ConnorMcdavid

As this season comes to a close, here are a few reflections from my first season in the league.  
 
Upon my arrival to this site I was greeted with enthusiasm and lots of help from some very active members. This seemed to peak my interest rather quickly.  It didn’t take too long and I had signed a contract with Halifax 21st.
 
Halifax was the destination I chose not because of any reason other than they made an offer and I accepted.  Turns out it was a great choice after all! The team was super active, friendly yet competitive, and talented enough to make the playoffs. They had a spot for me as second line pivot that I quickly settled into.
 
I found this season length was perfect, the general community quite receptive and active, the simmers were a bit spotty regarding the consistency of actual games being played every day, but overall a enjoyable first season.
 
My player, Trevor Van Lagen, turned in a respectable rookie season operating at nearly a point per game pace. He gelled well with the team and found some chemistry with his teammates. He’s hoping to finish the year strong into the playoffs.
 
What does my future here look like? Well I hope to be drafted in the first 2 rounds this season. I have been maxing out my player in TPE and so I will have too much to stay down next season unless I forgo earning for a few weeks. Time will tell what I do.
 
253 Words.

As this season comes to a close, here are a few reflections from my first season in the league.  
 
Upon my arrival to this site I was greeted with enthusiasm and lots of help from some very active members. This seemed to peak my interest rather quickly.  It didn’t take too long and I had signed a contract with Halifax 21st.
 
Halifax was the destination I chose not because of any reason other than they made an offer and I accepted.  Turns out it was a great choice after all! The team was super active, friendly yet competitive, and talented enough to make the playoffs. They had a spot for me as second line pivot that I quickly settled into.
 
I found this season length was perfect, the general community quite receptive and active, the simmers were a bit spotty regarding the consistency of actual games being played every day, but overall a enjoyable first season.
 
My player, Trevor Van Lagen, turned in a respectable rookie season operating at nearly a point per game pace. He gelled well with the team and found some chemistry with his teammates. He’s hoping to finish the year strong into the playoffs.
 
What does my future here look like? Well I hope to be drafted in the first 2 rounds this season. I have been maxing out my player in TPE and so I will have too much to stay down next season unless I forgo earning for a few weeks. Time will tell what I do.
 
253 Words.

As this season comes to a close, here are a few reflections from my first season in the league.  
 
Upon my arrival to this site I was greeted with enthusiasm and lots of help from some very active members. This seemed to peak my interest rather quickly.  It didn’t take too long and I had signed a contract with Halifax 21st.
 
Halifax was the destination I chose not because of any reason other than they made an offer and I accepted.  Turns out it was a great choice after all! The team was super active, friendly yet competitive, and talented enough to make the playoffs. They had a spot for me as second line pivot that I quickly settled into.
 
I found this season length was perfect, the general community quite receptive and active, the simmers were a bit spotty regarding the consistency of actual games being played every day, but overall a enjoyable first season.
 
My player, Trevor Van Lagen, turned in a respectable rookie season operating at nearly a point per game pace. He gelled well with the team and found some chemistry with his teammates. He’s hoping to finish the year strong into the playoffs.
 
What does my future here look like? Well I hope to be drafted in the first 2 rounds this season. I have been maxing out my player in TPE and so I will have too much to stay down next season unless I forgo earning for a few weeks. Time will tell what I do.
 
253 Words.

As this season comes to a close, here are a few reflections from my first season in the league.  
 
Upon my arrival to this site I was greeted with enthusiasm and lots of help from some very active members. This seemed to peak my interest rather quickly.  It didn’t take too long and I had signed a contract with Halifax 21st.
 
Halifax was the destination I chose not because of any reason other than they made an offer and I accepted.  Turns out it was a great choice after all! The team was super active, friendly yet competitive, and talented enough to make the playoffs. They had a spot for me as second line pivot that I quickly settled into.
 
I found this season length was perfect, the general community quite receptive and active, the simmers were a bit spotty regarding the consistency of actual games being played every day, but overall a enjoyable first season.
 
My player, Trevor Van Lagen, turned in a respectable rookie season operating at nearly a point per game pace. He gelled well with the team and found some chemistry with his teammates. He’s hoping to finish the year strong into the playoffs.
 
What does my future here look like? Well I hope to be drafted in the first 2 rounds this season. I have been maxing out my player in TPE and so I will have too much to stay down next season unless I forgo earning for a few weeks. Time will tell what I do.
 
253 Words.

Thank you for updating it.

Hi

Review: Great Bio! Really developed your story well with ties back to your dad and how that impacted your decisions in life. Nice to see you touch on what brought you to the VHL as well. Good job!

With the recent resignation of rjfyman from the AGM post, @Acydburn will be assisting me in my managerial duties. I chose Acyd for a number of reasons. He has been very active from day one, asking lots of questions and always capping out on TPE. He has also been very helpful with getting waiver claims to sign with us and always helps out the new guys with TPE earning. He is constantly suggesting players to trade for, line combinations, and other ways to make the team win. He also has been starting to set up weekly presser questions and find trivia answers. He probably does more to help the team than I do, and barely asks for anything in return. One of the most unselfish people I have ever met. I already know he is going to be a perfect fit as AGM and I cannot wait to get started with him. Welcome aboard Acyd!

Potential Sleepers in the S67 Class

 
 
Today, we’re going to begin a series of draft-related content for the S67 Entry Draft. While I acknowledge we are very early in the process and a lot can happen between now and draft day, it is never too early to take a look at the class in more detail. The theme of this week is going to be an early look into some of the potential sleepers in the class. All players that are ranked below the Top-20 in the S67 Live Rankings as of today were eligible for consideration.  Let’s take a look at the Top-5.
 
Lincoln Tate – D – San Diego Marlins @Lincoln Tate

The first on the list is a 6’5 defenseman from the San Diego Marlins, Lincoln Tate, who has burst onto the scene since signing his VHLM contract with the Marlins. When scouts describe Tate, they all say the same thing: a smooth, two-way right shot defenseman. Watching Tate play is magic, the way he can skate with the puck and distribute around him is extremely impressive.  Tate has played 13 games so far this season and has tallied 4 goals and 18 assists, which puts him at Top-3 in the VHLM for points for defensemen behind only Hulk Hogan and Kevin Low. We have Tate labeled as a sleeper for now, but he is beginning to garner national attention and we would not be surprised if he was a high draft pick when that day comes.
 
Henrik Zoiderberg – LW – Mexico City Kings @HenrikZoiderberg

Swedish winger Henrik Zoiderberg has also been beginning to open eyes around the league. Zoiderberg is a playmaking, slick winger for the Mexico City Kings who also provides his team with sound defensive hockey. When paired with a high-scoring linemate, he can really make magic happen. Scouts have been raving about his two-way game and overall leadership in the locker room since he has joined the VHLM.  Zoiderberg was not eligible for the VHLM Dispersal Draft, but instead signed a one-year deal with Mexico City. In his 19 games played so far he has put up a 3-6-9 stat line. At it’s face, these stats will not “wow” anyone, but when looking at Zoiderberg you have to consider the complete player and room for growth. Both of which positives for the Swede.
 
Derek England – D – Mexico City Kings @PenKnight

The second Mexico City Kings player to make the list is defenseman Derek England. England was drafted 31st overall in this past S66 VHLM Dispersal Draft and ever since then has been very impressive on and off the ice. The Russian-born defenseman checks all the boxes from a mental standpoint. He has a strong team-first mentality and very high hockey IQ. Scouts also have been excited about his offensive potential. Similar to Lincoln Tate, he can move very well with and without the puck. His 2 goals and 12 assists are good for second on his team amongst defenseman, but he is just now hitting his groove in the VHLM. Look for him to continue to skyrocket up draft boards as the season progresses.
 
R.J. Lloris – RW – Las Vegas Aces @RJMW

Undrafted free agent R.J. Lloris comes in at number four on this list. The Canadian-born winger possesses natural goal scoring talent, period. He previously played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before joining the VHLM and shattered team records in his time there. To compliment his goal scoring touch, he also plays the game like a Tasmanian Devil, which can be a real treat to watch. Lloris was signed by the Las Vegas Aces during the season and despite their recent struggles, Lloris has been able to develop his game in a positive way. While still a very raw prospect, we like his trajectory if he continues to work hard on and off the ice.
 
Berocka Sundqvist – LW – Mississauga Hounds @berocka

Rounding out our list is an Australian winger from the Hounds, Berocka Sundqvist. This kid has a very interesting background as he was a youth star in Australian-rules football prior to his hockey career. This background has laid the foundation for the player he is today and hopefully will become in the future. Scouts are intrigued by his skill-mix. He plays a very physical game and at high-pace, but he also has a very good hands as well. The Hounds have been a middle of the pack team to start the season and Sundqvist has found himself playing primarily third line minutes. We think that if he continues to develop and progress, he could start to see some Top-6 and special teams minutes. Berocka could be a mid-round steal.

Quality article! Definitely an interesting read and fun info to get more acquainted with the history of the VHL 

Today I'll be redrafting the first three rounds of the season sixty-three draft class. I've been wanting to read an article like this for so long I've simply decided to write it myself, since I was being lazy and wanted to observe other peoples opinions. For this redraft the teams will remain where they picked, but the players will certainly change. I'm looking forward to hearing (or reading) your thoughts on this redraft. 

The S63 group of players was once argued as the most active group of first generations ever, in fact a lot of people give credit to the S63 draft class for re-energizing the VHL and redefining the leagues structure, but that isn't the case anymore. Two large recruitment drives saw more first generation players in the subsequent drafts than the S63 draft had, so the aforementioned title has quietly slipped away. Supported by a partially successful recruitment drive, this particular group of draftees was highly anticipated and numerous 'first-generation' players were selected; every GM will tell you that drafting a first generation is tricky, it's a gamble, and they're right.
 
FIRST ROUND

FIRST OVERALL 
RIGA REIGN
Originally: RYAN KASTELIC
Now: RYAN KASTELIC 
( @Enorama )

Kastelic remains the surefire first overall pick, and I'm quite sure Hedge would be more than happy to select Kastelic again if ever the need arose where he needed to, so this pick is quite cemented into VHL's history as an absolute. There is no other player that would be taken here, especially considering Enorama is widely considered a 'TPA Whore' which still applies today, even if he's slowed down some since his rookie days. Kastelic has been a point-per-game defender since he was drafted into the VHL, and that is a significant asset for Riga who've signed Kastelic nearly his entire career. He's proven to be a franchise defensemen, and earns his spot at the top of the list among other great players from this draft class. 

SECOND OVERALL 
NEW YORK AMERICANS
Originally: JOSEPH MCWOLF
Now: JULIAN BORWINN
( @Jubo07 )

Borwinn moves up to a spot where McWolf was originally drafted, and although New York needed a defender in this particular draft, this is a redraft based on best-player-available mentality and doesn't consider positional needs. Borwinn has done a remarkable job keeping up with Enorama's Kastelic in terms of attribute earnings, but Borwinn's TPA overall is slightly lower than Kastelic. Despite not quite climbing to first overall, Borwinn is currently the second best player available at the moment. A lot of people talk about builds playing a factor into a selection, and as both Jubo and I can attest, that's true even when considering VHLM picks. Jubo has a ton of TPA, no questions asked, but some of that TPA has been spent in places I wonder if some people question. 
 
THIRD OVERALL 
HELSINKI TITANS
Originally: JULIAN BORWINN
Now: DAN WILINSKY
( @oilmandan )

Here's a case where a first generation player slipped further than I personally anticipated. When I was observing how active OMD was with his player, I was truly impressed and honestly surprised so many people had him going lower in mock drafts than he should have. Was he a weaker prospect at the time than those above him? Absolutely, but now that we're mid-way through season sixty-six he's the third best player in the draft. Wilinsky was originally drafted seventh overall to the New York Americans, but I have him going third overall to a powerful Helsinki team through this re-draft. 

FORTH OVERALL 
HELSINKI TITANS
Originally: SIDNEY CROSBY
Now: ALEXANDER PEPPER
( @Sonnet )

If the draft was happening today, and every player retained the TPA they have now, Pepper would absolutely be a first round pick. Honestly though, I still see both Kastelic and Borwinn going 1/2 despite that thought. Right now, however, you can flip either or and be happy if you're Quik. Pepper at third, then Wilinski at fourth? It wouldn't have really mattered since they'd both arrive in Helsinki anyways. Pepper moves into the first round after being drafted by Helsinki in the second round, tenth overall. He'll be the Titan's franchise goalie as well, since Quik and Sonnet have agreed to keep Pepper in Europe with a NTC until S70. 

FIFTH OVERALL 
TORONTO LEGION
Originally: TZUYU
Now: SIDNEY CROSBY 
( @SidTheKid87 ) 

Crosby moves past McWolf on this chart simply because Sid is maintaining a respectable development, where as McWolf has taken a step back from the league and consequentially his player has ceased developing as well. The disappearance of McWolf seems him drop quite a bit, and even though this draft is 'best player available', you still have to factor in how that player will be in a few seasons if a redraft happened today. Crosby lands at this spot simply because he's been consistent, but he's in danger of being overran. 

SIXTH OVERALL 
NEW YORK AMERICANS
Originally: SCOTT SHAWIGANEN
Now: RYLAN PEACE

I put myself here since I'll shortly be over Randoms, who's earning ten TPE compared to my capped earnings every week, and while I understand some people might look at this and disagree it's just an opinion piece. I've refocused my build from a 'power-forward' as Hedge would have claimed and turned him into a more offensive player. If Spade had to take part in a S63 redraft, I'm honestly confident he'd select Peace here, as he's been shown to give first-generations the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately this lead to a major disappointment with Shawninganen, but he struck gold with McWolf and Wilinsky.

SEVENTH OVERALL 
NEW YORK AMERICANS
Originally: DAN WILINSKY
Now: RANDOMS
( @hedgehog337 )

Randoms arrives in New York, after climbing from the depths of the second round, and overcoming a lot of players above him. If recently retired Vaydar Odinsson hadn't retired, I'd put him here and Randoms down to eighth, but he did retire and won't be featured on this list consequentially. Randoms has gone through some changes as well, originally a high checking forward with surprising offensive results to a more offensive player overall. I'm sure Spade would have no problem adding Randoms to his club, especially considering he now has Peace and Borwinn as well.
 
EIGHT OVERALL
VANCOUVER WOLVES
Originally: JOSE GONZALEZ
Now: TZUYU 
( @tfong )

McWolf keeps dropping, and despite Tzuyu being a hundred TPA less, TFong is known as king of welfare for a reason. I was questioning whether or not to add McWolf here simply because he does have far more attribute points, but if McWolf's absence continues Tzuyu will only be behind for a short while. Obviously I've decided to choose Tzuyu over McWolf here, but that doesn't mean McWolf's player is bad - it just means his absence allows for GMs to redraft players above him. Take this as a either or, however, as McWolf can comfortably slot here and remain one of the best defenders in the league still. 


Claiming for next two weeks.

Word from the Halifax front office is that goaltender Thorvald Gunnarsson is dealing with a lower body injury. He is currently listed as day to day. Gunnarsson appears to have been injured at the 19:05 mark of the second period of the 21st's game against the Yukon Rush. While attempting to make a save on a Nico Suleryski shot, Gunnarson went down. He was reaching right while sliding left and may have overextended himself.
 
Gunnarsson stayed down after conceding the goal and appeared to be favoring his right thigh and knee. He had to be assisted off of the ice by the trainers and did not return to the bench. Michael Johnson came on in relief and was able to get the win in a shootout.
 
Halifax has offered no updates on the extent of the injury. Gunnarsson has been sitting on the bench as a backup for Johnson, although he has not practiced much since the injury.

Updated Rankings:
 
1. @VanCanWin - 551.94
2. @Jubo07 - 544.72
3. @Radcow - 541.75
4. @11 Eleven - 533.39
5. @Galdoblame - 514.4
6. @Elhandon - 508.69

Guy LeGrande Player Profile
 
 

 
 
Name: Guy LeGrande
Age:18
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6’-3”
Weight: 210 lb.
Birthplace:Thunder Bay, ON
 
Guy LeGrande
Guy was a big kid with a big heart from early on. Devoted to become a great hockey at every level he played in. Through many development years and being well coached, he caught a chance to begin a dream he has had all his life when Halifax 21st signed him. Now he needs to put in the time and practice to reach his goal of being one of the best defensemen in the league. This will be a defining time in Guy's hockey career.
 
Positives
Structure- Guy has always been a nuts and bolts player. He understands the systems he has played in and follows the game plan very well. He prides himself as a fundamentally sound player that stays in his role on the team. He thrives on doing his job the best that he can within the system implemented. He is a responsible defensemen in every sense of the word.
 
Work Ethic- Guy would be considered a “workaholic” by many. He is very focused and has dedicated himself to being a prepared as possible. He always shows up for optional skates and takes time during practice to work on any part of his game the coaches direct him to. He loves the gym and it shows. Some players just go through the motions but Guy is there to learn and better himself and the team. He is the kind of player that brings lifts other players to a higher level, even in practice.
 
Coachable- There are some high skill players that are set in their ways and then there are some that coaches love. Guy is one that coached at every level have admired him for being so receptive to instructions. A your player needs to grow and learn. Guy would be the first to admit that he has a long way to go to get to the top of his game. He interacts well with teammates as well. Some of the older vets would give very good advice to him and you could actually watch him use that advice in games. “Like a lump of clay” one coach commented. You can tell him to try anything and he will give it his all to do what you ask. Very coachable.
 
Negatives
Penalties- As with many young players, penalties can be an issue and Guy has had his fair share. He needs to work on controlling his stick when checking players into the boards as most of his penalties are stick infractions. He also is trying to break a bad habit of reaching too much when he does get beat. That almost always leads to a penalty. It isn't anything that is incurable, like anything else, hard work and practice will hopefully do the trick.
 
Puck Handling- Guy really needs to step up his puck handling skills to compete at this higher level. He has good hands but needs to learn how to use them better. With his size and skill set, he isn't using his hands to their full potential. You will see him get robbed of the puck on occasion when there really isn't any reason for it other than he needs to focus on it more or he will be exploited on a nightly basis.
 
Skating- While Guy has a decent top speed, his acceleration leaves a lot to be desired. In today's game, all players need to move quickly as well and move the puck fast. I find the problem with Guy is that he is lacking in that burst speed from the start. A downside to his game that he hopes, through coaching, he can continue to get better at.
 
Looking Forward- Guy is a big young defensemen that wants to excel in the VHL. He will overcome his shortcomings and continue his quest of becoming a premiere defensemen.
 

We complain about spam comments to win the lottery and then people spam the tag #fixthelottery everywhere

Haha it’s all good.. I was mostly just complaining for something to write about ? I didn’t expect to make the team in the first place so all is good ??

Imagine the excitement and pure joy of being selected to represent your country on the greatest stage of your sport.  Imagine the heartbreak when your country stabs you in the back by reneging on their commitment to you just because some other jokes decided they were from a different country after all... as if their parents had screwed up their birth certificates or something.  
 
That’s where Trevor Van Lagen stands after being one of two cuts to the team Canada roster after the team had made its selection. Blame the GM? No. Blame the game? Yeah. Not only was it allowed for everyone to switch their country but it was encouraged and promoted. Do we want all equal teams or do we want to simulate a real world hockey tournament?
 
What would I have done if I was GM of a country and others were trying to get in to steal roster spots from my fellow countrymen?
 
“I would build a wall—and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me—and I build them very inexpensively. I would build a great, great wall on all our borders and I would make all the other wanna be hockey countries pay for that wall. Mark my words.”
 
End rant. 
 

Imagine the excitement and pure joy of being selected to represent your country on the greatest stage of your sport.  Imagine the heartbreak when your country stabs you in the back by reneging on their commitment to you just because some other jokes decided they were from a different country after all... as if their parents had screwed up their birth certificates or something.  
 
That’s where Trevor Van Lagen stands after being one of two cuts to the team Canada roster after the team had made its selection. Blame the GM? No. Blame the game? Yeah. Not only was it allowed for everyone to switch their country but it was encouraged and promoted. Do we want all equal teams or do we want to simulate a real world hockey tournament?
 
What would I have done if I was GM of a country and others were trying to get in to steal roster spots from my fellow countrymen?
 
“I would build a wall—and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me—and I build them very inexpensively. I would build a great, great wall on all our borders and I would make all the other wanna be hockey countries pay for that wall. Mark my words.”
 
End rant. 
 

Imagine the excitement and pure joy of being selected to represent your country on the greatest stage of your sport.  Imagine the heartbreak when your country stabs you in the back by reneging on their commitment to you just because some other jokes decided they were from a different country after all... as if their parents had screwed up their birth certificates or something.  
 
That’s where Trevor Van Lagen stands after being one of two cuts to the team Canada roster after the team had made its selection. Blame the GM? No. Blame the game? Yeah. Not only was it allowed for everyone to switch their country but it was encouraged and promoted. Do we want all equal teams or do we want to simulate a real world hockey tournament?
 
What would I have done if I was GM of a country and others were trying to get in to steal roster spots from my fellow countrymen?
 
“I would build a wall—and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me—and I build them very inexpensively. I would build a great, great wall on all our borders and I would make all the other wanna be hockey countries pay for that wall. Mark my words.”
 
End rant. 
 

Imagine the excitement and pure joy of being selected to represent your country on the greatest stage of your sport.  Imagine the heartbreak when your country stabs you in the back by reneging on their commitment to you just because some other jokes decided they were from a different country after all... as if their parents had screwed up their birth certificates or something.  
 
That’s where Trevor Van Lagen stands after being one of two cuts to the team Canada roster after the team had made its selection. Blame the GM? No. Blame the game? Yeah. Not only was it allowed for everyone to switch their country but it was encouraged and promoted. Do we want all equal teams or do we want to simulate a real world hockey tournament?
 
What would I have done if I was GM of a country and others were trying to get in to steal roster spots from my fellow countrymen?
 
“I would build a wall—and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me—and I build them very inexpensively. I would build a great, great wall on all our borders and I would make all the other wanna be hockey countries pay for that wall. Mark my words.”
 
End rant. 
 

As Guy LeGrande enters his first week in the league, he is finding out that being a young defenseman is tough going. He is working on his game every chance he gets in hopes of making it into a game where he can showcase his defensive talent. He knows there is a lot of work ahead of him if he is to reach his ultimate goal of being an Elite shutdown defenseman, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill his dream. As and young man he has plenty of growth ahead of him and he is working on his skills daily. After watching his work ethic, nobody would doubt that he will indeed reach his goal at some point. Lucky for him he is surrounded by very talented teammates that push and encourage him along the way. Guy LeGrande may not be known to many now, but in time, he will be a legend.  

+1 TPE as Steve is past 50 TPE 

Sorry @Motzaburger keeping Katy Perry in there... ? ❄️ 

Ok just confirming that, yes there was indeed an offer from Halifax here. I know people get mad when I don't send a contract in myself, but this guy is a friend one of my player's and I am good with having him join right away.