Advantage

The hockey world found themselves disgusted today at the revelations that have come out of the Cologne Express locker room. A heated argument developed between the former baseball star turned hockey shit Edwin Encarnacion and a training assistant after the training assistant had failed to control a pass that Encarnacion sent his way. Despite the fact that the training assistant was just 10 feet away from Encarnacion, as opposed to the skybox that Encarnacion had sent his “pass” crashing through, Encarnacion called the training assistant a “piece of garbage”.
 
This got to the training assistant who, in response, decided to break down every single flaw in Encarnacion’s game. 10 hours after the training assistant had started his rant, he finally ended it with calling Encarnacion “The Ja’Marcus Russell of Hockey; Fat, talentless and a complete dick to boot”. This enraged Encarnacion to no end and led to him breaking “The Gentleman’s Code”.
 
Alexander Schneider’s statement reads as follows:
 
“We are absolutely disgusted by the behaviour of Edwin Encarnacion and have decided to transfer whatever of his pay he has yet to set on fire for the rest of the season to the training assistant. We are taught from birth that we cannot break one simple rule; The Gentleman’s Code. Angry or not, we simply cannot be allowing Edwin to fart in the general direction of another man’s balls. That’s not cool.”

Ooooohhhhh!
Ahhhhhhh!
Linholm!!!!

I can't see you all the way down there!

Who cares if you make the playoffs if you dont have a shot at winning. New York will still be the better team.

It was an interesting off season for Logan Laich. After spending half a season in the VHLM and winning a Founders Cup Laich worked as hard as he could to get himself in shape to hopefully make his debut with a VHL team in S37. After being drafted fourth overall by the Americans, Laich had extensive conversations with General Manager Chris Miller. It came down to seeing how well Laich looked during training camp and making the best decision for Logan going forward. 
 
At the end of training camp Logan was just shy of the requirement for practice hours in to be automatically making the VHL. He ended up getting drafted in the VHLM by the Bern Royals in the first round, something that shocked him as he was trying to inform all GM's who had interest he was going to do what it took to make the VHL this season. 
 
Ultimately, Logan sat down with his GM, Chris Miller and talked about his future. Miller felt that Laich certainly was ready to take on the load of the VHL but he also felt that the best spot for Logan would be in the VHLM. Logan would have a chance to be a super star on a solid team in Bern if he stayed down. Logan expressed his interest again to make the main club, stating that his practice hours would be up to the required limit in no time at all, and that he would be able to do whatever it takes to help New York going forward. At the end of the day Miller, who is trying to make his team as good as he can make it this season agreed to call Logan Laich up and play on the Americans this season.
 
Logan will play for the big club with less practice hours than most rookies and with a lot of ground to make up. But his role on an improving club will be vital as a depth player and a physical presence. Logan is excited to see what the action of the VHL brings him. 

Great stuff Damien.  Nice to have you around
 
So I've been thinking about the lines.  I know Devise wants to be up but he isn't as close as I believe he expected to be.  Therefore, I feel it is best if he stays down.  What we have right now is 6 forwards, 2 defenders.
 
C - Tom Slaughter
C - GIYGAS
LW - Simon Tremblay
RW - Odin Tordahl
RW - Xin Xie Xiao
RW - Tony Stark
D - Conner Low
D - Andrey Zadorov
 
We can either stack the first line up with Tordahl-Slaughter-XXX or split up XXX and Tordahl and try to get two lines running well.  What do you guys think?

Thanks for signing bud!
 
You are definitely in the best place for you.

You're right.  So disappointed Kendrick!

Yep, main event to win the title or bust as far as I'm concerned.

HAHA LOL JK.
 
 

Conner Low -> Alex Pietrangelo
Xin Xie Xiao -> Dustin Brown
Leroy Jenkins -> Gordie Howe
Sterling Labatte -> Eddie Shore
Daniel Braxton -> Denis Potvin

Jericho has also missed multiple mag editions if I'm not mistaken Devise.
 
EDIT - Has missed 4 of last 6 Mag Editions.

Thanks for the 1st.

Catch up.

Hmm..solid first sim.  I also need a sig.
 
If I were good at them, I'd definitely make one for you.

No one will play for New York

I love you, mate. Pls 

So fucking late Munk! YOU ARE WORTHLESS!

Make the best choice for you Boom

Day 1-5: +10 Anything

Workouts

Skater Workouts:

Ice Time:
+1 skating
+1 passing OR +1 scoring

Weight Room:
+1 defense
+1 strength OR +1 checking OR +1 fighting

Off-Ice Training:
+1 leadership
+1 discipline

Goalie Workouts:

Goalie Coach:
+2 Any Attribute

Iron Eagles Prospects and Future
 
Top Prospects
 
1 - Magnus Hertzberg - This young forward has been overlooked by many but has started to show the potential that the Iron Eagles saw in him when they drafted him last draft.  The Vasteras Iron Eagles likely don't have any future stars in their farm system, but the closest to one is definitely this guy.  Hertzberg has 42 points and 128 hits this season and is showing the skills that some people see in him.
 
2 - Rhys Heyward-Jones - This man has all the talent to be a solid depth player down the road, but questions about his drive have hurt the general outlook towards him.  The Gladiators forward has had a solid producing year with 61 points in 66 games but some are disappointed in his numbers given the talent of his team.  At the end of the day, Heyward-Jones probably won't become anything more than a career minor leaguer, but the Iron Eagles still hold out hope that this pick works out and he becomes a solid second line forward.
 
3 - Jaden Button - Like Heyward-Jones, a lot of people see the talent but not the work-ethic when it comes to this player.  The right winger has had a solid season for a sophomore but has failed to truly stand-out.  Unless he really picks up his game, don't expect Button to be a part of the Iron Eagles franchise for much longer.  Unless his offensive skills translate over into significant production or better work-ethic, Button will soon find his way onto the free agent market.
 
Future Outlook:
 
The Vasteras Iron Eagles don't have a lot of talent in the farm system, but that is because all of their young talent is already on the main club.  These young talents are in charge of erasing the infamous history of the Iron Eagles that pales in comparison to every other team that has been here since the Inaugural Season.  With the future belonging in the hands of Willem Janssen, Leon Leitner and Eggly Bagelface, the Iron Eagles have something to be excited for going forward.
 
In addition, with another first rounder in the next two drafts (one of which will definitely be a lottery pick), Vasteras will be looking to add onto that core.  Expect the teams GM, Thomas Corcoran, to start looking at trades to build around the core in the near future.  
 
Cup Prediction: Season 40

New York Americans
 
Current State: The Americans have finally entered a rebuild after setting the record for most consecutive playoff appearances with eleven.  After what many have called a dynasty, the fans of New York now have to get used to a losing team for at least a couple seasons.  The Americans currently sit last in the North American Conference with just seventeen points, and have lost forty-five consecutive games.
 
The team is led by veterans Jack Mason, Adam Harris and Filip Forsberg, who are the only players on the team with more than fifteen points.  Mason has proven to be a valuable defensive commodity in his final VHL season, with 171 hits and 234 blocked shots to go along with his 43 points.  Unfortunately though, due to the reliance on Mason, he has the worst plus-minus in the league with a -102 rating.  Adam Harris has probably been their best skater this year as he leads the team in scoring with 51 points and has 89 hits and the best plus-minus on the team to go along with it.  Finally, Filip Forsberg leads the team in goals with 22 as he continues to improve as a professional.
 
The best player this team has had this year is undoubtedly their goaltender, NYA G.  Despite having a terrible record and a goals-against-average over four, his save percentage sits seventh in the league at .913.  This is a sharp contrast compared to the backup on the team, Atticus Von Braxton III.  The rookie goaltender had a run as the starter when NYA G went down with an injury, but badly struggled as the team failed to win a game with him starting.  Braxton, who likely won't get another start for the team, ended his run with a 7.41 goals-against-average and a .859 save percentage.
 
The New York Americans are not the team they used to be.  They don't have a Benjamin Glover, Tukka Reikkinen, Daniel Braxton or Ryan Sullivan.  This is a team that is in a transitional period looking to acquire some starts to build around.  Hopefully they get back to that point one day again.
 
Top 3 Prospects:
 
1) D - Connor Low (TPE: 227) - By all accounts, Connor Low is the future of the New York Americans.  He has been talked about as a potential franchise defender and has really grown leaps and bounds as a professional talent this year.  Low is currently being talked about as one of the leading candidates for the top defenseman in the VHLM this season.  He has continued to improve and currently sits with 83 points, 106 hits and 113 blocked shots in 61 games.  New York fans should be excited about this prospect as he looks to make a huge impact next season.
 
2) G - Brick Wahl (TPE: 113) - Don't be confused by the TPE, Brick Wahl is perhaps the next great goaltender in the VHL.  The only reason he is behind Low at the moment is that Connor is farther along in development, but expect Wahl to eventually become one of the best goaltenders in the VHL.  Wahl has had a tremendous season in the VHLM this year as he has a .911 save percentage that leads the entire league, to go along with his other solid numbers.  Expect the young Canadian goalie to be in the discussion for the VHLM's top goaltender this season.
 
3) RW - Carter Deaton (TPE: 66) - Perhaps the biggest wildcard in the Americans system is Carter Deaton.  The third rounder has worked to surprise many who felt he would make no progress, and has done a pretty good job so far.  The winger currently has 65 points and 122 hits in just 61 games, and looks to finish above a point per game in just his second season in the VHLM.  While his potential may not be the highest, Deaton is looking to prove that he can become a VHL calibre player. 
 
Future Outlook:  This is where the Americans look best.  The New York Americans have two very bright prospects with high potential already on their way up next season, and have three first rounders to use in the upcoming VHL draft.  On top of that, they have another two firsts in the following draft.  This will give the Americans a great opportunity of acquiring some players to slot around Low and Wahl and give New York a talented core going forward.  The question that many want to know is how long will it be until New York can compete? Surprisingly, I don't think it is as far away as some feel it is.  With Wahl and Low coming up next year, along with potentially a few other first round picks, New York will likely make some moves going forward, to beef up their roster.  While perhaps the cup is a ways down the road, the playoffs might just not be that far away.
 
Cup Prediction: Season 41

S1: Award Controversy Sparks Debate
 
This entry will be a little different than how I usually write things.  Normally I recall the events as I see them and present a historical piece.  However, this will become an opinionated historical entry that will argue against the decision to name Petr Shirokov GMOTY in Season 1.  
 
With Season 1 ending, the Calgary Wranglers and the Vasteras Iron Eagles were the two squads that really separated themselves from the competition.  Calgary had an incredible 69-3 record in the regular season as they stomped opponents on a consistent basis.  Vasteras, on the other hand, would knock off the Wranglers in six games to win the VHL's first Continental Cup.  Therefore, with these two teams standing out so much, the Sam Pollock Memorial Trophy would have to be awarded to one of the two, right? Wrong.  For whatever reason, Petr Shirokov would receive the honours much to the surprise of the attending audience.  
 
Now, let me preface this by saying that I do respect the work Mr. Shirokov did as the General Manager of the Amstel Tigers.  He made some great moves and built a decent team.  However, his team finished under .500, and while they were in a playoff spot, they were a full thirty-nine points back of first place in their division.  Going further than that, they lost thirty-six more times than the Wranglers who were dominant throughout the season.  Perhaps it may have been voted that way due to Amstel not expecting to do much, but is it really that impressive to finish ahead of Stockholm, who only had fifty-one points?
 
In contrast, the work Brett Slobodzian did with the Wranglers is incredible.  The easiest argument is that they were stacked and because they lost in the finals, he doesn't deserve it.  The fact is, Amstel didn't even make the finals, and the Wranglers may go down with the best record in VHL history.  It is truly a record that may never be topped.  Why shouldn't Slobodzian receive more credit when he built a team full of superstars, creating a wrecking ball that hit anything in its path?  A 69-3 record should be recognized and it is insane that it didn't receive more credit.
 
Then there is the work of PensFan who controlled Vasteras.  While his team finished second in the campaign, they were far better than Amstel and were the only team within striking distance of Calgary.  This continued to prove true when they went on to defeat the Iron Eagles in six games to win the Continental Cup.  The Wranglers lost more times in that series than they did all season, proving just how good of a team PensFan built in Vasteras.
 
Whatever the reason for the decision, my argument is that it was the wrong one.  You reward the best in Season 1, and the Wranglers and Iron Eagles were clearly the best constructed teams.  The Wranglers had the best team all-around and showed it with an unimaginable performance, while the Iron Eagles knocked off that team to win the prize we all play for.  Meanwhile, the GM of the Tigers was able to construct a team who finished under .500 and was fourth in the league.