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VHL Top 25 Players
Part I: Honourable Mentions
 
Hello everyone and welcome to this first edition of Victory Sports News’ ranking of the Top 25 Players currently playing in the VHL. This series is pretty straightforward: VSN experts @Esso2264, @FrostBeard, @Matt_O, @McWolf and @VanCanWin each made their own list of the league's 25 best players at the moment, and we ranked them by their average position throughout the five lists. Let's kick it off with a shortlist of players that some of our experts felt could have made the list but missed by a vote or two.

 
Dan Baillie
 
Dan Baillie had a once in a lifetime opportunity when the Moscow Menace selected him in the expansion draft and it's safe to say he seized it. Even if he's one of the players on this list with the least TPA-heavy build, the Canadian left winger averaged 28 goals and 66 assists per 72 games, over the first 4 seasons of his career, eclipsing the 30-goal and 70-point marks in each of the last 2 seasons. He's been a strong physical presence as well throughout his time in Russia, collecting just short of 600 hits. The only thing going against Baillie this season is the fact that he is entering the wrong half of his career, as he was hit pretty hard by depreciation this past week. That being said, he is still one of Moscow's prime forwards and should still be given enough ice-time to enable him to once again score north of 30 goals and 70 points and amass around 150 hits, which grants him a place as an honourable mention on this list.
McWolf

 
John Frostbeard
 
When Seattle traded for second-year player John Frostbeard they figured to get a core piece they can build their team around. Fortunately for them, they didn’t have to wait for him to develop as he shot out of the gate scoring 37 goals en route to helping Seattle to a championship. Surrounded by more young, elite talent, Frostbeard is at the top of the crop in Seattle.  What he lacks in total TPA compared to other top players on this list, Frostbeard makes up with his build. He’s a scoring winger who’s got the defensive acumen to win him awards on that side of the puck. With passing and puck handling skills much above league average and skating that continues to improve, expect another big year from him. 40 goals would be the bar for him this season with 45 being a very achievable number. Expect him to jump up these rankings by the end of the year but for now, we have him on our honourable mentions list.
VanCanWin

 
Jerry Garcia
 
Jerry Garcia is coming off a career year in almost every single statistic and a Jake Wylde nomination for a top defensive defenseman but faces some challenges this upcoming season. For starters, Malmö's offence has added the likes of Jake Davis and Aleksander Rodriguez, which will lower Garcia's shot block total. On the contrary, both of those totals showed very little movement last season when they added Matt Thompson, so those concerns may be overstated. Malmo also traded for Joseph McWolf, who will take over the #1 Defenseman role. With that being said, Jerry Garcia is a very viable fantasy defenseman, as either a low tier first defenseman or high tier the second defenseman for your fantasy lineups. Pairing with Joseph McWolf will also help Garcia add more to his points total, which could possibly reach as high as 70 this upcoming season. It is a safe expectation for another 60 point season, with 10-15 goals and 45-50 assists, which sets him up for another good season, both on the ice and fantasy-wise.
Matt_O

 
Apollo Hackett
 
Apollo Hackett, an S66 prospect that has been showing great prowess as a two-way defenseman for one of the most consistent teams in VHL, Riga Reign. A turnaround from S67 has been a key reason why Apollo was selected as an honourable mention on this list. While playing in Latvia, Hackett has been able to have amazing defensive numbers. 337 blocked shots and 599 hits put him on the elite level when compared to other members of S66 draft class. We are still not sure if Hackett will be able to increase or at least sustain those point totals considering that we saw a considerable production loss in S67 compared to S66. That is the biggest fear about this young defenceman, was his second season an unlucky coincidence or was it something that we can expect from him going further? 
FrostBeard

 
Come back (hopefully) tomorrow for Part II of the list, where we'll dive straight into the Top 25 Players, covering positions 25 to 21. Feel free to share with us what you think about the placement of these first four players and to share your own lists with us.
 
Players mentioned: @wcats, @FrostBeard, @GustavMattias, @Josh, @Jtv123, @Beketov, @McWolf, @Renomitsu
 
VSN Writer McWolf

Called it.

The finals have concluded for both the VHML and VHL and congratulations are due both the Houston Bulls and Seattle Bears for their hard-won victories. It is every VHL player’s most fervent dream to hoist the Cup for their team. Enjoying these finals, somewhat enviously, from the stands instead of the ice where he longs to be, Guy Lesieur has really been reflecting on where he might land in the upcoming draft.
 
Fortunately for fans of Lesieur and the Las Vegas Aces, VSN reporter Charlie Parker caught up with the juniors star right winger to talk about Lesieur’s hopes for the future.
 
Parker: Thanks for giving us some time to share your thoughts on the upcoming draft. What are your hopes for the upcoming draft? Have your eye on any particular team?
 
Lesieur: You know, Charlie, I’ll just be happy to be drafted by any VHL team. It’s every junior’s dream to find a VHL team willing to take a chance on them.
 
Parker: Yes. I’m sure you will do your best wherever you start your career. But surely you have a team or two in mind?
 
Lesieur: I’m afraid this is going to get me in trouble with the other teams and I do mean what I said – I’ll play my heart out for anyone willing to give me a chance. But I don’t want to be that player than only gives the “safe” answers. Later, when fans hear me say, “This is where I always wanted to play”, if it’s true, I want them to know that it’s the truth. If not, they’ll be able to believe me when I say, “no, it wasn’t my first choice, but now that I’m here and have played in front of these people, I couldn’t be happier.”
 
Parker: (eagerly) So, tell us. Where are you hoping to go?
 
Lesieur: When I saw those Bears lifting the Cup, I saw myself out there. Only I wasn’t wearing a Bears sweater.
 
Parker: Who’s then?
 
Lesieur: I saw myself in the red, gold, and black of the D.C. Dragons.
 
Parker: (incredulously) The last place Dragons? An expansion team with a long road ahead of them to compete with the big boys?
 
Lesieur: (indignantly) Last place for now – in our very first season!
 
Parker: “Our”?
 
Lesieur: (fumbling) I mean their, their first season. I mean, their – or our – heck, I don’t know. I just feel like I’m a Dragon already. Let’s put it this way, I’m a Las Vegas Ace – and a Dragon until some other VHL team calls my name on draft day. That’s just the way I feel.
 
Parker: Why? Why the Dragons?
 
Lesieur: Easy. The people. Starting with management. I’ve had such good talks with both the GM @Enorama and AGM @McWolf. They really treated me so well. Talking about my juniors career and how I might continue to build on my game. I’ll be clear, they gave me no promises of drafting me. They were just doing a routine scouting as others have done and I appreciate all of the contact I’ve had with VHL management, but I just felt early on in the conversation that this is a management team that I could play under for a long time. I’m not one that likes to hop from team to team. Especially when I hit the VHL level – and I could see a long career playing under Eno and Mac.

Then there’s the guys already in the Locker Room. When I read the article about Mikko Aaltonen’s @GRZ recent five-year extension, I was so impressed. His way of describing the organization, the city, and the fans – it felt like he was talking for me. If that is who management gave the captain’s C to and that’s the way he’s handling it, sign me up!
 
And then there’s the fans of D.C. They are such great students and lovers of the game of hockey and they are there every night in record numbers to see their Dragons take the ice. Ok, it’s rough starting a new team and they only won 20 games – trailing Prague by 12 points to come in dead last in the league. But did the fans give up on this team, NO! And we won’t give up on them either. We are bringing a Cup to this great city!!!
 
Parker: (smiling) “We.”  (seriously) You know, I want to thank you again for your time – and for your being real with us sharing how you really feel instead of just giving the standard, “I’ll be happy just to be drafted” answer. Any final thoughts?
 
Lesieur: (also smiling) Well, I will be happy just to be drafted. But I’ll be happier still to be drafted by D.C. When I take the ice for the very first time in the VHL, I hope I’ll be wearing a D.C. Dragons sweater. I want to be a part of the rise of this excellent organization and then one day help it win the ultimate prize – the Continental Cup!

Yep looks great Dil keep up the good work. 

And peeled their anuses will be.

Always nice to hear about stuff I wasn't around for. 

Talking about getting drafted in the VHL with Encarnacion and the DDOS attack that moved us onto our current forum. 
 

You're making me feel old. Or really young. Can't decide.

Honestly anyone can learn graphics, we all start somewhere. My first sigs were made in gimp and were terrible. We’ve got great members and great resources if you want to learn.

News reporters have been frantically following Gritty's footsteps trying to figure out where the most desired free agent in the VHL will land along with his best friend, Smitty. Upon landing in Seattle early yesterday morning, Gritty walked into the Bears facility and was not seen until walking out late at night. When reporters asked him for a comment, all he said was the following, "I continue to amaze me." Gritty's free agency tour has seen him visit Toronto and Seattle in North America, but now that he is headed to Europe there is wild speculation that he is heading back to Davos. GMs around the league are surely keeping their anuses peeled for this big development, as they know the Gritty and Smitty combo can completely shake up the league wherever they go. And on the off chance Gritty is not heading back to Davos, why would he be heading back to Europe? Maybe he just likes Italian food and knows he won't get any in Toronto. 

With apologies to our group-format forefather @McWolf for the copyright infringement
 
Last season, many of you may remember a big-ass mock draft that came out just a couple hours before the actual draft. Long story short, a lot of people loved it, and we're back for more.
 
I organized it this time, but it wasn't my idea--that credit goes to a few people in the Hounds locker room who wanted this done. I messaged everyone who took part in the last group mock, as well--one was on board, the others weren't, and that's OK. What matters is that we're here and we've got this thing going again. So, let me introduce the new crew: myself, @Renomitsu, our one returning writer, Hounds AGM @Berocka, and Hounds alum and current Mexico City AGM @Cxsquared. Give these guys some love, too--not just me.
 
This was done the same way last season, but I'll explain it again so nobody has to go to last season's group mock to figure it out. We each ranked the picks, in order, and threw together the averages of our ranks. Below, you'll find a list of the individual averages, in order, along with each person's guesses. While we realize that this method may place players with teams that don't necessarily need them, it should certainly represent a general trend and show differing opinions on player selection.
 
(Also, TPE numbers are as of Wednesday night. If you earned between then and now, your TPE may be off. Many apologies, but please recognize that this isn't a big deal)
 
Let's get into it!
 
 
 
ROUND 1
 
 
 #1: Prague Phantoms 
Benny Graves | @STZ | C | Las Vegas Aces | TPE: 347
Gustav: 1 | Berocka: 2 | Renomitsu: 1 | Cxsquared: 4
Prague won the draft lottery, and it's certainly a good season to win draft lotteries. Though the #1 overall pick is often a highly coveted position, Prague should be very happy to keep it, regardless of any offers thrown their way by other teams. Graves' agent is a longtime VHL vet, former GM, and Hall of Fame Builder, and it looks like he's here to stay as he's got a recruitment job and maintains a high activity level on the forum. He could be "here to stay" on more than just the site, too--recently he wrote an article about his draft plans, in which he says that he plans on sticking around wherever he's selected long-term. For a recent expansion franchise like Prague, this is perfect. They're in need of a center and want players that will stick around as integral parts of their future plans, and Graves satisfies both. So, while the Phantoms do have other needs as well, Graves is clearly #1.
-Gustav
 
 
 #2: D.C. Dragons 
Soren Jensen | @Velevra | LW | Houston Bulls | TPE: 337
Gustav: 3 | Berocka: 3 | Renomitsu: 2 | Cxsquared: 2
Fresh off his Founder’s Cup victory, Soren Jensen comes in at  #2. This is a big pickup for the D.C. Dragons having finished last place in their inaugural season. Jensen will slot right into the Dragons top line and immediately start making a difference. Helping drive the Bulls during the playoffs last season, the left winger Jensen put up an impressive 19 points in just 15 games. This Dane is primarily a playmaker forward but has a great defensive mindset. This pass first mindset led to Jensen racking up an impressive 86 points last season with 49 of those points coming from assists. The D.C. Dragons are still a young team without a lot of star players so Jensen will have a chance to become a staple of the franchise. Only time will tell what kind of impact Soren Jensen can make for this expansion team.
- Cxsquared
 
 
 #3: Riga Reign (from Moscow) 
Cinnamon Block | @omgitshim | D | Las Vegas Aces | TPE: 306
Gustav: 2 | Berocka: 6 | Renomitsu: 3 | Cxsquared: 1
Kinda odd that I'd get the first pick to go to my team, eh? At the end of the day, however, this is a pretty reasonable pick for the Reign. They recently traded away veteran and star defenseman Joseph McWolf, leaving them with just two active defenders in Tate and Hackett. They need someone who can step in and take substantial 2nd line minutes, and fast; S66's Charlie Paddywagon re-signed with Davos, Stropko Jr. is likely to return to Calgary, and giving a free agent a known quantity like Block/omg to round out a second line is sure to at least draw some interest. Not only that, but Riga already has a handful of active wingers, three active centers, and have a low chance of getting what they want out of a goalie this season. Not only is Block the best pick available, she's also a great fit for Riga in the future.
-Renomitsu
 
 
 #4: New York Americans 
Guy Sasakamoose | @Cxsquared | D | Mississauga Hounds | TPE: 243
Gustav: 5 | Berocka: 7 | Renomitsu: 6 | Cxsquared: 3
Guy Sasakamoose is an amazing big bodied Canadian superstar (totally not biased description in anyway) estimated to go #4 overall. It was clear to our panel that Sasakamoose would go in first round,  but as you can see it wasn’t clear where. He ended up landing here as the New York Americans’ first pick, which is actually the one spot no one predicted. In reality New York doesn’t need another defenseman but picking up Sasakamoose would give them a lot of options when almost all of their D are up for contracts in season 71. That being said, Sasakamoose is going to turn out to be a solid pick for whichever team gets him. He’s the second highest TPE defenseman in the draft and put up 63 points in his first season with the Hounds. The big question will be how will this first generation player handle the change to the VHL? Will he step up to the challenge or end up getting lost in the pack?
- Cxsquared
 
 
  #5: Calgary Wranglers 
Hiroshi Okada | @enigmatic | C | Philadelphia Reapers | TPE: 251
Gustav: 4 | Berocka: 4 | Renomitsu: 4 | Cxsquared: 10
The 5th pick is for Calgary after receiving it in a trade from Toronto, and with this pick Calgary will go after an incredible centre from Philadelphia Reapers in Hiroshi Okada. The young Japanese player had an outstanding season with the Reapers, scoring 98 points. With Calgary being incredibly short on forwards, with only 5 at the time of writing, it is no surprise that they would pick a forward with their first pick in this draft. With Okada not being very strong on faceoffs, he will likely play a role on the wing. This fits in with Calgary’s needs as they have 3 centres and only 2 wings, so adding a forward to play on the wing should fill their biggest hole. 
-Berocka
 
 
 #6: Riga Reign (from Vancouver) 
Guy Lesieur | @KC15 | RW | Las Vegas Aces | TPE: 208
Gustav: 10 | Berocka: 5 | Renomitsu: 5 | Cxsquared: 5
I promise this isn't a coincidence -- I mean, if it happened three times that'd be weird. But Guy Lesieur is likely to go to the pick just before this (Calgary) or to Riga's third pick of the draft per Gustav. And it makes sense, too - Lesieur's agent is pretty active in other sim leagues, he's a surprisingly well-rounded player with a modern scoring-first forward build (80 SC, 80 DF, 72 PH, 75 SK). Calgary had a significant retooling this season, holding a fire-sale for many of their players in exchange for picks or seeing some of their players possibly walk in free agency. As a result, they need to start a rebuild from the ground-up; at pick 5, Lesieur is the best pick available, is a versatile scoring winger, and would be a piece that tempts Tyler Barabash Jr. to return to the Wranglers. On the other hand, if he goes to Riga he may sit on the third line for a couple of seasons before replacing one of the less-active players, but would certainly have a starting spot in the future.
-Renomitsu
 
 #7: DC Dragons (from Davos) 
Erik Summers | @Erik Summers | D | Houston Bulls | TPE: 215
Gustav: 6 | Berocka: 8 | Renomitsu: 8 | Cxsquared: 6
Summers wasn't projected to be picked at #7 by anybody, but DC should be happy to have him if he's around when this pick comes up. Only one DC defenseman, Luciano Valentino, is any more than semi-active, and Summers is more than able to fill (or, at least begin to fill) this hole on the roster. As one of the fastest-rising, most active first-gens of the draft class, look for Summers to go to a team that's looking to develop young talent--and there is no team better for that than DC, where Summers can use all the ice time he can ask for to his advantage. As a young player on a team with not much veteran talent, he'll also be able to grow into a dominant presence and a face of the franchise (hm, when have we ever heard this from a first-gen defensive defenseman at #7 overall? Not sure). Personally, I've got Cinnamon Block going to DC at #2, but if that doesn't happen and Summers is there at #7, all the stars are aligned for this pick, one which makes perfect sense.
-Gustav
 
 
  #8: Helsinki Titans 
Patrik Tallinder | @Patrik Tallinder | LW | Mississauga Hounds | TPE: 201
Gustav: 9 | Berocka: 9 | Renomitsu: 9 | Cxsquared: 8
Helsinki with their first pick in the draft will pick Patrik Tallinder, and the Swedish left winger will be a good future star for the Titans. He played quite well in the VHLM, helping the Hounds to a 4th place finish. With another season under his belt he will be a force to be reckoned with in the VHL, and with Helsinki’s cap issues at the moment, having a player who stays down another season will help them. Also, with three forwards going to be UFA’s in S70 it is a great pick by Helsinki to help boost them into the future. Tallinder’s great season and continuous growth make him a great pick-up at 8th overall.
-Berocka
 
 
 #9: Calgary Wranglers 
Solomon Crawford | @AndrewWarren13 | G | Mexico City Kings | TPE: 181
Gustav: 14 | Berocka: 1 | Renomitsu: 14 | Cxsquared: 9
Easily the most controversial pick of the draft this year, with some guessing he’ll go 1st overall and some putting him all the way down at 14th. What’s clear is that Crawford is the top goalie in this draft. Solomon Crawford was drafted first overall last season by the Mexico City Kings. Crawford managed to net 4 shutouts last year, even though the Kings had a mediocre season. So far Solomon Crawford has only managed to build a middling career in the VHLM with a career SV% of only 0.889 and a 3.13 GAA. While he hasn’t been amazing in the VHLM, he easily has the ability to make a solid VHL backup goalie and even the potential to become a starter in a season or two. If Fang Flashback ends up not working for Calgary then Crawford could easily fill that role for them.
- Cxsquared
 
 
 #10: Riga Reign 
RJ Jubis | @R Jubis | LW | Saskatoon Wild | TPE: 212
Gustav: 7 | Berocka: 13 | Renomitsu: 7 | Cxsquared: 15
Okay, so maybe I just got lucky/unlucky this season, but this pick is technically one I was close to the consensus on. RJ Jubis is a traditional Canadian offensive forward (SC 81, PA 70, DF 70), with solid scoring and passing chops and some supplementary skills to go along with them. But among our panel, we're a bit undecided as to whether he'll go early to DC, or a bit further down the draft to Moscow or New York. My general opinion on the matter is that GMs need to take a careful look at recent TPE gains; Jubis has been a monster the last few weeks, outgaining some of his similarly-rated classmates (+58 in the last two weeks). Further, D.C. is doing OK on defensemen and goalies, and the S69 class is extraordinarily thin at center. After the already-selected Hiroshi Okada and Benny Graves, our next-best center is Weibel at under 100 TPE; Jubis is a natural choice here, as the talent sacrifice needed to hit center for D.C. just drops too far.
-Renomitsu
 
 #11: Calgary Wranglers (from Malmo) 
Kris Rice | @Krice13 | RW | Mississauga Hounds | TPE: 188
Gustav: 11 | Berocka: 10 | Renomitsu: 10 | Cxsquared: 11
Here's where I get to insert a shameless plug for one of my own players, and here it is: Rice is great. Originally drafted by the Hounds in the fourth round this past season, Rice has climbed the leaderboard, and now sits in a position to be picked at the end of the first. Also, get this--Calgary has zero playmakers. None. Every one of their forwards has a scoring build. Rice is a bit behind fellow forward Ben Storm in TPE, but by virtue of his build is bumped up a few spots and picked by a team that needs a player like him. Versatility has often been thought to be the key to winning, and Rice is simply the first step on Calgary's road to throwing every type of player at the opposition from every direction.
-Gustav
 
 
 #12: New York Americans (from Seatle) 
David OQuinn | @JohnOQuinn | D | Saskatoon Wild | TPE: 190
Gustav: 8 | Berocka: 14 | Renomitsu: 11 | Cxsquared: 12
Rounding out the first round is the defenseman David OQuinn. Once again this defenseman was a hard choice on where to place him. He ended up landing here at 12th going to New York. While David OQuinn doesn’t really fit into New York's current roster he could be a great call up in season 70. Sitting at 190 TPE currently, OQuinn will probably spend another year in the VHLM. This will probably turn out amazing for him and he’ll put up a dominant performance. Last season he was a passing powerhouse ending up with 63 assists. OQuinn had a solid defensive year blocking 123 shots and throwing 167 hits even though his team, the Saskatoon Wild, didn’t put up a great performance. While he won’t make an impact this year David OQuinn could be an early steal for whoever picks him up.
- Cxsquared
 
 
 
ROUND 2
 
 #13: Moscow Menace (from DC) 
Will Clarke | @Will | D | San Diego Marlins | TPE: 173
Gustav: 13 | Berocka: 12 | Renomitsu: 16 | Cxsquared: 7
Clarke is not, in the words of the immortal hedgehog, "super saiyan TPE-earning whore mode," but he's consistent, and any GM who drafts him knows exactly what they're getting. Will, one of the most valuable contributors to the league as a whole, earns a full 12 per week with his portal development job, and while that's usually all he gets, the fact that he's a virtual guarantee to stick around, and do so consistently, is enough for Moscow to pick him up at 13--his hall-of-fame builder status, as well as the fact that his last player finished his career with Moscow, is just an added bonus in the form of experience.
-Gustav
 
 
 #14: Prague Phantoms 
Ben Storm | @BigBallerFromDownUnder | RW | Hallifax 21st | TPE: 192
Gustav: 12 | Berocka: 11 | Renomitsu: 12 | Cxsquared: 14
The only player to come from the land down under, Ben Storm seems like a solid pick as 14th overall. Ben Storm is a right winger out of Australia who is a great offensive forward. Last season with the Halifax 21st, Storm put up a respectable 47 points, with 26 of those being goals and the other 21 being assists. Ben Storm is one of the rare players that’s equally comfortable setting up plays as he is finishing them off. For the Prague Phantoms, this fills quite a hole they have in depth forwards. While it’s much colder than he’s used too, Ben Storm has the ability to eventually become a top forward in Prague. His skating and puck handling skills really have been sharpened by having spent most of his early years skating in the hot Australian Outback. Ben Storm really brings an interesting background and skill set to the VHL and it will be exciting to see where those skills take him.
- Cxsquared
 
 
  #15: Malmo Nighthawks (from New York) 
Markus Nygren | @Devise | LW | San Diego Marlins | TPE: 137
Gustav: 15 | Berocka: 15 | Renomitsu: 13 | Cxsquared: 16
Malmo made an incredible run last season, finishing with the most points in the regular season and making the finals. With this great run, the GM will be looking to make picks to help this success continue on into the future. With this in mind, Malmo will use their freshly traded pick to grab Markus Nygren. Nygren’s agent is well known for bringing in talent that will continue to grow through the full 8 seasons. Hopefully with another season of growth in the VHLM, Nygren could be a good replacement for Jake Davis, who will be retiring at the end of S69. The one downside could be that in the regular season Nygren only got 10 points, and as a playmaker you would be hoping for better production than that. Only time will tell if he will be a good pick, but I think it’s worth Malmo making a play.
-Berocka
 
 
  #16: Riga Reign (from Moscow) 
Fernando Jokinen | @Ahma | D | Houston Bulls | TPE: 164
Gustav: 17 | Berocka: 16 | Renomitsu: 17 | Cxsquared: 13
Umm.. this is a Riga pick, shouldn’t this be for Renomitsu to do? Gustav make up your mind. Anyway, moving on to the actual pick, with Riga’s fourth pick of the draft they select Fernando Jokinen. This pick I think will completely depend on the previous picks and what Riga’s needs are. So far in the mock they have selected 2 forwards and a D-man, so they should definitely add more defence as they currently only have two defenceman in Hackett and Tate, who both go UFA next season. Jokinen could fill in this huge gap for Riga--with 103 shots blocked in his maiden season in the VHLM he is an absolute powerhouse in defence. With another season in the VHLM Jokinen should make an incredible defensive defenceman. This would be a great pick up for Riga, it will fill their gaps in the team but will also pick up an absolute shot blocking superstar in the making. 
- Berocka
 
 
 #17: HC Davos Dynamo (from Toronto) 
Daldo | @Harpskii | RW | San Diego Marlins | TPE: 147
Gustav: 18 | Berocka: 17 | Renomitsu: 15 | Cxsquared: 17
One of the less contested picks, we have Daldo coming in at 17th overall. It’s quite amazing to see how far this Canadain right winger has come, having been drafted 50th overall in season 68’s VHLM entry draft. Going from 50th overall in the VHLM to 17th in the VHL is quite the feat. It’s really no surprise, though--Daldo shown consistent and steady growth all throughout his first season in the VHLM. He had a slow start to his regular season with the San Deigo Marlins which landed him with 33 points by the end. It was the playoffs where Daldo really shined. He ended up with 10 points in 6 games in his first playoff run. For HC Davos this provides some much needed talent into their prospect pool. If Daldo keeps growing at the steady past he’s already shown, he’ll become a stable in the VHL in no time.
- Cxsquared
 
 
 #18: Vancouver Wolves 
Jimmy Spyro | @Spyro | G | Ottawa Lynx | TPE: 111
Gustav: 16 | Berocka: 18 | Renomitsu: 19 | Cxsquared: 23
Goalies are always tricky picks to explain in mock drafts. Since we're taking the average of positions, oftentimes these picks end on teams that don't really make a lot of sense. Gustav has this young Canadian with lightning reflexes going to the Reign -- which does make pretty good sense provided Kallis Kriketers' impending heavy regression next season -- two of us have him going to Vancouver, and I have him going to Davos. With Greg Eagles as the S67-draftee goalie of the future (seemingly), I opted for Davos - who have a recently-less-active Samuel Ross sitting behind S64 draftee and recent award-winner Finn Davison. By the time Davison faces significant regression, a (theoretically) active Spyro could be hitting his stride in the mid-high tier TPE range, something that Davos, Vancouver, and Riga all would be willing to take a risk on. But he's definitely a project moreso than an immediate starter; for that reason, we could see him span the range of picks we've seen so far.
-Renomitsu
 
 #19: HC Davos Dynamo 
Kevin Reegsman | @Reegs | D | Las Vegas Aces | TPE: 121
Gustav: 19 | Berocka: 20 | Renomitsu: 20 | Cxsquared: 20
Reegsman, a late entry to the draft class and a welfare earner, has risen up the board some since his signing with Vegas not long after he joined the site. Though relatively quiet on the forum, he seems reliable enough, and with a selection at 19 could end up in a solid depth role for a VHL team in the future, filling in the second pairing and proving valuable on the penalty kill with a defensive build. Davos, too, is a team that's suddenly in great need of a defenseman, seeing top players Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen (did I spell that right?) and Charlie Paddywagon departing in free agency. All in all, a good landing spot for Reegsman, especially if he continues to develop.
-Gustav
 
 #20: Helsinki Titans 
Milos Slavik | @Frank | LW | Houston Bulls | TPE: 117
Gustav: 21 | Berocka: 24 | Renomitsu: 18 | Cxsquared: 18
Casually mentioning Frank to a newcomer will likely get you a blank stare (I can confirm, I was new after Frank's heyday), and that's because the league legend is fairly quiet these days. He does have a player, though, and that player is ready to be drafted. Though he wasn't projected by anyone here to go at #20, this makes sense--Helsinki's aging roster puts them in prime position for a fire sale, and they aren't looking to be good in the near future. So, why not pick up Slavik, who will be on the roster in a season or two and will likely fill a depth role when the roster starts to take shape? The Titans have a solid selection on their hands, and Frank's reputation could make this a big deal on paper.
-Gustav
 
 
  #21: Moscow Menace (from Calgary) 
Oskar Lagesson | @fever95 | D | San Diego Marlins | TPE: 135
Gustav: 20 | Berocka: 21 | Renomitsu: 21 | Cxsquared: 21
Moscow are quite a full team at the moment, but come next season they have one player retiring and six up for UFA. Even if they manage to re-sign all the UFA’s, the one retiree will need to be replaced. Moscow make the pick of Oskar Lagesson to fill in for the loss of Paolo Nano. The 23 year old Swede played three quarters of the season with the Marlins in San Diego. Playing an extremely physical defensive game he landed 111 hits and blocked 51 shots in his 56 games. The agent for Lagesson is well known around the VHL and that will help add confidence to the Moscow GM to pick up Lagesson. 
- Berocka
 
 
 #22: Riga Reign 
Shush Nyko | @SDCore | LW | Mexico City Kings | TPE: 124
Gustav: 22| Berocka: 26 | Renomitsu: 22 | Cxsquared: 22
With six semi-active to active wingers plus one winger already drafted, why would the Reign want yet another wing player? The answer here lies in the potential to let Shush develop in the minors for a season or two before taking one of the second- or third-line spots, after regression hits 1-2 of their older players. As Shush Nyko is a pretty raw prospect, he isn't particularly specialized; though he's shown some scoring chops for the Kings (33 G, 68 P), he's still at a point in his career where he's flexible enough to become a scorer, enforcer, or passer. He's shown a solid foundation in most facets of the game, and that's a good sign for a player who will spend another season in the VHLM. Berocka's choice in sending him to Davos is a pretty reasonable selection too -- especially since the Swiss team will be retooling a decent amount this offseason.
-Renomitsu
 
 #23: Vancouver Wolves (from Malmo) 
Blacker Velver | @Higgins | D | Las Vegas Aces | TPE: 154
Gustav: 26 | Berocka: 19 | Renomitsu: 29 | Cxsquared: 19
At this point, we've got a polarizing pick on our hands. Velvet, aka Higgins, another one of those "former legends I never really met because they were active in the pre-Gustav days," created Velvet on the condition that Boubabi would be unbanned, and at the time was able to ascend right up near the top of the class (with 138 TPE, according to my draft board). After that point, he went largely inactive, popping in every now and then but never doing any serious earning. With that being said, though, he's still a 150-TPE player and he's on the board. Having earned a little recently, too, he's likely caught the eyes of a GM or two, and at this point it's justified for Vancouver to take a shot at him and hope it works out.
-Gustav
 
 #24: HC Davos Dynamo (from Seattle) 
Richard Fitzwell | @Tomato Soup | D | Philadelphia Reapers | TPE: 129
Gustav: 23 | Berocka: 25 | Renomitsu: 23 | Cxsquared: 26
With just a few players left in the >100 TPE range, the Dynamo pick up a solid defender who's surprisingly active for this point in the draft. Fitzwell is a good technical and physical wall, especially for the VHLM where point scoring tends to take preference over virtually every other skill. After being taken 62nd overall in the S68 VHLM draft, a spot at the end of the second round of the VHL draft is a pretty nice underdog story. With just two defensemen on the roster prior to free agency, Davos may have a spot with decent minutes for Fitzwell... if he stays active for a season or two. He'll need to prove himself to Dynamo management for another minor league season to do that, but the workings are there if he keeps up his current earning pace.
-Renomitsu
 
 
 
ROUND 3
 
 #25: HC Davos Dynamo (from D.C.) 
Kristopher McDagg | @Viperxhawks19 | LW | Saskatoon Wild | TPE: 98
Gustav: 24 | Berocka: 27 | Renomitsu: 24 | Cxsquared: 24
Kristopher McDagg is arguably one of the more physical forwards in the VHLM which lands him at 29th overall to the HC Davos Dynamo. This power forward put up a crazy 137 hits last season and a very respectable 32 blocks. It’s clear that McDagg wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line to help his team the Saskatoon Wild. That physical play hasn’t stopped McDagg from being a steady offensive force. In season 68 he put up a respectable 51 points and an impressive 2 short handed goals. By far the most notable thing about McDagg is his height standing at a solid 6’5”. This height really helps him in the corners when he’s battling for pucks. He won’t see the VHL for at least another season but when he does he’ll provide a great depth role to HC Davos.
- Cxsquared
 
 #26: HC Davos Dynamo (from Prague) 
Griff Manzer | @Garsh | D | Philadelphia Reapers | TPE: 93
Gustav: 25 | Berocka: 22 | Renomitsu: 25 | Cxsquared: 34
Manzer has a story that is oddly similar to Fitzwell's: an exceptionally young, promising defender with a good earning pace at the end of his first VHLM season. Garsh created quite a bit later than his Reapers teammate projected around #24 above, preventing him from placement in the VHLM Dispersal Draft. But he's one of the top 30 TPE players in his class, and that's got to perk up the ears of any GM with picks going into the third round. This would help round out Davos's second or third pair, and maybe give them some flexibility in power play/penalty kill playtime in the future. It'd be a great storyline for former teammates, and Manzer and Fitzwell would probably be closely watched as they develop in the minors.
-Renomitsu
 
 
  #27: Helsinki Titans (from New York) 
Gary Tarantino | @Garrett | RW | San Diego Marlins | TPE: 81
Gustav: 30 | Berocka: 28 | Renomitsu: 28 | Cxsquared: 29
With the draft getting thin there is not as much choice for Helsinki so with the 27th pick they select Gary Tarantino. This player started out quite strong but sort of fell into a rut during the tail end of the season. Tarantino has been seen spending his small amount of time practicing on the rink just skating around shooting pucks. You would think with this training this would result in more goals, but in the 73 games played Tarantino has only scored 5 times. However, if Helsinki believe that they can give him the puck at the right time, Tarantino might become a prolific sniper, scoring goals night after night. It is a risky strategy but if it pays off it would easily be worth the 3rd round pick.
- Berocka
 
 
 #28: Riga Reign (from Moscow) 
Shane Weibel | @ComplexRevo | C | Minnesota Storm | TPE: 80
Gustav: 36 | Berocka: 32 | Renomitsu: 26 | Cxsquared: 25
Oftentimes players in the latter half of their class will be a crapshoot: GMs will draft players with some promise, and hope they pan out long-term. Our panel was pretty divided on when Weibel would go, especially as an inactive of 1 month. Gustav and Berocka have Weibel going to Vancouver or Helsinki, respectively, while our other two panelists think he might go a bit earlier to one of Davos's three consecutive picks. It's possible that Weibel returns to form, but unlikely provided the last few weeks' worth of updates - especially the expected bulk claim period at the end of each season.
-Renomitsu
 
 
 #29: HC Davos Dynamo (from Toronto) 
Sade Taika | @Sade | RW | Saskatoon Wild | TPE: 82
Gustav: 34 | Berocka: 30 | Renomitsu: 27 | Cxsquared: 28
Sade Taika is a speedy right winger from Finland. In general she’s small for a hockey player, but she makes up for this with her speed and passing skills. These skills mean she’s a bit harder to hit, having only taken 101 hits last season which in this day and age is quite low. HC Davos has a large need for depth forwards, so Sade Taika should fit that bill perfectly. She has a unique play style that will be interesting to watch when she reaches the big leagues. She managed to watch her head while playing for the Wild in the VHLM, but will that also hold true for the VHL? She’s got a lot to offer but also still has quite a long way to go before she’s VHL ready.
- Cxsquared
 
 
 #30: Vancouver Wolves 
Boris Boris | @Walter Fizz | G | Las Vegas Aces | TPE: 86
Gustav: 32 | Berocka: 23 | Renomitsu: 31 | Cxsquared: 33
The Vancouver Wolves have a great goalie in Greg Eagles, but a good goalie prospect would help them in the long run. Boris Boris is fresh off his first season in the VHLM helping Las Vegas Aces having an amazing season coming in at second place. It’s clear he still needs more time in the VHLM but could easily be a great get for Vancouver at 30th overall. Even with the Aces' stellar year, Boris Boris only had a decent season with a 0.861 SV%, but managed an impressive 2.39 GAA. It was a slow year for Boris but he made great progress. He even put up 4 shutouts with only 35 games played in the regular season. Greg Eagles could prove to be a great mentor for Boris if he ends up going to Vancouver. Boris Boris has the potential but needs to keep up his steady growth. Hopefully being drafted in the VHL gives him the push he needs to take his game to the next level.
- Cxsquared
 
 
 #31: HC Davos 
King Kruul | @LefLop | D | San Diego Marlins | TPE: 81
Gustav: 35 | Berocka: 31 | Renomitsu: 34 | Cxsquared: 27
The extreme heavy hitting d-man from Germany hasn’t been seen around the ice recently. In fact it has been reported that he is spending time hanging around some basketball locker rooms trying to change sports. But, if these rumours turn out to be untrue and the possibility of playing hockey and basketball at the same time become easier Kruul could be a great pick up for Davos. Kruul had 270 hits in the VHLM but he did spend 154 minutes in the penalty box, as a primarily physical player enjoys throwing his 218-lb body around the ice. A player like this could be a good pick up for Davos, you know he won’t be a hall of famer but having a physical 3rd or 4th line could help turn the game in your favour. I think it is worth the pick to get some physical presence on the team.
-Berocka
 
 
  #32: Helsinki Titans 
Nicolas Fomba | @efiug | G | San Diego Marlins | TPE: 73
Gustav: 27 | Berocka: 29 | Renomitsu: N/A | Cxsquared: 36
One of the few goalies on the list is Fomba, who looks like he could be  VHL level talent in a couple of seasons but not any time soon. This could work into Helsinki’s plans perfectly--with Pepper retiring at the end of S70, Fomba could step up in S71 and be the backup for Ligriv. Fomba is still attending training and trying to improve but a goalie who stays in the VHLM for two seasons suits Helsinki. This allows Ligriv to continue to backup and learn from Pepper, and when he is ready to take over Fomba can step up and take a couple of games a season. Helsinki would make a great pick at number 32 with a good backup for the future. 
- Berocka
 
 #33: Calgary Wranglers 
Jack Russell | @quanack | C | Mexico City Kings | TPE: 74
Gustav: 29 | Berocka: N/A | Renomitsu: 30 | Cxsquared: 35
Russell could end up going higher up the board if GMs are keeping their eyes open. Though he's only at 74 TPE, he's earned welfare this week, and if he continues to earn, he could end up higher on the board than 33. At this point in the draft, every pick is more or less a shot in the dark, but Russell escaping the third round is certainly not a possibility that I can see, personally.
-Gustav
 
 
 #34: Riga Reign 
Logan LeBlanc | @Briedaqueduc | LW | Las Vegas Aces | TPE: 71
Gustav: N/A | Berocka: 33 | Renomitsu: 33 | Cxsquared: 31
With no updates since September, it's unlikely LeBlanc will see much ice time in the majors; this pick will likely be a contingency (i.e. "well if he comes back..."). He showed some promise in scoring while working with limited minutes for Las Vegas; LeBlanc would most certainly be a project, and is one of just a few picks that didn't fall on one of our experts' projections -- the expectations have been set, Mr. LeBlanc. Will you meet them?
-Renomitsu
 
 
  #35: New York Americans (from Malmo) 
Justin Goodhope | @Apoc_Chaos | LW | Minnesota Storm | TPE: 69
Gustav: N/A | Berocka: 35 | Renomitsu: 35 | Cxsquared: 30
Goodhope hasn’t been seen at practice for over a month, but rumours exist that he hasn’t quite given up at hockey, with people spotting him around the training rink watching on. The left winger from Canada hasn’t really done much in his first season in the VHLM, only contributing 9 points in his 62 games played. New York might hope that the pick on Justin will be a good one in the future. As when he was at training he would give 100% at making himself a better skater and with 69 TPE going into S69, I can imagine that that sign could mean great things for New York and I am sure it will be a nice pick.
- Berocka
 
 #36: Vancouver Wolves 
Toppi Attakallio | @Bobby Bummhole | G | San Diego Marlins | TPE: 63
Gustav: 33 | Berocka: 36 | Renomitsu: 32 | Cxsquared: N/A
Attakallio's agent has created and retired a few players already, but this goaltender has been earning a little recently, claiming practice facility the past couple weeks and claiming welfare this week. Since we're in the "everyone just picks whoever looks best" phase of the draft, he'll here go to the Wolves, who have a starting goaltender for the foreseeable future in Greg Eagles but who hope Attakallio will develop into a legitimate prospect nonetheless, whether they hope to trade him or keep him around as a backup.
-Gustav
 
 
 
Honorable Mentions
 
Kim Jong Un | @Gaudette | LW | Halifax 21st | TPE: 69
Gustav: N/A | Berocka: 34 | Renomitsu: 36 | Cxsquared: 32
Un (or, should I say, Kim--surname comes first in Korea!), is a recreate whose draft position is somewhat unclear. He hasn't earned in a while, but his agent's last player, Blake Gaudette, maintained a respectable earn rate for a while and was at one point looking like a solid Malmo prospect. Only the draft will tell whether he's selected in the first three rounds, but in this mock he finds himself right on the edge.
-Gustav
 
Isak Sjostrom | @Austin2997 | G | Philadelphia Reapers | TPE: 71
Gustav: 28 | Berocka: N/A | Renomitsu: N/A | Cxsquared: N/A
Personally, I'm surprised to see that nobody's got Sjostrom higher--he's been a consistent welfare earner for at least the past month (any farther back than that, admittedly, I'm too lazy to check). If any consistent welfare earner, regardless of position, makes it out of the top 36, they'll be quite the steal for whoever ends up picking them. Sjostrom's goalie status may cause a few teams to pass, but he'd be a reasonable pickup for any team as a long-term project and possible future starter.
-Gustav
 
Elliott Porter | @Ren | D | Saskatoon Wild | TPE: 70
Gustav: 31 | Berocka: N/A | Renomitsu: N/A | Cxsquared: N/A
Porter wouldn't be on this list if we wrote this mock last week, as he'd been inactive for about a month prior. This week, though, he logged on and claimed welfare and practice facility. If this is the start of a run of activity, he could be a late steal in the draft, and see himself be picked up somewhere in the third round if GMs are paying enough attention.
-Gustav
 
 
 
Word counts for media spot claims:
Gustav: 2,010
Berocka: 1,468
Renomitsu: 1,494
Cxsquared: 1,645

Welcome! If you need any help never be afraid to ask. 

Apollo might be old, but technically my player isn't even born yet. 

Great job this season! Just you wait until I’m in the VHL... 

So it's true... I suck at graphics, but I'm working on it. 

Great job this season! Just you wait until I’m in the VHL... 

Prague is looking like they've got a bright future already. Good luck this next season. Hoping you can expand upon your previous season.

Sometimes I ask myself what it's like to wear a hat to sleep, but of course I don't know the answer. I don't wear hats to sleep! But I did wake up in a hand stand. You might be wondering how much I drank last night. I too cannot answer that. What I can answer, is a question that truthfully has no answer. A question that cannot be answered leaves something to be desired... and to desire something is arguably the most important motivation in human existence. For example, how many goals will I score this upcoming VHLM season? Don't you see? There's so much to be desired. I could score 1 goal or I could score 100 goals. Isn't it great just thinking about it? Now I'm motivated to go do point tasks until my hair is grey and I forget how to spell centense. I've actually just now reached 150 words.
 
Have a splendid day.
 
p.s. I like domesticable pets such as dogs and cats...

"yikes" - motzaburger

Couldn't have said it better. I appreciate the nice things you had to say about me. Also can't wait to hear about #9.

Hello everyone, Welcome to a new weekly article where I take a look at 3 VHL prospects from next season's draft. With the S69 Draft closing in, it's only a matter of time before S70 players become the focus of VHL general managers. While many more will emerge as time passes, there are some particular players leading the pack so far. Here is my top 10 prospects of S70 to date:
 
Mikko Lahtinen
Edwin THE Encarnacion
Jacques Lafontaine
Odin Omdahl
Dylan Carpenter
Damien Wolfe
Alexsandra Olsen
Jimothy Frost
Dick Cheezy
Gabriel Gutzwiler
 
Obviously, being so early in their draft season, these rankings are due to change a lot, even week to week. It is heavily based upon recency bias, with those who have been more consistently active the past few weeks placing higher on the list.
 
As mentioned before, this article will focus on 3 S70 prospects. Without further ado, let's get to them.
 
Jacques Lafontaine - G - 115 TPE
The top ranked goalie in the draft, Lafontaine has burst onto the scene recently. With lightning quick reflexes and consistency that a team can rely upon night to night, the Canadian netminder is sure to be a game changer for whoever picks him up in Sunday's Dispersal Draft. Not only is he consistent on the ice, but off the ice he's been putting the work in as well, amassing a remarkable 35 TPE in the past 2 weeks. If he maintains his consistency, it wouldn't surprise me to see him challenge the current unanimous top 2.
 
Jimothy Frost - C - 57 TPE
My 8th ranked prospect, Jimothy Frost, is of a unique breed. Born in Antarctica, Jimothy is actually part penguin. Just as the Penguins in the NHL know a thing or two about scoring goals, the penguins in Antarctica seem to know their fair share as well. The 16 year old is young, but a gifted goal scorer with an impressive two way game to go along with it. Being a 1st generation player, the biggest thing to be determined about Frost is whether he will stay consistent in earning TPE on a weekly basis. So far, all signs point to yes, as he hasn't had one inactive week to date.
 
Odin Omdahl - D - 101 TPE
Zepheter's player, Odin Omdahl, is one that should have all eyes on him. Trying to reach 500 content count, zepheter has been incredibly active on the forums recently, and Omdahl will be reaping the rewards from it. He is a great two way defenseman, with nice mobility and a cannon for a shot. Expect him to put up numbers in all categories in the VHLM this season, and be an important piece for whichever team lands him in the draft. I see an all-situations defender with good potential to be a powerplay quarterback.
 
Like I said before, my rankings are subject to change, and largely based on recent activity, so if anyone has any insight as to how I can better them but not make it entirely based on TPE, feel free to leave a comment. I'm just trying to make them as accurate as possible, but with me being still fairly new, they probably aren't perfect.
 

So it's true... I suck at graphics, but I'm working on it. 

He's pointing at me!

We had to do an advertisement as a school projet with 2 random words. We got "pinata" and "hot sauce". It was a 6 weeks assignment from scratch.
 
There it is
 
 
okay bye