scoop

It was a big draft night for the Malmo, who came into the day with the first and seventh overall picks, but would ultimately find themselves making a third first round selection. Things got started with the Nighthawks formally adding Viktor Jensen to the team with the first pick of the draft. Jensen gives the team a young center with star potential, something that they had been lacking. They doubled down on the centers with Ronald Johnson MacWallace III. While Jensen will be playing in the VHL this season as the team's second center behind Ivan Retoslav, MacWallace will be spending a season or two in the VHLE. By the time Retoslav's career is winding down, MacWallace should be ready to take over as the team's second line center.
 
Perhaps the most exciting moment of the drat, however, was when Malmo traded for the 12th overall pick of the draft. The Nighthawks sent S90 WAR 2nd and S91 MAL 1st to the Moscow Menace in order to acquire the pick, which they used to draft Savaisk Tzesar. Picking Tzesar at seven would have been a reach, but he was a player that the Nighthawks wanted badly. His father, Boris Tsezar, spent the final five seasons of his career in Malmo, and Savaisk was keen on playing for the team as well. The Nighthawks have seemingly been building around players who are committed to the team, as shown by their willingness to part with a future first, one that could potentially be a lottery pick, and a second to make this trade happen.

It was a big draft night for the Malmo, who came into the day with the first and seventh overall picks, but would ultimately find themselves making a third first round selection. Things got started with the Nighthawks formally adding Viktor Jensen to the team with the first pick of the draft. Jensen gives the team a young center with star potential, something that they had been lacking. They doubled down on the centers with Ronald Johnson MacWallace III. While Jensen will be playing in the VHL this season as the team's second center behind Ivan Retoslav, MacWallace will be spending a season or two in the VHLE. By the time Retoslav's career is winding down, MacWallace should be ready to take over as the team's second line center.
 
Perhaps the most exciting moment of the drat, however, was when Malmo traded for the 12th overall pick of the draft. The Nighthawks sent S90 WAR 2nd and S91 MAL 1st to the Moscow Menace in order to acquire the pick, which they used to draft Savaisk Tzesar. Picking Tzesar at seven would have been a reach, but he was a player that the Nighthawks wanted badly. His father, Boris Tsezar, spent the final five seasons of his career in Malmo, and Savaisk was keen on playing for the team as well. The Nighthawks have seemingly been building around players who are committed to the team, as shown by their willingness to part with a future first, one that could potentially be a lottery pick, and a second to make this trade happen.

The Board Game Cluedo On Skates

The Board Game Cluedo On Skates

Last season, the Malmo Nighthawks were one of the worst offensive teams in the league. They were 4th from the bottom with 2.46 goals per game, and expectations are that they will be near the bottom again this season. Still, there are some bright spots on the team that are going to be worth watching. The recently acquired Ivan Retoslav has consistently scored near 30 goals, and playing on a team where he will be leading the offense, he could very well set a new career high. Then there are the young stars on the team, either of whom could emerge as candidates for the Dustin Funk Trophy. Yaroslav Trunov and Jacob Stone are two players who the Nighthawks hope will be big factors for the team for years to come. Trunov, a wing who was drafted 6th overall in S87, has 29 goals and 62 points in the first two seasons of his career. Stone had 12 goals and 40 points in his rookie season after falling to 5th overall despite being the consensus best player in the draft.
 
Both Trunov and Stone will be focal points in the offense along with Retoslav. If the three of them can work well together, they should likely perform better than the team leaders from a season ago. The leader in points from S88, defenseman Rex Wolffe Gregor, was traded in the off-season. Stone has surpassed him in skills. Saku Kotkakoivu led the team with 22 goals despite being traded 50 games into the season. Retoslav is arguably a better offensive player than the aged Kotkakoivu was in his final season. The Nighthawks of a season ago didn't have the offensive help for Kotkakoivu like Trunov will provide for Retoslav. The continued improvement from other players on the team should also help take some of the pressure and attention off of Malmo's star players.
 
The team's roster for the upcoming season is likely not complete. They will certainly add at least one forward to the squad either through free agency or in the draft. Whether they intend to go with a similar approach as last season and sign several more players remains to be seen. The team continues to rebuild, and while almost all pre-season predictions will have them missing the playoffs again, that doesn't mean there won't be reasons to watch the team.

Last season, the Malmo Nighthawks were one of the worst offensive teams in the league. They were 4th from the bottom with 2.46 goals per game, and expectations are that they will be near the bottom again this season. Still, there are some bright spots on the team that are going to be worth watching. The recently acquired Ivan Retoslav has consistently scored near 30 goals, and playing on a team where he will be leading the offense, he could very well set a new career high. Then there are the young stars on the team, either of whom could emerge as candidates for the Dustin Funk Trophy. Yaroslav Trunov and Jacob Stone are two players who the Nighthawks hope will be big factors for the team for years to come. Trunov, a wing who was drafted 6th overall in S87, has 29 goals and 62 points in the first two seasons of his career. Stone had 12 goals and 40 points in his rookie season after falling to 5th overall despite being the consensus best player in the draft.
 
Both Trunov and Stone will be focal points in the offense along with Retoslav. If the three of them can work well together, they should likely perform better than the team leaders from a season ago. The leader in points from S88, defenseman Rex Wolffe Gregor, was traded in the off-season. Stone has surpassed him in skills. Saku Kotkakoivu led the team with 22 goals despite being traded 50 games into the season. Retoslav is arguably a better offensive player than the aged Kotkakoivu was in his final season. The Nighthawks of a season ago didn't have the offensive help for Kotkakoivu like Trunov will provide for Retoslav. The continued improvement from other players on the team should also help take some of the pressure and attention off of Malmo's star players.
 
The team's roster for the upcoming season is likely not complete. They will certainly add at least one forward to the squad either through free agency or in the draft. Whether they intend to go with a similar approach as last season and sign several more players remains to be seen. The team continues to rebuild, and while almost all pre-season predictions will have them missing the playoffs again, that doesn't mean there won't be reasons to watch the team.

1) Who is your favourite comedy actor/actress, and what it your favourite movie/show that they star in?
I don't know that I'd say I have a strong favorite, but Paul Rudd is probably up there, especially if I'm looking strictly at people considered comedy actors. As for a favorite movie or show, it might be Ant-Man and the Wasp, or if you want a movie that is definitively a comedy, I'll got with Role Models.
 
2) Do you follow any non-hockey professional sports? If so, what is your favourite?
Baseball is my favorite sport, and the MLB is the professional sports league that I follow most closely, by far.
 
3) Have you been disappointed with the relative lack of drama in the NHL playoffs this season?
No, I honestly don't follow the NHL much outside of the Minnesota Wild.
 
 
 
1. Do you think any teams in the VHL should relocate or rebrand? If so, which team(s)?
 
2. What was the biggest surprise in any of the VHLM/VHLE/VHL playoffs?
 
3. Who do you think is going first overall in the VHL draft?

Sakamoto should get consideration, since most of the season he was out standing with his luggage at an airport waiting to join his next team

Despite going 2-4 in day two of the lottery tournament, finishing in fourth and failing to increase their odds of getting the first overall pick, the Malmo Nighthawks were the big winners in the S89 Draft Lottery. They had finished with the third worst record in the regular season, giving them a 17.5% chance to win the pick. Luck was on their side tonight as their name was called, giving them their pick of the draftees. There isn't a consensus number one in the draft, but Malmo has options for a top player at every position except goalie. As of a few hours before the draft lottery, goalie is not currently a need for the Nighthawks.
 
 
The Nighthawks made one of the first trades of the off-season, acquiring goaltender Ash Sparks from the Seattle Bears. Sparks, the 6th overall pick in the S86 draft, has been Seattle's backup for the past two seasons. To get Sparks, along with four future draft picks, the Nighthawks gave up Ilya Bryzgalov and Rex Wolffe Gregor. Bryzgalov has been a serviceable backup for the past two seasons, but given his age and stunted development, he was not a good replacement as starter for the retiring Boris Tsezar. Gregor led the team in points last season, but indications were that he was not going to re-sign with the Nighthawks.
 
Both the draft lottery and the trade give the Nighthawks and their fans a lot to be excited about. In addition to first overall, they have the seventh overall pick which they had previously acquired from Riga. They almost certainly won't be contending next season, but they have the building blocks for a good future.

Despite going 2-4 in day two of the lottery tournament, finishing in fourth and failing to increase their odds of getting the first overall pick, the Malmo Nighthawks were the big winners in the S89 Draft Lottery. They had finished with the third worst record in the regular season, giving them a 17.5% chance to win the pick. Luck was on their side tonight as their name was called, giving them their pick of the draftees. There isn't a consensus number one in the draft, but Malmo has options for a top player at every position except goalie. As of a few hours before the draft lottery, goalie is not currently a need for the Nighthawks.
 
 
The Nighthawks made one of the first trades of the off-season, acquiring goaltender Ash Sparks from the Seattle Bears. Sparks, the 6th overall pick in the S86 draft, has been Seattle's backup for the past two seasons. To get Sparks, along with four future draft picks, the Nighthawks gave up Ilya Bryzgalov and Rex Wolffe Gregor. Bryzgalov has been a serviceable backup for the past two seasons, but given his age and stunted development, he was not a good replacement as starter for the retiring Boris Tsezar. Gregor led the team in points last season, but indications were that he was not going to re-sign with the Nighthawks.
 
Both the draft lottery and the trade give the Nighthawks and their fans a lot to be excited about. In addition to first overall, they have the seventh overall pick which they had previously acquired from Riga. They almost certainly won't be contending next season, but they have the building blocks for a good future.

Despite going 2-4 in day two of the lottery tournament, finishing in fourth and failing to increase their odds of getting the first overall pick, the Malmo Nighthawks were the big winners in the S89 Draft Lottery. They had finished with the third worst record in the regular season, giving them a 17.5% chance to win the pick. Luck was on their side tonight as their name was called, giving them their pick of the draftees. There isn't a consensus number one in the draft, but Malmo has options for a top player at every position except goalie. As of a few hours before the draft lottery, goalie is not currently a need for the Nighthawks.
 
 
The Nighthawks made one of the first trades of the off-season, acquiring goaltender Ash Sparks from the Seattle Bears. Sparks, the 6th overall pick in the S86 draft, has been Seattle's backup for the past two seasons. To get Sparks, along with four future draft picks, the Nighthawks gave up Ilya Bryzgalov and Rex Wolffe Gregor. Bryzgalov has been a serviceable backup for the past two seasons, but given his age and stunted development, he was not a good replacement as starter for the retiring Boris Tsezar. Gregor led the team in points last season, but indications were that he was not going to re-sign with the Nighthawks.
 
Both the draft lottery and the trade give the Nighthawks and their fans a lot to be excited about. In addition to first overall, they have the seventh overall pick which they had previously acquired from Riga. They almost certainly won't be contending next season, but they have the building blocks for a good future.