker on paper, or win it all, but most likely lose because the sim hates you.
7 - Most of your players are now in the VHLE or VHL, and your team looks to be pretty awful next season. Trade away players that have one season left in the minors for some draft picks to both solidify you as a bottom feeder as well as give the players leaving another shot at the championship. Go back to step 2.
 
There have been very few teams that are consistently top teams in the VHLM, but it has happened. These consistently good teams, not just mediocre, but actually GOOD, is what separates the VHLM GMs, to potential top tier VHL GMs. The VHL is where you have a consistent core to build around. You’re not one and done in that league, unlike the VHLM. Now, I’m not talking down to the VHLM GMs. They’re building a team to win, so it’s fair that they’d use the most effective strategy. I’m fairly certain, if placed into the VHL, they would adjust accordingly. I’m merely saying that the ability to show consistency in a heavily inconsistent league is super special.

In the VHLM, there’s usually about six good teams, and six bad teams. And while nobody wants to play on a bad team necessarily, most players end up having to do so. If you’re a higher end draft pick, chances were you were drafted to a previously bad team who’ll now probably look pretty good, but you have the possibility of getting traded to help with the playoff push. If you’re a lower end draft pick, you were probably drafted to a previously good team that is now undergoing a rebuild. The challenge is, when you’re on that bad team, to stay entertained and engaged. If the VHL was all just numbers and no emotion, there probably wouldn’t be that many members still around. The power of online interaction comes in and saves the day, especially for the bottom feeder teams. Through discord locker rooms, GMs (most of the time) create a fun and engaging atmosphere that, if you're winning, is pretty focused on the league and keeps people excited about how their players are doing. If your team isn’t winning, The locker rooms have a more casual feel to them. Nobody wants to think about their -40 plus-minus. One can engage in some pretty stupid yet fun conversations and connect with other people. When you do start winning, that connection is gonna make it a whole lot better. If your team sucks, chat it up with your teammates. Have some fun. It’ll be that much sweeter when the Ws roll in.

In the VHLM, there’s usually about six good teams, and six bad teams. And while nobody wants to play on a bad team necessarily, most players end up having to do so. If you’re a higher end draft pick, chances were you were drafted to a previously bad team who’ll now probably look pretty good, but you have the possibility of getting traded to help with the playoff push. If you’re a lower end draft pick, you were probably drafted to a previously good team that is now undergoing a rebuild. The challenge is, when you’re on that bad team, to stay entertained and engaged. If the VHL was all just numbers and no emotion, there probably wouldn’t be that many members still around. The power of online interaction comes in and saves the day, especially for the bottom feeder teams. Through discord locker rooms, GMs (most of the time) create a fun and engaging atmosphere that, if you're winning, is pretty focused on the league and keeps people excited about how their players are doing. If your team isn’t winning, The locker rooms have a more casual feel to them. Nobody wants to think about their -40 plus-minus. One can engage in some pretty stupid yet fun conversations and connect with other people. When you do start winning, that connection is gonna make it a whole lot better. If your team sucks, chat it up with your teammates. Have some fun. It’ll be that much sweeter when the Ws roll in.

In the VHLM, there’s usually about six good teams, and six bad teams. And while nobody wants to play on a bad team necessarily, most players end up having to do so. If you’re a higher end draft pick, chances were you were drafted to a previously bad team who’ll now probably look pretty good, but you have the possibility of getting traded to help with the playoff push. If you’re a lower end draft pick, you were probably drafted to a previously good team that is now undergoing a rebuild. The challenge is, when you’re on that bad team, to stay entertained and engaged. If the VHL was all just numbers and no emotion, there probably wouldn’t be that many members still around. The power of online interaction comes in and saves the day, especially for the bottom feeder teams. Through discord locker rooms, GMs (most of the time) create a fun and engaging atmosphere that, if you're winning, is pretty focused on the league and keeps people excited about how their players are doing. If your team isn’t winning, The locker rooms have a more casual feel to them. Nobody wants to think about their -40 plus-minus. One can engage in some pretty stupid yet fun conversations and connect with other people. When you do start winning, that connection is gonna make it a whole lot better. If your team sucks, chat it up with your teammates. Have some fun. It’ll be that much sweeter when the Ws roll in.

Definitely understand what you're saying about this being partly on me. I understand that I've gotten a bit lazy when it comes to activity, and some may look at that and assume that I may leave because I'M not engaged. That's why I wrote this, and wrote something last week, and am focusing on doing point tasks and claiming more TPE than I used to. I got burned out with my last player, so I'm starting out more fresh. I want to show my dedication to the league, and hope that that dedication is rewarded with some engagement on my end. Discord I struggle with a good bit just because I'm in a ton and it's hard to balance activity with my friends, other groups, and this. I am able to make the time to write several hundred words a week and claim some points but it's hard to find the time to be active with everyone. I do stay somewhat active in the locker rooms, when I can, and that helps build a good bond between me and a few members. Really this is about engagement as a whole. I've seen others get somewhat pushed to the side, hell, I've even seen a handful, although a very very small few, new guys get practically ignored. I know that it's tough for the GMs, staff, writers, etc. to engage with every member, and obviously that's not my expectation. My player was put in a pretty unique situation and it really was what drove me to put this out.

You're all good my man. Obviously the goal of this whole thing is to grow and maintain membership. While, for the most part, the league does a good job in growth, when it comes to maintaining, that's when the quality begins to teeter off. The amount of engagement lacks consistency. At the start everyone's excited about the new member joining and they're getting a ton of attention, but unless you make a name for yourself, either through the league or through the discords, you're not getting much attention a few seasons into your career. I've pretty much come to peace with the fact that, like it or not, where the engagement is at right now is gonna be roughly where it's gonna be for me for a good long while. It's a bummer but I enjoy the league nonetheless so I'll still stick around for the time being. I do feel bad for some of the new guys however. I've seen some not even get any attention when they join for the first time and that really sucks. A good bit fall out after one player because it seems like nobody cares about them after they go through a couple seasons. As long as the community keeps on trying and being engaging to the new guys, we should be in a good spot for a long time.

Podcasts are out. I hope you're fine with articles instead. Same content, but you actually have to read. If you want I'll make you an audio book version, just for you 😉