dlamb

Good evening all, pulling a real NHL here by dropping some news on you guys on a Friday night.
 
After some conversations over the past few days, @Gaming Ringleader has elected to step down as GM of the Oslo Storm, effective immediately. I want to extend our sincerest gratitude to Gaming for his time with both the Storm and the Iron Eagles and for piloting the two franchises through a tumultuous part of VHLE history. I don't believe he's going anywhere in the grand scheme of things, so I look forward to seeing what he does next!
 
With the timing of this being awkward and the team needing a direction going into the season ASAP, we did not post for the role and instead asked around for someone I already knew was interested. He should be a familiar face to you all!

 
 
 
You may notice the second half of the title and a conspicuously missing job posting. I ran through this off-season (mostly) solo with some help from Thad and commissioners in the other leagues. Since the league has dropped to 6 teams, I can comfortably manage that ratio (GMs only outnumber me 6 to 1!) so for at least the next season or two, I will be at the helm alone. Sorry to disappoint those of you out there who I know were aching for a leadership opportunity!

Another week gone by and another installment of Around the League in 500 words mainly because I am TPE hungry and I am up late since the flu has torn through my house and my poor daughter and wife are sick. A lot we can chat about this week with the VHL and VHLE drafts and a check in with my recruits.
 
VHL DRAFT
The draft is one of the best times of year, especially when your player is getting drafted.  The league does a good job hyping the draft and most GMs in the VHL scout and interview and make it a cool experience, especially for a first gen player. 
 
This draft this year showed Vancouver having an amazing amount of first round picks which proved to be a wise choice since the draft pool was smaller than most years. There were some good players to choose from and here is a breakdown:
 
1.    Logan Ninefingers- Vancouver went with the burly right winger who scored like a maniac in the VHLM.  Big, mean, and can score.
 
2.    George Richmond @badcolethetitan- Moscow went with another big player who can score with ease and not hurt the club at all on defense. 
 
3.    Adi Dassler @BOOM- Moscow will be set up for years to come with a 1-2 combo of Richmond and Dassler.  Proven scorer and clutch player with 10 GW goals in the M.
 
4.    Riley Martin @Smarch- Vancouver went with a game changing winger with Martin who absolutely had to do everything on a struggling Halifax club.  Much like Moscow’s 1-2 punch, NInefingers and Martin will be exciting to see together.
 
5.    Giorgiy Constanzov @Mongoose87 - First goalie off the board to Seattle and a good one at that.  Another victim to a struggling Halifax club he was forced to face a whopping 2815 shots and still managed a .918 SV%.  Both Martin and Constanzov will be deadly on better teams. 
 
6.    V.V Carstein @Dom- Vancouver- A giant of a Dman will give the Wolves a true power play quarter back and point per game Dman for years to come.
 
7.    Guntis Gavilrovs @Girts- Vancouver. Grabbed another giant to patrol the blue line and protect its star players. At 250 lbs he has quick feet (and fists) and can chip in goals like a forward.  
 
8.    K Lamb @dlamb- Chicago grabbed another solid defenseman that came fresh of a Cup win in Saskatoon. Big, hard to move, and loves to hit with 229 hits last season.
 
9.    Kimi Raikkonen @mattyIceman- Riga-an assist machine, KR is as solid pick to add some depth scoring and lay the body on opposing foes.
 
10.Olafur Gunnleifsson @JartY- Malmo took the second goalie in the first round and he was amazing in Ottawa last season with 33 wins and 4 shutouts. 
 
11.W. Gretzky @MubbleFubbles - New York went with the GREAT ONE! Here is my hidden gem pick of the draft.  Can’t really say anything bad about this pick as after facing some injuries I expect him to be back to elite form in no time and with the players NY has amassed, Wayne could take them to playoff glory! 
 
Overall, the draft was fun and I think it belonged to Vancouver and Moscow.  I can feel a rivalry already brewing between these two clubs!
 
RECRUITS
 
Well just an update on my recruits.  Jake Thunder @Thunder is still away from the game, and I am hoping I can grind him back to create another great player.
 
@ScottyP (Rip Wheeler) is still lazy and grinding a bit and is over 700 TPE now for Calgary.   
 
@Bleekus is MIA and not answering my texts.  With Thunder and Scotty P I see them often enough so I can razz them a bit, with Bleekus he lives in Florida so I can’t slap some sense into him.  So right now – he is a work in progress. 
 
Happy Friday
 
615 words 

#MAKEVHLGREATAGAIN

#MAKEVHLGREATAGAIN

Karol Lamb has accepted a Signing Offer from Chicago:

S92: $3,000,000

S93: $1,500,000

S94: $1,500,000

1 Vancouver Wolves     Logan Ninefingers @Scurvy                         RW   TPE: 370                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 64 88 152 88 566 65 277 57                             S91 Playoffs 15 12 11 23 1 100 10 50 13                             After an absolutely incredible season with the Philadelphia Reapers in the VHLM, in which he scored 152 points, it's little surprise to see Logan Ninefingers selected first overall. Possessing an absurd six first round selections in this draft, Frank Chadwick wastes no time grabbing the consensus top prospect in the draft. Ninefingers scored the most points by any VHLM player since Igor Molotov in Season 82, and on top of that offensive prowess is a dominant physical game. If Vancouver wants or needs him in the pros this season, there is no doubt that Ninefingers is VHL-ready already. Simply put, Logan Ninefingers is an elite prospect that is the perfect choice to kick off the rebuild in Vancouver, and he'll be a star for the Wolves in no time.                                             2 Moscow Menace     George Richmond @badcolethetitan                         C   TPE: 370                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 46 55 101 44 443 37 129 47                             S91 Playoffs 10 8 10 18 8 64 6 23 10                             Euron Leonidas and the Moscow Menace were content to rebuild while seemingly the rest of the European Conference went all-in to compete, and now they reap the benefits of that decision. Moscow has a talented roster, but they are in good shape defensively, allowing them to grab a top forward prospect in George Richmond. While the center didn't have the crazy numbers that Logan Ninefingers did, Richmond still put up 101 points with the Ottawa Lynx, showing he's no slouch either. Moscow doesn't necessarily need to rush him onto the pro roster, but should they choose to call him up, Richmond will be able to hold his own with his development thus far. Moscow's future is already bright, and adding a prospect like George Richmond on top of that is huge.                                             3 Moscow Menace     Adi Dassler @BOOM                         LW   TPE: 302                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 43 40 83 52 416 34 105 43                             S91 Playoffs 17 8 8 16 11 77 4 22 0                             What's better than getting a top prospect like George Richmond? How about making another selection immediately afterwards? The rich get richer in Moscow, although if they keep this selection, we believe they'll go a bit off the board for third overall in Adi Dassler. A member of the Founder's Cup champion Saskatoon Wild, Dassler showed that he is a major threat to score goals, potting 43 last season. Many pundits have Riley Martin ranked higher than Dassler, but for Euron Leonidas, familiarity with BOOM makes up the difference here, as they bring back a locker room favorite on top of another quality forwards prospect. I would not be surprised at all to see Moscow trade this pick, as the top defenseman prospects remain on the board and they could still select Dassler later on. But if they stay here, Dassler is their guy.                                             4 Vancouver Wolves     Vanellope von Schweetz @Arce                         D   TPE: 322                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 15 64 79 52 202 20 77 94                             S91 Playoffs 13 1 7 8 0 34 2 22 21                             Vancouver selects the top forward prospect in Logan Ninefingers first overall, and at fourth overall they get the top defenseman prospect in Vanellope von Schweetz, and Frank Chadwick's rebuild could not be off to a better start. von Schweetz's size at 5'5, 150 lbs is a big concern for some scouts, and physical play simply is not part of her game. However, her instincts and positioning in both ends of the ice is excellent for a young blueliner, and her offensive potential could put her in line to quarterback the Vancouver power play for years to come. Teams will certainly be on the phone with Moscow to try to trade up to third overall to take von Schweetz, but if Moscow stays put, there's little doubt that Frank Chadwick doesn't immediately select her at fourth overall.                                             5 Seattle Bears     Vlad Von Carstein @Dom                         D   TPE: 315                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 20 61 82 36 214 60 154 130                             S91 Playoffs 10 3 9 12 0 28 4 26 18                             Seattle begin their rebuild selecting Vlad Von Carstein, the new player from a veteran agency. The key to a successful rebuild is building from the back, and with goaltenders being slim pickings in this class, Seattle elects to take a defender here, who is projected to be able to lead a team's offense from the back end. Putting up 20 goals last season, and bringing a boatload of assists along with that bodes well for a team planning on getting themselves back on top of the North American conference as soon as possible. Von Carstein will have to really pan out here however, as their top competition, the Vancouver Wolves, will be selecting many time here in this first round, including 2 picks already here by pick 5.                                             6 Vancouver Wolves     Riley Martin @Smarch                         RW   TPE: 344                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 26 22 48 -33 211 64 175 147                             S91 Playoffs N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A                             Returning back to the forefront of the VHL prospect pool, this veteran agency returns with a 2-way talent, capable of potting goals, and also being a defensive player on the way back. This is a bit of a porject pick, with the player having been in a tough situation last season, being scored on significanlty more than they scored themselves. A player like this should never have been put in the position to block as many pucks as they did. This is a player that the Vancouver scouts believe outplayed their situation, and we will have to see if they are correct there. This is a player that works hard and can be a valuable piece paired with any number of their other top picks here.                                             7 Vancouver Wolves     Guntis Gavilrovs @Girts                         D   TPE: 286                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 27 43 70 42 193 44 187 79                             S91 Playoffs 13 3 9 12 3 28 30 44 23                             Another pick up here from a veteran agency for the Vancouver Wolves, and their last pick for a while in this loaded first round. Gavrilovs will be an important piece alongside von Schweetz and Slater, solidifying a back end for the foreseeable future. This versatile defender is a goal-hound, and has been able to outscore their opponents all season long. They also put together a great playoff showing in 13 games, showing great progression as the season cycle went along. Look for this player to grow exponentially in the VHLE, and round out their game to the VHL level. They'll be looking to find some synergy with their future partners, and find their role for the Wolves over term.                                             8 Chicago Phoenix     DB IV @wcats                         D   TPE: 210                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 21 39 60 24 188 60 181 89                             S91 Playoffs 13 0 7 7 0 32 18 45 19                             Chicago has been led from the back for the majority of their history. From legendary golatenders to defenders, the Phoenix have always prided themselves in carrying a lot of respect for their defensive game. With the Board Game Clue on Skates and Bo Johansson hanging up the skates, and Chicago having a fairytale run from longtime forward Scotty Sundin before their eventual retirement, it is time to return to their roots, and enter a familiar ground once more. DB IV is a strong 2-way defender, capable of being a stable member of the Phoenix lineup through thick and thin. While Chicago may miss out on starpower this draft, they will secure at least one piece here that they can rely on to support the starpower once it arrives. DB IV is familiar with the team and management, and should reitre a Phoenix one day.                                             9 Riga Reign     Karol Lamb @dlamb                         D   TPE: 232                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 10 54 64 51 157 74 229 151                             S91 Playoffs 17 1 9 10 7 54 14 28 29                             After a wild season where Riga nearly took the top position in the EU Conference, they look to add a significant piece to their team. While they have a forward group mixed with aging forwards and younger prospects along with a young franchise goalie in Red Panda, their defensive group only has 3 young players without any clear additions in their prospect pool. With Karol Lamb sitting here at 9th overall, Riga wouldn't dare to pass up on adding this big of a defensive prospect to their pool. Putting up 64 points with Saskatoon this past season in the VHLM, Lamb has already shown their ability to produce on the ice. They would absolutely help form a significant blue line presence in the future with Mina on the first pairing.                                             10 Malmo Nighthawks     Kimi Raikkonen @mattyIceman                         LW   TPE: 259                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 19 40 59 44 274 39 161 18                             S91 Playoffs 13 1 5 6 0 39 10 32 2                             Malmo has a competitive roster, but cracks are beginning to show. They don't have a whole lot of prospects in tow and their star forwards are beginning to age. Goaltending is still strong and a backup is waiting in the wings for now. With a solid defensive group though, they'll look to add the best overall forward they can here with Kimi Raikkonen. Playing with Houston, Kimi put up a respectable 59 points last season. More impressively though was their final stat line of a +/- of 44. Heralding a great two way presence on the ice, Raikkonen should bring a great addition to the Nighthawks in the next few seasons.                                             11 New York Americans     Jeffrey Howard Dewberry Kalin @Motzaburger                         RW   TPE: 187                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season 72 30 36 66 22 370 28 112 26                             S91 Playoffs 5 3 1 4 -7 26 8 3 1                             New York is in the midst of a rebuild. They've made some significant additions in the offseason and signed their big names to new contracts. With the 11th overall pick, they'll look to add more future pieces to fit their timeline of competitiveness. Enter Jeffrey Howard Dewberry Kalin, a great young goalscorer who will bring a big boost to the second line right when they'll need it. Playing with Las Vegas and Miami this past season in the VHLM, they continued to play at the same productive level even when switching teams. New York should be thrilled to grab Kalin here as they prepare to compete in the near future.                                             12 Vancouver Wolves     Wayne Gretzky @MubbleFubbles                         C   TPE: 30                                     Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     S91 Regular Season N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A                             S91 Playoffs N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A                             Now things get very interesting here. Vancounver has their goaltender of the future already in Vidarsson. They just selected 2 forwards and 2 defensemen in this draft and should be set for the future with significant star power. What better place to take a flyer of a pick and reach down to grab the fantastically named Wayne Gretzky? While broken bones and significant accidents have hampered Wayne Gretzky's rise to hockey stardom, they have vowed to return to significant play ability in the coming future. It's a gamble to be sure, but one that Vancouver would be absolutely comfortable to make. And make no mistake, this could be a home run of a pick if Wayne Gretzky becomes the next big name in the VHL.                                             13 London United     Giorgiy Constanzov @Mongoose87                           G TPE: 286                                   Season GP W L OTL SV% GAA SO GA SA     Season 91 - Regular Season 72 10 57 5 0.918 3.19 1 231 2815                                                                             London is in an interesting spot right now, their top players all retire in the next couple seasons, and they are in a great spot to compete right now. Specifically, Jesse Teno is set to retire in 2 seasons, which will leave a massive void in goal. That is where Giorgiy Constanov comes in, while the starting goaltender for Halifax didn't have the most wins last season that was through no fault of their own as they had the 3rd best SV% in the VHLM with a 0.918! Constanzov would fill the void left by Teno perfectly, and with some development could prove to be a top VHL goaltender in no time at all.                                             14 Moscow Menace     Olafur Gunnleifsson @JartY                           G TPE: 207                                   Season GP W L OTL SV% GAA SO GA SA     Season 91 - Regular Season 52 33 14 4 0.905 2.29 4 117 1228                             Season 91 - Playoffs 10 5 3 2 0.877 3.33 0 32 260                             We're in a weird spot right now, where the teams that need goalies for the future, just don't have the picks to take high earning goalies right now. That's why we see goalies dropping in this draft. The main question here for Moscow is while you do have a elite goalie for the future already, can you pass up another one in the current market? The answer to that question is no. For that reason we've got Moscow selecting Gunnleifsson 14th overall. Coming off of a solid first season in the VHLM, they posted great numbers from their first few games on, and were very consistent for the most part. Despite being a late 1st round pick Gunnleifsson has a very high ceiling and could potentially challenge for a top goaltending spot down the road.                                             15 Vancouver Wolves     Petit Hughie @Sen                           D TPE: 163                                   Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     Season 91 - Regular Season 72 13 70 83 -9 162 66 219 157                             Season 91 - Playoffs 5 1 4 5 -8 16 18 18 12                             Vancouver's 6th and final pick of the 1st round could be an interesting one, as the draft starts to tail off a bit there isn't many options left. However, Petit Hughie could very well be a hidden gem, they have been consistently improving and had a massive season in the VHLM for Miami. The young defensmen put up a ridiculous 70 assists last season for a total of 83 points last season, and looks to take another step forward in S92. Hughie projects as a solid 2nd pair defensemen, and could exceed expectations if their development improves.                                             16 Toronto Legion     Dwight Shcrute @Jamomayo                           LW TPE: 150                                   Season GP G A P (+/-) SHT PIM HITS SB     Season 91 - Regular Season 32 3 7 10 4 73 10 37 1                             Season 91 - Playoffs 13 2 0 2 -1 21 8 10 0                             Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica! Dwight Shcrute has been improving steadidly since joinng the VHLM halfway through last season, and projects to be a good 2nd line forward throughout their career, their path may be long, but if they make it they could prove to be a very solid depth forward for sometime. They will be returning to the VHLM this season, where they will hopefully be leading their own line and taking a massive step forward offensively.                                           @Doomsday@Alex@KaleebtheMighty@jacobcarson877

hopefully we can get on the same team someday!  

Karol Lamb Scouting Report
 

Position: Defence
Shoots: Left
DOB: February 21st, 2000
Born: Budmerice, Bratislava Region, Slovakia 🇸🇰
Junior Team: Saskatoon Wild (VHLM)
 
Strengths:
Skating - As he was raised in both hockey and speed skating, he has worked with many skating coaches since a young age. Being from a hockey family, was almost born into skates, being able to skate almost before knowing how to walk. His dynamic edgework fools opposition and adds to a shifty playstyle, adding to his offensive arsenal. There is little question about his skating, and many VHL scouts applauding with the consensus that he is a top 5 skater in this draft. His skating often gets him out of compromised positions, almost covering for other flaws. 
Motor - Never being the most talented player since about the age of 7, Lamb had to put in the work to keep up at the highest level. This has not stopped since then, and you rarely see him when he isn't on the ice, in the gym, or in the room with coaches, staff, and trainers. His goal has always been to lead a European Conference VHL team to a championship, and will seemingly stop at nothing until that goal is accomplished. Never slacks off on the ice, you will never be upset with his enthusiasm or effort.
 
Weaknesses:
Awareness - Something Lamb gets into trouble with is his lack of situational awareness. Many times is caught on a line change, or making the wrong split-second decision leading to a turnover. Relies heavily on his defensive partner, must have confidence and practice with that player to get into both a rhythm and comfortability with said partner. 
Confidence w/ Puck - His coaches, especially in Saskatoon this past season, almost begged him to join the offensive rush more often. Will make the hard pass rather than the easy shot. Needs to rely on his instincts more often, prone to overthinking and forcing himself back to the point. Would contribute alot more if he had the confidence to come below the circles and allow teammates to cover.
 
Consensus:
Karol Lamb has the work ethic, if not the tools, to be a real VHL contributing defenceman both offensive and defensively. What he currently lacks are skills that can be molded and is considered by most scouts in the know to be a very raw prospect that can reward the team that puts the work in with him. After his rookie VHLM season, many who had questions about his play in the Slovakian U20 Junior system were quickly silenced as he led their back end to a championship. A true leader, if nothing else is a positive factor in the room. Never down on himself or teammates. An underrated prospect who may sneak into the top 10 at this year's VHL draft. Apparently has no wish to play in the VHLE. 
 
NHL Player Projection: Kris Letang
VHL Player Projection: Rex Wolffe Gregor

@Hogan called it on stream when I made the pick - steal of the draft.

Confirmed!

Warsaw now has no 1st-round picks until at least S95. Better get those FA pitches together next off-season!

Well deserved congratulations to both of you, but especially to the man himself @Scurvy. Loved having you around in Warsaw, always full of positivity and loved by all his teammates. Easily my biggest draft steal in my entire VHL GM tenure. Not to mention an absolute menace on the ice, glad to see you recognized, brings a tear to my eye 🥲. 
 

#ChodźmyWarszawa
 
Editing again to save @Enorama's feelings for being hurt:
Absolutely well deserved, if not for the TPE records shattered, the on-ice statistics, but the members you have singlehanded brought into the VHL. I'm sure your recruitment tree stretches further than anyone realizes, obviously I have you to thank for me being here at all. A great person, a fairly decent GM, commissioner, member, and friend. Maybe one day one of your players will join Dakota in the HOF.  

Karol Lamb Scouting Report
 

Position: Defence
Shoots: Left
DOB: February 21st, 2000
Born: Budmerice, Bratislava Region, Slovakia 🇸🇰
Junior Team: Saskatoon Wild (VHLM)
 
Strengths:
Skating - As he was raised in both hockey and speed skating, he has worked with many skating coaches since a young age. Being from a hockey family, was almost born into skates, being able to skate almost before knowing how to walk. His dynamic edgework fools opposition and adds to a shifty playstyle, adding to his offensive arsenal. There is little question about his skating, and many VHL scouts applauding with the consensus that he is a top 5 skater in this draft. His skating often gets him out of compromised positions, almost covering for other flaws. 
Motor - Never being the most talented player since about the age of 7, Lamb had to put in the work to keep up at the highest level. This has not stopped since then, and you rarely see him when he isn't on the ice, in the gym, or in the room with coaches, staff, and trainers. His goal has always been to lead a European Conference VHL team to a championship, and will seemingly stop at nothing until that goal is accomplished. Never slacks off on the ice, you will never be upset with his enthusiasm or effort.
 
Weaknesses:
Awareness - Something Lamb gets into trouble with is his lack of situational awareness. Many times is caught on a line change, or making the wrong split-second decision leading to a turnover. Relies heavily on his defensive partner, must have confidence and practice with that player to get into both a rhythm and comfortability with said partner. 
Confidence w/ Puck - His coaches, especially in Saskatoon this past season, almost begged him to join the offensive rush more often. Will make the hard pass rather than the easy shot. Needs to rely on his instincts more often, prone to overthinking and forcing himself back to the point. Would contribute alot more if he had the confidence to come below the circles and allow teammates to cover.
 
Consensus:
Karol Lamb has the work ethic, if not the tools, to be a real VHL contributing defenceman both offensive and defensively. What he currently lacks are skills that can be molded and is considered by most scouts in the know to be a very raw prospect that can reward the team that puts the work in with him. After his rookie VHLM season, many who had questions about his play in the Slovakian U20 Junior system were quickly silenced as he led their back end to a championship. A true leader, if nothing else is a positive factor in the room. Never down on himself or teammates. An underrated prospect who may sneak into the top 10 at this year's VHL draft. Apparently has no wish to play in the VHLE. 
 
NHL Player Projection: Kris Letang
VHL Player Projection: Rex Wolffe Gregor

Well deserved congratulations to both of you, but especially to the man himself @Scurvy. Loved having you around in Warsaw, always full of positivity and loved by all his teammates. Easily my biggest draft steal in my entire VHL GM tenure. Not to mention an absolute menace on the ice, glad to see you recognized, brings a tear to my eye 🥲. 
 

#ChodźmyWarszawa
 
Editing again to save @Enorama's feelings for being hurt:
Absolutely well deserved, if not for the TPE records shattered, the on-ice statistics, but the members you have singlehanded brought into the VHL. I'm sure your recruitment tree stretches further than anyone realizes, obviously I have you to thank for me being here at all. A great person, a fairly decent GM, commissioner, member, and friend. Maybe one day one of your players will join Dakota in the HOF.  

Karol Lamb Scouting Report
 

Position: Defence
Shoots: Left
DOB: February 21st, 2000
Born: Budmerice, Bratislava Region, Slovakia 🇸🇰
Junior Team: Saskatoon Wild (VHLM)
 
Strengths:
Skating - As he was raised in both hockey and speed skating, he has worked with many skating coaches since a young age. Being from a hockey family, was almost born into skates, being able to skate almost before knowing how to walk. His dynamic edgework fools opposition and adds to a shifty playstyle, adding to his offensive arsenal. There is little question about his skating, and many VHL scouts applauding with the consensus that he is a top 5 skater in this draft. His skating often gets him out of compromised positions, almost covering for other flaws. 
Motor - Never being the most talented player since about the age of 7, Lamb had to put in the work to keep up at the highest level. This has not stopped since then, and you rarely see him when he isn't on the ice, in the gym, or in the room with coaches, staff, and trainers. His goal has always been to lead a European Conference VHL team to a championship, and will seemingly stop at nothing until that goal is accomplished. Never slacks off on the ice, you will never be upset with his enthusiasm or effort.
 
Weaknesses:
Awareness - Something Lamb gets into trouble with is his lack of situational awareness. Many times is caught on a line change, or making the wrong split-second decision leading to a turnover. Relies heavily on his defensive partner, must have confidence and practice with that player to get into both a rhythm and comfortability with said partner. 
Confidence w/ Puck - His coaches, especially in Saskatoon this past season, almost begged him to join the offensive rush more often. Will make the hard pass rather than the easy shot. Needs to rely on his instincts more often, prone to overthinking and forcing himself back to the point. Would contribute alot more if he had the confidence to come below the circles and allow teammates to cover.
 
Consensus:
Karol Lamb has the work ethic, if not the tools, to be a real VHL contributing defenceman both offensive and defensively. What he currently lacks are skills that can be molded and is considered by most scouts in the know to be a very raw prospect that can reward the team that puts the work in with him. After his rookie VHLM season, many who had questions about his play in the Slovakian U20 Junior system were quickly silenced as he led their back end to a championship. A true leader, if nothing else is a positive factor in the room. Never down on himself or teammates. An underrated prospect who may sneak into the top 10 at this year's VHL draft. Apparently has no wish to play in the VHLE. 
 
NHL Player Projection: Kris Letang
VHL Player Projection: Rex Wolffe Gregor

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
 
You may have noticed that the VHLM is currently hiring for two GM openings, in Houston and San Diego. We'd like to thank everyone for showing their interest and we think we're ready to welcome in our new hires so they have time to work with this offseason.
 
First off, we've seen @AJW in a couple different runs as GM of Houston, so it seems like a natural fit to welcome him back, doesn't it? We'd like to do just that. We hope AJ can make his experience with the Bulls into even more positive experiences for the Bulls of the future!
 
The VHLM is a place for newer members as well, so we've been blessed with a few applicants who haven't yet had the chance to GM. One in particular has stood out to us as someone who's been active around the league up to this point and has ties to the Marlins. Without further ado, we're appointing @Mysterious_Fish GM of San Diego! We're excited to see what can be brought to this franchise.
 
 
Thanks to everyone who applied for these openings! As always, we're happy that people would like to work with us to make the VHLM a better place. I hope this continues well into the future and that we can make this a great season!
 
@VHLM Commissioner

1. We did it!! Toronto Legion, S91 Continental Cup Champions. How does that statement make you feel?
I'm pretty impartial, to be honest. When I was growing up, Toronto was definitely a punching bag there for a little while, always stuck behind Vancouver and Seattle. Being European, of course I'm always cheering for that conference to take home the cup, but congratulations are definitely due, good for them for sure. 
2. What was your initial reaction when you found out we had won the Continental Cup?
Again, I was more focused on our own playoff run, as we were playing the finals around the same time. I actually didn't see they had won it until a few days later due to all the partying we were doing over here in Saskatoon.
3. Who would be you pick for MVP of the S91 playoffs?
It's hard... I don't want to default to winning goalie, but man are Castle's stats good. But then again, Atlas almost averaging 2 points/game all playoffs long? It's next to impossible to make a choice, but one of those two. BOG voters will probably go with someone out of left field though.
4. What do you think our biggest need going into the off-season is?
Rest. My dad, who was a pro in Slovakia, always said that long playoff runs were the main reason he didn't play as long as he would have liked. It's hard on the body and mind, so take the shortened off-season, party hard the next few days here, and then try and rest up for the repeat. 
5. Former Legion (for his final season) Ronan Lavelle @Arce has been inducted into the VHL Hall of Fame. What words do you have for him?
Many congratulations to him. I owned a Lavelle D.C. Dragons jersey growing up, so that's where I'll always remember him. But being inducted is a great accomplishment, and I can't even think of what that honour must mean.
6. What's your drink of choice to celebrate New Year's?
Depends where I am. Out, probably vodka and 7up, but if I'm at home I'd probably prefer a rum and coke.

1. We did it!! Toronto Legion, S91 Continental Cup Champions. How does that statement make you feel?
I'm pretty impartial, to be honest. When I was growing up, Toronto was definitely a punching bag there for a little while, always stuck behind Vancouver and Seattle. Being European, of course I'm always cheering for that conference to take home the cup, but congratulations are definitely due, good for them for sure. 
2. What was your initial reaction when you found out we had won the Continental Cup?
Again, I was more focused on our own playoff run, as we were playing the finals around the same time. I actually didn't see they had won it until a few days later due to all the partying we were doing over here in Saskatoon.
3. Who would be you pick for MVP of the S91 playoffs?
It's hard... I don't want to default to winning goalie, but man are Castle's stats good. But then again, Atlas almost averaging 2 points/game all playoffs long? It's next to impossible to make a choice, but one of those two. BOG voters will probably go with someone out of left field though.
4. What do you think our biggest need going into the off-season is?
Rest. My dad, who was a pro in Slovakia, always said that long playoff runs were the main reason he didn't play as long as he would have liked. It's hard on the body and mind, so take the shortened off-season, party hard the next few days here, and then try and rest up for the repeat. 
5. Former Legion (for his final season) Ronan Lavelle @Arce has been inducted into the VHL Hall of Fame. What words do you have for him?
Many congratulations to him. I owned a Lavelle D.C. Dragons jersey growing up, so that's where I'll always remember him. But being inducted is a great accomplishment, and I can't even think of what that honour must mean.
6. What's your drink of choice to celebrate New Year's?
Depends where I am. Out, probably vodka and 7up, but if I'm at home I'd probably prefer a rum and coke.

The Next Hutson?
 

Solano Gavriello
 
Lane Hutson is one of the most exciting prospects to watch in hockey right now. As he plays with the Boston University Terriers and with the United States U20 world junior team, scouts and fans are dazzled by his explosive strides, ankle-breaking deception, and absolute confidence with the puck on his stick. Hutson represents a new era of defencemen in the NHL, where giant, slow-moving defencemen are being passed over in favour of typically smaller defenders who are dynamic, offensively inclined but defensively responsible, explosive skaters, and playing with the utmost deception and ferociousness.
 
Enter Solano Gavriello. Born in Skellefteå, Sweden, to a Uruguayan father and Swedish mother, Gavriello was born into hockey. His father was the most important man in Uruguayan hockey before moving to Sweden, where he met Solano’s mother, who had played on the Swedish national team. Needless to say, Solano was born into hockey. He grew up playing for the local club, Skellefteå AIK, and worked his way up through the levels to become one of the premier defenceman in the SHL. In his minor hockey career, he represented Sweden at the U17 World Championships, U18 World Championships, World Junior A Challenge, and most recently, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He will surely be a contender for Sweden’s World Junior team once he gains experience in the VHLM.
 

Gavriello at the U18s
 
Gavriello was drafted 11th overall in the CHL import draft by the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, but declined to report to the Generals, and instead continue with AIK’s U20 and then pro team. 2 seasons ago, he played his final season with the AIK U20 team, where he excelled. His vision, passing, and explosive moves made him a dominant player in the Swedish U20 loop, where he helped AIK win the national championship. In 30 games, he recorded 11 goals and 27 assists for 38 points, leading all defencemen in goals and points. Last season, he made AIK’s pro team, which plays in the SHL, the top Swedish pro league and one of the best hockey leagues in the world. As a younger player, he started the season with limited ice time and special teams time but earned the trust of coaches through being always the hardest working player on the ice and his unbelievable skills. He finished the season with 6 goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 28 games, which is unheard of for a rookie defenceman in the SHL. He unseated an NHL veteran as the quarterback on the power play, and shone under the high pressure and faster speeds of playing with men.
 
Despite being only 5’7, he is built like a fire hydrant at 180lbs, and makes up for his undersize frame with excellent stick work and body position, as well as being absolutely fearless and tenacious in corners. He has smooth skating, smoother than Hutson’s maybe, but doesn’t quite match Hutson’s puck skills and deception quite yet. He creates separation after his nifty moves with his explosive first three steps, and is a fantastic playmaker and finisher in the offensive zone. His shot, while not incredibly powerful or pretty, finds its way through traffic and into the back of the net.
 

At the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup
 
Gavriello is also a dedicated student. He speaks English, Swedish, and Spanish fluently, and is learning French and German. He enjoys studying history, math, and computer science, and is an outdoorsman, often embarking on week-long hikes with his friends during the offseason. He played football, tennis, and ran track during summers and spring, which were great complementary sports for his hockey play. He was especially good at football, and nearly went to a top British prep school to play before wholly committing to hockey at the age of 14. He found that having excellent control of his feet and how quick it made him were benefits of continuing his football playing while he was playing hockey. Multi-sport athletes are valuable for these traits of athleticism, and the author wishes he continued played more sports than just hockey growing up!
 
 
 
 
 
Gavriello on the upcoming S92 VHLM draft:
“I’m super excited to start a new part of my career in North America with whatever team selects me in the draft. Playing on the smaller ice will be an adjustment for sure, I’m not sure I like it. Not as much space to pass and make plays, less time with the puck. Lots of big Canadian and American boys, that’s for sure haha. Really, I’m pumped to take this next step and start playing.”
“I’ve been to Canada twice, for tournaments. It’s nice, warmer than Sweden actually. I want to play in a place like Vancouver, near the ocean. It reminds me of Stockholm very much. That being said, I’d be perfectly happy playing in Saskatchewan or something too, as long as I’m playing. The VHLE is actually a very exciting part of this journey for me because it isn’t an option for NHL players as a development path and it is for us, so I’m pumped to play in Europe. No offense to you North Americans, but Europe is the best. Maybe only Uruguay is better.”
 
Gavriello is currently not at the top of VHLM draft rankings but is sure to climb as he makes more appearances at showcase events and combines in North America. Perhaps some teams will be turned off him because of his size, but as Lane Hutson, Samuel Girard, Adam Fox, Seamus Casey, Torey Krug, Quinn Hughes, and many other undersized defencemen have shown, it is not as big an obstacle as some people think. Gavriello takes pride in his height, citing how it forced him to become quick and manoeuvrable, and to learn how to beat bigger players in corners and physical battles. He is able to throw his weight around pretty darn well too, having mastered using all of his 180lbs to throw devastating hip checks as unsuspecting wingers try to sneak past him on the boards.  
 
 
Louie_Z
1000 words

Well deserved congratulations to both of you, but especially to the man himself @Scurvy. Loved having you around in Warsaw, always full of positivity and loved by all his teammates. Easily my biggest draft steal in my entire VHL GM tenure. Not to mention an absolute menace on the ice, glad to see you recognized, brings a tear to my eye 🥲. 
 

#ChodźmyWarszawa
 
Editing again to save @Enorama's feelings for being hurt:
Absolutely well deserved, if not for the TPE records shattered, the on-ice statistics, but the members you have singlehanded brought into the VHL. I'm sure your recruitment tree stretches further than anyone realizes, obviously I have you to thank for me being here at all. A great person, a fairly decent GM, commissioner, member, and friend. Maybe one day one of your players will join Dakota in the HOF.  

WOW!!!  What a huge honor, especially with so many deserving people. Thank you so much!  I am so happy I clicked the "create a player" link after surfing the forum for so long back in the day.  What a great community and I am honored to be a part of it.  

'tis a wonderful time, the week between Christmas and New Year's, and I am pleased today to announce the induction of two wonderful S83 draftees into the VHL Hall of Fame.
 
LW - Ronan Lavelle, S83-S90 
RS: 576 GP, 322 G, 417 A, 739 P, +175, 686 PIM, 1,473 HIT, 303 SB, 47 GW
PO: 70 GP, 44 G, 51 A, 95 P, -3, 93 PIM, 212 HIT, 37 SB, 8 GW
 
S84 Dustin Funk Trophy (Most Improved)
S85 Daisuke Kanou Trophy (Playoff MVP)
S88 Brett Slobodzian Trophy (Most Outstanding)
S88 Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points)
S89 Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points)
S89 Kevin Brooks Trophy (Most Goals)
2x All-VHL First Team (S88, S89)
3x All-VHL Second Team (S84, S85, S90)
One Continental Cup (S85)
 
We've seen some big blasts from the past return to the VHL recently. v2's comeback with Tui Sova was a huge success, making the Hall of Fame some 80 seasons, over a literal decade, after Josh Vestiquan's induction. Sova's last act, captaining D.C.'s maiden championship was in part made possible by playoff MVP Ronan Lavelle, a return to glory for one Zach @Arce who himself was last inducted around the same time as Vestiquan. For Lavelle, that playoff run in S85 was just the start of a dominant run, one of the finest forward careers we have seen in the 16-team era. He led the league in points twice and notched 7 consecutive seasons of 90 points or more, an unprecedented feat in the modern day. A guaranteed scorer wherever he went, Lavelle is a fine addition to the Hall and a great return to form for a VHL legend.
 
 
 
D - Brian Payne, S83-S90 
RS: 576 GP, 147 G, 476 A, 623 P, +184, 1,684 PIM, 2,064 HIT, 1,326 SB, 26 GW
PO: 72 GP, 17 G, 46 A, 63 P, -2, 227 PIM, 260 HIT, 184 SB, 4 GW
 
S85 Sterling Labatte Trophy (Top Defenceman)
S85 Jake Wylde Trophy (Top Defensive Defenceman)
S86 Jake Wylde Trophy (Top Defensive Defenceman)
1x All-VHL First Team (S85)
4x All-VHL Second Team (S86, S88, S89, S90)
One Continental Cup (S84)
 
Lavelle looked like a star from the start, but Brian Payne simmered under the surface. Warsaw located an uncut gem at 26th overall, because he worked his way to the top through grit and stayed there through sheer consistency. Payne started to become noticed when he would without fail end up in the conversation for at least one defenceman award each season. He was no slouch offensively with 6 straight 80-point seasons, but it's the all-around game where he stood out. There's only 1 previous Hall of Famer, Patrice Reynaud back from the VHL's first decade, with more than 1,300 blocked shots, because very few can combine that with over a point-per-game pace. When you add 2,000+ hits, Payne stands in a league of his own. No wonder @Scurvy stood out even on a star-studded Warsaw team, one of the most recognisable of the decade.
 
 
Voting results
Brian Payne - 14/16
Ronan Lavelle - 13/16
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Kristof Welch - 1/16
Papa Emeritus - 1/16
Nico Pearce - 1/16
Hammar Voss - 1/16
Oskar Lingbergh, Zach Kisslinger II, Bo Johansson - 0/16
 
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And that's not all, this season we are back with a Builder induction. S91 has seen a whole generation of players retire who have played since the player build changes of S83, as well as one season removed from the 10-season anniversary of the VHLE. So what better time to recognise the man who played an integral role in the testing and refining of the new attibutes and is one of the current VHLE commissioners? @Enorama has been actively involved in two of the biggest novelties of the 80s and it's no surprise he's carved out such an impressive legacy. To me, it was obvious he would have a big role to play in the league from Ryan Kastelic's impressive pre-draft performance when in S61 he became the 1st first-gen drafted 1st overall in 30 seasons, but a trend-setter for several of the subsequent drafts. Kastelic didn't make the HOF and I hope Eno's hard work is rewarded at some point with a player induction, but he was the first (and only, before 9-season careers) player to earn 2,000 TPE. Plus, a Builder induction without HOF players only says more about the extracurricular work Eno's done. Founder of the aforementioned D.C. Dragons, guiding them through a few seasons of bad luck to finally get the Continental Cup nearly 20 seasons later (feat. the aforementioned Sova and Lavelle), Enorama has also been a productive long-term member of the BOG and this doesn't feel like the end of the story yet.
 
 
Congratulations all!

My passion is unmatched. Thus, applied.