JeffD

I would have to say at the moment maybe Paul Atreides is the closest thing we have. I don't think I have a specific name but some new blood getting into the VHL as a general manager would be a good thing, someone who hasn't GMed before. I'm very meh on the London logo. Could it be re-designed to make it better? For sure. Do I think it is absolutely required right now? Nope. 1. Do you play video games? If you do what is your favourite of all time? 2. Who is currently your favourite player in the VHL outside of your own? 3. If you had to choose one stat (Goals, assists, penalty minutes etc.) to lead the VHL in for a season, which would it be?

Claiming for 6/5

It is theme week and I finally have a player again so it is time to talk about who I appreciate within the league. I’ve been in and out of the VHL since the very start almost 15 years ago, and returned to full activity almost exactly three years ago, so I have interacted with a lot of different members from different eras during my time here. I’m not quite sure which direction this article is going to go in yet but let’s see where typing this up takes me. Let’s talk about some of the people I appreciate most in the VHL. @solas - Jean Pierre Camus was my first draft pick as the Chicago Phoenix GM and he, along with most of the core selected in those first couple of seasons, decided to take a flier on me as a general manager and play their entire careers with us. Solas quickly became one of my favourite VHL members while talking to him in our locker room and his personality was definitely a huge part of why those early Chicago locker room days, despite all the losing and lack of players, were bearable. Between his insane Jeopardy knowledge and his willingness to really just talk about anything he is an enormous reason why the Chciago locker room became what it did during the peak years, and I have no doubt in my mind my tenure as Chicago general manager would not have been nearly as enjoyable as it has been if I had no selected his player 7th overall all those season’s ago. @fishy - Mine and fishy’s VHL interactions did not get off to the best of starts way back when I drafted their player, Matty Socks, 22nd overall in S73. It was my first draft as a VHL general manager and while I reached out to players I considered with my top end picks, I had not reached out to fishy before selecting Socks. Of course since then Socks ended up playing his entire career with the Chicago Phoenix, and there are many things that I appreciate about fishy, but the first thing was that they gave me perspective on what it meant to be a general manager and how much even a low effort thing such as reaching out to a prospect, even if they are not one at the top of draft boards, can mean to that person. Ever since then I have made an effort to reach out to a lot more players in draft classes and the positive feedback I have received from doing so has made it completely worth it. @Quik - Although he isn’t around too much anymore Quik is a user that I have always appreciated in the VHL. I first was in leagues with Quik before the VHL was a thing and Scotty was running leagues using a Playstation 2, and we interacted every once in a while. However when I selected Christian Mingle second overall in the S74 draft and had him join the Chicago locker room I knew immediately I had made the right selection. Not only was Quik, with all of his experience throughout the years in the VHL, a great resource for myself as a new general manager, his personality and willingness to bring activity to the Chicago locker room really galvanized that core into the powerhouse it became. Quik would instantly answer any questions I had and would often give me suggestions that would lead to further success for the team, but his biggest contribution was his ability to make friends with everyone on the team and really keep those users together. Quik was the special ingredient that made those Chicago teams what they were and for that I appreciate him and hope he can make a return in the future. @Blazzer - Blazzer is no longer active in the VHL but still comes by the Chicago locker room every once in a while and it is always a nice surprise when she does. My first interactions with Blazzer were when she, Quik and myself would be talking in the VHL general chat early in the mornings and the topic of conversation often turned to Quik’s post-coffee bowel movements. After selecting Quik’s player with the second overall pick in the draft, and knowing how social Blazzer was with Quik and myself, I made it an absolute priority to pick her player, and it may have been one of the best picks I ever could have made. Blazzer soon became my first, and only to date, assistant general manager and was an immense help to me in my role. Someday we will have to play some Valorant if you still do. I guess this just kind of became a Chicago Phoenix appreciation post but honestly it would be kind of hard for it not to be. These four users, all of whom played their entire careers for the Phoenix, made what would normally be a very tough job as a VHL general manager very easy. While building this early Chicago core I tried to prioritize the members over the players but even I had no idea that this group would become what it did. I am just very happy that through the tough times that the pandemic brought upon us I could have this small group of users that I could pretty much talk to about anything without judgment, and I hope all of them felt the same way. I’m not sure I truly appreciated what we had at the time but if I had not had that locker room to distract me throughout those times of isolation I’m not sure how I would have coped with that terrible situation. The ability to just hop into Discord at any moment and be able to talk about anything was a godsend during those times. Anyway this has kind of dragged on at this point, and I did not expect to write this much so late on a Sunday, but it kind of just happened. There are of course many other members I appreciate for many different reasons, but these were the four that popped into my mind first, and it kind of fit a theme. 1039 words - claiming 5/29 and 6/5

Well we did, but my thoughts before the last game would have been yes as well. Coming into the series, on paper, I think DC would have probably been viewed as the better team but after winning the first two we definitely were in the drivers seat. Probably the guy that is a board game playing hockey. Some people seem to believe so but in my time as a GM here I have never really noticed any tangible difference to it being added to a player. Well answering this as the GM, I do have a pretty gnarly beard growing right now. Gotta trim that up for wedding season. I don't think anyone in the league, myself included, would have had us making the playoffs AND winning a series just a season after we finished dead last in the league. Just shows how far a strong core can get you. Brandt Fuhr had a hell of a season and should be a stud in the VHL for many seasons to come.

The most powerful react there is

He's dead. He can't hurt us anymore.

I actually just recreated so we will see how the rest of this season goes once I join a VHLM team. Next season is when it really starts! I'm not sure I have a good enough grasp on them yet to truly know this, but I think as we move into next season it should become more clear which attributes successful teams are pushing. I really like the Bratislava Watchmen among the teams not truly at the top of the standings. Eh I am a guy that doesn't really care what others do, do whatever works for you. However personally I do not like pineapple on my pizza. We have an extremely strong core, if we can build up our depth to where it needs to be I think we can take the next big step. A goalie for the future is a huge need for us - and I could see us drafting on in the next season or two.

Player Information Username: JeffD Player Name: Karl Pedersen Recruited From: Returning Age: 21 Position: G Height: 77 in. Weight: 233 lbs. Birthplace: Denmark Player Page @VHLM GM

things and stuff

Don't get penalties

S83 Chicago Phoenix Team Captains As we have gone through a transition period in Chicago we have lacked team captains. Finally as we begin to turn that corner we are also proud to announce a new leadership group for our young squad. With that being said we now have an all-rookie group of captains! I am proud to announce the new captains for the Chicago Phoenix, as voted by their teammates. Team Captain: Bo Johansson @Shindigs Alternate Captain: The Board Game Clue On Skates @MubbleFubbles Alternate Captain: Scotty Sundin @fromtheinside I could not be happier to have these young players representing the Chicago Phoenix on and off the ice.

The Chicago Phoenix have done it. The ultimate triumph that will turn around this squad going forward. They have managed to win the Victory Hockey League draft lottery. While many in the media, and within the league itself, have given their two cents on what the Chicago Phoenix should do to fix their current predicament general manager Geoffrey Dee had the following to say: ‘The situation is not as poor as people seem to be making it out to be here in Chicago. We have draft capital in the upcoming draft, and with us winning the draft lottery we will be getting the best player in this draft. We already have great young players in the system like The Board Game Clue On Skates, Bo Johansson and Seymour Butts, and we will be able to add at least two more great players in this draft. Chicago will be back fighting as a contender very soon.’ With the lottery win there are a few options the Phoenix could go with but management has been playing their cards very tightly to their vest so far.

Bad on purpose, committing to a rebuild, what's the difference. Did I intentionally commit to a rebuild for longer term success? Yes. The league would have a hard time trying to punish us as it is not like we left better players unsigned or played worse players over our better players to try and tank anymore. I built a team with the available assets, didn't go out of my way to get better players by wasting picks on trades, and this was the result. Sure they could point that rule out to us but what were our options.

Can't build a less shitty team if all the mid to low tier TPE players are in the VHLE

We will be absolutely fine. I went through the process of building a team from scratch before, and I'm going through it again. This is a fully intentional rebuild. We were not this bad accidentally.

The season is over for the Chicago Phoenix and at this point it looks like things can only go up for the once highly successful franchise. While many may have seen the inevitable struggles coming for the team when starts such as Matty Socks, Jean Pierre Camus, Lee Xin and Christian Mingle all retired, we’re not sure anyone could have foreseen such an abysmal season coming out of the team. Through the 72 game season the squad only managed to score six wins and 17 total points, 15 points worse than the second to last place DC Dragons. But with those struggles comes the potential for some top end picks to add to what could already be considered one of the stronger prospects pools in the league. While the team still needs to play in the lottery tournament in the coming week they should have the best odds at locking down the top pick which should land them a potential cornerstone type player to pair with some already phenomenal prospect talent.

If I go by the same gap between the first and second one Jeff Downey III won't be until S133.

There has been a lot of talk around the league this season about just how bad the Chicago Phoenix have been. Through 67 games so far they have only managed to get six wins, and are poised to end with one of the worst seasons of all time. With that being said is Chicago really that bad going forward? The future for Chicago is actually looking pretty good on the contrary. S79 first round pick Sunrise van de Schubbekuteveenhas been having quite a good year for the Phoenix and will definitely be a leader going forward for them. In the minors they should have first round picks from last offseason Bo Johansson and The Board Game Clue on Skates coming up as well as defenseman Seymour Butts. Not only do they have a great group of players making the jump this coming offseason they also possess what should be a top of the first round pick which should net yet another player that could make the jump to the VHL net season. So despite what many have tagged as an embarrassment of a season for the Phoenix there is no doubt that the future is extremely bright in Chicago.

I would like to welcome @Shindigsto the Chicago Phoenix! A hefty price to pay but having out top 2 D secured, as well as our top C and keeping our top of the lottery pick this season should allow for us to have our core going forward and will let us get this thing turned around ASAP. Thanks for the talks @Peaceglad we could get this done.

The lack of career tasks should not be disturbing. They are media tasks which essentially get zero interaction, the only thing they add to the league is uncapped TPE. I wish there was a way to get people to interact with them but they don't really lend themselves to that.

Could not have put it more perfectly. I don't care enough to get dogpiled by the group who won't stop screaming about stuff like this so I just start to avoid it. Also the way this poll is worded is dogshit.

Hello everyone! I am making a posting now that @Blazzer has informed me that they will be stepping down. I would like to thank her for the great job she did here in Chicago and wish her all the best! With that being said I will be looking to bring on an assistant general manager here in Chicago. We are a rebuilding squad that is looking to stoke the locker room and get things going. Some things that may be expected to do: a) Be generally active within the locker room - we have a good community but would like someone who will add to that b) Write some press conference questions if they are requested or required So if you are looking to learn something about the position and the league, and want to do so in Chicago, reply here or PM me.

Bad team does not equal apathy.

The season 82 Victory Hockey League entry draft happened tonight and the Chicago Phoenix are welcoming four new players into the franchise in what looks to be the continuing building of a new core that saw the final pieces retire this past off-season with Christian Mingle and Lee Xin. Here is a quick look at tonight’s additions. The Board Game Clue On Skates @MubbleFubbles First Round | 4th Overall Center | 5’5 | 140 lbs The Board Game Clue On Skates is a fairly prototypical new style VHL player. While some may say the player lacks the size to stick with the bigger bodies of the league their skillset and willingness to practice each week could set them up to be a huge part of this core going forward. Seymour Butts @fonziGG Second Round | 19th Overall Defense | 6’8 | 250 lbs. Very much the opposition to Clue, Seymour Butts is an enormous specimen on the defensive end and should give the team a great center piece on the backend for the next stretch. Nagy AL @bigAL Second Round | 29th Overall Defense | 6’8 | 250 lbs. Another absolutely enormous specimen on the back end Nagy AL is one of the higher TPE players in the draft but has fallen off lately in the practice facility due to some outside circumstances. While some may not like the pick for this reason the Chicago management saw it as a potential big boom if Nagy was to return with not an enormous amount of investment.