CowboyinAmerica

1500+ words, claiming for the weeks ending: 3/24 3/31 4/7

S93 VHLE Power Rankings It’s going to be a big season for the VHLE. Following a very successful recruitment drive that saw a bunch of new players enter the VHLM at the start of last season, VHLE GMs had to be licking their chops at the upcoming draft and all the players that would be joining their teams. And indeed, those dreams came to fruition - with an 11 round draft that saw 200+ TPE players being selected as late as the sixth round, meaning there’s going to be a whole lot of talent in the league this season. I’d even argue this may be the most talent the VHLE has seen in many seasons, with most teams able to field at least two full lines, and often lines of active players. But for the six-team VHLE where four teams make the playoffs, who’s at the top and who’s fighting to sneak into that final playoff spot? It’s perhaps tougher to determine in the VHLE, where there isn’t as much spread between the TPE levels, and player builds are starting to take shape in a greater way than the VHLM. With so much potential parity this season, it would be a fool’s errand to try and predict what’s going to happen this season. Luckily, I’m just that fool. Here’s one person’s power rankings to start the VHLE season. Right now, I see two real tiers between the bottom two teams and the top four teams, but that’s subject to change with all of these teams so close. In particular, I think there’s going to be a few teams that look really good to start the season, but others will rise as those young S93 draftees continue to train and grow as players throughout the year. As always, assume I know nothing and these won’t be the final standings, unless I’ve chosen your team to win, then I’m an oracle that you can trust with zero hesitation. Everybody likes when you say good things about them after all. (For another view, also see @Noodle Enjoyer's excellent rankings posted yesterday. I wrote most of this on Thursday, my apologies for any duplication.) 6. Bratislava Watchmen The Watchmen were a juggernaut last season, winning eight of their nine playoff games en route to the title. The unfortunate nature of the VHLE, though, is that having a talented team probably means A. a lot of your players are headed to the VHL, and B. you probably mortgaged some of your future to get those talented players. Thus is the case for the Watchmen, who didn’t pick in this year’s VHLE Draft until pick 29 and thus got no players expected to play in the VHLE this season. As a result the roster is a bit bare, with only three forwards, two defensemen and a goalie, all of which being S91 or older. The only capped player in Luke Glendenning is a face-off and defense specialist as well, meaning this team may struggle to score from the jump. Bratislava fans will get to bask in their championship for a while, which is good, because there might not be much to cheer about on the ice this season. 5. Stockholm Vikings The other team that I’d expect to be rebuilding a bit this season, the Vikings have a much fuller roster than the Watchmen do, but perhaps the same level of immediate star talent. The Vikings’ top two picks, defenseman WWumbo and goalie Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen, are players with a lot of potential, but also likely to be playing in the VHLE for each of the next two seasons. Outside of them, I’m expecting a big jump from potential first liners Dan jr and Nico Belique in their second seasons in Stockholm following last season’s 49 and 40 point affair, respectively. Former first round VHL Draft pick Wayne Shotzky will also probably get some good run in his first VHLE season. But still, the firepower to keep up with the top of the VHLE isn’t quite there yet. Just wait for another season of growth from these players, because this was a team that was constructed with next season rather than this season in mind. They’re absolutely already my pick to be one of, if not the top of, the Season 94 contenders. 4. Rome Gladiators If Bratislava and Stockholm are in their own tier this season, I think there’s a significant step up to the top four. And the only reason that have Rome in the four slot is youth. There’s a lot of talent here from recent draft picks, with Nathan Ecker, Steve French, Tyler Lawson (who’s playing up), Vanuza Kolesinska, and Gul Dukat all showing a ton of potential to be real impact players at some point this season. But that last clause is the rub: Even if I could see all of those players being close to their full VHLE potential by the time the playoffs roll around, they all still have some room to grow during the season to get there. With Miroslav their most seasoned player in terms of practice, will that put Rome too far behind the standings eight ball to keep pace with the top VHLE teams? Perhaps, but even if that’s the case, this one team I would certainly not want to play in the playoffs once all that growth hits. This will be a very different team on Game 72 than it will be on Game 1. 3. Cologne Express There’s a lot to like about the Cologne team. Returning goalie Clark and incoming forward BjorkaBjorn BjornaBjorkson bring a VHLE pedigree of success that is rather rare at this level. Newcomers like Annie Oaks, Forum Content and the playing up Maverick Goncalves bring a lot of offensive firepower. And, of course, a team that made the finals last season and had won three straight titles before that knows how to have playoff success. But if I’m picking nits near the top end of the VHLE, do they have top-end talent to be able to compete early and often? Similar to my argument for Rome, Oaks, Content and Goncalves will be great, but also it’ll take a bit of time to get to the top levels of VHLE talent. I’m a bit worried about a defensive corps with a VHLM-level second line. And though Clark is the most talented goalie in the VHLE right now, I think others will catch him by the time we get into the season. It’s never smart to bet against the Express, as VHL Fantasy Zone players have learned in recent seasons, but for now I have them with a bit of room left to grow. 2. Oslo Storm Following last season’s last place finish, the cupboard was pretty bare for Oslo in terms of VHLE-ready talent. But a lot can change over the course of an offseason. In come a whole hoard of players from the VHLM, including first overall pick Antonia Bucatini, fellow wingers UghSike, Chris Reynolds Jr and Miner VHLer, and defenseman Benjamin Abeduct. Talented forwards in Jussi Jokinenegg (57 points last season), Olumide Anderson (30 points last season), and liam oinas (56 points last season) are hoping to take another step forward, especially as Jokinenegg and Anderson are likely to graduate to the VHL next season. And David Slezak, entering his third season in Oslo, is set to get a full season with a talented roster for the first time. Plus, there’s the Great One Wayne Gretzky lurking as an X-Factor to any team. It’s a whole lot of disparate pieces, and the pressure is on Oslo to win this season. But with some specialist players (VHLer’s Leadership focus, Abenduct’s pure defense) will the lines be able to gel? That’s a puzzle that the coaching staff will be trying to put together from day one. 1. Vasteras Iron Eagles The Iron Eagles have not won a Renaissance Cup since the very first VHLE season, where a goalie with a particularly handsome agency (Doomsday, ofc) helped lead the team to victory. But now may be the time for a second. With two of the first four picks in the draft, the Iron Eagles were able to bolster their offense with Gianfranco Del Rocco and Lucy Leitner. Two rounds later, they added Yermolai Nabokov, then followed that up with the first two goalies taken in this year’s VHL Draft: Jorgen Lovstrom and Ondrej Vencko. They join a roster that is absolutely loaded - seriously, just look at the number of bodies, with 10 forwards alone. That’s a lot for management to juggle, but it’s a wealth of riches mostly, with forwards like Crosby, Dufour, Smith Jr and Bell all in the upper half of VHLE talent level. Acquiring defenseman Sunset Moth was also a very shrewd move, especially as he’s returned to practice. The main question: Can the two-headed monster of Lovstrom and Vencko get up to speed quickly enough in stopping the top-end VHLE talent? Both acquitted themselves well in the VHLM, but the VHLE is a different beast. If so though, the Iron Eagles certainly have the talent all over the roster to make a run at the King’s Cup, then the Renaissance Cup after that.

F Daryl Dixon @Knight

Antonia Bucatini, in Europe Once Again When Antonia Bucatini moved to North America to play in the VHLM, it was the biggest move of her life. Born and raised in Italy, she had traveled around Southern Europe and the Mediterranean to play in junior tournaments, sure, but she didn’t know what to expect in beginning her professional career. As it turned out, Halifax was like another world. On the water just like her native Rome, sure, but different culturally in every way. Halifax wasn’t particularly prone to late afternoon meals, to late night travels on a vespa, to exploring different cultures with a heavy tourist season. Not bad at all, Bucatini would say, just different. Then after a late season trade, Houston was a different animal altogether. She was used to the heat, sure, but not necessarily the humidity. The sprawl of Houston also proved to be a barrier - for someone who loves walking down to the corner to get a coffee, unless she was right downtown, the massive highways and the need to drive everywhere seemed like a different world. But now, Bucatini is returning to Europe. Sure, Oslo isn’t Rome, not by a long shot. The Norwegian city is colder, its inhabitants more staid, the level of play on the ice higher in the VHLE than the VHLM. Even with those caveats, though, Bucatini believes coming to the Storm is somewhat like home. “The past season of my life was all hockey, all the time, which has its positives and negatives,” Bucatini said. “I loved my teammates, the play and the fans. But I don’t know that I necessarily fell in love with the cities, if that makes sense. I always had in my head that this would be a one-season thing, so it felt like there was always some distance.” It was noted by the press and fans alike that, soon after the season ended, Bucatini absconded back to Europe and the beaches of Italy - with fellow Italian player Gianfranco Del Rocco, no less. Now, following the VHLE Draft, she is back on the continent full-time. Granted, Oslo is likely to be a one season thing for Bucatini as well. However, following Oslo will be Davos - another cold-weather European city, with fans that love their hockey and a whole host of things to do and people to see. Sure, it may not be near loved ones located in Rome (or perhaps Vasteras?), but those are a shorter flight away as well. Walking into the practice facility for training camp for the first time as a member of the Storm, Bucatini said she felt at peace for the first time in a while. She sees Norway and Switzerland becoming a new home that she can get used to, as she adjusts to the new rigors of the VHLE, and following it, the VHL. “I thought becoming a professional in the first place was tough, but it doesn’t get any easier from here. What can really help my play on the ice, though, is being a bit more settled off the ice,” Bucatini said. “But now I’m close to friends and family. My future VHL home is a short bit away. And my personal life is starting to blossom in ways that I never had given much thought to. I think this is going to be a good season for me, in all ways. Oslo: Bring it on.”

1. I'm really excited to see how @Rhynex Entertainment fits into this team. Not only a great person to have around the locker room, but I'm all for experiments with the sim to see how things are affected. 2. Cookie dough is just so heavy. Give me a good cookie any day, it's old fashioned but I'm going chocolate chip. 3. I want to be a playmaker, first and foremost. So pumping up those offensive skills - not only passing/scoring, but skating and puck handling - is priority #1. 4. Why Davos of course! I'm happy that I just got drafted there, and while it may be a tough few seasons with a rebuild, we're getting to something great. 5. Nothing right now, just keeping the energy and activity high is great. We have a great mix of players where I don't think it'll be too tough. 6. Not as much as me, I'll say that for sure. I mean actually, probably should cut down on the beer drinking if I'm being honest with myself...

Transaction ID: 7U146271EC213134T $1M Player Store Cash 5 TPE Uncapped Doubles Week Claiming all now

Claim 4

Thanks! Didn't know this was a thing until the draft chat last night, but very cool now that I know I've got it.

Davos, Switzerland -- Leading up to the draft, former Houston Bulls forward Antonia Bucatini felt good, but not secure. After all, she had conversations with HC Davos Dynamo, the first pick in the draft, conversations she felt good about. But at the same time, she didn't have a guarantee from the franchise, and she had talked with Seattle, Riga, and even Prague and New York, just in case. Would Bucatini go first, or would she fall in the draft? Ultimately, it was meant to be: Davos took Bucatini first overall, becoming a centerpiece player in the team's rebuild. And talking to Bucatini after the draft, she couldn't be happier, both with the team and her new teammates. "This is a place I not only know some people, but I know they're going to do what it takes to win. That jives with me," Bucatini said. "I'm not really here for awards or any of that. I want titles, something my agency hasn't had since Season 61 - also with Davos, it turns out. We're ready to win once again." There's also another positive factor at play in Bucatini's mind: A longer rebuild could actually be a good thing. All along, she said, she wants to be at her peak near the end of her career, particularly around the exciting seasons of S100 and S101. "Did you know my agency's never spent an entire career with one team? That's crazy," she added. "Maybe Davos will be the first. I'd like that. And I like the group we've got here to do some damage on a prolonged basis as I'm going into my prime. We're just getting started, but it feels like the Dynamo have got something cooking."

-> Bucatini Eligible for VHLE Draft Houston -- As we enter the VHL offseason, a lot of the focus for the large S93 class has been where they'd land in the VHL Draft. But with so many players, it's bound to be just as chaotic of a draft on the VHLE side, where 19 players (more than 3 full rounds) in the S93 draft class would be eligible to play in the VHLE next season. One of those is former Houston forward Antonia Bucatini, but her story is a bit more complex - given her current practice time, she would be eligible to skip the VHLE altogether if she so chose. In addition, she probably would be capped from practicing further in the VHLE due to league rules about competition. Still, Bucatini held a press conference today to officially announce: She's forgoing a direct path to the VHL, instead planning to take a season in the VHLE. "I think it's what's best for my development. I want to do a normal progression path, and I feel like I can really make an impact for some E team next year," Bucatini said. Which team will that be? There's no way of knowing until next week. But Bucatini believes today's announcement may help clarify that path. "I just didn't want any confusion whether or not I'd be eligible. So this is just to let the VHLE GMs know: I'm there to be chosen, and I'm ready to play."

1. I'm excited! Drafts are just generally fun for me anyway, but being involved is great. Whoever ends up on my team, ready to embrace them with open arms. 2. Well first putting on my fireproof gloves. Second, I'm learning Tackle and Defense Curl to be able to play with them, but not in a way where they'd faint or anything. 3. Big girl pay* But yeah, everybody's gotta have a draft party. A little food, a little booze, let's spend that signing bonus before I get it. 4. I mean, there's a perfect good Litten that's now around the locker room that can be AGM instead. A kitty is good for morale, can come up with gameplans (always attack), and I'm fine answering PCs that are all meows. 5. I'm sure we'll all keep in contact. But I also wouldn't be shocked if I end up on a team with one or two - there's about to be a lot of Bulls entering the VHL. 6. You did a great job, but now you're also going to have another job! So AJ will have to find another person to do these unfortunately, and best of luck in the new gig!

@VHL Santa pls let us earn TPE from March Madness

Claim week 3

Houston -- It was a season of ups and downs for Italian center Antonia Bucatini. It started on a Halifax team that, while rebuilding, couldn’t quite much going in the win column. Then at the trade deadline, Bucatini was traded to a Houston team with a lot of energy, a lot of hope, and soon after a lot of winning. There was high expectations entering the playoffs, but in the end, it all came crashing down with a semifinals loss to the eventual champion Philadelphia Reapers. A roller coaster, that’s how Bucatini put it. But does she think she’s worse off for the ride? “I wouldn’t change a thing,” Bucatini told reporters at the Bulls’ post-season media debrief. “There’s a lot that’s happened this past season, more than I would have ever thought possible. But through the ups and downs, I think I’ve learned – and I’ve also made a few friends.” Bucatini has spoken publicly before about how she has enjoyed playing in such a vibrant environment like the one in Houston. And even now, as the team’s players are set to go their separate ways, she’s hopeful that future locker rooms will take cues from what she just experienced. “It’s just the starting line for so many of us in the VHLM, and that’s true for more people than ever before,” she added. “I’m aware it’s a long career and that people fade away. But it’s my sincere hope that locker rooms everywhere are able to engage people like Houston, Miami and some of the other top VHLM clubhouses have this year. Because so many people active and on board makes things more fun for everybody.”

I support this story line. (Or do I? Perhaps you'll never know...)

I don't really care about the goalie rule one way or the other, but since nobody's talking about it - the hardest of passes on fatigue. I remember being in a (basketball?) league that tried it once, and there's nothing more demoralizing to activity than saying, "I know you're max earning and chasing records/titles/etc., but you're just going to not be involved now because the sim engine said so." Rule of Fun > Realism

1. It's rough, not going to lie. Really thought we had a good shot at that title, but props to Philadelphia, they were able to get it done. The hurt will pass in time, but wallowing in it for now. 2. That's probably the case for most people, but for a lot of Bulls it's now draft prep time. Meetings, workouts, negotiations, the whole nine yards ahead for me. 3. I'm really glad I was able to join mid-season and just be a part of the atmosphere. One of the more enjoyable VHLM experiences I've had, hats off to the Houston leadership for fostering that comeraderie. 4. I wasn't taking part in the riots, but I wasn't stopping them either. Nothing like a cool pina colada to sit on the roof of the stadium and watch as things burn. 5. Just a few VHL teams, no VHLE teams so far which is interesting. I'm really just anxious for the VHL lottery to be here already more than anything. 6. It's on to the E for me, and I'm really just curious what team I land on there. I'm 1 for 1 in VHLE titles so far, would be pretty sweet to go 2 for 2.

... so I'm just reading the lottery might be soon

Houston -- As of this writing, there are three series complete in the VHLM's first round of the playoffs. But only one of them so far has produced an upset: the fifth seeded Houston Bulls took down the fourth seeded San Diego Marlins in six games. Both teams had their strengths entering the series. San Diego's first line features what may be two of the top three picks in the VHL Draft in Del Rocco and Devote, while Houston's overall depth includes more than a full lines' worth of players that have capped out their VHLM training time. But in the end, says Bulls center Antonia Bucatini, Houston was able to pull out the victory for one reason: constant growth. "This was a young team to start the season. It's no surprise the Bulls fell behind a bit early and needed to play catch-up," Bucatini said. "But all of those players just getting their feet wet at the beginning of the season? They're now fully formed, peaking at the right time. This isn't your typical five seed; I really think we should be among the title favorites." In the next round, the Bulls will have the opportunity to prove that very thing. The Philadelphia Reapers entered the VHLM Playoffs as the number one seed, and even if it took them a bit longer to get past Saskatoon in the first round than many anticipated, they remain an inordinately tough foe. It will take more offensive cohesion - and a greater commitment to stay out of the penalty box - for Houston to advance another round. Still, Bucatini feels they have the team to do it. And as evidence, she draws on her experience last season - from this very same Philadelphia team, which went from a five seed to the finals. "Sometimes it all comes together. I saw it last year, and I really think I'm seeing it again," she said. "I know better than to try and predict anything with the randomness of the playoffs sometimes. But do I think we have a legit shot? Yeah, I think we're there. I really do."

Also just got a bump from pick 16 to pick 12 in the draft, courtesy of London. That's why I do my mock early - if it's inherently guaranteed to be the wrong order, fewer people can yell at me

1. Solid, but 3 wins isn't good enough. I really want to close out this series in 6 at home, I think the fans deserve it for sticking with us this season. 2. More than I think most fans realize. I've seen goalies in the VHL get on absolute heaters and carry their teams, and Vencko's been putting in the work all season to get to that top tier level. I've got faith. 3. I mean, I don't want to seem conceited by saying top two in the VHL, but that's where I think the TPE's got me right now. No matter where the lottery gods might put me though, I'll be excited to get started. 4. The Philly/Saskatoon series in particular has really surprised me with how dominant Philly looked during the season. If the Wild could pull that off even after being sellers at the deadline, everybody would be in shock. 5. Peanut butter in the skates is an oldie but goodie. A real pain in the ass to try and clean out too, but not ruin-somebody's-life malicious. 6. In-laws are in Mexico right now, that'd be nice. I'm headed to the Azores in a few months anyway, so if I could move that up a bit to now to escape the cold, I'd be rather happy.

2000+ words Claiming for the weeks ending: 2/25 3/3 3/10 3/17

CIA’s Early, Probably Wrong S93 Mock Draft The playoffs are here, and that means the event that absolutely everybody is waiting for. No, of course not the playoffs, who cares about those? No, what everybody is really focused on is the VHL Draft, the illusion of hope that will inevitably crush 15 out of 16 teams each season. And this draft is a particularly interesting one. At the beginning of this particular draft cycle, there was a belief it’d be a weak draft year. There weren’t many recreating members, after all, especially with a few high profile S83 players instead preferring to take some time off before recreating. It also didn’t help that most of those early creates were all forwards, meaning there wasn’t going to be much variety at the top of the draft. Then, the deluge happened. Spurred on by a renewed recruitment drive on Youtube, new members began to enter in drove. The result is a draft with more first generation players than we’ve seen in any time in recent memory. And since many of those new members joined at the same time, there really isn’t much separating anybody in the draft. Indeed, as of Sunday, Feb. 18, there are fourteen players between 221 TPE and 199 TPE. Yes, that’s just 22 TPE, separating the fourth and seventeenth ranked players in the first round. In my opinion, that means this could very well be the craziest draft we see in a long time. It also promises to be the most unpredictable, and a lot is going to depend on unknown GM preferences and scouting meetings that haven’t happened yet. In fact, it would be a fool’s errand - downright irresponsible, in fact - to try and predict any of this before the lottery has even occurred. Luckily, downright irresponsible is why I’m here. Before I get into the mock, there’s two important things to keep in mind: 1. This is one person’s opinion, and I know nothing. I’m very purposefully not active on Discord outside of my locker rooms, so I don’t know who’s friends with who or player plans that may have been discussed on there. I’m making picks based on what I know and team fits. 2. If you’re dissatisfied with where I put you, please absolutely take it personally. It’s because I hate you, specifically, person I’ve never met in real life. Now with that in mind, let’s get to picking. TPE totals are as of Sunday afternoon. 1. Seattle Bears: C Antonia Bucatini, Houston Bulls, 354 TPE, @CowboyinAmerica I swear I’m not doing this to be conceited, and I think there’s a very good chance that Gianfranco Del Rocco is the first name on the draft board for a few lottery teams (more on that in a second). But I do expect Bucatini to be one of the top two, both because of the agency’s history and also the raw TPE total. As it relates to the Bears specifically, I’ll just say this: I’ve only actually created one forward before. That player, Gabriel McAllister, went first overall in S56 to the Bears and a relatively new GM named Bana. Four seasons later, Bana had his first title, and McAllister was named Playoff MVP. 2. HC Davos Dynamo: LW Gianfranco Del Rocco, San Diego Marlins, 327 TPE, @Victor The easiest pick on the board, put it in pen. While some drafts have surprises, I’ll be a bit shocked if myself and Victor aren’t 1-2 in some order. And while Del Rocco falls to Davos here, I wouldn’t be shocked if he was top on their draft board regardless. After all, Victor is a former Davos GM, many of his best seasons as a member were with the franchise, and Davos could be looking for new blood after having CIA’s Booberry just a few seasons ago. Plus, Davos actually has the best combined chance at the first pick in the lottery (32.5%), giving them a chance to make this a reality. 3. Vancouver Wolves: LW Forum Content, Miami Marauders, 221 TPE, @frescoelmo This is where I believe things start to get interesting. The easy pick would be winger Jean-Pierre Devote, who has the most TPE on the board. There’s also an argument for one of the more active first gen players who would provide a high upside. But I’m going with door number 3 in winger Forum Content. Fresco is one of the very, very few sim league members who have been around longer than I have (read: we’re old), and given past member history, there’s less of a chance of burnout than perhaps some of the newer members. The Wolves have their top-end talent from their host of S92 picks, what they really need are steady players to fill out the roster. Content certainly has the capability to be a star, but the high floor is even more important for me here. 4. Chicago Phoenix: LW Jean-Pierre Devote, San Diego Marlins, 276 TPE, @eagle_3450 Early on in this drafting cycle, Devote was promoting himself as a potential first overall pick. And while he may have fallen a tiny bit behind Bucatini and Del Franco in terms of training points earned, there’s still all the makings here of a potential star. That potential mixes nicely with what the Phoenix need here, because I view Chicago as the exact opposite of Vancouver: A lot of really solid players, but in desperate need of a high ceiling player who could be the leader of the team into a new generation. That’s also why I think some enterprising first gens could be in consideration here, but Devote’s TPE advantage right now and previous earning gives the advantage. 5. HC Davos Dynamo (from Warsaw): D Lucy Leitner, Houston Bulls, 215 TPE, @LucyXpher A lot has been made of Davos getting this pick from Warsaw, so what now will they do with it? I have two immediate thoughts: First that they may not want two forwards in the lottery knowing there will be many available later, and second that Alex is not a GM afraid of taking a chance on first gens. So with that in mind, we see a first gen off the board here in Leitner. One of those coming to the league early in the season, Leitner has been a revelation on the blue line for the Bulls, averaging more than a point per game. Their insightful articles have also been a revelation, and show someone both invested in the league and not as prone to potential burnout in what may be a longer Davos rebuild. 6. Riga Reign: D Benjamin Abenduct, Houston Bulls, 208 TPE, @Schnee The Reign are my single most intriguing team as we enter the draft. Barring a bit of lottery luck or playoff lack of luck, they have three first round picks that sit in the middle of the first round. That gives them an opportunity to take a few chances, or perhaps even trade up with a team that’s looking for more established players (Chicago?). But as I’m not predicting trades, I wouldn’t be surprised if Riga takes a similar tactic to Davos’ last pick and knows there are forwards later. Thus, Leitner’s linemate Abenduct is the pick, a first gen who has been a continuously strong earner since joining at the beginning of the season. With Cobalt Burns set to retire and new defensemen in the prospect pool, Riga desperately needs some youth on the blue line. 7. New York Americans: LW Chris Reynolds Jr, Houston Bulls, 213 TPE, @Crstats23 New York has a lot of offensive talent right now, but only one forward in their pool younger than S88 (last year’s first round pick Wayne Gretzky). So I’d expect them to go forward, and the third straight Bull to go off the board in Reynolds would seem to be a perfect fit. Reynolds’ agency proved to produce loyal players given Pete Mitchell’s eight seasons in Davos, something that relatively new GM STZ should value given that the Americans are still trying to build a new identity. Reynolds has also been a consistent earner, even if not always at the max, and the Americans have seemed to value long-term consistency as evidenced by the Gretzky pick. 8. Prague Phantoms: RW Annie Oaks, Las Vegas Aces, 206 TPE, @Noodle Enjoyer With Prague being eliminated in the wild card round, it would seem to be the end of an era. Four of their starters are retiring this offseason; stars John Jameson and Nikolas Kauppi are following next season. With a full rebuild potentially looming on the horizon, that screams to me a first gen who Prague can mold over time and serve as the centerpiece as more players come in with high picks in coming seasons. Between both Saskatoon and Las Vegas, Oaks has emerged as one of the VHLM’s top offensive talents and can be exactly that type of scorer Prague can build around. A perfect earner as far as I can tell, Oaks also has star upside to be the next in a line of top earners once Jamerson and Kauppi are gone. 9. Toronto Legion: D Gul Dukat, Miami Marauders, 199 TPE, @MSouthworth This is where the draft order could start to change based on the playoffs, and the Legion certainly wouldn’t mind picking last in the first round. But if they’re here, an infusion of youth into the defensive core is a must if they’re going to extend their window of opportunity. Dukat is the third of the three first gen defensemen I’d expect to go earlier than some may expect, providing high-level upside as long as their earning stays consistent. Much more of a defensively-oriented player than either Leitner or Abenduct, Dukat would also fit in nicely with a team that has high-profile scorers in Jaks and Atlas, but could use a bit more blue line strength. 10. Riga Reign (from London): LW UghSike, Miami Marauders, 202 TPE, @UghSike You thought I was going to pick a different forward here? Ugh, sike! (Sorry, it was the low-hanging fruit.) After going defense with the first pick, and with S91 draftee Red Panda fully entrenched at goalie, going forward with their next two firsts makes sense for the Reign. UghSike has been a consistent earner since joining, recently topping the 200 capped mark for the VHLM. And even if the points haven’t necessarily been there yet with Saskatoon or Miami, that will change in time as long as the TPE stays consistent. A good team/player fit, as Riga has had success bringing first gens along. 11. Riga Reign (from D.C.): RW Nathan Ecker, Houston Bulls, 199 TPE, @Nathan_8 And with the next pick, Riga goes to the opposite side of the ice, taking right winger Nathan Ecker. Another first gen who came in near the start of the season, Ecker started off slow for the Bulls but picked his game up near the end of the season, ending with 25 goals while playing on Houston’s second line. But more important than that is a desire to be involved with the league, as evidenced by a JST GM position. That portends good tidings for long-term league longevity, and once again Riga is a good landing spot for first gens. 12. Moscow Menace: C Tyler Lawson, Houston Bulls, 172 TPE, @Nyx I’m curious where Moscow would go: recreating members who might occasionally get welfare but provide consistent earning (Nabokov, Kolesinska, French), or a first gen who has a higher ceiling, but potentially a lower floor? But having two late firsts allows them to split the difference, and I’m predicting a newer member in Lawson here. Although Lawson joined a little later than some players who have gone already, only getting in 56 games with the Bulls, he nonetheless has been a consistent earner and quickly worked his way up draft boards. The Menace do have three young talented centers in Gunner, Ruutu and Richmond, but Lawson’s current build could easily be molded to play on the wing as well. 13. Moscow Menace (from Los Angeles): D WWumbo, Ottawa Lynx, 172 TPE, @Fire Tortorella What, you thought my returning player spiel in the previous section was just about forwards? The same logic could apply just as easy to defensemen - and perhaps moreso, given that Andersson isn’t too far from regression and Pereira is a semi-regular welfare earner. WWumbo may see some welfare himself, but in a defensive pool with less depth than forward, a consistent earner and VHL regular would be welcomed into Moscow. Just don’t hire Torts as the team’s coach. 14. Helsinki Titans: G Jorgen Lovstrom, Philadelphia Reapers, 202 TPE, @Pifferfish Wait, a goalie hasn’t gone yet? Yes, it’s a rough market for goalies this season for two main reasons. First, there are a few talented ones, meaning teams could feel they can afford to wait and not miss out. And second, five of the picks in the mid-first are owned by Riga and Moscow - two teams with young goalies of their own who aren’t looking for a replacement. But those factors are Helsinki’s gain, as they get a talented netminder in Lovstrom here. The goalie for the VHLM-leading Reapers, Lovstrom has shown he knows how to win - important for a Helsinki team that may be looking to extend its window even beyond Fuukka Rask’s retirement in two seasons’ time. 15. Malmo Nighthawks (from Calgary): RW Yermolai Nabokov, Philadelphia Reapers, 205 TPE, @fonziGG What do you get for the team that has everything? There are some talented goalies on the board, but Malmo has a few prospect goalies to replace Ash Sparks, including last year’s 10th overall pick Olafur Gunnleifsson. Defense is the strength of the team already with a few young players. So forward is where I’m going, and with a known member in Fonzi. Nabokov has a few welfare claims to his name, but the Fonzi agency has also demonstrated an ability to make strong players if motivated. Landing on the reigning Victory Cup champions would seem to be strong motivation, especially since it looks like the team’s core will continue winning for a few seasons. 16. HC Davos Dynamo (from Malmo): G Ondrej Vencko, Houston Bulls, 182 TPE, @Mutti With their two lottery picks in this mock, the Dynamo already selected a forward and a defensive player. So when entering the rebuild, what’s left? Why, a goalie of course? It’s a matter of preference between Vencko and Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen, but I’m going with the first gen here. Outside of one hiccup week, Mutti has been a consistent earner since joining the league on a youthful Bulls team, emerging as the lead goalie in the run to the five seed. The Dynamo certainly have no problem with first gen goalies (see: Lachlan Summers), and Vencko would be ready to go upon Summers’ ultimate retirement. Just missed first round: RW Trimiskez Artav @jake - Was on track to be at the top half of the lottery, but two welfare weeks followed by not updating this week worries me. Can get back to things quickly though. RW Miner vHLer @Rhynex Entertainment - I’m so excited to see how the build idea works. But with a lot of depth in the draft, I’m not sure teams would be as excited. C Vanuza Kolesinska @chikn - For teams wanting a consistent presence, Kolesinksa is your player. But I’m expecting more swings for first gens this draft. RW Steve French @Seabass - Same reasoning as above, though I’m curious whether the agency’s past association with Moscow means anything with their late firsts. G Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu - Goalie is just going to be a tough position this draft with who currently holds firsts. But I’m sure someone like L.A. or London would love to trade back in to the late first and pick them up. D Ray Stanton @horoscope - My dark horse first round pick, given how many teams need defense. Has been a strong earner since joining mid-season, if the scouting interview goes well a team could swing for the high upside.

Great article, and I'm glad you included this context because it was very much a thing. A little like KD to the Warriors - great to team up with his friends and obviously very talented, but left a sour taste for a lot of competitors and nobody was going to give him the credit for joining a superteam.