ConnorMcdavid

Last week I wrote an article bringing attention to a phenomenal young group of defence for New York. This week I asses the remainder of the roster and shed light on exactly how bright New York’s future is.
 
     I will dive deep into each of the forwards who matter today and most importantly, for the future.  While there are some other vets and league minimum youngsters, it’s this group of seven forwards who best represent the future. 
 
The Forwards
 
Boris the Forest @chillzone
15G 17A 32P 162S 9H 20SB
 
     Boris the Forest was drafted in the Season Sixty-Seven draft at tenth overall as a center. Boris quickly became the future for New York up front as they had thinner themselves out quite a bit and were beginning their rebuild. Boris is an offensive wizard who also plays very responsible hockey in his own end. Already, Boris has a lethal shot and a very good defensive mind although the rest of his game still needs to catch up some.
 
     Boris is playing this season as the clubs number one center and is doing everything he can to justify it. Scoring at nearly a point per game for New York, Boris is their number one offensive weapon. He gets plenty of offensive ice time resulting in a total of one hundred and sixty-two shots already.  
 
     Boris will continue his development on his other attributes as he continues to form into a top center in the VHL. New York is counting on his development being key to getting the forward ranks up to par with the skill and potential of the defence. Boris is by far the most promising piece up front that New York has.
 
Alexander Rodriguez / Nethila Dissanayake @Jtv123 @nethi99
26G 43A 79P 215S 186H 17SB Combined Stats
 
     Alexander Rodriguez and Nethila Dissanayake are two Season Sixty-Six players for New York who have taken on a more leadership type of role with this young club. The two players are welfare players but dedicated nonetheless and now sit each close to the five hundred TPE mark making them New York’s top two wingers by skill and experience. 
 
     The two have combined for a lot of scoring this season, each scoring over a point per game. Alex and Nethila also bring a lot of grit to the Americans as they have combined to lay down one hundred and eighty-six hits just thirty-five games into the season.
 
     Alexander and Nethila both are playing pivotal roles for New York even though they may never reach superstar status that Boris the Forest brings to the club. One thing to count on though is their dependability and that may be enough to help bring New York back to contention.  Both players are signed to just one year contracts though I’m not sure they would rather play anywhere else than where they currently are. 
 
Dalton Wilcox @Dalton Wilcox
17G 17A 34P 161S 33H 10SB
 
     Dalton was drafted by Malmo twenty-eighth overall in the Season Sixty-Seven draft. Dalton was lost in the depth on Malmo and because of this Malmo included him in a trade with New York that saw Malmo snag Ryan Sullivan Jr.  There was room on a rebuilding team like New York which presented a golden opportunity for Dalton to take the next step in his promising career.
 
     Since coming over in the trade, Dalton has shot out of the gate for New York scoring at nearly a point per game in his first season here.  He’s firing a multitude of shots - one hundred and sixty-one already while doing all the little things to help his teammates win games. Probably a simple case of extra playing time is helping him score so many points but nothing should be taken away from him and his production to date.
 
     Dalton should continue to get plenty of ice time and opportunity this year and we’ll see if his production can keep up like it has the first half of the year.  Dalton may not have the obvious ceiling that Boris the Forest has but with dedication and hard work can still turn into a very solid complementary piece to this outstanding group of youngsters playing in the Big Apple.
 
Frans Eller / Michael Sage / Owen Nolan @studentized @AcousticKazoo @Ace
 
     With Boris the Forest and Dalton Wilcox leading the rebirth at the forward positions and Rodiguez and Dissanayake being solid veterans on this team, the future of the forward ranks depends very much on this trio of youngsters.  Frans Eller, Michael Sage, and Owen Nolan are three Season Sixty-Eight draftees that are growing together as they acclimate to life in the VHL. Already all hovering around the three hundred TPE threshold, if these three can continue to put in the hard work and grow their talent, the future of New York’s forwards is very bright. Should this trio falter though, New York doesn’t have anyone else. 
 
     The three rookies have had varying levels of success so far this season in diminished roles.  They have been providing solid depth for an inexperienced New York squad and should continue to grow being the bigger four in front of them. There is definite opportunity for these three to gain ice time and move up the lineup should they continue to earn TPE at solid rates. Together, the three represent the difference between a powerhouse future for New York and a New York that has too many holes to really contend. 
 
 
The Goalie 
 
A Red Guy @.sniffuM
8W 13L 4OTL 0.894SV% 3.19GAA
 
     A Red Guy has jumped onto the scene being drafted eighth overall in Season Sixty-Eight. New York already had a young goaltender in Thorvald Gunnarson but the potential in A Red Guy intrigued them so much that they used a first round pick on him. The decision really can’t be argued as he has jumped straight into the number one role passing Gunnarson on the teams depth chart within the first half season of his career. It’s safe to say, the future in goal for New York is A Red Guy and him alone.
 
     A Red Guy, though full of potential, is still generally raw and his stats show just this. Don’t let that fool you on his talent and his potential though. By the time his teammates develop into contenders, A Red Guy will be contending for being the leagues top goaltender. There should be no concerns here.
 
     That wraps the in-depth look into New York’s future. The defence and goaltending are locks to be a phenomenal group but though the forwards are less of a sure thing, with proper development, expect New York to be a powerhouse within a few seasons. 
 
On behalf of VSN News and all the great staff there, my name is Trevor Van Lagen and I’m signing off until next week.

Last week I wrote an article bringing attention to a phenomenal young group of defence for New York. This week I asses the remainder of the roster and shed light on exactly how bright New York’s future is.
 
     I will dive deep into each of the forwards who matter today and most importantly, for the future.  While there are some other vets and league minimum youngsters, it’s this group of seven forwards who best represent the future. 
 
The Forwards
 
Boris the Forest @chillzone
15G 17A 32P 162S 9H 20SB
 
     Boris the Forest was drafted in the Season Sixty-Seven draft at tenth overall as a center. Boris quickly became the future for New York up front as they had thinner themselves out quite a bit and were beginning their rebuild. Boris is an offensive wizard who also plays very responsible hockey in his own end. Already, Boris has a lethal shot and a very good defensive mind although the rest of his game still needs to catch up some.
 
     Boris is playing this season as the clubs number one center and is doing everything he can to justify it. Scoring at nearly a point per game for New York, Boris is their number one offensive weapon. He gets plenty of offensive ice time resulting in a total of one hundred and sixty-two shots already.  
 
     Boris will continue his development on his other attributes as he continues to form into a top center in the VHL. New York is counting on his development being key to getting the forward ranks up to par with the skill and potential of the defence. Boris is by far the most promising piece up front that New York has.
 
Alexander Rodriguez / Nethila Dissanayake @Jtv123 @nethi99
26G 43A 79P 215S 186H 17SB Combined Stats
 
     Alexander Rodriguez and Nethila Dissanayake are two Season Sixty-Six players for New York who have taken on a more leadership type of role with this young club. The two players are welfare players but dedicated nonetheless and now sit each close to the five hundred TPE mark making them New York’s top two wingers by skill and experience. 
 
     The two have combined for a lot of scoring this season, each scoring over a point per game. Alex and Nethila also bring a lot of grit to the Americans as they have combined to lay down one hundred and eighty-six hits just thirty-five games into the season.
 
     Alexander and Nethila both are playing pivotal roles for New York even though they may never reach superstar status that Boris the Forest brings to the club. One thing to count on though is their dependability and that may be enough to help bring New York back to contention.  Both players are signed to just one year contracts though I’m not sure they would rather play anywhere else than where they currently are. 
 
Dalton Wilcox @Dalton Wilcox
17G 17A 34P 161S 33H 10SB
 
     Dalton was drafted by Malmo twenty-eighth overall in the Season Sixty-Seven draft. Dalton was lost in the depth on Malmo and because of this Malmo included him in a trade with New York that saw Malmo snag Ryan Sullivan Jr.  There was room on a rebuilding team like New York which presented a golden opportunity for Dalton to take the next step in his promising career.
 
     Since coming over in the trade, Dalton has shot out of the gate for New York scoring at nearly a point per game in his first season here.  He’s firing a multitude of shots - one hundred and sixty-one already while doing all the little things to help his teammates win games. Probably a simple case of extra playing time is helping him score so many points but nothing should be taken away from him and his production to date.
 
     Dalton should continue to get plenty of ice time and opportunity this year and we’ll see if his production can keep up like it has the first half of the year.  Dalton may not have the obvious ceiling that Boris the Forest has but with dedication and hard work can still turn into a very solid complementary piece to this outstanding group of youngsters playing in the Big Apple.
 
Frans Eller / Michael Sage / Owen Nolan @studentized @AcousticKazoo @Ace
 
     With Boris the Forest and Dalton Wilcox leading the rebirth at the forward positions and Rodiguez and Dissanayake being solid veterans on this team, the future of the forward ranks depends very much on this trio of youngsters.  Frans Eller, Michael Sage, and Owen Nolan are three Season Sixty-Eight draftees that are growing together as they acclimate to life in the VHL. Already all hovering around the three hundred TPE threshold, if these three can continue to put in the hard work and grow their talent, the future of New York’s forwards is very bright. Should this trio falter though, New York doesn’t have anyone else. 
 
     The three rookies have had varying levels of success so far this season in diminished roles.  They have been providing solid depth for an inexperienced New York squad and should continue to grow being the bigger four in front of them. There is definite opportunity for these three to gain ice time and move up the lineup should they continue to earn TPE at solid rates. Together, the three represent the difference between a powerhouse future for New York and a New York that has too many holes to really contend. 
 
 
The Goalie 
 
A Red Guy @.sniffuM
8W 13L 4OTL 0.894SV% 3.19GAA
 
     A Red Guy has jumped onto the scene being drafted eighth overall in Season Sixty-Eight. New York already had a young goaltender in Thorvald Gunnarson but the potential in A Red Guy intrigued them so much that they used a first round pick on him. The decision really can’t be argued as he has jumped straight into the number one role passing Gunnarson on the teams depth chart within the first half season of his career. It’s safe to say, the future in goal for New York is A Red Guy and him alone.
 
     A Red Guy, though full of potential, is still generally raw and his stats show just this. Don’t let that fool you on his talent and his potential though. By the time his teammates develop into contenders, A Red Guy will be contending for being the leagues top goaltender. There should be no concerns here.
 
     That wraps the in-depth look into New York’s future. The defence and goaltending are locks to be a phenomenal group but though the forwards are less of a sure thing, with proper development, expect New York to be a powerhouse within a few seasons. 
 
On behalf of VSN News and all the great staff there, my name is Trevor Van Lagen and I’m signing off until next week.

Last week I wrote an article bringing attention to a phenomenal young group of defence for New York. This week I asses the remainder of the roster and shed light on exactly how bright New York’s future is.
 
     I will dive deep into each of the forwards who matter today and most importantly, for the future.  While there are some other vets and league minimum youngsters, it’s this group of seven forwards who best represent the future. 
 
The Forwards
 
Boris the Forest @chillzone
15G 17A 32P 162S 9H 20SB
 
     Boris the Forest was drafted in the Season Sixty-Seven draft at tenth overall as a center. Boris quickly became the future for New York up front as they had thinner themselves out quite a bit and were beginning their rebuild. Boris is an offensive wizard who also plays very responsible hockey in his own end. Already, Boris has a lethal shot and a very good defensive mind although the rest of his game still needs to catch up some.
 
     Boris is playing this season as the clubs number one center and is doing everything he can to justify it. Scoring at nearly a point per game for New York, Boris is their number one offensive weapon. He gets plenty of offensive ice time resulting in a total of one hundred and sixty-two shots already.  
 
     Boris will continue his development on his other attributes as he continues to form into a top center in the VHL. New York is counting on his development being key to getting the forward ranks up to par with the skill and potential of the defence. Boris is by far the most promising piece up front that New York has.
 
Alexander Rodriguez / Nethila Dissanayake @Jtv123 @nethi99
26G 43A 79P 215S 186H 17SB Combined Stats
 
     Alexander Rodriguez and Nethila Dissanayake are two Season Sixty-Six players for New York who have taken on a more leadership type of role with this young club. The two players are welfare players but dedicated nonetheless and now sit each close to the five hundred TPE mark making them New York’s top two wingers by skill and experience. 
 
     The two have combined for a lot of scoring this season, each scoring over a point per game. Alex and Nethila also bring a lot of grit to the Americans as they have combined to lay down one hundred and eighty-six hits just thirty-five games into the season.
 
     Alexander and Nethila both are playing pivotal roles for New York even though they may never reach superstar status that Boris the Forest brings to the club. One thing to count on though is their dependability and that may be enough to help bring New York back to contention.  Both players are signed to just one year contracts though I’m not sure they would rather play anywhere else than where they currently are. 
 
Dalton Wilcox @Dalton Wilcox
17G 17A 34P 161S 33H 10SB
 
     Dalton was drafted by Malmo twenty-eighth overall in the Season Sixty-Seven draft. Dalton was lost in the depth on Malmo and because of this Malmo included him in a trade with New York that saw Malmo snag Ryan Sullivan Jr.  There was room on a rebuilding team like New York which presented a golden opportunity for Dalton to take the next step in his promising career.
 
     Since coming over in the trade, Dalton has shot out of the gate for New York scoring at nearly a point per game in his first season here.  He’s firing a multitude of shots - one hundred and sixty-one already while doing all the little things to help his teammates win games. Probably a simple case of extra playing time is helping him score so many points but nothing should be taken away from him and his production to date.
 
     Dalton should continue to get plenty of ice time and opportunity this year and we’ll see if his production can keep up like it has the first half of the year.  Dalton may not have the obvious ceiling that Boris the Forest has but with dedication and hard work can still turn into a very solid complementary piece to this outstanding group of youngsters playing in the Big Apple.
 
Frans Eller / Michael Sage / Owen Nolan @studentized @AcousticKazoo @Ace
 
     With Boris the Forest and Dalton Wilcox leading the rebirth at the forward positions and Rodiguez and Dissanayake being solid veterans on this team, the future of the forward ranks depends very much on this trio of youngsters.  Frans Eller, Michael Sage, and Owen Nolan are three Season Sixty-Eight draftees that are growing together as they acclimate to life in the VHL. Already all hovering around the three hundred TPE threshold, if these three can continue to put in the hard work and grow their talent, the future of New York’s forwards is very bright. Should this trio falter though, New York doesn’t have anyone else. 
 
     The three rookies have had varying levels of success so far this season in diminished roles.  They have been providing solid depth for an inexperienced New York squad and should continue to grow being the bigger four in front of them. There is definite opportunity for these three to gain ice time and move up the lineup should they continue to earn TPE at solid rates. Together, the three represent the difference between a powerhouse future for New York and a New York that has too many holes to really contend. 
 
 
The Goalie 
 
A Red Guy @.sniffuM
8W 13L 4OTL 0.894SV% 3.19GAA
 
     A Red Guy has jumped onto the scene being drafted eighth overall in Season Sixty-Eight. New York already had a young goaltender in Thorvald Gunnarson but the potential in A Red Guy intrigued them so much that they used a first round pick on him. The decision really can’t be argued as he has jumped straight into the number one role passing Gunnarson on the teams depth chart within the first half season of his career. It’s safe to say, the future in goal for New York is A Red Guy and him alone.
 
     A Red Guy, though full of potential, is still generally raw and his stats show just this. Don’t let that fool you on his talent and his potential though. By the time his teammates develop into contenders, A Red Guy will be contending for being the leagues top goaltender. There should be no concerns here.
 
     That wraps the in-depth look into New York’s future. The defence and goaltending are locks to be a phenomenal group but though the forwards are less of a sure thing, with proper development, expect New York to be a powerhouse within a few seasons. 
 
On behalf of VSN News and all the great staff there, my name is Trevor Van Lagen and I’m signing off until next week.

Offensive defenseman, that is what they called him during the draft. But since he joined the league Adrienne has been mocked by many critics around the league for not being able to score a single goal. Games went by and all the times he kept disappointing not only  the critics, but mostly his self. Players with less practice hours than him are shooting them in at left and right (sorry Hugh, but it’s true, you’re one lucky guy) but Adrienne,  he failed over and over again. Until all came together on one magical night were all the stars and planets aligned in one line straight to Orbital Station 1. This was the sign for Adrienne that this was the time for his first goal. Even though the Nighthawks played the most feared and difficult team in the league, the DC Dragons, Adrienne managed to look past their fierceness as he finally got the puck behind the netminder.
 
While this certainly is not a rookie of the year type season, Adrienne is happy that he is able to help the team in every possible way. While he of course dreams of becoming a hall of famer, he knows the team comes first and is just happy to contribute in any way he can (or mostly cannot, but still dies trying)

You’re killing it too for New York but I was just looking at the defence. Maybe I’ll do another article on the rest of the team yet ??

Nice article and I'm excited to play for this team.  But what about me :( 

New York - The New York Americans are a rebuilding team that really won’t compete for a few seasons. That said, they have a group of young men that most teams don’t and this is setting themselves up to return to the Playoffs and to contender status before too long. Those young men particularly are the three rookies on the backend led by their “veteran” presence in sophomore Guy LeGrande.
 
     While they are very inexperienced, their talent potential is off the charts and should they stay together in the long term, will give New York a defence group most GM’s just dream about.  I took a long look into these four and will dive deep into each of the four players highlighting how they got there, where their potential is and their outlook on their season and careers ahead.
 
Guy LeGrande @Steve
7G 19A 26P 30.35MPG 10H 54S 55SB
 
     The veteran presence of the defence core, Guy was originally drafted by the HC Davos but part way through his rookie season Guy was unsettled with the lack of ice time he was seeing and made a bold move requesting a trade. Davos, accepting this unfortunate reality found a trade partner and soon enough, Legrande was on his way to North America to play for New York.
 
     As he took to the ice for his sophomore season, Guy was tasked with leading a very inexperienced group of defence. The team was going to struggle as they gained experience but Guy was guaranteed to get a boatload of minutes, something he wanted more than anything else. 
 
     Now even with an abundance of opportunity and a growing skill set Guy couldn’t have expected an absurd amount of success. Yet, here he is with a cool twenty-six points through twenty-one games! That’s absurd! New York has a special talent and a special person on their team and someone who will cornerstone their defence for seasons to come!
 
Lance Flowers @CowboyinAmerica
2G 16A 18P 28.91PPG 72H 36S 44SB
 
     Lance Flowers was drafted second overall last season behind only the consensus top pick Condor Adrienne. Early in the year, Lance was actually leading in the discussions to be first overall pick in the S68 draft. Through no fault of his own, Lance eventually lost that title but what he didn’t lose is his talent and potential. New York got a gem here and is hoping to reap the rewards as soon as this year.
 
     Having a defence group that really didn’t exist until the draft, Flowers comes into the New York organization being handed first line duties and a ton of ice time. He’s expected to be the physical presence on that pairing offering some grit and a ton of talent to complement the aforementioned LeGrande.  He would kill some penalties, play some big power play minutes and face top lines every game at even strength. That’s a lot to ask for of a rookie!
 
     Facing top talent before he has a chance to grow into the VHL player he really wants to be would usually mean a rough year for any player put in this situation. Fortunately for New York, Lance isn’t just any player. Lance has bolted out of the gate to start his career, scoring near a point per game pace through twenty-one games, laying down some thunderous hits while being a plus player against the VHL’s best! If Lance can continue this production and keep this high a level of play, he is very likely to be considered for Rookie of the Year. This would be a great accomplishment, one of what Lance hopes can be many in his career ahead.
 
Keven Foreskin @Esso2264
3G 9A 12P 27.32MPG 73H 32S 51SB
 
     Right in line with his teams rebuild, along comes Keven Foreskin, Esso’s GM player. Keven earned well through his one season in the VHLM to a point where he would have been a top ten pick in the S68 draft had he not been a GM Player. Keven has a solid all around build going currently that affords him good defence instincts, toughness and enough offence to contribute. Keven really has left it wide open to develop his career any way he chooses as time goes on.
 
     Keven is the third stud defence behind LeGrande and Flowers and because he is a GM player, is a key defender in that he won’t be hard for the GM to please in regards to getting his fair share of ice time, role etc. Keven hopes to continue to develop into a steady defender as he is placed in a second pairing role.  He should still receive plenty of ice time all around on both special teams and at even strength. 
 
     Keven has come as advertised so far early in his career as he has contributed a respectable twelve points in his first twenty-one games.  He been a physical force on the back end with his seventy hits already, while also getting down to block fifty-one shots from reaching his goaltender. Keven has been a good value defender early on but will have to watch his tendency to take penalties as he currently sits at fifty penalty minutes on the year. It’s hard to contribute when you are in the box that often. 
 
Fredrik Elmebeck @Elmebeck
1G 7A 8P 27.41MPG 9H 22S 25S
 
     The last of the future core four, Fredrik is an exciting prospect in his own right.  Frederick was selected by New York with the ninth selection in the S68 draft and for good reason.  Frederick has the potential to develop into a smooth skating, offensive weapon on the back end while being dependable in his own zone.  
 
     Frederick will start his career on the second pairing along side Foreskin. He should receive plenty of minutes in his rookie season with no one pushing him from below in the depth chart. That’s not to say the ice time isn’t warranted, but Frederick at least won’t have that worry on his mind and can instead focus on improving his game as he continues to develop. 
 
     A solid start for Frederick to his rookie season has seen him score eight points already in twenty-one games. Frederick does not play a physical game however as he has just nine hits registered on the season.  As anticipated, he is receiving plenty of ice time at above twenty-seven minutes per game.  Frederick should continue to contribute from the back end as he is put in offensive situations which will allow him to finish his rookie season flashing his immense potential.
 
     After looking closer at these four young defencemen, we can see how much potential New York really has on the back end. This is a team that has been set up well by @Esso2264.  It will be exciting to see how these four grow together and drive the future of this New York team.
 
     On behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, it’s been my pleasure to bring the insight into the future. 
 
     My name is Trevor Van Lagen and I’ll catch you all again next time.
 

New York - The New York Americans are a rebuilding team that really won’t compete for a few seasons. That said, they have a group of young men that most teams don’t and this is setting themselves up to return to the Playoffs and to contender status before too long. Those young men particularly are the three rookies on the backend led by their “veteran” presence in sophomore Guy LeGrande.
 
     While they are very inexperienced, their talent potential is off the charts and should they stay together in the long term, will give New York a defence group most GM’s just dream about.  I took a long look into these four and will dive deep into each of the four players highlighting how they got there, where their potential is and their outlook on their season and careers ahead.
 
Guy LeGrande @Steve
7G 19A 26P 30.35MPG 10H 54S 55SB
 
     The veteran presence of the defence core, Guy was originally drafted by the HC Davos but part way through his rookie season Guy was unsettled with the lack of ice time he was seeing and made a bold move requesting a trade. Davos, accepting this unfortunate reality found a trade partner and soon enough, Legrande was on his way to North America to play for New York.
 
     As he took to the ice for his sophomore season, Guy was tasked with leading a very inexperienced group of defence. The team was going to struggle as they gained experience but Guy was guaranteed to get a boatload of minutes, something he wanted more than anything else. 
 
     Now even with an abundance of opportunity and a growing skill set Guy couldn’t have expected an absurd amount of success. Yet, here he is with a cool twenty-six points through twenty-one games! That’s absurd! New York has a special talent and a special person on their team and someone who will cornerstone their defence for seasons to come!
 
Lance Flowers @CowboyinAmerica
2G 16A 18P 28.91PPG 72H 36S 44SB
 
     Lance Flowers was drafted second overall last season behind only the consensus top pick Condor Adrienne. Early in the year, Lance was actually leading in the discussions to be first overall pick in the S68 draft. Through no fault of his own, Lance eventually lost that title but what he didn’t lose is his talent and potential. New York got a gem here and is hoping to reap the rewards as soon as this year.
 
     Having a defence group that really didn’t exist until the draft, Flowers comes into the New York organization being handed first line duties and a ton of ice time. He’s expected to be the physical presence on that pairing offering some grit and a ton of talent to complement the aforementioned LeGrande.  He would kill some penalties, play some big power play minutes and face top lines every game at even strength. That’s a lot to ask for of a rookie!
 
     Facing top talent before he has a chance to grow into the VHL player he really wants to be would usually mean a rough year for any player put in this situation. Fortunately for New York, Lance isn’t just any player. Lance has bolted out of the gate to start his career, scoring near a point per game pace through twenty-one games, laying down some thunderous hits while being a plus player against the VHL’s best! If Lance can continue this production and keep this high a level of play, he is very likely to be considered for Rookie of the Year. This would be a great accomplishment, one of what Lance hopes can be many in his career ahead.
 
Keven Foreskin @Esso2264
3G 9A 12P 27.32MPG 73H 32S 51SB
 
     Right in line with his teams rebuild, along comes Keven Foreskin, Esso’s GM player. Keven earned well through his one season in the VHLM to a point where he would have been a top ten pick in the S68 draft had he not been a GM Player. Keven has a solid all around build going currently that affords him good defence instincts, toughness and enough offence to contribute. Keven really has left it wide open to develop his career any way he chooses as time goes on.
 
     Keven is the third stud defence behind LeGrande and Flowers and because he is a GM player, is a key defender in that he won’t be hard for the GM to please in regards to getting his fair share of ice time, role etc. Keven hopes to continue to develop into a steady defender as he is placed in a second pairing role.  He should still receive plenty of ice time all around on both special teams and at even strength. 
 
     Keven has come as advertised so far early in his career as he has contributed a respectable twelve points in his first twenty-one games.  He been a physical force on the back end with his seventy hits already, while also getting down to block fifty-one shots from reaching his goaltender. Keven has been a good value defender early on but will have to watch his tendency to take penalties as he currently sits at fifty penalty minutes on the year. It’s hard to contribute when you are in the box that often. 
 
Fredrik Elmebeck @Elmebeck
1G 7A 8P 27.41MPG 9H 22S 25S
 
     The last of the future core four, Fredrik is an exciting prospect in his own right.  Frederick was selected by New York with the ninth selection in the S68 draft and for good reason.  Frederick has the potential to develop into a smooth skating, offensive weapon on the back end while being dependable in his own zone.  
 
     Frederick will start his career on the second pairing along side Foreskin. He should receive plenty of minutes in his rookie season with no one pushing him from below in the depth chart. That’s not to say the ice time isn’t warranted, but Frederick at least won’t have that worry on his mind and can instead focus on improving his game as he continues to develop. 
 
     A solid start for Frederick to his rookie season has seen him score eight points already in twenty-one games. Frederick does not play a physical game however as he has just nine hits registered on the season.  As anticipated, he is receiving plenty of ice time at above twenty-seven minutes per game.  Frederick should continue to contribute from the back end as he is put in offensive situations which will allow him to finish his rookie season flashing his immense potential.
 
     After looking closer at these four young defencemen, we can see how much potential New York really has on the back end. This is a team that has been set up well by @Esso2264.  It will be exciting to see how these four grow together and drive the future of this New York team.
 
     On behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, it’s been my pleasure to bring the insight into the future. 
 
     My name is Trevor Van Lagen and I’ll catch you all again next time.
 

Manhattan, NY -- Nearly a third of the way into the VHL season, we’re beginning to see some clarity into some of the league’s biggest trophy races. Following a stacked draft class, one of the most watched is the Rookie of the Year race. Unfortunately, there’s currently no easy way to see who is a rookie on the league’s statistical leaderboards, particularly for S67 and older players making their VHL debuts. But among S68 draftees in the VHL, New York Americans defenseman Lance Flowers is rising to the top.
 
So far this season, only three S68 rookies have more than 11 points: Prague teammates Willie Dredge (18) and Wolf Stansson Jr. (16), and Flowers’ 19 in 22 games. Both Dredge (-6) and Stansson (-16) have a negative +/-, while Flowers’ +5 puts him far ahead in that category. Comparing apples to apples, Flowers also tops fellow defenseman Stansson in both hits (77 to 13) and shots blocked (44 to 41).
 
While it’s not a perfect picture of the Rookie of the Year race, given the prevalence of other, older rookies, Flowers’ early play has him feeling good early in the season. There are surely areas to improve upon—sitting second in overall penalty minutes is not a good look—but he’s happy being part of a New York team that is improbably currently tied for third in North America and 2 points behind second.
 
“I actually thought this year would be more of a struggle than it has been, so I’ll take it,” Flowers told reporters after the team’s recent win over Moscow. “I know some regression to the mean is likely coming, but still, I’m glad the work I’ve put in is being reflected on the ice. Especially with my linemate [Guy LeGrande] playing out of his mind as well, I think there’s bright times ahead in the New York defensive core.”

Much thanks to VanCanWinkle for recruiting me to this sim. Nice article and much appreciated.

Forwards and goalies next baby

New York - The New York Americans are a rebuilding team that really won’t compete for a few seasons. That said, they have a group of young men that most teams don’t and this is setting themselves up to return to the Playoffs and to contender status before too long. Those young men particularly are the three rookies on the backend led by their “veteran” presence in sophomore Guy LeGrande.
 
     While they are very inexperienced, their talent potential is off the charts and should they stay together in the long term, will give New York a defence group most GM’s just dream about.  I took a long look into these four and will dive deep into each of the four players highlighting how they got there, where their potential is and their outlook on their season and careers ahead.
 
Guy LeGrande @Steve
7G 19A 26P 30.35MPG 10H 54S 55SB
 
     The veteran presence of the defence core, Guy was originally drafted by the HC Davos but part way through his rookie season Guy was unsettled with the lack of ice time he was seeing and made a bold move requesting a trade. Davos, accepting this unfortunate reality found a trade partner and soon enough, Legrande was on his way to North America to play for New York.
 
     As he took to the ice for his sophomore season, Guy was tasked with leading a very inexperienced group of defence. The team was going to struggle as they gained experience but Guy was guaranteed to get a boatload of minutes, something he wanted more than anything else. 
 
     Now even with an abundance of opportunity and a growing skill set Guy couldn’t have expected an absurd amount of success. Yet, here he is with a cool twenty-six points through twenty-one games! That’s absurd! New York has a special talent and a special person on their team and someone who will cornerstone their defence for seasons to come!
 
Lance Flowers @CowboyinAmerica
2G 16A 18P 28.91PPG 72H 36S 44SB
 
     Lance Flowers was drafted second overall last season behind only the consensus top pick Condor Adrienne. Early in the year, Lance was actually leading in the discussions to be first overall pick in the S68 draft. Through no fault of his own, Lance eventually lost that title but what he didn’t lose is his talent and potential. New York got a gem here and is hoping to reap the rewards as soon as this year.
 
     Having a defence group that really didn’t exist until the draft, Flowers comes into the New York organization being handed first line duties and a ton of ice time. He’s expected to be the physical presence on that pairing offering some grit and a ton of talent to complement the aforementioned LeGrande.  He would kill some penalties, play some big power play minutes and face top lines every game at even strength. That’s a lot to ask for of a rookie!
 
     Facing top talent before he has a chance to grow into the VHL player he really wants to be would usually mean a rough year for any player put in this situation. Fortunately for New York, Lance isn’t just any player. Lance has bolted out of the gate to start his career, scoring near a point per game pace through twenty-one games, laying down some thunderous hits while being a plus player against the VHL’s best! If Lance can continue this production and keep this high a level of play, he is very likely to be considered for Rookie of the Year. This would be a great accomplishment, one of what Lance hopes can be many in his career ahead.
 
Keven Foreskin @Esso2264
3G 9A 12P 27.32MPG 73H 32S 51SB
 
     Right in line with his teams rebuild, along comes Keven Foreskin, Esso’s GM player. Keven earned well through his one season in the VHLM to a point where he would have been a top ten pick in the S68 draft had he not been a GM Player. Keven has a solid all around build going currently that affords him good defence instincts, toughness and enough offence to contribute. Keven really has left it wide open to develop his career any way he chooses as time goes on.
 
     Keven is the third stud defence behind LeGrande and Flowers and because he is a GM player, is a key defender in that he won’t be hard for the GM to please in regards to getting his fair share of ice time, role etc. Keven hopes to continue to develop into a steady defender as he is placed in a second pairing role.  He should still receive plenty of ice time all around on both special teams and at even strength. 
 
     Keven has come as advertised so far early in his career as he has contributed a respectable twelve points in his first twenty-one games.  He been a physical force on the back end with his seventy hits already, while also getting down to block fifty-one shots from reaching his goaltender. Keven has been a good value defender early on but will have to watch his tendency to take penalties as he currently sits at fifty penalty minutes on the year. It’s hard to contribute when you are in the box that often. 
 
Fredrik Elmebeck @Elmebeck
1G 7A 8P 27.41MPG 9H 22S 25S
 
     The last of the future core four, Fredrik is an exciting prospect in his own right.  Frederick was selected by New York with the ninth selection in the S68 draft and for good reason.  Frederick has the potential to develop into a smooth skating, offensive weapon on the back end while being dependable in his own zone.  
 
     Frederick will start his career on the second pairing along side Foreskin. He should receive plenty of minutes in his rookie season with no one pushing him from below in the depth chart. That’s not to say the ice time isn’t warranted, but Frederick at least won’t have that worry on his mind and can instead focus on improving his game as he continues to develop. 
 
     A solid start for Frederick to his rookie season has seen him score eight points already in twenty-one games. Frederick does not play a physical game however as he has just nine hits registered on the season.  As anticipated, he is receiving plenty of ice time at above twenty-seven minutes per game.  Frederick should continue to contribute from the back end as he is put in offensive situations which will allow him to finish his rookie season flashing his immense potential.
 
     After looking closer at these four young defencemen, we can see how much potential New York really has on the back end. This is a team that has been set up well by @Esso2264.  It will be exciting to see how these four grow together and drive the future of this New York team.
 
     On behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, it’s been my pleasure to bring the insight into the future. 
 
     My name is Trevor Van Lagen and I’ll catch you all again next time.
 

New York - The New York Americans are a rebuilding team that really won’t compete for a few seasons. That said, they have a group of young men that most teams don’t and this is setting themselves up to return to the Playoffs and to contender status before too long. Those young men particularly are the three rookies on the backend led by their “veteran” presence in sophomore Guy LeGrande.
 
     While they are very inexperienced, their talent potential is off the charts and should they stay together in the long term, will give New York a defence group most GM’s just dream about.  I took a long look into these four and will dive deep into each of the four players highlighting how they got there, where their potential is and their outlook on their season and careers ahead.
 
Guy LeGrande @Steve
7G 19A 26P 30.35MPG 10H 54S 55SB
 
     The veteran presence of the defence core, Guy was originally drafted by the HC Davos but part way through his rookie season Guy was unsettled with the lack of ice time he was seeing and made a bold move requesting a trade. Davos, accepting this unfortunate reality found a trade partner and soon enough, Legrande was on his way to North America to play for New York.
 
     As he took to the ice for his sophomore season, Guy was tasked with leading a very inexperienced group of defence. The team was going to struggle as they gained experience but Guy was guaranteed to get a boatload of minutes, something he wanted more than anything else. 
 
     Now even with an abundance of opportunity and a growing skill set Guy couldn’t have expected an absurd amount of success. Yet, here he is with a cool twenty-six points through twenty-one games! That’s absurd! New York has a special talent and a special person on their team and someone who will cornerstone their defence for seasons to come!
 
Lance Flowers @CowboyinAmerica
2G 16A 18P 28.91PPG 72H 36S 44SB
 
     Lance Flowers was drafted second overall last season behind only the consensus top pick Condor Adrienne. Early in the year, Lance was actually leading in the discussions to be first overall pick in the S68 draft. Through no fault of his own, Lance eventually lost that title but what he didn’t lose is his talent and potential. New York got a gem here and is hoping to reap the rewards as soon as this year.
 
     Having a defence group that really didn’t exist until the draft, Flowers comes into the New York organization being handed first line duties and a ton of ice time. He’s expected to be the physical presence on that pairing offering some grit and a ton of talent to complement the aforementioned LeGrande.  He would kill some penalties, play some big power play minutes and face top lines every game at even strength. That’s a lot to ask for of a rookie!
 
     Facing top talent before he has a chance to grow into the VHL player he really wants to be would usually mean a rough year for any player put in this situation. Fortunately for New York, Lance isn’t just any player. Lance has bolted out of the gate to start his career, scoring near a point per game pace through twenty-one games, laying down some thunderous hits while being a plus player against the VHL’s best! If Lance can continue this production and keep this high a level of play, he is very likely to be considered for Rookie of the Year. This would be a great accomplishment, one of what Lance hopes can be many in his career ahead.
 
Keven Foreskin @Esso2264
3G 9A 12P 27.32MPG 73H 32S 51SB
 
     Right in line with his teams rebuild, along comes Keven Foreskin, Esso’s GM player. Keven earned well through his one season in the VHLM to a point where he would have been a top ten pick in the S68 draft had he not been a GM Player. Keven has a solid all around build going currently that affords him good defence instincts, toughness and enough offence to contribute. Keven really has left it wide open to develop his career any way he chooses as time goes on.
 
     Keven is the third stud defence behind LeGrande and Flowers and because he is a GM player, is a key defender in that he won’t be hard for the GM to please in regards to getting his fair share of ice time, role etc. Keven hopes to continue to develop into a steady defender as he is placed in a second pairing role.  He should still receive plenty of ice time all around on both special teams and at even strength. 
 
     Keven has come as advertised so far early in his career as he has contributed a respectable twelve points in his first twenty-one games.  He been a physical force on the back end with his seventy hits already, while also getting down to block fifty-one shots from reaching his goaltender. Keven has been a good value defender early on but will have to watch his tendency to take penalties as he currently sits at fifty penalty minutes on the year. It’s hard to contribute when you are in the box that often. 
 
Fredrik Elmebeck @Elmebeck
1G 7A 8P 27.41MPG 9H 22S 25S
 
     The last of the future core four, Fredrik is an exciting prospect in his own right.  Frederick was selected by New York with the ninth selection in the S68 draft and for good reason.  Frederick has the potential to develop into a smooth skating, offensive weapon on the back end while being dependable in his own zone.  
 
     Frederick will start his career on the second pairing along side Foreskin. He should receive plenty of minutes in his rookie season with no one pushing him from below in the depth chart. That’s not to say the ice time isn’t warranted, but Frederick at least won’t have that worry on his mind and can instead focus on improving his game as he continues to develop. 
 
     A solid start for Frederick to his rookie season has seen him score eight points already in twenty-one games. Frederick does not play a physical game however as he has just nine hits registered on the season.  As anticipated, he is receiving plenty of ice time at above twenty-seven minutes per game.  Frederick should continue to contribute from the back end as he is put in offensive situations which will allow him to finish his rookie season flashing his immense potential.
 
     After looking closer at these four young defencemen, we can see how much potential New York really has on the back end. This is a team that has been set up well by @Esso2264.  It will be exciting to see how these four grow together and drive the future of this New York team.
 
     On behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, it’s been my pleasure to bring the insight into the future. 
 
     My name is Trevor Van Lagen and I’ll catch you all again next time.
 

New York - The New York Americans are a rebuilding team that really won’t compete for a few seasons. That said, they have a group of young men that most teams don’t and this is setting themselves up to return to the Playoffs and to contender status before too long. Those young men particularly are the three rookies on the backend led by their “veteran” presence in sophomore Guy LeGrande.
 
     While they are very inexperienced, their talent potential is off the charts and should they stay together in the long term, will give New York a defence group most GM’s just dream about.  I took a long look into these four and will dive deep into each of the four players highlighting how they got there, where their potential is and their outlook on their season and careers ahead.
 
Guy LeGrande @Steve
7G 19A 26P 30.35MPG 10H 54S 55SB
 
     The veteran presence of the defence core, Guy was originally drafted by the HC Davos but part way through his rookie season Guy was unsettled with the lack of ice time he was seeing and made a bold move requesting a trade. Davos, accepting this unfortunate reality found a trade partner and soon enough, Legrande was on his way to North America to play for New York.
 
     As he took to the ice for his sophomore season, Guy was tasked with leading a very inexperienced group of defence. The team was going to struggle as they gained experience but Guy was guaranteed to get a boatload of minutes, something he wanted more than anything else. 
 
     Now even with an abundance of opportunity and a growing skill set Guy couldn’t have expected an absurd amount of success. Yet, here he is with a cool twenty-six points through twenty-one games! That’s absurd! New York has a special talent and a special person on their team and someone who will cornerstone their defence for seasons to come!
 
Lance Flowers @CowboyinAmerica
2G 16A 18P 28.91PPG 72H 36S 44SB
 
     Lance Flowers was drafted second overall last season behind only the consensus top pick Condor Adrienne. Early in the year, Lance was actually leading in the discussions to be first overall pick in the S68 draft. Through no fault of his own, Lance eventually lost that title but what he didn’t lose is his talent and potential. New York got a gem here and is hoping to reap the rewards as soon as this year.
 
     Having a defence group that really didn’t exist until the draft, Flowers comes into the New York organization being handed first line duties and a ton of ice time. He’s expected to be the physical presence on that pairing offering some grit and a ton of talent to complement the aforementioned LeGrande.  He would kill some penalties, play some big power play minutes and face top lines every game at even strength. That’s a lot to ask for of a rookie!
 
     Facing top talent before he has a chance to grow into the VHL player he really wants to be would usually mean a rough year for any player put in this situation. Fortunately for New York, Lance isn’t just any player. Lance has bolted out of the gate to start his career, scoring near a point per game pace through twenty-one games, laying down some thunderous hits while being a plus player against the VHL’s best! If Lance can continue this production and keep this high a level of play, he is very likely to be considered for Rookie of the Year. This would be a great accomplishment, one of what Lance hopes can be many in his career ahead.
 
Keven Foreskin @Esso2264
3G 9A 12P 27.32MPG 73H 32S 51SB
 
     Right in line with his teams rebuild, along comes Keven Foreskin, Esso’s GM player. Keven earned well through his one season in the VHLM to a point where he would have been a top ten pick in the S68 draft had he not been a GM Player. Keven has a solid all around build going currently that affords him good defence instincts, toughness and enough offence to contribute. Keven really has left it wide open to develop his career any way he chooses as time goes on.
 
     Keven is the third stud defence behind LeGrande and Flowers and because he is a GM player, is a key defender in that he won’t be hard for the GM to please in regards to getting his fair share of ice time, role etc. Keven hopes to continue to develop into a steady defender as he is placed in a second pairing role.  He should still receive plenty of ice time all around on both special teams and at even strength. 
 
     Keven has come as advertised so far early in his career as he has contributed a respectable twelve points in his first twenty-one games.  He been a physical force on the back end with his seventy hits already, while also getting down to block fifty-one shots from reaching his goaltender. Keven has been a good value defender early on but will have to watch his tendency to take penalties as he currently sits at fifty penalty minutes on the year. It’s hard to contribute when you are in the box that often. 
 
Fredrik Elmebeck @Elmebeck
1G 7A 8P 27.41MPG 9H 22S 25S
 
     The last of the future core four, Fredrik is an exciting prospect in his own right.  Frederick was selected by New York with the ninth selection in the S68 draft and for good reason.  Frederick has the potential to develop into a smooth skating, offensive weapon on the back end while being dependable in his own zone.  
 
     Frederick will start his career on the second pairing along side Foreskin. He should receive plenty of minutes in his rookie season with no one pushing him from below in the depth chart. That’s not to say the ice time isn’t warranted, but Frederick at least won’t have that worry on his mind and can instead focus on improving his game as he continues to develop. 
 
     A solid start for Frederick to his rookie season has seen him score eight points already in twenty-one games. Frederick does not play a physical game however as he has just nine hits registered on the season.  As anticipated, he is receiving plenty of ice time at above twenty-seven minutes per game.  Frederick should continue to contribute from the back end as he is put in offensive situations which will allow him to finish his rookie season flashing his immense potential.
 
     After looking closer at these four young defencemen, we can see how much potential New York really has on the back end. This is a team that has been set up well by @Esso2264.  It will be exciting to see how these four grow together and drive the future of this New York team.
 
     On behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, it’s been my pleasure to bring the insight into the future. 
 
     My name is Trevor Van Lagen and I’ll catch you all again next time.
 

This past season and offseason the VHL has seen a number of high profile players switch positions for various reasons.  In an attempt to see why this trend was set and whether this is something we can expect more often going forward, I am taking a look at five players who recently made these changes.  Of the five, two made the switch from the wing to defence, one from defence to wing, and two from defence to center.  
       The reoccurring theme here was they made these changes with team inspired aspirations though some had some personal gain to make from the change as well.  With the increase in teams and GM’s getting creative in order to maximize their team’s potential the position change route seemed like a good alternative to acquiring players via trade or free agency.
Further in this article, I break down each player, the change they made and why, and provide an outlook on their season ahead as they acclimate to a new position.

 
Leph Twinger @DollarAndADream
Position Change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
         Leph Twinger is playing in his seventh VHL season already. Leph began his career filled with certain promise and generational talent. His first season in the league was a massive one as he scored 116 points. Unfortunately for Leph, his career faltered from there. Though he has still had a solid career up until now, Leph surely knows it wasn’t what it could have been. This is one of the reasons why he was willing to make this switch to defence when he was asked by his team to fill a hole in their roster.  
      As we look to this upcoming year, Leph will be coming into it on the back end of a declining career.  He will be fighting depreciation so will struggle to develop any current areas of concern. Thankfully, his build is quite solid making his transition game his weakest point. His passing sits at just 81 which is average at best. His defence sitting at 94 - which is respectable, won’t be high enough to make him an asset here and so he will resort to skating the puck out often. The problem there is any good checking team with speed will give him fits all night long.
      Leph will be getting top line minutes alongside Brady Stropko Jr as they anchor a contending Calgary team. The potential is there that the two of them stabilize the defence enough to lead the team deep into the playoffs, potentially ending as champions.  This is where we will be able to determine how successful his transition was.
     
      “Since my rookie season, it has been no surprise that my career has not gone the way that I wanted it to. I spend countless hours in the training room, but it just doesn't seem to pay off during games. I have only ever had a point per game season once in these last 5 seasons since having 116 points as a rookie in S62. The Calgary Wranglers had the option for me to switch this off-season, and I jumped right on that. I think I have been great defensively through hitting and shot blocking, and taking me away from the forward group should be fine as well. I cannot wait to help on the back end to finish off my career these next 2 seasons.” - Leph Twinger

 
Ryan Sullivan Jr @Advantage
Position change - D to LW
Team: Malmo
 
      Ryan Sullivan Jr is entering his fifth season in the VHL and has made a curious switch to forward after playing his entire career on the blue line up until now. Ryan is in his prime and is coming of a Jake Wylde trophy year as defensive player of the year.  It sure looks like Ryan is not settling for a good career but wants to push himself to be the best player he can be. This, along with team fit, are clear determining factors in making this switch to forward.
      Sullivan Jr has the capabilities and all around skills to transition smoothly to forward. Though he looks capable in all areas, his weakest would be in his puck handling abilities. He is better than league average but if left to face strong opponents he may have his hands full trying to keep the turnovers down to a minimum. With that said, Sullivan Jr has no real glaring weakness and so the question will be how he develops his chemistry and finding a fit for him with players that complement his style.  
      Sullivan Jr will start the season on the second line wing on a line centered by sophomore phenom Phil Marleau. Look for Ryan to be an offensive force playing again secondary lines while picking up his fair share of power play minutes as well.  If he develops his chemistry and gels with his new line mates, expect a big year out of him. If not, this switch may just be a big mistake in the prime of his already successful career.
     
     “I felt that my offense wasnt as effective from the back end and I always felt I could impact the game more around the net and while my defensive game has always been a huge strength for me, I feel like I can now develop into a well rounded talent rather than a more one dimensional one.” - Sullivan Jr

 
Cody Smith @cody73
Position change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
      Cody Smith is entering just his second season and is making a career altering decision to move to the back end.  Cody is still growing his skills and so is trying to make this change before he is fully developed as a VHL player. Will this be the right direction his career should take? 
      Being a young player in this league, Cody’s talents are still quite raw. Despite this, Cody has actually developed himself into a promising defender. There is one area however that he will realize he needs to grow in - strength. Cody will be bullied on the ice in his second year unless he hits the gym with renewed vigour. 
      Cody has secured a spot on the second defence unit and is sure to get his share of minutes here. Cody should receive power play time as well and so should see a nice amount of offensive output this season although he may struggle on the defensive end as he continues to develop there. Expect a season of growth for Cody as he adjust to this new position. 
 
      “I made it (the switch) in the middle of last year (Just as the WJC was going down) as my team had made a trade which left us short on defence and given my player's flexible build and lack of TPE, I fit best on the blue-line. I was willing to take one for the team as I felt I was versatile and could do great things as a defenceman.” - Cody Smith

 
Ryan Kastelic @Enorama
Position change: D to C
Team: Riga

 
      Ryan Kastelic was a prolific defender who is now entering his 6th season in the VHL. While Ryan has not won any individual awards, he has been a star for a while now.  As he enters his final stages of his career, Ryan felt a team need for a true number one center and the best option to acquire one was for him to make the switch.
      Ryan Kastelic, like many defensemen, doesn’t have much face off experience and so we can expect him to struggle here as a top flight center. This will cause him and his line to struggle a bit in the puck possession department. Ryan will have to improve in this area if he wants to ensure his success with his transition from the back end to the middle. 
      Kastelic has all the makings of a superstar forward. Elite passing, skating, puck handling along with an obvious talent on the defensive side. With an improvement in the face offs Ryan could quickly transition into an elite, pass first, two way center. Coupled with the elite skills, Ryan will be handed the number one pivot duties this season. Expect big things from Ryan as he enters the final stages of his career.
 
      “I did it mid-season last year because we were faltering with 4 good-decent dmen but no clear #1 C. I was the only one with the TPE to pull it off.” - Ryan Kastelic

 
Maxim Kovulchuk @Banackock
Position Change: D to C
Team: Seattle
 
      Maxim is the only player from this list that also purchased the reroll allowing him to identify as a completely new player. Maxim has struggled against depreciation as he enters his 7th season in the VHL. Seattle, in an attempt to expedite the rebuild, has taken their veteran defender and turned him into a center with the hopes he can add some star power to the top line. How much star power is left in him is questionable, however. 
      As Maxim fights against depreciation it will be interesting to see just how much he struggles against other top lines in the puck possession area, specifically in puck retrieval. Maxim’s defence is decent but not by top line standards, he doesn’t check anyone and his face offs are again average at best.   
      Maxim looks to get a boatload of minutes as he anchors the top line as well as the third line, getting 60% of ice time! The sheer amount of chances should bode well for his standard statistics but what quality of play he gives in those minutes is less of a surety.  The best thing he has going for him here is his build type. Maxim has all but forgotten about learning how to pass, which is by design, in an attempt to be decisive with his decision making as well as have one less area to try maintain this late in his career. Expect solid numbers from Maxim, but he won’t be the number one center that brings Seattle back to glory.
 
 
      So we see these five players and the career altering changes they have made in an attempt to revive their careers or help their team achieve a new level of greatness.  Will this be a trend going forward? Not likely. More likely this a fad that we see now as GM’s balance out their rosters which is something that may not be needed as much each and every season.  
      We will continue to watch these players adjust as the new season gets underway. Whichever way this works for these players, we give them respect for making their team priorities higher than theirs. These will be storylines to follow for all players as these five set the precedent for the future.
 
      Until next time, on behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, my name is Trevor Van Lagen and I look forward to providing you more articles and insight in the future.
 

Hey wait a second, I was told that agreement was for signing, not for hitting 400 haha

SEE MY SIGNATURE!
 
GOBEKEGO

The #Beke4400 watch is on! Matt Thompson has started the season on fire with SEVEN goals in his first ten games! The quest for 400 career goals is off to a good start with Matt now sitting at a tidy 369 goals in his prolific career! That leaves Matt with 31 goals to score in the remaining 62 games. 
 
Scoring at a career 0.71 GPG Matt needs just 0.5 GPG to accomplish this rare feat. The watch continues with his Malmo teammates willing to sacrifice their lives in order to help Matt get there. Rumour even has it some Malmo teammates are planning to name their firstborns after Matt should he reach this milestone with Malmo whom he chose this offseason.  
 
Will Matt be able to get to 400? Be sure to follow him this season in this quest as we’re sure he’ll continue to make a push for it deep into the season. 
 
#Beke4400
 
@Beketov

This past season and offseason the VHL has seen a number of high profile players switch positions for various reasons.  In an attempt to see why this trend was set and whether this is something we can expect more often going forward, I am taking a look at five players who recently made these changes.  Of the five, two made the switch from the wing to defence, one from defence to wing, and two from defence to center.  
       The reoccurring theme here was they made these changes with team inspired aspirations though some had some personal gain to make from the change as well.  With the increase in teams and GM’s getting creative in order to maximize their team’s potential the position change route seemed like a good alternative to acquiring players via trade or free agency.
Further in this article, I break down each player, the change they made and why, and provide an outlook on their season ahead as they acclimate to a new position.

 
Leph Twinger @DollarAndADream
Position Change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
         Leph Twinger is playing in his seventh VHL season already. Leph began his career filled with certain promise and generational talent. His first season in the league was a massive one as he scored 116 points. Unfortunately for Leph, his career faltered from there. Though he has still had a solid career up until now, Leph surely knows it wasn’t what it could have been. This is one of the reasons why he was willing to make this switch to defence when he was asked by his team to fill a hole in their roster.  
      As we look to this upcoming year, Leph will be coming into it on the back end of a declining career.  He will be fighting depreciation so will struggle to develop any current areas of concern. Thankfully, his build is quite solid making his transition game his weakest point. His passing sits at just 81 which is average at best. His defence sitting at 94 - which is respectable, won’t be high enough to make him an asset here and so he will resort to skating the puck out often. The problem there is any good checking team with speed will give him fits all night long.
      Leph will be getting top line minutes alongside Brady Stropko Jr as they anchor a contending Calgary team. The potential is there that the two of them stabilize the defence enough to lead the team deep into the playoffs, potentially ending as champions.  This is where we will be able to determine how successful his transition was.
     
      “Since my rookie season, it has been no surprise that my career has not gone the way that I wanted it to. I spend countless hours in the training room, but it just doesn't seem to pay off during games. I have only ever had a point per game season once in these last 5 seasons since having 116 points as a rookie in S62. The Calgary Wranglers had the option for me to switch this off-season, and I jumped right on that. I think I have been great defensively through hitting and shot blocking, and taking me away from the forward group should be fine as well. I cannot wait to help on the back end to finish off my career these next 2 seasons.” - Leph Twinger

 
Ryan Sullivan Jr @Advantage
Position change - D to LW
Team: Malmo
 
      Ryan Sullivan Jr is entering his fifth season in the VHL and has made a curious switch to forward after playing his entire career on the blue line up until now. Ryan is in his prime and is coming of a Jake Wylde trophy year as defensive player of the year.  It sure looks like Ryan is not settling for a good career but wants to push himself to be the best player he can be. This, along with team fit, are clear determining factors in making this switch to forward.
      Sullivan Jr has the capabilities and all around skills to transition smoothly to forward. Though he looks capable in all areas, his weakest would be in his puck handling abilities. He is better than league average but if left to face strong opponents he may have his hands full trying to keep the turnovers down to a minimum. With that said, Sullivan Jr has no real glaring weakness and so the question will be how he develops his chemistry and finding a fit for him with players that complement his style.  
      Sullivan Jr will start the season on the second line wing on a line centered by sophomore phenom Phil Marleau. Look for Ryan to be an offensive force playing again secondary lines while picking up his fair share of power play minutes as well.  If he develops his chemistry and gels with his new line mates, expect a big year out of him. If not, this switch may just be a big mistake in the prime of his already successful career.
     
     “I felt that my offense wasnt as effective from the back end and I always felt I could impact the game more around the net and while my defensive game has always been a huge strength for me, I feel like I can now develop into a well rounded talent rather than a more one dimensional one.” - Sullivan Jr

 
Cody Smith @cody73
Position change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
      Cody Smith is entering just his second season and is making a career altering decision to move to the back end.  Cody is still growing his skills and so is trying to make this change before he is fully developed as a VHL player. Will this be the right direction his career should take? 
      Being a young player in this league, Cody’s talents are still quite raw. Despite this, Cody has actually developed himself into a promising defender. There is one area however that he will realize he needs to grow in - strength. Cody will be bullied on the ice in his second year unless he hits the gym with renewed vigour. 
      Cody has secured a spot on the second defence unit and is sure to get his share of minutes here. Cody should receive power play time as well and so should see a nice amount of offensive output this season although he may struggle on the defensive end as he continues to develop there. Expect a season of growth for Cody as he adjust to this new position. 
 
      “I made it (the switch) in the middle of last year (Just as the WJC was going down) as my team had made a trade which left us short on defence and given my player's flexible build and lack of TPE, I fit best on the blue-line. I was willing to take one for the team as I felt I was versatile and could do great things as a defenceman.” - Cody Smith

 
Ryan Kastelic @Enorama
Position change: D to C
Team: Riga

 
      Ryan Kastelic was a prolific defender who is now entering his 6th season in the VHL. While Ryan has not won any individual awards, he has been a star for a while now.  As he enters his final stages of his career, Ryan felt a team need for a true number one center and the best option to acquire one was for him to make the switch.
      Ryan Kastelic, like many defensemen, doesn’t have much face off experience and so we can expect him to struggle here as a top flight center. This will cause him and his line to struggle a bit in the puck possession department. Ryan will have to improve in this area if he wants to ensure his success with his transition from the back end to the middle. 
      Kastelic has all the makings of a superstar forward. Elite passing, skating, puck handling along with an obvious talent on the defensive side. With an improvement in the face offs Ryan could quickly transition into an elite, pass first, two way center. Coupled with the elite skills, Ryan will be handed the number one pivot duties this season. Expect big things from Ryan as he enters the final stages of his career.
 
      “I did it mid-season last year because we were faltering with 4 good-decent dmen but no clear #1 C. I was the only one with the TPE to pull it off.” - Ryan Kastelic

 
Maxim Kovulchuk @Banackock
Position Change: D to C
Team: Seattle
 
      Maxim is the only player from this list that also purchased the reroll allowing him to identify as a completely new player. Maxim has struggled against depreciation as he enters his 7th season in the VHL. Seattle, in an attempt to expedite the rebuild, has taken their veteran defender and turned him into a center with the hopes he can add some star power to the top line. How much star power is left in him is questionable, however. 
      As Maxim fights against depreciation it will be interesting to see just how much he struggles against other top lines in the puck possession area, specifically in puck retrieval. Maxim’s defence is decent but not by top line standards, he doesn’t check anyone and his face offs are again average at best.   
      Maxim looks to get a boatload of minutes as he anchors the top line as well as the third line, getting 60% of ice time! The sheer amount of chances should bode well for his standard statistics but what quality of play he gives in those minutes is less of a surety.  The best thing he has going for him here is his build type. Maxim has all but forgotten about learning how to pass, which is by design, in an attempt to be decisive with his decision making as well as have one less area to try maintain this late in his career. Expect solid numbers from Maxim, but he won’t be the number one center that brings Seattle back to glory.
 
 
      So we see these five players and the career altering changes they have made in an attempt to revive their careers or help their team achieve a new level of greatness.  Will this be a trend going forward? Not likely. More likely this a fad that we see now as GM’s balance out their rosters which is something that may not be needed as much each and every season.  
      We will continue to watch these players adjust as the new season gets underway. Whichever way this works for these players, we give them respect for making their team priorities higher than theirs. These will be storylines to follow for all players as these five set the precedent for the future.
 
      Until next time, on behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, my name is Trevor Van Lagen and I look forward to providing you more articles and insight in the future.
 

This past season and offseason the VHL has seen a number of high profile players switch positions for various reasons.  In an attempt to see why this trend was set and whether this is something we can expect more often going forward, I am taking a look at five players who recently made these changes.  Of the five, two made the switch from the wing to defence, one from defence to wing, and two from defence to center.  
       The reoccurring theme here was they made these changes with team inspired aspirations though some had some personal gain to make from the change as well.  With the increase in teams and GM’s getting creative in order to maximize their team’s potential the position change route seemed like a good alternative to acquiring players via trade or free agency.
Further in this article, I break down each player, the change they made and why, and provide an outlook on their season ahead as they acclimate to a new position.

 
Leph Twinger @DollarAndADream
Position Change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
         Leph Twinger is playing in his seventh VHL season already. Leph began his career filled with certain promise and generational talent. His first season in the league was a massive one as he scored 116 points. Unfortunately for Leph, his career faltered from there. Though he has still had a solid career up until now, Leph surely knows it wasn’t what it could have been. This is one of the reasons why he was willing to make this switch to defence when he was asked by his team to fill a hole in their roster.  
      As we look to this upcoming year, Leph will be coming into it on the back end of a declining career.  He will be fighting depreciation so will struggle to develop any current areas of concern. Thankfully, his build is quite solid making his transition game his weakest point. His passing sits at just 81 which is average at best. His defence sitting at 94 - which is respectable, won’t be high enough to make him an asset here and so he will resort to skating the puck out often. The problem there is any good checking team with speed will give him fits all night long.
      Leph will be getting top line minutes alongside Brady Stropko Jr as they anchor a contending Calgary team. The potential is there that the two of them stabilize the defence enough to lead the team deep into the playoffs, potentially ending as champions.  This is where we will be able to determine how successful his transition was.
     
      “Since my rookie season, it has been no surprise that my career has not gone the way that I wanted it to. I spend countless hours in the training room, but it just doesn't seem to pay off during games. I have only ever had a point per game season once in these last 5 seasons since having 116 points as a rookie in S62. The Calgary Wranglers had the option for me to switch this off-season, and I jumped right on that. I think I have been great defensively through hitting and shot blocking, and taking me away from the forward group should be fine as well. I cannot wait to help on the back end to finish off my career these next 2 seasons.” - Leph Twinger

 
Ryan Sullivan Jr @Advantage
Position change - D to LW
Team: Malmo
 
      Ryan Sullivan Jr is entering his fifth season in the VHL and has made a curious switch to forward after playing his entire career on the blue line up until now. Ryan is in his prime and is coming of a Jake Wylde trophy year as defensive player of the year.  It sure looks like Ryan is not settling for a good career but wants to push himself to be the best player he can be. This, along with team fit, are clear determining factors in making this switch to forward.
      Sullivan Jr has the capabilities and all around skills to transition smoothly to forward. Though he looks capable in all areas, his weakest would be in his puck handling abilities. He is better than league average but if left to face strong opponents he may have his hands full trying to keep the turnovers down to a minimum. With that said, Sullivan Jr has no real glaring weakness and so the question will be how he develops his chemistry and finding a fit for him with players that complement his style.  
      Sullivan Jr will start the season on the second line wing on a line centered by sophomore phenom Phil Marleau. Look for Ryan to be an offensive force playing again secondary lines while picking up his fair share of power play minutes as well.  If he develops his chemistry and gels with his new line mates, expect a big year out of him. If not, this switch may just be a big mistake in the prime of his already successful career.
     
     “I felt that my offense wasnt as effective from the back end and I always felt I could impact the game more around the net and while my defensive game has always been a huge strength for me, I feel like I can now develop into a well rounded talent rather than a more one dimensional one.” - Sullivan Jr

 
Cody Smith @cody73
Position change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
      Cody Smith is entering just his second season and is making a career altering decision to move to the back end.  Cody is still growing his skills and so is trying to make this change before he is fully developed as a VHL player. Will this be the right direction his career should take? 
      Being a young player in this league, Cody’s talents are still quite raw. Despite this, Cody has actually developed himself into a promising defender. There is one area however that he will realize he needs to grow in - strength. Cody will be bullied on the ice in his second year unless he hits the gym with renewed vigour. 
      Cody has secured a spot on the second defence unit and is sure to get his share of minutes here. Cody should receive power play time as well and so should see a nice amount of offensive output this season although he may struggle on the defensive end as he continues to develop there. Expect a season of growth for Cody as he adjust to this new position. 
 
      “I made it (the switch) in the middle of last year (Just as the WJC was going down) as my team had made a trade which left us short on defence and given my player's flexible build and lack of TPE, I fit best on the blue-line. I was willing to take one for the team as I felt I was versatile and could do great things as a defenceman.” - Cody Smith

 
Ryan Kastelic @Enorama
Position change: D to C
Team: Riga

 
      Ryan Kastelic was a prolific defender who is now entering his 6th season in the VHL. While Ryan has not won any individual awards, he has been a star for a while now.  As he enters his final stages of his career, Ryan felt a team need for a true number one center and the best option to acquire one was for him to make the switch.
      Ryan Kastelic, like many defensemen, doesn’t have much face off experience and so we can expect him to struggle here as a top flight center. This will cause him and his line to struggle a bit in the puck possession department. Ryan will have to improve in this area if he wants to ensure his success with his transition from the back end to the middle. 
      Kastelic has all the makings of a superstar forward. Elite passing, skating, puck handling along with an obvious talent on the defensive side. With an improvement in the face offs Ryan could quickly transition into an elite, pass first, two way center. Coupled with the elite skills, Ryan will be handed the number one pivot duties this season. Expect big things from Ryan as he enters the final stages of his career.
 
      “I did it mid-season last year because we were faltering with 4 good-decent dmen but no clear #1 C. I was the only one with the TPE to pull it off.” - Ryan Kastelic

 
Maxim Kovulchuk @Banackock
Position Change: D to C
Team: Seattle
 
      Maxim is the only player from this list that also purchased the reroll allowing him to identify as a completely new player. Maxim has struggled against depreciation as he enters his 7th season in the VHL. Seattle, in an attempt to expedite the rebuild, has taken their veteran defender and turned him into a center with the hopes he can add some star power to the top line. How much star power is left in him is questionable, however. 
      As Maxim fights against depreciation it will be interesting to see just how much he struggles against other top lines in the puck possession area, specifically in puck retrieval. Maxim’s defence is decent but not by top line standards, he doesn’t check anyone and his face offs are again average at best.   
      Maxim looks to get a boatload of minutes as he anchors the top line as well as the third line, getting 60% of ice time! The sheer amount of chances should bode well for his standard statistics but what quality of play he gives in those minutes is less of a surety.  The best thing he has going for him here is his build type. Maxim has all but forgotten about learning how to pass, which is by design, in an attempt to be decisive with his decision making as well as have one less area to try maintain this late in his career. Expect solid numbers from Maxim, but he won’t be the number one center that brings Seattle back to glory.
 
 
      So we see these five players and the career altering changes they have made in an attempt to revive their careers or help their team achieve a new level of greatness.  Will this be a trend going forward? Not likely. More likely this a fad that we see now as GM’s balance out their rosters which is something that may not be needed as much each and every season.  
      We will continue to watch these players adjust as the new season gets underway. Whichever way this works for these players, we give them respect for making their team priorities higher than theirs. These will be storylines to follow for all players as these five set the precedent for the future.
 
      Until next time, on behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, my name is Trevor Van Lagen and I look forward to providing you more articles and insight in the future.
 

This past season and offseason the VHL has seen a number of high profile players switch positions for various reasons.  In an attempt to see why this trend was set and whether this is something we can expect more often going forward, I am taking a look at five players who recently made these changes.  Of the five, two made the switch from the wing to defence, one from defence to wing, and two from defence to center.  
       The reoccurring theme here was they made these changes with team inspired aspirations though some had some personal gain to make from the change as well.  With the increase in teams and GM’s getting creative in order to maximize their team’s potential the position change route seemed like a good alternative to acquiring players via trade or free agency.
Further in this article, I break down each player, the change they made and why, and provide an outlook on their season ahead as they acclimate to a new position.

 
Leph Twinger @DollarAndADream
Position Change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
         Leph Twinger is playing in his seventh VHL season already. Leph began his career filled with certain promise and generational talent. His first season in the league was a massive one as he scored 116 points. Unfortunately for Leph, his career faltered from there. Though he has still had a solid career up until now, Leph surely knows it wasn’t what it could have been. This is one of the reasons why he was willing to make this switch to defence when he was asked by his team to fill a hole in their roster.  
      As we look to this upcoming year, Leph will be coming into it on the back end of a declining career.  He will be fighting depreciation so will struggle to develop any current areas of concern. Thankfully, his build is quite solid making his transition game his weakest point. His passing sits at just 81 which is average at best. His defence sitting at 94 - which is respectable, won’t be high enough to make him an asset here and so he will resort to skating the puck out often. The problem there is any good checking team with speed will give him fits all night long.
      Leph will be getting top line minutes alongside Brady Stropko Jr as they anchor a contending Calgary team. The potential is there that the two of them stabilize the defence enough to lead the team deep into the playoffs, potentially ending as champions.  This is where we will be able to determine how successful his transition was.
     
      “Since my rookie season, it has been no surprise that my career has not gone the way that I wanted it to. I spend countless hours in the training room, but it just doesn't seem to pay off during games. I have only ever had a point per game season once in these last 5 seasons since having 116 points as a rookie in S62. The Calgary Wranglers had the option for me to switch this off-season, and I jumped right on that. I think I have been great defensively through hitting and shot blocking, and taking me away from the forward group should be fine as well. I cannot wait to help on the back end to finish off my career these next 2 seasons.” - Leph Twinger

 
Ryan Sullivan Jr @Advantage
Position change - D to LW
Team: Malmo
 
      Ryan Sullivan Jr is entering his fifth season in the VHL and has made a curious switch to forward after playing his entire career on the blue line up until now. Ryan is in his prime and is coming of a Jake Wylde trophy year as defensive player of the year.  It sure looks like Ryan is not settling for a good career but wants to push himself to be the best player he can be. This, along with team fit, are clear determining factors in making this switch to forward.
      Sullivan Jr has the capabilities and all around skills to transition smoothly to forward. Though he looks capable in all areas, his weakest would be in his puck handling abilities. He is better than league average but if left to face strong opponents he may have his hands full trying to keep the turnovers down to a minimum. With that said, Sullivan Jr has no real glaring weakness and so the question will be how he develops his chemistry and finding a fit for him with players that complement his style.  
      Sullivan Jr will start the season on the second line wing on a line centered by sophomore phenom Phil Marleau. Look for Ryan to be an offensive force playing again secondary lines while picking up his fair share of power play minutes as well.  If he develops his chemistry and gels with his new line mates, expect a big year out of him. If not, this switch may just be a big mistake in the prime of his already successful career.
     
     “I felt that my offense wasnt as effective from the back end and I always felt I could impact the game more around the net and while my defensive game has always been a huge strength for me, I feel like I can now develop into a well rounded talent rather than a more one dimensional one.” - Sullivan Jr

 
Cody Smith @cody73
Position change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
      Cody Smith is entering just his second season and is making a career altering decision to move to the back end.  Cody is still growing his skills and so is trying to make this change before he is fully developed as a VHL player. Will this be the right direction his career should take? 
      Being a young player in this league, Cody’s talents are still quite raw. Despite this, Cody has actually developed himself into a promising defender. There is one area however that he will realize he needs to grow in - strength. Cody will be bullied on the ice in his second year unless he hits the gym with renewed vigour. 
      Cody has secured a spot on the second defence unit and is sure to get his share of minutes here. Cody should receive power play time as well and so should see a nice amount of offensive output this season although he may struggle on the defensive end as he continues to develop there. Expect a season of growth for Cody as he adjust to this new position. 
 
      “I made it (the switch) in the middle of last year (Just as the WJC was going down) as my team had made a trade which left us short on defence and given my player's flexible build and lack of TPE, I fit best on the blue-line. I was willing to take one for the team as I felt I was versatile and could do great things as a defenceman.” - Cody Smith

 
Ryan Kastelic @Enorama
Position change: D to C
Team: Riga

 
      Ryan Kastelic was a prolific defender who is now entering his 6th season in the VHL. While Ryan has not won any individual awards, he has been a star for a while now.  As he enters his final stages of his career, Ryan felt a team need for a true number one center and the best option to acquire one was for him to make the switch.
      Ryan Kastelic, like many defensemen, doesn’t have much face off experience and so we can expect him to struggle here as a top flight center. This will cause him and his line to struggle a bit in the puck possession department. Ryan will have to improve in this area if he wants to ensure his success with his transition from the back end to the middle. 
      Kastelic has all the makings of a superstar forward. Elite passing, skating, puck handling along with an obvious talent on the defensive side. With an improvement in the face offs Ryan could quickly transition into an elite, pass first, two way center. Coupled with the elite skills, Ryan will be handed the number one pivot duties this season. Expect big things from Ryan as he enters the final stages of his career.
 
      “I did it mid-season last year because we were faltering with 4 good-decent dmen but no clear #1 C. I was the only one with the TPE to pull it off.” - Ryan Kastelic

 
Maxim Kovulchuk @Banackock
Position Change: D to C
Team: Seattle
 
      Maxim is the only player from this list that also purchased the reroll allowing him to identify as a completely new player. Maxim has struggled against depreciation as he enters his 7th season in the VHL. Seattle, in an attempt to expedite the rebuild, has taken their veteran defender and turned him into a center with the hopes he can add some star power to the top line. How much star power is left in him is questionable, however. 
      As Maxim fights against depreciation it will be interesting to see just how much he struggles against other top lines in the puck possession area, specifically in puck retrieval. Maxim’s defence is decent but not by top line standards, he doesn’t check anyone and his face offs are again average at best.   
      Maxim looks to get a boatload of minutes as he anchors the top line as well as the third line, getting 60% of ice time! The sheer amount of chances should bode well for his standard statistics but what quality of play he gives in those minutes is less of a surety.  The best thing he has going for him here is his build type. Maxim has all but forgotten about learning how to pass, which is by design, in an attempt to be decisive with his decision making as well as have one less area to try maintain this late in his career. Expect solid numbers from Maxim, but he won’t be the number one center that brings Seattle back to glory.
 
 
      So we see these five players and the career altering changes they have made in an attempt to revive their careers or help their team achieve a new level of greatness.  Will this be a trend going forward? Not likely. More likely this a fad that we see now as GM’s balance out their rosters which is something that may not be needed as much each and every season.  
      We will continue to watch these players adjust as the new season gets underway. Whichever way this works for these players, we give them respect for making their team priorities higher than theirs. These will be storylines to follow for all players as these five set the precedent for the future.
 
      Until next time, on behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, my name is Trevor Van Lagen and I look forward to providing you more articles and insight in the future.
 

This past season and offseason the VHL has seen a number of high profile players switch positions for various reasons.  In an attempt to see why this trend was set and whether this is something we can expect more often going forward, I am taking a look at five players who recently made these changes.  Of the five, two made the switch from the wing to defence, one from defence to wing, and two from defence to center.  
       The reoccurring theme here was they made these changes with team inspired aspirations though some had some personal gain to make from the change as well.  With the increase in teams and GM’s getting creative in order to maximize their team’s potential the position change route seemed like a good alternative to acquiring players via trade or free agency.
Further in this article, I break down each player, the change they made and why, and provide an outlook on their season ahead as they acclimate to a new position.

 
Leph Twinger @DollarAndADream
Position Change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
         Leph Twinger is playing in his seventh VHL season already. Leph began his career filled with certain promise and generational talent. His first season in the league was a massive one as he scored 116 points. Unfortunately for Leph, his career faltered from there. Though he has still had a solid career up until now, Leph surely knows it wasn’t what it could have been. This is one of the reasons why he was willing to make this switch to defence when he was asked by his team to fill a hole in their roster.  
      As we look to this upcoming year, Leph will be coming into it on the back end of a declining career.  He will be fighting depreciation so will struggle to develop any current areas of concern. Thankfully, his build is quite solid making his transition game his weakest point. His passing sits at just 81 which is average at best. His defence sitting at 94 - which is respectable, won’t be high enough to make him an asset here and so he will resort to skating the puck out often. The problem there is any good checking team with speed will give him fits all night long.
      Leph will be getting top line minutes alongside Brady Stropko Jr as they anchor a contending Calgary team. The potential is there that the two of them stabilize the defence enough to lead the team deep into the playoffs, potentially ending as champions.  This is where we will be able to determine how successful his transition was.
     
      “Since my rookie season, it has been no surprise that my career has not gone the way that I wanted it to. I spend countless hours in the training room, but it just doesn't seem to pay off during games. I have only ever had a point per game season once in these last 5 seasons since having 116 points as a rookie in S62. The Calgary Wranglers had the option for me to switch this off-season, and I jumped right on that. I think I have been great defensively through hitting and shot blocking, and taking me away from the forward group should be fine as well. I cannot wait to help on the back end to finish off my career these next 2 seasons.” - Leph Twinger

 
Ryan Sullivan Jr @Advantage
Position change - D to LW
Team: Malmo
 
      Ryan Sullivan Jr is entering his fifth season in the VHL and has made a curious switch to forward after playing his entire career on the blue line up until now. Ryan is in his prime and is coming of a Jake Wylde trophy year as defensive player of the year.  It sure looks like Ryan is not settling for a good career but wants to push himself to be the best player he can be. This, along with team fit, are clear determining factors in making this switch to forward.
      Sullivan Jr has the capabilities and all around skills to transition smoothly to forward. Though he looks capable in all areas, his weakest would be in his puck handling abilities. He is better than league average but if left to face strong opponents he may have his hands full trying to keep the turnovers down to a minimum. With that said, Sullivan Jr has no real glaring weakness and so the question will be how he develops his chemistry and finding a fit for him with players that complement his style.  
      Sullivan Jr will start the season on the second line wing on a line centered by sophomore phenom Phil Marleau. Look for Ryan to be an offensive force playing again secondary lines while picking up his fair share of power play minutes as well.  If he develops his chemistry and gels with his new line mates, expect a big year out of him. If not, this switch may just be a big mistake in the prime of his already successful career.
     
     “I felt that my offense wasnt as effective from the back end and I always felt I could impact the game more around the net and while my defensive game has always been a huge strength for me, I feel like I can now develop into a well rounded talent rather than a more one dimensional one.” - Sullivan Jr

 
Cody Smith @cody73
Position change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
      Cody Smith is entering just his second season and is making a career altering decision to move to the back end.  Cody is still growing his skills and so is trying to make this change before he is fully developed as a VHL player. Will this be the right direction his career should take? 
      Being a young player in this league, Cody’s talents are still quite raw. Despite this, Cody has actually developed himself into a promising defender. There is one area however that he will realize he needs to grow in - strength. Cody will be bullied on the ice in his second year unless he hits the gym with renewed vigour. 
      Cody has secured a spot on the second defence unit and is sure to get his share of minutes here. Cody should receive power play time as well and so should see a nice amount of offensive output this season although he may struggle on the defensive end as he continues to develop there. Expect a season of growth for Cody as he adjust to this new position. 
 
      “I made it (the switch) in the middle of last year (Just as the WJC was going down) as my team had made a trade which left us short on defence and given my player's flexible build and lack of TPE, I fit best on the blue-line. I was willing to take one for the team as I felt I was versatile and could do great things as a defenceman.” - Cody Smith

 
Ryan Kastelic @Enorama
Position change: D to C
Team: Riga

 
      Ryan Kastelic was a prolific defender who is now entering his 6th season in the VHL. While Ryan has not won any individual awards, he has been a star for a while now.  As he enters his final stages of his career, Ryan felt a team need for a true number one center and the best option to acquire one was for him to make the switch.
      Ryan Kastelic, like many defensemen, doesn’t have much face off experience and so we can expect him to struggle here as a top flight center. This will cause him and his line to struggle a bit in the puck possession department. Ryan will have to improve in this area if he wants to ensure his success with his transition from the back end to the middle. 
      Kastelic has all the makings of a superstar forward. Elite passing, skating, puck handling along with an obvious talent on the defensive side. With an improvement in the face offs Ryan could quickly transition into an elite, pass first, two way center. Coupled with the elite skills, Ryan will be handed the number one pivot duties this season. Expect big things from Ryan as he enters the final stages of his career.
 
      “I did it mid-season last year because we were faltering with 4 good-decent dmen but no clear #1 C. I was the only one with the TPE to pull it off.” - Ryan Kastelic

 
Maxim Kovulchuk @Banackock
Position Change: D to C
Team: Seattle
 
      Maxim is the only player from this list that also purchased the reroll allowing him to identify as a completely new player. Maxim has struggled against depreciation as he enters his 7th season in the VHL. Seattle, in an attempt to expedite the rebuild, has taken their veteran defender and turned him into a center with the hopes he can add some star power to the top line. How much star power is left in him is questionable, however. 
      As Maxim fights against depreciation it will be interesting to see just how much he struggles against other top lines in the puck possession area, specifically in puck retrieval. Maxim’s defence is decent but not by top line standards, he doesn’t check anyone and his face offs are again average at best.   
      Maxim looks to get a boatload of minutes as he anchors the top line as well as the third line, getting 60% of ice time! The sheer amount of chances should bode well for his standard statistics but what quality of play he gives in those minutes is less of a surety.  The best thing he has going for him here is his build type. Maxim has all but forgotten about learning how to pass, which is by design, in an attempt to be decisive with his decision making as well as have one less area to try maintain this late in his career. Expect solid numbers from Maxim, but he won’t be the number one center that brings Seattle back to glory.
 
 
      So we see these five players and the career altering changes they have made in an attempt to revive their careers or help their team achieve a new level of greatness.  Will this be a trend going forward? Not likely. More likely this a fad that we see now as GM’s balance out their rosters which is something that may not be needed as much each and every season.  
      We will continue to watch these players adjust as the new season gets underway. Whichever way this works for these players, we give them respect for making their team priorities higher than theirs. These will be storylines to follow for all players as these five set the precedent for the future.
 
      Until next time, on behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, my name is Trevor Van Lagen and I look forward to providing you more articles and insight in the future.
 

Haha now your confusing everyone since Van usually means me ?

Also see what I did there with the title @VanCanWin ?

It’s soooo close to happening. S68 is just around the corner and it can’t come soon enough for Van Lagen and his Malmo teammates.  The hype is building for what could be a huge year for the team.  There’s two reasons for such optimism: Development and Additions
 
Development
 
Malmo has some star potential sophomores that began their careers just last season. @Phil Phil is the star that warranted his high selection. At such a young age he’s already a leader in the locker room, a physical presence on the ice, and a dynamic talent that should shape up his career quite well. @fonziGG Johnson, our goalie, has had an offseason to develop his strength and endurance to handle a heavy workload this season. His talent and dedication to his craft sets him apart from his peers. Potential Most Improved Player here! Van Lagen has worked on his strength as well as his face offs while continuing to develop offensively last season and he is being rewarded with top line minutes to start year two. His teammates believe in him and he is determined not to let them down.
 
What an off-season Malmo had! 
 
Can we just take a minute to appreciate the work @Advantage put in to improve his team once again this offseason? I mean he got the first overall puck handed to him sure (and what an addition that pick is!) but it’s the other picks from last season and looks to be more good ones this past draft that have built a depth chart that should keep Malmo contending for a long time. Then there is the trades. Getting a star in Sully Jr as a precursor for the FA signing he made in luring prized FA Matt Thompson to Malmo. I mean the body of work here is tremendous and not just in quantity but also quality. GM of the Year right here! 
 
Let’s kick this European conference in the teeth and show them who is the presence and the future!
 
Let’s go Malmo!
 
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