VanCanWin

Claim

Welcome to the fourth edition of VSN’s Weekly recap. We’ll cover a host of things in this recap each week including highlights of important VSN happenings, three stars of the week, power rankings, and anything else of importance. ----------------------------------- Weekly Recap As Season 69 turns the corner and heads into the home stretch, teams are beginning to ready themselves for what they hope will be a long and successful playoff run. Of course, not all teams are there as some are happy to finish out the season near the bottom and instead are looking forward to the offseason draft. That said, there is still plenty of hockey to be played and many more storylines that are sure to develop. This past week we surged out of the dog days as trade chatter picked up, a tale of two seasons has begun to develop in the Big Apple, players have been selected for the World Junior Championships, and the VHL was seen trending! Late in the week, as the deadline began to rear its ugly head, teams began floundering trying to determine who they were - buyers or sellers. Then two trades happened. First, it was HC Davos admitting they weren’t going anywhere this season (shocker, I know) as they dealt last season's Aidan Shaw Trophy winner, Finn Davison, to Moscow in return for a late first-round pick. Time will certainly tell who comes out on top of this as Moscow has gone all in. Not too soon after that, unsettled defenceman Guy LeGrande was on the move again. Though not confirmed, it is thought that this trade was a result of yet another trade request from LeGrande. With a hefty salary coming with him, will Seattle begin to feel the pressure of the cap? As troubling trends developed for a young talented New York squad, this season has quickly turned on a dime for them. Is it too little too late? They’ve gone a tidy 10-2-2 in their last 14 as they’ve been one of the league's hottest teams this week. Poor timing for LeGrande to bolt? The team is certainly out to prove he made the wrong choice. GM’s of the five teams for the World Junior Championships picked through and selected a number of talented youngsters in hopes of achieving international success. While the tournament lacks the star power it has seen in the past, there are still some good teams who are hoping to come out on top. Is there a chance Team Canada and Team USA finish bottom two in the tournament? Not likely but the possibility is definitely real. And lastly, another proud moment in VHL global news, just this week with a push from the recruitment team, VHL was seen all over social media in a concerted effort to ramp up the recruiting once again! With successful recruitment drives in the past, there is an expectation that this group can pull it off again and increase our league yet some more! ----------------------------------- Seeing Stars Dan Wilinsky helped Seattle surge this past week posting double digits in goals and assists and leading the league in plus-minus at +15. VHL’s leader in goals scored this past week, Julius Freeman scores twelve times on his way to second-star honours. Playing a huge part in New York’s sudden turnaround, Boris the Forest scored nine times, four of which were game-winners, and added ten assists. ----------------------------------- Between Extremes

1. How has your first few days in the team been? My first few days with Halifax back then were great. Very engaging teammates. 2. Thoughts on all the trades the management has made? Trades are always good. Good to see management making moves to try improve the team. 3. Are there any other sports that you are particularly good at? Did you ever think of trying to go pro in anything else? Basketball. Currently getting ready to sign my first contract in the SBDL. 4. If you are out at the bar with some friends or teammates what is your drink of choice? I either grab a mule or an Old Fashion. 5. What are your expectations for this season? Was expecting great things. Reality and expectations are two different things apparently. 8. Do you see any players on our team that you think could surprise this coming season? Thought maybe me but I guess not.

Gold: Europe Silver: World Bronze: Canada MVP: Patrik Tallinder

oh darn it. Fixed.

Welcome to the third edition of VSN’s Weekly recap. We’ll cover a host of things in this recap each week including highlights of important VSN happenings, three stars of the week, power rankings, and anything else of importance. ----------------------------------- Weekly Recap Another week has gone by in the VHL’s season 69. We are officially into the dog days of the schedule as things have quieted down somewhat. This week we begin to see small sample sizes turn into true pictures as everything has seemed to revert back to normal averages. DC and Prague still suck, public demand has gone silent, one team has regained contender status, and the mess in the Big Apple continues. The season started with plenty of surprises, none more so that the two expansion teams sitting much higher in the standings than expected. Of course, as everything regresses back to the mean, so does the records of D.C. (3-8-1) and Prague. (1-9-1) in this past week. That isn’t to say they haven’t taken steps as at least they are being competitive in SOME games this season but the truth is, being an expansion team in the VHL takes time to overcome. Last week we saw Michael Gary Scott throw his name into the papers when he publicly demanded a trade - to Seattle. All eyes were on the situation and GM Beaviss who calmly let the situation die down and showed that no one will push him around. If MGS gets dealt, it will be on Beaviss’ terms and that’s it. Will this situation fizz out completely or does MGS still want out of a good situation in Vancouver? Lots can happen yet but my bet is Beaviss’ keeps him around on their way to a finals appearance. As contenders and pretenders get sorted out the further along the season gets, one team has decided to add itself to the list of contenders. Our hottest team of the week - Riga - is currently on a seven-game winning streak vaulting itself close to Helsinki and Malmo as a true threat to come out of the EU on top. While it will have to continue its recent form probably the remainder of the season, it would not be wise to bet against this motivated group. Last but definitely not least, we have more trouble brewing in New York. Word is that there is definite discontent inside the locker room with one or more players turning against the team. While this is just a rumour, my sources are very strong in this situation. Hearing a prominent player could be shipped out of the city this season as New York attempts at retooling their rebuild on the fly. So much potential in the dressing room but it goes to show the importance of team culture. ----------------------------------- Seeing Stars Last weeks second star is this weeks first. Randoms has another stellar week, albeit this time he was the one doing the scoring totaling 11 goals to go with his 8 assists. Another insane passing week in the VHL this time by Diljodh Starlord who paced the league in assists (16) and points (20). Vancouver's Julias Freeman showed how this week with 8 goals and 10 assists leading him to the third star of the week honours. ----------------------------------- Between Extremes

Thanks for the kind words @FrostBeard! and Welcome @Mr_Hatter!!

Im giddy already...?

Welcome to the second edition of VSN’s Weekly recap. We’ll cover a host of things in this recap each week including highlights of important VSN happenings, three stars of the week, power rankings, and anything else of importance. ----------------------------------- Weekly Recap The first full week of Season 68 has come and gone. This past week brought with its usual excitement on the ice, some interesting happenings off of it as well. Between surprising teams, a potential tampering case, a pair of trades, and a league job opening there is plenty to talk about. Out of nowhere, with his team-leading the league, Michael Gary Scott publicly demands a trade! Pulling a self-described page out of Antonio Brown’s book, MGS declares to the league he cares more about himself than his teammates. Making matters worse, he singled out Seattle as his only destination of choice. Will GM Beavis comply and come to terms with Seattle? In a recent poll, Seattle and HC Davos were listed as his most likely destinations although most still believe he won’t be moved at all. The week started with a minor trade between DC and Riga but the more intriguing news came Helsinki when the Titans announced they were sending talented forward ACL Tear to Vancouver in exchange for Ben Hafkey and a pair of picks. A common thought is that Helsinki came out on top of this deal getting an improving Hafkey and two picks for a player who’s development has stalled considerably. Amid all the surprises this season, what in the heck has happened in New York? No one expected the Americans to be world beaters but with that much talent especially on the back end, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who thought they’d push HC Davos for the bottom of the standings. In our last bit of news, word around the league is that there is a GM opening in Las Vegas of the VHLM after previous GM Matt-O suddenly stepped down from his position. ----------------------------------- Seeing Stars Hunter Hearst Helmsley has himself a week. With 16 goals and 27 points, HHH is finally fulfilling his untapped potential. Randoms is our primary set up man this week dishing out a league-high 20 assists. Adding to that he potted 7 goals of his own earning him a second star Steady Elias Dahlberg had himself an all-around stellar week registering 13 goals and 13 assists as a rare bright spot on a struggling Riga team. ----------------------------------- Between Extremes

Seattle 4-1

Helsinki Vancouver Prague Seattle

Vancouver should demand a kings ransom here. MGS took all the cards away from Seattle.?? Or just a straight one for one: MGS for Zoiderberg ?

Here we are, almost finished another week and I’m two TPE short of max earning once again. I’ve written a ton this week again for VSN and yet being short 2 TPE I guess I’ll write one more piece yet. Fittingly, since it’s been my new VHL life working, living, and breathing VSN, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on the early parts of its revival. The VSN, thanks to some hardwork by Bana and Frost has really come together quickly. We have a crew that’s so involved, and willing to help each other and this is what has been most important and impressive so far in my opinion. From the crew of talented writers to our graphics machine, Motza to our leaders, this team has become so much fun to be a part of. The future of the VSN in the VHL is once again real. What else makes it so much improved? It’s organized. We have a schedule for releases, we have templates to follow for consistency, we have an editor who’s unbelievable at being punctual in getting to reviewing our articles. All in all, the VSN is back alive and doing well. Such an incredible team there right now and I think the quality and consistency is only beginning. I can’t wait to see how far we can develop. Thats all for me now. We’ll see you more in the VSN channel with some excellent content and great responses from you - the community. Til next time!

8 - 8 so far. Seems about right too as no clear winner. I believe this is a case of Win-Win

Also, seems 50/50 in trade winner so good trade all around!!

Excellent quote @Jubo07! Looks to be a small gamble trading away ACL Tear that could backfire big time but I would say a solid move still.

Trade Details To: Vancouver Wolves ACL Tear To: Helsinki Ben Hafkey S70 HSK 2nd S70 VAN 4th --------------------- Analysis Another early-season trade sees one popular and polarizing forward traded to Vancouver in exchange for a depth forward and a pair of draft picks. Helsinki is letting go of S66 12th overall pick, ACL Tear after his development stagnated early in his third season in the league. Vancouver adds a missing piece to their second line and Helsinki adds two draft picks in the upcoming S70 draft along with depth forward in Hafkey. --------------------- Get-to-Know the Players ACL Tear Drafted in S66 with the 12th overall selection, ACL tear offered as close to can’t miss potential as possible. After struggling in his first season with New York, ACL broke out as a sophomore in S67 scoring 26 goals and 50 points. Still with certain potential left untapped, ACL had a rough offseason and experts are now predicting he may have hit is ceiling much earlier in his career than first thought. Regardless of development, ACL should offer good depth on the second line wing adding a missing piece to Vancouver’s roster for an affordable cost of two draft picks and little-used depth forward Ben Hafkey. Ben Hafkey As the “other” piece in this trade, Ben Hafkey is nothing more than a fringe player currently in the VHL. That’s not to say he is an insignificant piece however as his ceiling is certainly what ACL currently is if not higher should he continue to develop. Hafkey should receive plenty of opportunity in Helsinki playing on a second line and should be counted on for solid production from there. Helsinki isn’t going for it this season as they lack the depth to go far and these two draft picks should offer some help in restocking the cupboard with talent. Whether they trade more and strip it down for a full rebuild or this is more of a quick retool is yet to be seen. Either way a solid, if unspectacular return for a once-promising young player who’s career has plateaued before their eyes. VSN Writer VanCanWin

Trade Details To: DC Dragons Jeff Tates S70 RIG 2nd To: Riga Reign Shane Mars S70 DC 3rd --------------------- Analysis In a minor swap early in the season between DC and Riga, a depth forward Shane Mars is on his way to the Reign. DC is taking on retired player Jeff Tates and in doing so are moving up the S70 draft slightly. The effects of this trade talent wise are expected to be very minor as Tates doesn't expect to be much to a deep Riga team. Don’t expect DC’s climb in the draft to be much more than a handful of spots as DC’s third is expected to be an early pick in that round with Riga’s second being an expected late-round pick. --------------------- Get-to-Know the Players Shane Mars With Jeff Tates being a retired player, Shane Mars is the only player involved in this trade of significance. A very intriguing player, Mars came to the VHL highly touted after scoring 56 goals and 110 points in the VHLM. Seattle used the third overall pick on him and he shot out of the gates with 46 goals and 94 points in his rookie season winning him the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy. His sophomore season saw a sharp decline down to just 60 points but it was his third season that was the worst as he finished with just 2 points in 72 games, an astonishing disappearance from such a highly talented player. A change of scenery for him as he is now with Riga may be what he needs to try to revive his once-promising career. VSN Writer VanCanWin

Welcome to the first edition of VSN’s Friday to Friday recap. We’ll cover a host of things in this recap each week including highlights of important VSN happenings, three stars of the week, power rankings, and anything else of importance. ----------------------------------- Weekly Recap With Season 69 officially underway, and just two days of games underway we are filled with small sample sizes. Prague and Vancouver starting 3-1 likely won’t hold up as neither will Riga and HC Davos starting 1-3 and 1-2, respectively. Six players are on pace for 144 points! Seattle and Toronto still haven’t let in a power-play goal while Helsinki still hasn’t scored one! Expect things to return to their normal levels after this week but it is good to have hockey back after an off-season of change and improvements. A number of top stars are settling in and creating chemistry with their new linemates after players like Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen, Gritty, Mcwolf, Wilinsky, amongst others, changed jerseys this offseason as they chase success late in their careers. Once again the European Conference is expected to be much more competitive although parity in the VHL is at an all-time high with almost half the teams having real chances at glory and no team clearly out front of the pack. Will Seattle be able to repeat as champions or will Malmo get its revenge? Does another contender emerge such as Moscow or Riga? What will happen in HC Davos as they appear to have turned into a sure dumpster fire entering yet another rebuild? Do they surpass the two latest expansion teams in the race to the bottom? ----------------------------------- Seeing Stars First star Kronos Bailey finishes the first week of the season scoring a goal in each of his four games as he starts the year on fire. Julian Borwinn plays set-up man this week with seven assists finishing three of the four games with multiple assist efforts. Don Draper lead the surprising Prague Phantoms with eight points backed by a huge four-point night against HC Davos in game two. ----------------------------------- Between Extremes VSN Writer VanCanWin

homer pick ?

F Matthew Materazo D Lincoln Tate @.sniffuM