VattghernCZ

Like every season, some new blood will soon be joining the VHLM as the trade deadline is approaching. This is always exciting news for the VHLM GMs, as the new wave of prospects will include players with base 80 TPE, who could be 100+ TPE players at the start of the postseason. Since I'm personally interested in this topic as I will re-create as a defense-first defender, why not look around the M to see what playoff teams would be a good fit for different positions and get some sweet uncapped 

Halifax might be the best bet for anyone just going for the Cup. The team is stacked. Out of 7 forwards on the team, 5 are capped and one pretty much capped, so if you're creating a forward, you'd have a great group to play with. However, they only have one forward with points in faceoffs, so you might be more valuable to the team as a center. On defense, they have 4 players, one capped, one pretty much capped and one probably capped comes playoffs. Just like on offense, this is a stacked group and no matter where you'd play, you'd have a reliable partner next to you. Their D-men are a physical, defensive bunch, so maybe they could use a puck mover on their blue line to help their powerplay? In the net, they have a capped starter, but they miss a backup. Their bot backup has only played 4 games so far, so if you join them as a goalie, you're sure to get a few regular season starts.

Houston looks like a good landing spot for a goalie with higher base TPE. The Bulls' 55 points are good for 5th overall, but they are managing that with a 98 tpe goaltender who isn't earning particularly quickly. They are a playoff team (mostly thanks to their deep forward core) and if you're a high end goalie re-create, you could realistically take over as a starter comes playoff time. They could really use some help on the blue line as well.

For a defender, Mexico and Miami look like the best fit. They are both elite teams at 2nd and 3rd overall in the standings, and have a real shot. They both have 6+ forwards, 3 defenders and 2 goaltenders on their roster, so it only seems natural they'd be looking for a D-man to complete their blue line. Kings' blue line is more focused on defensively minder players, while the Marauders' D-core seems to value two-way D-men more.

Saskatoon might be interested in a center, if you're willing to allocate TPE to faceoffs straight away. They are a surefire playoff team with 6 forwards, two of them capped and three in 170s. Their best faceoff taker has 47 FO and 50 ST, which is alright, but after him, there's 43 FO with 45 ST and 41 FO with 44 ST. They could really use some help in the faceoff circle.

Another team who would be looking to add a forward would be San Diego. They also only have 3 defenders, but I had listed MEX and MIA for D-men because they're higher in the standings and because Marlins' blueliners are all capped. San Diego only has 5 forwards on the roster, and while a center would probably be a higher priority than a winger as they only have one strong faceoff guy, as a winger you'd probably get more opportunities here than you would get in Saskatoon, simply because of the one extra roster spot.

Why part 2? Well, a) my eagerness to earn TPE lead to me writing the Career Task immediately when I was eligible to, which means it only covered the first half of Kerr's career, and 2) it's easy to write and I want TPE. And now, when Kerr unofficially announced his retirement after the current season, is a good time to look what he's done in the second half of his 8-season career.

Of course, a major change between the first and second half of Kerr's career is the team he's played for. After 3 seasons with Vancouver, he was awarded an A on his chest, which sealed his fate as a Wolf (as it usually does) and he was traded to London a year later after his then-best year, with 2 years left on his contract, as 120% accurately described by @Gaikoku-hito, the Wolves AGM (https://vhlforum.com/topic/141862-the-curse-is-real/)

S91 – New Career Year

In London, Kerr's task was simple – but far from easy – to replace Igor Molotov as the United's top center. And he immediately clicked with Leonard Triller and Molly the Cat, as both Triller and the Cat have recorded over 100 points for the first time in their career, with 24 goals, 103 points and a Beketov Trophy for Triller, and 52 goals and 107 points for Molly the Cat. While Kerr was just slightly lacking in the production department with „only“ 44 goals and 52 assists for 96 points (all three stats were his new career high), but was winning faceoffs and puck battles with a respectable rate, and complimented his wingers' dynamic offensive abilities with physicality and two-way game, as he lead the team with 197 hits and lead the forward core with 37 shots blocked. The top heavy London (46 points gap between 3^rd and 4^th highest scorers) finished 4^th overall after the regular season, but the lack of depth proved fatal in the Euro finals, where Helsinki dispatched of them easily in 5 games.

S92 – A slight step back...in the regular season

Individually, S92 was Kerr's worst season since his sophomore year, with only 37 goals and 43 assists for 80 points. The top end scoring really took a dip in the S92 London, as no United hit 100 points or 40 goals. But unlike the previous season, this year's squad had depth. The 4^th highest scorer on the S91 United was Lloyd Braun with 50 points. This Year, 6 London players scored more than that. In the postseason, unreal goaltending by Jesse Teno (ultimately the Kanou winner), elite top end scoring along with the depth carried the United all the way to game 7 in the finals, where they came short. Kerr struggled to score goals, with only 8% shooting percentage, and recorded just 8 goals and 26 points in 22 games, but at least still brought his signature physicality with 50 hits.

S93 – one for the ages

No idea what happened with Kerr. Maybe he switched from Bernard lager to Svijany lager. Or maybe the pressure of needing to step up because of Molly the Cat retiring brought out the best of him, but he had a good season. Like...really good. New career highs across the board. (Kevin Brooks Trophy winning) 58 goals and nice 69 assists for (Mike Szatkowski co-winning) 127 points to go with 247 hits, but only 29 shots blocked. I guess you can't block shots when you always are in the offensive zone doing hockey magic with Triller. And the dominance carried on into the postseason, where the United fought their way into the finals...again. But lost...again. This time, it was to the Bears, Kerr's former rivals from his Vancouver days. Kerr scored 12 goals and 27 points in 16 playoff games and was a Kanou nominee – ultimately it was his teammate Lloyd Braun (7 goals and 23 points as a defender) who won it.

S94 – will Kerr get his cup?

A very strong start by the United, and a decent start by Kerr. Still scoring goals (2^nd on the team with 22) and hitting people (2^nd on the team with 113 hits). The team looks great with 4 players over a point per game, and with Merom Dilson in the net stepping up after Jesse Teno called it a career. Kerr has been in the VHL finals 3 times already, but with no Cup to show for it. Will he make it 4 finals appearances in 8 seasons (with a final appearance in both VHLM and VHLE)? Will he break what seems to be a curse and end his career with a Cup celebration? We'll see.

17 hours ago, aimkin said:

London United Presser week ending June 16 2024

 

1. We're firmly into the season and looking pretty good. What's one thing you think we need to improve on?

2. We're 2nd for +/- goal differential with a +29. Do you think we'll be able to eclipse Seattle who has +32 soon?

3. Have you kept an eye on any of the London prospects? Who do you think it going to be a key factor for the future?

4. Triller needs 64 more points to overtake his old teammate Molly the Cat for 2nd place in London United history. What do you think the odds are that he pulls it off?

5. With where we stand, what do you think our odds are of making it to the finals this season?

6. What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common?

1. An improvement to our penalty kill would be good, we can't let opponents score once in 4 attempts, especially when we have goons like Wanker on the team.

2. That's a tough ask. We can certainly score more goals than they can, but we're allowing too many shots, which leads to too many goals against, even with great goaltending. I wouldn't bet on us in this.

3. I had the chance to GM Mograine in JST, I believe in them, even though the development hasn't probably been as smooth as expected. But the top prospect has to be Hugo Boss.

4. He certainly has the skill to do so, no doubt about that. But ultimately, someone has to be converting those chances for him to record assists, I'd say there's a 40% chance.

5. We're a playoff team, but I don't really think our current position can predict our playoff success. Malmö has had our number all season long, which is scary, but we've proven ourselves in the playoffs time and time again. Yes, we can do it! Last season's Kanou winner and runner up are still on the team.

6. I'm so bad at this! Maybe because I'm too lazy to think haha. I don't know, the "the" in the middle?

Nice, thank you mate! I love that the United jersey has this serious London vibe unlike my gfx, and that you respected the player number. Great job!

Merome Dilson @MexicanCow123 is showing doubters what's good. The biggest question mark about the S94 United was always going to be the goaltending. After soon-to-be Hall of Fame goaltender Jesse Teno @aimkin announced their retirement, many fans forecasted the end of London's Cup window. Even after Merome Dilson, a former Aidan Shaw and Scottv Campbell winner, joined the United, there were doubters. With .93 SV% in his first 19 games in blue&red, it's safe to say he's been doing his best to change their mind.

Leonard Triller @Triller is taking the spotlight for himself. You'd have a hard time finding a more underappreciated player than London's captain, arguably the best playmaker in today's VHL. He's built his career on doing what true leaders and exceptional players do - making players around him better. Even when it meant to be in someone else's shadow, he's always put his team before him. But in the seasons he actually led the team in scorint, he didn't get much attention when it comes to leaguewide recognition. However, this year, he's putting the United offense on his shoulders and is showing everyone he truly is one of the league's best.

Sjin @Sjin is a two-way beast. Someone should contact the Merriam-Webster people, they need to put Sjin's name next to "late bloomer". Joining the league in S91 after 5 full seasons in the M and a season in the E, Sjin really broke out in S93 with 41 goals and 92 points. So far this season however, he's been taking his game to completely different level. On top of team-leading 16 goals, he's also recorded 22 shot blocks in as many games to go along with 60 hits. Any GM would trade their immediate family for a 2C like Sjin.

42 minutes ago, mattyIceman said:

We could call it the Wannkerr Trophy.

A fitting name for an antitrophy

S85 LVA, S86 ROM, S89 VAN, S92 LDN, S93 LDN. Five finals appearances for me so far, but no cup. Do I deserve some shame?

On 6/5/2024 at 5:46 PM, Ricer13 said:

London United Presser week ending June 9 2024

 

1. How are you feeling after a hot start to the season for London?

2. We have two United in the top ten in scoring! Does Triller or Kerr sneak up into the top 5 before the TDL?

3. Who in your opinion is Londons biggest European rival?

4. Triller takes the team out for breakfast as he soaks in his final season with his teammates. Where is he taking everyone?

 

5. If you went to London for a day IRL, what is one snack you’d want to try?

6. Who’s winning the Stanley Cup final? Florida or Edmonton?

1. Confident and excited. But let's not get comfortable, the tide can turn pretty easily. It's still pretty early in the season.

2. It's Triller's year, definitely! Kerr got his 15 minutes of fame last season, now we need to help Triller dominate - not that he needs much help!

3. Helsinki! I remember facing them in the playoffs, I hated playing against them. But is it really a rivalry when they just suck while we are an elite team?

4. I think he's the type of a nice guy who would subtly figure out what kind of food we all like, and then just invite us to a restaurant that ticks the most boxes, without taking into account what cuisine he likes himself.

5. I've been there multiple times. And I must agree with Sjin. Steak bake at Greggs is just *chef's kiss*. Awesome hangover breakfast too.

6. Florida. My prediction was Dallas-Florida, and I wasn't far off. They have the shutdown prowess and goaltending to keep McJesus and Drai somewhat in check I think. And I also absolutely love the Tkachuk boys, I need Matty's name on the Cup!

@Scurvy

On 5/29/2024 at 9:08 PM, N0HBDY said:

I want to get into bikes but have no idea what to look for

As presumably a non-teen beginner, I'd look into 2-cyl 650s, maybe something along the lines of a Kawasaki Ninja 650 or Kawa Z650 (extremely similar bikes, but the Z is naked). Or a liquid cooled (2007 or newer) Suzuki Bandit 650 as imo the ultimate second hand beginner bike. But I might be biased, I used to ride a naked Bandit 650 lol.

Those engines have fairly linear, beginner friendly power curve with quite some low rev torque, and not enough power to get out of hands if you're not an idiot. They may be boring for a thrill seeker with some experience, but they'd make lovely commuters even for those riding an R1 on days off lol.

2 minutes ago, Gaikoku-hito said:

Yeah, the main reason I didn`t use it this season; yet!!

 

Your captain and one of your alts are defenders, and we could really use one in London...just saying

Shame the captain curse joke is getting old, I miss it

Hello!

Every career must come to an end. Even though I personally don't like the fact career length is predetermined. How cool would it be if depreciation was increasing in more steps, and your player would only be forced to retire once their TPA falls below 400? Anyway, that's not the topic of this article. Maybe next week?

My first gen player is retiring after this season. And what a career it has been. From just mindlessly clicking welfare and practice facility, to really clicking with Shindigs and ramping up my earnings in Vegas, to a not particularly clicking locker room in Rome (makes sense it's the league with the least LR activity, I guess), to a Vancouver team that was really clicking, and finally to London where it all clicked for Kerr and he became one of the league's better centers. Wow, so much clicking.

My first gen has achieved more than I'd even thought of when I joined the VHL...almost 2 years ago? Damn. Looking back at my scouting report, I didn't expect Kerr to be an offensive force, but I said I'd like to challenge for the Boulet one day. Which Kerr was nominated for last season. So what is there for Kerr to accomplish in his last season?

Two things. The less important one is actually winning the Boulet. The bigger, more elusive one, is of course winning The Cup. Three (or four?) finals appearances in the big league, no Cup. A finals appearance in the M, no cup. A finals appearance in the E, no cup.

What would be a better way to break it, than winning it in Kerr's last

season?

You motorbike fellas, what do you think about a litre V-Strom? Supertenere used to be on top of my list, but damn, the V-Strom...

On 5/25/2024 at 2:17 AM, Banackock said:

I'm the same way with my 370z, bud. If I sold it, I'd be debt free from what I acquired from my Australia trip, have money leftover and just buying something more practical.. but every time I drive it and people are looking or even me just looking at it.. can't do it, man. Thing makes me way too happy.

The Audi looks good imo, but it's not a looker quite as much as a 370Z I'd say. For me, it's about the feeling I have when sitting in it, it just makes me go "oh fuck yeah". Every. Single. Time. Everything inside just feels right. Solid and dependable. It might be because I drive it fairly rarely, but it's a feeling that's never worn off.

Hard to imagine having this feeling sitting in a reasonable hatchback.

10 hours ago, jacobcarson877 said:

1. You're put on duty to answer the media for our preseason press conference! What is your relationship with the media like?

2. When talking to the media are you one to stick to the script (pucks in deep!), or are you a bit of a wild spirit?
3. What's some advice that you could give to the new players about dealing with the London media?
4. A press conference turns sour and the media starts blaming a teammate, what is your response?
5. Some people are calling for the firing of the head coach, or perhaps even the General Manager after a 2nd straight Game 7 Finals loss, what's your stance?
6. Rumour has it a large portion of the players are retiring together at the end of the season, how do you inspire the fans to stick with the team for the upcoming rebuild?

1. I'd say it's the most annoying part of being a pro athlete. Like, come on, I want to hit pucks, shoot teammates and drink beer, not sit here with cameras and mikes pointing at my dumb face.

2. Sticking to the script is a safer choice. Kerr was almost deported from Italy when he played in Rome, for liking pineapple on pizza. So let's not bring too much flair.

3. Drink tea when the reporters offer it to you, and don't try to replicate Briish accent.

4. I'd probably call the reporter a bellend or a tosser or something. My teammates are sacred.

5. What a bunch of bellends! It's game 7, anything can happen in game 7. They're the ones who got us there!

6. Fr*nce doesn't have a VHL team, so you have the bragging rights on them, even when the team isn't doing good!

10 hours ago, jacobcarson877 said:

1. The league is short on defenders this season, how do you plan to take advantage of that personally?
2. Index comes out in a few days, what are your thoughts on our roster at this very moment?
3. What is your player trying to do better this season as opposed to last season?
4. Who is going to be the most important player for our success this season?
5. If you could play with one player from another team this season, who would you want it to be?
6. The new version of the portal is out! What are your initial thoughts?

1. By scoring 50 goals again! Kerr might be undersized, but he's a tenacious power forward with great hands, good luck containing him in front of the net! Let's enjoy it while it lasts, there is a ton of elite talent on the blue line among youngsters and prospects.

2. I really like our offense and I'm fairly confident in our goaltending, but the blue line situation is interesting, to say the least.

3. Kerr is at age when it's hard to get better, I just hope he doesn't completely hit the wall, and maybe gets more involved defensively. And a few more powerplay goals would be nice as well.

4. I'd say Dilson. We were relying heavily on Teno doing Teno things, let's see what a change in the než brings!

5. I'd love to re-unite with $nubbed Analfist, that would be a deadly tandem of two oldsters.

6. I prefer the new design, that's all I can say at the moment.

1 minute ago, Daniel Janser said:

We used to drive Skoda, first a Fabia stationwagon (before they were shrinked) and then a Skoda Octavia RS stationwagon... if Skoda built Vans we would still drive one. Best sold car brand in Switzerland in the past decade or so...

Oh I love the RS station wagons! I got to drive one. Both my mother and my stepfather have had Fabias, even my uncles had a Forman (that's a Favorit station wagon) and a Felicia when I was a kid. Škodas everywhere! Even my father had had a Škoda 125 when I was a wee kid, before he became an Audi guy.

Wanker is nominated for literally every award he's eligible to win on top of winning Brooks and Szat, wow. What a team around him to push him this far, thank you fellas! Shame we were one win short of getting the Cup.

2 minutes ago, Daniel Janser said:

shame on you, you ought to drive Skoda

 

I wouldn't mind having an Octavia Scout as a dedicated fishing vehicle tbh. Škodas are not bad, but...you know...everyone around has one lol. Lemme check. There are 12 parked cars I can see from my window. 7 od them are Škoda. 

I'm quite surprised my company doesn't use Škodas. But there's a major Hyundai assembly line in Czechia, I guess it makes sense they're even more affordable than Škodas.

A 2009 Audi A5 coupé I bought second hand in 2014 as a 20yo with more available money than common sense. It's fun to drive, it has a 3.0 TDI engine, but for the last 3 or 4 years, I've been talking about selling it and buying something more economic. I really like a Mazda 3 hatchback, for example. Still can't bring myself to do it tho, I like that thing.

Also a company Hyundai i30.

I apply