mattyIceman

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Da bearz

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Two Prague prospects missed:

@Bouncyelf @Greg Ernest
 
Great article though

Great write up!

He’s actually a forward just noticed that

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

CLAIMING 1/3

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Welcome to yet another edition of Future Watch!  I’m Head Scout Matty Ice.  I’ve taken over my fellow contributor (Patrik Tallinder)’s series, and I went in another direction.  Quotes from every VHL GM sure add to the depth of the article and it has been such a pleasure to deal with all of them.  Thank you VHL GMs for taking the time!
Let’s get right to it!
 
 

CALGARY WRANGLERS
 
Calgary was already a young team entering their prime, but with some roster movement and TWELVE selections in the s74 draft, they now have a very deep pool of prospects.  Among those selected on Calgary’s roster, Luke Thornton and Jonas Stormsson have big shoes to fill.  Three VHLM prospects stand out, namely Las Vegas Aces’ Gary Rush, Miami’s Eoin Byrne and Mississauga goaltender Vsevolod Akarov.  
 
Quote from GM Ryan Jubis:
Calgary had only one prospect before the S74 draft. Gary Rush, who’s a great prospect that’s close to moving up to the VHL, chose to play one more season in the VHLM. After a few trades before and during the draft, Calgary ended up with 12 picks. Two of those picks are already playing in the VHL this season and making an impact. 2 more prospects will make the jump next season. Calgary now has a plethora of prospect goalies. As the GM I saw value in having other goalies in the system behind Lafontaine. As these goalies grow and continue to mature if the opportunity is not here for them, I will not hold any of these players hostage. If they wish to look for full-time roles I will be here to help them accomplish that. If one of them wants to work their way into VHL backup for a season. We can do that as well. Overall I am very happy to have such a stacked prospect pool. The Wranglers' future is bright.
 
With tons of prospect depth and only two selections without a contract, they have many future assets that they can rely on to either trade for a missing piece or graduate into the Calgary system
 
Top Prospects: Luke Thornton, Gary Rush, Jonas Stormsson, Eoin Byrne, Vsevolod Askarov
Prospect Grade: A-
@Jubis @Jtv123 @G_Rush @Kyle @LatinViking @Gooningitup
 

CHICAGO PHOENIX
 
This young team fresh off their inaugural season, had seven draft selections in S74.  VHL rookies Christian Mingle and Lee Xin headline this prospect pool at the center and winger positions respectively.  Virtually all prospects have a shot at graduating into the Phoenix lineup at some point.  Winger Kasey Tamm playing for Halifax has the greatest chance of playing for the team next season, with goalie Kloxified eyeing the backup goaltender role and players like Roseann Petal and Darius Marimoto filling in depth roles.
 
Quote from General Manager Jeff Dee:
We had the second overall selection at the S74 Draft.  We had some big moves to make to further the development of the team. At second overall we grabbed Christian Mingle, who I think could have very easily gone first overall. He has immediately slotted in on the big squad and has been having a good season so far.  Lee Xin has been amazing so far and has not only been performing very well on the ice but is a great locker room presence. At 21st overall we managed to grab Kasey Tamm who I believe has the potential to be a star in the VHL. He is spending this season developing with the Halifax 21st this season but we have big plans for him going forward from next year.  Kloxified is also spending this season developing with the Yukon Rush, whom he also played for last season in the VHLM. He should make the hop to the VHL next year where he will likely start as a backup to JP Camus. After Kloxified we managed to select the player I think may end up being the steal of the S74 draft and that is Darius Marimoto. Marimoto immediately hopped into our locker room after being selected and is now running our team's social media accounts. He is constantly in the practice facility and I believe he will quickly become a well known player around the league. While he is spending this season in the VHLM, I fully expect him in the VHL next season. Last and certainly not least is Yuuto Kira Cloudera who is a defenseman currently enjoying their second season with Minnesota in the VHLM and who I think can have a solid career moving forward.
 
Top Prospects: Christian Mingle, Lee Xin, Kasey Tamm, Matty Socks
Prospect Grade: A-
@Quik @Blazzer  @kesytamm @fishy @solas @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @JeffD
 

D.C. DRAGONS
This aging team will have many positions to fill by Season 76’s end.  Having had three selections in the S74 draft, two prospects stand out.  Ottawa Lynx defenseman Jackson Philliefan and Yukon Rush centerman Alec Andreshnikov eye open spots in the near future.  Defenseman Rick Osman is considered to be a more long-term project that may fill a depth role someday.
 
Quote from General Manager Eno Rama:
I'm hoping that as long as we have Wolski in net, we'll be able to field a competitive roster. As our core ages out, we should be able to replenish it through trades and drafting and while our pipeline isn't full of blue chip talent right now, I'm confident they can be solid complementary pieces on a cup-winning roster.
 
The aging Dragons blue line will be in dire need for skilled defensemen to replace the retiring Lance Flowers, Luciano Valentino and Ricky Johnson to keep up with the rest of the league.  Hopefully their drafted defensemen can step up and maintain the Dragons' compete level.
 
Top Prospects: Jackson Philliefan, Alec Andreshnikov
Prospect Grade: B-
@Enorama @Philliefan @PuckPushers @dylanjj37
 

HC DAVOS DYNAMO
 
This is still a very young team with a deep, but porous prospect pool.  They have no real immediate need to replace any player at any position, besides newly-acquired free agent and legendary goaltender Rayz Funk, who will be retiring at Season 74’s end.  With Joakim Bruden next in line to be Davos’ starter, there are no depth issues with the Dynamo.  Many of their prospects have gone inactive and/or are without a team or contract.  Two prospects of note are D-man Shawty Nananana and winger Vlad Imir, playing for Halifax and Yukon respectively.  Their development has been steady and on pace to hit the VHL ranks as soon as next season.
 
Quote from General Manager Jerry Garcia:
Davos is still a fairly young team, but we've got the prospects to keep us going for some time in the future. The eventual replacement for one of our S69 defenders is Shawty Nananana, a second-round pick this season who will be up in S75 after one season down. One of last season's thirds, Vlad Imir, is also set to make the jump, and I'm hoping he'll keep up the earning and fulfill his current projection as a long-term second-line player. On top of that, two guys I'm really excited about are Jim Allen and Piero Angela, fourth-round selections this season who are active and have the ability to make it up in a season or two.
 
Top Prospects: Shawty Nananana, Vlad Imir
Prospect Grade: C
@Grape @Big Dee @jimmyallen93 @Minermonkey @GustavMattias
 

HELSINKI TITANS
 
Having selected four defensemen in the S74 draft and all active defensemen having ending contracts at the end of the season, Helsinki has a deep enough pool of defensemen to fill their shoes if they want to.  Two defenders from Halifax, Gabriel Akerstrom and Kate Upton, come to mind when having options at the blue line.  Las Vegas defender Chase Crosby can be a surprise selection if he continues to remain active.  S73 draftees Patrik Laine and Oh Sens have made their rookie debuts in support roles, but may move up to top line roles if their development continues.
 
Quote from General Manager Juliann Borwinn:
The S74 VHL entry draft held just over a week ago saw many promising players find new homes in the VHL. Helsinki's playbook was quickly realized by onlookers as they took to the podium announcing only defenseman in their draft positions. With a plethora of forwards and young goaltenders to shore up the future, the Titans looked at their depth chart and focused solely on what was needed for seasons to come. While having a strong defensive core, Helsinki had no D prospects to speak of and hoped to have addressed their future needs.  While still early, Gabriel Akerstrom looks poised to make the jump next season, while Upton and Crosby continue to excel in the VHLM.  Buckfast has yet to report but the Titans are hopeful he will make a return.
 
Top Prospects: Gabriel Akerstrom, Patrik Laine, Oh Sens
Prospect Grade: B+
@Jubo07 @osens @PatrikLaine @Mason @OscarTheSwagDude @AnthonyOuellet
 

LONDON UNITED
 
The young franchise definitely used their three first round selections to pick top-quality prospects in Ryan Schwarz and Julian Nousiainen, who have made their rookie debuts alongside s73 draftee Alec Volchenkov and have kept pace without much extra effort.  Their third first rounder, defenseman Kasper Kankkunen, elected to remain in the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for one more season for some refinement to his game, despite the glaring hole at the defense position.  Goaltender Kevin Malone is also poised to challenge for the United’s starting goalie role, with forward Maxim Yakolevsky and defenseman Tee Pee E II being considered longer-term projects.
 
Quote from General Manager Roger McWolf:
We only had two seasons to build our prospect pool, but I'm proud of the players we got. Malone and Kankkunen are the highlights (of the recent draftees still playing in the VHLM). They're set to start with us next season, and they'll bring much needed support at our two weakest positions.
 
Top Prospects: Ryan Schwarz, Julian Nousiainen, Kasper Kankkunen, Kevin Malone
Prospect Grade: A
@McWolf @Enorama @okochastar @ZP16 @chatfan036 @Goliathus  @Nepto @SirRupertBarnes
 

LOS ANGELES STARS
 
Los Angeles loaded up on prospects in the S73 entry draft. Having had only two picks in the S74 Draft, both making their rookie debuts with the big club, defenseman Lester Green and Doug Dimmadome are both quality players.  These two players alone have the potential to completely transform the defense and puck-stopping ability into an impregnable fortress down the road.  The only worthy player still in the VHLM is Las Vegas Aces goaltender Drew Minott.  
 
Quote from General Manager Josh Da Silva:
Coming up in the defense pipeline we have Gumballs, Green, and Keef and all three are in their rookie season. I see Gumballs and Green manning the first pairing for the next few seasons. They're playing well together and are both strong defensive players. Keef's development is going to take a little longer but I believe he'll be an impact player in a couple of seasons.  Lastly but certainly not least, Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, is our rookie goaltender this season. The best player available to us in the draft and shaping up to be one of the best starting goalies in the league. Hoping he stays with us long term with that guaranteed starter spot.
 
Nearly all of their draft selections are VHL caliber players, however their prospect pipeline at skating positions is seriously lacking.
 
Top Prospects: Lester Green, Doug Dimmadome, Jiggly Gumballs
Prospect Grade: B+
@Josh @JigglyGumballs @Esso2264 @DreMin15 @Smarch @RStar
 

MALMO NIGHTHAWKS
 
This is still quite a young team.  Having only one selection from the S74 draft class, Philadelphia Reapers winger Carson Walkers, they don’t really have any urgent need to fill their pipeline.  With superstar defenseman Condor Adrienne retiring at the end of Season 75, there could be a gaping hole at defense.  Perhaps in the next draft they select a star defenseman?  With s73 defenseman Kirishima Wakaro making his rookie start, it fills the gap for now.
 
Quote from General Manager John Frostbeard:
Well, we have two players that are still playing in VHLM, Kevin Sterk and Carson Walkers. I think we are in a good spot considering that we already have a team ready to compete. That said, I strongly believe that any team should always have extra players ready to come up as that adds extra value to the overall team composition. Also, more people means that your LR is active and chatty.
 
For now, Malmo’s prospect pool is severely lacking, but without a need at this current period, I don’t think it really matters.
 
Top Prospect: Carson Walkers
Prospect Grade: C-
@FrostBeard @Snussu @Cwalker @TenZi
 

MOSCOW MENACE
 
Another young team to discuss here.  With only two selections in the past draft, Moscow has enough depth to address any need.  Season 74 draftees Alex Zouzouambe at wing and defenseman Breeze Ladrian joined Fat Palloon and Michael Hall to round out their prospect pipeline.  With goaltender Raymond Bernard retiring at the end of season 75, Moscow should perhaps look to draft their replacement goalie in the upcoming draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Victor Alfredsson:
Our youth movement is coming to an end as most of our recent draftees have graduated but I'm happy to have 3 more exciting prospects in the pipeline, all of whom I believe will have a role to play in Moscow in the future. I suspect Palloon and Zouzouambe will be ready to step up to the VHL next season, just in time to replace some retirees both up front and on defence. Ladrian is a more long-term project but I'm hopeful he will follow in the tradition of other Moscow steals like Clarke, Telker, and Angellini and make an impact for us soon.
 
Top Prospects: Fat Palloon, Michael Hall, Alex Zouzouambe
Prospect Grade: B
@Victor @BigZouzou @Kelsier @UnkemptCL4PTP @Hops 
 

NEW YORK AMERICANS
 
This aging team, starved for a proper rebuild, drafted very well at all positions in the past two drafts.  With five retiring players at this season’s end, 1st round selection Markus Schauer began his rookie season at defense.  Rounding out the prospect pool, Saskatoon teammates centerman Brian Strong Jr, goalie Cal Conway and defenseman Gabriel Johnson provide necessary depth and possibly front-runners to fill key positions next season.  Aces centerman Rhynex Entertainment is developing quite nicely and could compete for a depth role.
 
Quote from General Manager Esso Drunkmann:
I think our prospect pool is really good.  We have a bunch of them that came up this year and they are all great. Only thing I ask of them is to keep developing and have some fun around the team we're building.
 
Top Prospects: Markus Schauer, Brian Strong Jr, Rhynex Entertainment, Cal Conway
Prospect Grade: A-
@Esso2264 @Plate @Wheaties @Rhynex Entertainment @Shaka @GeckoeyGecko
 

PRAGUE PHANTOMS
 
With two selections in the s74 draft, they selected John LeClair II and The Blob to round out their prospect pool.  Although most of their prospects have turned out to be longer-term projects, they may have some diamonds in the rough. The team managed to strike gold late in the draft three times in the S73 draft, and obtained 3 of the 5 remaining active players past 46th overall. And it isn’t as if these are players to write off either; Secel Keller, Theodore James St Louis, and Zachariah Kisslinger regularly find themselves earning 6 to 10 TPE per week, and could be valuable assets on Prague’s roster in no time.  The team will be experiencing some turnover in the next two or three seasons, so they have some time to address those needs through the draft if they chose to.  One of the biggest question marks is Andre LeBastard, who hasn't performed up to 1st round caliber.  He may be the big bust of the s73 draft.
 
Quote from General Manager Jason Glasser
While the prospect pool would have looked a lot better a season ago, before Dan Baillie Jr, Riley Knight Gee, and Andre Lebastard all graduated to the bigs, it's still a solid group of players, especially taking into account the limited number of picks we've had in order to get to this. 6 guys in the prospect pool, all at least somewhat active, and not a single one drafted earlier than 32. The Blob and Kisslinger will likely be ready to come up to the team next season, and ultimately I expect all of them to eventually contribute to the Phantoms on some level.
 
Top Prospects: John LeClair II, Dan Baillie Jr
Prospect Grade: B
@diamond_ace  @flyersfan1453 @wcats @KnightRiley @Andre LeBastard @JorgTheGoat03 @xsjack @Nick Kirkpatrick @Kisslinger
 

RIGA REIGN
 
This championship-caliber team will have massive holes to fill after the retirements of legendary defenseman Lincoln Tate and star forward Phil Marleau.  Having selected twice in the S74 draft, they selected Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd and defenseman Matt Thunder.  Jeffrenomitsu has made his Riga debut, while Thunder remains a longer-term prospect.  S72 draftee Bobby Wyman seems right on the cusp of being a VHL player, however his development is still a question mark.
 
Quote from General Manager Benjamin Zeptenbergs
Our two prospects are gonna help to bolster our defensive core in the future. Our current D lineup is slowly running thin with Tate retiring following this season and both Sasakamoose and Clarke hitting another regression. So we will need help there. Good thing is we have two prospects with different mindset - Wyman as physical and shooting-first threat and Thunder as more of an all-arounder. I'm also glad we could pick them with later picks, it's always great to find a steal, since this also satisfies our positional needs.
 
Top Prospects: Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd, Bobby Wyman
Prospect Grade: B-
@hedgehog337 @Jeffie43 @Lefty_S @Matt thunder
 

SEATTLE BEARS
 
Fresh off their fourth cup win in six seasons, Seattle still managed to keep a prospect pipeline to build a team to continue winning Continental Cups.  First round selection Isabella Campbell headlines the ranks by joining Seattle right out of the draft.  Defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque and centerman Leo Strauss round out the high caliber prospect pool.  They remain in the VHLM this season to fine tune their games and look to join Seattle in the near future.
 
Quote from General Manager Blake Campbell:
I think right now Seattle has a pretty healthy and successful prospect pool. The fact that we’ve been winning with the same powerful core, or most of them, that we’ve had since S67 up to this off-season was super special.  (Hulk) Hogan and Berocka (Sundqvist) are retiring at the season's end and all these players are going to jump in nicely to continue on the Bears legacy of incredible skill when it comes to the blue line for the last many seasons. I think these players mixing in with Odin Omdahl are going to continue to help Seattle find ways to contend for playoffs and the cup. Even though he is still very young, committed to himself and the Bears and a very good member/player in the league that others would love to have.  This draft, we managed to come out very well.  Overall, I think Seattle has done a good enough job that if we wanted to, we could continue to contend, make playoffs and keep the cupboards stored for seasons to come. As the seasons go on it may become a little more challenging but I think instead of challenging, just always on your toes and keeping your mind and eyes open. Moving forward, though, I feel like we’ve checked enough positional boxes to keep Seattle alive.
 
Clearly, Blake Campbell is passionate about his Bears, and centerwoman/daughter Isabella finally making it to the big show.
 
Top Prospects: Isabella Campbell, Lucifer Olivier Leveque, Rocket, Leo Strauss
Prospect Grade: B+
@Banackock @InstantRockstar @Rocket @gregreg
 

TORONTO LEGION
 
With all the previous prospects having moved up to Toronto’s starting lineup and all inactives released, they used their two selections in the draft to pick two quality players.  Aces winger Nicholas Sunderbruch and Halifax centerman Wolf Weiss are quality prospects that may move up to the VHL ranks as early as next season, provided they continue their development. Sunderbruch in particular has taken a big step forward in his development since the start of September, even capping out in a nice 24 TPE effort in the week of 9/20. He is definitely one to keep your eye on in the future. Besides these two prospects, Toronto’s pipeline is literally empty.  They should address this need in future drafts.
 
Quote from General Manager Rylan Peace:
Currently, Toronto has holes all over the roster, and both of the Legions' prospects can help fill them when they make the jump to the VHL at the conclusion of their VHLM career.  They can jump in and provide immediate stability while the Legion continues to look for ways to improve, and give us an opportunity to continue developing into a championship team.  Matmenzinger's (player agent for Wolf Weiss) previous player was a staple for Moscow, so we know he's a reliable individual to bank some of our faith in.  Nick Sunderbruch is a first generation player, but I'm impressed at his growth and I have no issues putting my faith in him as well; and of course I had two prospects graduate to the VHL this season, but Ziarie Anigbogu should be included on this list, so I add him here as someone who's been a reliable earner and will challenge for a top four role as soon as next season.

Top Prospects: Nicholas Sunderbruch, Wolf Weiss
Prospect Grade: C+
@Peace @Matmenzinger @NickSunderbruch @ngine4
 

VANCOUVER WOLVES
 
This team has a very deep prospect pool.  With six draftees from the s74 entry draft, they used their three, high first round selections to pick stars-in-the-making; center Venus Thightrap, winger Onde Sandstrom and defensewoman Emi Rune.  They have all made their rookie debuts this season and will form the next core that is the Vancouver Wolves.  With many prospects still playing in the VHLM, one notable player is centerwoman Riley Couture.  She is very close to being VHL ready, but will remain with the Halifax 21st until next season.  Other draftees include forwards Florent Vericel and Jeff Odinson, with Markus Emerson Jr playing goalie for Mexico City.  These players are considered to be longer-term projects for the organization, as they have remained in the VHLM to develop their game before being called up.  Take note of Emerson Jr, he has been developing at a rapid pace and may end up being an absolute steal of a pick from the 4th round. Him capping out in both of the last two weeks in which he put up a respective 40 and 24 TPE is remarkable, and undoubtedly a path that will lead him to much success at the VHL level.
 
Quote from General Manager Keaton Louth:
I feel like we really addressed all our team needs at the draft. Our team was at a crossroads where we have some great older talent and a couple prospects that were making the jump this season. We were heading up to the draft with lots of picks but only a few higher picks. I made it my goal to get as high as possible to get the game-breaking talent I knew was there without sacrificing anything of note. We were also able to grab a couple players that will make the team in the next few seasons which will help us once the older players retire.
 
Top Prospects: Venus Thightrap, Onde Sandstrom, Emi Rune, Riley Couture, Jeff Odinson, Florent Vericel
Prospect Grade: A+
@Beaviss @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Emi @Riley_Couture @dart @GoldGear88 @Xflexz 
 

WARSAW PREDATORS
 
The young franchise really stacked up their pipeline with the conclusion of the S74 draft.  Three of their picks have already moved up to the VHL club, joining Arthur Dayne, Jeremy Lin, Victor Grachev and Dakota Lamb.  With a total of seven rookies on the roster, the recent draftees integrate very well into the already young team.  First overall selection Aloe Dear frontlines the prospect class.  Fellow winger Lexi Glass and defenseman Tim Waters have proven that they were worthy to make that jump alongside Dear, and will be part of Warsaw’s core moving forward.  Winger Chris Reynolds isn’t far behind on the depth chart.  He needs to continue developing with a stacked Las Vegas Aces roster behind him.
 
Quote from General Manager Damien Walec:
Chris Reynolds has been working really hard since we selected him, and we're excited about his future. He's on a strong trajectory and should rank among the top prospects in the league.  Angel Wachiure has been a steady and strong prospect for us, one that we really felt we got a great value with him. He's played well for Las Vegas so far this season, and we're excited to see what he can contribute for us in the future.  Nathaniel N is a strong young prospect for our defensive core. We're willing to be patient with his development as we feel it'll pay off strong dividends in the future for us.
 
Clearly, no comment was made on the S74 rookies, because they are already solid, which goes without needing any comment.
 
Top Prospects: Aloe Dear, Lexi Glass, Tim Waters, Chris Reynolds, Dakota Lamb, Victor Grachev
Prospect Grade: A+
@.sniffuM @Renomitsu  @Siddhus @Crstats23 @dlamb @KaleebtheMighty @inflastud @AW13 @NathanN 
 
Word Count (excluding GM quotes) : 1800 somewhere around there
 
I want to extend a special thank you to Patrick Tallinder.  Thank you for your contribution, help and guidance.  It means a lot to me and the VHL

Bruh ?

PHILADELPHIA REAPERS DEPTH CHART:
 
RIGHT WINGERS:
ERNIE KING (S72, 57th OVR VHLM, 46th OVR VHL) | 6’5”, 225 lbs. 
A great point scoring winger with high potential. With his bigger frame, he can definitely throw around the body. However, with his impressive scoring, he isn’t the best on special teams. But he uses his 5 on 5 play to establish himself as a top roster player in the VHLM. King also has been in one deal over his career. The trade he’s been in saw him move from New Mexico to the city of brotherly love for a 4th round pick.
CAREER STATS:
GP: 193 | G: 25 | A: 50 | TP: 75 | 
 
CARSON WALKERS (A) (S74, 17th OVR VHLM, 36th OVR VHL) | 5’11”, 195 lbs. 
A very dynamic winger with a more skill based frame (5’11”, 195 lbs). For being a pre-draft signing last season, he did well. He is also a reliable player on the special teams. On top of that, his leadership off-ice makes him the alternate captain of the Reapers. He has now had that title for two consecutive seasons. For being only 5’11”, his physical side still comes through. He can throw the body around, and still score. Talk about dynamic! Overall, a great piece to add if you’re looking for a 2nd to 1st line RW with great penalty killing ability. 
CAREER STATS:
GP: 75 | G: 9 | A: 27 | TP: 36 | 
 
DARIUS MARIMOTO (C) (S73, 58th OVR VHLM, 52nd OVR VHL) | 6’1”, 205 lbs
Marimoto brings top scoring upside and leadership ability to any locker room, With being the captain of the Reapers. The Japanese RW can light the lamp, and pass the puck well as he  led the Reapers in scoring last season. He can also lay around the body, like Walkers. He is great on the powerplay, and respectable on the PK. However, he did block 63 shots last season. With his average frame (6’1”, 205 lbs), he still can block shots very well. Overall, a talented RW with 1st to 2nd line upside, great powerplay experience, and great leadership in Discord LR’s, he is the player for your roster.
CAREER STATS:
GP: 86 | G: 35 | A: 35 | TP: 70 |
 
LIAM FISCHL (S74, DE for VHLM) | 6’6”, 202 lbs.
Fischl, being a rookie, does not have very much experience yet in the VHLM. But, he is showing great upside to be a playmaking winger with a big frame (sitting at 6’6”). That size advantage allows Fischl to have multiple hits and 1 shot block so far. He hasn’t done much yet, but, I expect him to be a great depth piece on any special teams. With so little to say about him, I believe he will turn out to be a physical, yet scoring RW with 2nd line upside. Almost like a Tom Wilson. 
CAREER STATS:
GP: 8 | G: 2 | A: 4 | TP: 6 |
 
RANTHEMAN (S74, 53rd OVR VHLM, DE for VHL) | 6’8”, 170 lbs.
Again, like Fischl, he is a rookie in the VHLM this season. And so far, has not been disappointing. For being a HUGE 6’8” winger, he has one hell of a shot. His production as of now, has not been that bad. His big frame, on top of his scoring upside, makes him reminiscent of Fischl. I think, with the right development, he can make a 2nd line that much better. He can also bring an impressive shutdown game to any roster. He seems to be active on Discord occasionally. 
CAREER STATS:
GP: 8 | G: 2 | A: 1 | TP: 3 |
 
THOMAS KING (S74, 41st OVR VHLM, DE for VHL) | 6’1”, 200 lbs.  
With having some experience pre-draft (with Mexico City) under his belt, he has definitely turned some heads with the Reapers so far. With some impressive numbers early, he has proven to be that top line upside RW that the Reapers need, when Walkers and Marimoto take their talents to the bigs. Having seen him play in Mexico City, and putting up average numbers for a waiver signing, he seems to have bounced back being on a new and shiny Reapers team. He also is pretty effective on the P.P. With this in mind, plus his activity on the site and the LR, he seems to be a goal scoring RW with some power play experience and a great attitude. 
CAREER STATS:
GP: 12 | G: 3 | A: 4 | TP: 7 |
 
LEFT WINGERS:
PEEKAY SOUPCAN (S73, 47th OVR VHLM, 50th OVR VHL) | 6’0”, 190 lbs. 
Being with the Reapers for his 3rd straight season, he brings some veteran experience to the LR. he can be a depth player for the Reapers and still light the lamp often. With his VHL window slowly slipping away, he needs to step up his TPE production in order to make the bigs. UPDATE: he is a UFA right now. So far this season, he has some work to do, but he can also bring some experience to the P.P. However, due to his lower activity rates, he has the upside of being a top 9 forward in the VHL with some scoring upside. 
CAREER STATS:
GP: 172 | G: 30 | A: 28 | TP: 58 |
 
CENTERS:
KUISMA AKI (S74 77nd OVR VHLM, 64th OVR VHL) | 5’5”, 140 lbs. 
Being a two year veteran in the VHLM, and being drafted by Philly and Calgary, Aki seems to be a reliable depth centerman. He put up lower than average numbers last year with Mexico City. I’m not expecting much from Kuisma Aki anytime soon, but with proper TPE growth, he can blossom into that top 6 centerman role he was meant to be. He’s also incredibly small (5’5”, 140 lbs) which makes him incredibly vulnerable. He can however hit somewhat with 58 hits last season. Which is impressive for his type of player.
CAREER STATS:
GP: 41 | G: 1 | A: 7 | TP: 8 |
 
DEFENSEMEN:
RICHARD FITZWELL (S69, 62nd OVR VHLM, 22nd OVR VHL) | 6’1”, 204 lbs.
One word to describe Fitzwell is veteran. Having played 3 full seasons with the Reapers, and being a FA in the bigs, he’s been a pretty good (yet inactive) offensive defenseman. Having played so many games for Phily, he is no doubt a hall of famer for the Reapers. If there was a VHLM hall of fame. He’s that reliable, offensive yet shutdown style defenseman with a 6’1” frame. His 268 career shot blocks can prove that. He can also throw the body around with 600 career hits. That’s a lot of damage dealt! He’s amazing on the powerplay, lethal on the blue line, and could pan out to become a very strong top 2 defenseman with goal scoring and shutdown upside. He is also pretty active in LRs. 
CAREER STATS:
GP: 224 | G: 34 | A: 123 | TP: 157 | 
 
CURTIS ROCKWALL (S74, VHLM 82nd OVR, FA for VHL) | 6’2”, 235 lbs. 
Being on the Reapers, Rockwall is a mystery just waiting to be solved. The large (6’2”, 235 lbs) defenseman shows signs of great talent and upside, but has been very quiet as of late. The three year veteran of the VHLM hasn't updated his player in ages. He is currently sitting at a low 36 TPE. 36. He can hit very well, and block a lot of pucks, he just can’t update his player, and reach his potential. I believe if he updates, he can see top 6 numbers in the VHL one day. Or he’ll just retire in the minors. He is a FA in the VHL at the time of me writing this article. 
CAREER STATS:
GP: 85 | G: 12 | A: 15 | TP: 27 |
 
BREEZE LADRIAN (S74, VHLM 65th OVR, 63rd OVR VHL) | 6’8”, 250 lbs. 
Ladrian has proven to be one of the best defensemen for the Reapers this year. His production makes him a great offensive capable defenseman. His HUGE frame (6’8”, 250 lbs) makes him one of the biggest Reapers this season. That allows him to hopefully sacrifice the body and be more physically minded. He had an impressive pre-draft stint with the Kings too. He also blocked 141 shots and had 158 hits in that season alone. He was easily the best blue liner for MEX, and will soon be the best for PHI. I think that he is a top 2 caliber shutdown defenseman with a scoring touch and powerplay upside.
CAREER STATS:
GP: 63 | G: 3 | A: 32 | TP: 35 |
 
SHAWN ANDREI ZYUZIN (S75, VHLM 38th OVR, DE for VHL) | 6’1”, 208 lbs.
The rookie Zyuzin is an average sized defenseman (6’1”, 208 lbs) is a defensive defenseman with average shutdown ability. Zyuzin has the capability to become that cornerstone defenseman for a team, whilst providing that physical side. He also blocked 2 shots too this season. His point production isn’t anything to write home about, but it isn’t all that bad too. With the right growth in his player, and a good team to back him up, I believe he can achieve so much on the VHL level. My estimate on him is that he will become a top 2 (if not, top 4) defenseman with great shutdown upside and scoring depth. He has high potential. He’s also occasionally active. 
CAREER STATS:
GP: 8 | G: 0 | A: 1 | TP: 1 | 
 
GOALTENDERS:
JACOB CARSON (S74, VHLM 46th OVR, DE for VHL) | 6’6”, 215 lbs. 
Carson is that starting net-binder who is always reliable between the pipes, but isn’t on an elite level yet. He had a short pre draft stint with the Las Vegas Aces, where he posted a 2-0-0 record, a .869 save percentage, and a solid 2.93 GAA. These numbers got him picked by Philadelphia with the 46th overall pick in the S74 VHLM Entry Draft. He is a 6’6” large netbinder with starting goalie upside. He so far has a 2-1-1 record, a .845 save percentage, and a 3.26 GAA. Not the greatest numbers for a starter, but not the worst. His incredible size and coverage of the net reminds me of Ben Bishop of the Dallas Stars. With that said, he has starting goalie upside in the VHL, in a couple of seasons. He still has time to improve his game for the bigs, and will surely impress with Calgary.
CAREER STATS: 
GP: 10 | RECORD: 4-1-1 | SV%: 0.857 | GAA: 3.10 | 
------------------------- 
@jacobcarson877 @TheLastOlympian07 @Kelsier @Kcoley26 @Tomato Soup @Duddy @Flyguy28 @Patpou22 @linsangeles @Huulio @dariusmarimotoman @Cwalker @Greg Ernest @Spence King @DMaximus @Recruitment Crew @VHLM GM @VSN @VHLM Commissioner  
WORD COUNT AND LINK TO DOC: 
1718 WORDS, 9070 CHARACTERS, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kfu5GXrVKKfi0K3KCIUoIRB0RTg2c7k51Cja5f4KebE/edit