sadie

VSN Presents: S93 Weekly Predictions
 
After what seems like an extremely long off season; but one must not forget the importance of the off season as the general managers work to improve the teams or shape the future for the teams moving forward; either through Free agency, draft or trade. The biggest question on the minds of most will be “has our team improved enough to be contenders for the Continental cup at the end of the season. Well, I am not here for that I am here to try to predict the weekly standing and if your team is going to make big early season push or flop out of the gate like a dead fish looking for water. Either way let get into this week’s Predictions:
 
 
 

 
 
 
1.    
As one of the stronger teams in the conference after a solid off season Jebediah Big Ol Doinks in Amish @hylands via a trade with Malmo Nighthawks only strengthening the chances of taking the top spot in the North American conference this season. New York starts the season as the strong team in the conference with challenges coming from Toronto Legion and defending champions D.C. Dragons. New York plays both those teams twice this week but I feel at this time New York is slightly ahead of D.C. Dragons and I have them actually finish equal with Toronto by the end of the week but gave them the tie break via overall TPE strength.
 
 
2.    
Similar to New York, Toronto Legion will make up what I think should be a two-way race for the top of the conference but it didn`t look that way at points in the off-season until Toronto secured their defensive core by trading for Mason Rice @Sawyer13 from HC Davos Dynamo. While Toronto are one of the best two teams in the conference to start the season, it is unlikely to remain that way as I think other teams are bound to catch them as the season progresses. Add in being right against the salary cap and concerns around the defensive core. Similar schedule as New York means a similar result but the games between Toronto and D.C. will be interesting as I think they could be closer than I am current predicting.
 
 
3.    
Next, we have a group of these teams Calgary Wranglers, D.C. Dragons and the Vancouver Wolves that really should battle most of the season over third place and the wildcard placements. Vancouver lands here at third thanks in part to an busy off-season that sees Vancouver add veteran players Left Alone @okochastar, Sunglasses Joyo @JetsGoalie101, Larry Abass Jr @RileyL and Jens Lekman @Bobcat from Moscow and Los Angeles. Add in the addition of six rookies and Vancouver might really grow up this list this season. Easy start to the season should see Vancouver the top of these three teams at the end of the week and might be closer to Toronto depending on how the two game series between Toronto and D.C. goes.
 
 
4.    
Again, since it is early days, I have the next two teams tied in my predictions so I am giving the tie breaker of defending Champions to the Dragons this week. It would seem on paper a quiet off season but D.C Dragons made a controversial move just before the trade deadline when they flipped a S94 DCD 1st to Moscow for S93 VAN 2nd; having most question the trade. In the end it was a calculated risk reaching into the draft to grab goaltender Herald Benson @Benson and should secure the teams future in net; so doesn`t look as bad as when the trade was first made. D.C while the defending champions have question about the defensive side of the team with an below league average defense and middle of the pack goaltender. The Dragons are still a very good team and should at least stay in playoff conversation. This week the Dragons fall victim of the top two teams with a two game set against Toronto and New York; while I have them also in tough against Vancouver, Calgary and Warsaw.
 
 
5.    
Calgary Wranglers had one of the most interesting and likely stressful off seasons. Calgary started the off season needing to clear salary cap to sign star goaltender Merome Dilson @MexicanCow123to a new contract. Calgary managed to clear the space when they shipped Sadie St-Louis @sadie to Seattle Bears for a few picks but than shocked many by completing other trades shipping out Oreo McFleury @JB123, Skor McFleury @Alex and Rip Wheeler @ScottyP while bring back Moritz Stauffer @GoodLeftUndone and Kyle Toms @Ktoms22 making the team slightly younger but also left the team scrambling to find replacement forwards trading for Adam Rage @MrMom & Thor Odinson @GoalPlays. Without these moves Calgary might have struggled this season but fifth is the best that the Wranglers can salvage this week due to a fairly tough schedule; which should determine the pecking order in the North American Conference play six of the seven team in the conference, add in Moscow and I have them with a rather split record around five hundred.
 
 
6.    
What to say about the Bears? Made moves to improve their roster with additions of Henry Eagles @Greg_Di and Tullemore Dew @Spade18 via free agency and brought in depth scoring option via trade with Calgary in Oreo McFleury @JB123 and Sadie St-Louis @sadie. While I don`t have Seattle as playoff team come season end, I have them like a lurking animal at the edge of the camp fire ready to maul you should you make a mistake as the Bears are close enough to the three teams ahead to be a rather pain in the arse and could just sneak into a wildcard spot. Most likely team that Seattle will be mauling or at least harassing this season will be their pacific coast rivals Vancouver Wolves. The Bears should be just below five hundred this week but that could swing in their favor should the up-end any of the three teams above them in Calgary, Vancouver or D.C. Seattle will also have a good understanding where they stand in the North American conference as they play all team in the conference in the first week.
 
 
7.    
Chicago is a sort of weird team where they are not good enough to really contend for a play-off spot but not really bad enough to be fighting for a top pick either. Rather Chicago feels stuck but have improved by adding Babay Shrimp @Blazzer via UFA and Karol Lamb @dlamb joins the roster for their rookie season. Minor trade seeing Chicago ship out Michael Shotter @TacocaT9 to Helsinki. Chicago gets a bit of break this week as Los Angeles, HC Davos and a huge game against Seattle should seem them maybe climb higher than I am currently projecting them.
 
 
8.    
How the night sky must be a lite with beautiful shooting stars this season as the Stars have fallen!! If I am correct after the first week of last season the Stars hadn`t lost a game but I am predicting a much uglier fate for the team this season as I have them really going winless to start the first ten games of the season but it not about wins this season is it? Made moves in the off season to collect prospect and picks while selling off remaining assets as Eric Queefson @twists, Sunglasses Joyo @JetsGoalie101, Larry Abass Jr @RileyL and Jens Lekman @Bobcat. First season of rebuild always looks worse than it really is.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
1.    
Moscow might not be the best team in the European conference but they should lead the conference after the first week due to a fairly easy schedule with the toughest game coming from London United, which could really go either way. Big series that could put Prague Phantom behind the Eight-ball early in the season with a three-game set and another two against Riga Reign are the most notable games of the week. Moscow surprised a lot of the league completing a trade to bring in last season ROY Grimgor Ironhide @FrostBeard from Helsinki Titans for ROY prospect Adi Dassler @BOOM; which should replace Dog Woodmaple @dogwoodmaple nicely as the forward retired at the end of last season. Moscow also moved on from aging forward Left Alone @okochastarto make room for Grimgor Ironhide @FrostBeard and Rookie George Richmond @badcolethetitan. This team should continue to improve quickly with a young developing roster.
 
 
2.    
London United have a much more difficult schedule with four swing games two against Malmo Nighthawks, a game each against Moscow Menace and Helsinki Titans. Which can either have them placing as high as second at the end of the first week or as low as fourth or fifth. It will be interesting to see how the United handle the early season challenge without Molly the Cat @JCarson; who retired at the end of last season and will look to Sjin @Sjin to try to provide much needed secondary scoring vacated by the Cat. Dustin Funk winning Nick Sansoe @Tipskid97 returned to London via free agency after a return to the VHLE Rome and a season with the Vancouver Wolves but made the interesting choice to move to defense this season. Question surrounding London once again being around the defensive core and if it can hold together like last season. Again London will rely heavily on Jesse Teno @aimkin as they did last season making the Continental Cup finals.
 
 
3.    
While my college has Helsinki Titans as the top team in Europe this season, I don`t share the same view as the loss of Pierre Emile Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito and mentioned trade of Grimgor Ironhide @FrostBeard have clearly set the team back slightly. While Kronchy Kardashian @Garsh and YaBoi Oven @Doomsday should be able to fill the void of Bouchard. I am less confident that Helsinki found the correct answer; if any at forward for replacing Grimgor Ironhide @FrostBeard; Owen Lazaro @traphag will be tasked with this role in supporting Daryl Dixon @Ricer13 but it is a rather large drop off in the depth charts after that; which might leave Helsinki looking for secondary scoring sooner than later. Helsinki will be tested in the first week with a three game set against Malmo Nighthawks and other notable game being against London; otherwise a fairly early schedule that should see them in third by the end of the week or as low as fifth if Helsinki struggles out of the gate.
 
 
4.    
Can you have a statement week in the first week of the season? Well, this is how I see Malmo Nighthawks opening week. Malmo will face Helsinki Titans in a three-game series, London United in two game set and Moscow in a single game that see them play every team in the European conference except Riga Reign. Malmo can very much set the tone of the conference this week if they end up higher in the standing than predicted as I feel that I am doing them injustice by placing them this low as Malmo could easily finish second this week in a tight European Conference but just too many swing games has them placed lower in the standings. Malmo Nighthawks off season included trading away Jebediah Big Ol Doinks in Amish @hylands  to New York Americans in a trade that seen them aquire Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish, who Malmo hopes is their goalie of the future. While also losing Henry Eagles @Greg_Di to the Seattle Bears via free agency. Malmo Nighthawks are a very good team but seem to lack any true star power outside Jacob Stone @scoop, the Jake Wylde co-winner. It will be interesting to see if a team can win a Championship without individual star power.
 
 
5.    
Warsaw Predators are in a group of two that should fight for Wildcard spot this season with Prague Phantoms and like the Seattle Bears; I see Warsaw playing the spoiler role. Key addition in Lachlan Summers @kirbithan from HC Davos Dynamo should keep the Predators hunting rather than being the prey most nights. Tough week to start the season but if Warsaw can upset Helsinki, Malmo or Moscow; if not all three than I can see them as high as second by the end of the week and putting the conference that they won`t roll over. Add in a huge two game series against Prague; which will establish how the season for Warsaw might just play out.
 
 
6.    
Similar to Malmo Nighthawks; Prague will face a statement week in the very first week facing every team in the European Conference and a huge three game series against Moscow Menace; not to mention the two game set against Warsaw Predators mentioned above. Prague, I have trying to hang on this week and not falling to far behind the other six teams above them so early into the season. If they fail to keep the standing close I feel that they could be on the outside looking in at the end of the season. A ton of change during the off season see new Manager in @Tetricide take control of the team and he completed a few huge deals bring in Skor McFleury @Alex and Rip Wheeler @ScottyP from Calgary Wranglers while shipping Moritz Stauffer @GoodLeftUndone and Kyle Toms @Ktoms22 the other way. The hope I am assuming is that Skor McFleury @Alex can rediscover his scoring touch from his HC Davos and Malmo days providing a much need set-up man for Nikolas Kauppi @Tetricide and John Jameson @Frank; both set to retire at the end of the season. While Rip Wheeler @ScottyP will try to add secondary depth scoring. Other minor trade sees Pope Francis @nurx arrive from HC Davos.
 
 
7.    
Riga Reign are still a very much young and developing team that needs; maybe, to become more aggressive in rebuilding their team as Riga just seems stuck always waiting for players to develop and has the team stuck at the bottom of the conference. While I don`t have Riga going winless in the first week playing the second worse team in the league, HC Davos Dynamo. To win more than a single game this week Riga will need to play spoiler against Vancouver, Warsaw and Prague but I still have them a clear lock for seventh this week and in the season standings. Only single move of note from Riga trading Gregger McKeggegger @TheNeonShaman for prospect Stefan Nikolaev @Is_thatok and S95 MAL 1st in a move that made a ton of sense for both the player and the team.
 
 
8.    
Another difficult season in Davos as the Dynamo currently waits for prospect to develop as HC Davos selected eleven players this past draft with Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica, opting to play a full season in the VHLE rather than joining the VHLE equivalent Dyanmo in the VHL. Biggest off season move came when Davos traded Lachlan Summers @kirbithan, while he still held value to Warsaw Predators for S95 WAR 1st and Prospects with Sunset Moth @McWolf being the most notable. Most other deals being what I consider minor deals even though Davos manager @Alex remain busy completing eight other trades on top of the Summers deal.
 
 
 
 
Final Thoughts:
Should be a very difficult season to predict as we have six teams in each conference that should be fighting for the playoff this season and while we have a few different groups within each conference every given night most of these teams can beat each other. Great for the league but mendosai for this writer as I try to predict what might happen every week so as always tell me how wrong I am in the comments below; as I am 100% sure you will be right at least this season!!  
 
 

@sadie I keep making graphics ahead of time for players who end up traded! Lol For your time in Calgary!
 

Happy to see you’re back! 🔥 Best of luck on your new team Sadie 

nic petan

this was the most difficult decision in our GM careers for both myself and alex, but our captain this season is. . . @Ahma david jokinen! our first alternate is. . . david jokinen! and our second alternate is. . . david jokinen! it took lots of thinking and discussion to come to a consensus, but davos is extremely pleased with our captaincy core this season. GO DAVID! 

Guys, Gals, and Non-Binary Pals – let me welcome you to the unofficial naming of the S85 Draft Class All-Star Team! This All-Star team is exclusively made up of S85 draftees who are currently playing in the VHL. We will be naming 1 Center, 2 Wingers, 3 Defensemen and 2 Goalies. Buckle up and strap in as we introduce them to you.
 
To start off our team, at Center, all the way from Ireland and currently playing for Prague, we have John Jameson. Jameson spent his time playing for Philadelphia and San Diego in the VHLM and Oslo in the VHLE and was drafted 2nd overall by Prague. Over the past 6 and a half seasons, Jameson has scored 260 Goals and made 326 Assists for 586 Points. Jameson makes an excellent start for this All-Star team as he sits 5th overall amongst players and is the number 3 center as of today. Surprisingly, Jameson also leads in Hits this season so far, making him a dangerous piece to have out on the ice.
 
Next up we are turning to our Left Winger, all the way from Finland and also playing for Prague, Nikolas Kauppi. Kauppi spent him time in the VHLM shifting between Mexico City and Saskatoon, spent one season in Oslo in the VHLE, and was drafted 17th overall by Prague. Over the past 6 and a half seasons, Kauppi has scored 168 Goals and made 229 Assists for 397 Points. Though not amongst the overall top, Kauppi still has his name all over the leaderboards. Currently he is 7th in Goals (24), 9th in Shots (283), 6th in Plus/Minus (+21), and is tied for 1st in Game Winning Goals (7) with none other than who we are about to announce as our next team member.
 
Turning to the Right Winger, from Poland and member of Malmo, Henry Eagles. Eagles only spent 1 season in the VHLM with Houston before a season in the VHLE with Bratislava. He was drafted 1st overall by Vancouver and played there for 5 seasons before being traded to Malmo between S89 and S90. Over the past 6 and a half seasons, Eagles has scored 246 Goals and made 287 Assists for 533 Points. Eagles sits 5th overall amongst all players, is 10th in Goals (23), and as stated before, is tied for 1st with Nikolas Kauppi for Game Winning Goals (7). Eagles’ overall consistency from season to season, for the most part, makes him a very reliable player to have for this All-Star Team. 
 
Now we shift to the defense of our team. From jolly old England and playing for Calgary, we have Phil Strasmore. Strasmore spent 3 seasons in the VHL playing for Mississauga, Houston, and San Diego and was drafted 3rd Overall by Calgary. Over the past 6 and a half seasons, Strasmore has scored 60 Goals and made 325 Assists for 385 Points. Though he has had some rough seasons, Strasmore has definitely been proving himself an aggressive defense player. On the leaderboard he is currently 10th in Hits (139) and 4th in Penalty Minutes (113). Strasmore should prove to be a good fit in front of the net for this aging team. 
 
Joining Strasmore on defense, all the way from Japan, and currently playing for London, we have Isamu Knievel. Knievel spent 1 season in the VHLM playing for Houston, 1 season in the VHLE for Cologne, and was drafted 14th overall by Toronto. Knievel never played for Toronto however, as he was traded multiple times over his career, Davos, Riga, Malmo, back to Davos and now London. Over the past 6 and a half seasons, Knievel has scored 40 Goals and made 175 Assists for 215 Points. Knievel might not have much production in points but he does sit 8th overall in Hits (140), just barely getting in above Strasmore. 
 
To round out our defense, from right here in the United States and playing for London, we have Lloyd Braun. Braun played for Houston and San Diego in the VHLM, jumped between Vasteras and Stockholm in the VHLE, and was drafted 12th overall by Helsinki. Though like Knievel, Braun was traded prior to being called up for the VHL and ended up playing for Calgary, then back to Helsinki for a season before going to London. Over the past 6 and a half seasons, Knievel has scored 43 Goals and made 188 Assists for 231 Points. Braun can’t be found anywhere on the leaderboards however that doesn’t mean that he isn’t a great player. Overall, Braun has an average of +19 and 117 hits per season. 
 
And finally to the last key pieces of this All-Star Team. The goalies.
 
The first named to the team, from right here in the United States and playing for London, Jesse Teno. Teno played for Saskatoon in the VHLM, Cologne in the VHLE, was drafted 10th overall by London, and has been there ever since. Over the past 6 and a half seasons, Teno has a record of 196-134-39 with an average Save Percentage of 0.928, Goals Against Average of 2.41 and 25 total Shutouts. Though this season Teno’s stats are struggling, they have been otherwise reliable and highly consistent prior to S92. Teno currently sits in 5th for Wins (20) and 7th for Shutouts (1). They also currently sit at the 6th overall goalie for S92.
 
And last but not least, also from here in the United States, and another Prague player, Matt Murdock. Murdock played for Houston in the VHLM, Istanbul and Vasteras in the VHLE, and was drafted 7th overall by Moscow where he played 3 seasons. He was then traded to Prague and has spent the last 4 seasons there. Over the past 6 and a half seasons, Murdock has a record of 203-120-29 with an average Save Percentage of 0.926, Goals Against Average of 2.54 and 19 total Shutouts. Murdock is on the leaderboard in 5th for Save Percentage (0.935), 6th for Goals Against Average (2.19), 4th for Shutouts (2), and 10th for Penalty Minutes (2). Murdock, like Teno, has been very consistent since coming to the VHL and is probably the best tandem pick to play alongside them.
 
And there we have it; your S85 Draft All-Star Team! A basic look back at how these 8 players have gone from obscure players in the VHLM to some of the best players of their draft class.  
 
 
1069 words for weeks ending 2/4/2024 and 2/11/2024

DAVOS, CH — The DBC is currently here in Davos at the arena of beloved team HC Davos Dynamo, after their playoff exit at the hands of the Helsinki Titans, who were one of their bitter rivals the entire season in the fight for the top of the EU. We were able to catch a few Davos players during locker room cleanout day, including goaltender Lachlan Summers, who has just concluded his fifth season with the team and firmly establishing himself as a grizzled veteran.
 
“I don’t know what you want me to say, honestly. It sucks to go out in the first round like that, but we put up a hell of a fight against Helsinki and I couldn’t be prouder of what this team has accomplished,” said Summers with a firm nod. “I just wish we could’ve given Pete, Thunder, and Leandro a brighter send off.”
 
He was also asked what his plans were for the near future, as his contract expires in two seasons.
 
“I’m not too worried about that right now. More focused on staying healthy for next season and regulating my potassium consumption like I have for the past nine years.”
 
What does the future hold for Lachlan Summers? We can only eagerly await the answer.
 

Would you look at that, it’s Monday again! I probably have a few weeks of Media Spots lined up that I could have claimed, but my sense of time is entirely out of loop at the moment. The season has finally started, and Landon and London are off to spectacular starts. Landon just had a wonderful sim last night, piling up the points against Warsaw and Moscow, which while not the average matchup, still feels nice to start building what I hope will be a really successful season. Scoring has been a struggle the last couple seasons, with Landon missing the targets that other might have expected for him. He had a nice long offseason to rest and recuperate and is finally feeling like his is coming into this season stronger than the last, and so far seems to be proving that.
 
London has been off to a wonderful start on all accounts. Molly the Cat, Wann Kerr and Leonard Triller are working, and should have the opportunity, once we get our cracks at the weak-of-goaltending team, to really crank up those point totals. Sjin, Ivan Retoslav and Thor Odinson are filling the rest of the minutes beautifully, with all 3 getting in on the power play scoring, and dominating in those penalty killing situations. Sjin leads rookie point scoring alongside Warsaw’s Maxim Anisimov, and will hopefully garner some Stolzschweiger attention. Lloyd Braun is doing great as our powerplay quarterback, and the Nesbitt/Solyom duo are running a really strong penalty kill. Jeckler is getting a ton of opportunities in all situations and looks like someone who can eat a lot of minutes. Growth has been slow at first, but we’re starting to kick it up a notch, working together to encourage each other to train as often as possible. Seeing early success like this is very important for kickstarting that kind of engagement, knowing that what people are putting in, is what we are getting out.
 
There’s a few surprises in the league thus far, first off being the off the bat free for all at the top of the EU Conference. Four to five teams have been locked, dead even for the last few days with a lot of head to head games already in the books. Nobody can seem to get ahead at the moment, and this could very well be how the rest of the season looks. On the other end of the table, North America is in shambles. Toronto and Calgary are tumbling, Seattle is having a Seattle-like surge, DC looks nothing like they did to open last season, and Chicago is for absolutely no reason at all, the top team In the league. Toronto is letting in more goals than was expected, and Calgary is scoring at a much lower rate than expected. Goal differential is all over the place in those standings, and ideally, Simon will make sense of it soon and give us some results we can work with.
 
Until next time everyone!

goooooooo team world we will not be stopped
three baby marlins reunited 🥳

goooooooo team world we will not be stopped
three baby marlins reunited 🥳

goooooooo team world we will not be stopped
three baby marlins reunited 🥳

With the game on the line, one shot, who would you rather have taking it, Iggy or Curry?

This is a question I get a lot as the General Manager of the World. It has haunted me for many years, and has left me sleepless for many nights. I have waited all this time for my turn to make this selection, and now, as the aliens hurtle towards Earth, I, Jacob Carson am left to make the final decision.

Of everyone on the entire Earth, open shot, the fate of the universe on the line, the Martians have the death beam pointed at earth, you better hit it, I WANT:

 
From the United States of America, Center, Napoleon Dynamite of the Los Angeles Stars!
 
From the United States of America, Center, Mo Probert, most recently of the Malmo Nighthawks!
 
From the United States Minor Outlying Islands, Winger, Landon Wolanin of the Helsinki Titans!
 
From Canada, Winger, Larry Abass Jr, most recently of the Riga Reign!
 
From Canada, Winger, Vincent Laroche-Gagnier of the D.C. Dragons!
 
From Canada, Winger, Sadie St-Louis, most recently of the Riga Reign!
 
From South Africa, Defender, Hammar Voss, most recently of the Helsinki Titans!
 
From Australia, Defender, Callum Murray, most recently of the Los Angeles Stars!
 
From Saint Kitts and Nevis, Defender, Deron Nesbitt of the London United!
 
From Japan, Defender, Ryuji Sakamoto of the D.C. Dragons!
 
From Australia, Goaltender, Lachlan Summers of HC Davos Dynamo!

From Bhutan, Goaltender, Clueless Wallob, of the Seattle Bears!
 
 These players have ice water in their veins, these players are those types of players, high leverage moment, fate of the universe on the line, I want – open shot, not go get it, I want these players taking that shot for me.

So you’re not the shooters those other teams are, but what I’m saying is, when it matters most, you’re the dudes I think doesn’t care about that moment. Same guys, like ice water in your veins, what is your response?

Some would call me crazy. Some might even laugh. But if you were to put me on ESPN on a random Friday night, quite like this random Tuesday afternoon, this is the answer I would give you.
 
We have top level talent at all positions, and with international cooperation, we have the team that is best suited to take on any alien threat, and as such is also conveniently the best suited to take on all of the individual regions of the world in a short but intense ice hockey tournament.
 
So perhaps this announcement is better suited to announce that these are the members of the team that will be taking on Team Canada, Team USA, Team Eastern Europe, Team Western Europe, and Team Nordic in the upcoming S90 World Cup!

Everyone from around the world will be tuning in for this amazing tournament… soon! We await the announcement of a few more teams, despite knowing that Team World has the ultimate advantage over all of them.
 
Jacob Carson, General Manager of the World
 
 

4.161!!!!
 
3.99 and 4.144 are relevant here also because because 7.29

For me this is 10/10 regardless if I look at it biasedly or unbiasedly. The font choice is great, and the attention to detail throughout the graphic (doing the logo swap even though only like 2% of the logo is visible, changing the opacity of parts of the text for effect, etc.) Blurring the city in the background makes the render pop more and good job filling the space on the left with a smaller St-Louis that doesn’t draw too much attention. Amazing work.

4.161!!!!
 
3.99 and 4.144 are relevant here also because because 7.29

@sadie

Looking forward to seeing St-Louis on the ice with Calgary! We've featured your graphic on the VHL IG account today 🔥
 
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cypoe_HOIk9/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==