McLovin

Las Vegas Enters Rebuild in Worst Way Possible
 
(Full disclosure, this is just gonna be a GM vent because I have not properly expressed my disappointment with how the playoffs went yet, so I figured write a media spot and then forget about it LOL)
The Las Vegas Aces have lost, getting swept by the Philadelphia Reapers in the Founder's Cup Final. After being projected to be one of, if not, THE favorites to win the Cup, it's safe to say this was a very, very disappointing season for the Aces. This loss stings harder for a multitude of reasons, and we'll get into why shortly, but nobody ever likes getting swept in the playoffs, especially after how well the rest of the playoffs went for the Aces. Dominating performances by Elle Aura Ashe and Piston Maicupp helped keep the Aces dominate in the first two rounds, while point per game paces maintained by Captain Caesar Monterrey, Stinky, and Bric Sheithaus helped compliment the lethal offense in always putting up a high number of goals. My fear from the very beginning of the season however, was goaltending. Both in our own net, as well as the opponents. My fear was that if we got stopped by a brick wall, and weren't able to outscore the other team, that our defense would surrender games easier and the series would become far more competitive. That's exactly what happened against Philadelphia, and facing off against Piffers Jorgen Lovstrom between the pipes. We were just absolutely shut down and there was nothing I could've done to prevent it, it seems.
 
The biggest reason why this loss stings isn't necessarily the loss itself, but what it means for the team moving forward. This was this groups last shot at a Cup, after working our asses off for this over the last 3 seasons and at LEAST half a year IRL. Most of the people on my team are either close friends or family that I know in person, so I know it sucked for them just as hard as it did me to have your final shot at a Founder's Cup go out in a whimper instead of a blaze of glory. It isn't the ending we wanted, and to say that I definitely didn't feel a bit sad even after reading the results of Games 3 & 4 would be an understatement. To my players reading, I apologize if I let you and the team down. We gave it our all, and I am still very proud of what we managed to do. I wish all my players, friends and family, moving onto Europe or retiring from the VHL entirely after this loss the best, and hope to have you guys on the Aces again for another deep run one of these days. Until that happens, however, we're gonna enter a harsh rebuild and try to retool and recoup from the loss, and move on with our careers in the best ways possible. Thank you for reading, fellas! ❤️

YOOOOOO THAT’S SICK, THANK YOU MAN! 🙌

@McLovin

The jersey number of Stinky @taylorherd is being retired by the Las Vegas Aces. Stinky is the All-Time Aces record holder for:
 
Goals - 144
Points - 306
Game Winning Goals - 27
Shots on Goal - 1261
 
Stinky was the greatest goal scorer in Aces history, shattering records set decades before his arrival in Las Vegas. His leadership on and off the ice will be a quality greatly missed in Las Vegas, but his legacy will be remembered forever in the rafters of Juan Ceson Arena. A career Ace, Las Vegas will always remember the great runs we went on with Stinky at the helm of it all, and the team will never be able to replace the qualities Stinky brought to the team and fans. It's an honor of mine to be hoisting this jersey number into our rafters,
 
Thank you, Stinky

Review:
MAN, this is what graphics are all about dude. Like I don't even know where to begin with this graphic. It is quite honestly one of the best graphics I've seen on the website ever, maybe even ever. That's not even me tryna reach a word cap, like this is genuinely such a fire ass graphic. If the Aces end up winning the Founder's Cup this season, I want to commission you for graphics for the team absolutely. This is FIRE bro!

It's funny, I Lem and I engineer the Aces previous finals loss and we can do it once again... How fun!

The Las Vegas Aces are going to the finals
The Las Vegas Aces have swept the Miami Marauders in 4 games to punch their ticket to the Founders Cup finals and will face the winner of the Houston Bulls and Philadelphia Reapers series. Houston is currently leading the series 3-2 both teams will pose a significant threat for the cup this year, but either one knows they will have to defeat a powerhouse Vegas squad that has an offense that no one has been able to find an answer to as of yet. For Vegas either potential opponent represent a tough series, Philadelphia won the regular season title this year on the strength of the best goaltending this year so if Lovstrom gets hot he could steal any series, not only that but they might have the best chemistry of any team with how many Jinns are on the roster. As for Houston they have the most complete roster of any team and has been many watchers favorite to win the whole thing this year. They added a top centre ad the deadline this year and all their players have grown greatly over the course of the year making them a threat to win it all.
Jimmy "Tha Rat" Klondike for VHL.com

I would say my non biased Top GM Nominees are

@AJW for reason stated above
@McLovin for building a good team and making some trades along the way
@Tetricide A great GM and made some moves along the way

I would say me but 1st season and I really only made moves
 
@Grape A great GM from what I can tell and listened to what players want from what I can see

 

Well in that case,
 
There isn’t a ton from anyone that makes one person better than the other in terms of who should deserve GMoty. Moves were at a minimum, waivers are at random, so I do have to look back prior to this season and see who put in the most work to set themselves up for this season.
 
For me that is @McLovin. Vegas is at the top of the league with a nicely put together roster. They made a few moves along the way to add pieces and are still set up efficiently for the future with an abundance of draft picks and therefor get my vote.
 
 

@McLovin. Has been able to retain a competitive team and has always been strong at drafting. He's been able to put together a top team for a few seasons now, which is quite challenging to do in such a volatile league

With the VHLM regular season in the rear view mirror and the second round of the playoffs getting underway, gazes begin to shift toward the Junior Showcase Tournament-- an opportunity for those players who are eligible for the Season 93 and 94 VHL and VHLE entry drafts to put their skills on display and show scouts and general managers what they can do. After last season's JST was canceled because of a lack of eligible players, the tournament is back this season and bursting with talent after an influx of new players who entered the VHLM in Season 92.
 
While the VHLM is a league that allows players to cut their teeth, the JST is where players bare their fangs, sharpened and glistening white. After a full season of development, players will be eager to prove themselves against the top talents in their draft class. Some players will be coming off of a disappointing season or a difficult playoff loss and will be seeking a shot at redemption. Others will be out to prove that their regular season or playoff success was not accidental, but repeatable, even in a different environment with different teammates. Unlike an All-Star game where there is nothing on the line, the players in this tournament have their futures to play for. Playing a great tournament could see a player's draft stock rise, while a disappointing showing might plant seeds of doubt in the minds of scouts and general managers looking to build their team in the upcoming drafts. Whichever way you look at it, the JST is a fantastic opportunity for draft eligible players to stay active during the offseason as it gives players more motivation to continue training and developing their skills. The tournament is also an excellent opportunity for some up and coming GM prospects to gain invaluable experience building and managing a roster. It is a tournament of opportunity, but it will be up to those involved to make the most of it.
 
Without further introduction, let's dive into the rosters of the five teams that will be taking part in the tournament. Here, I'll give you a preview on what to expect from each team, some storylines to follow, and who might be the early favorite to win the tournament.  I'll also give you my shortlist of players who might have a little something extra to prove in this tournament.  These will be players to keep an eye on as the games begin.
*Note: Teams are ordered alphabetically and players are sorted by position and TPE.
 
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Brigade: GM @samx, AGM @LucyXpher
 
Forwards:
 
LW - (S93) Chris Reynolds Jr. @Crstats23  72GP - 29G - 42A - 69P
LW - (S93) UghSike @UghSike --> 72GP - 28G - 32A - 60P
LW - (S94) Maverick Goncalves @leandrofg  20GP -2G - 2A - 4P
LW - (S94) Pombo @samx  20GP - 1G - 0A - 1P
C - (S93) Tyler Lawson @Nyx  56GP - 20G - 36A - 56P
C - (S94) Pierre Marc Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito  18GP - 7G - 7A - 14P
C - (S93) Micah Cederbaum @MicahC  48GP - 1G - 1A - 2P
C - (S94) Tommy Shelby @Will  
RW - (S93) Armas Jortikka @Kavadar  44GP - 16G - 14A - 30P
 
Defense:
 
D - (S93) Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher  72 GP - 16G - 60A - 76P
D - (S93) Wladyslaw Mintus @mintusaurus  60GP - 9G - 31A - 40P
D - (S93) Masa Akimoto @Hokikeijot  48GP - 5G - 18A - 23P
D - (S93) Connor Mclaughlin @Connor Mclaughling  62GP - 7G - 12A - 19P
D - (S93) Landon Flatt @Lando10  72GP - 6G - 26A - 32P
 
Goalie:
 
G - (S93) Kendra Cavill @Firekiss  60GP - 22W - .893 SV% - 3.54 GAA - 2SO
G - (S93) Da TypThond @Erik  11GP - 6W - .897 SV% - 3.18 GAA
 
The current GM of the Helsinki Titans, @samx offered her services and expertise to manage the Brigade in this season's Junior Showcase Tournament when the team needed a last minute replacement.  Up and comer, @LucyXpher, joined up as the AGM partway through the draft to fill out the team's front office. On paper, the team is a collection of solid players--though perhaps not flashy-- some of whom might have been undervalued in the JST draft.  A good number of these players saw limited ice time in secondary or depth roles for their VHLM clubs this past season, but could be primed to take a leap forward with more opportunity. 
 
Up front, the Brigade will feature two strong left wingers in Chris Reynolds Jr. and UghSike, with further depth at the position in Maverick Goncalves and Pombo.  One of these players will likely need to play on their off wing or at center, however, as it is not likely the team will ice four full forward lines-- at least not to begin the tournament. Tyler Lawson had an exceptional year in Houston in a secondary role and will look to shine in more minutes with the Brigade in this tournament. Pierre Marc Bouchard is also a coveted prospect who could see some serious development, even over the course of this tournament, making him a good value pickup with a rising ceiling. 
 
On defense, the Brigade selected Lucy Leitner with the 3rd overall pick and did well to add quality in Wladyslaw Mintus, Masa Akimoto, Connor Mclaughlin, and Landon Flatt. With increased ice time and greater responsibility, these defenders will be called upon to elevate their game from their VHLM level.
 
There was a run on goalies early on in the JST draft that left the Brigade digging a little deeper for options.  Ultimately, they would settle on Halifax's number one goalie, Kendra Cavill, who had a fairly strong season despite being on a weaker team.  With control of the net and competitive teammates, Cavill will be a goalie to watch to see whether or not they can measure up to the likes of Lovstrom, Vencko, and Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen.  On paper, goaltending may be a more obvious weakness for the Brigade, but there's a reason the games are played and Cavill will certainly have something to prove.  If all else fails, the Brigade selected Da TypThond as their second goalie who had a respectable record, albeit in limited ice time this past season with Las Vegas.
 
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Royals: GM @horoscope, AGM @Mysterious_Fish
 
Forwards:
 
LW - (S93) Forum Content @frescoelmo --> 72GP - 41G - 64A - 105P
LW - (S94) Wally Lose @youloser1337  20GP - 3G - 7A - 10P
LW  - (S93) Kevin OConnor @Luke033  72GP - 15G - 38A - 53P
C - (S93) Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica --> 72GP - 38G - 43A - 81P
C - (S94) The Phantom of the VHL @Hogan  16GP - 4G - 3A - 7P
RW - (S93) Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer --> 72GP - 41G - 54A - 95P
RW - (S93) Steve French @Seabass  72GP - 43G - 46A - 89P
RW - (S94) Maple Dogwood @dogwoodmaple  18GP - 7G - 7A - 14P
 
Defense:
 
D - (S94) Felicia Hardy @JCarson  20GP - 0G - 1A - 1P
D - (S94) Toby Cook @KRZY  20GP - 5G - 6A - 11P
D - (S93) Magni Jinn @DontCallMeCarson  72GP - 16G - 59A - 75P
D - (S93) Enn Jinn @jhatty8  72GP - 21G - 68A - 89P
D - (S93) Pinn Jinn @Eagle Eye  72GP - 13G - 37A - 50P
D - (S94) kevin jonathen @meandyoc  
 
Goalie:
 
G - (S93) Herald Benson @Benson  29GP - 13W - .892 SV% - 3.3 GAA - 1SO
G - (S93) Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub  64GP - 35W - .904 SV% - 2.91 GAA - 2SO
 
For the Royals, @horoscope is on his first tour of duty as a general manager and has brought along San Diego Marlins GM, @Mysterious_Fish, to be his AGM. On paper, it seems that the management duo has done well for themselves, securing top players at each position.  The question with this team will be whether these players can reproduce their VHLM success in this tournament.  
 
With a potential top line of Forum Content - Antonia Bucatini - Annie Oaks, the Royals have ensured that they will not lack firepower. With Kevin OConnor and Steve French also added to the forward corps, they will undoubtedly be a frightening group to go up against.  The Phantom of the VHL might also be a bit of a sleeper pick who can punch above his weight in terms of draft position and I would probably put Wally Lose in that same category.  
 
On defense, Magni Jinn, Enn Jinn, and Pinn Jinn might be the team's top defensemen in terms of scoring track record as they were among the VHLM's top defenders.  There is some concern, however, that their numbers may have been slightly inflated playing on a Reapers team that was clicking all season long.  Conversely, it should not be discounted that these three were also highly instrumental to their team's success and deserve credit for this as well.  It remains to be seen how the defensive depth chart will shake out for the Royals.  It is a real possibility that Felicia Hardy and Toby Cook may end up as the top pairing on this team, despite only having a combined 12 points in 40 games last season compared with the 214 in 216 by all three Jinns combined.  
 
In goal, the Royals, like the Brigade, missed the early run on goalies. That said, they were able to secure Herald Benson, one of the best backups in the VHLM last season, and he will surely be looking to prove he deserves a starting job going forward.  Despite lacking the pedigree of Vencko in Houston, Benson actually held his own in the head to head battle for the crease for most of the season, and only fell behind the Czech down the stretch. The Royals also picked up another capable goaltender in Samuel Wazinski, who backstopped the San Diego Marlins to 35 wins in 64 games this season, recording 2 shutouts along the way.
 
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Steel: GM @dstevensonjr, AGM @Pifferfish
 
Forwards:
 
LW - (S93) Filip Zinek @FiZi  72GP - 21G - 27A - 48P
LW - (S93) Elf shoes @ELF_SH0ES  72GP - 11G - 18A - 29P
C - (S93) Vanuza Kolesinska @chikn  72GP - 31G - 48A - 79P
C - (S93) Taylor Swift @lilchrist  70GP - 34G - 51A - 85P
C - (S93) Aiden Paige @Apaige131  56GP - 6G - 18A - 24P
C - (S93) Jacob Longstreet @Dynamicmlb_42  26GP - 1G - 2A - 3P
RW - (S93) Trimiskez Artav @jake  72GP - 43G - 45A - 88P
RW - (S93) Jack Dickens @Mystery_boy98  64GP - 10G - 10A - 20P
RW - (S93) Cole Stermer @Bazeus  38GP - 7G - 18A - 25P
 
Defense:
 
D - (S93) Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee  68GP - 23G - 58A - 81P
D - (S93) Gul Dukat @MSouthworth 72GP - 18G - 47A - 65P
D - (S93) Blaze Thunderstrike @eaglesfan036  44GP - 4G - 24A - 28P
D - (S94) Lazlo Holmes @Gustav   14GP - 6G - 9A -15P
D  - (S94) Donald Carlson @AW13  18GP - 2G - 6A - 8P
 
Goalie:
 
G - (S93) Ondrej Vencko @Mutti  50GP - 27W - .892 SV% - 2.94 GAA - 1SO
G - (S93) Austin Goulet III @Tuchy  42GP - 14W - .886 SV% - 3.46 GAA
 
The Steel enlisted @dstevensonjr to take the helm as a first time general manager, along with @Pifferfish as his assistant.  Despite this being his first kick at the proverbial can, the Steel GM demonstrated his overall preparation and shrewdness with the first overall pick, wasting little time taking the top rated defender, Benjamin Abenduct.  Knowing that high-end defenders would be in short supply, the Steel made a smart move and got their guy.  With a keen eye on the Houston Bulls talent pool, the Steel would go on to select Trimiskez Artav, a high scoring right winger, Filip Zinek, Jack Dickens, and goaltender Ondrej Vencko.  These 5 Bulls fill important roles on this Steel roster and it will be interesting to see if their chemistry can carry over from the VHLM.
 
Besides ZInek, Artav, and Dickens, the Steel took a top center in Vanuza Kolesinska and bolstered their center depth chart with Taylor Swift and Aiden Paige.  These players should offer them a quality one-two-three punch down the middle of the ice and will be flanked by the aforementioned Bulls. The Steel also drafted another center, Jacob Longstreet, but it remains to be seen if he will be called upon to play as a winger or stay at his natural position.  This will ultimately depend on how many lines the managers elect to send over the boards.  
 
On defense, Abenduct is paired with a friend of his in Gul Dukat, and it seems likely that the two will become a formidable top pair for the Steel.  I have to think that the Steel knew this when drafting them and it may be an important piece of scouting that really pays off for them in this tournament.  Blaze Thunderstrike is a good option on the second pair along with Lazlo Holmes who is off to a torrid start to his career.  Donald Carlson has also impressed in limited VHLM games and may be an important contributor if given the chance on this Steel blueline.  

In goal, the Steel chose Ondrej Vencko.  After Lovstrom, Vencko is considered by many to be either the second or third best goalie prospect in the VHLM and is currently leading his Houston Bulls into the second round of the playoffs.  Vencko is more than capable of stealing games and is a stable presence in the net.  Off the ice... well... stable is not exactly the first word that comes to mind.  Let's just stick with presence... 
 
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Warriors: GM @Nathan_8, AGM @Alex
 
Forwards:
LW - (S93) Jean-Pierre Devote @eagle_3450 --> 72GP - 52G - 54A - 106P
LW - (S93) Connor simard @Alex99  46GP - 15G - 22A - 37P
LW - (S93) Owen two @do3bo1  40GP - 3G - 9A - 12P
C - (S93) French Fries @solyom  72GP - 16G - 35A - 51P
C - (S93) Murray Connolly @Blakemac22  56GP - 2G - 16A - 18P
C - (S93) Isaak Robinson @isaak  72GP - 15G - 17A - 32P
RW - (S93) Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG  72GP - 46G - 57A - 103P
RW - (S93) Leon Bruhmaninho @BigBruhman --> 72GP - 26G - 44A - 70P
RW - (S93) Ocean Codoller @FreshOceanCod  72GP - 21G - 36A - 57P
RW - (S94) Donnis Orange Krupis @hedgehog337  
 
Defense:
 
D - (S94) Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877  20GP - 3G - 9A - 12P
D - (S93) Ray Stanton @horoscope --> 38GP - 10G - 22A - 32P
D - (S93) Carson Tripp @Cartripp14  50GP - 12G - 36A - 48P
D - (S93) Zeal-Emiritus Fleming @FabioF04  72GP - 9G - 34A - 43P
 
Goalie:
 
G - (S93) Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu  67GP - 39W - .905 SV% - 2.62 GAA - 1SO
G - (S93) Alexander ovieckin jr @penguinb19  69GP - 27W - .868 SV% - 3.99 GAA - 1SO
 
The Houston Bulls AGM, @Nathan_8, has taken the reins of this year's Warriors team with the experience of @Alex as his AGM. The Warriors took a swing for the fences with Jean-Pierre Devote at second overall and snagged Yermolai Nabokov with a subsequent pick.  The combo of Devote and Nabokov on the wings with French Fries in the middle is a mouth watering prospect.  With depth centers Murray Connolly and Isaak Robinson flanked by Leon Bruhmaninho and Ocean Codoller, this is a team that will be able to boast depth in addition to its high end firepower.
 
On the defensive side, the Warriors nabbed one of the top S94 prospects in Jillian Woods and added great value in Ray Stanton, Carson Tripp, and Zeal-Emiritus Fleming.  While most of these defenders have proven to some degree that they can play important minutes for their clubs, it remains to be seen if any of them can take command of a top 2 role and become a true top defender that catches the eye of scouts.  
 
At the goaltending position, the Warriors selected Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen as their starter.  With this pick, they bought themselves some peace of mind between the pipes, banking on AKK's track record and high pedigree. While his VHLM numbers haven't necessarily measured up to where some expected him to be going into the season, I think it's also safe to say that the Mexico City Kings would not have achieved their 3rd place finish without his solid play in goal.  This tournament will be a great opportunity for him to show his true quality and really make a push to move up the goalie rankings for the upcoming drafts.
 
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Yukon Rush: GM @UnknownMinion
 
Forwards:
 
LW - (S93) Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor  72GP - 31G - 33A - 64P
LW - (S93) Miner vHLer @Rhynex Entertainment  72GP - 5G - 7A - 12P
C - (S93) Walter Jinn @Adrest245  72GP - 34G - 46A - 80P
C - (S93) Caleb Nowell @PhoenixsPc  70GP - 13G - 37A - 50P
C - (S93) Gavin Bebard @Gavin Bebard :mis: 60GP - 16P - 29A - 45P
RW - (S93) Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8 :hou: 72GP - 25G - 23A - 48P
RW - (S93) Oliver Loo @Peiffy :mia: 48GP - 6G - 4A - 10P
RW - (S93) Anthony Simmons II @Starchychaff :mis: 38GP - 18G - 20A - 38P
RW - (S93) Marek Nowaczyk @Chillybro :mis: 47GP - 15G - 12A - 27P
 
Defense:
 
D - (S93) WWumbo @Fire Tortorella :ott: 72GP - 14G - 50A - 64P
D - (S93) Cody Toland @ctoland102 :hou: 72GP - 8G -  27A - 35P
D - (S93) Billy Joel @The goat of hockey :sdm: 72GP - 6G - 14A - 20P
D - (S93) Russell Sprout @betta57 :sdm:-->:ssk: 72GP - 9G - 37A - 46P
D - (S93) Phil Taylor @Legacy :mis: 60GP - 13G - 27A - 40P
 
 
Goalie:
 
G - (S93) Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish :phi: 62GP - 48W - .918 SV% - 2.34 GAA - 3SO
G - (S93) Connor Hellebuyck @HockeyFan4Life :mex: 6GP - 2W - .887 SV% - 3.43 GAA
  
For the Yukon Rush, @UnknownMinion leads the way as a GM with some experience. He previously spent one season as the GM of Halifax in the VHLM, one season as GM of Geneva in the VHLE, and two seasons as GM of Bratislava in the VHLE.  His resume also boasts a Gold Medal in the WJHC with Team World.  In this season's JST, he has compiled an intriguing roster of players that includes the top goalie in the VHLM in Jorgen Lovstrom.  Securing this pick early on in the draft gives the Rush a huge advantage in goal as Lovstrom has displayed remarkable consistency throughout the entirety of the VHLM regular season and into the playoffs.  There are many who believe that much of the Philadelphia Reapers' success this season is owed to his calm command of the goal, giving his team the confidence to take risks and produce in front of him.  His numbers are head and shoulders above the other goalies in the VHLM and he leads the league with 3 shutouts and an impressive 48 wins.  
 
At the forward positions, the Rush can ice a potential top line featuring one of the top prospects in the S93 draft class, Gianfranco Del Rocco.  He could be joined by Reaper's standout, Walter Jinn, and Bulls scorer, Nathan Ecker. This trio, though perhaps not as explosive as some of the others we've previewed, is not to be underestimated.  Ecker has quietly built himself up in a depth role for the Houston Bulls and a stint on the top line for the Rush could be all he needs to catapult himself up the draft board.  With the balanced skills of Walter Jinn down the middle and the high-end scoring prowess of Del Rocco, this could be a sleeper pick for one of the most productive lines in the tournament when it's all said and done.

At defense, the Rush selected WWumbo as their top player and added two of the VHLM's most physical players in Cody Toland and Billy Joel. If he stays out of the penalty box, his physical play can quickly become an advantage as he wears the opposition down.  Billy Joel, Russel Sprout, and Phil Taylor are also great value pickups in the later parts of the draft that could prove to be steals.  
 
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Roster Power Rankings:
 
With the rosters set, the tournament is only days away from puck drop.  Based solely on the rosters available to us at the time of writing, I've put together an early power ranking of how these teams might stack up against each other.  Please keep in mind that this is only my opinion based on the current rosters.  These rosters are still subject to change as teams begin to sign free agents and play games.  It's also worth noting that none of the teams have released any lineup information, so this is based purely on the apparent quality of the rosters you see above.  Making this preliminary ranking was difficult because there is very little to choose between most of these rosters as they all seem to offer notable strengths and some weaknesses.  This should make for a highly competitive tournament as the games get underway.
 
1. Royals
The prospect of a Content-Bucatini-Oaks line is too tantalizing for me to rank this team any lower than first, especially considering they have OConnor, French, and the Jinns on defense.  Herald Benson is probably the biggest question mark on this team for me, but I think he certainly has the potential to embrace this role and be a proper number 1 option.  If Benson falters, Samuel Wazinski is also a very capable goalie, so I struggle to see how goaltending will be a serious issue for this team.
 
2. Steel
If the Steel decide to play Kolesinska and Swift on the same line, I think they could probably boast the most complete starting lineup in this tournament with Artav joining those two up front and the partnership of Abenduct and Dukat locking down the back end.  In goal, Ondrej Vencko is about as good as they come... if you don't have Lovstrom, that is.
 
3. Warriors 
The headline here is Devote and Nabokov with a side of French Fries.  Actually, French Fries is the centerman.  This line alone is worth the price of admission to see this team in action.  Add AKK in goal and this team has the makings of a contender.  I've got the Warriors ranked 3rd because I think the Steel have an edge on defense, especially with their top 2, but I could see this Warriors defense rounding into form very quickly.
 
4. Yukon Rush 
Turns out having one of the top draft eligible skaters and the surefire top goalie in the VHLM doesn't guarantee you top spot in the way-too-early power rankings, but I guess I just want to see this team in action before I give them their flowers.  I think there are also some questions to be answered on the defensive end.  
 
5.  Brigade 
Last place or 5th overall?  Either way, this is the team I am the least sure about in terms of day one performance, but it’s the one that I think may have the most sneaky potential to be better than we expected.  With a number of S94 eligible selections who are developing rapidly, as well as top players like Reynolds Jr., UghSike, Lawson and Leitner, who will likely benefit from more ice time, it's difficult to predict what the ceiling is for this team.  Goaltending may be the biggest question mark for the Brigade who are putting a lot of faith in Cavill with TypThond as a backup option.
 
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3 Players With Something to Prove:
 
1. Kendra Cavill - Brigade: Of all the goalies picked, Cavill is the least known quantity.  Because Halifax struggled throughout much of the VHLM season, it's difficult to separate the team's performance from Cavill's stat line.  Cavill has shown examples of quality and ability evidenced by 2 shutouts this season. Even on a significantly worse team, that's more than Benson, Vencko, and AKK who each recorded 1 shutout this season.  Cavil's .893 SV% is also comparable to the .892% held by both Vencko and Benson.  It's not a lot to go on, but there are signs of a quality goalie here and Cavill will need to be sharp from the start to prove the doubters wrong.
 
2. Miner vHLer - Yukon Rush:  They say defense wins championships, but does leadership?  Miner vHLer is known to be an exceptional locker room presence, though his actual hockey skills leave something to be desired.  He's come this far on the back of his morale boosting abilities, but it remains to be seen whether he can lead a team to a championship. He still has the chance to do it with the Houston Bulls as an Assistant Captain, but if he could prove his effectiveness in the JST, it could see his draft stock rise.  At the moment, GMs are still unsure about his true value and likely won't risk a high pick on leadership personified.  
 
3. Enn Jinn - Royals: After an 89 point season as a defenseman in the VHLM, you'd think that a player would have precious little left to prove.  This isn't exactly the case with Enn Jinn whose true ability has been in question for much of Season 92.  Is this remarkable run of form repeatable with new teammates?  On this Royals squad, Jinn will have the familiarity of fellow Reapers teammates Magni Jinn, Pinn Jinn, and Maple Dogwood to lean on, but will need to find chemistry with new linemates quickly if he is to prove his detractors wrong.  
 
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Well, that about does it for this JST preview.  The tournament this season promises to be full of intrigue and opportunity for players to really set themselves apart, all that's left to do now is play the games! 
 
 
LucyXpher for VSN

The first round of the VHLM playoffs is over and there weren't any major upsets, despite the fact that the top seeded team only won two out of the four series.  Philadelphia and Vegas, the number 1 and 2 seeds, knocked out Saskatoon and Ottawa respectively in 6 games.  The 5th seeded Houston Bulls took care of business against the San Diego Marlins in game 6 as well and punched their ticket to round 2.  And finally, the 6th seed Miami Marauders defeated the 3rd overall Mexico City Kings in a thrilling game 7 between two very evenly matched squads.  
 
And so, while the Marlins, Kings, Wild, and Lynx pack their bags and call their caddies, Philadelphia prepares for a second round battle against Houston, and Las Vegas gets set for a matchup with Miami.  Both of these series promise to be highly competitive with very little advantage for one side or the other, despite what the seeding might say.
 
(1) Philadelphia Reapers vs. (5) Houston Bulls
 
This is a series I've been wanting to see for a while now and that's because it's the battle of the league champions and the paper champions.  Allow me to explain.  The Philadelphia Reapers won the regular season in convincing fashion, proving that they were the class of Season 92.  The Houston Bulls, on the other hand, finished in only 5th place overall, despite rostering possibly the deepest team in the VHLM. There are a lot of pundits who believe that the Houston Bulls are currently the best team in the league on paper, and have rushed to declare them as Founder's Cup favorites, but we all know that paper doesn't matter once the puck is dropped.  Only one team can move on to the finals and we will find out whether paper triumphs over practice.  
 
To be fair to the Bulls, the team has been in a constant state of growth since the beginning of the season and is peaking at the right time.  Secondary scorers like Lawson @Nyx and Ecker @Nathan_8 have really come into their own and could very easily be top players on lesser teams.  Add to that the dominance of their top line featuring Artav @jake, Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica, and Reynolds Jr. @Crstats23, their forward group is as strong at the top as any.  The Bulls also boast one of the strongest defensive corps in the VHLM, led by Abenduct @Schnee on the top pairing alongside the physical menace, Cody Toland @ctoland102.  In goal, Vencko @Muttihas developed into a true number one goalie and compares favorably with anyone in the league.  Suffice it to say, it is probably true that the Bulls regular season record does not adequately capture the current state of the roster which has grown tremendously over 72 games. 
 
The Reapers on the other hand have surprised critics all season by extracting extraordinary performances out of unsuspecting players.  Players like Enn Jinn @jhatty8, Walter Jinn @Adrest245, Pinn Jinn @Eagle Eye, and Magni Jinn @DontCallMeCarson have punched well above their weight all season long.  The success of these players has baffled many critics of the team, but it's difficult to argue with results and consistency.  We'd also be remiss to neglect to mention the dominance of Nabokov @fonziGG, the Reapers' top scorer, and their goaltender, Lovstrom @Pifferfish, who has been a brick wall all season long.  Philly will hope to keep this collective run of form going as we enter round two and they face the Bulls at the height of their development.  
 
Prediction: While the Reapers have impressed all season long, it's difficult to imagine how they might overcome the advantage that the Bulls have on paper.  Maybe the Reapers conjure up some STHS black magic and continue to make us all look silly for doubting them, but I'm picking the Bulls to upset the in-season champions in 6 games (4-2).  

(2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (6) Miami Marauders
 
This series, on paper, may be the closest we've seen yet.  Miami and Las Vegas have very similarly constructed rosters and both teams boast high octane offense that is at least two lines deep.  Vegas has their ace on the back end in Bric Sheithaus @Oldhead91 and the Marauders have the duo of Dukat @MSouthworth and Ennis @DeciBell4 who pitch in from the defense with regularity.  Both teams were also involved in high-profile trade deadline moves that saw them acquire even more offensive talent.  Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer joined the Aces, giving them one more lethal weapon on the wing, while Forum Content @frescoelmo and UghSike @UghSike joined the Marauders.  
 
Both teams also have goaltenders who have showed positive signs of taking a step to the next level, but have yet to do so with consistency. Hugo Boss @Dil for the Aces has been solid for his team, but has not proved that he can consistently be among the league's best. 200 feet away, Shaunca @shaun1979 will line up for Miami, coming off of a strong game 7 performance, but an inconsistent season.  Both goalies will be looking to find consistency and a higher level of play as their teams move deeper into the playoffs. 
 
Prediction: I genuinely like both of these teams and admire the moves they made at the trade deadline to challenge for a championship this season.  Unfortunately, one of these teams will have to go home. While I'd hate to see the Aces sent packing before the final, I think that Miami is going to find another level in this second round series. The incredible talent of their forward group will be just enough to overcome the impressive group Vegas has assembled to take the win in 7 games (4-3). 
 
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Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to let me know why I'm wrong, though I'll have you know that I've predicted the winner correctly in every series so far these playoffs.  Look at me hyping myself up... I'm so cringe. Stay tuned for more coverage of these VHLM playoffs!
 

Lauren Lambert for VHL.com
02/21/24  
 

Series 1, Game 6:
Philadelphia Reapers vs. Saskatoon Wild
 
Series 2, Game 6:
San Diego Marlins vs. Houston Bulls
 
Series 3, Game 6:
Las Vegas Aces vs. Ottawa Lynx
 
Series 4, Game 6:
Mexico City Kings vs. Miami Marauders
 
Go to Playoff Tree
 

Warsaw's season has come to an end and It wasn't all that, but there were a few positive takeaways for sure, the trio is doing quite well and will only get better as time goes on. It was nice to see King Kisslinger do some damage towards the end of the season. Maxim and Thor were machines and truly led the way and it gives us hope for a good future. I know we don't have very many picks in the next couple of drafts but we do have some beauties coming up ready to make a splash in the big leagues. I know King Kisslinger will get more and more points as his career goes on and his stats will start to even out and make up for how much I had to put in Faceoffs. It will be an interesting couple of seasons in Warsaw but I am committed to the squad and the future!  

VHLM Playoff Preview
Mysterious Fish
 
This playoff preview stuff is getting so repetitive so I am here going to try and add a twist to it. I will be talking about every series but I have asked each GM two questions:
What is your team’s strength? and, What is your team’s weakness? Doing that I will have my own sort of addition to mine.

(1) Philadelphia Reapers vs Saskatoon Wild (8)
 
Alright so starting off with the 1vs8 matchup. The Reapers have had a great season but not amazing. Philly ended the season 1st in the league and 1st in the east with 54 wins and a total of 112 points. Saskatoon on the other hand ended the season 8th in the league but 5th in the west. After selling at the deadline they managed to make the playoffs 1 point behind 7th and 9 points ahead of 9th.

Alrighty, my prediction is Reapers will win the series in 5. 
 
The Wild will find a way to steal one game with some luck between the pipes by most likely Austin Goulet lll @Tuchy and some production from Leo Neelson III @silentnyrf31, Connor simard @Alex99, and Pierre Marc Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito. 
 
Philly one the other hand will probably win because of Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish in between the pipes, and Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG as the best forward. Otherwise Philly doesn’y have that much except some meh to bad depth and some meh defense.

Saskatoon Wild answers: @Ricer13
What do you think Saskatoon's strength is?
“A strength of Saskatoons, especially in this series is going to be our defense. It’s not a massive edge but it is an edge we will need.”

What do you the Saskatoon's Weakness is?
“Our weakness is going to be goaltending. We have two goalies who’ve been fighting for the starting job where as Philadelphia’s strength is going to be their goaltending.”

Philadelphia Reapers answers: @Lemorse7
What do you think Philly's strength is?
“Goalies of course and we also have 2 of the top 5 center in faceoff might be even 2 in the top 3”
 
What do you the Philly's Weakness is?
“Not clear on it but he did say Also the Jinn chemistry on the ice is just something else that need to be study”

(4) San Diego Marlins vs Houston Bulls (5)
 
The most hyped up series in the playoffs with the series between 4 and 5 that most people say would be a great Finals. Yet here we are. The Marlins with one of the best offenses in the league finished 4th in the league and 3rd in the west, they have had an interesting season but a good one at that. The Bulls finished one point behind San Diego in the standings finishing 5th in the league and 4th in the west. With a full roster of 12-6-2 they have the depth all around with insane goaltending. 
 
Alrighty, this might be a bit biased but when everyone says Houston is going to win I am going to go with San Diego in 7.
 
San Diego has a great offense with 4 capped and 1 that is 10 tpe away. The capped forwards consist of Dietrich Reingaard @JigglyGumballs, Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor, Jean-Pierre Devote @eagle_3450 and Wayne Gretzky @MubbleFubbles. Dwight Schrute @Jamomayo is at 190 tpe right now. The defense improved a lot at the deadline with a big move getting Ray Stanton @horoscope, along with a few waivers and then a decent goalie in the net.
 
Houston has probably the best depth but too much depth can hurt teams. In this case it might with too much star power that might not get as much playing time as needed. With 3 capped forwards by the names of Chris Reynolds Jr @Crstats23, Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica and Trimiskez Artav @jake. Then 2 capped defenders, Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee and Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher. Then one of the best goalies by tpe Ondrej Vencko @Mutti. 
 
Overall this will be a fun series and it will really be a story of how the depth players perform vs others or in the case of Houston depth players vs Depth and Star players.
 
San Diego Marlins answers: @McGriddy10
What do you think SDM's strength is?
“I think our strength is offense”

What do you think SDM's Weakness is?
“our weakness is defense”
 
Houston Bull answers: @AJW
What do you think Houston's strength is?
“I would say Houston’s strength is the depth of players we have consistently earning. Luckily enough we got a shipload of players before the regular season started and a few more joined along the way. Majority have stuck around to playoffs so I feel I’ve  got a good idea on each players strengths/weaknesses. We have a lot of options to play different players in different lines if needed.”
 
What do you think Houston's Weakness is?
“Houston’s weakness is definitely unpredictability. Throughout the entire regular season we had A LOT of 1-1 sims. It seems like we’ll beat up a team one game, then the next game we might fall asleep. To go far in these playoffs we need to stay consistent, and not give up games that we should be winning.”
 
(2) Las Vegas Aces vs Ottawa Lynx (7)
 
In a series that might be good we have the 2 and 7 seeded teams. Las Vegas who is quite similar to San Diego in the sense of offense it is just Las Vegas has a tiny bit worse top 5 based on tpe. LVA finished the season 2nd in the league and 1st in the west. Ottawa who has been struggling is basically everyone on the tpe side who finished 7th in the league and 3rd in the east.
 
My prediction is Las Vegas will win in a clean sweep.
Las Vegas with a good group of forwards which includes 2 capped forwards Caesar Monterrey @CaptainGatsby and Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer who they acquired in a trade with Saskatoon and then 3 more forwards in the 190+ range of tpe and then a solid D with good depth and 1 capped D by the name of Bric Sheithaus @Oldhead911. In net they have a decent goalie Hugo Boss @Dil with 130 tpe.
 
Ottawa has the 2 leading point scorers both capped by the names of Ivan Ivanov @KmaddFPSand Wayne Shotzky @Kenamatic. The next closest forward by tpe is Steve French @Seabass with 177 tpe. On the defensive side no one is capped but Wwumbo @Fire Tortorella is the top D with 172 tpe. In the net with 98 tpe Alexander ovieckin jr @penguinb19.
 
With poor goaltending on Ottawa and good offense for LVA this is why LVA will prevail.
 
Las Vegas Aces answers: @McLovin
What do you think LVA's strength is?
“our strength is absolutely our offense. bolstering the most consistent and potent offense in the league over the last two seasons has given us a remarkably unique opportunity to outscore and outpace our opponents, and we've used that greatly to our advantage of this last season especially.”
 
What do you think LVA's weakness is?
“our greatest weakness is the other side of the coin, our defense and goaltending for sure. we let up on average a significantly larger number of goals than other similarly ranked teams, and Hugo Boss can only do so much to stop the high volume of shots he faces every night, but even he has weak nights sometimes”
 
Ottawa Lynx answers: @Grape
What do you think Ottawa's strength is?
“Strength would be high end offensive talent”
 
What do you think Ottawa's weakness is?
“Weakness is subpar goaltending”

 
(3) Mexico City Kings vs Miami Marauders (6)
 
Lastly we have the series between Mexico City and Miami. Mexico City has the depth but not a real superstar but they still finished 3rd in the league and 2nd in the west. Miami was the best team to start the season going 15-0-1 but after the first 16 games they only won 22 more games in 56. Still with that they finished 6th in the league and 2nd in the east.
 
My prediction is Mexico City will win in 6 games.
 
Mexico City is worse on paper with only one capped player Trey Daniels @Tdan04 outside of him the team just has a bunch of depth that has worked well for the forwards. The Kings defense has 2 good D then the other 3 are under 100 tpe.
 
Miami does have a chance to win if their offense of 5 capped forwards Forum Content @frescoelmo, UghSike @UghSike who were both picked up at the deadline in a trade with Saskatoon. The other 3 are Joe Shmo @matt sovick, Matthew Highmore @NineIQ v2 and Vanuza Kolesinska @chikn. One the defensive side they have basically 2 capped players, Pierre Ennis @DeciBell4 and Gul Dukat @MSouthworth. So in total Miami has 7 capped players which should mean they win but in this case they have too much of the same in their star players instead of some different style of players.
 
On paper Miami should win but their goalie even though the goalie has good tpe has been performing poorly.
 
Mexico City Kings answers: @hylands
What do you think Mexico City's strength is?
“Our strength is definitely defence and goaltending. When I drafted this team I had a clear direction I wanted to go, and that was building from the goalie outward.”
 
What do you think Mexico City's weakness is?
“Our biggest weakness is forward depth. Looking at all of the other playoff teams, they have a lot more firepower than we do. However, the players we do have are extremely dedicated to the cause and know exactly what is needed from them.”
 
Miami Marauders answers: @Tetricide
What do you think Miami's strength is?
“Our strength definitely comes from our offensive prowess, whether it's from our forwards or defense.”
 
What do you think Miami's weakness is?
“However, we lack the opposite from our forwards -- defense. There are a few like Highmore, Kolesinska, and Loo who have helped a little in that department, but it's caused us to have a close goal differential towards the end of the season at 17. Because of that, our goaltending has suffered quite a bit as well, and it all just kind of falls down from there.”


 
Although this does not matter in the 2nd round San Diego will beat Philly in 6 because Philly really only has a goalie and then between the Aces and the Kings the Aces will win in 7. In the Finals between the Aces and the Marlins the Marlins will take it in 6.
 
This has been my VHLM Playoff Preview and lets enjoy the playoffs!

This is wonderful, I love how in depth you went with each series! Let's go Aces! 

Have you ever wondered where the word "playoff" comes from?  No? Just me? Okay then...
 
Well, I'm going to tell you what I learned anyway.  The term, playoff, is a combination of two English words, "play" and "off" (duh). What is interesting is that the two words have somewhat contrasting definitions.  "Off" is a word commonly used as a preposition to describe the position or place of something, usually a non-primary or negative location.  It has also been traditionally used to describe something being sent away or ended, an antonym of "on".  It's why we might say a deal is off, or we turn off lights. "Play", on the other hand, is a term that commonly refers to the beginning or engagement in an activity, usually a game.  While off is typically a term of negation, play is a positive term referring to the start and continuation of some action.  At the beginning of the season, you might hear the phrase, "play on", signaling the commencement of the game.  "Play off", on the other hand, suggests the beginning of the end, a call to wrap up action and determine a winner.
 
The first known use of the term was in the 1607 play, “Lests to Make You Merie” by Thomas Dekker and George Wilkins.  Eventually, the term would be used with more and more frequency in the sporting world.  While the literal meaning, to begin to end, is retained in the contemporary definition, the term gained a more specific attachment to the particular set of post-season games leading up to the awarding of a championship.  Those games became known as playoffs-- games played with the sole purpose of concluding a season by determining a winner.
 
And so, as the VHLM regular season comes to a close, so commences the playoffs, the beginning of the end of Season 92.  Though the regular season has already concluded, the season is far from decided with the most important games yet to be played.  Two teams (Halifax and Mississauga) have already been eliminated from contention, but the remaining 8 teams will matchup to determine who will raise the Founder's Cup as VHLM champions this season. With the linguistic lesson out of the way, let's look at the four first round playoff series that will kick off the endgame of Season 92.
 
(1) Philadelphia Reapers vs. (8) Saskatoon Wild
 
Coming off of a dominant regular season which saw them win 54 of 72 games, amassing 112 points, the Philadelphia Reapers are the favorite in this series.  There is, however, a lot of intrigue around this series as it sees this season's top regular season team against the Season 91 Champions, albeit with a very different roster from the team that actually won the Founder's Cup.  Saskatoon enters the playoffs with 68 points, just over half as many as Philadelphia, and only 28 wins in 72 games.  Despite the extreme disparity in regular season record, this series may prove to be a lot closer.  On paper, many analysts have been critical of this Reapers roster which boasts only 1 bona fide all star skater in Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG.  With that said, the Reapers are full of players punching above their weight, providing offense and defense well above their projected value.  Players like Enn Jinn @jhatty8, Magni Jinn @DontCallMeCarson, and beaubeau primetime @Bobo are making the most of their ice time and are contributing greater value than their attributes might predict.  Behind all of this is probably their most important player, goaltender Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish, who has made a strong case to be considered the top goalie in the VHLM this season with a .918%, 2.34 GAA, 3 shutouts, and 48 wins in 62 starts.  With his importance to the Philadelphia roster, it is this writer's opinion that he should also be in consideration for MVP honors.  It's difficult to imagine where the Reapers would be without Lovstrom's stellar play and he may well be the difference between winning the Founder's Cup or a disappointing first round exit.  
 
Lining up against the Reapers, Saskatoon actually compares favorably on paper-- in fact, if Saskatoon had retained Annie Oaks, Forum Content, and UghSike at the trade deadline, they would probably line up as the favorite in terms of team composition.  Even with the departure of these players, Saskatoon still boasts a forward group that compares to Philadelphia's collection, and I'd be tempted to give Saskatoon the edge on defense with Carson Tripp @Cartripp14 leading the way from the back end. Where Saskatoon falls behind is at the goaltending position.  Austin Goulet III @Tuchy is a fine goalie prospect, but he frankly does not hold a candle to the aforementioned Lovstrom, and if Saskatoon is going to win, Goulet III is going to have to find another level.  
 
Prediction: Philadelphia comes into the playoffs riding the high of regular season dominance, the impact of this run of form is high player chemistry and team morale and I don't think that evaporates overnight.  Look for Philadelphia to continue their strong play into the postseason, but don't be surprised if the Wild make things interesting.  I predict the  Reapers take the series in 6 games (4-2) and move on to the semifinals.  
 
(2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (7) Ottawa Lynx
 
After the stunning acquisition of phenom, Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer, from the Saskatoon Wild at the trade deadline, Las Vegas enters the playoffs with one of the most potent top-6 forward groups in the VHLM.  Oaks, along with Caeser Monterrey @CaptainGatsby, Piston Maicupp @MandyManiac, Elle Aura Ashe @Lynersify, and Stinky @taylorherd are among the most dynamic forwards in the league and are the stuff of nightmare for opposing defenses.  On the back end, Vegas also boasts the league's top scoring defenseman in Bric Sheithaus @Oldhead91.  Vegas also has solid depth throughout the rest of their forward and defense corps and should matchup favorably against almost any opponent in this year's playoffs.  Goaltender Hugo Boss @Dil is a solid option between the pipes, but will need to be on his "A" game (pun very much intended) if the Aces are to make good on their championship aspirations.  Vegas GM, @McLovin, possessed a solid hand in a competitive team this season and decided to play it aggressively, going all-in at the trade deadline to strengthen his forward group and give his team every chance for success. Time will tell if this gamble pays off.
 
On the other side, Ottawa is lead by the two-headed monster that is Wayne Shotzky @Kenamatic and Ivan Ivanov @KmaddFPS.  The two of them are tied for the league lead in points with 111 in 72 games, with Ivanov scoring a stunning 50 goals and Shotzky not far behind with 48.  To say that the Lynx's success hinges on these two players is a bit of an understatement.  Beyond their big two, Ottawa has Steve French @Seabass and The Phantom of the VHL @Hogan on offense, as well as WWumbo @Fire Tortorella on the back end as their top option.  After these players, Ottawa's depth falls off fairly quickly and their goaltender, Alexander oviechkin jr @penguinb19 leaves something to be desired in goal.  With another season of development, the rest of this roster will likely round into contending form, but at the moment it is difficult to see how Ottawa wins this series if Ivanov and Shotzky are kept at bay.  
 
Prediction: Vegas' scoring depth proves to be too much for Ottawa's defense and goaltending and Vegas powers their way to a decisive series victory in 5 games (4-1). 
 
(3) Mexico City Kings vs. (6) Miami Marauders
 
The series between Mexico City and Miami may well be one of the most intriguing in the first round because of how well these two teams compare with one another entering the post-season.  Though Mexico City managed a better record through the regular season, it wasn't by much with 87 points compared to Miami's 81.  The two teams split the season series with an even 4-4 record against one another.  The parity goes deeper as each team scored exactly 23 goals and allowed 23 against, with Miami holding a slight edge in the shots department with 244 to Mexico City's 221.  By all accounts, this is going to be very close series between two evenly matched teams.  
 
Mexico City has a well balanced group of skaters with notable names such as Trey Daniels @Tdan04, Loona Buckzo @WildfireMicro, and French Fries @solyom leading the way up front, and Free Gorlab @eaglesfan036 and Chuck E Cheese @a_Ferk their head honchos on defense.  In goal, Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu is among the top goalies in the VHLM and should give Mexico a shot to win every night.  It is hard to find holes in the Mexico roster, but if one had to be named it would be their depth outside of their top three forwards and top two defensemen.  They'll be relying on big performances from players deeper in the roster if they hope to make a long run in these playoffs.  Their regular season record shows that they are capable of such performances, but consistency will be the key to their playoff success.
 
Miami, not unlike Mexico City, also boasts a well balanced roster.  They do seem to have an advantage in the forward department with deadline acquisitions Forum Content @frescoelmo and UghSike @UghSike bolstering an already strong corps featuring Matthew Highmore @NineIQ v2, Joe Shmo @matt sovick, and Vanuza Kolesinska @chikn.  On paper, their defense also seems to matchup favorably against Mexico City with Pierre Ennis @DeciBell4 and Gul Dukat @MSouthworth being their big two, while Bilbo Teebaggins @SackButter has had a strong showing this season as well.  The one possible area of weakness for Miami might be in goal with Shaunca @shaun1979 having an inconsistent season at best.  If he can find his game and peak at the right time, the Marauders have the tools to beat Mexico City, but it's a lot of pressure to put on a young goalie and the jury is still out on whether he has what it takes to lead the way.  
 
Prediction: There is so little between these two teams so it's difficult to see how this series doesn't go the distance.  I'm going to hedge my bets with Shaunca and Miami's depth and say that the Marauders edge the series in 7 (4-3).  
 
 
(4) San Diego Marlins vs. (5) Houston Bulls
 
In a first round full of intrigue, this series between the Marlins and the Bulls might have the most eyes on it.  San Diego features one of the strongest forward groups in the league while Houston owns the distinction of being the leagues most improved team, growing from a group of green rookies into a legitimate championship level team over the course of the 72 games season.  The Marlins owned the Bulls in the season series, winning 6 out of 8 games between the two sides, but it should be mentioned that a good number of these games were played earlier in the season and the Houston roster has changed quite a bit since then.  The Bulls have bounced back with wins later in the season, proving that they can beat San Diego and adding to the intrigue surrounding this series.
 
The Marlins, like Las Vegas, ice a lethal top-6 forward group.  Dietrich Reingaard @JigglyGumballs, Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor, Jean-Pierre Devote @eagle_3450, Wayne Gretzky @MubbleFubbles, and Dwight schcrute @Jamomayo (a former Houston Bull) make up the Marlins top five players, and could all be top line players on any team in the VHLM.  Maverick Goncalves @leandrofg is also a strong player who provides excellent depth for San Diego, however there is a fairly steep drop-off beyond him.  If you asked the Marlins, they'd probably tell you that they are as deep as they need to be, allowing their top players to play more minutes instead of having lower roster players eat up time, but it remains to be seen whether this strategy will hold up over a 7 game series.  On defense, San Diego is strong and actually boasts decent quality through all 6 of their defensemen.  Dustin Moore @Maxx leads the way as their top defender, but Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877 is a strong up-and-comer that the Marlins will also be leaning on in these playoffs.  Finally, at goaltending, Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub has had a stellar season with a .904%, 2.91 GAA, and 35 wins in 64 starts.  Some scouts would argue that he's probably been the beneficiary of a good team defense in front of him, but he certainly has shown the capacity to deliver the quality performances when called upon.  
 
The Houston Bulls are probably the deepest team in the VHLM.  GM @AJW (who is expected to be a GM of the year candidate) has done an exceptional job of scouting new talent and building an environment in which these young players can grow and ultimately flourish.  The team he has built is strong all the way through the lineup with 4 lines, 3 defensive pairings, and 2 quality goaltenders that can be rolled out at any time.  In the forward group, captain Trimiskez Artav @jake led the way this season with 43 goals and 45 assists for 88 points.  Joining him at the top of the depth chart are trade deadline acquisition, Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica, Chris Reynolds Jr. @Crstats23, Barry McOckiner @LanerDUST, Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8, and Tyler Lawson @Nyx.  Quality depth options Murray Connolly @Blakemac22, Filip Zinek @FiZi, and Jack Dickens @Mystery_boy98 complete the top 3 lines for the Bulls.  The Bulls' 4th line is home to one of the leagues most infectious leaders, Miner VHLer @Rhynex Entertainment, affectionately known in the Houston Locker-room as "SuperBot".  Micah Cederbaum @MicahC and Dylan Boland @shadowbloxgame round out the forward corps, both having solid campaigns for the Bulls in minor roles.  The Bulls are among the league's strongest on defense with Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee at the top of the chart with 81 points in 68 games. Frequent defense partner, Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher, has also had a strong showing this season for the Bulls, as well as one of the league's most physical players in Cody Toland @ctoland102.  Bufert T Smustice @Crummer77, Toby Cook @KRZY, and Charles Losfeld @losfail round out the defense. The Bulls also boast what is possibly the best backup goaltender in the VHLM in Herald Benson @Benson. Starting goalie, Ondra Vencko @Mutti, should see the majority of starts in the playoffs, but should he falter, Benson is more than capable of shoring up the net.  I've spoken to scouts about Vencko and I've learned that he's made some adjustments in his game recently that have really unlocked some of his potential.  His recent starts have reflected this and, lately, he's been well above his season average of .892%.  He could be a bit of a sleeper, I'm told, when it comes to playoff MVP candidates, provided the Bulls go far.  
 
Prediction: Those who have followed my writing throughout the season should know that I cover the Bulls regularily.  Despite that, I want to give San Diego some love.  I believe their top-6 forwards certainly have what it takes push Houston to the limit, but they'll be up against strong competition on the Bulls' blueline.  It's a close series in every respect and I'd be shocked to see one team or the other run away with it.  I'm still going with the Bulls, but I think it's going to take 7 games (4-3) with an overtime winner to decide it. 
 
---
 
And so it begins: The playoffs kick off tonight and I, for one, cannot wait to see how the VHLM shakes out.  I'll be following these story lines through each round and updating you on the series so stay tuned for more! If you have any comments or disagree with one of my predictions, feel free to tell me! 
 
 
Lauren Lambert for VHL.com
Claim for 11/25/24 (2651 words)

The VHLM Playoffs are upon us
we've now arrived at the most exciting time of year, playoff hockey and there are plenty of exciting matchups to look forward to this year in round one. First up we have the regular season champ Philadelphia Reapers versus defending cup champ Saskatoon Wild who will be looking to upset the seasons biggest winners then we have a showcase of offensive firepower in the Las Vegas Aces versus the Ottawa Lynx which should see a lot of goals piled up. Then it's the Mexico City Kings versus the Miami Marauders which should be a close battle. And lastly the matchup I think is the most exciting is the San Diego Marlins versus the Houston Bulls, in all honesty I think that would be a great finals match and we get to watch it in round one and that means one of these teams of stars will be going home early. My picks for winners of each series is as follows: Philadelphia will defeat Saskatoon but not before they make it a close series, Vegas' offensive depth will be too much for Ottawa to handle and they'll move on, Miami will defeat the higher seeded Kings with big contributions from deadline acquisitions Forum Content @frescoelmo and Ughsike @UghSike, and lastly the Houston Bulls will pull out a victory over San Diego in an absolute slobberknocker of a series.
 
Jimmy "Tha Rat" Klondike VHL.com
 

Always a pleasure to collab with ya! 🙌

(Also claiming 2/2 because i'm lazy :P)

2036 y'all better watch out, ya boys running for office 🙌 

Welcome to WEEK 4.5 of updated power rankings where I spend the first 50 words explaining how this works for a bit. Firstly, all additions and losses are based on who was in the lineup as of the February 6th sims. Some players may have been signed, released, or just not present in the lineup since or at that point in time and thus were not considered in the new ranks or scores. Also, it may seem confusing but a team's score increasing does NOT necessarily mean an increase in rank. Every team has multiple players earning so they will mostly be increasing in score. Also, some teams may add players to the lineup but decrease in score, this is most likely the result of reducing the playing time of their best players. This data does not consider week cutoff so some players have their TPE for this week while others do not. On each line of ranks and scores the first number represents the present and the number in parenthesis shows the change from last week. Last note, I did change the way goalies are evaluated slightly so some may have actually reduced in score from last week and some saw jumps despite not earning or applying TPE. Enjoy the rankings!!! 



Standings: 9th; 20-34-3; 43pts; -51 GDiff
Overall Rank: 10th (-2)
Overall Score: 11.30 (-21.55)
Forwards Rank: 10th (-3)
Forwards Score: 26.50 (-15.67)
Defensemen Rank: 10th (-2)
Defensemen Score: -24.60 (-38.10)
Goalies Rank: 10th (-3)
Goalies Score: 37.5 (-6.10)
Additions: C Bolor Khan @Bolor Khan, LW Wayne Smith @Jordan Messier
Losses: C Antonia Bucatini
Notes: Increase bot usage on defensive lines led to big drop there. This team actually has 2 recent waiver signings on defense that just haven't hit the lineup yet that will replace the bots I assume. 



Standings: 10th; 19-36-1; 39pts; -67 GDiff
Overall Rank: 9th (+1)
Overall Score: 22.80 (+2.05)
Forwards Rank: 8th (+2)
Forwards Score: 36.30 (+2.13)
Defensemen Rank: 9th (+1)
Defensemen Score: -8.85 (+1.00)
Goalies Rank: 7th (+1)
Goalies Score: 45.60 (+3.90)
Additions: RW Cole Stermer @Bazeus, RW Anthony Simmons II @Starchychaff
Losses: None



Standings: 8th; 21-28-8; 50pts; -29 GDiff
Overall Rank: 8th (+1)
Overall Score: 32.77 (+3.62)
Forwards Rank: 9th (-1)
Forwards Score: 31.37 (-10.56)
Defensemen Rank: 8th (+1)
Defensemen Score: 31.60 (+26.20)
Goalies Rank: 8th (+1)
Goalies Score: 39.30 (+1.00)
Additions: RW John J Juice @G.W. Wick, C Pierre Marc Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito, RW Leon Bruhmaninho @BigBruhman, D Masa Akimoto @Hokikeijot, D Russell Sprout @betta57
Losses: RW Annie Oaks, LW UghSike, LW Forum Content, C Braydon Emmell, D Ray Stanton



Standings: 7th; 21-27-8; 50pts; -28 GDiff
Overall Rank: 7th (EV)
Overall Score: 44.02 (+5.04)
Forwards Rank: 5th (+1)
Forwards Score: 50.63 (+6.40)
Defensemen Rank: 7th (-1)
Defensemen Score: 36.85 (+4.35)
Goalies Rank: 9th (+1)
Goalies Score: 38.50 (+2.30)
Additions: None
Losses: LW Jose Said Perez Magallon



Standings: 1st; 43-9-4; 90pts; +72 GDiff
Overall Rank: 6th (-3)
Overall Score: 50.82 (+1.90)
Forwards Rank: 6th (-2)
Forwards Score: 44.87 (-0.46)
Defensemen Rank: 5th (EV)
Defensemen Score: 38.30 (-0.80)
Goalies Rank: 1st (+1)
Goalies Score: 93.70 (+14.40)
Additions: C Roy Belanger @Roy Belanger, LW Joe John @KalebDaGoat18, RW Maple Dogwood @dogwoodmaple, D Donald Carlson @AW13
Losses: D Viktor Vyzovsky
Notes: I know they are quite good in the standings, but lets remember that Philly is playing against 3 of the bottom 4 teams a lot. Whereas teams like SDM, HOU, MEX, and LVA are all bashing each other up sim to sim. I'd argue this is partially inflating this teams success. If I was betting on a team to have a shocking flop in the postseason, I'd have to predict its these guys.
 


Standings: 2nd; 34-18-4; 72pts; +14 GDiff
Overall Rank: 5th (EV)
Overall Score: 51.18 (+3.46)
Forwards Rank: 7th (+2)
Forwards Score: 41.07 (+4.37)
Defensemen Rank: 4th (-1)
Defensemen Score: 50.00 (+1.90)
Goalies Rank: 2nd (-1)
Goalies Score: 83.90 (+3.90)
Additions: C Jack snipesalot @Topcheese, LW Wally Lose @youloser1337, G Connor Hellebuyck @HockeyFan4Life
Losses: C Rain Olsen, RW Seamus Maxwell
 
 

Standings: 4th; 32-19-5; 69pts; +30 GDiff
Overall Rank: 4th (+2)
Overall Score: 53.03 (+4.28)
Forwards Rank: 2nd (EV)
Forwards Score: 64.93 (+2.60)
Defensemen Rank: 6th (+1)
Defensemen Score: 38.25 (+9.25)
Goalies Rank: 6th (EV)
Goalies Score: 46.90 (+1.00)
Additions: G Cash Antolak @Moneynation, D Ray Stanton @horoscope, D Vanman Stein @Vanman, D Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877, D Felicia Hardy @JCarson, C Jacob Longstreet @Dynamicmlb_42
Losses: D Russell Sprout, LW Alexis Laffayette, C Daved dangled
Notes: @Mysterious_Fish I know this isn't as high on the list as you might have expected but the D core is comprised of 4 freshly created players who will need just a tab bit of time to get their sea legs. Trust you will enter the postseason 3rd or better.


Standings: 5th; 30-10-6; 66pts; +23 GDiff
Overall Rank: 3rd (+1)
Overall Score: 56.65 (+8.55)
Forwards Rank: 4th (+1)
Forwards Score: 60.43 (+15.16)
Defensemen Rank: 3rd (+1)
Defensemen Score: 52.25 (+5.65)
Goalies Rank: 5th (-2)
Goalies Score: 54.10 (-5.50)
Additions: LW UghSike @UghSike, LW Forum Content @frescoelmo
Losses: RW Leon Bruhmaninho, RW Khail Lackey



Standings: 6th; 30-22-4; 64pts; +14 GDiff
Overall Rank: 2nd (EV)
Overall Score: 62.63 (+12.88)
Forwards Rank: 3rd (EV)
Forwards Score: 62.73 (+14.36)
Defensemen Rank: 1st (+1)
Defensemen Score: 56.20 (+7.90)
Goalies Rank: 3rd (+1)
Goalies Score: 75.20 (+18.40)
Additions: C Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica, D Toby Cook @KRZY
Losses: C Bolor Khan



Standings: 3rd; 31-17-8; 70pts; +22 GDiff
Overall Rank: 1st (EV)
Overall Score: 62.68 (+1.58)
Forwards Rank: 1st (EV)
Forwards Score: 71.27 (+3.84)
Defensemen Rank: 2nd (-1)
Defensemen Score: 52.85 (-2.25)
Goalies Rank: 4th (+1)
Goalies Score: 56.60 (+2.50)
Additions: LW Pombo @samx, RW Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer
Losses: D Masa Akimoto, LW Hayden mcqueen, LW Moyo Smith


 Shoutout to all of the players in the VHLM that are improving at a great rate and making their teams the best they can be. In past weeks I have just listed each player who surpassed a certain threshold of improvement but since there was a larger gap between this update and the last, that list would consist of a whopping 32 players. Instead this week will be a top 15 list!
*Both Goalies on the upcoming list were assisted by recent changes to the formulas we use to determine their ratings. They would have both still been within the top 15 regardless, just lower.*
T-13.  LW Filip Zinek @FiZi +11
T-13.  LW UghSike @UghSike +11
T-13.  RW Oliver Loo @Peiffy +11
12.  RW Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG +12
T-10.  D Wwumbo @Fire Tortorella +13
T-10.  RW Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer +13
T-8.  D Carson Tripp @Cartripp14 +14
T-8.  G Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish +14
7.  D Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee +15
T-5.  D Gul Dukat @MSouthworth +16
T-5.  C Tyler Lawson @Nyx +16
4.  D Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher+17
T-2.  RW Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8 +18
T-2.  G Ondrej Vencko @Mutti +18
1. C Wayne Gretzky @MubbleFubbles +24

Good luck to all of the players in the "Additions" categories and thank you to all the players just mentioned for your strong contributions to the competitive success of your franchises!  

I discuss how amazing @Ricer13 and @McLovin are as GMs for their glorious deadline moves.
 
Timestamps: TBD
 
Shoutouts: TBD
 

Guess you don't like playoffs smh

With the VHLM Trade Deadline today, there are already a few big trades that have been agreed to by the party teams and are awaiting league approval.  Assuming everything is above board and these trades all go through, here are the most notable players on the move at the Season 92 VHLM Trade Deadline . . . so far.
 
Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica- Acquired by Houston Bulls
The Bulls roster is full.  GM @AJW has done an exceptional job of filing out the lineup with free agent acquisitions and has taken a swing for the fences with the trade deadline acquisition of Antonia Bucatini.  In this deal, Houston sends Halifax Bolor Khan @Bolor Khan, a 1st round pick for S93, and a 4th round pick for S94.  Khan is still a young player early in his development and will likely spend at least another season in the VHLM.  The 1st and 4th round picks are a steep price to pay, but for the talent coming back and the promise of the current roster, it's easy to see why AJW pulled the trigger.  Antonia Bucatini is an immense talent in the VHLM and is the current league leader with an astounding 324 shots in 52 games played.  Bucatini had 32 goals, good for 6th most in the league, and 30 assists playing for Halifax who has struggled immensely this season.  On a Bulls roster bursting with up-and-coming talent, Bucatini will have no shortage of quality complimentary players.  Don't be surprised to see Bucatini catch fire quick playing alongside the likes of Trimiskez Artav @jake and Chris Reynolds Jr. @Crstats23on Houston's top line.
 
Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer - Acquired by Las Vegas Aces
One of the VHLM's most promising rookies is headed to Las Vegas, acquired in a trade by Aces GM @McLovin with @Ricer13 of the Saskatoon Wild.  The Wild have been busy at this trade deadline dealing three of their top players and committing to building for the future.  Coming back to Saskatoon from Vegas is Masa Akimoto @Hokikeijot, a solid young defender who will be a quality VHLM defenseman next season, as well as a 2nd and 3rd round pick for S93.  Headed to Sin City is Annie Oaks, who was second on the Wild with 31 goals and 33 assists for 64 points this season.  As a RW, Oaks will likely slot into the Aces second line because Elle Aura Ashe already occupies the top RW spot.  This is a shrewd move by Las Vegas to build out their top 6 with another high-end scoring forward and they definitely look like a contender coming out of the Western Conference, currently at 2nd in the league overall.

Forum Content @frescoelmo and UghSike @UghSike - Acquired by Miami Marauders
If AJW was swinging for the fences in Houston, Miami's GM @Tetricide may have just knocked it out of the park acquiring two of Saskatoon's top players in Forum Content and UghSike.  With Forum Content currently sitting at 2nd in overall scoring with 83 points and UghSike putting up a more than respectable 46 points in 52 games, like Vegas, the Marauders have also assembled a menacing top 6 that is sure to strike fear in defenders league-wide.  The idea of Forum Content playing on the same team as Matthew Highmore @NineIQ v2 and Bilbo Teebaggins @SackButter is a tantalizing prospect.  The Marauders did need to give up a quality player in Leon Bruhmaninho @BigBruhman who had 50 points in 52 games, as well as a S93 1st rounder and a S94 2nd rounder to get the deal done.  This move does have the potential, however, to vault the Marauders up the standings and situate them among the leagues top competitors for the Founder's Cup.
 
With these moves already, it is clear that there is an arms race taking place in the VHLM with at least 5 teams believing they have a legitimate shot at winning the Founder's Cup this season.  It will be fascinating to see how it all shakes out and which trade deadline acquisition can help their team when the playoffs roll around.  
 
 
Lauren Lambert for VHL.com
Claimed for 02/11/24

Player Information
Username: samx
Player Name: Pombo
Recruited From: Returning
Age: 22
Position: LW
Height: 72 in.
Weight: 225 lbs.
Birthplace: Maldives

Player Page
@VHLM GM