lidz

Top VHL Draft Prospects | Defensemen
 
   With the off-season finally coming to a close, and a new chapter of the VHL ready to be written, it's important not to overlook the future of our league. The top prospects for the draft should be paid attention to just as much as the VHL's superstars. I've compiled a list from my research on each player; weeding out the good from the great, and I've ended up with what I believe will be the cream of the crop for this season's draft.
 
   Overall, defensemen aren't the most abundant position in the draft. This could of course change, with many prospects currently holding out on the "M" for their various other ventures; presumably other hockey league's playoffs. But, for now, this position holds quality over quantity. With many teams in need of rock-solid defensemen for the future, we could be seeing some of these names called high up on the draft board in a few months.
 
AK92 Wit da Hoodie 
@hedgehog337
 
   In their 26 games last season (15 regular season, 11 playoffs), Hoodie showed incredible promise, racking up 44 blocked shots, 36 hits, and 24 points. This offseason, Hoodie has simply been putting his head down and working. The work paid off as in this pre-season Hoodie looks much more sound on their skates, seemingly gliding across the ice at times. One thing that's impressed me about their play is their ability to quickly work the counter-attack, leaving many teams flat-footed trying to defend. Hoodie can get the puck moving quickly but doesn't have the touch to consistently score yet. On defense, Hoodie has matured. They seem calmer, but can be guilty of relying on their skating ability to put them into positions they already should have. I think Hoodie has the most potential out of all of the defenseman prospects, but they don't have the "hockey skills" to make them legit yet. I could easily see Hoodie going in the first round, and pushing onto a VHLE roster in S84.
 
Malum Maellard 
@frescoelmo
 

  The 8th overall pick in the VHLM draft this year, Malum Maellard, spent the late parts of last season with Houston, where he played 16 regular-season games and 19 post-season games. In that time, he was quiet, mostly thanks to the limited ice-time he got while on the Bulls. He showed potential, though, as a defensive-defenseman, something becoming rarer and rarer in this current era of simulated hockey. That on its own should give Maellard some extra looks when the GMs are scouting, but nothing can beat Maellard's silky smooth puck skills paired with his impressive skating ability. When he has had the puck on his stick this pre-season, Maellard has looked like a veteran. His consistent training regiment proved to be great to help out those two things, but his positioning and poise on defense haven't seemed to improve much. Time will only tell how Maellard's off-season has paid off, and we have only seen a short sample of what he can do. Maellard should be another first-rounder, alongside AK92 Wit da Hoodie, and it will be interesting to see how this dying breed of defensemen can hold in the modern VHL.
 
 
Jimmy MacElroy 
@Xflexz
   
   MacElroy was a pretty late pick in the "M" draft, going 24th, and while it may seem like a stranger pick than the other two, let me explain. MacElroy has seemingly relit the flame for hockey since being drafted to the sin city, putting in many late nights at the Aces facilities, where he has been working on his defensive game. His incredibly short stint at Miami last season showed us how he can impact a team, and I'm convinced he can. He displayed his defensive prowess, stopping 14 shots, and leveling 9 victims in his 6 playoff games for the Marauders. All of this leads to my eyes being attached to his jersey in the pre-season. He's a player that knows his role on the team and executes it to the fullest of his abilities. He's always in the right spot to make the smart play but can't be the X-Factor on the team just yet. When he tries to lead the counter-attack, it's functional yet uninspiring. He needs to work on his puck skills a bit more if he wants to steal a spot in the first round, and he has plenty of time to do that.
 
 
Faith Hope Love 
@MMFLEX
 
   I'm back to the earlier parts of the draft for the final prospect, Faith Hope Love. Love played in 14 games for the Lynx last season, including 4 playoff games where they put together a dreadful stat line. Headlined by 16 hits and 5 points, they needed to train in the offseason. That's exactly what Love did. Over the offseason they exploded (not literally...) into a top defenseman prospect. They quickly knew the work they had been putting in was worthwhile when San Diego came calling with the 7th pick of the draft. I was able to catch a pre-season game of Love's, where I noticed a few great things about them. Their defensive ability, paired with their solid skating, created a monster. They were always in the right spot, and even when there was a mental error, Love was able to quickly react to that and get to where they needed to go with their skating. Their ability to man the counter-attack was all right, the puck skills are not terrible, but they aren't the bright spot of Love. Love is going to be a great 2-way defenseman in the future for any team that picks them, and I hope that they continue their growth throughout the season.
 
 
 
  In all, every player listed here has the talent to make it to the show, it's just a matter of the work they put in. I doubt that all 4 of these prospects end up becoming stars in the VHL, but these are the faces of this draft class for this position. One day MacElroy, Love, Maellard, and Hoodie will all be playing at a VHL level, while the next versions of them grind it out in the VHLM. 

Top VHL Draft Prospects | Defensemen
 
   With the off-season finally coming to a close, and a new chapter of the VHL ready to be written, it's important not to overlook the future of our league. The top prospects for the draft should be paid attention to just as much as the VHL's superstars. I've compiled a list from my research on each player; weeding out the good from the great, and I've ended up with what I believe will be the cream of the crop for this season's draft.
 
   Overall, defensemen aren't the most abundant position in the draft. This could of course change, with many prospects currently holding out on the "M" for their various other ventures; presumably other hockey league's playoffs. But, for now, this position holds quality over quantity. With many teams in need of rock-solid defensemen for the future, we could be seeing some of these names called high up on the draft board in a few months.
 
AK92 Wit da Hoodie 
@hedgehog337
 
   In their 26 games last season (15 regular season, 11 playoffs), Hoodie showed incredible promise, racking up 44 blocked shots, 36 hits, and 24 points. This offseason, Hoodie has simply been putting his head down and working. The work paid off as in this pre-season Hoodie looks much more sound on their skates, seemingly gliding across the ice at times. One thing that's impressed me about their play is their ability to quickly work the counter-attack, leaving many teams flat-footed trying to defend. Hoodie can get the puck moving quickly but doesn't have the touch to consistently score yet. On defense, Hoodie has matured. They seem calmer, but can be guilty of relying on their skating ability to put them into positions they already should have. I think Hoodie has the most potential out of all of the defenseman prospects, but they don't have the "hockey skills" to make them legit yet. I could easily see Hoodie going in the first round, and pushing onto a VHLE roster in S84.
 
Malum Maellard 
@frescoelmo
 

  The 8th overall pick in the VHLM draft this year, Malum Maellard, spent the late parts of last season with Houston, where he played 16 regular-season games and 19 post-season games. In that time, he was quiet, mostly thanks to the limited ice-time he got while on the Bulls. He showed potential, though, as a defensive-defenseman, something becoming rarer and rarer in this current era of simulated hockey. That on its own should give Maellard some extra looks when the GMs are scouting, but nothing can beat Maellard's silky smooth puck skills paired with his impressive skating ability. When he has had the puck on his stick this pre-season, Maellard has looked like a veteran. His consistent training regiment proved to be great to help out those two things, but his positioning and poise on defense haven't seemed to improve much. Time will only tell how Maellard's off-season has paid off, and we have only seen a short sample of what he can do. Maellard should be another first-rounder, alongside AK92 Wit da Hoodie, and it will be interesting to see how this dying breed of defensemen can hold in the modern VHL.
 
 
Jimmy MacElroy 
@Xflexz
   
   MacElroy was a pretty late pick in the "M" draft, going 24th, and while it may seem like a stranger pick than the other two, let me explain. MacElroy has seemingly relit the flame for hockey since being drafted to the sin city, putting in many late nights at the Aces facilities, where he has been working on his defensive game. His incredibly short stint at Miami last season showed us how he can impact a team, and I'm convinced he can. He displayed his defensive prowess, stopping 14 shots, and leveling 9 victims in his 6 playoff games for the Marauders. All of this leads to my eyes being attached to his jersey in the pre-season. He's a player that knows his role on the team and executes it to the fullest of his abilities. He's always in the right spot to make the smart play but can't be the X-Factor on the team just yet. When he tries to lead the counter-attack, it's functional yet uninspiring. He needs to work on his puck skills a bit more if he wants to steal a spot in the first round, and he has plenty of time to do that.
 
 
Faith Hope Love 
@MMFLEX
 
   I'm back to the earlier parts of the draft for the final prospect, Faith Hope Love. Love played in 14 games for the Lynx last season, including 4 playoff games where they put together a dreadful stat line. Headlined by 16 hits and 5 points, they needed to train in the offseason. That's exactly what Love did. Over the offseason they exploded (not literally...) into a top defenseman prospect. They quickly knew the work they had been putting in was worthwhile when San Diego came calling with the 7th pick of the draft. I was able to catch a pre-season game of Love's, where I noticed a few great things about them. Their defensive ability, paired with their solid skating, created a monster. They were always in the right spot, and even when there was a mental error, Love was able to quickly react to that and get to where they needed to go with their skating. Their ability to man the counter-attack was all right, the puck skills are not terrible, but they aren't the bright spot of Love. Love is going to be a great 2-way defenseman in the future for any team that picks them, and I hope that they continue their growth throughout the season.
 
 
 
  In all, every player listed here has the talent to make it to the show, it's just a matter of the work they put in. I doubt that all 4 of these prospects end up becoming stars in the VHL, but these are the faces of this draft class for this position. One day MacElroy, Love, Maellard, and Hoodie will all be playing at a VHL level, while the next versions of them grind it out in the VHLM. 

Top VHL Draft Prospects | Defensemen
 
   With the off-season finally coming to a close, and a new chapter of the VHL ready to be written, it's important not to overlook the future of our league. The top prospects for the draft should be paid attention to just as much as the VHL's superstars. I've compiled a list from my research on each player; weeding out the good from the great, and I've ended up with what I believe will be the cream of the crop for this season's draft.
 
   Overall, defensemen aren't the most abundant position in the draft. This could of course change, with many prospects currently holding out on the "M" for their various other ventures; presumably other hockey league's playoffs. But, for now, this position holds quality over quantity. With many teams in need of rock-solid defensemen for the future, we could be seeing some of these names called high up on the draft board in a few months.
 
AK92 Wit da Hoodie 
@hedgehog337
 
   In their 26 games last season (15 regular season, 11 playoffs), Hoodie showed incredible promise, racking up 44 blocked shots, 36 hits, and 24 points. This offseason, Hoodie has simply been putting his head down and working. The work paid off as in this pre-season Hoodie looks much more sound on their skates, seemingly gliding across the ice at times. One thing that's impressed me about their play is their ability to quickly work the counter-attack, leaving many teams flat-footed trying to defend. Hoodie can get the puck moving quickly but doesn't have the touch to consistently score yet. On defense, Hoodie has matured. They seem calmer, but can be guilty of relying on their skating ability to put them into positions they already should have. I think Hoodie has the most potential out of all of the defenseman prospects, but they don't have the "hockey skills" to make them legit yet. I could easily see Hoodie going in the first round, and pushing onto a VHLE roster in S84.
 
Malum Maellard 
@frescoelmo
 

  The 8th overall pick in the VHLM draft this year, Malum Maellard, spent the late parts of last season with Houston, where he played 16 regular-season games and 19 post-season games. In that time, he was quiet, mostly thanks to the limited ice-time he got while on the Bulls. He showed potential, though, as a defensive-defenseman, something becoming rarer and rarer in this current era of simulated hockey. That on its own should give Maellard some extra looks when the GMs are scouting, but nothing can beat Maellard's silky smooth puck skills paired with his impressive skating ability. When he has had the puck on his stick this pre-season, Maellard has looked like a veteran. His consistent training regiment proved to be great to help out those two things, but his positioning and poise on defense haven't seemed to improve much. Time will only tell how Maellard's off-season has paid off, and we have only seen a short sample of what he can do. Maellard should be another first-rounder, alongside AK92 Wit da Hoodie, and it will be interesting to see how this dying breed of defensemen can hold in the modern VHL.
 
 
Jimmy MacElroy 
@Xflexz
   
   MacElroy was a pretty late pick in the "M" draft, going 24th, and while it may seem like a stranger pick than the other two, let me explain. MacElroy has seemingly relit the flame for hockey since being drafted to the sin city, putting in many late nights at the Aces facilities, where he has been working on his defensive game. His incredibly short stint at Miami last season showed us how he can impact a team, and I'm convinced he can. He displayed his defensive prowess, stopping 14 shots, and leveling 9 victims in his 6 playoff games for the Marauders. All of this leads to my eyes being attached to his jersey in the pre-season. He's a player that knows his role on the team and executes it to the fullest of his abilities. He's always in the right spot to make the smart play but can't be the X-Factor on the team just yet. When he tries to lead the counter-attack, it's functional yet uninspiring. He needs to work on his puck skills a bit more if he wants to steal a spot in the first round, and he has plenty of time to do that.
 
 
Faith Hope Love 
@MMFLEX
 
   I'm back to the earlier parts of the draft for the final prospect, Faith Hope Love. Love played in 14 games for the Lynx last season, including 4 playoff games where they put together a dreadful stat line. Headlined by 16 hits and 5 points, they needed to train in the offseason. That's exactly what Love did. Over the offseason they exploded (not literally...) into a top defenseman prospect. They quickly knew the work they had been putting in was worthwhile when San Diego came calling with the 7th pick of the draft. I was able to catch a pre-season game of Love's, where I noticed a few great things about them. Their defensive ability, paired with their solid skating, created a monster. They were always in the right spot, and even when there was a mental error, Love was able to quickly react to that and get to where they needed to go with their skating. Their ability to man the counter-attack was all right, the puck skills are not terrible, but they aren't the bright spot of Love. Love is going to be a great 2-way defenseman in the future for any team that picks them, and I hope that they continue their growth throughout the season.
 
 
 
  In all, every player listed here has the talent to make it to the show, it's just a matter of the work they put in. I doubt that all 4 of these prospects end up becoming stars in the VHL, but these are the faces of this draft class for this position. One day MacElroy, Love, Maellard, and Hoodie will all be playing at a VHL level, while the next versions of them grind it out in the VHLM. 

Top VHL Draft Prospects | Defensemen
 
   With the off-season finally coming to a close, and a new chapter of the VHL ready to be written, it's important not to overlook the future of our league. The top prospects for the draft should be paid attention to just as much as the VHL's superstars. I've compiled a list from my research on each player; weeding out the good from the great, and I've ended up with what I believe will be the cream of the crop for this season's draft.
 
   Overall, defensemen aren't the most abundant position in the draft. This could of course change, with many prospects currently holding out on the "M" for their various other ventures; presumably other hockey league's playoffs. But, for now, this position holds quality over quantity. With many teams in need of rock-solid defensemen for the future, we could be seeing some of these names called high up on the draft board in a few months.
 
AK92 Wit da Hoodie 
@hedgehog337
 
   In their 26 games last season (15 regular season, 11 playoffs), Hoodie showed incredible promise, racking up 44 blocked shots, 36 hits, and 24 points. This offseason, Hoodie has simply been putting his head down and working. The work paid off as in this pre-season Hoodie looks much more sound on their skates, seemingly gliding across the ice at times. One thing that's impressed me about their play is their ability to quickly work the counter-attack, leaving many teams flat-footed trying to defend. Hoodie can get the puck moving quickly but doesn't have the touch to consistently score yet. On defense, Hoodie has matured. They seem calmer, but can be guilty of relying on their skating ability to put them into positions they already should have. I think Hoodie has the most potential out of all of the defenseman prospects, but they don't have the "hockey skills" to make them legit yet. I could easily see Hoodie going in the first round, and pushing onto a VHLE roster in S84.
 
Malum Maellard 
@frescoelmo
 

  The 8th overall pick in the VHLM draft this year, Malum Maellard, spent the late parts of last season with Houston, where he played 16 regular-season games and 19 post-season games. In that time, he was quiet, mostly thanks to the limited ice-time he got while on the Bulls. He showed potential, though, as a defensive-defenseman, something becoming rarer and rarer in this current era of simulated hockey. That on its own should give Maellard some extra looks when the GMs are scouting, but nothing can beat Maellard's silky smooth puck skills paired with his impressive skating ability. When he has had the puck on his stick this pre-season, Maellard has looked like a veteran. His consistent training regiment proved to be great to help out those two things, but his positioning and poise on defense haven't seemed to improve much. Time will only tell how Maellard's off-season has paid off, and we have only seen a short sample of what he can do. Maellard should be another first-rounder, alongside AK92 Wit da Hoodie, and it will be interesting to see how this dying breed of defensemen can hold in the modern VHL.
 
 
Jimmy MacElroy 
@Xflexz
   
   MacElroy was a pretty late pick in the "M" draft, going 24th, and while it may seem like a stranger pick than the other two, let me explain. MacElroy has seemingly relit the flame for hockey since being drafted to the sin city, putting in many late nights at the Aces facilities, where he has been working on his defensive game. His incredibly short stint at Miami last season showed us how he can impact a team, and I'm convinced he can. He displayed his defensive prowess, stopping 14 shots, and leveling 9 victims in his 6 playoff games for the Marauders. All of this leads to my eyes being attached to his jersey in the pre-season. He's a player that knows his role on the team and executes it to the fullest of his abilities. He's always in the right spot to make the smart play but can't be the X-Factor on the team just yet. When he tries to lead the counter-attack, it's functional yet uninspiring. He needs to work on his puck skills a bit more if he wants to steal a spot in the first round, and he has plenty of time to do that.
 
 
Faith Hope Love 
@MMFLEX
 
   I'm back to the earlier parts of the draft for the final prospect, Faith Hope Love. Love played in 14 games for the Lynx last season, including 4 playoff games where they put together a dreadful stat line. Headlined by 16 hits and 5 points, they needed to train in the offseason. That's exactly what Love did. Over the offseason they exploded (not literally...) into a top defenseman prospect. They quickly knew the work they had been putting in was worthwhile when San Diego came calling with the 7th pick of the draft. I was able to catch a pre-season game of Love's, where I noticed a few great things about them. Their defensive ability, paired with their solid skating, created a monster. They were always in the right spot, and even when there was a mental error, Love was able to quickly react to that and get to where they needed to go with their skating. Their ability to man the counter-attack was all right, the puck skills are not terrible, but they aren't the bright spot of Love. Love is going to be a great 2-way defenseman in the future for any team that picks them, and I hope that they continue their growth throughout the season.
 
 
 
  In all, every player listed here has the talent to make it to the show, it's just a matter of the work they put in. I doubt that all 4 of these prospects end up becoming stars in the VHL, but these are the faces of this draft class for this position. One day MacElroy, Love, Maellard, and Hoodie will all be playing at a VHL level, while the next versions of them grind it out in the VHLM. 

Thanks!  Love the write up ❤️

Top VHL Draft Prospects | Defensemen
 
   With the off-season finally coming to a close, and a new chapter of the VHL ready to be written, it's important not to overlook the future of our league. The top prospects for the draft should be paid attention to just as much as the VHL's superstars. I've compiled a list from my research on each player; weeding out the good from the great, and I've ended up with what I believe will be the cream of the crop for this season's draft.
 
   Overall, defensemen aren't the most abundant position in the draft. This could of course change, with many prospects currently holding out on the "M" for their various other ventures; presumably other hockey league's playoffs. But, for now, this position holds quality over quantity. With many teams in need of rock-solid defensemen for the future, we could be seeing some of these names called high up on the draft board in a few months.
 
AK92 Wit da Hoodie 
@hedgehog337
 
   In their 26 games last season (15 regular season, 11 playoffs), Hoodie showed incredible promise, racking up 44 blocked shots, 36 hits, and 24 points. This offseason, Hoodie has simply been putting his head down and working. The work paid off as in this pre-season Hoodie looks much more sound on their skates, seemingly gliding across the ice at times. One thing that's impressed me about their play is their ability to quickly work the counter-attack, leaving many teams flat-footed trying to defend. Hoodie can get the puck moving quickly but doesn't have the touch to consistently score yet. On defense, Hoodie has matured. They seem calmer, but can be guilty of relying on their skating ability to put them into positions they already should have. I think Hoodie has the most potential out of all of the defenseman prospects, but they don't have the "hockey skills" to make them legit yet. I could easily see Hoodie going in the first round, and pushing onto a VHLE roster in S84.
 
Malum Maellard 
@frescoelmo
 

  The 8th overall pick in the VHLM draft this year, Malum Maellard, spent the late parts of last season with Houston, where he played 16 regular-season games and 19 post-season games. In that time, he was quiet, mostly thanks to the limited ice-time he got while on the Bulls. He showed potential, though, as a defensive-defenseman, something becoming rarer and rarer in this current era of simulated hockey. That on its own should give Maellard some extra looks when the GMs are scouting, but nothing can beat Maellard's silky smooth puck skills paired with his impressive skating ability. When he has had the puck on his stick this pre-season, Maellard has looked like a veteran. His consistent training regiment proved to be great to help out those two things, but his positioning and poise on defense haven't seemed to improve much. Time will only tell how Maellard's off-season has paid off, and we have only seen a short sample of what he can do. Maellard should be another first-rounder, alongside AK92 Wit da Hoodie, and it will be interesting to see how this dying breed of defensemen can hold in the modern VHL.
 
 
Jimmy MacElroy 
@Xflexz
   
   MacElroy was a pretty late pick in the "M" draft, going 24th, and while it may seem like a stranger pick than the other two, let me explain. MacElroy has seemingly relit the flame for hockey since being drafted to the sin city, putting in many late nights at the Aces facilities, where he has been working on his defensive game. His incredibly short stint at Miami last season showed us how he can impact a team, and I'm convinced he can. He displayed his defensive prowess, stopping 14 shots, and leveling 9 victims in his 6 playoff games for the Marauders. All of this leads to my eyes being attached to his jersey in the pre-season. He's a player that knows his role on the team and executes it to the fullest of his abilities. He's always in the right spot to make the smart play but can't be the X-Factor on the team just yet. When he tries to lead the counter-attack, it's functional yet uninspiring. He needs to work on his puck skills a bit more if he wants to steal a spot in the first round, and he has plenty of time to do that.
 
 
Faith Hope Love 
@MMFLEX
 
   I'm back to the earlier parts of the draft for the final prospect, Faith Hope Love. Love played in 14 games for the Lynx last season, including 4 playoff games where they put together a dreadful stat line. Headlined by 16 hits and 5 points, they needed to train in the offseason. That's exactly what Love did. Over the offseason they exploded (not literally...) into a top defenseman prospect. They quickly knew the work they had been putting in was worthwhile when San Diego came calling with the 7th pick of the draft. I was able to catch a pre-season game of Love's, where I noticed a few great things about them. Their defensive ability, paired with their solid skating, created a monster. They were always in the right spot, and even when there was a mental error, Love was able to quickly react to that and get to where they needed to go with their skating. Their ability to man the counter-attack was all right, the puck skills are not terrible, but they aren't the bright spot of Love. Love is going to be a great 2-way defenseman in the future for any team that picks them, and I hope that they continue their growth throughout the season.
 
 
 
  In all, every player listed here has the talent to make it to the show, it's just a matter of the work they put in. I doubt that all 4 of these prospects end up becoming stars in the VHL, but these are the faces of this draft class for this position. One day MacElroy, Love, Maellard, and Hoodie will all be playing at a VHL level, while the next versions of them grind it out in the VHLM. 

Top VHL Draft Prospects | Defensemen
 
   With the off-season finally coming to a close, and a new chapter of the VHL ready to be written, it's important not to overlook the future of our league. The top prospects for the draft should be paid attention to just as much as the VHL's superstars. I've compiled a list from my research on each player; weeding out the good from the great, and I've ended up with what I believe will be the cream of the crop for this season's draft.
 
   Overall, defensemen aren't the most abundant position in the draft. This could of course change, with many prospects currently holding out on the "M" for their various other ventures; presumably other hockey league's playoffs. But, for now, this position holds quality over quantity. With many teams in need of rock-solid defensemen for the future, we could be seeing some of these names called high up on the draft board in a few months.
 
AK92 Wit da Hoodie 
@hedgehog337
 
   In their 26 games last season (15 regular season, 11 playoffs), Hoodie showed incredible promise, racking up 44 blocked shots, 36 hits, and 24 points. This offseason, Hoodie has simply been putting his head down and working. The work paid off as in this pre-season Hoodie looks much more sound on their skates, seemingly gliding across the ice at times. One thing that's impressed me about their play is their ability to quickly work the counter-attack, leaving many teams flat-footed trying to defend. Hoodie can get the puck moving quickly but doesn't have the touch to consistently score yet. On defense, Hoodie has matured. They seem calmer, but can be guilty of relying on their skating ability to put them into positions they already should have. I think Hoodie has the most potential out of all of the defenseman prospects, but they don't have the "hockey skills" to make them legit yet. I could easily see Hoodie going in the first round, and pushing onto a VHLE roster in S84.
 
Malum Maellard 
@frescoelmo
 

  The 8th overall pick in the VHLM draft this year, Malum Maellard, spent the late parts of last season with Houston, where he played 16 regular-season games and 19 post-season games. In that time, he was quiet, mostly thanks to the limited ice-time he got while on the Bulls. He showed potential, though, as a defensive-defenseman, something becoming rarer and rarer in this current era of simulated hockey. That on its own should give Maellard some extra looks when the GMs are scouting, but nothing can beat Maellard's silky smooth puck skills paired with his impressive skating ability. When he has had the puck on his stick this pre-season, Maellard has looked like a veteran. His consistent training regiment proved to be great to help out those two things, but his positioning and poise on defense haven't seemed to improve much. Time will only tell how Maellard's off-season has paid off, and we have only seen a short sample of what he can do. Maellard should be another first-rounder, alongside AK92 Wit da Hoodie, and it will be interesting to see how this dying breed of defensemen can hold in the modern VHL.
 
 
Jimmy MacElroy 
@Xflexz
   
   MacElroy was a pretty late pick in the "M" draft, going 24th, and while it may seem like a stranger pick than the other two, let me explain. MacElroy has seemingly relit the flame for hockey since being drafted to the sin city, putting in many late nights at the Aces facilities, where he has been working on his defensive game. His incredibly short stint at Miami last season showed us how he can impact a team, and I'm convinced he can. He displayed his defensive prowess, stopping 14 shots, and leveling 9 victims in his 6 playoff games for the Marauders. All of this leads to my eyes being attached to his jersey in the pre-season. He's a player that knows his role on the team and executes it to the fullest of his abilities. He's always in the right spot to make the smart play but can't be the X-Factor on the team just yet. When he tries to lead the counter-attack, it's functional yet uninspiring. He needs to work on his puck skills a bit more if he wants to steal a spot in the first round, and he has plenty of time to do that.
 
 
Faith Hope Love 
@MMFLEX
 
   I'm back to the earlier parts of the draft for the final prospect, Faith Hope Love. Love played in 14 games for the Lynx last season, including 4 playoff games where they put together a dreadful stat line. Headlined by 16 hits and 5 points, they needed to train in the offseason. That's exactly what Love did. Over the offseason they exploded (not literally...) into a top defenseman prospect. They quickly knew the work they had been putting in was worthwhile when San Diego came calling with the 7th pick of the draft. I was able to catch a pre-season game of Love's, where I noticed a few great things about them. Their defensive ability, paired with their solid skating, created a monster. They were always in the right spot, and even when there was a mental error, Love was able to quickly react to that and get to where they needed to go with their skating. Their ability to man the counter-attack was all right, the puck skills are not terrible, but they aren't the bright spot of Love. Love is going to be a great 2-way defenseman in the future for any team that picks them, and I hope that they continue their growth throughout the season.
 
 
 
  In all, every player listed here has the talent to make it to the show, it's just a matter of the work they put in. I doubt that all 4 of these prospects end up becoming stars in the VHL, but these are the faces of this draft class for this position. One day MacElroy, Love, Maellard, and Hoodie will all be playing at a VHL level, while the next versions of them grind it out in the VHLM. 

1. New AGM Speaking: What do you think of the hire? 
Glad to finally have an AGM!
2. What are your expectations for yourself this season?
Not really expecting to do that great, but I'm hoping I'm wrong!
3. How's it like living in Rome? 
Its a big change from Japan but I don't hate it.
4. With a few games being played in the pre-season so far, how has your new build turned out?
I think its alright so far.
5. What's something you want to work on this season?
Scoring, Scoring, Scoring!!!!
6. If you could instantly learn a skill, what would it be?                                                                                                                           Speaking every language.

Welcome everyone,
 
A couple of weeks ago, the latest GM of the Gladiators, @InstantRockstar, left Rome and I was name the new GM a couple of days after. I decided to wait before naming a new AGM, because I wanted to learn and be sure that I was confortable with everything new. Last week, I started to search for an AGM and 9 persons reached out to me for the job. The decision was really not easy, but I had to make a decison and @lidzwas the obvious choice. Indeed, I did my research and lidz is very active on discord AND on the forum. Lidz officialy joined the locker room today and I hope he will be a big part of it as of right now. The season is starting in a couple of days and a new era of the Rome Gladiators at the moment. I am glad to be a part of it and I hope that it will last for a long time.
 
Thanks everyone, see you next week and let's go Gladiators!!!

Let's goo!! Great day in VHL for me

Let's goo!! Great day in VHL for me

Let's goo!!! Glad to be a part of the org!!

1. Just wait for the S83 draft class to come carry the team! In actuality, I think the championship 100% depends on which team uses the hybrid attributes the best. As long as we can get the best value with the TPE we have.
2. Uhhh, love you? Sadly wasn't in this organization when they were, so I've got nothing to say.
3. Personally I'm looking forward to not playing with them because of my inability to crack the VHL roster. But, I'm sure that those are the additions that will get us over the hump.
4. I am enjoying the break, hopefully I'll get enough TPE by the end of it to crack Oslo's roster for this season.
5. Didn't get picked for WJC, so I've sadly not been able to represent my country this offseason. In turn, that really didn't motivate me to follow WJC or the regular World Cup.
6. I think my build is pretty solid, especially looking at the other players. I've gone for the most meta approach I can, but I have given up on a bit of defense to score more points.

Hey everyone! Do you ever talk to yourself about things? Probably not, but I do it all the time. Then I wonder why I haven't made an article on the VHL website about it for some sweet, sweet TPE. 
Here are just a few of my thoughts on hybrid attributes.
 
 

I wonder why in the build guidebook it says the most important stat as a defensive defenseman is Defensive Coverage instead of Poke Checking. It seems bizarre; because PC increases your regular STHS defense stat more than DC. Strength isn't an eye-popping stat, but I'm willing to have strength instead of skating if it lets my player pass/shoot more.
 
Why doesn't fighting increase your strength? In the non-simulated world, someone who's a better fighter should be stronger than someone worse.
 
Why does stick handling include skating? I haven't played much ice hockey in my lifetime, but I don't think having better control of the puck makes you a faster skater. I get that this one probably has something to do with the meta, as PH is an important stat to grow as a defenseman and a forward. 
 
 

That's all for this week's 2 TPE task! Feel free to flame me in the replies!

I apply

1. I've got to find the perfect bakery for a nice breakfast. Nothing beats a nice warm bagel.
2. Playing with my stick upside-down! The knob can make for a deadly slapshot sometimes...
3. Training harder than ever was my #1 priority this offseason. I made so much progress, and I'm hoping to make it to the VHL in a season or two.
4. Always went for a classic mango smoothie, and a plain vanilla protein shake. Nothing beats it!
5. Tough one, I personally think you should go with a figure named "Thunder", which would have a face similar to the logo, but a cloud shaped body.
6. I think my teammates will appreciate my consistency, last season I held a PPG or higher for the entire year!

I apply

Hey everyone! Do you ever talk to yourself about things? Probably not, but I do it all the time. Then I wonder why I haven't made an article on the VHL website about it for some sweet, sweet TPE. 
Here are just a few of my thoughts on hybrid attributes.
 
 

I wonder why in the build guidebook it says the most important stat as a defensive defenseman is Defensive Coverage instead of Poke Checking. It seems bizarre; because PC increases your regular STHS defense stat more than DC. Strength isn't an eye-popping stat, but I'm willing to have strength instead of skating if it lets my player pass/shoot more.
 
Why doesn't fighting increase your strength? In the non-simulated world, someone who's a better fighter should be stronger than someone worse.
 
Why does stick handling include skating? I haven't played much ice hockey in my lifetime, but I don't think having better control of the puck makes you a faster skater. I get that this one probably has something to do with the meta, as PH is an important stat to grow as a defenseman and a forward. 
 
 

That's all for this week's 2 TPE task! Feel free to flame me in the replies!

im so famous

I apply!

I apply!

Well this is all new to me.  I have never joined something like this.  Don't really know what I am doing.  Just got recruited by someone I know who has been in the league for a couple years.  Have no clue what I am doing but was told that I should write 500 words to get some TPE.  Honestly don't even really know what TPE is but I know that I want it.   As I tend to be obsessive about games I expect that I will be taking over shortly.  So expect that i will be the best writer in the league, I will gather the most TPE and will build my character to be the best.  As I like hockey I also expect that i will try to build this character to be the strongest it can be.  The plan is to be a high offense winger who can equally score and set up teammates.  If that doesn't work out I will focus on becoming the leader in penalty minutes. Have to be good at something or there is no point
 
So I have been told that at this point i am to expect that people will reach out and that i will try to get a contract for a team.  At this point 2 people have reached out, not sure exactly what i need to do with them but i will read what they have to say and decide what i am going to do.  All i know is that i want to get in and start showing what Molly the Cat can do.  Now that i have gotten all this out I am going to start discussing things from the player perspective so you can get to know Molly the Cat.
 
Hey VHL, Molly the Cat here.  Looking forward to being picked up by a team shortly and getting some great playing time.  To my future teammates, look forward to getting on the ice and showing what I can do.  Molly the cat has been working hard to grow as a player.  I have a whole career ahead of me.  Hockey is my life,  and i plan on giving it my all, taking this league by storm and winning many awards.  The other thing you will learn is that I am more than just talk, I will show you with my stats what i can do.  So you should expect shortly that you will see my first goal, followed by my first hat trick.  Yes i said it, i am going to be the offensive powerhouse taking the VHL to new scoring heights.
 
Heard that i missed the draft, those of you who got picked count yourself lucky, if i was around you may not have been chosen.  But I get free agency, the frenzy has already begun.  (I actually expect it is because some teams are desperate for anything with a pulse) Within the next couple days I am going to choose a team that can give me top lines minutes, allow me to play my heart out and become the generational talent that i am meant to be.  
 
So this is me finishing this first posting.  Look forward to my future reviews of my games, reviews of the league and reviews of the other teams.
 
550 words, claiming week of April 17 (was told to write this)

Oslo is a team which could seriously benefit from a high quality draft (or two) to build some momentum. In the S83 VHLE Entry Draft, the Storm made three selections in the second round, three in the fourth round, and one pick each in rounds 5, 6, and 7.
 
The first pick of the second round, and the ninth pick overall was Jake Thunder @Thunder and I suspect the young defenseman will prove to be a valuable asset in the long term. His greatest strengths are in his defensive skills: poke checking and defensive coverage are his main priority. It would be wrong to paint Thunder into a corner as a defender though, because he’s a truly versatile player, strong on the skates and able to complete a solid tape-to-tape pass.
 
The next pick for Oslo was 11th overall, Left Winger Pete Mitchell @Crstats23 who through luck or coincidence also went 11th overall in the VHL draft. Mitchell is a highly skilled forward, with a focus on skating - his stickhandling and deking skills are surpassed only by his bomb of a slapper.
 
The Storm selected Augustus Kennedy @InstantRockstar with the final pick of the second round. I personally believe that it’s never too soon to pick a goalie, and Kennedy will be a reliable presence in front of the net. Kennedy is the last of the season 83 draftees to qualify for VHLE play this season.

Remember when I said it’s never too soon to pick a goalie? I meant it. Round four isn’t “soon” by normal standards, but when we’re sorting out the prospects I think this is a very respectable place for the one and only Sam Tombstone @samthemancub to join the ranks. Oslo’s picks here will solidify our future strength in the blue paint.
 
Oh. My. Goodness. I think we’re all going to look back on this pick in a few seasons and laugh A LOT. At 28th overall, Oslo selected Defenseman Nicholas Blue @lidz , who put up a ridiculous 75 points over 72 games last season with Miami. After some great draft media last week, will we see Nicholas Blue turn into a rising star prospect for the Storm? Spoiler alert: yes.
 
Pick 29 of the draft was also owned by Oslo, and the Storm opted to select Right Winger Jeremy Davidson @jpdavidson8787 to add to the prospect pool. Davidson is positioning himself as a coach’s ideal penalty killing winger: great hockey IQ both offensively and defensively with a strong stick. Not much of a shooting winger as of yet, so Davidson will slot in perfectly on a line with an aggressive scoring center.
 
In round five, the Storm picked Defenseman Hunor Solyom @solyom who played most of last season with the Mexico City Kings. Solyom is a balanced two-way defenseman. His priorities are where they should be, with an emphasis on the defensive side of the puck, but he’s also packing a wrister and a slap shot that will surprise any goalie that doesn’t respect them.
 
Round six was another blessing for Oslo, with Center Akio Suzuki @Erik falling into our reach. Suzuki played 38 games with the Hounds last season and will continue to refine his skills with them before making his way to Europe to play for the Storm. This dynamic scoring center may be the ideal complement to the generous assists of Jeremy Davidson. Regardless of who Suzuki is sharing a line with, we can be sure that the defense will be scrambling to keep up.
 
Last but not least we have Center Caius Nash @Boltic who played alongside sixth round pick Akio Suzuki last season in Mississauga. In terms of individual talents, they couldn’t be more different. Nash is a defense-first center who is a playmaker above all else. It’s not the shot that you have to fear from Nash, it’s the long stretch pass to a waiting winger during a line change. Or maybe a turnover at center ice to cause an odd-man rush. It’s still early to predict what kind of intellectual play Nash will bring to Oslo, but our hopes are very high.
 
Welcome to the team everyone, I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you better! Thanks for drafting us a strong batch of winners, @JB123!
 

Napoleon Dynamite has been released by the Saskatoon Wild.

Pierre Emile Bouchard has been released by the Saskatoon Wild.