kesytamm

So I just wanted to do a top 5 list of my current favorite players in the VHLM. This time I'll be excluding myself, as I want to leave room for players on this list to not be overshadowed by my less than spectacular sophomore year in the minors. Without any further delay I'll get straight into this list, expect a lot of Vegas love.
 
5. Kasey Tamm  @kesytamm
How can you not love this player? Former Ace, played on the top regular season team this year, and overshadowed by many players.
Kasey Tamm is an unstoppable force, and really proved to be an incredible player this season, sitting at 252 tpe with 2 banked, his point total dropped from last season, but that's to be expected from a player surrounded by such high TPE players. Kasey was a 93 point scorer in his rookie year with Las Vegas, but dropped to 55 this season. Kasey could have absolutely popped off on any other team, and for that reason I really love this player. Not just the player, but the person behind the player is excellent as well. 
 
4. Chris Reynolds  @Crstats23
How can you not love Chris? 118 points this season, with 50 goals and 68 assists? The man is an absolute STUD, excellent production with a great defensive game as well. He's also poised to make a HUGE entrance in Warsaw next season, 292 tpe with 42 banked he's set to crack the roster and compete for rookie of the year. Also Chris was a huge part of the magic first line that placed Vegas second in the league, he absolutely was a leader on and off the ice. As his teammate and alternate captain, this man absolutely put the work in to get that C on his jersey. And the entire locker room loves him, he's just genuinely a player I like to have around. 
 
3. Gary Rush  @G_Rush
Here he is, the Vegas fan favorite, easily one of the greatest players in the minors, if not THE best forward in the minors. This man almost had a 60 goal season, while also having a linemate putting up a 50 goal season! That's absolutely ridiculous, but also topped off with 65 assists to bring his point total to 124 is absolutely bonkers. Gary is EASILY the best player on Vegas, and we love to see him score big goals. Gary had a +/- this season of +82, he also tied with Brian Strong Jr for most points this season. The accolades this man has knows no bounds, I can only guess how incredible his potential may be. 
 
2. Rhynex Entertainment  @Rhynex Entertainment
Is there any top 5 player list without this man? Because Rhynex has consistently been one of the top players on the year. With 71 assists 43 goals for a total of 114 points? Absolutely INSANE. But this isn't even his final form, he has 71 banked tpe ready to be assigned when he graduates to the VHL. The New York Americans might actually have their next captain ready to go, because Rhynex is an absolute BEAST of a leader. I know he lost his A this season, but I think that in part that's due to there being so many natural leaders in the Ace's locker room. On and off the ice this man has absolutely just changed the way I view the sport. I love this man. 
 
1. Its Gucci  @frescoelmo
The man, the myth, the legend. See before the season began, Spartan has brought me into the draft live stream to give my thoughts on picking Gucci in the draft. And I liked the pick, he's a solid welfare+ earner, earning around 13 - 15 tpe every week. I think that his production picked up even more as the race to the playoffs began, he really shows the dedication to the team in the locker room constantly. I was kind of scared leaving the team for the VHL because of our draft situation, but seeing players like Its Gucci on the team, who aren't leaving for the draft, it makes me feel like Vegas will be fine. This man is the future face of the Ace's and I look forward to seeing him grow further, he only put up 8 goals this season, but he had 39 assists, likely passes to ya boi. Gucci is great, or should I say, pretty gucci. 
 
     That wraps up the top 5 list. I told you, expect a lot of Vegas love, because at this point, it's what I do. Much love to everyone with the Ace's org, and I'm glad y'all took a chance on me, because I really loved playing with you all. Also if you havent already, join the Ace's discord, its the best discord in the league, hands down. Anyways, I really just can't wait for the sweet release of death, and I look forward to its everlasting darkness and nothingness. Take it easy, ESKETIT.

Before I announce the roster for this season's Team World, I first want to say that I'm very grateful to have been selected as GM for this team. I'm super excited that I got a chance to come back in a different way. I also want to give a huge thanks to @Zetterberg for helping me through this process. And without further ado...
 

 
S74 WJC Team World Roster:
 
Forwards:
 
Jared Willis @BlueMaple
Wolf Weiss @Matmenzinger
Kasey Tamm @kesytamm
Jeff Odinson @GoldGear88
Pistil Stamen @DMaximus
Alek Andreshnikov @PuckPushers
Joe Kelly @emidas
Secel Keller @xsjack
Theodore James St. Louis @Nick Kirkpatrick
 
Defense:
 
Bobby Wyman @Lefty_S
Shawn Glade III @ShawnGlade
L @gorlab
Gabriel Akerstrom @Mason
 
Goalies:
 
Doug Dimmadome @Esso2264
Kevin Malone @chatfan036
 
Congratulations to all selected! I'm confident in this team and hopefully we'll have a great season under one banner. Go World!
 
Here's the link to the discord, I will also send you the links individually as well.
https://discord.gg/haxEkTu

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

Sorry for intruding lol
Bring it on my friend we’ll be ready, but good luck just not against Vegas 

Making the Las Vegas Aces logo
 
With the Las Vegas logo being announced and the massive amount of support it’s gotten I figured it would be a cool idea to share the process in making it, and give an insight into some of the challenges we faced as well as some of the original designs.

I was first approached by Spartan about a month ago asking if I would help him create a new logo for Las Vegas. I was always bothered by how the logo at the time looked so I accepted and straight away got to work on coming up with a concept. Spartan had given me two ideas to work with, one he wanted the nighthawk jet incorporated into the design if possible, and two he wanted to keep the ace of spades. My original idea was to take this image

And turn it into the ace of spades using the body and the tail wings but I just couldn’t figure out a good way to do it plus the ace of spades would have had to be upside down. So my next idea was to have a bird-eye view of the plane and put an ace on it similar to the Winnipeg jets logo. The jets logo would be my inspiration moving forward. The original design looked like this,

 
(It's bad I know but it was the basic design that helped shaped the official one)
I wasn’t happy with how simple it looked so I added lines to the triangle and the jet to add some dimension and make it look less basic, that looked like this:
I was pretty happy with how it turned out but felt like it needed something else to be added onto the sides because long vertical logos are a pain to put onto jerseys and make it look good, so I added a design on either side which in hindsight I have to admit was a bit much, I also added an A to make it similar to the original logo. And finally, I removed the club and heart which I’m not sure if that was a good idea but at the time the logo was busy enough already. That design looked like this,

I was happy with it so I sent it to spartan for some feedback. This is when it got a bit crazy, we went through around 40 different designs before nailing the one we wanted, and even more designs that I haven’t shown to anyone. So from this point onward I’ll just show the ones that were the most important ones in the process.


The next step was adding colour to the logo, Before I even started on the project we had to decide a colour scheme, Black was pretty much a given and white is easy to work with and it’s very hard to pull off a logo without it especially one incorporating dead space.
So we had to decide between green or yellow, four colours seemed like too much and would probably not look great on the logo, that’s not to say logos can’t have four colours but for the one we wanted it seemed like three would fit best.
I added a very subtle green that really you couldn’t see then sonnet added green into the diamond which we all agreed looked better.

                    Green            So little green you can’t even notice

Next up was the background or shape in the background. The lines on either side of the diamond just didn’t fit so we had to come up with an alternative It was discussed if we or should just keep it as a diamond and not include a background but I kept pushing for the background and eventually we came up with these two designs:
.

The one on the left looked way too much like a shoulder patch rather than a logo and so we decided to work on the one on the right and improve the stripes. Which lead to this design.
 
Then we got feedback from the people in charge, the lines make it look like a tribal mask, not a plane. Change was needed so I adjusted the lines trying to make it look more like a plane sonnet also pitched in an idea for the lines on the plane.

    Mine                                                             Sonnet’s 

 
Two important changes happened here, sonnet added the line through the middle and I swapped the colour of the spade. Both would make it to the final design. I then added another suggestion, making the plane face upwards. The upward plane made it into the final design over the downward for two reasons. The first, It was easier to tell it was a plane, and second, when a plane is facing down it's considered to be crashing while one going upwards is considered flying.

Again people didn’t like the lines on the plane so after playing around trying a way to implement them we decided against them, Gorlab gave a suggestion to change the green to the felt green used on casino tables which was a great idea that we decided to use. The next step was to put it all together. Sonnet made the diamond that we decided to use and again the idea for just the diamond came up which again using this template sonnet held a vote for some criticism. 
We added minimal detail to a couple of them but it was pretty obvious that no detailing was the way to go. People thought that the casino chip was the way to go so we went into finalizing it I set up a a bunch of options to pick from.

#4 was the one picked and it got accepted almost immediately.
And that is how Las Vegas got it’s new logo.

I would like to give a huge thank you @Spartan for inviting me to work on this project and helped come up with the idea and gave criticism and @Sonnet who helped keep me on track and edit the logo, I doubt it would look even close to as good as it does now without their help. And another thank you to everyone else who helped work on this project.
 
1,037 words 5,349 characters
claiming weeks ending 06 and 13

Season 74 VHLM Predictions
 
Standings
 
1st - 4th
These 4 teams are split in half in terms of how their rosters will be constructed. Half are retaining a solid amount of players that have room to grow, the other two will be building a team almost solely off their draft picks. 
 
Las Vegas - 1st (S73 - 6th)
Although they don’t have a massive stockpile of picks like Halifax, Vegas is going to be keeping a lot of their players from season 73, many of which have been very active and will keep improving over the offseason. They also won’t be losing many key pieces that got them to the playoffs in 73.
 
Ottawa - 2nd (S73 - 4th)
Ottawa is another team that will be keeping a lot of players from the previous season, they also have a decent number of draft picks to fill out the rest of their roster. However, they will be losing quite a few key pieces to the team, like Ajay Krishna, their starting goalie, which is why I have Vegas edging them out.
 
Halifax - 3rd (S73 - 12th)
Halifax will be going into season 74 fresh off a terrible performance the previous season. Halifax, however, looks poised to be one of the top teams for several seasons. Halifax GM, Dil, has been stockpiling draft picks and currently possesses 14, 13 of which are in the first 3 rounds. Assuming the players drafted perform to their potential, Halifax should have no problem maintaining a top 5 finish, at least, for the next few seasons.
 
Yukon - 4th (S73 - 11th)
Yukon are in a similar position to Halifax, they have been making moves to get draft picks for the upcoming draft. They haven’t managed to get as many as Halifax, though they have the same number (14), only 8 are in the first 3 rounds. They also currently have worse goaltending than Halifax.
 
 
5th - 9th
For me 5th to 9th are a toss up between the 5 teams, however I think that the teams I have up till 8th could all finish as high as the top 3.
 
Mississauga - 5th (S73 - 9th)
Mississauga is another team that has performed poorly recently, but have gained draft picks to start building a really good roster from. They don’t have as many high picks as Yukon and Vegas, but they have the most overall picks in the draft at 15.
 
Houston - 6th (S73 - 2nd)
Houston is one team that should be able to find success without a ton of draft picks, or even a lot of players staying down. Houston has just the right amount of players that should be staying down, and just the right amount of draft picks, to have a competitive team.
 
San Diego - 7th (S73 - 5th)
San Diego is in a similar position to Vegas, in the amount of great players they’ll have staying on their roster, but I don’t think they have as many of those players as Vegas, and they also don’t have any picks within the first 3 rounds of the draft. Despite having them in 7th, they could finish in a much higher position than this.
 
Philadelphia - 8th (S73 - 8th)
Philly is another team that will have a lot of solid players that will be staying down, however, they do not have many draft picks to back up the roster. Despite having them in 8th I think the success of this team depends on how many of their current players are able to develop quickly. This is a team that could finish in the top 3 if all their players grow quickly, and their draft picks are used effectively.
 
Minnesota - 9th (S73 - 3rd)
Minnesota is similar to Houston in terms of the balance between current players and picks, but they just don’t have enough high overall picks to put them higher than 9th. Depending on how many of their players stay on the roster, I think Minnesota could finish as high as 5th.
 
 
10th-12th
These 3 teams are the ones I think are locked to be out of the playoffs or at the very least, guaranteed to be out in the 1st round of the playoffs.
 
Saskatoon - 10th (S73 - 7th)
Saskatoon has been competitive long enough to be comfortable being out of the running for the cup. They have many key pieces going up to the bigs in season 74, and don’t have many draft picks this draft. Saskatoon is the only one of the bottom 3 teams I think have a possibility of making the playoffs.
 
Mexico - 11th (S73 - 10th)
I almost feel bad for Mexico, in fact, I do feel bad for them. After finishing 10th in season 73, they are the only team that is pretty much locked to be out of the playoffs in back to back seasons. With only 1 pick in the upcoming draft, and hardly even having a roster, the only thing keeping Mexico from being at the bottom of my rankings is a story I think would be funny.
 
Miami - 12th (S73 - 1st)
As I just mentioned, one of the 2 reasons I have Miami in last is because I think it would be funny to see a team go from 1st to 12th in 1 season. The second reason, however, is because they will be in a similar position as Mexico at the end of these playoffs. Almost every single one of their players will be graduating to the VHL and they have 8 picks in the upcoming draft, all of which are in round 4 and beyond.
 
 
Stats
Individual player stats are a lot harder to predict than overall standings because of the factor of individual TPE earning. Regardless, I am going to do my best, with minimal explanation.
 
Forwards
Measured solely off points, I have pretty broad point totals, all being multiples of 5, to make it easier on myself.
1. Kasey Tamm - LW - LVA @kesytamm
60 G - 60 A - 120 P
Tamm had an extremely good first season in the VHLM, and assuming both them and Waters stay down and on Vegas they could form an elite duo that could tear up the minors next season.
 
2. Tim Waters - C - LVA @Siddhus
20 G - 95 A - 115 P
Waters is the perfect center to compliment a goal scorer like Tamm, in his first VHLM season he had 53 assists and only 8 goals, with some more improvement and an improved Tamm, he could easily have over 100 points.
 
3. Jonas Stormsson - LW - HOU @Kyle
55 G - 55 A - 110 P
Stormsson did not have a very breathtaking season, but they were also overshadowed by several other big names on Houston. Stormsson could be one of the capped players to start off and should have a great season making major improvements points wise to season 73.
 
4. Wolf Weiss - C - OTT @Matmenzinger
50 G - 55 A - 105 P
Weiss is the most likely of these players to play in the VHL in season 74, but if they stay down they’ll tear up the minors on an Ottawa team that could be very good. Last season he had more assists than goals despite having a better shot, and that could have had something to do with the make-up of the Ottawa roster, but regardless, Weiss should have a great year.
 
5. Brian Strong Jr. - C -SSK @Wheaties
45 G 55 A - 100 P
I think Strong’s performance will depend on the team he has around them, with the Vegas players I think the team they’ll have will do very good, but with Strong and Saskatoon it is hard to say. This is a player that could drop or rise in the stats department if they have a quality team around them.
 
 
Defensemen
I am going to rank who I think will be the top 5 defensemen in terms of all around play, shots blocked, hits, +/-, not just points.
 
1. Gabriel Akerstrom - LVA @Mason
90 P - 100 Hits - 110 SB - 50 +/-
Akerstrom is another Vegas player who I think will come in to next season and contribute heavily to their team’s success. Akerstrom is a great two-way defenseman who should have well rounded stats, with some improvements on their previous season.
 
2. Muffbeav - LVA @.sniffuM
95 P - 70 Hits - 75 SB - 45 +/-
I feel like I’ve been very biased towards Vegas and their players here, but depending on who Muffbeav plays for in season 74 they could have a fantastic season. Although being at a low TPE right now, .sniffuM, is obviously very active and will hopefully be looking to bring pride and a lot of points to the Muffbeav name.
 
3. Eoin Byrne - YUK @LatinViking
75 P - 90 Hits - 120 SB - 35 +/-
Byrne did not have a lot of success on a struggling Yukon last season, but after staying very active and having a large amount of growth, Byrne should see massive improvements on both ends of the ice.
 
4. Shawty Nananana - HOU @Grape
75 P - 75 Hits - 85 SB - 35 +/-
Nananana, what a name, was a part of a very dominant Houston team which should see regression in season 74, regression is not something Shawty should see as an individual player though. Perhaps overlooked by other defenders on Houston, Shawty did not receive a lot of play time, but in the upcoming season they will be a top pairing D which will factor in to any improvements Shawty has made.
 
5. L - PHI @gorlab
50 P - 100 Hits - 100 SB - 50 +/-
Despite the name, L, should not want to take any of those, and will be a big factor in whether or not their team pushes for a championship. This is a player that is hard to predict, with the only thing to go off of being a 92 DEF stat, I can only assume L will be a DFD. Currently at a lower TPE, L should see huge growth over the offseason.
 
 
Goalies
Are something I’m not even gonna try to predict this early on, and with goalie stats being pretty even anyways.
 
 
Season 73 was somewhat off season in the VHLM, a lot of point totals were lower than previous seasons, which made season 74 hard to predict. Maybe a lot of players' stats will shoot up and we’ll see another couple players with 60+ goal seasons again. Were this to happen it would be exciting, but would ruin my predictions… But seeing as these predictions are pretty dependent on a draft that hasn’t happened yet, and players who haven’t decided which league they’ll be playing in, the predictions will likely be pretty bad anyways.
 
and @Dil because his team might be good and was mentioned directly.
 
1700-1721 words depending on what is counted as a word

Las Vegas AGM Announcement
 
As most of you know, I have been on the hunt for a new AGM to replace @twists, who is stepping down. Twists was an integral part of this past season's Aces squad, helping to bring together first-gens and recreates alike to create and foster a team that has grown in leaps and bounds. His advice and assistance took a rebuilding Aces squad into contention, by being hands on with members and assisting users with their development. It's unusual to see this many active first-gens on one squad, and Twists was a big part of that occurring. I'm sad to see him go, but I know he'll be back in an AGM or GM position in the future.
 
With that being said, I'm proud to announce that I've hired a new AGM to take over from Twists and to be a huge part of a team. There were many qualified candidates, and I enjoyed reading folks' responses. I know that @Z16, @inflastud, @Crstats23, @PatrikLaine, and @Blazzer will receive their opportunities in due time. I highly recommend any of these individuals to other GMs. However, the prime candidate in my eyes, is someone who is available, knowledgeable, passionate, and ready to take the step into the managerial aspect of sim league hockey. 
 
I'm thrilled to announce @JigglyGumballs as the new AGM for the Las Vegas Aces! Let's have a fantastic S74. I'm really looking forward to working closely with him!

1. We're going to win it all. We've developed internally at such a high level, we have an insanely deep team. I have full faith in whatever line we throw out, that I really do think we can make a deep run.
 
2. Well uh.. I just.. okay. I think we can take home the title this year. Like I said above, we are one of the deeper teams out there in my opinion. We have a strong chance to surprise some other great teams.
 
3. Yes I have, it was a pretty fun time. But holy shit the smell is exactly what you would expect. Smoke, smoke, smoke. It doesn't bother me too much, until I started getting a headache. It was still a pretty fun time, though. Would go again (when I ain't a broke mf).
 
4. Well uh... maybe uh...
 
                                                                 ...yes.
 
5. Nah, I want to let my play do the talking. I'm too small to get my face caved in for talking shit my rookie season.
 
6. Lmao fishy. Gotta be. There is no other answer.
 

DISCLAIMER: This scouting report is brought to you by MattyIce, and this has no affiliation to the VSN Scouting department.  These are simply rankings, not who will go where based on recreates or favoritism, nor will I make any predictions.
 
This is a monster list, so we will keep this moving quickly:
 
Rank 1-20
@Renomitsu @Jtv123 @BladeMaiden @fonziGG @Quik @Esso2264 @Emi @Enorama @Plate @flyersfan1453 @okochastar@Banackock @Smarch @AW13 @Jeffie43 @Z16 @InstantRockstar @Blazzer @Matmenzinger @Riley_Couture
Yeah, this a stacked top end.  Pretty certain the top 10 are slam dunk selections, along with some surprise earners like Emi Rune and Riley Couture.  Couture jumped a massive 9 spots into the top 20 while the top six pretty much held on to their spots.  One surprise rank demotion though, Lucifer Olivier Leveque not training as hard apparently, dropping four spots to 17th, despite being a top dman in his rookie VHLM season.  Overall, this bunch will not disappoint any talent scout.
 
Rank 21-40
@kesytamm @Siddhus @Philliefan @Mason @Rhynex Entertainment @Kyle @Wheaties @Gooningitup @LatinViking @Crstats23@Grape @Psanchez55 @chatfan036 @gregreg @Corgi34 @NickSunderbruch @Nepto @inflastud @DirtyDerek
The top half of this group have quite a bit of potential.  Kasey Tamm, playing for Las Vegas, leads this group with 48 goals and 93 points, which is nothing to brush off.  Some players like Gabriel Akerstrom, Tim Waters, Rhynex Entertainment and goalie Vsevold Askarov have shown some promise, putting up points for their clubs and slowly climbing the rankings.  Like any draft, there will be some hits and misses within this group.
 
Rank 41-60
@Kloxified @JorgTheGoat03 @GeckoeyGecko @dariusmarimotoman @kentakira @Haydon Learmonth @Goliathus @BigZouzou @Cwalker @MSO94 @Matt thunder @OscarTheSwagDude @Wreckening @Huulio @Minermonkey @Firekiss @CosmicStorm @Cambodia1617 @Briedaqueduc @BumLightYear31
Some of these players haven't played a full season, so their potentials remain unknown, or untapped.  However, some standouts like Kloxified, The Blob, Carson Walkers, Darius Marimoto and Tee Pee II come to mind as players that have produced for their clubs.  Relative newcomer Frank THE TANK Googenheim jumped up into this group with hopes to make a statement to get another look from the scouts.
 
Rank 61-80
@jacobcarson877 @Jaster Mereel @TommySalami @jack u @Xflexz @AnthonyOuellet @jimmyallen93 @Kelsier @Salminen @H0PPY75 @Josequaresma @snackhero @nickthe00 @chris @wdymbrother6 @Killerninjamoder @Brodie_Landry @Braden Neeson @jspilly27 @Kinoe Ander
There are many free agents in this group, however, four players have played the entire season.  All of these players' potentials are unknown to the scouts, and it's even up in the air if they will all get drafted.  If I were speaking to any of these players, I'd get to the bottom of who is responsible for their training to get a pulse for what they can bring to the table.
 
Well there you have it!
 
MattyIce, signing off on this scouting report.  Cheers VHL!
 

The immediate draw to a new draft is undoubtedly its recreates. Users can be coming off of successful careers with their last player, returning after a break from the league, or perhaps even seeking redemption after their previous career did not go as initially envisioned. These storylines are fun to follow, and make the draft more intriguing. However, what takes a draft from ordinary to memorable is often not the recreates; it is in the hands of the league’s newest faces. Each season, we see first-generation players distinguish themselves as top-tier prospects and members of the VHL community. This article is written in recognition of this season’s top eight first-gens ranked by TPE, and their hard work to prove their worth to the league. The rankings are based on all TPE earned before the week of 8/30, as it is not yet complete. If your player isn’t here yet, hard work and consistency will send you on the path to VHL stardom anyway, current rankings be damned.
 
Before we begin, I would like to bring to your attention some of VSN’s latest work. Whether you’re one of these players and would like to keep up with the VHLM’s latest news, or you’re an older member who’d enjoy looking back at some of the league’s most prominent teams, VSN has anything and everything you’d want. Here’s a few options, so feel free to check those out if they interest you.
| VHLM Weekly | Deep Rewind | VSN Radio | VHL Weekly |
 
 
| Emi Rune - D - 226 TPE | @Emi
Eighteen year-old defender Emi Rune has emerged as one of this draft’s best talents through fantastic two way play and puck-moving ability. Rune will be ready for the VHL in S74, and could make an impact right away for whoever drafts her. She has not missed one capped TPE since joining, and has piled on 82 uncapped TPE to that total as well, which is fifth in the entire draft class and second among first-gen players. If Rune can keep this progression up, expect her to be considered a star in the big league sooner rather than later. Emi has had some notable moments as a user so far too, such as being hired as Vancouver’s AGM, creating custom team designs, and hosting a podcast. This is an exciting new member and player who has had a remarkable start to what is hopefully a long, successful VHL career.
 
 
| Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd - RW - 216 TPE | @Jeffie43
Recruited by this draft’s top prospect, Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd has wasted no time in building a name for himself. His 88 uncapped TPE leads the entire draft class, and he has earned almost every possible capped TPE as well. The winger of Singapore has an extremely focused build, with TPE applied to only defence (90), scoring (88), and puck handling (56). These are three of the most important attributes, and this is a build that will bring him results right away in the VHLM. Said success is already evident in his 33 goals and 70 points in the regular season. Obviously as he grows into the great VHL player he’s on the path to becoming, it is likely that he picks up his puck handling a bit more, as well as skating. Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd is a prospect I hold in high regard, and I see him as an important piece of whichever team he becomes a part of.
 
 
| Lee Xin - RW - 192 TPE | @Blazzer
Lee Xin of the Ottawa Lynx has shown incredible promise in his young career to date, especially offensively. The 6’0”, 175 lb winger just keeps getting better and better, making the step up from a welfare earner to a PT earner a few weeks ago and claiming 47 of a possible 48 capped TPE since then. Xin is an unpredictable offensive threat who mainly thrives with the puck on his stick. He has flashy moves and a cannon of a shot in his arsenal, and can find open space for scoring opportunities quite often. User Blazzer has been active on the forums, conducting interviews with other members, applying for jobs, and supporting content made by others as well. I see a user and player who is invested in becoming a prominent figure in this league, and hopefully that comes to fruition.
 
 
| Kasey Tamm - LW - 184 TPE | @kesytamm
Kasey Tamm entered the VHL with prior sim league experience, and seamlessly transitioned to ours with 64 TPE in his first two weeks. Since then, the young winger has kept up an elite rate of TPE production for an additional four weeks, now averaging about 22 TPE per week so far in his career. Tamm has not missed one capped TPE yet either, which is encouraging to see as well. He has a nice scoring build which has enabled him to score an admirable 48 goals and 93 points for Las Vegas in S73. I’m very confident in saying that if this player is able to keep up this level of interest in at least three leagues (and many have), he will be an unbelievable player in the VHL really soon.
 
 
| Riley Couture - C - 182 TPE | @Riley_Couture
Saskatoon center Riley Couture is a player who has shown great upside, and who could be yet another high quality first gen from this crop of prospects. Couture capped out for five straight weeks, which points to the potential to be a top tier prospect, but has only earned 6 capped TPE in each of the past two weeks. This isn’t a big deal at all because of the 30 uncapped TPE she earned during that span, but ideally she returns to form at some point in the capped department. She had a solid rookie season with 48 points, and looks like she could potentially be one of the VHLM’s best next season. On the forums, Couture’s personality has come out through her art, making creative concepts and designs. Her appearance on the Rune Rambles podcast was also a good listen. I think there is potential for greatness here, and only time will tell if Riley Couture can reach it.
 
 
| Rhynex Entertainment - C - 162 TPE | @Rhynex Entertainment
A player who has displayed reliability and consistency in the early stages of his career, Rhynex Entertainment has progressed really nicely as a prospect since joining. After his first week, he has not missed any capped TPE. Capping out weekly already makes him a highly appealing option for VHL GMs on draft day, but all it would take to bring him to the next level is a little bit more uncapped TPE earning. I think with a little boost in that, he could be looked at as one of this draft’s biggest steals. Rhynex has a bit more of a scoring-focused build, but so far it’s been his playmaking side that has shone brightly so far. After a regular season which included 49 assists and 68 points, the postseason has provided the Canadian teenager with an opportunity he has made the absolute most of. His 7 points in 4 games has him ranked tied for fourth among all players, and first on his team. As I said before, Rhynex Entertainment is another first-generation player that could make a lot of noise at the VHL level.
 
 
| Gabriel Akerstrom - D - 161 TPE | @Mason
The third member of the Las Vegas Aces to appear in this article, defender Gabriel Akerstrom is a quality two-way puck-moving defenceman from Sweden. Standing at 5’11”, Akerstrom may be considered a tad on the smaller side for a defenceman, but he has more than enough lower body strength to protect the puck from incoming attackers. He handles the puck well, and has a nice smooth stride. This is precisely the type of player you would want in transitional play moving the puck up the ice and settling an attack in the other end. The Swede put up an impressive 48 assists this season, highlighting his vision in and around the offensive zone. His TPE earning has been good, earning between 10-12 capped TPE every week and collecting a nice amount of uncapped TPE too. So far he is averaging 20 TPE per week and although that number is bound to dip eventually, this is a tremendous start for his career. Yet again, we have a quality prospect here with loads of potential. 
 
 
| Chris Reynolds - LW - 154 TPE | @Crstats23
Well, I don’t think it’s a shocker anymore that our next and final prospect is from Las Vegas. Left winger Chris Reynolds is an offensive dynamo with great vision and a fantastic shot. He had a nice 53 point regular season before having an excellent point-per-game start to the playoffs in S73. In terms of TPE earning, Reynolds has had a decent beginning. He averages around 8-9 capped TPE per week, and has claimed some uncapped TPE too, mainly from the player store. After his first week, his consistency has been noticeable with his weekly TPE totals never dropping below 10. Posting point tasks in lieu of welfare could do wonders for his development, adding 2 TPE to his weekly count and making him eligible for doubles and triples weeks. I do believe that if he stays as consistent as he is now, he will become a very solid player at the VHL level, regardless of whether he switches primarily to point tasks or not.
 
 
Well, that does it! This season has a plethora of first-generation players with much upside. I wish the best moving forward for all of these players and the ones I didn’t get the chance to mention in this article. I would like to thank the team for making my time as a writer as amazing as it was, and I’ll do my best at helping VSN Scouting behind the scenes moving forward. And with that, I say farewell!

Yeah 100% I would corn doesn't need anything.

Wow. A ton of work went into this, awesome job. Gotta be happy with top 5 already!

????? Popcorn for those scrolling! ?????

Wow. A ton of work went into this, awesome job. Gotta be happy with top 5 already!

VHLM TOP 50 FORWARDS (S73)
 
Before I jump into this article, I would like to give a few disclaimers
 
1. The data I used for this article were from Games 1-174 of the S73 VHLM Regular Season, so the data may be a bit out of date now, but is accurate for how the player is performing this year.
 
2. The data is calculated averages, so if some people look like they are on the wrong spots on the list, that is why.
 
3. The formula I used was the rankings of the players in categories
So if one player is ranked 1st in goals and 10th in assists, they get 11 (1 + 10). The player with the lowest number is the best forward because they are the highest in the all-around rankings. I thought it would be fairer to do it this way than with a flawed formula, that’s why I decided to do it.
 
The 4 categories that I measured for this article:
Goals per 60
Assists per 60
Shots per 60
Plus/Minus per 60
 
 
 
 
These 4 stats help give you a good grasp of how good the player is offensively and whether they are committed in the defensive zone. Now, onto the article
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The VHLM has a lot of forwards, but have you ever wondered which one is the best. Well, with me wasting 3 days of my life making an excel sheet filled with data and another 3 days writing this, you may have a pretty good idea. Here is my list of the top 50 forwards in the VHLM for S73!
 
Shoutout goes out to @JigglyGumballs for helping me surf through all this data. It took us 3 days to organize it. I definitely owe you one bud!
 
50. Jeff Odinson (YKN)
@GoldGear88

0.68 Goals-per 60 (39th)
0.37 Assists-per 60 (48th)
4.66 Shots-per 60 (44th)
-1.18 Plus/Minus per 60 (46th)
 
Even though Odinson is at the bottom of our list, he is one of the bright spots on an otherwise dim Yukon Rush team this season. He’ll probably be around next season in the M and he certainly has room to grow as a player. He has been good at chipping in offensively and his +/- doesn’t show the full story defensively as he is usually the first forward back on the backcheck. Time will tell if he pans out, but with the way this year has gone for Yukon, you have to like what you have seen from him.
 
49. Brian Strong Jr (SSK)
@Wheaties

0.46 Goals-per 60 (48th)
0.59 Assists-per 60 (44th)
4.71 Shots-per 60 (43rd)
0 Plus/Minus per 60 (41st)
 
Strong has been a decent forward for Saskatoon, putting up solid numbers and generating a lot of offence for his teammates through putting the puck on net. He isn’t the best play driver but he is good at taking the puck off of his man in the defensive zone. He can use his speed to take the puck directly into the zone with ease. Just like Odinson, time will tell if he pans out but even if he isn’t a superstar, still a solid forward that Saskatoon has up their sleeve.
 
48. Empty (HFX)
@StamkosFan

0.66 Goals-per 60 (40th)
0.36 Assists-per 60 (49th)
6.24 Shots-per 60 (35th)
-1.56 Plus/Minus per 60 (49th)
 
The only Halifax player on this list, Empty has been one of the few bright spots on a disaster season for Halifax so far. However, with Empty, Juulita and Mount all being Centres, there is a solid core starting to form. The 3 of them play together and play admirably given the circumstances each and every night. If management can set them up with some wingers, this will be a great team to watch next year. As for Empty, his production has been solid and is good at driving the play by getting pucks on the net.
 
47. John LeClair II (SDM)
@flyersfan1453

0.49 Goals-per 60 (46th)
0.43 Assists-per 60 (47th)
4.26 Shots-per 60 (49th)
+0.56 Plus/Minus per 60 (28th)
 
John LeClair is the perfect lockdown forward. He is able to chip pucks on net in decent numbers and contribute to the offence on the regular, but where he really shines is in the defensive zone. He has great back checking and stick checking abilities that help keep the puck of San Diego’s net. He is still very young, but I would love to see him embrace his offensive side. Often, forwards struggle to adapt to being defensive. He already has that down. If he is able to embrace his offensive side, I can see him being one of the best two-way forwards in the game in a few seasons and if he has the right coach, that isn’t too far out of the realm of possibility.
 
46. Michael Mac (MIS)
@LastOneUp

0.72 Goals-per 60 (37th)
0.30 Assists-per 60 (50th)
6.97 Shots-per 60 (33rd)
-1.20 Plus/Minus per 60 (47th)
 
Mac has been a bright spot for Mississauga, the only forward from that team to appear on this list. He has a great shot and is great at getting pucks on net. He is great at using his speed to enter the zone and either set up his teammates for a shot or take it towards the net himself. His defence is questionable, but if he has the right coaching and plays in the correct role, this is easily correctable. He certainly has the backchecking ability, shown in numerous games this season. It is more about defensive skills like shot-blocking and stick checking where he has his flaws. Time will tell if he pans out, but I see Michael Mac being a top player not too far from today.
 
45. Shawn Aalto (MEX)
@TheLastOlympian07

0.60 Goals-per 60 (42nd)
1.43 Assists-per 60 (21st)
5.56 Shots-per 60 (40th)
-1.95 Plus/Minus per 60 (50th)
 
Acquired in a trade earlier this season from the Miami Marauders, Aalto has been a solid offensive addition for Mexico City. Not a notable goal scorer, but a great setup guy and great and getting the puck on net. Aalto’s biggest weakness is his defensive play. You can excuse his -1.95 rating due to him being on a below-average Mexico City team, but he still needs to improve. He frequently takes penalties trying to take the puck away from opposing superstars. This is an easy fix and could propel Aalto to one of the VHLM’s best two-way players. Either way, Aalto is a force to reckon with in the offensive zone, with or without the puck.
 
44. Vlad Imir (YKN)
@Big Dee

0.79 Goals-per 60 (33rd)
0.67 Assists-per 60 (43rd)
7.51 Shots-per 60 (29th)
-1.28 Plus/Minus per 60 (48th)
 
Vlad Imir is the definition of a ground and pound player. His goals may not be on the highlight reel every night and he may not be the greatest defensively, but he puts everything he has out on the ice. He is great at winning puck battles and getting pucks on net. He’s been working on his offensive skill this season and it shows, his numbers increasing as the season goes on. He is also great at using his body to shield the puck from opponents. He has the grit part of hockey down. If he adds the skill portion, he will be a player that opponents will be planning for every night.
 
43. Theodore James St Louis (OTT)
@Nick Kirkpatrick

0.57 Goals-per 60 (44th)
0.75 Assists-per 60 (38th)
5.85 Shots-per 60 (37th)
+0.50 Plus/Minus per 60 (30th)
 
St Louis isn’t exactly the superstar of the offence, but he’s still a decent forward you can slot as a support forward into your top 9. He certainly isn’t the best setup man or goal scorer, but he gets the job done. Similar to Vlad Imir, he is great at winning puck battles which is perfect if you can slot him in with 2 great offensive players. He can win the puck and wear down the opponents, opening up the ice for your stars and is great at taking it in by himself during a change by getting the puck on the net using his speed. Not to mention he is a great defensive forward. He is great at using his long reach to take the puck away and isn’t afraid to put his body on the line. He’ll be a force to be reckoned with once he begins his ascent to solid offensive numbers. The future is bright for him and I’m excited to see what St Louis can do next year.
 
42. Bobbie Cheechoo (YKN)
@Sharkie

0.83 Goals-per 60 (31st)
0.71 Goals-per 60 (41st)
7.47 Shots-per 60 (30th)
-0.89 Plus/Minus per 60 (45th)
 
Cheechoo has been another solid acquisition for the Rush. He’s one of the team’s best offensive play drivers and is great in his own end. He is great at getting the puck to the net and frequently it pays off. With how young that Yukon team is and with all signs pointing to a majority of the roster staying down, he should be a big part of a possible Yukon push for the Founder’s Cup next year. 
 
41. Lee Xin (OTT)
@Blazzer

0.94 Goals-per 60 (27th)
0.74 Assists-per 60 (39th)
4.38 Shots-per 60 (47th)
+0.41 Plus/Minus per 60 (33rd)
 
Xin is one of the best shooters on the Lynx roster. As you can tell by the stats, he doesn’t shoot the puck very often but when he does, it more often than not goes in. He also is great at puck battles, being one of Ottawa’s most versatile players. He has also honed his defensive abilities to a tee, usually the first player back defensively and able to strip the puck from the attackers on most occasions. Xin will most likely play in the VHLM next season and I expect his passing ability to be honed to a tee so he will be dangerous even when he doesn’t have the puck. Other than that, Xin is exactly what you want from a young forward, hungry for more ice time and willing to do everything to put his team in a position to win every night.
 
40. Kevin King (MIA)
@IamMOOSE

0.75 Goals-per 60 (36th)
0.50 Assists-per 60 (46th)
5.77 Shots-per 60 (38th)
+0.59 Plus/Minus per 60 (26th)
 
King has been a mixed bag this season. He started the season off hot playing on a line with Dakota Lamb and Patrik Laine, but has since cooled down. That is no knock to him as he has a wicked wrist shot and is great at getting the puck on net. Even though King hasn’t been scoring recently, he has been playing great defensively. His ability to take the puck away from opposing players in the defensive zone is great when you are not scoring. If King is able to get his production up, he will be a threat any time he is on the ice. He is one of those players that opposing teams do not like to play against.
 
39. Tim Waters (LVA)
@Siddhus

0.31 Goals-per 60 (50th)
1.38 Assists-per 60 (23rd)
4.34 Shots-per 60 (48th)
+0.63 Plus/Minus per 60 (24th)
 
I've watched Waters play a lot this season and I have to say, I think he is beginning to come into his own. He’s been one of the best setup guys on the Aces and there is a good chance he’ll be around next year. He isn’t the best at carrying the puck into the offensive zone at this moment, but being stable both offensively and defensively like he is can help him learn that part of his game much quicker. Even though he is ranked last among the top 50 in terms of scoring, I have seen improvement in his shooting. Time will tell if he can turn into a two-way threat offensively but the future looks bright for Waters.
 
38. Luke Thornton (MIA)
@Jtv123

0.48 Goals-per 60 (47th)
1.28 Assists-per 60 (27th)
4.96 Shots-per 60 (42nd)
+0.56 Plus/Minus per 60 (27th)
 
Thornton has had a heck of a year in Miami. His most notable improvement in his game has been defensively. A lot of times last year, we saw him come down the ice with a late back check and seemed hesitant to step into the shooting lanes. Not this year. He’s consistently one of the first players back on defense and isn’t afraid to get into those shooting lanes, but his stick checking has seen the most improvement. His ability to take the puck away from the other team’s best players is great when you add it to him coming into his own as a playmaker. If any team in the upcoming draft needs a setup man for their shooters, Thornton is one of the best options in the class.
 
37. Jack John (MIN)
@GoadenGoalie35

0.42 Goals-per 60 (49th)
0.77 Assists-per 60 (36th)
2.39 Shots-per 60 (50th)
+1.93 Plus/Minus per 60 (3rd)
 
John is one of the best defensive forwards in the game. He’s not one of the best forwards in terms of scoring ability, but he does have a nice touch and is good at setting up his teammates for shots. His defensive ability is second to none on the Minnesota roster this season. His ability to steal the puck, kill penalties and get into the shooting lanes are amazing. If he can get his offensive side going, I see him being a good two-way forward sometime in the future.
 
36. Rhynex Entertainment (LVA)
@Rhynex Entertainment

0.54 Goals-per 60 (45th)
1.43 Assists-per 60 (20th)
4.60 Shots-per 60 (46th)
+0.60 Plus/Minus per 60 (25th)
 
Rhynex has been a solid performer for the Aces this year. He isn’t exactly the greatest at getting the puck on net or finding the corner, but he is excellent in other areas. His passing ability is a big reason why he is one of the league’s top setup guys. He is also great in the defensive zone with his shot blocking and stick checking. Time will tell if he can get his shooting game going, but if his shooting begins to pick up, he will be a fun player to watch.
 
35. Alek Andreshnikov (YKN)
@PuckPushers

0.80 Goals-per 60 (32nd)
1.13 Assists-per 60 (30th)
7.70 Shots-per 60 (28th)
-0.46 Plus/Minus per 60 (44th)
 
Andreshinkov has been the most consistent forward on the Rush roster. He has a solid wrist shot and can give the top shooters a one timer on a tee. He is not afraid to grind for the puck and usually dumps it on the net and chases it. Despite what that plus minus rating says, he is very responsible in his own zone. Not outstanding, but he does what he is told to do by the coaches. His next steps to become a borderline elite player would be to improve his defensive ability and practice his offensive skills 5 on 5.
 
34. Ryan Schwarz (SDM)
@Enorama

0.96 Goals-per 60 (25th)
0.72 Assists-per 60 (40th)
4.64 Shots-per 60 (45th)
+0.88 Plus/Minus per 60 (20th)
 
Schwarz has had a good season with the Marlins so far. He has been great in the defensive zone, frequently taking the puck away from opponents. His shot has also seen improvement. The only things I see Schwarz having to improve on is his passing. He is good at getting pucks to the net, but sometimes he shoots when another move is the best option. This would just come down to the situation and I think as his hockey IQ improves, he’ll know exactly what to do. The future is very bright for Schwarz.
 
33. Chris Reynolds (LVA)
@Crstats23

0.76 Goals-per 60 (35th)
0.68 Assists-per 60 (42nd)
6.68 Shots-per 60 (34th)
+1.10 Plus/Minus per 60 (16th)
 
Reynolds has been a great piece for the Aces this season. He’s a versatile forward who can play almost anywhere up and down the lineup and be productive. He has been a solid point producer, but where he really shines is in the defensive zone. He’s consistently the first forward back when the opposing team has the back and doesn’t give the opposition an easy zone entry, standing them up at the blue line. He also isn’t afraid to drop down into the shooting lanes.
 
32. Andre LeBastard (MIA)
@Andre LeBastard

0.71 Goals-per 60 (38th)
1.10 Assists-per 60 (31st)
5.86 Shots-per 60 (36th)
+0.77 Plus/Minus per 60 (21st)
 
LeBastard has been a very dynamic player for the Marauders this year. He has mostly played in that first line center spot and has been consistently putting points up all year. His defensive play has improved tremendously from last year, shown by his willingness to block shots and his improved stick checking abilities. As the captain of the Marauders, he hopes to lead them deep into the playoffs.
 
31. Alec Volchenkov (OTT)
@SirRupertBarnes

0.60 Goals-per 60 (43rd)
1.69 Assists-per 60 (11th)
7.13 Shots-per 60 (32nd)
+0.24 Plus/Minus per 60 (35th)
 
Starting off a stretch of 3 straight Ottawa players on this list, Volchenkov is one of the best playmaking forwards on a surging Lynx squad searching for a Founder’s Cup title. Volchenkov’s play 5 on 5 has been tremendous. His shot is there secretly and he has a knack for getting pucks on net, but he needs to work on his defensive play. He’s a pretty good defender don’t get me wrong, but he could be a lot better given his ceiling. If he is able to learn more about defense and implement that into his play, he will be even more dangerous next year. I see a bright future for him.
 
30. Lexi Glass (OTT)
@AW13

1.15 Goals-per 60 (16th)
0.57 Assists-per 60 (45th)
5.57 Shots-per 60 (39th)
+1.07 Plus/Minus per 60 (18th)
 
Glass has become a very big piece of this Lynx team. His shooting ability is already there, not shooting the puck very often, but making it count. His shooting percentage this season has been extremely impressive, sitting at 19.39% through 45 games. When other teams hone in on his shot, he is also very efficient at passing. He can put a one timer on a tee. He is no defensive slouch either, being one of the best defensive forwards in the league. I do not see a weak spot in his game and it will be interesting to see how far he has come in a few years time, especially if he puts in the work like he has been doing up to this point.
 
29. S Kuchar (OTT)
@S. Kuchar

0.76 Goals-per 60 (34th)
0.76 Assists-per 60 (37th)
7.81 Shots-per 60 (27th)
+1.29 Plus/Minus per 60 (15th)
 
Kuchar has been a great two way addition for the Lynx. Despite being a smaller player with a 5’10 frame, he is one of the fiercest players out there. He is great at forechecking and always makes sure to send a message by finishing his checks. He has been a consistent point producer all season long to boot, not to mention he plays great in the defensive zone. He will be a fun player to watch after he makes the jump to the VHL.
 
28. Gary Rush (LVA)
@G_Rush

1.19 Goals-per 60 (14th)
0.79 Assists-per 60 (35th)
8.06 Shots-per 60 (26th)
+0.20 Plus/Minus per 60 (37th)
 
Rush has been a player to watch for the Aces this season, moving into his own as a top shooter for them. He still chips in with his already slick passing game and is great at putting pucks on net. The only place I think Rush needs work is on the defensive side of the ice. He has been a plus player, but I think if he had just a bit more defensive knowledge, he would become a force in the defensive zone. Time will tell, but even if he needs the defensive growth or not, Rush is still a great offensive compliment to any lineup.
 
27. Darius Marimoto (PHI)
@dariusmarimotoman

1.05 Goals-per 60 (22nd)
1.31 Assists-per 60 (25th)
8.44 Shots-per 60 (24th)
+0.07 Plus/Minus per 60 (39th)
 
The first of two Reapers players inside the top 30, Marimoto has been playing great during an abysmal season for the Reapers. He can consistently set up his teammates for scoring chances or shooting the puck himself. He is a great fighter in the zone, not afraid to fight for the puck and knows how to get the puck on net. Despite what his Plus/Minus rating may say, he’s been a great defensive forward, managing to still be a plus player with the insane amount of goals that opponents have scored against the Reapers. It will be fun to watch him grow with the Reapers next year with the help he hopefully receives around him.
 
26. Onde Sandstrom (LVA)
@fonziGG

0.92 Goals-per 60 (28th)
0.99 Assists-per 60 (34th)
10.49 Shots-per 60 (9th)
+0.33 Plus/Minus per 60 (34th)
 
Sandstrom has been a force with the Aces this season. His ability to get pucks on net and stop oncoming opponents in the neutral zone have been noticeable. He is one of the most consistent offensive producers in the league, going on massive point-streaks throughout the season. His defensive play has also been noticeable. It could use a bit of work but he’s been playing solid in his own end, never giving up a soft goal while he is on the ice.
 
25. Tomothe Dylansen (PHI)
@Boomcheck

1.35 Goals-per 60 (10th)
1.28 Assists-per 60 (26th)
7.44 Shots-per 60 (31st)
+0.21 Plus/Minus per 60 (36th)
 
Dylansen has been another member of the Reapers who has been playing out of his mind this season. He is a pure two-way forward with a great shot and great puck handling skills. Just like Marimoto, he has been great in the defensive zone especially considering Philadelphia’s roster this season. It will be interesting to see him and Marimoto when they have some more forward help and stability in net and defensively.
 
24. Isabella Campbell (HOU)
@Banackock

0.87 Goals-per 60 (29th)
1.48 Assists-per 60 (18th)
5.03 Shots-per 60 (41st)
+1.41 Plus/Minus per 60 (12th)
 
The first of six Houston Bulls players to appear in the top 25, Campbell has had a solid year with the Bulls, coming into her own as a playmaker in the offensive zone. Campbell is also great at taking the puck into the offensive zone. Defensively, she is no slouch either, being a plus player in Houston’s heavy offence system. It will be interesting to see her develop and I think she will be a top player in either the VHLM or VHL someday.
 
23. O Sens (MIA)
@osens

0.95 Goals-per 60 (26th)
1.03 Assists-per 60 (32nd)
8.45 Shots-per 60 (23rd)
+1.10 Plus/Minus per 60 (17th)
 
Sens is a great forward for Miami. He has been a steady point producer on a competing Miami squad that was on fire to start the season. Sens is known for his shooting ability. More specifically, his ability to put the puck on net from anywhere on the ice and his ability to pick the corners when he shoots. He is no defensive slouch either, playing great in the defensive zone and being a force in the neutral zone, denying several zone entries while he is on the ice. When you consider that both him and fellow Marauder Patrik Laine will be heading off to Helsinki next season, it will be interesting to see the chemistry that has developed between the two and how they will fit in that Helsinki lineup.
 
22. Dan Baillie Jr (SSK)
@wcats

0.86 Goals-per 60 (30th)
1.80 Assists-per 60 (5th)
8.12 Shots-per 60 (25th)
+0.16 Plus/Minus per 60 (38th)
 
Baillie has been one of the best passers in the league this season with Saskatoon. His ability to thread the needle whether he’s at the point or below the goal line is impressive. He has a good shot as well and is good at grinding for pucks in the corners and throwing them to the net. His defensive ability could use a little bit of work, but he still plays great in the defensive zone night in and night out. It will be interesting to see how he develops over the next few seasons.
 
21. Wolf Weiss (MEX)
@Matmenzinger

1.41 Goals-per 60 (8th)
1.41 Assists-per 60 (22nd)
9.58 Shots-per 60 (16th)
-0.32 Plus/Minus per 60 (43rd)
 
Weiss has been a bright spot on a Mexico City roster this year. Weiss has come into his own with one of the best wrist shots in the league. Combine this with his playmaking ability and defensive play without much help around him other than another Mexico City forward coming up on our list and it is easy to see why Mexico City fans can be excited by what they see in Weiss.
 
20. Roadkill Steve (SDM)
@stevo

1.06 Goals-per 60 (20th)
1.24 Assists-per 60 (28th)
10.65 Shots-per 60 (8th)
+0.47 Plus/Minus per 60 (31st)
 
Steve has been a solid supporting forward for the Marlins this season. His ability to fight for pucks and get pucks on net have led to a rise in his minutes. He also has a fine touch, recording a lot of goals and assists with his great playmaking and shooting abilities. He is no defensive slouch either, constantly taking the puck from opposing players in his own zone. I think Steve will develop into a solid player you can fit pretty much anywhere in your roster, but time will tell.
 
19. Keith Krestanovich (SSK)
@Boragina

1.36 Goals-per 60 (9th)
1.36 Assists-per 60 (24th)
9.18 Shots-per 60 (19th)
+0.45 Plus/Minus per 60 (32nd)
 
Krestanovich has blossomed into a great player with Saskatoon. Him and Dan Baillie Jr are a great duo as Baillie can set him up for his signature wrist shots. Krestanovich can also ground and pound in the corner with a loose puck. His ability to use his body to shield the puck and take control helps him win those battles more often than not. He also plays great in his own zone, not hesitating to step into a shooting lane.
 
18. Christian Mingle (HOU)
@Quik

1.14 Goals-per 60 (18th)
1.02 Assists-per 60 (33rd)
10.45 Shots-per 60 (10th)
+0.72 Plus/Minus per 60 (23rd)
 
Mingle has developed into an excellent scorer for Houston. He is great at scoring goals and getting pucks on net. His playmaking ability is also great, often making no look passes to open teammates. His defensive game has grown throughout the season, becoming one of the best two-way forwards in this Houston lineup. I can’t wait to see where Mingle is at in a few years as he continues to get better.
 
17. Julian Nousiainen (HOU)
@okochastar

1.14 Goals-per 60 (17th)
1.74 Assists-per 60 (7th)
9.67 Shots-per 60 (15th)
+0.06 Plus/Minus per 60 (40th)
 
Nousiainen has become an offensive machine. Nousiainen has seen a lot of growth offensively due to Houston’s heavy offense system. Nousiainen can easily make highlight reel passes and score goals, becoming very dynamic with a surging Houston lineup. Nousiainen would be a great fit in any lineup whether it is as a depth forward or as a superstar. Nousiainen isn’t afraid to fight for the puck either, often going into the corner and taking big hits to retrieve the puck.
 
16. Jeremy Lin (MEX)
@jman9theman9

1.45 Goals-per 60 (6th)
1.68 Assists-per 60 (12th)
9.99 Shots-per 60 (13th)
-0.17 Plus/Minus per 60 (42nd)
 
Lin has been a great performer in Mexico City this year. His ability to score goals and create offense with very little help around him aside for Weiss is amazing. Mexico does have some decent prospects coming up the pipe and it will be interesting to see how they fit in the lineup with Lin. Despite what the plus/minus rating says, Lin has been great in his own zone, doing every he can to keep pucks out of Mexico City’s net. It will be interesting to see where his game will be at once he enters the VHL.
 
15. Cole Newhook (MIN)
@GrittyIsKing09

0.64 Goals-per 60 (41st)
2.04 Assists-per 60 (3rd)
8.75 Shots-per 60 (21st)
+1.81 Plus/Minus per 60 (6th)
 
Newhook is one of the best playmakers on this year’s Minnesota Storm roster. His ability to pass from below the net or from the blue line is very impressive. Also, the accuracy of his passes that are long passes, like from his own zone to the opposing blue line are also extremely impressive. He plays great in his own zone too, using his skill set to steal the puck, protect the puck and then pass it out to a teammate. Newhook is a fun player to watch and will be for years to come.
 
14. John Brewitt (MIN)
@JBrew42

1.26 Goals-per 60 (12th)
1.21 Assists-per 60 (29th)
8.90 Shots-per 60 (20th)
+1.61 Plus/Minus per 60 (8th)
 
Just ahead of Newhook is one of the best shooters in the Minnesota lineup. Brewitt has a great wrist shot and can throw the puck on the opposing net from anywhere on the ice. His defensive abilities are impressive too. He can use his body to shield the puck and keep attacking players away and while protecting it can knock it to a teammate to rush the other way. Brewitt is a complete 200-foot player and it will be interesting to see how good he will end up by the time his career is over.
 
13. Patrik Laine (MIA)
@PatrikLaine

1.03 Goals-per 60 (23nd)
1.67 Assists-per 60 (13th)
9.46 Shots-per 60 (18th)
+1.93 Plus/Minus per 60 (2nd)
 
Laine has been an interesting case to watch all season. He was originally looking to play in the VHL but ended up staying down with the Marauders. Laine has an excellent wrist shot and an equally deadly one timer. He is also one of the best defensive forwards in the league, consistently back first on the back check and able to steal the puck more often than not. The problem for Laine this year has been consistency. He started the season off scoring pretty much at will, but has cooled off since, having many game sheets filled with zeros. If Laine can be consistent down the stretch and into the playoffs, he will be a fun player to watch.
 
12. Dakota Lamb (MIA)
@dlamb

1.05 Goals-per 60 (21st)
1.77 Assists-per 60 (6th)
8.59 Shots-per 60 (22nd)
1.84 Plus/Minus per 60 (4th)
 
Lamb was a force to be reckoned with last year when he played with Miami during their inaugural season in the VHLM. After his play so far this year, his growth as a player is extremely noticeable. He still has that great shot, but has turned into more of a playmaker with a better supporting cast around him. He has also improved his defensive play, honing his stick checking and shot blocking abilities during the offseason. It will be interesting to see how he will be used in the VHL.
 
11. Jeffrenomitsu The 3rd (HOU)
@Jeffie43

1.03 Goals-per 60 (24th)
1.69 Assists-per 60 (10th)
9.50 Shots-per 60 (17th)
+1.60 Plus/Minus per 60 (9th)
 
Jeff has been a great forward on both ends of the ice. His playmaking ability is one of the reasons for Houston’s power play operating at 35% and their high flying style being so successful. He knows how to properly fight for the puck in the corner and knows when to carry pucks in or throw them on net. He also has a great wrist shot. It will be interesting to see where he goes in the VHL, but I sure as hell will be watching him no matter what team he goes to.
 
10. Jer Lefebvre (MIN)
@Jer_Lefebvre

1.25 Goals-per 60 (13th)
1.64 Assists-per 60 (14th)
9.78 Shots-per 60 (14th)
+1.47 Plus/Minus per 60 (11th)
 
Kicking off the top 10 is Jer Lefebvre of the Minnesota Storm. He has been the best balanced forward on the Storm roster. He has a great wrist shot and excellent passing ability in the offensive zone and great stick checking and shot blocking skills in the defensive zone. He has been a fun player to watch so far this year and he’s only going to get better.
 
9. Aloe Dear (HOU)
@Renomitsu

1.18 Goals-per 60 (15th)
1.61 Assists-per 60 (16th)
10.23 Shots-per 60 (12th)
+1.80 Plus/Minus per 60 (7th)
 
Dear has been a big part of Houston’s success this season. Dear has the ability to pick the perfect shot and make the perfect pass. She is also good defensively in her own zone. However, she has to be one of the smartest players on the ice. Just looking at small clips in all 3 phases of the game, you can tell she knows where everyone is on the ice. I can’t wait to see how good she will get in the coming years.
 
8. Pietro Angellini (SDM)
@okifenoki

1.13 Goals-per 60 (19th)
1.85 Assists-per 60 (4th)
12.76 Shots-per 60 (4th)
+0.72 Plus/Minus per 60 (22nd)
 
Angellini has been one of the best passers in the league on a seemingly playoff-bound Marlins squad. His ability to make passes to teammates, even when he can’t see them is impressive. Angellini also has a booming slapshot, frequently shooting one timers using his ability. He is also no slouch into the defensive zone as he is one of the best stick checkers in the league. It will be interesting to see how good Angellini will get before he embarks on his journey to the VHL.
 
7. John Merrick (SDM)
@Steve

1.44 Goals-per 60 (7th)
1.50 Assists-per 60 (17th)
10.31 Shots-per 60 (11th)
+1.33 Plus/Minus per 60 (13th)
 
After being picked 1st overall in the S73 VHLM Dispersal Draft, you would expect the stakes to be high for John Merrick. Well, he has lived up to hype. He has one of the best wrist shots in the league and can score from pretty much anywhere in the offensive zone. He is also a great passer who knows exactly where his teammates will be. He is also great in the defensive zone with his ability to block shots and steal the puck.
 
6. Venus Thightrap (HOU)
@BladeMaiden

1.32 Goals-per 60 (11th)
2.15 Assists-per 60 (2nd)
11.75 Shots-per 60 (6th)
+0.52 Plus/Minus per 60 (29th)
 
The highest ranking lady on our list is Venus Thightrap. Venus has an incredible shot. Her wrist shot and one timer are like bullets. She is an excellent playmaker as well, not afraid to use her body to separate her opponents from the puck and her ability to make no looks passes has surprised me time and again this season. She loves to get the puck on net when she enters the offensive zone and it has paid off throughout the season. She has excellent defensive abilities too, not afraid of dropping down to block and shot and able to steal the puck with ease using her stick checking abilities. The only weakness I see in her game at the moment is the faceoff dot. She already has all of the other important aspects of her style to a tee and if she is able to become a threat in the faceoff dot, I see her making a big splash in the VHL next season.
 
5. Kasey Tamm (LVA)
@kesytamm

1.72 Goals-per 60 (2nd)
1.64 Assists-per 60 (15th)
14.61 Shots-per 60 (1st)
+0.90 Plus/Minus per 60 (18th)
 
Kicking off our top 5 is Kasey Tamm of the Las Vegas Aces. Tamm is great at putting pucks on net and battling for pucks, ranking first in shots per 60. Tamm also has an excellent wrist shot. Tamm has been working on evident weaknesses in the defensive zone and comparing film from the first game of the season versus now is like night and day. I am excited to see how good Tamm will get before making the jump to the VHL.
 
4. Arthur Dayne (OTT)
@Infernal

1.48 Goals-per 60 (5th)
1.72 Assists-per 60 (9th)
11.05 Shots-per 60 (7th)
+1.31 Plus/Minus per 60 (14th)
 
In an interesting trade earlier this season, Arthur Dayne was sent to the Ottawa Lynx. The trade so far has paid off for both Dayne and the Lynx in spades as Dayne has been having a great season with Ottawa. He has a great shot and playmaking ability. He gets pucks to the net consistently and can often surprise opposing goalies by faking a dump in and throwing it on the net. Dayne has also come into his own as a great defensive forward, often helping Ottawa barricade their blue lines and letting no one get past him easily.
 
3. Michael Hall (MIN)
@Hops

1.58 Goals-per 60 (4th)
1.47 Assists-per 60 (19th)
12.56 Shots-per 60 (5th)
+1.82 Plus/Minus per 60 (5th)
 
Hall has been an absolute force up and down the ice in Minnesota, good enough to rank 3rd on my list. He has a wicked wrist shot and loves to throw the puck on net. He has playmaking ability as well, adding to an already threatening arsenal of skills. He is good defensively too, but perhaps his biggest strength is his puck handling. He dangles the puck like it is on a string. I can’t wait to see his play go to the next level later this season.
 
2. Jesper Norberg (SSK)
@jpsd

1.73 Goals-per 60 (1st)
1.73 Assists-per 60 (8th)
13.26 Shots-per 60 (3rd)
+1.53 Plus/Minus per 60 (10th)
 
Coming in at 2nd on our list is Jesper Norberg of the Saskatoon Wild. Norberg is a natural goal scorer, shown by him ranking first in goals per 60. He also loves to shoot the puck and surprise the goaltenders. He can make excellent passes with his great vision of the ice and is no slouch in the defensive zone either, often taking the puck back before a dangerous chance is given up. Norberg and our number 1 ranked forward make a great duo.
 
1. Florent Vericel (SSK)
@dart

1.58 Goals-per 60 (3rd)
2.27 Assists-per 60 (1st)
13.69 Shots-per 60 (2nd)
+1.97 Plus/Minus per 60 (1st)
 
Ranking at number one on our list of forwards is Florent Vericel of the Saskatoon Wild! Florent has a great wrist shot, but his passing ability is one of a kind. He can make passes without even looking where his teammates are. He also loves to get pucks on net, ranking 2nd in shots per 60. However, his defensive ability is amazing. He rarely takes penalties while defending and can use stick checking and body checking to get the puck. He also isn’t afraid to jump into the shooting lanes. It will be really fun to see how much better Vericel can get and how he will perform at the VHL level.
 
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Excel Sheet will be linked here

Oh god... what have I done...

1. We have a really good coaching staff that keeps us all updated on how when to earn, and help us with our goals. They've been really helpful for me, at least. 
 
2. It definitely will be a lot closer than a lot assumed. Just taking a glance at how close the standings are near the top, it's clear anyone could make a run for the title this year. 
 
3. 5 Gorillas and 10,000 Rats. Rats are fuckin disgusting too, but there's no way anyone is stopping that many of them if they're also worried about 5 silverbacks. 
 
4. If my PC didn't die long ago, I would bb.
 
5. Less money, championship. For sure. Money comes and goes, that title goes down in history forever. 
 
6. I really love the LR. Everyone is constantly joking around and having a great time. I like all my teammates and my coaches as well, we have a solid group together right now. 

Hello there,
 
As of today, claims made under the James Platts Welfare Program or VHL Pension Plan can be automatically claimed on the Portal in a similar fashion to Practice Facility. These claims are not required to be approved by updater's and TPE will be awarded immediately. 
 
Note: The Portal automatically determines pension eligibility by looking at a user's past and current players. Some older, returning members may find they are only offered 4 TPE - this is due to previous players not existing on the Portal or not being linked to their user account. If this is the case, contact an admin or commissioner and we will manually approve you for the pension plan. 
 
Claims made under the VHL Partnership Plan with SBA and EFL are not quite as automated, but a post in a weekly welfare thread is no longer required. These claims can be made directly in the Portal by using the new "Affiliate PT" option under "Claim Capped" and linking to your PT on SBA or EFL. These claims will continue to be reviewed and approved by updater's. 
 
Full claiming instructions and eligibility requirements can be found here.
 
At this time, there is no changes to the monthly Affiliate Check program and those will continue to require posting in a monthly thread.
 
Obligatory  @Members  (don't hate me) 

Welcome to ESPN 11 Radio, covering the newest sports leagues across the globe! Today, we are taking a look at the VLHM, the Victoy Hockey League Minors. Specifically, the Las Vegas Aces have started to get their stride. Winning their last 3 games in a row, we decided to take a deeper look at the team. Today, we have left winger Kasey Tamm to answer a few quick questions. Thanks for joining us Kasey!
 
Kasey Tamm: Of course! Thanks for having me on.
 
ESPN: You have had an impressive run, winning your last 3 in a row, one of which where you gave Miami their first loss. How was that possible? 
 
Tamm: We had an incredible day from Nils Friedriksen. He was a straight up brick wall out there. They had to pull out all the stops and use all their tricks to get one goal against him, he was on fire. It was a massive team effort to get that win, though. On our two goals, we had 6 points spread across 6 different members of the team. It doesn't get any better than that.
 
ESPN: It's true that that game against Miami was a team effort, but you have been having a surprisingly strong rookie campaign. You're tied for 2nd on your team in points at 19, only one behind top 10 scorer Gary Rush. How does it feel to be producing at this level already?
 
Tamm: It does feel pretty good. I have been getting some quality minutes, and coach has trusted me to give me a green light to score. I am more happy with my passing numbers than anything. As a younger player, I had always been a scorer, but the passing has really developed here in Las Vegas. It's hard for it not to with all the talent we have. I'm pretty happy with my performance so far, but a -4 in the plus/minus isn't going to cut it long-term. I need to get better on both ends, fast.
 
ESPN: Well, you heard it here first. He is not satisfied. We look forward to seeing how Tamm and the Aces continue to play throughout the season.

The Las Vegas Aces ended draft night with 11 skaters and was ready for the season, they weren't the best but had potential. Knowing the team needed a little extra punch GM Spartan put in his best efforts to find more talent and he did, as many call it "hitting the jackpot" that's exactly what happened, first it was a backup goaltender Jacob Carson and a couple of wingers, Kasey Tamm and Angel Wachiure. Tamm currently leads the team in points, Wachiure has the teams best goals for.against differential and Carson started his career with a pair of wins.
 
It wasn't long for the managers to upgrade their squad again and just 2 games later we saw defender Chase Crosby and winger Nicholas Sunderbruch put ink to paper, right now we see Crosby playing vital minutes on the penalty kill and despite not getting on the scoring sheet often Sunderbruch is creating a lot of scoring chances for Las Vegas and is probably the most active member on the team.
 
with the season underway and lineups set management grew frustrated as they sat in the middle of the pack 7 games after strengthening their roster, here's where the last two signings come into play, defender Gabriel Akerstrom and another winger, Maksim Yakolevsky. We haven't seen much of Akerstrom but he's over a point a game with 7 in only 6 and is showing a lot of promise, could be on the top line before the end of the season. Lastly, Yakolevsky came into practice today ready and left being one of the most competitive players, he should have no problem adjusting to the ice and make an impact early in his career. Now finally after tweaking lines and changing up strategies we see the Aces join the rest of the winning teams in a race for 1st place, where will they end up? Will the team sign anybody else? Are trades going to happen? You'll just have to wait and find out!
 
Words: 332
 

The VHL is a dark and mysterious beast, with members from all around the world there is sure to be some shady stuff happening behind the scenes. I am one man who wishes to uncover these conspiracies one at a time.
 
If you have any conspiracies you would like me to investigate let me know!
 
GUSTAV IS REACTION HORDING
 
Gustav is someone that most people consider to be a nice person and happy to help but I believe this is all a cover up. Gustav is actually addicted to reactions on the VHL and his need to be liked by all drives this addiction even more. He use to write multiple large articles and promote them all around the league so he could get more likes and reactions. However the VHL could not feed his addiction enough so this is when he branched out to other sim leagues. He now uses his new found graphic skills to make sigs for players this usually gets him a like here and there. However this was still not enough for his growing addiction. When browsing the EFL forums he saw the Town of Salem thread and saw that this made OMGitsHim a reaction king with everyone liking the post when they finally caught the bad guys.
 
This then started the VHL Town of Salem games which he now runs. 
 
This may seem like a stretch and you might not believe me but it is true. Have a look at the reaction leader-boards he appears in the top 5 for past week, month and year. 
 
Now tell me that this isn't a man addicted to people liking him.
 
THIS HAS BEEN ANOTHER VHL CONSPIRACY CRACKED WIDE OPEN!
 
 

Welcome to ESPN 11 Radio, covering the newest sports leagues across the globe! Today, we are taking a look at the VLHM, the Victoy Hockey League Minors. Specifically, the Las Vegas Aces have started to get their stride. Winning their last 3 games in a row, we decided to take a deeper look at the team. Today, we have left winger Kasey Tamm to answer a few quick questions. Thanks for joining us Kasey!
 
Kasey Tamm: Of course! Thanks for having me on.
 
ESPN: You have had an impressive run, winning your last 3 in a row, one of which where you gave Miami their first loss. How was that possible? 
 
Tamm: We had an incredible day from Nils Friedriksen. He was a straight up brick wall out there. They had to pull out all the stops and use all their tricks to get one goal against him, he was on fire. It was a massive team effort to get that win, though. On our two goals, we had 6 points spread across 6 different members of the team. It doesn't get any better than that.
 
ESPN: It's true that that game against Miami was a team effort, but you have been having a surprisingly strong rookie campaign. You're tied for 2nd on your team in points at 19, only one behind top 10 scorer Gary Rush. How does it feel to be producing at this level already?
 
Tamm: It does feel pretty good. I have been getting some quality minutes, and coach has trusted me to give me a green light to score. I am more happy with my passing numbers than anything. As a younger player, I had always been a scorer, but the passing has really developed here in Las Vegas. It's hard for it not to with all the talent we have. I'm pretty happy with my performance so far, but a -4 in the plus/minus isn't going to cut it long-term. I need to get better on both ends, fast.
 
ESPN: Well, you heard it here first. He is not satisfied. We look forward to seeing how Tamm and the Aces continue to play throughout the season.

SUMMARY

You guys negotiated my unban as part of the deal too, right?