Psyduck77

I’m not sure how creating something of value, that was generally received as high quality is bad just because I didn’t spend 6 hours struggling in illustrator to create it “from scratch”. It took me 30 minutes to pick all the colors, font, and correct art and get it how I wanted. Someone talented in illustrator could create this exact thing from scratch in the same amount of time. So is this only about time spent? Would you value me making something in mspaint that took 6 hours but looks like shit? If I recorded a video of me thinking about the vhl and staring in the camera would that count as enough effort? I guess I’m just wondering if these tasks are to generate good content for the site or simply to “prove” that you spent some time thinking of vhl? Seems to me like high quality is more important than spending lots of time doing something unproductive. 

I’m not sure how creating something of value, that was generally received as high quality is bad just because I didn’t spend 6 hours struggling in illustrator to create it “from scratch”. It took me 30 minutes to pick all the colors, font, and correct art and get it how I wanted. Someone talented in illustrator could create this exact thing from scratch in the same amount of time. So is this only about time spent? Would you value me making something in mspaint that took 6 hours but looks like shit? If I recorded a video of me thinking about the vhl and staring in the camera would that count as enough effort? I guess I’m just wondering if these tasks are to generate good content for the site or simply to “prove” that you spent some time thinking of vhl? Seems to me like high quality is more important than spending lots of time doing something unproductive. 

@diamond_ace

@diamond_ace

@diamond_ace

@diamond_ace

@diamond_ace

1. Of course. Being given a chance to play in the big leagues and start right away is an incredible opportunity.
2. I think it’s going to be focusing on consistency. If I can keep my head down and keep grinding, everything else will take care of itself.
3. I don’t know many of the guys on the new team, but I am excited to see what we can get going.
4. I think it’s pretty good, but don’t be surprised if you see a couple alternates coming along.
5. I am never one to bet against myself.
6. I think I will have a better view of that after we get through training camp.

@Matt_O

@Matt_O

@Matt_O

@Matt_O

@Matt_O

@Matt_O

@Matt_O

How did I miss this, especially after Matt tagged me? Good work @Psyduck77

1. No way! I can barely skate in net, much less on open ice!
3. I think we are doing far better than anyone expected heading into the season. We came into the season with no draft picks and are middle of the pack right now. That's impressive.
4. I think things are more or less where they are going to be heading into the playoffs. Unless something unpredictable happens then the standings will most likely hold.
6. Nashville Predators. Because I like it, I love it, I want some more of it.
7. What kind of fan says something other than their team? GO PREDS.
9. I feel like the seasons are pretty short as it is. I wouldn't want them any shorter.
 

Expansion is Upon Us - By Chad Gilbert*
First of all, if you’re not familiar with whom I am, my name is Chad Gilbert. I’m a rookie Center for the San Diego Marlins! My agent said it would be a good idea to kind of branch out and explore some options outside of playing to help make me more well-rounded and get some much needed league attention. He also said, quite a few times, to not mention my face-off ability. So I won’t mention that I lead the league in face off win percentage at all because it’s not important to mention that I lead the league in face off win percentage….so I won’t (but I do). Ok.
 
(Me about to win a face off, which has nothing to do with this opinion piece)
About how does this apply to me? What am I doing? Well, the league recently announced that it would be expanded by two team! Wow, that brings it up to two more than it has! From a league perspective, that means more revenue and more big market money. But what does it mean from a player perspective? Well, that’s what I’m here to tell you! Take a ride through my brain!!!
Can you imagine? The first thing you have to imagine when you talk about expansion is the distribution of talent. Is the sport going to get diluted? Well, I certainly hope so. Anything to make my job easier, right? Say I face off against some 32 year old rookie who’s been trying to make the league since Jesus drew breath? Fine by me! I can ice old dude all day. Makes me look better and helps out my paycheck, which brings me to my next point:

I don’t want to say it cause I might get sued
Enough! You know what I’m thinking! Ethan Hunt baby! With that guy from Snow Dogs, or Eight Below? No wait that was the sad one. Why do movies kill dogs, by the way? Who wants to see that? I mean, I pay money to be entertained, not cry my eyes out! What the hell Disney? Here’s a cute movie about some puppies and the family that loves them, then POW, dead dog. What th…oh shit, sorry. What was I talking about?

LOOK AT IT’S FACE!)
Oh ya! So, money. With two new teams the League ups the cap, for the lovely entrance fee teams have to pay. More cap, more money. More money more…uh, contract…for us. Me, in particular. I need a new TV after I through my controller through it when some 9 year old whooped my butt in Fortnite and said some horrible things about my mom. MY MOM IS DEAD. He didn’t believe me.
Fortnite troubles aside, the bonus cap space will be a real boon for the players and the GM, with more room to maneuver and take some chances on players they may overlook in the past, like me, who can’t seem to score worth a damn but is really good at face offs. But I’m not here to talk about  that, right?
 
 
 
Following up on an earlier point, yes the talent pool will be watered down, but that’s only in theory. How many amazing players were taken late in the draft or worse yet, went undrafted! This totally ties into my point about money!
Killer fans!  That’s right! We have fans all over the world and what better way to bring the glorious game of hockey to more and more people than to bring it to their home turf! More fans in the seats the more opportunity to expand the brand! VHL, VHLM, the teams, the players. It's great for everyone! 
In fact, you have new teams, you need new stadiums, new jobs, new merchandise, new ticket and food sales. Holy crap…that’s a lot of money. Really that's great for the community too. It will bring in more job and more income to these cities. I know it's hard to believe but players do care about more than just wins and stats. We want to see our communities do better. So many players go out of their way to kick off charity events and community events. I was a poor kid living in East Hartford and my local AHL team meant the world to me I hope one day to be a guy who can also give back, and I hope players on all these teams, new and old, feel the same.  It's not just the jobs these teams will bring but so much more! It's very exciting. 
No - like I said, it's not all about money. But you know what? We should be making way more money I think….But but, I distress, disdress? Derobe? No…wait…spell check…digress! I digress, and I need to wrap  this up. Holy shit 650 words? I only needed 500. Ok let me wrap this up. New teams and what it means for players. This is the thesis of my opinion thing. It means more opportunities for underappreciated players. It means our contracts have better value. It mean our skills get to be seen by more people, and it means more fun overall for everyone. I can’t wait. But that’s just my humble opinion
Good night!
 
Chad Gilbert.
 
 
 
(note to reviewers, this is written "by" Chad Gilbert, All typo's, grammar, and spelling errors are intentional)

1. What have you enjoyed most about this league? 
Besides dominating faceoffs? Probably the comradery with my teammates. We were losing a lot but we never let that get to us. It feels good to have a locker room like that
 
4. What is 1 thing that you want the GM's to do? 
Let the Marlins win more. Thats a thing they can do, right?
 
5. A constant debate on VHL is team forum activity and discord activity, its believed new players like discord better and don't use the site as often, is this true?
Yes. 
 
6. In your opinion whos the best player in the league? 
Me. Have you seen my faceoff wins?!
 
7. What team would you like to get drafted to at the end of the season? (Remember you are all Wavier Signings meaning you will get drafted into the VHLM, not VHL)
Um, I'm good in San Diego. I just invested into a barrnicle scraping business at the port with some guy named Shane Falco. 
 
8. When you get drafted into the VHL what team do you want to go too?
San Diego man! Where else?!? ::smiles into camera::  
 
What do you mean there's no camera?
 
9. Currently, San Diago sits 7th. 19 points away from 6th place. Can we overtake them?  
Mathematically yes. But like, probably not.
 
10. What is your daily routine on a game day?
Wake up, poop, shave, shower, eat a bowl of Captain Crunch, ride my stationary bike for a few miles, poop again, eat a bowl of Life Cereal, work on the biceps, shower, go to the game. Probably poop before the game too. I'm lactose intolerant.

2. To be honest, I was promised orange slices at the end of each practice and the fact that you guys haven't provided them is both problematic and worrying. I've had to go to the store after every praccy just to buy my own oranges and slices them up at home like a peasant. FIGURE IT OUT.

3. While Griffin's come into the team and definitely led an offensive boost in our game, I gotta give it up to the man in the net, Grimaldi. He's consistently stepping up his game, even notching shutouts in 2 of his last 5 while almost getting that 3rd shutty in a 1-0 loss in OT. Absolutely on one, especially after a shaky start.
 
5. I think the Discord activity definitely takes away from site usage, mainly because there's almost no reason to use the clubhouse when I have a direct line to my team/GMs. Outside of that, you lose side traffic that you might gain from people browsing the clubhouse and then take a gander at recent activity. BUT... I like the discord set up for ease of use muuuuuch better.
 
7. San Diego or bust.
 
9. Absolutely. It's going to be a slow grind, but we'll get there, a couple points at a time, hopefully.
 
10. I start every game day with a glass of 1 dozen raw eggs that I use to wash down my protein powder scoop that I ingest dry. Head the rink, throw up in my car usually, but I don't think that's related to the egg consumption. Probably just get car sick. Get to the rink, run a couple quik sessions of five finger filet in the trainer's office, then get ready to get my pads on, listening to the playlist "10 Hours of Darude - Sandstorm" while taping up. Strap on the helmet, head butt each member of the Defense for extra hype. Skate on to the ice, make eye contact with a member of the other team and don't break it for all of warm ups. My first check will always be on that player, regardless of puck possession.