Parriyah9374

Duncan Idaho - Paul Atreides - Brendan Telker
 
Javad Kamkar - Olof Samuelsson
 
Jurgis Kalvelis Blazevicius/Tater Tot
 
Scoring amongst the rookie class was down compared to the past few seasons, but that wasn't indicative of the talent that made its way up to the VHL in Season 77! The Moscow Menace's one-two punch of Duncan Idaho @OrbitingDeath and Paul Atreides @Mr_Hatter were the top two scorers of the class, and as Moscow's rebuild rolls along, these are two players that will be putting the league on notice very soon. Brendan Telker @Telkster stepped in with the Malmo Nighthawks and made an immediate difference, scoring 24 goals and helping his new team reach the playoffs. Javad Kamkar @Parriyah9374 made the leap to the VHL with the Vancouver Wolves in Season 77, and wasted no time becoming an important part of their blue line, blocking 171 shots and established himself as a reliable player on both ends of the ice. Olof Samuelsson @Azlan wasn't the highly touted rookie defenseman on the HC Davos Dynamo, but he's the one that made his way onto our All-Rookie Team! With 212 hits, his physical play was reinforced with gritty play in his own end, along with a steady presence offensively to really become a quality contributor for Davos. At goaltender, we have an unusual situation, as two rookie goalers make the team! Jurgis Kalvelis Blazevicius @efiug and Tater Tot @Trunkxolotl received the same amount of votes, so as a result, they both make the team!
 
Congratulations to our Season 77 VHL All-Rookie Team!!
 
Voting:
 
Forward:
Duncan Idaho: 14, Paul Atreides: 14, Brendan Telker: 11, Phillip Stein: 2
 
Defense:
Javad Kamkar: 11, Olof Samuelsson: 11, Reylynn Reinhart: 3, Zeedayno Chara: 3
 
Goalie:
Jurgis Kalvelis Blazevicius: 4, Tater Tot: 4, Trent Gibson: 3, Vsevolod Askarov: 2

Around the VHL - May 3rd, 2021 - Season 78 Episode 3
 

    
 
It’s the best time of the season, with playoff battles underway as teams vie for the right to hoist the Continental Cup! As the regular season grind came to an end, we saw the Warsaw Predators capture first place overall in the league thanks in large part due to 100-point forwards Aloe Dear (112) and Dakota Lamb (104) as well as #1 defenseman Latrell Mitchell and mid-season acquisition Chris Hylands, who also seamlessly transitioned from forward to wing. Meanwhile, in the North American Conference it was Chicago finishing first, with an extremely balanced attack that featured seven 80-point players and nobody above 93.
 
The NA was a hotly-contested conference with Chicago, Toronto, Seattle, and Los Angeles all finishing within four points of one another, and despite only being 4 points away from winning the division, the Stars had to face off against the Vancouver Wolves in a play-in round.
 
In the EU, Warsaw was joined by London and Helsinki (each of whom finished with enough points to win the North American Conference), while Prague and Malmo finished in the 4 and 5 spots for the play-in series. HC Davos and Riga finished each within a point of Malmo for that final playoff spot and both have to be very disappointed with that result, especially Riga as they loaded up in the off-season only to have to sell again mid-season and were unable to make any sort of noise in Ray Sheilds’ final campaign.
 
Andrew Su of Vancouver captured the league’s scoring title, and appears the early favourite for MVP voting as his 120 points were eight ahead of second-place Aloe Dear and 14 ahead of third-place Groovy Dood. Dakota Lamb, Jim Bob (103), and Onde Sandstrom (102) also turned in 100-point campaigns. Surprisingly, there were no 50-goal scorers this season as Bob led the league with his 48 goals.
 
The league’s top scoring defenseman was Chicago’s Spencer Elsby, with 93 points edging out Tyler Walker of Davos (90), Erik Killinger and Kasper Kankkunen of London (86 each), and Latrell Mitchell of Warsaw (also 86). Walker might be the leading candidate for the Labatte Trophy, though, as he had 290 hits and 165 blocked shots to go along with those 90 points. Elsby and Killinger (among others) are sure to present a strong challenge for that crown.
Grekkark Gyrfalcon posted 37 wins and an 0.925 SV% for Prague this year, while Doug Dimmadome had 36 wins and an 0.923 SV% for Los Angeles, making them the two odds-on favourites for the Aidan Shaw Trophy. League wins leader Ajay Krishna (43) might be in the mix, but could be held back by his 0.919 SV%, which was bested by five other starters.
 
Meanwhile, in the rookie scoring race, Moscow’s star young trio of Paul Atreides, Duncan Idaho, and Philip Stein captured the top three spots, with Atreides leading the way in both goals (31) and points (62). Vancouver’s Javad Kamkar was the top-scoring rookie defenseman with 53 points.
 
S77 Playoffs
 
Which brings us to where we are now - the postseason!
 
The Los Angeles Stars are finally in the playoffs and they celebrated with a 3-1 series win over the Vancouver Wolves in the play-in round, winning game one 6-2 and never really looking back. This was the series of Jeffrey Pines, who put up 7 goals and 10 points in the four-game span to lead his team to victory. In the EU play-in round, while Malmo kept the games largely competitive against Prague, it was an expected series sweep by the Phantoms as they outscored Malmo 14-9 and peppered Artem Tretiak with almost 150 shots over the three games.
 
The first semifinal matchup in the North American Conference featured the Stars against the defending champion Chicago Phoenix in a highly-anticipated matchup. Despite a 47-26 edge in shots for Chicago in Game 1, LA netminder Doug Dimmadome held the fort with 44 saves and the Stars got three goals in the 3rd period for a 5-3 win. Game 2 was an evenly matched affair, 4-4 and relatively close in shots after two periods. But even as the Phoenix turned it on in third, with a 19-7 edge in shots in the final frame, the only goal would go to LA thanks to Pekko Viitanen’s 2nd of the playoffs. Dimmadome made 41 saves on 45 shots to again hold his team in it for a 2-0 series lead. Chicago almost returned the favour in Game 3, with Jean-Pierre Camus making 47 saves on 49 shots, but their offense couldn’t get it going and LA won again, 2-1 on John Merrick’s second-period powerplay goal. The Stars would complete the shocking sweep with a 4-3 win in Game 4.
 
The Seattle Bears and Toronto Legion were separated by just two points in the regular season standings, and the way this series played out, you could tell. Game 1 got the series off the right way with a 4OT marathon. By then, Seattle seemed out of gas as Toronto outshot them 10-0 in the 4th OT, ending it on a goal by SS Hornet. Game 2 only went five periods, with Hornet scoring a second straight OT winner early in OT2 to give Toronto a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went to OT again, this time ended after just 8:02 by Hex Rose to get Seattle back into the series. In Game 4, we had yet another one-goal game. Toronto jumped out to 3-0 and 4-3 leads but the Bears kept clawing back, then got a third-period goal from Marshall James Frostbeard to win 5-4 and even the series. It was back to OT in Game 5, with Seattle again mounting a third-period rally to come back from a 3-1 deficit, then winning on a Frank Funk Jr. OT goal. Five games into the series, we had seen 23 periods of hockey and every game was decided by one goal. Seattle did buck that trend winning Game 6 by a 3-0 score, but what a thrilling and intense series it was - an instant classic that will be remembered for a long time.
 
Prague’s reward for beating Malmo was a date with Warsaw, the heavy cup favourites after the regular season. The Phantoms put up a good fight, winning game one 2-1 and keeping game 2 to a one-goal game as well. Warsaw decided to flex their muscle in Game 3, putting up an absurd 100 shots over 90 minutes of hockey. Huge props to Grekkark Gyrfalcon for stopping 95 of those 100 shots, but Warsaw finally put the winner by him in 2OT to tie the series. The Phantoms never recovered from that one, losing 4-0 the next game and then being put away by Uhtred’s third period goal in Game 5.
 
In the final conference semifinal series, Helsinki got three goals from Vick Fairchild over the first two games to capture 3-2 and 4-2 wins and jump out to an early lead over London. After London rallied back with a game 3 win, the Titans re-asserted themselves by winning Game 4 by a big 5-1 score, led by a 4-point night from Valtteri Vaakanainen. Finding themselves down 2-0 in the third period of Game 5, the United refused to die, scoring four third-period goals to find a 4-3 win and extend the series. But they’d ultimately find themselves knocked out in OT in Game 6 when Magnus Verlander scored to end a tightly-contested, double-overtime thriller.
 
Round 2 of the VHL playoffs featured so many thrilling moments and a lot of tight games and close series’, despite all of them ending before Game 7. It sets up conference final matchups between the Los Angeles Stars and Seattle Bears in the NA, and a familiar one with the Helsinki Titans and Warsaw Predators in the EU. Stay tuned folks, we’re sure to have even more fantastic hockey and memorable moments to come as the S77 playoffs come to a close!
 
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Players Mentioned: @Renomitsu  @dlamb @dasboot @Hylands @Zetterberg @bigAL @Da_Berr @jRuutu @fonziGG @Spence King @Peace @16z @Advantage @Esso2264 @Sharkstrong @Hooperorama @Mr_Hatter @OrbitingDeath  @IHateBobNutting @Parriyah9374 @rory @Molholt @Xdjk93 @solas @Steve @McWolf @Hex Universe @Rayzor_7 @FrostBeard @leafsman @Jubo07 @Jbeezy76 @GreenGato

Javad Kamkar, D, 321 TPE: He was drafted at 187, and gained 134 TPE between now and then. In the minors, he scored just 11 goals, but had a whopping 74 assists for 85 points, as well as 83 blocked shots and 53 hits for Houston. Also, in what is now 19 career games for WJC Asia, Kamkar has 6 goals, 19 assists, 25 points, 54 hits, and 53 shots blocked. On pace for 1,200+ TPE in his career, he was a pretty good bargain for 21st overall, especially since the 2 guys chosen ahead of him either went IA or still can’t crack the majors, he’s got an A- rating.
 
Henry Tucker, 355 TPE: That’s me, and I’ll try to make this short. I gained 169 TPE, scored 73 points in the minors with 186 hits, and made it on to Team USA for the WJC. Seems like a pretty good bargain for 26th overall, and I’m on pace for anywhere between 1300-1500 TPE, because, sadly, Imma lose a few weeks of earning going on weeklong vacations 😢. A+.
 
Tater Tot, 278 TPE: Well, well, well, after earning welfare pre-draft, Tot decided to max earn, which helped him realize a gain of 147 TPE (he started at 131 on draft day), and a spot on the major league roster. With Minnesota, he was 30-9-6 with a stellar 2.86 GAA and helped us get into the playoffs. With Team Canada, he’s had some tough luck, going 2-5-2, but has a solid 3.17 GAA. A+
 
Loic Trepanier, Retired: Well, he retired after falling behind to Tot by an amazingly wide margin, though he did go 25-31-5 with a 3.62 GAA Philly. However, he still retired, which earns him an F. In future draft rankings, he’ll no longer be featured for obvious reasons.
 
The grades are more subjective, and don’t reflect the user necessarily, or the management either, just a noob’s perspective on life.

Mentioned People
 

Review: Nicely done! Logo and text placement is excellent and covers a majority of the canvas very well. The background color scheme is beautiful and works well with the logos. I like the font you used for the team names, gives it a funky vibe which I dig. If I had the choice, I'd consider this as one of the top options for the banner.
 
Score: 10/10 Keep it up!

Review: Brilliant job with this sig! The snowflake effect in the background with the ice rink is a really nice touch. The logo swap is done very well and the jersey color matches the logo too, which makes it even better. The text font and positioning is also great. The attention to detail overall is excellent.
 
Score: 10/10 Keep it up!

With the pooling of talent across Asia (and other parts of the world), Team Asia sought to look internally for leadership. These following individuals were voted by their peers and GM as leaders on this team, and will wear the C and As for the squad. Without further ado, the S76 Team Asia Captains and Assistant Captains!

C - FRANK FUNK JR @Rayzor_7

A - JARED CARTER @jaredc7

A - LOGAN MOORE @drewowo
 
A - JAVAD KAMKAR @Parriyah9374

CONGRATULATIONS!! Looking forward to a great tournament, LET'S GO TEAM ASIA!!

Game 5 is over, The Mexico City Kings just beat us five to three and we're down 3-2 in the series. We head back to our locker room, especially me with my head down, disappointed with my defensive performance in the series. I got cocky and made some crucial mistakes in the game. Thinking I could dispatch of the puck handlers myself I didn't care about teamwork and just rushed toward them with no hesitation and the team paid the price for my mistakes. We're now only one game away from losing the founder's cup and It's mostly my fault. But even with that in mind, I can't let these thoughts dwell on me and bring me down. Sure they've won three games but we've won two! We're still in this! Game 6 is tonight and we need to stick together as a team and show everyone what teamwork really is. All the mistake I've made, I'm going to make it up to the team by being the least selfish guy out there on the ice and giving it all I've got. We've come too far now to lose the cup. I'm not going to let it happen. Our time is now. Horns up!

Pretty good improvement so far! Keep it up  

We have officially eclipsed the halfway mark of the VHLM season and a playoff picture is starting to come together more clearly.  The contenders are pulling away from the pretenders as things have become much more defined since the last Power Rankings. As expected, Houston sits atop the Western Conference, having only dropped 6 games thus far. Over in the Eastern Conference the Minnesota Storm have been just as dominant and currently hold an 18 point lead for first place in the East. As the trade deadline approaches next week, it will be interesting to see if teams will be looking to wheel and deal and try to bolster their lineups, or whether they will decide to look towards the future instead. There seems to be around 5 or 6 teams that could be considered contenders, while the rest of the league are all missing key pieces to be truly considered as threats in the post-season. Without further ado, let's get into the Power Rankings and take a look at how all 12 squads are fairing. 
 

Prev: 1  |  Current: 1 ↔️
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, the Bulls have been raging on and continue to be the toast of the VHLM this season. At a record of 42-6-0 so far, the Bulls are living up to the hype they received going into the season. They have excelled in all areas and have pulled in front of Minnesota for least Goals Allowed as well as Goal Differential. This is a testament of their complete roster that plays hard both on offense and defense.  Houston is getting incredible production throughout their lineup, with 7 players totally 50 points or more already! The hottest player on the team the past couple weeks has been @Mr_Hatter Paul Atreides. I'm not sure if he was promoted to the top line or he just found some more chemistry with his teammates,  but he now leads the team in the scoring with 74 points (29G,45A). He also is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals. Aside from Atreides, the Webber brothers  (@WebberP and @Webberj) continue to be pillars of consistency, both eclipsing the 60 point plateau. Meanwhile on defense @Parriyah9374 Javad Kamkar is proving he was worthy of being the first defenseman taken in the draft this offseason. He's netted 58 points (10G, 48A) which is good for third most amongst all defensemen in the league!  In between the pipes, goalie Trent Gibson hasn't been rock solid statistically, he continues to hold down the fort for the Bulls. 
 

Prev: 2  |  Current: 2 ↔️
Coming in at number two for the second straight time is the Minnesota Storm. As previously mentioned, the Storm have gained a comfy lead atop the Eastern Conference. Despite dropping 3 straight at the time of this article, the Storm still maintain an 18 point lead over the Marauders. Having realized that they are in such a great spotm the Storm made two trades recently that saw them acquire two fully capped players. First they acquired @Nikdandrea34 forward Nik D'Andrea as well as defenseman  @correllvincent Vincent Correll from the San Diego Marlins for 3 draft picks (S77 1st and 2nd, S78 4th) and a couple of depth roster players.  D'Andrea has proven to be a great Top 6/Top 9 option up front and has had some valuable playoff experience with San Diego from last season. Correll is a solid add on the blueline as defensemen in the VHLM this season are a hot commodity and very hard to come by.  A week later Minny struck again when they acquired winger @Domino Draws Andy Nexber from the Aces for three more picks (S77 3rd, 5th and 6th) and a depth player. Nexber, like D'Andrea has some crucial playoff experience and he will really help fill out the top 9 for the Storm. They pieces are great complimentary additions to an already strong team and it's a clear indication that GM @Rayzor_7 is all in on this season.  So far this season it's been  @Telkster Brandan Telker leading the way for the Storm. He has already amassed 83 points (43G, 40A)  and which is a torrid scoring pace. If that's not enough he also leads the league in both powerplay goals (14) and game winning goals (9).  With the recent acquisitions and Telker's strong showing this season, Minnesota is looking deadlier than ever and could be a legitimate threat to Houston come playoff time!
 

Prev: 3  |  Current: 3 ↔️
At number 3 we have the Mexico City Kings holding down their spot from the last Power Rankings. The Kings quite simply put are just solid from top to bottom. They are as deep as anyone up front, and while they might be lacking a high end defenseman to fill out their defensive core, they certainly are no slouches in their own end. I would even go as far to say that the Kings are probably the only team outside of the Storm and Bulls that have a legitimate chance to run the table and come away with a Founder's Cup this year. There are a couple other teams that might have an outside shot, but in my mind the Top 3 of this Power Rankings are the true contenders this season and everyone else is just don't quite measure up. In their past 10 contests the Kings have gone 9-1 and that includes 2 wins over the Minnesota Storm. They are as hot as anyone in the league. The Kings are full of veteran players who have had some service time in the minors. @Jbeezy76 Magnus Verlander leads the way for the Kings offensively with a very solid 85 points (33G, 52A). Verlander's success should come as no surprise as Jbeezy's former player Erik Draven was an absolute stud throughout his career. Another player worth noting is @Max12 Maksym Jankowski.  Not only has Maksym surpassed the 70 point mark already (32G, 39A), but he's also laid down 140 hits this season which surely makes him a nightmare to play against. This will be his final season in the M before making the leap to Chicago next season and the Phoenix have to be thrilled with this player's development. Even though they are in the 3 spot, I think Mexico is a team you need when we get to the post-season!
 

Prev: 4  |  Current: 4 ↔️
As you can see, the top 4 spots have all remained the same from the last time the Power Rankings came out, but this is where things do start to get a bit dicey. While Yukon has had a great couple of weeks since the last Rankings were out, I do consider them to be trending in the wrong direction... let me explain why. First and foremost, a week ago the Rush were forced to release a nearly capped winger as well as a mid-level defenseman both due to inactivity. Both these players were crucial to the Rush's plans this season and these were crippling blows to their team. Despite these departures, Yukon has still done quite well as others have stepped up nicely.  However, the other reason for concern is something that just materialized this afternoon. Top line winger @Abe Roque has come out and demanded their management trade him. With the trade deadline looming next week, this puts Yukon in a tough spot and unless they can get a good return for Roque, it could throw their whole season into shambles. Despite the negatives, their are still a lot of positives for Rush fans to be happy about. Players like @jimmyallen93 Jim Allen (18G, 26A) and @Pythonic Gaspar Yakrevsky (26G, 28A) are stepping up big time and producing  big for Yukon. Considering Yakrevsky had 8 points in 50 games last season and hes already at 54 this season speaks volumes to his growth as a player.  Another positive is that the Yukon defensive core has not only done a great job at shutting down opponents, they are also very much a part of the offense. 26 % of goals scored for Yukon this season has come from the blueline so that's always a plus. Finally, @matt sovick has been rock solid in between the pipes this season. Management has to be happy with the results they've gotten from him since trading for him this past offseason.  He is currently 4th in the league in save percentage with .898% and he also leads the league in shutouts with 4. Despite these positives, like I stated earlier, I think the top 3 are are in a tier of their own and Yukon is not quite at the same level. It will be interesting to see what Yukon does going into the trade deadline next week.
 

Prev: 9  |  Current: 5 ⬆️
Easily the biggest leap in the Power Rankings is none other than the Miami Marauders. And dislike the Rush, I would consider the Marauders to be trending in the right direction. This past week GM @Ricer13 was able to pull of some of his magic and made a trade with the San Diego Marlins. They were able to acquire Theodore James St. Louis for a relatively small return. To acquire a capped forward for such a small price was quite surprising and will really help solidify a team that was already pretty good on offense.  On top of that, they were also able to sign coveted recreate @Jubis Zeedayno Chara. The addition of Chara addresses Miami's biggest need which is defense.  While I would still consider them pretty thin on the blueline, this is definitely a step in the right direction. The Marauders have gone 6-4 in their last 10 but have definitely been competitive in most contests this season.  Returnee @Toast Phoenix Dawson has been the catalyst of the offense for Miami this season putting up 81 points (29G, 52A). Meanwhile in net goaltender @ClapbombsRus has really come into his own. I said in the last power rankings that this goalie would need to continue developing in order for Miami to see any success this season, and he's done just that. Sporting a 25-13-4 record with a 2.93 GAA and league-best .904 save percentage, Clapbombs has really come into his own over the past weeks and has been one of the keys to Miami's success this season. I am curious to see if Miami tries to make anymore moves before the deadline next week. One thing I've learned in the VHLM in my first few seasons is that you can never count Miami out. Ricer loves to be competitive so time will tell!
 

Prev: 6  |  Current: 6 ⬆️
This might seem like a weird choice at first glance, but the Halifax 21st are a fairly solid team all things considered. Don't let their last place spot in the East deceive you. First off, the Eastern Conference is a super close race from 3-6 this season. Now that being said, this ranking comes with a disclaimer. I do believe Halifax, like most of the teams from here on out, will be in sell-mode from here on out. So in a week from now, who knows what their roster could look like. But as of right now, I think they have a really decent squad put together. They have some high end talent in all facets of their organization and decent depth to boot. @rory should be commended for taking over on the fly during the offseason and putting together such a respectable squad.  Offensively, the 21st score at a clip that is right on pace with the likes of the Yukon Rush and Miami Marauders. Their best forward has undoubtedly been sophomore winger @Jolline Eeli Rantanen who has posted an even 70 points (31G, 39A) and even laid out 90 hits to boot! Though they traded for defenseman Yuuto Kira Cloudera and recently signed MIA d-man Roger Jone, they still tighten things up a bit on defense and keep the puck out of their net a bit more. They have a decent amount of goals allowed this year, but thanks to their high scoring prowess, their goal differential is at -24 which isn't great, but certainly not the worst either (7th). Halifax continues to roll with two solid options splitting the duties in net. Jurgis Kalevlis Blazevicius has been slightly better than Dexter Vaughn, but both have been serviceable. It should be interesting to see if Rory uses one of these tenders as a trading chip either now leading up to the trade deadline, or in the offseason. 
 

Prev: 7  |  Current: 7 ⬆️
Coming in at lucky number 7, its the Las Vegas Aces. Right back where they were for the last Power Rankings, I still believe Vegas is playing better than what their record indicates. They went 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and they have slowly crept up the standings in the Western Conference. I firmly believe that when the season ends and the dust settles, Vegas will be sneaking into the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed. You could take this with a grain of salt if you'd like, but the Aces have managed to take the mighty Houston Bulls to overtime in 4 contests this season and have also beat them once in regulation. If they can hang tight versus the top team in the league, they can beat anyone! Their standout player has undoubtedly been their talented 1st line Russian center @Syzygy Evegeni Shevkov. He has been by far the biggest contributor on offense, posting an incredible 85 points (38G, 47A) and sports a very nice +21. There are a ton of people who could considered the most improved player in our league this season, but my vote would probably be for Skevkov considering he has played on a deeper roster than others and still has shown a 59 point improvement over his S75 totals already!  In the crease, goaltender @aksuko Aksu Maronen has been steady and reliable, going 19-25-6 with an .899 save percentage and a 3.24 GAA. In the grand scheme of things, the Aces are a very average team, but having said that I still consider them to be much better than alot of other teams in the league. 
 
 

Prev: 12  |  Current: 8 ⬆️
Next up is another huge gainer for this installment of the Power Rankings. This one might be a controversial one, but so be it. The Lynx are currently sitting in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 24-25-2.  People may think they should even be higher than 8th but in contrast to that thought, I had a hard time even putting them this high.  They DO feature one of the most potent offenses in the league, having scored 193 goals to date, which is third best leaguewide. However, on the flipside they also have the second worst goals against and 3rd worst goal differential. They haven't rostered an active defensemen all season and the forward core is super small and therefore get double shifted a bunch, hence why their players have such great stats.  I don't say this to sound demeaning or to be a jerk, but it's just annoying how stats can be skewed by teams having un-optimal roster formats. Realistically if you only rosters 8-9  skaters a night, they would get exhausted and be destroyed, yet here we are with Ottawa 3rd in the East. I will credit the dynamic duo of  @snackhero Theodore Hoffman and @Blastmeaway Leaning Tower of Pisa for having monster seasons and they sit 1st and 4th in league scoring respectively.  Also it's worth noting goaltender @Barry Barry Taffe has fairly reliable considering he has bot defensemen in front of him. He currently sits at 24-25-2 with an .888 SV% and a 4.24 GAA.
 

Prev: 10  |  Current: 9 ⬆️
While Mississauga is clearly in rebuild mode, I really like the roster they've managed to assemble. They are able to at least remain competitive and win a fair amount of games, but for the Hounds the focus is clearly being put on S77. @Zetterberg and @tcookie have compiled a nice amount of picks along with some returning players from this season as well. @Spartakiller2 Guy Lambert and @Miks Sunins Miks Sunish both look to be key pieces for next season's plans, meanwhile back on defense @Chris P Bacon will be back to bolster their blueline. Netminder @Lspinelli Luke Spinelli continues to use this season to develop and hopefully by next season he will be poised to be a top tender in the league. This season has been mediocre, but the Hounds do have some okay balance in their offensive production, featuring 8 players with 40 or more points. Look for Mississauga to be right on the playoff bubble at the end of the season, though I don't expect them to make any moves to help their cause for this year before the deadline.
 
 
 

Prev: 5  |  Current: 10 ⬇️
The defending Founder's Cup champs are the biggest fall on the Power Rankings this week. The Reapers started off their championship defense looking great, but the problem is while other teams kept improving and making marginal gains, Philly remained stagnant and are kind of in the same place there were a few weeks ago. While the players they do have are rather formidable, they just haven't built or developed a roster his season that can hang with the top of the league. And that's no accident, its by design. Reapers management probably are keen on focusing on the future and just letting the chips fall where they may for this season. I imagine they may try to sell off some assets before the trade deadline. Much like the stars on the Lynx, the Reapers top line is seeing inflated production, most likely from being double shifted and getting a ton of minutes. Nonetheless,  @glass Kjeil Nilsson and @Duddy Thomas King are currently sitting 2-3 in league scoring with 107 and 97 points a piece and have really dominated this year. The Reapers got a tough bit of news this past week as their current goalie Loic Trepanier retired his player and recreated. This is especially troublesome for Reaper management and fans as he would have been returning next year and probably would have been close to capped. This is a huge blow as they will now need to spend resources on finding another goalie for future seasons.
 

Prev: 11  |  Current: 11 ↔️
The Wild find themselves back in the second to last spot on the list this week, but it hasn't been for a lack of trying. The Wild are undoubtedly among the most active teams in waiver claims and have done an admirable job of filling out their roster. With their sites firmly on the future, their down season comes as no surprise. Veterans Gabe Johnson and Braxton Hunter will finish up their VHLM careers before going pro in Season 77. In an expanded role this season, @dshervill has continued to develop quite nicely. He will be a major candidate for best two-way forward this season as he is simply doing it all. 36 goals, 50 assists, over 250 shots, and 222 hits. Braxton is truly the jack-of-all-trades for the Wild this season and Prague must be excited to see their prospect do so well. Several players will be back for the Wild next season. Among them, goaltender @BrutalBoostAndrew Bowman will look to have an elite season as a high-end, high TPE goalie in Season 77!
 

Prev: 8  |  Current: 12 ⬇️
Well put this one down as a bad take for me I guess. In the previous Power Rankings I had San Diego at 8 and said I thought they could maybe be a fringe playoffs team. I was really impressed (and still am) by the amount of recruiting @thadthrasher was able to drum up in such a short amount of time. With little player assets and next to no draft picks, this season was basically doomed from the start. Thad did the smart thing and beat everyone to the market and sold his high valued assets for future draft picks. This season will be a wash, and although it won't be a bright spot on his career resume, going forward this season could be looked at as a noble and necessary sacrifice. I will be very intrigued to see what the Marlins do down the road, but S76 ain't it!
 
That's it for this week everyone. This season has been simmed super quickly, and I was originally planning on doing 3 Power Rankings during the regular season.  However, we are probably only a week out from the end of the season so we will have to see if another one comes out before the playoffs. While things certainly aren't as close at the top as they were last season, there is definitely going to be a decent race for the bottom playoff seeds. There are about 6 teams that could be vying for the bottom 3 spots, so it should be an exciting finish! Thanks to everyone reading! Everyone have a good one and stay safe out there! Cheers

Goodbye , Fairwell and Until Next Time BC ❤️ 
 
Well here we go again, Spence King and a shocking AGM change mid-season… Moving from the power house Vancouver Wolves organization in his time spent with @Beaviss. King is now on his way to joining the up and coming superstar GM and Legend in the making , the 2nd GM in Marlins history @thadthrasher.This surprise transition came after the Marlins AGM spot opened up. GM Beav and I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to help forward my front office career and build my reputation towards being the #1 candidate for the next VHLM GM position. Beav and my previous boss @DMaximus support me in my goals and have done everything they can to help me work towards earning that reputation community wide and making myself the sure-fire number 1 candidate for the next open VHLM GM position. Moving from the VHL to the VHLM as an AGM was seen by a lot as extremely confusing as it looks to be a demotion from the pros to the M; however, this isn’t the case at all.
 
My greatest strengths come as a front office position in the M rather than the VHLM. With my people skills and drive, I aim to build the most prestigious organization and make the most realistic and inclusive experience for members possible. I know this will help with retention and make sure that these VHLM stars don’t lose interest when going into the VHL. The future plans that Thad and I have, coupled with our ambition is a endlessly burning flame that is about to set the community on fire.
 
During my tenure in the VHL as AGM, it was a MAJOR learning curve just like it was in my first season in the VHLM. I had only been a member for maybe 4 months and already working with Dmax as AGM in Philly. The story is the same in Vancouver and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing people. Beav held my hand basically and helped me every step of the way, always quick to answer any questions or clarify anything with me. He was always sharing his invaluable knowledge on building and maintaining a successful franchise each season. Just look at the Wolves, Beav’s accolades and draft history speak for themselves. I could not have asked for a better opportunity than what I was given by Beav. I learned about trade value and VHL Cap rules as well as scouting for the VHL draft and the MAJOR differences in the role of AGM in the VHL compared to VHLM.
Dmax was the one who offered me my first AGM and front office position where I spent 4 seasons before Beaviss actually approached Dmax about acquiring me as an AGM for him in Vancouver. Fun fact: I never had any
 
intentions of ever being an AGM in the VHL nor did I think it was even in the realm of possibility for me to be on any VHL GM’s radar for something like this to occur. It went a little something like this.
Beav was in search of a new AGM, however rather than following the norm and posting the job listing and taking applications, Beav, the living legend, gave a call to THE Dmax inquiring about the permission to approach me with a job offer. Before I even had time to read the message from Dmax I saw a message from THE Beaviss, which had me in a little bit of a shock and awe to be honest. I had recently asked Beav previously in an interview in a discord chat for a different media spot in the works however its much more fitting here.
 
“So Beav, not everyone may know this but I was hired by you in S75 past the mid-season mark to takeover the reigns as AGM, what most people may not know is that I actually never applied for this position, the role of being an AGM in the pros was something I had never even thought of as a possibility, I LOVE and LOVED every moment as AGM in Phill with Dmax however Dmax has been pushing me to keep applying and encouraging me and reassuring me I will be an amazing VHLM GM and this is where you come into my VHL story. I received a message on discord from you only moments later to see that Dmax was making me aware of the situation and that you had asked his permission to speak with me about the possibility of a "promotion." Dmax, my partner in crime and BFF in the VHL community, the reason I am still here is Dmax lets be real, the idea or thought of leaving my position as AGM in Philly was never something I ever considered and truly was certain I would be the AGM in Philly for... ever maybe , or just follow Dmax wherever and ultimately earn that VHLM job. I could do what I’m best at. engaging and creating the most positive realistic and inclusive discord server and team atmosphere ever seen. Now enough of me ranting about myself which like you said on draft night to Josh "Selsby likes to talk ALOT"- Beaviss in voice chat. Squirrel.... Sorry my ADHD is obvious.
 
Now FINALLY, Beav, I still wonder to this day what is it that lead you to reach out to Dmax about me rather than taking applicants like all other GMs seem to be doing as of late. You went out of your way to personally reach out to me and eventually “poach” me from the Reapers. I 100% knew who you were and one million percent, honestly, I didn’t think you even had a clue who I was ?......” – Spence King Assistant General Manager of the Vancouver Wolves* (Now AGM with SDM of the VHLM).
 
 So tell me what did I do to earn the respect and honor of you requesting me to be your AGM ?
“I had been looking for a new AGM that could help me with scouting and to bounce ideas off of. I saw the good job you were doing with Dmax in Philly and thought you would be one of my two choices. I asked around and got some feedback from some other members and you were talked about in a high regard. Your drive and passion for the draft just pushed you over the other candidate I had picked. All in all, I think it has been a good fit.”- Beaviss General Manager of the Vancouver Wolves of the VHL
 
How do you think the Wolves rosters has accepted Mr King into the organization being virtually unknown? Was his ability to adapt to such a big change, quick and easy or still working his way into the group?
King has been able to learn and transition seemignlessly and is a regular with everyone, he earned his respect with hard work and dedication proving through his locker room presence and team Media Spots as well as some big help on draft night. -Beaviss General Manager of the Vancouver Wolves of the VHL
 
In conclusion, thank you so much Beaviss and each member of the Vancouver Wolves Organization for everything while I was in VAN. I’m sorry things didn’t work out and the VHL AGM just wasn’t the best fit for me and with my ambitious towards VHLM GM. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate and respect you for allowing me to accept this opportunity climbing the ladder towards being the #1 candidate when the right time comes. I am working on a formal thank you to the entire Wolves organization and each of its members :heart:. I seriously can’t thank you enough for the opportunity you gave me with working in the VHL and learning so much from you and now I have learned honestly SO much about the VHL and how it’s run. I feel comfortable knowing the trade values and what to look for and the MAJOR differences between being a GM in the VHL and the VHLM and the major differences in what should be focused on the most. I can’t thank you enough for the invaluable knowledge you have given me regarding trading mentalities and how the market in the VHL works, as well as how to run a successful organization continuously every season, just like the real life Red Wings during there legacy run in the 2010 era. Thank you so much for always spending the time to teach me as much as humanly possible and this was without a doubt an experience I will never regret or forget. I am so honored and proud to have been a part of the Wolves Organization. I have no plans on leaving the VHL, ever. Who knows, I might be back someday ❤️ you Beavv and I can’t thank you enough. Seriously , like seriously, I’m doing what i know you love 😉 talking a storm. The Wolves are looking to have such a bright future and are serious contenders for the Continental Cup this year! I wish you and the Wolves all the best and don’t expect me to stop covering the wolves ❤️ Thanks again Beav, I am so grateful for everything you have done for me and my reputation ❤️
 
o all the Vancouver Wolves roster, players, and prospects, it’s truly been the biggest honor to have had a part in your careers. The sky is the limit for each and every one of you. Saying goodbye is extremely hard and I would love to give each of you a personal fairwell and thank you for being such great users in the LR and so accepting of me when I came out of nowhere with a small resume. You all welcomed me with open arms, and unfortunately the draft Playoffs didn’t go our way buy hockey’s a game of inches and seconds. Look at the Wolves now, you’ve got the best offense in the league that Beav has assembled. @IamMOOSE Kevin, I’m so sorry for all the issues and problems you had and feelings you had. I am so happy you decided to stay with the Wolves as your presence in the LR is like no other and truly a user GMs Dream on having! To all of my Wolf Pups, I spent so much time watching you grow throughout the season scouting you in the VHLM and having the honor to call your names on draft night and be part of such a special experience in your career that you will never forget. Please know each and every play picked by the Wolves in the recent draft were on Beavs Draft Board we came up with and the cards fell right in our lap and were able to run away from the draft laughing with the success in draft picks. @RomanesEuntDomus & @Sixersfan594 Having the opportunity to draft you both in the 1st round after being a part of drafting you only a season ago to start your legendary careers in Philly where you were both relatively very low picks and have risen to unanimous 1st round picks. I couldn’t be more honored than to have had the opportunity to work with Beaviss and participate in the VHL draft as I am an IRL scout and the draft is without question my favorite day of the year. Nothing gets me more excited than draft hype, especially when the draft goes your way like this previous one did.
I apologize to each and every member of the community and most of all the players in the Wolves Organization that this announcement was not made public sooner. I had some very unfortunate technically difficulties where I had completed a 3000+ word with half my thank you and farewell letters written in the Forum Dialogue box only to lose it all. Now expect a fleury of content coming your way as I have a handful of projects I have been working on for quite sometime know and just need some organizing and making sure it’s ok and perfect before it hits the media.
TO THE VHL COMMUNITY: I hope you can understand the issue and with me having so much I wanted to say to the Wolves Organization , ESPECIALLY our Roster , @DarkSpyro , @Poptart @BladeMaiden, @Garsh @fonziGG @jpsd @SweatyBeaverit has been such a great experience and amazing learning opportunity that will stick with me for the rest of my front office career! I wish you all the best of luck moving forward and keep up the :fire work that you have all been putting in! Much love to the pups that weren’t mentioned, @Parriyah9374  Kamkar I am so glad you trusted me as well as you too @Kmatt , look your are both VHLM SUPERSTARS, and are going to be career VHL stars, as you will both obviously be on the opening night roster. @CptSquall& @NotSoGood88, you both are truly something AMAZING prospects, and players we wanted 100% and like I said you are also the type of user every GM dreams of, the ambition and quality of work and research as well as pride you put into your work does not go unnoticed.
 
In an Outro here is a Quote from the San Diego Marlins General Managaer @thadthrasher-""I'm really excited to have you coming to San Diego as my AGM. I had nearly 25 great applicants for this position, but you stuck out the most. You're a passionate guy who wants to make sure people do well, learn, and grow. Everything you had to offer is exactly what I was looking for in an AGM. I know that the future that we will have together as GM and AGM will be one that is unmatched by anyone else. My dream is to make San Diego the team that everyone wants to play for, and I think between the two of us we can easily make that happen."
 
2339 words, using for PT weeks Feb 28,  Mar 07, Mar 15,Mar 28
 

Unsung heroes?  Maybe players that don't jump out at you on the scoresheet, but still provides value to their team on or off the ice?

After seeing the Season 75 draft class take shape, the entire league knew that the reshaping of team rosters was inevitable.  The first wave of the flood of new talent has risen and with this article, you will see the beginning of the next wave of future talent to grace this league and community.  Many new VHLers will make their debuts next season and eventually have their moments in the sun.  In this era with the salary cap, many teams will begin to juggle their lineups around, trying to keep under the cap while trying to get or stay competitive.
 
Enter the prospects.
 
These are instrumental players and people that can eventually make the difference as early as next season or down the road.  Some of these players will be looking to make a name for themselves in the league, so don't you go dismissing them, or even begin forgetting about them either.  Depth scoring and defending will be at a premium soon and with the right players, franchises can turn around for the better.
 
With heavy contributions from @fonziGG, @Patrik Tallinder and myself,
 
Let's begin...
 
 
@Jubis           @Patrik Tallinder         PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA The Wranglers have multiple important players retiring this offseason, and that means that the youth will have an opportunity to take on bigger responsibilities in the coming seasons. Leading the way in this prospect pool is S76 1st rounder Magnus Verlander. The American winger has been off to a blazing start in his third season with the Mexico City Kings, notching 45 points in just 24 games. In S77, Verlander will surely be a rookie to keep an eye on. Another future rookie in S77 is chris foley, who is a balanced offensive player who plays alongside Verlander in Mexico City. When they make the jump to Calgary together, perhaps they will build on any chemistry that they have now in the minors. The S76 Calgary draft class also included the rapidly improving Mikey Harris, who is a pure goal scorer with impressive strength for his age. He will likely make his VHL debut in S77 as well. Looking a bit further down the line, defensemen Germano Henchoz and Markuss Puhovs are promising prospects who could be impactful contributors as soon as S78, or possibly even S77 if everything goes right. Lastly, goaltender Carter Bellamy was brought in with the very last pick in the S76 Draft, and he already looks like a great selection. Bellamy is undefeated through 8 games so far with Minnesota, where his 2.75 GAA is second place in the entire league.       (S74) C - chris foley (MEX) @Firekiss 247 (S74) LW - Daddy Derek (YUK) @DirtyDerek 228 (S76) D - Germano Henchoz (HOU) @RicoTheTrapGod 158 (S76) LW - Magnus Verlander (MEX) @Jbeezy76 247 (S76) D - Markuss Puhovs (MIN) @VOID Stiles 169 (S76) RW - Mikey Harris (PHI) @Ty343 215 (S76) G - Carter Bellamy (MIN) @Leafsfan328 142                   @JeffD           @Blazzer         This season's edition of the Chicago Phoenix's prospect pool may seem thin at only five prospects, but they have had success in drafting steady earners. Goalie Kloxified, centermen Steve Eso and Jordan Tate as well as winger Darius Marimoto have all made the jump this season to the big club and have made their share of contributions in depth roles. This is a telling sign that their prospects in the pipeline coming up behind them are likely to follow suit, as their five prospects are all still active in the VHLM. S74 late round pick Yuuto Kira Cloudera is a very well balanced defenseman getting his shot with the San Diego Marlins, playing top minutes and playing at over a point-per-game pace. He's Chicago-bound next season, alongside winger Maksym Jankowski, who's making the most of his final VHLM season with the Minnesota Storm, with 29 points in 16 games so far. He's a smaller forward but doesn't shy away from throwing around his weight. He's another well-balanced player and shows he's suited for many roles, but it's too soon to tell how he will develop. Their other prospects have a longer way to go though, defenseman New Player is playing well for Las Vegas, but his developement is a bit slower so he may need another season, he may not, the season would have to be played out first. Most recent draftees, defenseman Sportsboy and winger Leaning Tower of Pisa have a longer way to go, but question marks surround the Tower's development. PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA             (S76) RW - Leaning Tower of Pisa (OTT) @Blastmeaway 142 (S75) LW - Maksym Jankowski (MIN) @Max12 227 (S75) D - New Player (LVA) @I'll change this later 177 (S76) D - Sportsboy57 (PHI) @Sportsboy57 135 (S74) D - Yuuto Kira Cloudera (SDM) @kentakira 250                               @Enorama           @fonziGG         PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA The DC Dragons have four players who will likely be ready to make the jump to the VHL next season. This list includes S74 draftees Theodore and Logan Hoffman, who the team selected at 45th and 59th overall, respectively. Theodore Hoffman is an electrifying offensive player with a physical edge, whereas Logan is a more responsible, two-way threat. Both are on pace to far surpass their career highs in just about every important category. They will slot nicely into an already exciting group of forwards in DC. As previously mentioned, two more players are going to be Dragons next season in all likelihood. Those two are centers Evgeni Shevkov and Kjell Nilsson. Nilsson is currently the VHLM’s points leader, tallying an outstanding 25 goals and 59 points in merely 24 games. Shevkov is also producing at over a point-per-game pace, and it’s safe to say that he will be a fantastic addition to the Dragons as well. A couple of under the radar prospects are Jah Coon and ClapbombsRUs, who were both picked in the S76 Draft a couple weeks ago. Clapbombs is a promising young goalie who has started to post media spots regularly as of late, and is Miami’s starter for S76. Coon is a player who scarcely updated before the draft, but has really picked up the TPE earning lately. I’m very impressed with his development, and am looking forward to seeing more of him in the future. DC’s group has a lot of players who are quietly putting in the work, and are sure to leave a lasting impression on the team when they get the chance.             (S75) C - Evgeni Shevkov (LVA) @Syzygy 236 (S76) RW - Jah Coon (MIA) @denns 88 (S75) C - Kjell Nilsson (PHI) @glass 233 (S74) LW - Logan Hoffman (MEX) @nickthe00 232 (S76) LW - Nathan Askarov (SDM) @NathanM2983 101 (S74) C - Theodore Hoffman (OTT) @snackhero 246 (S76) G - ClapbombsRUs (MIA) @ClapbombsRus 147                         @GustavMattias           @Berocka         When it comes to drafting for Davos, well, they haven't had much luck with the odds of their selections panning out. Their top-tier prospects are already on the club, but their later-round picks seem to have trouble making the jump on the average. S74 goalie prospect Piero Angela and S75 picks Not A Player, Grayson Slansky and Dickzy aren't playing in the VHLM anymore, but the balance of their prospect pool are mostly VHL-ready players just playing their final seasons. S74 centerman Jim Allen is playing his fourth and final season in the M, and he's putting up some decent numbers in Yukon, set to pass his season-best totals of 22 points he put up last season. Two-way winger Vladimir Mlinski is playing as predictable as advertised with Houston, also developing nicely and well balanced as a complementary forward. S75 late-round pick Thomas King is absolutely killing it with the Philadelphia Reapers this season with 45 points and 76 hits in only 18 games. He's developed into a solid, trigger-happy power forward and Davos would surely welcome his contribution next season. Two season 76 picks fill out the prospect pool here, with 2nd round pick Brian Moreau already surpassing his season totals of last season. Nicely developed sniper build for Moreau and with room to grow still, he's definitely a gem of a pick. Goalie Jurgis Kalvelis Blazevicius takes over as the goalie prospect for Davos going forward, taking up a bunch of room in his net, playing in a backup role for Halifax. PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA                   (S76) LW - Brian Moreau (MIN) @weekz 214 (S74) C - Jim Allen (YUK) @jimmyallen93 241 (S75) RW - Thomas King (PHI) @Duddy 249 (S75) LW - Vladimir Mlinski (HOU) @Brrbisbrr 243 (S76) G - Jurgis Kalvelis Blazevicius (HFX) @efiug 178                               @Jubo07           @BladeMaiden         PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA Helsinki sure stockpiled a nice prospect pool of all varying development rates. VHL-ready Jon Webber and Trent Gibson headlines Helsinki's hopefuls as the returning pair from Houston are having breakout seasons on a stacked squad. They're both banking steadily and built to the meta, so these two could do some damage to the already almighty Titans. Not far behind though, we have players like centermen Jonny Pacheco and recently drafted Green Gaming developing steadily and enjoying more elevated roles in Yukon and Minnesota, respectively. Season 78, Helsinki could see goalie Luke Spinelli move up, finally seeing action as a starter in Mississauga and handling the role decently. Moreso towards complete development by S79 are defender Jacob Oldenburger and winger Slick Dasher. (S76) C - Green Gaming (MIN) @Lilpfigher 181 (S76) D - Jacob Oldenburger (MIN) @Jacob oldenburger 124 (S75) C - Jonny Pacheco (YUK) @jpach 185 (S75) RW - Jon Webber (HOU) @Webberj 250 (S76) RW - Slick Dasher (YUK) @Slick 105 (S75) G - Luke Spinelli (MIS) @Lspinelli 146 (S75) G - Trent Gibson (HOU) @Caboose30 250             @McWolf           MattyIce         The United have an abundance of S76 and S75 prospects that are surely poised to make an impact on the team soon enough. Let’s kick things off with their most high-profile pick, Philip Stein. Stein was selected 13th overall in the recent S76 Draft as a first gen winger with much upside. He regularly earns 10-12 capped TPE every week, and that has allowed him to already be inches away from the VHLM TPA cap quite early in the season. He has faced no difficulty in acclimating to his new environment in Halifax, where he has already produced 37 points in just 22 games; good for 10th leaguewide. Two S75 prospects are also on the cusp of VHL readiness, and they both share an aptitude for laying huge hits on a game-by-game basis. Jon Strider has thrown an unbelievable 90 hits in 22 games to make his presence known in the VHLM, and he has already bested his point totals from last season if that wasn’t already enough to be excited about. Kelly Power is unfortunately inactive at the moment, but threw 251 hits last season on the Aces. Both of these players could be really intimidating power forwards one day for the team. London’s S76 Draft also included Rusty Knale, Gabby Dugan, Bahram Kamkar and Dexter Vaughn, who all seem to have the potential to do well in the VHL some day. I would say that the main theme here is that this prospect pool is deep, and it contains multiple menacing hitters who will provide a jolt of energy to this team when they arrive. PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA             (S76) D - Bahram Kamkar (MIN) @Eagle Eye 112 (S76) LW - Gabby Dugan (YUK) @Howie McMeeker 114 (S75) LW - Jon Strider (MEX) @Strider 249 (S76) LW - Philip Stein (HFX) @IHateBobNutting 245 (S76) D - Rusty Knale (HOU) @HatrickRoy 196 (S76) G - Dexter Vaughn (HFX) @Flames1Fan 177             @Josh                     PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA Los Angeles' drafting has finally caught up to the rest of the league and their talent pool is full of promise. Top of the class are Nathan Steele, Lenny Sanderson, Olof Saumuelsson and Barry Taffe. Steele is seeing huge success in Mexico, already topping his previous best and close to being VHL-ready, while Sanderson shows off his sniping skill, great hands and speed. Both would be welcome adds to the Stars squad alongside Samuelsson, a young and well-developed dman on pace to set career highs and goalie Taffe, who is holding the fort down in Ottawa. Taffe could be the man to lock down the vacant backup jon behind Doug Dimmadome in LA. Further down the line are Kikko Moskinen, finally breaking out as a sniper, winger Ghengis Khan who is just tearing the league apart in Philly at a torrid pace, and finally Ron World Peace III, the defensive-minded defenseman holding the blue line for Minnesota. (S76) LW - Genghis Khan (PHI) @caltroit_red_flames 160 (S75) LW - Kikko Moskinen (MEX) @MikkoKoskinensMistress 184 (S76) LW - Lenny Sanderson (LVA) @Gally 233 (S75) C - Nathan Steele (MEX) @73MPL4R 236 (S75) D - Olof Samuelsson (YUK) @Azlan 192 (S76) D - Ron World Peace III (MIN) @stevo 144 (S76) G - Barry Taffe (OTT) @Barry 185             @FrostBeard                     The reigning Continental Cup champions do not actually have any prospects. However, that does not mean that this team is without young talent. Forwards Carson Walkers and Kevin Sterk both graduated from the VHLM this season, and they have immediately contributed to the team. Sterk has more of a balanced offensive game, whereas Walkers is a power forward with impressive goal-scoring abilities. These are two players who will undoubtedly help lead the next generation of Nighthawks, and who are just beginning to uncover the skill that they possess. In the net, Malmo also has the young Artem Tretiak, whom they drafted in S75. He is in his sophomore season, where he looks to improve on a solid rookie campaign in which he posted 5 wins as the backup. In conclusion, Malmo does not have a pipeline full of prospects, but they do have some quality youth already on the roster. PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA             No active minor league prospects                                   @Victor                     PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA With Moscow being a powerhouse, their prospect depth is definetly interesting. With superstar forward Kris Rice retiring at the end of the season, there's plenty of room for the prospects that do move up. The closest ones to graduating are wingers Grapes and Owen Taylor. Speedy sniper Grapes is on par with last season's production, but needs work on his defensive game and his puck handling ability. Taylor is almost the exact same player as Grapes, only difference is that he's having a breakout year in Mississauga and he like to throw his body around. S75 draftee Vincent Correll has had a few development slumps, only lately rejoining the league and getting traded from Minnesota to San Diego, going pointless so far this season. His progress is spotty and it doesn't look like he will be ready for season 77. Mexico city teammates Shaggy Tipton and Big Mortie are production quite well, both with balanced builds and equally talented. Their progress is slow and steady, they should be ready for season 78 unless they breakout and make a statement. Goalie prospect Andrew Bowman has had his struggles in goal, seeing him traded from Mississauga to Saskatoon early on. His fundamentals are decent but he just doesn't play big in his net, letting in more shots than he should be. With a few more seasons he could correct this and flourish             (S76) D - Big Mortie (MEX) @KingMortie 148 (S75) RW - Grapes (MIN) @Grapes-Tophat_Clan- 189 (S75) LW - Owen Taylor (MIS) @Owen Taylor 191 (S76) D - Shaggy Tipton (MEX) @Jakefufu 156 (S75) D - Vincent Correll (SDM) @correllvincent 147 (S76) G - Andrew Bowman (SSK) @BrutalBoost 168                         @Esso2264           @dlamb         New York has been majorly impressive in recent drafts as they've decided to uphold a strong rebuild going into the future. With a wealth of strong prospects currently on their roster this season, they still have some strong stand out prospects prepared to make an instant impact on the roster as soon as next season. Clinton Giftopolous could be a serviceable defensemen in the VHL to shore up that backline. Kaladin Kvothe is a strong prospect brought in with the 17th overall pick in this past draft who is a scoring talisman, while he has a lot to offer on the offensive side with his 22 points in 18 games, he still has a lot to offer on the defensive and physical aspects of the VHL. The rest of the prospect pool is a wealth of young S76 draftees in Calvin Hobbes, Craig Martin, and William of Orange who have a long way to go to hit the VHL. While that may be the case, each player has a wealth of potential heading their way with tons of comments about how hard they have been working in their respective VHLM teams practices. Things are looking up for the Americans. PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA             (S76) C - Calvin Hobbes (MIN) @2hawk 164 (S76) LW - Craig Martin (SSK) @Craig 129 (S75) D - Clinton Giftopoulos (MEX) @Thranduil 250 (S74) D - Gabriel Johnson (SSK) @GeckoeyGecko 231 (S76) LW - Kaladin Kvothe (HFX) @DangerGolding 250                         @diamond_ace           @domg5         PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA This past draft has been a huge success for Prague, in my personal opinion, with the amount of sheer talent brought in to the roster. Prague boasts a plethora of talent ready to jump up to the VHL as soon as next season potentially. Willy Myers as the first example looks quite the talent with his 26 points in 22 games for Halifax this season. The two-way forward has become a much more physical force this season with his 41 hits as well. Abe Roque, another talented young player in the tank, is another impressive left winger who can score, play defense and be a leader in the locker room. Braxton Hunter looks set to become a rockstar next season in the VHL with his physical play coupled with his ability to defend and score. Last, but not least of the players who may join the VHL as soon as next season, is the Finnish phenom - Eeli Rantanen who thrown up a 33 points on 22 games with a superior ability to create space. Chicken Nugget looks to be a strong grab as well as he seems he may project as a journeyman 3rd liner in the VHL. Kid Frost, however, is the prospect that I'm expecting to impress in the coming seasons. He has the looking to be a late bloomer! Prague has an exciting future all down to their fantastic scouting process. (S76) LW - Abe Roque (YUK) @Abe Roque 245 (S75) LW - Braxton Hunter (SSK) @dshervill 216 (S76) RW - Chicken Nugget (MEX) @LT.CHICKEN NUGGETS 86 (S76) LW - Eeli Rantanen (HFX) @Jolline 230 (S72) D - Joakim Lund (LVA) @Bouncyelf 218 (S76) LW - Kid Frost (HOU) @TownBizness 135 (S74) D - The Blob (HOU) @JorgTheGoat03 235 (S76) LW - Willy Myers (HFX) @Willy Myers 229                   @hedgehog337           @Ledge_and_Dairy         Riga cleaned up in the season 75 and didn't stall their stockpiling of assets during the season 76 draft either. The top-end of the s75 class already saw the first wave of now-VHL rookies, and second wave looks just as stabilising for the Reign franchise. An entire line of players are looking for that call-up, wingers Eddie Dams and Andy Nexber, centerman Nikolas D'Andrea, goalie Matthew Sovick Jr., and defenders Jared "Buffbull" Carter and Teppo McBighit. The forwards are primarily snipers, even showing off their quickness and even defensive responsibility. The defenders sure are two tanks on defense, each throwing around their weight and even suited to drop the gloves at a moment's notice. Next season's next wave of talent sure looks interesting to say the least. Their other prospects featre centermen Joseph Sharkton, Normunds and Noah Mashford, defenseman Chris P Bacon, winger Miks Sunish and goalies Morgan Karlsson and Darcy Cat. Their development is still quite far from being VHL ready but they seem to be developing at their own pace. A few more seasons of ecperience in the VHLM could see them possibly breakout a different times, giving Riga massive prospect depth for the next 2-3 seasons. These assets are very valuable in the VHL cap era, also putting the Reign in a position to solidify an already elite core group. PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA (S75) RW - Andy Nexber (LVA) @Domino Draws 250 (S76) D - Chris P Bacon (MIS) @Chris P Bacon 135 (S75) RW - Eddie Dams (HOU) @Eddie Dams 234 (S75) D - Jared Carter (HOU) @jaredc7 250 (S76) C - Joseph Sharkton (MIN) @TheOGShark 171 (S76) LW - Miks Sunish (MIS) @Miks Sunins 124 (S75) C - Nikolas DAndrea (MIN) @Nikdandrea34 250 (S75) C - Noah Mashford (MIA) @Mashy 141 (S76) C - Normunds (OTT) @Lvhockeybest6 94 (S75) D - Teppo McBighit (MEX) @monttu 220 (S76) G - Darcy Cat (SDM) @Tropicalfire 122 (S75) G - Matthew A Sovick jr (YUK) @matt sovick 234 (S76) G - Morgan Karlsson (LVA) @Erik 114             @Banackock                     PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA With Seattle having depth at all positions, these young prospects have their work cuit out for them. Aging depth defenseman Daldo will be retiring at season's end, freeing up a spot on the Bear's roster. Logan Moore looks to be the man for the job there, his fundamentals are decent, with good speed, puckhandling, defensinve awareness and can throw the body around. His offensive skills are somewhat limited by VHL standards, although he's putting up good numbers with Minnesota. Phoenix Dawson looks to such a bright spot for the Bears, playing quite well with Miami. Very solid build, balanced all around, like to pass first. He could alter his training in the offseason to become more of a sniper though. Goalie Aksu Maronen has the backup spot locked in for Seattle, although his play hasn't been up to par playing in the starter role for Las Vegas. Winger Gaspar Zagrevsky is slowly developing towards a depth role possibly, while the rest of the S76 draftees take up the relief. Centermen Alexander the Great and Guy Lambert may be ready for the S78 season, playing well for their respective teams. Winger Delving Mackey is in the same boat as the previous prospects, the sniper has a way to go still. Defenseman MacGruber has some decent upside, playing at a point-per-game pace in Yukon. He may or may not be VHL-ready for season 77 with the Bears, but hopefully he has the drive to do so and compete with Moore for a spot on their roster.       (S76) C - Alexander The Great (MIA) @Shiny 167 (S76) LW - Delving Mackey (MIA) @Jurell Yurki 153 (S75) LW - Gaspar Zakrevsky (YUK) @Pythonic 159 (S76) C - Guy Lambert (MIS) @Spartakiller2 158 (S75) D - Logan Moore (MIN) @drewowo 247 (S76) D - MacGruber (YUK) @Motzaburger 176 (S76) C - Phoenix Dawson (MIA) @Toast 250 (S75) G - Aksu Maronen (LVA) @aksuko 240                   @Peace                     Toronto actually only has one prospect in the VHLM, being S75 6th round pick Jackson Wilson. Wilson is currently inactive, but he could be a nice depth addition to the team down the line if he comes back. The Legion have a number of rookies who just recently entered the big league, including both of their 1st round selections in the S76 Draft. Following his 5th overall selection, Kristof Welch has provided stability on the blue line for the Legion, as well as a nice scoring touch that will surely be an increasingly valuable asset to the team for seasons to come. His 10 points in 24 games perfectly match with his S76 companion, Frank Funk Jr. Funk was picked just seconds after Welch at 6th overall, and has brought some grit to a forward group that is not very physical in nature. 10 points in 24 games to start their careers is just the early stages of something much greater, and Toronto will benefit tremendously from their imminent success. The Legion do not have any depth in their prospect pool, yet the future still looks very bright for them. PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA             No active minor league prospects                                         @Beaviss                     PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA For a team that has been going deep into the playoffs in the recent years, Vancouver has really rallied up a strong list of young potential players entering the fold in the next few years. Napolean Bonaparte looks like he will be poised to have a very strong future in Vancouver with the player already impressing the players on the roster as well. Bonaparte has the tools to be able to provide in every phase of the game and thats why he's expected to go straight up next season. Aivars Kiris is another impressive centreman in the roster. Kiris has posted up a strong 25 point season so far which was an unexpected surprise but he seems to have the positional awareness to find open players and drive to the net and pop it in the net. Henry Tucker has the most potential out of all the forwards considering I think he's prepared to jump up next season. Henry is putting up 26 points in 23 games. He reminds me a lot of fellow forward on the roster, Onde Sandstrom, with his physical ability while still being a competent forward. Michael Schmitdt was mentioned on here last season and I still think Michael can be a huge piece to the pie if he can find his discipline and focus on his game. Everything about Michael screams superstar if he can continue to focus on hockey. Mando Blatsyuk is another impressive young forward who's ready to jump straight into the VHL if surrounded with the right group. We know he can score but we need to know if he's able to defend as well.. Paul Webber has been improving every single season and I can't wait till we see him jump up to the VHL. Paul has everything in him to light the lamp as well as be a defensive mastermind for Vancouver. Onto the defensemen with Alex Zverina as our first victim. Alex has a place in this league as a strong, reliable and brave defensive defensemen. This season he's blocked around 41 shots. Javad Kamkar is also a very exciting defensemen. He's able to lay it all on the line for the team he's playing for in every shift and happens to know how to find a open teammate. Tater Tot and Loic Trepanier also shore up the goaltending positions for years to come in Vancouver. Both are poised to fight for the starting job soon and I can't wait to see who prevails to face Markus Emerson JR in the future for the starting role!                   (S76) C - Napoleon Bonaparte (MIA) @CptSquall 210 (S75) C - Aivars Kiris (OTT) @Aivarszz 123 (S76) RW - Henry Tucker (MIN) @NotSoGood88 236 (S75) RW - Michael Schmitdt (YUK) @Kmatt 237 (S75) LW - Paul Webber (HOU) @WebberP 243 (S76) D - Alex Zverina (PHI) @Catter98 95 (S76) D - Javad Kamkar (HOU) @Parriyah9374 239 (S75) RW - Mando Blatsyuk (MEX) @Hblatsyuk 223 (S76) G - Tater Tot (MIN) @Trunkxolotl 187 (S76) G - Loic Trepanier (PHI) @Noxalpha 169                               @.sniffuM           @dasboot         Most of Warsaws past picks are starting to find a home in the VHL. Their most recent prospects are the journeyman of previous drafts and while they may take a long while before getting to the VHL, they still have a very impressive roster filled with young players imposing their presence in the league. The great has the potential to be a very strong top 6 forward for any team in the VHL with a name like that. Throwing up a strong 19 points in 22 games while being able find a player in open space as well as win majority of his faceoffs is a huge plus for the future of Warsaw. Bradley Senjo is another impressive player with 19 points in 22 games as well. The physical forward is able to lay on a hit, be an offensive weapon as well as be a defensive anchor as another centeman. Jonathon Bustard looks poised to be the future goalie of Warsaw. He's a strong goalie who's capable of stealing games for Miami at any point in time. Angel Wachiure is the last great prospect for Warsaw. While he hasn't been disciplined as a young forward, he will be a strong piece to the pie if he continues developing a strong game in Las Vegas. There's potential there, however he needs to recognize it. I am very excited for the future in Warsaw, mostly because of the young talent on the roster however they still have a great prospect pool to their name, PROSPECT USER AGENCY TPA             (S74) LW - Angel Wachiure (LVA) @inflastud 216 (S75) C - Bradley Senjo (HOU) @Senjo1706 209 (S75) C - The great (YUK) @Jake Sumner 211 (S75) G - Jonathan Bustard (MEX) @williamirc 180                  

@rjfryman

9/10
 
Solid interview article! Questions and answers flow nicely. The layout is clear, which makes the article easy to read. I liked it. I can't think of anything I would suggest ''changing'', so well done!
 

Elvis Jackson: Ladies and gentlemen welcome to All News: The Minor League. I'm your host Elvis Jackson and today I'm joined by the Houston Bulls Defenseman. Javad Kamkar! Javad, welcome to the show.
 
Javad Kamkar: Thank you for having me Elvis. I've always been a big fan of your show and have wanted to be on it for so long. Now that it's actually happening, I'm kind of freaking out.
 
Elvis Jackson: There's nothing to freak out over my friend! We're here for a good time together. So, for those who might not know you too well, would you like to tell them a bit about yourself?
 
Javad Kamkar: Of course. *Clears Throat* My name is Javad Kamkar, I'm a Defenseman for the Houston Bulls and Previously played for the Halifax 21st. I was born and raised in Iran, which is where I first took interest in Hockey.
 
Elvis Jackson: It's always nice to see more people from the international circuit be promoted into the minor league of the VHL. If I'm not mistaken, you're the first ever Iranian to come to the VHLM. Do you feel like that puts any pressure on you? 
 
Javad Kamkar: Well, it's a rollercoaster ride for sure. Being the only player from a certain country feels unique, but at the same time it feels like you have the responsibility of representing that country, which when you're alone feels like a big amount of pressure. But, I'm very confident in myself that I can handle that pressure and I will do my best to not disappoint my fellow Iranians.
 
Elvis Jackson: I get where you're coming from Javad. So far you and the Houston Bulls are 11-1, going on an eleven game winning streak. It seems like you and your teammates are meshing extremely well, you've gotten 12 assists and 4 goals in only 12 games which is a major improvement compared to your rookie season with the Halifax 21st. How do you feel about this amazing performance you've showcased so far?
 
Javad Kamkar: Well, first off all my teammates deserve a majority of the credit for my points. Those 12 assists wouldn't be there if my teammates weren't amazing scorers. As for the 4 goals the credit for that also has to go to my teammates. All of the forwards on the team have been giving me plenty of advice on proper scoring technique. I'm not someone who considers myself a scorer, I'm much better and playmaking and feeding the snipers after getting the puck on defense, but with all the help and advice they've given me it'd be wrong of me to not shoot a few times and it's paid off really well! I'd like to keep this performance consistent. Maybe I could even be considered a dark horse for an award.
 
Elvis Jackson: We're all rooting for you to go and make it happen Javad! Thank you for coming on to the show, and a big thank YOU to the audience who is here with us. I'm Elvis Jackson from All News: The Minor League and we will see you next time. Goodbye!

In today’s article I will be showing the day in the life of current Philadelphia Reaper, Mikey Harris. Today was an off day which meant that his day looked a little different than usual. Mikey woke up around 7 to get ready for some online classes he takes because he is still at the young age of 16. Before these classes start he’ll eat a big breakfast, most likely a lot of bacon or some waffles. After spending about three hours in his first part of the school day, he gets off for some time.
 
He will usually take this time to eat lunch and maybe watch some TV while he’s at it. His lightest meal of the day is usually his lunch, which is probably something like a sandwich or some soup. After he eats he’ll go back to his classes for about 3 hours and then he will be free for the day. He’ll grab a quick snack and then drive over with his brothers to the local rink. Since both of his brothers played in the VHLM they know what Mikey needs to work on and the best ways to do it. He’ll open with some sprints to get his conditioning up, then work on improving on his skating, positioning, puck handling and strength. He’ll finish off with multiple shooting drills and then play in a couple of pickup games with the locals. This can take 3-4 hours and by the time he gets home he is dead tired.
 
As soon as he gets in the house he’ll take a hot shower, and then eat a big meal, something with a ton of meat. Maybe a steak, or rice or pasta with a lot of baked chicken. His brothers will come over at this time and go over film from the last couple of games as well as watch certain VHL players that they can learn from. He spends extensive watching the Calgary Wranglers because that is the team he is hoping to play for next season in the major leagues. He knows he won’t be getting a lot of playing time in the beginning of his VHL career so he isn’t expecting to do crazy things stat wise, but he still hopes he can make a difference for the team, no matter how small it is. After this he is free for the day, and he might head out into the city, stay home and watch a movie or catch up on some shows, or maybe get some school work done early. On a game day he would usually be out of the house for most of the day which means that he would sleep as soon as he got home, but today he decided to take a drive into the city and check in with some of his friends. Mikey used to spend a lot of time with his friends before his hockey career skyrocketed so he tries to spend time with them as much as possible. Instead of coming straight home Mikey went to the gym to get some weight training in as he is currently trying to become stronger for the season. He came home around 11 and finally went to sleep, preparing for his upcoming game the next day.

Review: Awesome job with the media spot. As someone who has only been in the VHL for 1 season reading this gave me really good insight about the S72 draft and made me learn quite a bit about Pietro's history. Each paragraph is very well formatted and looks good, no grammar problems either which is a big bonus. Only nitpicky issue I could bring up is that I would have liked to see a picture of Pietro's render but that's really about it. 
 
Score: 9.5/10. Would love to read more of your articles!

Hello everyone and welcome back to week 3 of the Kamkar Twins' sparring session. As always, the two brothers are Javad and Bahram Kamkar. Two excellent defensemen who also have some martial art skills under their belt. They are currently tied 1-1 in wins and losses and this week is the tiebreaker that they'll need. Without further ado, here we go!
 
The two touch gloves and they circle around each other. Bahram opens up with 2 sharp jabs that whiplashes Javad's head! Javad nods and responds with a leg kick, but Bahram checks it and counters with a vicious left hook! Javad is rocked and is sent flying back toward the ropes! Bahram smells blood and pounces on Javad with vicious strikes! But Javad somehow recovers and shoots for a single leg takedown...and he gets it to go! Javad transitions into side control easily and is laying down some ground and pound.
Bahram eventually counters with a butterfly sweep and get's the upper hand. Bahram kicks Javad off and they are now both on their feet once more. Both of them are being passive, waiting for the opportunity to counter attack, eventually Javad gets tired of it and initiates with a jab, but turns out it was a feint and he lands a VICIOUS TORNADO KICK! Bahram is knocked down and Javad goes for the ground and pound to finish the fight! Bahram, struggles but eventually catches Javad's arm and locks him in a triangle choke....Javad...can't break free from the submission and he taps! It's all over! Bahram Kamkar takes the win via Triangle Choke!

Vancouver had a lot of picks, especially in the early rounds. @Beaviss and @Spence King had 7 picks this year, including 5 in the first 2 rounds, and, in my opinion, used them wisely. Obviously, one of those picks included me. Here are the 7 picks made Friday night, and my opinion on them. Enjoy. My grades are not based on talent, but more of about how high they were selected versus how high I perceive their value to be.
 
10th Overall: Robin Galante Nilsson, D, 242 TPE, @RomanesEuntDomus
Not a bad pick. Discipline is a question, but he has good passing and very good defense. He has a good amount of TPE and he could be a rock solid defender in a season or so, and the build is all right. Now, here’s my big issue: He’s big into welfare and hasn’t claimed a Media Spot since December 20. Nearly a month now and it isn’t changing at this point. Welfare guys are nice, and he’s active (being a reviewer), but “Frequent Welfare Claimer”, even with 10-12 TPE a week, isn’t the best thing you want to see on your resume. Grade: C+
 
16th Overall: Jivere Zolnek, C, 256 TPE, @Sixersfan594
Now, if I were a GM, I woulda drafted this guy 10th and not 16th. Known as Beowoof on SBA, he feasts on Affiliate PTs, so he isn’t doing Media Spots, but at least he is writing , even if it is on another website. He has the most TPA of any Vancouver prospect and I would be surprised if he gets a call-up mid to late season if he keeps putting up those gaudy TPE numbers. I’d like to see more passing, discipline, and checking, but overall a very good build. Not much negative to say about this choice. Marvelous. Grade: A+
 
19th Overall: Napoleon Bonaparte, C, 178 TPE, @CptSquall
Normally I don’t expect hockey players to be named after generals, but I guess this is an exception. Like me, he’s a first gen player, and it seems that the GM team likes first gen players, as they selected 5 this draft. His TPE earning dipped last week, but he seems to be good at getting lots of TPE and he has done a few media spots and does some reviewing as well. However, he’s also claimed welfare a couple times and it is still unknown to me whether that is the norm or the exception. Only time will tell, but even if he’s a welfare guy, his build is a very good one, in my opinion. Grade: B+
 
21st Overall: Javad Kamkar, D, 187 TPE, @Parriyah9374
Another first gen, he should be good backup for Nilsson. He also has an SBA account, and has done a few Affiliate PTs, but he seems to be doing a lot more welfare these days. Why he was selected as high as he was is a mystery to me, but nonetheless, he has a very good build and I can’t wait too see what he becomes, even if he’s a career Welfare guy. Personally, he reminds me of Nilsson, just drafted at a more reasonable position, which makes this pick look good. Grade: B
 
26th Overall: Henry Tucker, RW, 186 TPE, @NotSoGood88
Wow, this is the best pick ever because I got drafted! Lol, just kidding. However, what I’ve been told by the guys on the live stream and my old GM, @Ricer13, is that I was a pretty good draft choice. The live streamers said that I’d been active (which is true, I’m doing a Media Spot right now, and I’m on Discord), but one of them couldn’t figure out where he’d seen me chatting, which may be one of the highlights of my time on VHL (after a minute or two, he used his excellent recollection skills and figured out I was on Miami, probably doing the “Counting Torture Chamber” with Ricer). Obviously I’m active, have a good bit of TPE, and only claim Welfare if I have no choice. Real steal, and though I need to work on my build, we’re getting there. Grade: A
 
42nd Overall: Tater Tot, G, 131 TPE, @Trunkxolotl
Tater and Tucker not only play for the same VHLM team, but now are poised to be career teammates as they work their way up from Minnesota to Vancouver simultaneously. I know nothing about goalies, honestly, but it seems like he’s on the right track. Very much a Welfare guy, but he’ll be a good backup (maybe even starter, who knows?) and had the best sim I’ve ever seen. Very good bargain at 42. Grade: B
 
55th Overall: Loic Trepanier, G, 141 TPE, @Noxalpha
Mid 4th round, you’re just taking chances, and this guy is a Welfare Earner through and through. He has good enough TPE, however, and although he didn’t get much action, his 3.29 GAA was very good with Halifax and he helps replenish a previously depleted goalie pool for Vancouver to turn to when their senior citizens retire. I don’t know much about him, but he could be something. Grade: B
 
Overall: A-
I was disappointed in the selections of the welfare guys in higher rounds, but they definitely had TPE. There were some very good selections, and I think the team overall did well. The GM team should be proud of themselves.
 

On a separate note (since I need to get to 1,000 words), Henry Tucker, my first gen player, has decided to unveil a new signature.
It’s based off Alex Ovechkin, and my first sig, definitely not that great, but shit happens, man.
I just used a painting app and painted away. Tucker has been described as a strapping young man who has a sly sense of humor. As far as hockey goes, he is known as being a very physical but undisciplined guy who is willing to throw his body around. His offense is there, but the defense needs work. 
 
That’s it for today, have a happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and most importantly, don’t get corona. I hope you enjoyed this article and please comment. 
 
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Claiming for 1/24 and 1/31

VSN PRESENTS:  THE SEASON 76 MOCK DRAFT
 
Hey there everyone, MattyIce here, and I hope you're having a great day and thanks for dropping in to read our stuff!
 
It's draft day soon and this is the time when moves are made, players get drafted and VHL franchises get ready for the upcoming season while planning ahead for their futures.  I mentioned in my preview article that this draft is the first in many seasons that the GM player rule had been dropped, meaning no GM player may reserve a first-round pick to claim their player to their team.
 
This draft has a top-heavy class of superstar talents, but that doesn't mean the rest of the bunch won't see success.  Many interesting players and personalities litter this draft, ready to be selected into their first VHL experience.  I'm also joined by my co-scouts @fonziGG and @Patrik Tallinder , featuring some contributions by @Spence King!
 
Tallinder had this to say:  'This draft is one of much ambiguity after the first 4 picks. There are a lot of exciting first gens and returning talent, and it’s hard to picture what this draft will look like a few seasons from now. The thrilling part of this uncertainness, at least for myself, is that there is potential for some real game changers to slip through the cracks and become real steals down the road. Working on this mock draft was a fun process as always, as it’s always interesting to hear others’ opinions on the prospects and share mine.'
 
Fonzi's take on the draft:  ' The draft is always the most special time in the VHL, in my personal opinion. Everyone who is draft eligible is excited to see which colours they're going to be dawning next season. The top 4 look fantastic but I think this draft is far deeper then anyone can expect. There are so many players that can leapfrog the top 4 down the line depending on how careers pan out. These drafts are always a pleasure to work on since I get to see what other scouts think of certain prospects. I can't wait to see how this draft can affect the league for years to come!'
 
On with our VSN predictions!
 
 
 
 
FIRST ROUND 1                                                                                         Red Lite   RW TPE: 357                                         @Tate                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Red Lite, the shifty American sniper had a whopping 48 goals and 97 points in his first (and last) VHLM season with San Diego. He has all the necessary tools to hit the ground running once New York Americans GM Esso Drunkmann selects him the first overall pick of the Season 76 VHL Entry Draft. He's already geared up and ready to hit training camp when it's time. He has excellent sense at both end of the ice and shows amazing hands. His strength and his checking ability though are lacking at the moment, he may get outclassed until he develops a bit more. He had been developing though at a torrid pace and should have an excellent rookie campaign to accelerate the Americans' rebuilding phase. San Diego 72 48 49 97 16 311 30 90 17 San Diego - Playoffs 9 4 3 7 9 30 2 22 0                     DEVELOPMENT: 14 16 20 26 16 14 Past 6: 106                                                   2                                                                                         Battre Sandstrom   D TPE: 338                                         @Acydburn                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Onde Sandstrom's younger brother, Battre Sandstrom, was an integral force in the Saskatoon Wild's season as a premium defender for their roster. Battre is an elite puck handling, offensive-minded defender even though he can hold his own on the defensive end. Battre is able to spearhead a power play or break out of his own defensive zone with ease and comfort. Sandstrom posted a very impressive 75 points in 72 games with a +32 rating showing he's probably ready to make the jump up and consume a strong rookie campaign. Battre is also an elite skater and can move around the ice as silky smooth as a knife to butter. Sandstrom could improve on his physical strength and that ties in with the ability to check should let him be more effective in the defensive zone. My projection with Battre is that he could easily be a contender for the rookie of the year. Saskatoon 72 32 43 75 32 272 70 116 96 Saskatoon - Playoffs 7 3 6 9 -3 26 16 8 15                     DEVELOPMENT: 14 14 28 22 21 14 Past 6: 113                                                   3                                                                                         Tom Eagles   RW TPE: 310                                         @Greg_Di                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Tom Eagles played an integral part in the Philadelphia Reapers' Founders Cup playoff run, getting a point per game during the postseason. He managed 64 points last season, including ten powerplay goals. He showed off his balanced two-way game and great puck-moving ability, getting pucks off quickly and producting good plays. He did benefit from playing on a championship-caliber team like the Reapers, but this is just the way to end a VHLM career and be ready for the VHL. Calgary GM Ryan Jubis should definitely give him a look to bolster his defense in the future, Eagles could have a bright future in a Wranglers uniform. Philadephia 72 17 47 64 28 178 56 91 68 Philadephia - Playoffs 15 6 9 15 2 43 22 37 9                     DEVELOPMENT: 14 14 28 26 16 12 Past 6: 110                                                   4                                                                                         Hulk Hogan Jr   D TPE: 334                                         @Beaviss                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Yet another Beaviss player with immense potential, Hulk Hogan Jr is a defenseman who has been one of the draft’s biggest names since the very beginning. He is a really well-developed offensive threat from the blueline, frequently utilizing his cannon of a shot to create scoring chances. This brought much success in the VHLM, where Hogan Jr posted 21 goals in the regular season, and 7 more in just 16 postseason games. The Canadian defender has earned every available capped TPE so far in his career, and is expected to be a long term max earner. His time in the minors has already brought him two deep playoff runs and a Founder’s Cup, with both runs including elevated performances from the top prospect. Perhaps similar success will follow in his professional career. Mexico City 72 21 28 49 40 178 60 111 97 Mexico City - Playoffs 16 7 10 17 4 36 26 27 19                     DEVELOPMENT: 14 14 28 26 20 14 Past 6: 116                                                   5                                                                                         Frank Funk Jr   LW TPE: 284                                         @Rayzor_7                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Frank Funk Jr looks poised to be a great long term prospect for any team in the 5-10 range. Frank is a fantastic two-way forward that is able to do it on both sides of the ice. Funk Jr put up a very decent 44 points in 72 games but showcased his defensive ability with an impressive 154 hits and 14 shots blocked. He shows up when his team needs him as well with an impressive 7 game-winning goals for his team and could be a leader for an organization for an entire career. Frank is a Russian and may be used to the European ice so while he put up 44 points this past season, I know he's going to put up much more the more he plays on North American Ice. When I look at Frank, I see an unfinished product but if an organization can polish him into a finished product, we might have a monster on our hands. San Diego 72 22 22 44 16 206 60 154 14 San Diego - Playoffs 9 3 6 9 -1 24 18 40 0                     DEVELOPMENT: 14 14 28 26 16 12 Past 6: 110                                                   6                                                                                         Gunnar Odinsson   D TPE: 298                                         @BOOM                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB This hot Swede sure had himself a successful campaign with the San Diego Marlins. With 20 goals and 66 points in 72 games, helped San Diego to the semi finals, also getting over a point-per-game during their run. His training has been above average, putting him in contention to go even higher in the draft, but there had been rumors about him making comments around the VHL community that his offseason training may dip or he might even retire, but I can assure you, VHL. Gunnar Odinsson will be playing in the VHL next season and his development hasn't skipped a beat. He's still been putting in the work this whole time and he merits getting drafted this high. He would be a big boost to Toronto's defence corps, joining other VHL rookies like Scotty Kaberle and Jolly Greene Giant San Diego 72 20 46 66 12 132 78 130 88 San Diego - Playoffs 9 2 9 11 -1 26 10 12 5                     DEVELOPMENT: 14 14 28 26 16 12 Past 6: 110                                                   7                                                                                         Kristof Welch Juice D TPE: 265                                         @Juice                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Hungarian defender Kristof Welch joined the Yukon Rush as a waiver claim at the beginning of the season and adjusted quite quickly to the VHLM game. He showed excellent progress throughout the campaign, getting 53 points in 63 games. He helped the Yukon Rush to the last playoff spot but didn't quite have the post season he expected to, going pointless in a four-game playoff exit. His defensive ability is already pretty great and the rest of his game is pretty balanced. He could have a real good shot at being a premiere player in the league if his progress doesn't falter. DC Dragons GM Eno Rama should already have an eye on this first gen who has quite enough potential to make an impact. Yukon 63 15 38 53 -6 101 64 109 85 Yukon - Playoffs 4 0 0 0 -5 11 4 7 8                     DEVELOPMENT: 25 22 20 21 23 14 Past 6: 125                                                   8                                                                                         Hex Rose   C TPE: 257                                         @Hex Universe                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Hex Rose is everything you look for in a number one centerman. Just an amazing overall human and a coaches player. Willing to do and excel in any role asked. He's a well balanced two-way center , has great offensive instincts that's been progressing at a high and steady rate. Hex Rose could possibly well be the most talented faceoff man in the draft . PLUS, this guy has his own twitter page ! Las Vegas 72 15 24 39 15 123 10 33 12 Las Vegas - Playoffs 12 2 3 5 -7 22 2 2 3                     DEVELOPMENT: 18 16 26 20 14 14 Past 6: 108                                                   9                                                                                         Robin Galante Nilsson   D TPE: 237                                         @RomanesEuntDomus                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB This Swede just missed the tail end of season 74 to get some playing time, but he definitely was a presence for the Philadelphia Reapers on the blue line. helping them alongside fellow teammate and draft class buddy Tom Eagles win a Founders Cup. His development has sure been steady since the beginning of the season and possibly with the option of staying with the Reapers for another season could make him a very effective defenseman for season 77. The option is his though and it's still too soon to tell if he's VHL ready. He's built very balanced and like to pass first, as evidenced by his 39 assists during the season and 11 points in 15 playoff games, ten of those were also assists. His strength, checking and puckhandling do need some work though but with some time, he could have a solid foundation to hold the line on a VHL top four. Philadelphia 72 5 39 44 26 31 64 103 88 Philadelphia - Playoffs 15 1 10 11 6 10 2 13 5                     DEVELOPMENT: 14 14 18 22 14 10 Past 6: 92                                                   10                                                                                         Phil The Rock Johnson   RW TPE: 264                                         @Phil                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Phil The Rock Johnson comes from a long line of hard hitters, with his latest two players, Phil Marleau and Phil Shankly, each surpassing 2500 hits in their respective careers. The Rock has the chance to do the same, and he has shown early signs that hint to that. His 151 hits this season in San Diego placed him 3rd on the team, only 5 behind the leading Cowboy Prout. Johnson has a very balanced build, with 8 attributes at or above 70. He has averaged 14.3 TPE per week so far in his career, which will lead to quite favourable results should this rate continue further into his career. Phil is a veteran member who is known to create elite players, so don’t expect Phil The Rock Johnson to be any different. San Diego 72 3 5 8 4 48 84 151 4 San Diego - Playoffs 9 1 0 1 2 4 8 10 1                     DEVELOPMENT: 12 27 26 16 12 12 Past 6: 105                                                   11                                                                                         Magnus Verlander   LW TPE: 223                                         @Jbeezy76                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB One of the safest picks in this draft, Magnus Verlander has been steadily improving into one of the VHLM’s better players. Expect even more from him this season, where he could very likely improve on his 76 point campaign from a season ago. With at least 34 goals in S76, Verlander would actually find himself in the top 3 in all-time goals in Kings franchise history. Aside from his VHLM career, Verlander is easily one of the best prospects in this draft, both for the assurance of excellence and the star potential. His last player, Erik Draven, reached the 1000 TPE milestone as a long-time Helsinki Titan. As if it were fate, he ends up falling right in the laps of the Titans in this draft, and they call his name at 11th overall. Look out for him this season in the minors, and then to make a substantial impact with Helsinki the following season. Mexico City 72 29 47 76 33 231 36 93 12 Mexico City - Playoffs 16 6 8 14 4 45 10 17 4                     DEVELOPMENT: 16 8 10 10 16 8 Past 6: 68                                                   12                                                                                         Phoenix Dawson   C TPE: 244                                         @Toast                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB This draft is truly spectacular for the defensive forwards. Phoenix is another defensive responsible forward and I genuinely believe Phoenix has the capabilities of exploding as a forward. I've seen his ability to find himself in the right place at the right time. Phoenix is a bit more of a polished product, however, I think if they can always improve in different places of the ice. As a center, if they can work on his offense more as well as improve on his faceoffs, they could be a dependable forward on any roster in the VHL coming into the league. The other side of the coin is that if they can improve on their strength, they might not get outmuscled at the boards. However, the fact that they can be a very responsible forward tells me that Dawson can have a very legendary career. We could potentially have a legend on our hands. Miami 72 11 35 46 20 139 37 69 13 Miami - Playoffs 4 2 0 2 0 6 0 2 2                     DEVELOPMENT: 6 14 18 21 26 16 Past 6: 101                                                   13                                                                                         Philip Stein   LW TPE: 203                                         @IHateBobNutting                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Philip Stein is the epitome of the perfect late first round pick. His skating for a VHLM player is impressive, alongside the fact that he has the ability to handle the puck at an elite level down there. In the VHL, he'll be up to speed with other players but it won't take him very long to become elite in the league. I also expect him to put up decent points if he goes to a team that gives him minutes. Stein is a strong contender for a rookie of the year campaign if he's given the opportunity on the ice. Don't let his defensive statistics scare you, he was growing as a player all year round and if he was given another season in the VHLM, I don't think he would put up a worse +/-. Stein will be a household name to see and I wouldn't be surprised to see him exploding onto the scene in his Y2 season. Ottawa 64 20 30 50 -53 179 36 102 54                                         DEVELOPMENT: 24 14 26 14 13 13 Past 6: 104                                                   14                                                                                         Jivere Zolnek   C TPE: 252                                         @Sixersfan594                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Jivere Zolnek is the jack of all trades at Center, this SBA main was an absolute STEAL by the Philadelphia Reapers during last seasons Dispersal Draft with one of there last picks at #78th Overall with just a measly 73 TPE. Zolnek was drafted to a top heavy S75 Reapers squad that will go down as one of the best of all time, leaving Zolnek to playing 3rd and 4th line minutes, but seeing a decent amount of time on the PK. Jivere's Point Totals have ZERO reflection on his skill. At this rate of earning Jivere is going to be a 1st line center in the VHL soon and hes a unanimous 1st rounder after sliding into the 7th round of last season VHLM Draft. Philadelphia 72 7 6 13 4 77 4 14 11 Philadelphia - Playoffs 15 6 4 10 6 28 2 5 4                     DEVELOPMENT: 15 15 27 20 18 14 Past 6: 109                                                   15                                                                                         Caitlyn Catowize   RW TPE: 246                                         @CrazyCaityCat                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Whoever lands Caitlyn Catowize is an incredibly lucky organization. As a first-gen, they put up some incredible numbers in their first-ever season in the VHL. They put up a very strong 55 hits, 2 game-winners, and 20 points on 72 games. They are definitely built to be a solid defensive forward as they have always been reliable when it comes to her play. They always made sure they were on the right side of the puck and it almost felt like, at times, Philadelphia had a third defender on the roster. Especially on the penalty kill and on the power play. If Caitlyn can figure out their offensive play, an organization could really use a player like this. Specialty players like Caitlyn are essential for dynasties to really separate from the pack. I'm very excited to see what Catowize can produce. I think she may be a season or 2 away from unleashing on the league. Philadelphia 72 9 11 20 14 89 14 55 15 Philadelphia - Playoffs 15 2 5 7 4 27 0 12 5                     DEVELOPMENT: 14 12 26 14 14 14 Past 6: 94                                                   16                                                                                         Eeli Rantanen   LW TPE: 202                                         @Jolline                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Mississauga picked up this Finnish sniper right before the season began and on that depleted Hounds team, he rose to the occasion. Eeli Rantanen sniped home 38 goals with 72 points in as many games, but he could have gotten more. He also totalled a whopping 344 shots as well, but a -32 plus-minus stat is quite indicative that this speedy Finn didn't quite have the talent as a whole around him to help him out. He excels at both ends of the ice quite well but he lacks strength as well as checking, which may help out his defensive game. With another season in the M, he could show off what he's really got. Mississauga 72 38 34 72 -32 344 38 98 27                                         DEVELOPMENT: 15 11 18 12 14 9 Past 6: 79                                                                                                     SECOND ROUND 17                                                                                         Napoleon Bonaparte   C TPE: 178                                         @CptSquall                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB The Legendary and infamous French Revolution war commander himself finds himself slotted here in the second round. He only managed to get eight points in 40 games last season on a budding Houston Bulls team, but his progress has been pretty great until recently. During the season he had limited opportunity, playing more in a depth role, and when he did have opportunities he showed of decent hands and playmaking ability. He needs some work on his game all around, but next season he hopefully returns to form and develops into the dominant general he was over two hundred years ago. Houston 40 1 7 8 -11 36 25 28 4                                         DEVELOPMENT: 15 24 20 18 23 4 Past 6: 104                                                   18                                                                                         Lenny Sanderson   LW TPE: 205                                         @Gally                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Lenny Sanderson is a player who showed substantial growth throughout S75. His regular season consisted of a respectable 19 points in 59 games, but he would find his magic in the playoffs. With Saskatoon, he put up an above point-per-game showing, with 5 goals and 10 points in just 7 games. He also contributed a nice 13 hits and 25 shots in the postseason. The 18 year old winger has had an impressive performance at the World Juniors as well this season, posting 6 points in 8 games so far with Team World. Look for Sanderson to light up the VHLM this year, with his success being driven by his tantalizing skill and constant awareness of his surroundings. This is a player who could make a huge impact at the VHL level with time to develop, and one that would be of remarkable quality in the 2nd round. Saskatoon 59 10 9 19 -5 82 31 43 5 Saskatoon - Playoffs 7 5 5 10 3 25 0 13 1                     DEVELOPMENT: 29 14 26 20 14 8 Past 6: 111                                                   19                                                                                         Willy Myers   LW TPE: 197                                         @Willy Myers                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Russian winger Willy Myers has boldly come out to the public prior to the draft to firmly state that he will not return to the VHLM next season, and instead make his VHL debut in S76. Myers totalled 3 points in 17 games with Saskatoon this past season, but his talent suggests that he will have more to give in the coming seasons for whoever drafts him. He is an elusive sniper with a reliable two-way game, which is a build that frequently brings success in the VHL. The teenager wasted no time in making a name for himself in the VHLM, earning an outstanding 76 TPE in his first 2 weeks alone. Perhaps he will make a similarly strong first impression in his debut VHL season. Saskatoon 17 2 1 3 -11 17 4 12 0 Saskatoon - Playoffs 7 0 0 0 -7 7 0 4 1                     DEVELOPMENT:   35 41 16 6 14 Past 6: 112                                                   20                                                                                         Javad Kamkar   D TPE: 187                                         @Parriyah9374                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Javad Kamkar looks like to be a complete steal in the second round. He's a 47 point defender who can quarterback a power play, a strong defender for the penalty kill, and can be a defensive anchor for any team. I think he's got a huge future ahead of him and any roster could do with a late steal like Kamkar, especially as he's poised to be the greatest Iranian VHL player in history. Javad has this rugged, hard-nosed, and no-nonsense defender. His stats don't truly tell the story of the player as Halifax was a decent team but I think he played the nastiest shifts. Looking at Kamkar, he'll potentially thrive in a different role as he grows into an elite defensive defender with the ability to find an offensive opportunity. I'm really excited by Javad, mostly due to his nationality but also because of what he can contribute as a future VHLer. Halifax 72 8 39 47 -28 98 68 118 72 Halifax - Playoffs 5 1 5 6 -1 5 4 9 7                     DEVELOPMENT: 6 8 10 6 18 12 Past 6: 60                                                   21                                                                                         Abe Roque   LW TPE: 191                                         @Abe Roque                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Abe Roque is going to be a superstar. He is slightly younger then his own age but I think he's going to be a sneak late 2nd round pick. He can score, he can defend and he's improving at a very astronomical rate. He only played 4 games for Mississauga this season and scored 3 points in 4 games. He proved he can do it in the M in just 4 games. I still think he will be playing in the VHLM next season even though I have a lot of hype on him. Abe needs to finish polishing his game down there and once he's prepared to make the jump, I think he will be immediately flying in the VHL. Every single roster is going to enjoy having a player like him especially with how quickly he's improving every single week. Abe Roque is my steal of the draft. Mississauga 4 2 1 3 1 11 0 3 2                                         DEVELOPMENT: 23 14 20 31 11 14 Past 6: 113                                                   22                                                                                         Rusty Knale   D TPE: 170                                         @HatrickRoy                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Rusty Knale towers over most of his opposition.. This 6-foot-8 248 pound tank is built for defense. He is somewhat well balanced, but his young age hasn't allowed him to get strong enough to be able to be effective as he would like. His focus has been primarily on his defensive development, he even has a shot thats powerful enough to create some scoring chances. He should take the time to focus more on his puckhandling skills and then this Icelandic beast would be a force to be reckoned with. By the time season 77 rolls around, Knale could be playing on a top 4, delivering hits and imposing his will on unsuspecting forwards. Give this giant some more time in the VHLM, he needs even more room to grow. Philadelphia 50 0 2 2 10 6 52 57 13 Philadelphia - Playoffs 15 2 1 3 6 9 22 23 14                     DEVELOPMENT: 12 22 21 16 12 6 Past 6: 89                                                   23                                                                                         Brian Moreau   LW TPE: 178                                         @weekz                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Brian Moreau is one of the last picks in the 2nd round. What makes Moreau so special is that while he clearly hasn't fully developed his offensive game yet, primarily in his passing, he will surprise lots of teams with his defensive skill as a forward. He's also able to skate really well, which I think can translate over to the big leagues. It's mostly the fact that he can't pass the puck very well, whether it's in transition or to even find the open man on an offensive play. It's something the coaching staff in in Saskatoon has to be working very hard on in order to elevate his game to the next level. He should be able to jump up to the VHL in potentially his year 2 season and make major leaps in his year 3 or year 4 season. He's got a long burn but every single team needs a good depth pick and I think Moreau is exactly that. Saskatoon 69 8 15 23 -21 139 28 42 5 Saskatoon - Playoffs 7 2 4 6 4 14 2 1 2                     DEVELOPMENT: 10 24 20 16 9 8 Past 6: 87                                                   24                                                                                         Henry Tucker   RW TPE: 186                                         @NotSoGood88                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Henry Tucker had quite the debut season in the VHLM, playing in a depth role for Miami in their S74 cup run. After winning the Founder’s Cup, he departed from Miami en route to Minnesota, where his role would increase significantly. With this opportunity, Tucker would tally 43 points and 200 hits, proving his menacing nature as a power forward. Another year to sharpen his skills in the VHLM will be invaluable to his development, where he can rise up to the top ranks of elite players. It would be beneficial to see an improvement in his discipline and defensive game, but the raw talent is certainly there. He has high quality offensive and physical aspects of his game, so balancing out his play style will be very important for him to take the next step. But overall, this is a prospect with lots of potential. Minnesota 72 12 31 43 -30 144 72 200 15                                         DEVELOPMENT: 8 12 26 14 6 8 Past 6: 74                                                   25                                                                                         Barry Taffe Barry G TPE: 159                                         @Barry                                                 TEAM GP W L OTL SV % GAA SO GA SAVES Barry Taffe came in early on in the season and knew his role. To be an effective backup goaltender on an eventual Founder's Cup winning Philadelpia Reapers team. His statistics show he really did benefit from playing on a stacked squad in front of him, but his .871 save % shows he needed some adjustment to the game. He's earning at a very steady and predictable pace, so with one or perhaps a second season in the minors he should be VHL ready. He's paid attention to his fundamentals evenly for the most part, plays big in the net and has a decent ability to make a key save on a penalty shot and in the shootout. He could be solid selection for a team looking for a backup in the future. Philadelphia 17 10 2 0 0.871 2.75 1 39 303                                         DEVELOPMENT: 23 14 20 31 11 14 Past 6: 113                                                   26                                                                                         Dexter Vaughn   G TPE: 159                                         @Flames1Fan                                                 TEAM GP W L OTL SV % GAA SO GA SAVES Ottawa goaltender Dexter Vaughn played on a very poor team this season, but the lack of top tier players opened up the opportunity for him to showcase his young talent in a 26 game stint. During this time, he faced over 1000 shots, and finished the season with an .871 save percentage. In S76, Vaughn will be able to firmly take hold of the starting job in Ottawa, as he will soon pass the currently inactive Hi Hello in TPE. With the Lynx owning quite a few picks in the upcoming dispersal draft, as well as maintaining some quality players, look for this team to rise up the VHLM standings this season. If this is the case, Vaughn will surely be a big part of it. Ottawa 26 2 23 0 0.871 5.35 0 137 1059                                         DEVELOPMENT: 2 18 20 8 8 2 Past 6: 58                                                   27                                                                                         Green Gaming   C TPE: 143                                         @Lilpfigher                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB This winger from Canada has the potential to do some serious damage next season. Green Gaming is a prototypical centerman with a very nicely balanced build. He was positioned nicely in a depth role for the Miami Marauders to get the feel for the VHLM game, but next season, with more playing time available to him wherever this double-draft eligilbe player ends up, he can develop very nicely into a VHLM stud heading into the VHL by season 78. He's built very balanced across the board, takes chances in key moments, and can blossom by bulking up in the strenght department. Miami 66 1 13 14 -1 42 25 32 6 Miami - Playoffs 4 0 0 0 -4 0 0 2 3                     DEVELOPMENT: 23 14 20 31 11 14 Past 6: 113                                                   28                                                                                         Kaladin Kvothe   LW TPE: 206                                         @DangerGolding                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Questions surround Kaladin Kvothe's off-season training absence, as the sniper from England slid down from first-round contention and bottom down to here unless things change and he resumes his training. He has a wicked shot, but didn't get much opportunity playing on a deep San Diego team. He did show promise though, getting 15 goals in a limited-depth role, even perhaps stepping his game up during the postseason. Hopefully he returns to form soon and shows off more of his shooting talent, even improve his skating and overall strength. San Diego 72 15 14 29 6 109 16 72 14 San Diego - Playoffs 9 2 2 4 7 15 0 9 0                     DEVELOPMENT: 14 8 6 12 0 0 Past 6: 40                                                   29                                                                                         Leaning Tower of Pisa   RW TPE: 142                                         @Blastmeaway                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB The tower that decided to not be just a twoer anymore decided to be a tower that plays hockey made it's decision the play hockey all of a sudden. It joined the Houston Bulls and to be honest, I don't even know how it got a contract. Rumors swirled around about it though that historical war commanders from Earth's past decided to drag it from Pisa to Houston... don't ask me how. For a tower with no eyes it played pretty well in a depth role for most of last season as a waiver claim, but with further training (again, don't even ask me how a tower 'trains'...) the Leaning Tower of Pisa could perform exceptionally. Seriously, how can a leaning tower improve?... lean less, maybe? The tower does have a pretty good shot, though Houston 35 3 4 7 -11 36 16 21 5                                         DEVELOPMENT: 6 10 24 16 8 6 Past 6: 70                                                   30                                                                                         Alexander The Great   C TPE: 145                                         @Shiny                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Alexander the Great of Macedonia made a surprise revival after being deceased eras ago to play hockey. He dominated the known world at the peak of his life at the time, and his mission in this life is to just, play hockey. He didn't play as much as to be expected, there would be some rust to shake off afted being dead for centuries, so a depth role in Houston suited him just fine. He prefers creating scoring chances than playmaking, and he has surprisingly good hands. Let his tired old body recover and develop into form then he can begin his quest for dominance in the VHL Houston 40 1 3 4 -10 36 0 13 2                                         DEVELOPMENT: 15 12 24 4 6 0 Past 6: 61                                                   31                                                                                         Mikey Harris   RW TPE: 145                                         @Ty343                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Mikey Harris was a waiver claim halfway into the season, and while Harris had little time to make up ground, he just put his head down and did his best for the Mississauga Hounds. He managed a stunning 31 points in only 37 games on a non-playoff caliber squad, but playing alot of minutes on a weaker team can be shown with his -22 rating. He's been earning steady and doenst deviate much from his training. His fundamentals at the moment are very solid, giving him a great base to build off of and create even more scoring chances. Mississauga 37 9 22 31 -22 119 20 48 16                                         DEVELOPMENT: 13 10 14 8 8 8 Past 6: 61                                                   32                                                                                         Jurgis Kalvelis Blazevicius   G TPE: 152                                         @efiug                                                 TEAM GP W L OTL SV % GAA SO GA SAVES Fresh off a solid career with Nicolas Fomba, user @efiug looks to build an even more successful VHL goaltender with Jurgis Kalvelis Blazevicius. The Lithuanian prospect finished S75 with 6 starts on a weaker Houston team, where he would grab 2 wins before the season’s end. Blazevicius utilizes his size to his advantage extremely efficiently, covering much of the net with good posture and positioning in the crease. His TPE earning has dipped a little bit in recent weeks, yet he still has a considerably high amount of upside. When a team drafts Blazevicius, they are getting a nearly guaranteed VHL calibre goalie, who has experience with goaltender builds from his last player. Houston 6 2 4 0 0.861 4 0 24 173                                         DEVELOPMENT: 6 8 16 16 6 6 Past 6: 58

Representing Iran, Lets do this.

VHLM Playoffs: First Round Recap
 

By fyrefly
 
 
It's playoff time in the VHLM! The top eight teams of the regular season faced off for the first round of the VHLM playoffs. The playoffs in the M are a time for capped players to give their last hurrah in the minors before heading up to the big leagues, and for freshly signed potential draftees to show off their skills before the draft. Either way, it's an exciting time. And with the Founders' Cup on the line, tensions are high and players are willing to give whatever it takes!
 
 
       In this recap, I'll be summarizing each series that has been played. Watch for the spotlight on star players and predictions for the next few rounds. 
 
 
Series 1: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Halifax 21st(8th seed)
Notable Performances: Dolant Fertitta(HFX), Javad Kamkar(HFX), Justin Lose(MEX), King Kruul(MEX)
This was one series that was expected to go by fast. The Kings blitzed the M in the regular season, capturing the top record with an astonishing 54 wins. But surprisingly, the 21st put up a fight. Nothing too much, only enough to stretch the series to 5 games. But enough to let everybody else in the league know that the Kings aren't invincible. But they sure are close. Justin Lose @youloser1337 was an absolute force for the Kings, putting up 4 goals and 8 points in those 5 games. Jakob Sosa @TMGSosa also contributed offensively, notching 5 assists and 7 points. From the back end, King Kruul @LefLop kept his fruitful career fruitful with 6 assists and 7 points, enough to tie for first among defenceman scoring. And then there's goaltender Markus Emerson Jr. @Xflexz, who's a rock of a goalie in between the pipes with a .872 save percentage and a 3.2 goals against average.
The 21st were a tyrant of a team last season, but experienced a crazy insane upset by the hands of the eventual champs Miami Marauders. This year, they had a much weaker team, but they managed to take a game in this series. They were largely riding the performance of superstar and shoo-in for MVP Dolant Fertitta @Dolant, who lead the playoffs in points somehow. Javad Kamker @Parriyah9374 was also a massive contributor from the blueline with five assist and six points. Poor Mike Sterling @SilverMike, who has to face the loaded Mexico offense with such a lackluster defense. He has a depressing 5.2 goals against average. Halifax also doesn't look to have the strongest team next year, as they don't have a first round pick.
Series score: 4-1 Mexico
 
 
Series 2: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. Yukon Rush(7th seed)
Notable Performances: Jivere Zolnek(PHI), Jacob Carson(PHI), Tom Eagles(PHI), The great(YUK)
This was another series involving a top regular season team and a team that barely made the playoffs that was supposed to go by very fast. And unlike the prior mentioned series, it did. The Reapers executed a perfect 4-0 sweep, eliminating the Rush. A couple of top VHL draft prospects did extremely well in this series, namely Jivere Zolnek @Sixersfan549 and Tom Eagles @Greg_Di. Zolnek, after an underwhelming regular season of only 13 points, exploded against the Rush for 3 goals and 7 points in only 4 games. Eagles, on the other hand, continued what he had gotten done in the regular season. He translated his amazing 64 points into 6 points in the first round. Also worth mentioning is goaltender Jacob Carson @jacobcarson877, who had an incredible .946 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average. Pekko Viitanen @Xdjk93 also stunned the Rush with 5 assists in the series.
The Yukon Rush, in a sense, played as was expected of a team who sold at the deadline and squeaked into the playoffs. They had no real stars to rely on for points, as they traded them all away for futures. But they managed to keep the Reapers close in all but 2 of the games they played. The only really performances worth mentioning are The great @Jake Sumner, who scored 2 goals and has an astonishing 40% shooting percentage. Other than that, no one really made a difference as the Reapers changed the Rush's championship chances to 0.
Series Score: 4-0 Philadelphia
 
 
Series 3: San Diego Marlins(3rd seed) vs. Miami Marauders(6th seed)
Notable Performances: Gunnar Odinsson(SDM), Michael Olson(SDM), Nero Endrizzi(SDM), Ryan Ryker(MIA)
Since the seeds were closer for this series, it was more than expected to be close. Miami was a decent team heading into this playoffs. But the Marlins sure proved they were the stronger team. They went all out at the deadline, and reaped necessary rewards for a long playoff run. They picked up a bunch of waiver players to fill their depth spots, and still had room for stars to fill the top spots. Some of their guys who particularly shone during this series were top VHL draft prospect Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM, who had to have raised his stock with his 6 assists and 7 points from the back end. Goaltender Michael Olson @MSO94 also made a massive difference, with a .934 save percentage and a 1.25 GAA, effectively shutting down the Miami offense. Nero Endrizzi @TurnDaddy, a player the Marlins picked up in the dispersal draft last season, also put his skills on display with 2 goals and 6 points in the series. A lot of Marlins will be heading up next season, and the Marlins used a lot of their futures acquiring all that talent, so we can expect a basement finish next season.
As I said before, the Marauders had a promising squad heading into the postseason, grabbing the 6th seed in the playoffs and securing a slightly weaker matchup in the first round. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. Nevertheless, they had some decent performances from some of their players. Ryan Ryker @Jayrad28 was a beast throughout the series, picking up 3 assists, 10 hits, and 3 blocked shots. Phoenix Dawson @Toastalso impressed, with 2 goals and a 33.3% shooting percentage. He will also be among the top VHL prospects. Finally, there's my old friend Cabe McJake @RedSus, who, with a goal and an assist, couldn't manage to carry the Marauders to victory. Either way, a successful season for Miami. Unfortunately, they spent a lot of their picks at the deadline, so they should sink into mediocrity for next season.
Series Score: 4-0 San Diego
 
 
Series 4: Saskatoon Wild(4th seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
Notable Performances: Lenny Sanderson(SSK), Battre Sandstrom(SSK), Jordan Tate(LVA), Linus Zetterstrom(LVA)
Well, this one had a wild finish, didn't it? Game seven OT. That doesn't happen often. And what a series. The Aces take the 3-1 lead, but the Wild come roaring back and force the final game. But the Aces came up big. Linus Zetterstrom @Ledge_and_Dairy was the man with the winner, and he notched 7 assists and 9 points in those 7 games. Also incredible was the performance of Jordan Tate @Aye my name jeff, who got 11 points and leads the playoffs in scoring right now. He and fellow deadline pickup Sheldon Juniper @fyrefly along with linemate Connor Sim @SimmerDown99 combined for 28 points in the series. Matt thunder @Matt thunder also got a point per game in the series. Overall, the Aces' deadline acquisitions made the difference for them this series. They have a bunch of clutch players that should really help in their next round series against Mexico. 
The Saksatoon Wild are a playoff team, and probably a second round caliber team. But they couldn't manage to complete the comeback and knock off the Aces one last time. But they played a hell of a good series. Notably, rookie and top draft prospect Lenny Sanderson @Gally, who must have raised his draft stock with his 5 goals and 10 points. Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn , who is projected to go second overall in the VHL draft, also shone as an offensive defenceman, with 6 assists and 9 points. Other that, Vivek Weiner @coochiman got an assist per game plus a goal for 8 points. Although the Wild don't look to be strong next season, they had a really good team this season and should be proud. 
 
 
 
This concludes the series for round one of the VHLM playoffs. For the next segment, I'll give you the next round of series plus predictions for who will win. 
 
 
Series 5: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
The Aces are now the underdog as they take on the potentially unstoppable Kings. The Kings will try to ride their firepower and depth that got them the best regular season record, while the Aces hope their deadline pickups and waiver players, as well as the game seven clutch that got them past the Wild, will get them over top of the Kings and onto the finals. The Kings were eliminated in the first round last season, so they're looking for a much deeper playoff run this year. The Aces were one of the top teams last season, but they were beat out in the semis by the waiver warrior Miami Marauders. For this matchup, even with my biased opinion, I feel the Kings have a team that is nearly invincible this year. I think the Aces will take them to six games, and give them a run for their money. But the talent and depth of the Kings is hard to match.
Prediction: 4-2 Mexico
 
 
Series 6: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. San Diego Marlins(3rd seed)
This one I'm sure I cannot accurately predict. These two squads are so evenly matched it'd be hard to put one ahead of the other. The Reapers were a borderline playoff team last year, but were nudged out by the eventual champions Marauders in the final games of the regular season. The Marlins, on the other hand, were a basement team last season, losing out only to the lowly Minnesota Storm for bottom of the standings. They were, however, able to pick up the top two picks of the draft and select two very good players. Both teams acquired a truckload of talented players through the draft and trades, and it will be a long, tough series. But I think the sheer amount of capped players of the Reapers wil ultimately push them over the top. But not without a fight.
Prediction: 4-3 Philadelphia
 
 
 
 
El Finale: Mexico City Kings vs. Philadelphia Reapers
These two teams were in the exact same situation as each other last year. They are in the exact same situation as each other this year, too. The Founders' Cup Finals. Against each other. It will be a battle of two teams of roughly the same skill, roughly the same depth. It will be a nail-biter, I'll guarantee you that. But looking at their rosters, and their success in these playoffs so far, I have chosen a winner. And if I can figure out how to hide a result, it'll appear down there ⬇️
 
 
That concludes my recap and predictions for the S75 VHLM Founders' Cup playoffs. For the sake of honesty, I fully expect the Philadelphia Reapers to fulfil my prophecy and win the cup. This has been fun, and I wish all contestants hope, but especially the Aces. I hope we can break my prediction and bring the Cup back to it's rightful home, Sin City! Good luck to all, and we'll see you in another month or so because this media spot is so damn long I can claim it for that long! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this. Excuse me for making this final paragraph kind of awkward, but this is how I'm filling the gap to get to 2,000 words. 
 
I need five more words. 
 
 
 
2,000 words on the dot. Claiming this for four weeks. 
 

It's finally here ladies and gentlemen! The first week of the recorded sparring footage between the Kamkar twins from the Halifax 21st, Javad and Bahram Kamkar! Sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy the show between these two. The brother touch gloves and say good luck to each other.
 
 

 
 
First round begins, a total of 5 minutes for a total of 3 rounds. They take their stance and circle around each other. Bahram fakes a jab and lands a nasty leg kick on Javad which visibly hurts him. Bahram feints another jab and goes for another leg kick but Javad doesn't fall for it this time, he checks the kick and sweeps Bahram's leg making him hit the ground back first. Javad capitalizes off of the opportunity and dives in his guard, using his superior wrestling to his advantage easily taking side control and hitting Bahram with some vicious ground and pound. Bahram is still in it even after taking a nasty beating and he takes advantage of Javad's recklessness and sweeps into a butterfly guard and eventually kicking him off. The two get back on their feet with 2 minutes remaining in the round. The twins stare each other down and suddenly Javad attempts a wild haymaker. Bahram dodges with ease and responds with a nasty roundhouse kick to the chin which knocks out Javad cold. Bahram doesn't go for any follow up strikes and celebrates with his trainer.
Week number one comes to an end with Bahram Kamkar taking the victory with a brutal knockout in round 1.
 
 
Thank you all for taking part in the start of something special and make sure to stick around next week to see if Javad can turn it around!

The VHLM Power Rankings are back just in time for the home stretch of the regular season. This week is a particularly interesting for a couple reasons. First, there has a been an eruption of trade activity in the past seven days as teams begin to make their push for the playoffs. And beside the trades, the sims in the past week were super interesting and in turn has provided some movement in the power rankings. In particular, one team in the top 5 went on a historic winning streak, while the two teams I've considered to be a powerhouse all season have started to sputter and stumble a touch. That's enough preamble, let's dive into it and take a look at what I'm talking about!
 

Last Week: 1  |  This Week: 1  
Nestling in their comfy #1 ranking for the third straight week, Mexico City continues being the toast of the league. That being said, it hasn't been a banner week for the Kings. Mexico City was one of many teams who were shopping this week ahead of the league's trade deadline. While making substantial upgrades, the team still only managed to go 4-5-1. This could be a situation where you just don't mess with a good thing. Team chemistry is important and shaking things up on your roster always carries risk. Despite that, I do think the upgrades the Kings made were logical ones. First earlier on last week the Kings set a S77 1st Round Pick and Kid Frost (a VHLM drafted welfare earner who has multi-VHLM season control) to Houston in exchange for the capped-out fiesty Frenchmen @domg5 Dominic Gobeil. As noted in last weeks Power Rankings, Houston's season was pretty much done for, and Gobeil seemed to be the prime trading candidate there. Mexico gets a physical winger who is a jack-of-all-trades. He sacrifices the body with bone crushing hits and shot-blocking but he also has an undeniable scoring touch. A couple days later the Kings doubled down and decided to address their defensive depth. They decided to get Yukon on the horn and after some intense back and forth negotiations, the Kings landed themselves a top TPE earning defense. For a pair of picks and a lower end defensemen named Roger Jone (but usable for the Rush next season), Mexico acquired @GoliathusTee Pee E II. TPE II was the defensive leader in Yukon all season, but Yukon decided to pull the trigger on him to recoup some assets for future seasons.  These two deals have definitely bolstered Mexico City's roster but so far have not yielded the results they were hoping for. Luckily there is still time for these new players to assimilate themselves with their teammates and get the Kings back on track in time for the playoffs.
 

Last Week: 2  |  This Week: 2  
Coming in at #2 yet again is the Philadelphia Reapers, albeit by the slimmest of margins. It's been a weird past week for Phlly, and it's really hard to make head or tails of any of it. In their last 10 games they've went dead even going 5-5. While they have had impressive wins against legitimate teams like Mexico City and Miami, they also dropped games to Yukon, Halifax and even the lowly Ottawa Lynx. However, the singular thing that keeps Philly nested in the 2 spot for one more week is a little thing I like to call "The Ric Flair rule". TO BE THE MAN, YOU MUST BEAT THE MAN! San Diego was knocking on the door of the 2 spot this week and had their chance to overtake the Reapers, but Philly slammed the door in their face by ending their legendary winning streak (more on that in a moment), Philly management has been smart about the tweaking of their roster going into the deadline. They were the ones who got the ball rolling when they picked up blueliner @McLovin Gustav Hjalmarsson nice and early before any other teams had gotten the ball rolling on their deadline deals. Hjalmarsson has fit in nicely with the Reapers, as I noted in last week's Power Rankings. Though they upgraded their squad, it feels like Philly has lost some of their early season magic. They are still a team with embarrassment of riches at all positions, I think it is just a matter of finding some good mojo with all these talented players. They are simply too good to go quietly in a first round exit come the playoffs. Reapers management will be looking to find that magic chemistry  in the last week of the season before going into the postseason.
 

Last Week: 4  |  This Week: 3 
Retaking the #3 spot on our list is none other than the hottest team in the league over the past week, the San Diego Marlins. As I previously mentioned, the Marlins almost took over Philly's 2nd place spot, but came up just a hair short. Nonetheless, there is nothing but good vibes happening in San Diego right now. Highlighted by franchise best 14-game winning streak, the Marlins have won 16 of their last 17 contests are nipping on the heels at the top teams in the league. Sadly it was none other than the Reapers who ended San Diego's incredible stretch. When you dive into this win streak, you will see it's been the same formula that San Diego has used all season.  The dynamic duo of Nero Endrizzi and @Tate Red Lite continue to reign terror over their opponents, both having now eclipsed the 80 point plateau for the season, which is good for 4th and 5th in league scoring.  Not far behind them is defensemen @fromtheinside Scotty Kaberle who now sits 6th in league scoring with 81 points, leapfrogging teammate Cowboy Prout who has been dominant in his own right. On top of all this the Marlins have continued to get fantastic production from various sources as @BOOM™ Gunnar Odinsson and @Nikdandrea34 Nikolas D'Andrea continue to shine for the club. Still looking to improve, the Marlins just last night went out and solidified their defensive core even further by acquiring max-capped @OscarTheSwagDude Kate Upton.  Marlins management will be hoping for Upton to memorize opponents and be the piece that puts them over the top. But as we have seem with the other top teams, sometimes adding a new player into the fray can have converse effects to what you may be hoping for. It should be interesting to see how Upton factors into the Marlins heading into the last stretch of games in the regular season.
 

 Last Week: 3  |  This Week: 4 
Falling one spot this week, the Saskatoon Wild come in at number 4 this week despite another great week of sims. Going 7-3 in their past 10, the Wild have continued to show they are going to be a team to be feared going into the postseason. It's really a testament to how well they've been playing when take a glimpse at the standings. They are only 2 points back of the San Diego even after that team had a record setting win streak. Saskatoon just keeps chugging along at very impressive pace. They continue to mix a nice variety of offensive ability and physicality and are proving to be a handful for even the best teams in the league. Offensively @dartFlorent Vericel continues his record smashing pace as he is in sole position of first in league scoring with 98 points, just two shy of the century mark. When it comes to laying the body, @dshervill winger Braxton Hunter and d-man@drewowo Logan Moore are ranked 1-2 in the entire league for hits with 246 and 228 respectively. The Wild also decided to round out there D-core by adding a high end TPE defenseman. For a S76 2nd and a S77 3rd, the Wild acquired puck-moving defensemen Rick Osman. With this move, Sasky management has really confirmed they are all in on this year. They have a legitimate chance to compete for the Founder's Cup so it will be interesting to see if mortgaging their immediate future will pay dividends. 
 

Last Week: 5  |  This Week: 5  
Back for another week at #5 is the Las Vegas Aces. The Aces to me are by far one of most curious teams in the league right now. They have been amongst the busiest teams in the league over the past little while. They've wheeled and dealed and despite looking like a vastly improved team on paper, Vegas has only managed to go 5-5 over their last 10 games. While splitting their last 10 may not seem so bad at first glance, if you look a bit closer they played a ton of easy teams and didn't really beat anyone of consequence. They even dropped games to Houston and Minnesota - two teams who have are clearly focused on their future seasons. Though this sounds very doom and gloom, I do like the moves Vegas management made. With their defense already among the best in the league, it was clear they needed offense and perhaps goaltending. They started by picking up sophomore winger @fyrefly Sheldon Juniper who is an elite, clutch scorer and a proven winner, having won a cup last year with Miami.  But they weren't done there. They then proceeded to hit up Mississauga and take winger @MMFLEX  Dan Dan and center @Aye my name jeff Jordan Tate. Though these two trades costed them a decent amount of draft stock, they have come away with a full line's worth of capped forwards. The Aces seriously lacked scoring punch and with these three all coming in before the deadline, Vegas absolutely addressed their biggest weakness. I think it is just a matter of figuring out which players mesh well together. If Vegas can figure that out before the playoffs start, watch out. Oh and if this didn't impress you, they decided to go out and get a capped goalie by trading Matt Sovick Jr to Miami for the one and only @thadthrasherThadius Sales. Having two goalies with multi-season control allowed Vegas to do this without giving up an arm and a leg in draft picks so this was huge for them.
 

Last Week: 6   |  This Week: 6 
Another week, another sixth place spot for Miami. The Marauders managed to go 6-4 over the last 10 games but half of these games were against either Ottawa or Minnesota, so that could be a tad bit misleading. While Miami has definitely made some nice additions to their roster, their latest trade was a real head-scratcher to me. As I just mentioned in the Aces recap, Miami shipped off their goalie Thad Sales for Matt Sovick Jr. While Sovick Jr is certainly a serviceable goalie and it is certainly appealing that you will be able to retain him for next season, I hate this deal for Miami. Last week on the VHL Roundtable Podcast I asked both @Ricer13 GM Kris Rice and @Zetterberg AGM Zetterberg what their plan was going into the trade deadline. They both seemed to indicate they liked their team and wanted to compete this season, and I agreed with that assessment. Earlier in the week they went out and acquired capped out center @TenZi Kevin Sterk from Yukon. Shortly thereafter, they struck a deal with Mississauga by acquiring rock solid blueliner @JorgTheGoat03 The Blob. Those two trades in my mind were just what Miami needed. They went out and spent some assets in order to improve their center and defensive depth. So with that being said, why would then turn around and ship out one of the best goalies in the league?  I the Miami brass wants Miami to be competitive year in and year out, but with essentially no picks to speak of in the S76 draft, I don't understand the thought process behind that deal. Trade analysis aside, Miami is still a very dangerous team and will definitely still be a tough matchup for anyone who runs into them come playoff time. 
 

Last Week: 8   |  This Week: 7  
Despite their best attempts at selling, Yukon finds themselves edging out Halifax for the 7th spot in the Power Rankings. With their eyes on the future, the Rush decided to start selling off some assets to reload for future seasons. While they managed to deal off some players, the market was pretty limited in some ways and as a result Yukon still has some top end talent. After bidding adieu to Juinper, Tee Pee E and Sterk, Yukon still managed a 5-4-1 record including 2 wins over conference leading Mexico City. The Rush still boast some formidable scoring power with the likes of @DirtyDerek Daddy Derek and team captain @GreenGato Vick Fairchild leading the way. On defense @Juice Kristof Welch continues to impress scouts with his development and is now scoring at a more consistent pace as well.  Team favourite and rock solid netminder @Kloxified Kloxified also avoided swapping teams at the deadline, so all things considered the Rush still ice a pretty solid team and will give teams a good fight night in and night out. 
 

Last Week: 7  |  This Week: 8 
Swapping spots with Yukon and dropping one spot this week was the Halifax 21st. This club is very similar to Yukon in a couple of ways. They were a decent team all season with some holes in their roster and just as the Rush have done recently, they've made a couple traded to focus towards their future. And also like Yukon, they are left with some high end talent on their team post trade deadline, probably because of the scarce market for high end players. Thanks to the mega draft class of S75. many rosters are already filled to the brim and aren't in need of adding anyone. As mentioned earlier throughout the article, Halifax shipped off a pair of elite defensemen for draft picks. However, when the dust settled they still have a few big time players on their roster that still keeps them dangerous. @Dolant Dolant Fertitta remains on the roster and he is going to continue on his tear through the M. Linemate @Nick Kirkpatrick Theodore James St. Louis also stayed put and he is no joke either, having just eclipsed the 80 point plateau this past week. And while their top 2 defenders were shipped out, promising defensive prospect @Parriyah9374 Javad Kamkar will get an excellent opportunity to showcase himself on the top D pair with Clinton Giftopoulos.
 

Last Week: 9  |  This Week: 9 
Back in their familiar spot again this week are the Houston Bulls at #9. I was VERY tempted to move them up higher after they sneakily enjoyed themselves an 8-1-1 record over their last 10.  And while a handful of these were against the bottom tier teams, they did real off wins against Saskatoon, Vegas and even Mexico! What's even more preposterous is that this win streak is coming off the heals of trading top earning forward Dominic Gobeil. The Webber brothers ( @Webberj Jon and @WebberP Paul) have become the team leaders, with Jon leading the team with 37 goals! Defensively @Nope488 Not A. Player leads all defensemen in points with 43, not to mention he has blocked a whopping 123 shots this year. Somebody get that guy an ice pack! Meanwhile in the crease @Caboose30 Trent Gibson continues to hold down the fort. Though they are lacking in some areas, I wouldn't rule out Houston sneaking up on one of either Yukon or Halifax and potentially claiming the 8 seed before the end of the season. It would be incredible to see, I am routing for them!
 

Last Week: 10  |  This Week: 10 
Now we move into the bottom tier of the league. I will definitely give Mississauga some credit though. They were the most successful team in selling off all their high-end assets at the deadline.  They made 4 trades in the past two weeks which netted them 6 future picks in drafts and 4 players. Rookie winger @Sljppers continues to put on a show in the 905 as she now is the active leader in scoring for the Hounds with 64 points in 58 games. When you see a rookie who is producing at over a point per game that is reason enough to get hyped. They Hounds are undoubtedly going to be a force to reckoned with some S76 but for now they are amongst the leagues bottom-feeders. They hold onto the 10 spot this week, but just barely!
 

Last Week: 11  |  This Week: 11 
Coming in yet again at 11, the Minnesota Storm have at least started to see a little bit of stability.  While still only have a record of 3-6-1 in their past 10, they still aren't exactly world beaters, but they are at least competitive in most games now, even taking wins this past week off Las Vegas and Miami! It should be noted that the Storm sent their top tender @Hello  Hi Hello to their fellow cellar dweller buddies the Lynx in exchange for picks. Speaking of picks, the Storm have a ton of them going into the draft. It will be interesting to see how Storm management deals with asset management come draft time. 
 

Last Week: 12  |  This Week: 12  
Rounding out the Power Rankings we have the familiar face of the Ottawa Lynx. It was a week to remember for the Lynx as they managed FOUR wins this week, one of which was against none other than the Eastern Conference leaders, the Philadelphia Reapers! With those four wins they doubled their win total of their entire season! Congrats to them on a few huge wins. This will definitely help morale in the Ottawa LR. The only other thing to note is the aforementioned trade with Minnesota. On one hand I don't know if spending draft picks in a year you are historically bad is a good idea, but on the other hand Hi Hello will be back for next season, so that checks off a major need that they will no longer have to worry about come draft time. 
 
 
That wraps up another weekly Power Rankings. We are winding down the season with roughly 10-12 games left for each team. There is still lots of things to be decided as we head into the VHLM playoffs. Will Houston sneak in? Could San Diego stay hot and overthrow the Kings in the West?  This time next week we will have the answers so be sure to keep your eyes peels for the final installment of the Power Rankings next week! Until then thanks for reading and take care!