Nyx

1. I missed the awards, I'm sort of swamped atm with school/work and haven't had a chance to look yet :// Congrats to everyone who won though!
 
2. Definitely curved and always backwards. Makes me feel like an undercover cop or something wearing them forward lol
 
3. Maybe Courage the Cowardly Dog. Used to love that one growing up, but Regular Show was a staple for me as well
 
4. Not at the moment, but I'd like to. Manga, anime/video game memorabilia, that sorta thing definitely interests me. Really expensive market though, especially when importing goods from overseas.
 
5.  Solid color - probably the most disgusting color that just completely doesn't match the team colors just to mess with the other squad. Could definitely rock a lime green helmet
 
6. Whichever the sim engine has a preference for, though that's definitely not something it takes into account 😂

Graphic credit: @Triller
 
 
On Monday evening, the VHL’s Junior Showcase Tournament wrapped with Game 6 between the Warriors and the Steel.  With the Warriors already in control of the series at three games to two, they clinched the Season 92 Junior Showcase Tournament in a 4-3 victory that featured a three point performance by Connor Simard @Alex99 and a stellar night in goal by Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu.  While the Steel managed to keep the Warriors’ top line off the scoresheet in game 6, it was the second line players of GM @Nathan_8’s squad that pushed them over the top in this game as Simard, Bruhmaninho @BigBruhman, and Robinson @isaak combined for 3 of the team’s 4 goals.  6:04 into the 3rd period, Simard would bury the game winner on the powerplay from de Trueno @Thunder and Robinson.  The Steel would draw back to within 1, but the Warriors would seal the Steel fate with an empty netter by Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877 and that was all she wrote.  In the ensuing celebrations, an ecstatic Nathan had only two words for any who may have doubted his managerial pedigree, “I’m him.” 
 
It’s hard to argue with the confidence of a manager who clinched World Junior Championship gold with Team World and the Junior Showcase Championship on back-to-back nights.  Safe to say, his managerial career is off to a hot start and he’ll be carrying this confidence into his first season as general manager for the Mississauga Hounds in the VHLM.  And while the Warriors’ triumph may be the top story of the tournament, it was far from the only one.  
 
 
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
 
 
www.hitsfordays.jst - Okay, here’s a random fun fact for you, would you believe that the top three hitters in the JST were Wladyslaw Mintus @mintusaurus, WWumbo @Fire Tortorella, and Walter Jinn @Adrest245?  Welcome to the world of weird and wacky... or maybe that's just my tired brain getting overly excited about the letter W.  Did I mention that the Warriors won the JST?  Sorry-- on with the article!
 
 
Fire Brigade
 
At one point in the regular schedule, the Brigade were the class of the field.  In my preview article, I had the Brigade ranked 5th in the early roster power rankings and it seems that @samx's squad took that to heart.  From days 11-25 of the tournament, the Brigade were unbeaten– 11-0-0 during that stretch, outscoring their opponents 32-15.  Unfortunately, the Brigade cooled off immediately following this hot streak and lost their next 6 in a row, finishing the season 3-4-4 in their next 11 games.  For the Brigade, it was perhaps a case of peaking at the wrong time.  Though they still finished the regular season in 2nd place behind the Warriors, their late struggles seemed to shake their confidence in the playoffs as they fell to the Steel in 6 games in the first round, despite having home ice advantage.  
 
Notably, Tyler Lawson @Nyx was the Brigade’s leading scorer throughout the regular season and the playoffs.  The 14th overall selection of the Helsinki Titans scored 26 points in the 30 regular season games and followed that up with 9 points in the Brigade’s 6 playoff games.  Defender, Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher, and winger, UghSike @UghSike, both led the team and were among the tournament’s top scorers during the Brigade’s 11 game tear, but both cooled off considerably down the stretch, finishing with 22 and 21 points respectively.  The team boasted a strong two-way game with players like Goncalves @leandrofg, Reynolds Jr @Crstats23, and Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito leading the way in that respect, but seemed to lack scoring punch at times, conceding points in a tournament high 6 shootout or overtime losses.  Though they led the tournament with 212 shots blocked, the Brigade conversion rate of 9.91% on the powerplay was nearly 5% lower than the league average.  
 
While goaltending was thought to be a question mark for this team entering the tournament, it proved to be a strength as Da TypThond @Erik and Kendra Cavill @Firekiss both posted solid numbers in the regular season, highlighted by Da TypThond’s .918 SV% and 1.84 GAA.  In the playoffs, however, Cavill struggled to a .877 SV% and 4.75 GAA in all 6 starts for the Brigade.  Though it would be unfair to pin the Brigade’s playoff disappointment on Cavill who performed well during the regular season, it was certainly a performance to forget.  
 
 
Solid Steel
 
In my preview for the Steel, I suggested that if they chose to play Kolesinska @chikn and Swift @lilchrist on the same line along with Artav @jake, they could boast one of the most complete starting lineups in the tournament.  While Swift and Kolesinska didn’t play together all season on the Steel’s top line, they did play together on the team’s tournament best powerplay.  Perhaps the team I was most accurate about in that preview, the Steel placed a solid 3rd in the tournament, never losing more than 3 games in a row or winning more than 4 in a row.  The Steel were consistently a solid team throughout the tournament with Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee leading the way from the blueline, notching 34 points in 30 games.  He was also tied with Trimiskez Artav with 13 goals, which was the second highest goal total in the tournament.  
 
Despite the Steel’s consistency, there were some anomalous numbers on their stat page, including Abenduct and Dukat @MSouthworth both being a minus rating throughout the tournament at 5-on-5.  For the Steel, the statistical performance of goaltender, Ondrej Vencko @Mutti, was also a bit mystifying.  With a .904 SV% and 2.07 GAA in a tournament-high 17 starts, Vencko’s numbers were respectable, though perhaps not as impressive as his closest rivals from this past season in the VHLM.  Vencko, however, did claim the distinction of the tournament’s most victorious goalie, claiming 12 wins with only 5 losses on his record.  In the playoffs, however, Vencko was arguably outperformed by his backup, Austin Goulet III @Tuchy, who posted a .919% compared with Vencko’s .903%, though both goalies held a record of 3-3.  
 
For Steel GM, @dstevensonjr, this tournament has to be considered a success.  Entering the playoffs as the 3rd seed and knocking off the Brigade in the first round, the Steel were in the final with a chance to win it all. Despite losing the first two games of the finals on the Warrior’s home ice, the Steel pulled off two wins in their own barn to draw even at two games apiece.  Unfortunately, they lost a close game 5 to the Warriors 4-3 which was punctuated by a Jean-Pierre Devote @eagle_3450 hattrick, and then the 4-2 loss in game 6.  While they didn’t achieve their desired outcome, the Steel proved to be a formidable opponent throughout the season and measured up competitively against the eventual champions.  
 
 
No Rush
 
If it wasn’t for the performance of Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish, I’m not sure where this team might have finished… Where have I heard this story before?  Lovstrom paced the field of netminders with a .931 SV%, a 1.44 GAA and an impressive 4 shutouts in 15 games.  Compare those numbers to his counterpart, Connor Hellebuyck @HockeyFan4Life, who is no slouch between the pipes, and you start to see why Lovstrom was so important to his team.  For his part, in an equal sample of 15 games, Hellebuyck posted a .902% and 2.51 GAA.  While he won the same number of games as Lovstrom, it’s clear which goalie gave his team the best chance to win.  In the best of 5 play-in round, Lovstrom still managed a respectable .906, despite a shocking 4.50 GAA which likely reflects more on the team’s performance in front of him as the Rush would fall in 4 games to the Royals, who were the tournament’s weakest team through the regular season.  
 
Offensively, the Rush were led by 2nd overall selection in the S93 VHL draft, Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor, who finished the tournament with 24 points in 30 games, followed closely by Oliver Loo @Misty with 20 in 30.  Notably, Loo was a net 2nd in the tournament at +11 in 5-on-5 play and tied for net 3rd in goals, also with 11.  In the play-in round, Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8 led the team with 6 points in 4 games, though the team seemed to lack scoring throughout that series against the Royals, managing to score only 2 or fewer goals in three of the four games.
 
The Rush never really seemed to get going in this tournament, losing three consecutive games on four separate occasions, while only managing a three game winning streak at one point during the schedule.  Having the second fewest total goals in the tournament with 62, the Rush were asking a lot of their goaltending tandem– and not to put too fine a point on the goaltending disparity in the Rush crease, Lovstrom only allowed 22 of the team’s 66 goals against.  With a goal differential of only -4, the Rush were not so far off the mark that they weren’t competitive game to game, but they did seem to lack the offensive spark that would have put them in contention for the JST title.  In the end, the overall result was not what the Rush would have hoped for, though the tournament still provided a spotlight for some of the team’s brightest stars.   
 
 
We’ll Never Be Royals…
 
Okay, maybe that subtitle is a little harsh, but I’m trying to keep things light so allow it... please?  Finishing last in the regular season with only 9 wins in 30 games, the Royals never really got going in the Junior Showcase Tournament.  Going 9 games without a win in the middle of the season certainly doesn’t help the cause either.   After their top goal scorer and point getter, Steve French @Seabass, who had 11 goals and 10 assists in 30 games, the next highest goal scorer on the Royals only had 7 goals and 17 points. You might be surprised to learn that this player was selected 1st overall in the recent VHL and VHLE drafts, and also went 1st in the VHLM draft a season ago.  While I don’t think for one second that this JST performance is indicative in the slightest of what Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica is or might become, it is a surprising outcome for a player and a team that I had among the favorites to win the tournament.  
 
Revisiting this Royals roster, it’s frankly shocking how poorly this team performed in the tournament, despite featuring the likes of Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer, Forum Content @frescoelmo, The Phantom of the VHL @Hogan, Maple Dogwood @dogwoodmaple, Felicia Hardy @JCarson, Toby Cooke @KRZY, and the aforementioned Bucatini and French.  With the tandem of Wazinski @samthemancub and Benson @Benson, two proven goaltenders at the VHLM level, it’s even more puzzling that this team allowed the most goals in the tournament– 77!  With a goal differential of -18, they were in a class of their own at the bottom of the table.  Look, I don’t want to pile on a team that had a run of bad luck so I’ll reiterate what I said before– I don’t think their record is indicative of the quality of the players on the roster.  Chalk it up to bad puck luck, chemistry, low morale, or just speak the unspeakable name.
 
Here’s the thing, whatever the Royals were in the regular season, they were a different team in the playoffs.  Take Forum Content, for example, who scored 17 points in the regular season, but 18 points in the playoffs in 20 fewer games!  Oaks and Bucatini experienced similar scoring bumps, both recording 15 points in 10 playoff games.  The Royals would dispatch the Rush convincingly in the best-of-five play-in round, and matched up quite competitively against the eventual champion Warriors, losing in 6 games.  If nothing else, the tale of two teams that was the Royals in this tournament is just another example of how fickle the game can be at times– or perhaps we just give the devil his name… Simon.
 
 
The Warriors are… them?
 
If their GM, Nathan, is him, then they are them, but let’s not get bogged down in semantics.  The bottom line is that the Warriors were the class of the tournament.  The only team with more than a +1 goal differential, the Warriors lapped the field with an absurd +20 in 30 games, finishing the tournament with a record of 21-8-1. In the regular season, Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG led the way with 16 goals and 30 points in 30 games, while Jean-Pierre Devote pitched in 20 assists to go with his 8 goals.  Jillian Woods and Ray Stanton @horoscope were standouts on the back end, logging 23 and 21 points respectively, but it was the Warrior’s goalie who may have really stolen the spotlight.  Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen played an unbelievable tournament, recording 11 wins with only 4 losses in his 15 starts, a .924 SV%, and a 1.51 GAA.  In the playoffs, AKK continued his strong run of form with 8 wins and only 3 losses, a .920%, and a 2.72 GAA.  While Lovstrom may have had slightly better percentages and Vencko, more wins, AKK played the most consistent tournament of those 3 top goalies and deserved every bit of his team’s victory.
 
Throughout the tournament, the Warriors never really struggled and, unlike the Brigade, managed to heat up at just the right time.  Down the stretch, the Warriors racked up 11 wins in their last 12 games and went into the playoffs flaming hot.  In the playoffs, they would never face elimination and took care of business against the resurgent Royals and the consistent Steel. While the Brigade came the closest in the regular season to reaching the level of the Warriors, they seemed to lack the bona fide starting goaltender that the Warriors had to go along with a strong blueline and a frightening forward corps.  This was a well constructed Warriors team that found a way to win most nights and delivered on the lofty promises made by their GM before the tournament started.  Fair play and congratulations to the Warriors on a dominant Junior Showcase Tournament!
 
 
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
 
 
 Players of the Tournament:
 
Goalie: Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu
Regular Season (11-4-0, .924%, 1.51 GAA, 2 SO)
Playoffs (8-3-1, .920%, 2.72 GAA)  
 
As I suggested earlier, I think AKK was the most consistent goalie throughout the tournament and played a huge part in his team’s success.  While his last season in the VHLM may not have played out the way he hoped, his JST performance reminded us why he’s considered among the best goalies in his draft class and was a highly rated prospect in the recent VHL and VHLE drafts.  Congratulations to Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen on a fantastic tournament.
 
 
Skater: Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee
Regular Season (30GP, 13G, 21A, 34P)
Playoffs: (12GP, 9G, 13A, 22P)
 
There’s really not much debate when it comes to the top skater of the tournament and who I would consider the tournament MVP.  Abenduct led the tournament in points as a defenseman, scoring the second most goals, and recording the highest assist total.  He was also 3rd in shots blocked, 6th in hits, and played the 4th most minutes of any player in the tournament.  In the playoffs, he led the tournament in points again, had the 2nd most goals, 3rd most assists, and was 2nd in shots blocked.   It was an absolutely dominant performance by Abenduct at this tournament and there’s really no other player who performed at the same level throughout both the regular schedule and the playoffs.  Though he came up short in the finals with the Steel, it wasn’t for lack of effort.  Congratulations to Benjamin Abenduct for his incredible individual performance and a great run to the final.
 
 
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
 
 
And that concludes my coverage of the S93 Junior Showcase Tournament!  Thank you to all the players and managers for giving us an entertaining showcase, as well as the simmers and commissioners who made it all happen behind the scenes… despite a few hiccups and a false start.  I wish the best of luck to all the players continuing their careers-- some returning back to the M, while others are moving up to the E, and even potentially the VHL as early as this season.  We’ll see what the future holds for this generation of players, but if this JST was anything to go by, the future is bright!
 
 
 
LucyXpher for VSN
Claim 03/24/24 - 2676 words
Claim 03/31/24

🔥 HELLO HOUSTON FANS!! 🔥
 
Just recently the S93 VHLM Dispersal Draft wrapped up. Last weekend before this one, the VHL and VHLE completed their S93 entry drafts as well. Houston was VERY excited to watch the big screen for all three drafts and see the S92 Bulls roster flying off the boards! Here is a recap of our squad and where their futures will lead:
 
 
(C) Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica
 Davos - 1st overall
 Oslo - 1st overall
 
(D) Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher
 Riga - 3rd overall
 Vasteras - 2nd overall
 
(G) Ondrej Vencko @Mutti
 Prague - 8th overall
 Vasteras - 26th overall
 
(D) Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee
 Moscow - 9th overall
 Oslo - 5th overall
 
(RW) Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8
 Seattle - 10th overall
 Rome - 9th overall
 
(LW) Chris Reynolds Jr @Crstats23
 New York - 11th overall
 Oslo - 11th overall
 
(C) Tyler Lawson @Nyx
 Helsinki - 14th overall
 Rome  - 21st overall
 
(LW) Miner vHLer @Rhynex Entertainment
 Calgary  - 17th overall
 Oslo - 31st overall
 
(G) Herald Benson @Benson
 D.C. - 19th overall
 Cologne - 22nd overall
 
(D) Cody Toland @ctoland102
 Warsaw - 25th overall
 Cologne - 19th overall
 
(RW) Jack Dickins @Mystery_boy98
 Prague - 28th overall
 Oslo - 49th overall
 
(LW) Filip Zinek @FiZi
 Seattle - 32nd overall
 Bratislava - 41st overall
 
(C) Micah Cederbaum @MicahC
 Chicago - 46th overall
 Cologne - 54th overall
 
 
I'm pumped! We smashed these drafts and it literally felt like my birthday when I saw 4 Bulls get drafted in a row in the first round of the VHL draft. Makes me feel like I actually did something as a GM to see all these players getting drafted so high, it motivates me to want to do it again every season! The VHLM Draft ended yesterday and Houston has some new AND familiar faces to introduce:
 
(D) Billy Joel @The goat of hockey

27th overall / 24th overall / 16th overall
 
The name just checks out. If you didn't know, The goat of hockey is my new AGM in Houston! I was really hoping their player, Billy Joel, could drop to 16th since for 1. they are my AGM and 2. I was hoping to draft a defender with our first pick. Joel has a solid build and should be our #1 guy to rely on when it comes to the blue line. It is always fun playing for the team you manage so I think this is a perfect home for Billy Joel.
 
(LW) Filip Zinek @FiZi

32nd overall / 41st overall / 32nd overall
 
A familiar face! Filip Zinek was part of the Houston Bulls' roster last season and I was SHOCKED to see them still available at 32. Zinek isn't the loudest in the locker room or forums but is always a pleasure to have a conversation with 1 on 1 so I really wanted them back! Zinek will be our top offensive threat heading into the start of this season.
 
(D) Wladyslaw Mintus @mintusaurus

37th overall / 37th overall / 36th overall
 
Wladyslaw Mintus may have been surprised to come to Houston. As draft day was approaching I was sending out last minute interviews and wanted to send one Mintus' way in case I could take them at 16th overall. Fast forward to 36th overall and they were still available! The Oslo-Calgary chain line caught my eye as well (my current player is playing for Calgary and played for Oslo) and I am really excited to get to know this first gen more as the season rolls on.
 
(RW) - Cole Stermer @Bazeus

57th overall / 53rd overall / 51st overall
 
As the draft was winding down I saw Cole Stermer still alive on the board. Stermer has been consistently earning weekly and I wanted to take a gamble, so I traded up to pick 51 to draft them! Las Vegas received Houston pick 56 and 66 in return. There is a lot of potential to come from this prospect I feel, with time and teaching I am hoping to make Cole Stermer a VHLM graduate! I know with Rory and Bana also in their DMs that this should be a fun player to work with.
 
 
It was definitely a slim draft for Houston as I did trade Houston's 1st and 3rd round picks away earlier last season. With that in mind I also made a trade so our capped goaltender could get some depth shooters in front of him to start the season (Benson was the only player on our roster before the trade). Here is what our roster looked like before the 4 draftees walked in:
 
 (G) Herald Benson @Benson

19th overall / 22nd overall / 25th overall
 
(C) Charlie Klepacki @chuck.hockey7

40th overall / 64th overall / 34th overall
 
(LW) Elf Shoes @ELF_SH0ES

54th overall / 60th overall / 37th overall
 
Herald Benson played the backup role for Houston heading into S92 playoffs last season. With the crease fully under his control now, I am really excited to see what kind of numbers he can produce! I just needed to figure out how to put a team in front of him. Not many defenders were on the trade block heading into the draft but forwards were, specifically from Miami. Charlie Kelpacki and Elf Shoes are two very consistent earners who I hope can have some fun with us this season. I traded away our S94 1st round pick for these two forwards but if you know me then you know that I am allergic to owning 1st round picks. Hopefully these two new prospects, our capped goaltender, and the four new draft picks from this draft can start our season off strong! Everyone is currently 100+ TPE which is nice to see, but we have lots of work to do still if playoffs are going to be in the question.
 
 
Lastly, the magician @Triller made a beautiful graphic last season and I am going to try my best to make one half as good this season! Graphics have always been something I have tried to get better at and Triller made it nice and easy PNGing the Filip Zinek #88 jersey you see below. I'll need some more jersey numbers first before I attempt creating graphics, but also below is the list of numbers we have so far:
 
  
 
S93 Houston Bulls Jersey Numbers
 
#14 Herald Benson 🇨🇦
#69 Billy Joel 🇨🇦
#88 Filip Zinek 🇨🇿 
#98 Wladyslaw Mintus 🇺🇸
 
Charlie Kelpacki 🇨🇦
Cole Stermer 🇨🇦
Elf Shoes 🇺🇸
 
 
That's all for now. I hope everyone is enjoying their St. Patty's today 🍀🍻

Having finally settled down in his . . . humble apartment in Rome, he scribbled in a notebook on the desk in his living room which, well, also happened to be his bedroom. And his kitchen. Underneath some pencil marks spelling out an introductory phrase in English, he wrote out another phrase just underneath. "Ciao il mio nome è Tyler," he trailed off, a hand to his forehead. The language barrier was something that had been troubling him - without the Gladiators organization helping to acquire his apartment, he'd be sleeping out on the streets, no doubt. Shaking his head, he got back into his notebook not allowing himself to grow distracted. Just as he picked up his pencil from his desk, he shot out of his chair in shock as the chime of his ringtone filled the room. Who the hell is calling at this time of night?' He thought, annoyed that he'd been disturbed once again.
 
    "I swear whoever called, I'm going to give them a piece of my-" He froze as he picked up the call and heard the voice on the other end. "Hello, is this Tyler Lawson?" The voice asked, to which Tyler confirmed. "Please hold for [USA Manager name] for the World Junior Championship." His eyes grew wide as he removed his phone from his ear to look at the phone in disbelief over what he was hearing. 'Did they say Team USA?'  He thought, 'No shot - there's no way.'
 
    If he had any more doubts, it was shattered quickly as the team manager informed him of their interest in him playing for the squad, should he be interested. "Yes!" He shouted, "Uh - definitely, I'd . . . uh, it would be an honor, amazing really, I . . . yes, I'd love to." He stammered, his words stumbling over themselves as words were flowing out of his mouth uncontrollably. He winced knowing that the other tenants would likely complain of his outburst just now - what an impression to make on his first night, huh? 
 
    As the other side of the phone assured him they'd keep and touch and clicked off the call, Lawson couldn't help yet another outburst as he punched the air excitedly. "USA! USA! USA!" He chanted in his celebration, a smile plastered across his face that he couldn't shake off even if he wanted to. During his chanting, though, a man from the floor beneath him began yelling loudly at him in Italian, and from the little knowledge he DID have on the language, he could tell they weren't very friendly words.
 
    "I, err, sorry!" He yelled back before resting his head in his hands. "Damnit," he muttered before tossing himself onto his bed, laying on his back. He couldn't help but to just stare at the ceiling thinking about this new opportunity - no, he wouldn't be getting much rest tonight, he thought.

The loud crack of a hockey stick rang out through the empty arena, echoing off of the walls as the only sound in an otherwise silent stadium.  Shortly after that, the sound of skates on ice could be heard as the player skated off the ice and onto the bench. His helmet dropped and rolled around the concrete flooring, the pants of the player loud and frequent. Tyler Lawson threw his head back, wiping sweat from his brow, as he took in his surroundings. Having been cut from the Houston Bulls as he was entering the VLHE Draft, he asked a favor of the staff to let him skate around in Houston for one last time. Lawson had broken his hockey stick out on the rink, taking it as a sign that maybe his time on the ice here was ending. Having spent the better part of a year living here, he felt an odd, almost indescribable feeling creeping up on him knowing that after the draft, he could be playing god knows where. After getting so accustomed to the culture in Houston, he frowned thinking of how it was almost like a reset for him. Not that would be a bad thing necessarily, but he'd enjoyed his time here and the change worried him. 
 
    He tossed aside his stick, letting it bounce with a clang against the metal bench, before pulling out his phone. He scrolled through a folder in his gallery app, compiled of all the memories he'd made with the team through many various photos and videos. He would take a few more - of the stadium, a selfie on the ice, just taking it all in as he never knew when, or if, he'd be back. He found himself smiling as he scrolled through the media, and looked back on all the team dinners, the pranks played, and the charity events. Enveloped in nostalgia, he had to remind himself to be happy of everything he started here - as his time in Houston was slipping through his fingers, he wanted to end it off on a high note. After all, he would hate to have to look back on his times here and only be able to remember moping around about leaving. His eyes scanned the stands and his mind was filled with the roars of the crowd, the wins and the losses, everything that'd led him to that point. Shaking himself out of it, he let out a small grunt as stood, finding his footing.
 
    Letting out a small sigh, Tyler knew he'd overstayed his welcome. He'd scoop up his immediate belongings, before turning to make way for the locker rooms. On the trip over, he made sure to take in the arena he'd grown fond of over the past season. He'd almost felt like he had taken it all for granted - deep down, he knew he was off to bigger and better things, though, that didn't stop the heartache he felt leaving his teammates behind. As he stepped into the locker room, he read the nametags above every locker before making his way over to his. He scooped the rest of his items, placing them in his bag, before shouldering the bag again. 
 
   As he made his way for the player's exit of the arena, he made sure to thank the staff on the way out for allowing him to check the arena out one last time, as well as for their contributions to the team. Finally exiting the arena, he made his way for a black SUV he'd rented ahead of time that would be taking him to the airport. It only made sense, in his eyes, to watch the draft from home with his family. Lawson wasn't exactly top-pick material, and as such, he decided against attending the draft in person. This way, it allowed for him to spend time with his family without killing his pockets, he thought. 
 
   He pulled out his phone, checking social media to ease his nerves. Call it conceited, but recently, Tyler had been watching the VHL mock drafts, he was unsurprisingly anxious about the whole ordeal. I mean, whoever drafted him, that very well could be his home until the wheels fell off and he was to retire. He didn't really mind where he was going - well, that was untrue, he'd prefer somewhere a little warmer in climate. At the least during the summer, he thought, as he couldn't think of a ton of places in the world where hockey was played that were quite as hot as anywhere he'd lived before. He'd also secretly hoped to be drafted alongside a few of his teammates - I know, something of a pipe dream. It was highly unlikely, and he didn't honestly expect as much, though it was a fun thought.
 
   As the ride went on, Tyler found himself often looking out the window - watching on as they passed his favorite local restaurants, murals across the city, museums, and loads of places he'd spent his free time the last year. He'd loved especially visiting the Rangers during their regular season games, as every time he'd go, they tended to throw him up on the jumbotron, and he'd meet a few players ever once in a while. He did love the attention, honestly, but it was freeing to get out someplace where he wasn't the center of attention. Sure, he'd get asked for some photos every once in a while, or maybe some fan of the team would strike up a conversation, but for the most part - he was left alone, the other bystanders were there to watch the game the same as him. He even visited a few of the World Series games, rooting for the Rangers. If not for the fact he was playing for Houston's hockey team, then because of Arizona being the ones to knock out his favorite team, the Dodgers.
 
    As he recovered from his thoughts, he looked down in surprise as the driver thanked him and announced they were at their stop. Lawson shook his head in disbelief before getting his stuff together and exiting the car. He wouldn't dwell on it, but he was confused as he hadn't thought he'd been stuck in thought for quite so long. Entering the airport and making his way through TSA, he found himself waiting for his flight to LAX. He'd taken this same trip not too long ago during the playoffs, and now here he was, heading back home once more and preparing for the draft. He was surprised at how fast things changed - just a year ago, it seemed like his hockey dreams were over - nobody cared about him as a prospect or took him seriously barring his injury at UCLA, and when Houston took a chance on him . . . well, he wouldn't let it go to waste. That much was evident now, but reflecting on the situation, he didn't think he could blame them. He had just taken one of the most serious injuries an athlete can have, and this was coming off of an already shaky injury history back in high school. Now wasn't the time to reflect on that, though, he figured as he stood up to explore the airport.
 
   Taking a few photos with fans and grabbing something from the airport for lunch, it wasn't too long before his flight was scheduled for boarding. As he took his suitcase, and his duffle bag slung over his shoulder, he walked down the jet bridge before boarding the plane. He smiled and greeted the attendants before making his way to his seat in first class. He cheaped out on his last flight and had grown to regret it, as a baby crying made it pretty difficult for him to get any rest. As he took his seat, he rummaged through his bag reaching for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that he'd toss on. Buckling his seatbelt, he'd cross his arms and close his eyes, nodding off not too long after the fact.
 
    As he awoke, he groggily rubbed his eyes before checking the flight tracker ahead of him. '30 minutes,' he thought, 'not too bad'. Reaching into his bag once more, he retrieved a book that he'd bought at one of the airport shops back in Houston. He decided that he could get a little bit of reading in before disembarking, and it helped to ease his nerves a bit. Despite things going alright last time, this was only his second ever flight and he was stil . . . somewhat nervous about the thought of the plane going down. The book had managed to be a successful outlet for distracting himself, as before he knew it, he was exiting just as quickly as he'd boarded the flight. Lugging his belongings behind him, he met his parents outside near the front and after helping him with loading his belongings, they'd make the two-hour trip to take him to his childhood home, where he'd set up shop for the next week or two as they awaited the results of the draft to see where he'd be living for the foreseeable future. 
 
    Much to the dismay of many of his friends ("Dude, you seriously didn't want to attend live?"), on draft day, he opted to watch the whole thing from the comfort of his family home in Poway, California. Surrounded by his loved ones, he took in the atmosphere and cherished the environment as, to be honest, he didn't know when he'd see a lot of these people again. He had childhood friends, cousins, uncles, grandparents - you name it. He found it really heartwarming that so many people cared to make such a big deal of his accomplishments - he didn't think it was all that serious, but he was clearly in the minority.
 
   "With the first pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the HC Davos Dynamo select . . . Antonia Bucatini!" The room erupted with claps and cheers - he had been teammates with Antonia, after all. A smile crept on Tyler's face as he celebrated for his teammate. He hadn't spent too much time thinking about it before, he had been too nervous about his own position, but he was going to be interested to see where his teammates would end up. He hadn't known Antonia for all too long as he was sent to Houston nearing the trade deadline, but Tyler had looked up to the guy who'd been essentially the consensus number-one pick this draft. 
 
    To the surprise of nobody, it wouldn't be too long before another of his former teammates would fly off the boards. "With the third pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the Riga Reign select . . . Lucy Leiter!" Again, the room seemed to fill entirely with celebration. He wasn't all too surprised, honestly, she was a lock for the top three in nearly every analyst's mock draft, and he could see why. Having played alongside her for so long, her impact in the locker room and around the league as a whole didn't go unnoticed. Her drive was really unlike anything he'd seen before. He was really excited for her alongside Antonia, and he looked forward to seeing the two again in the future.
 
    He hadn't been expecting a phone call or anything all too soon - he didn't really know where he'd land, but he was guessing somewhere in the second or third round given the deep talent pool. He anxiously began to pace, he knew he'd be left on the board for awhile and the thought made him sick, honestly. The tenth pick just came through and Ecker, another of his teammates, had just been selected. 'Bulls just flying off the boards, huh,' he thought with a small laugh. A few more picks would come in, and he jumped unexpectedly as his phone on the counter began to ring. Everyone in the room turned their heads towards him and the room went dead silent. Tyler scanning the room felt white as a blanket, and walked back over to his phone. He let out a small gulp, "I . . . uhm, I . . . I gotta take this," he just managed to let out before taking his phone and sprinting up to his room upstairs. He recognized the number as one belonging to his agent, who'd break the news for him. 
 
"Son, you've just been drafted to the Helinski Titans."
 
 
* 2,059 words

Having finally settled down in his . . . humble apartment in Rome, he scribbled in a notebook on the desk in his living room which, well, also happened to be his bedroom. And his kitchen. Underneath some pencil marks spelling out an introductory phrase in English, he wrote out another phrase just underneath. "Ciao il mio nome è Tyler," he trailed off, a hand to his forehead. The language barrier was something that had been troubling him - without the Gladiators organization helping to acquire his apartment, he'd be sleeping out on the streets, no doubt. Shaking his head, he got back into his notebook not allowing himself to grow distracted. Just as he picked up his pencil from his desk, he shot out of his chair in shock as the chime of his ringtone filled the room. Who the hell is calling at this time of night?' He thought, annoyed that he'd been disturbed once again.
 
    "I swear whoever called, I'm going to give them a piece of my-" He froze as he picked up the call and heard the voice on the other end. "Hello, is this Tyler Lawson?" The voice asked, to which Tyler confirmed. "Please hold for [USA Manager name] for the World Junior Championship." His eyes grew wide as he removed his phone from his ear to look at the phone in disbelief over what he was hearing. 'Did they say Team USA?'  He thought, 'No shot - there's no way.'
 
    If he had any more doubts, it was shattered quickly as the team manager informed him of their interest in him playing for the squad, should he be interested. "Yes!" He shouted, "Uh - definitely, I'd . . . uh, it would be an honor, amazing really, I . . . yes, I'd love to." He stammered, his words stumbling over themselves as words were flowing out of his mouth uncontrollably. He winced knowing that the other tenants would likely complain of his outburst just now - what an impression to make on his first night, huh? 
 
    As the other side of the phone assured him they'd keep and touch and clicked off the call, Lawson couldn't help yet another outburst as he punched the air excitedly. "USA! USA! USA!" He chanted in his celebration, a smile plastered across his face that he couldn't shake off even if he wanted to. During his chanting, though, a man from the floor beneath him began yelling loudly at him in Italian, and from the little knowledge he DID have on the language, he could tell they weren't very friendly words.
 
    "I, err, sorry!" He yelled back before resting his head in his hands. "Damnit," he muttered before tossing himself onto his bed, laying on his back. He couldn't help but to just stare at the ceiling thinking about this new opportunity - no, he wouldn't be getting much rest tonight, he thought.

Thank you very much! I really love to write longer forms of media over here as I feel it allows more cohesive storytelling than if I were to split it up over a few weeks or just through writing shorter pieces. I'm happy you enjoyed it, I appreciate you taking the time to read it  

Having finally settled down in his . . . humble apartment in Rome, he scribbled in a notebook on the desk in his living room which, well, also happened to be his bedroom. And his kitchen. Underneath some pencil marks spelling out an introductory phrase in English, he wrote out another phrase just underneath. "Ciao il mio nome è Tyler," he trailed off, a hand to his forehead. The language barrier was something that had been troubling him - without the Gladiators organization helping to acquire his apartment, he'd be sleeping out on the streets, no doubt. Shaking his head, he got back into his notebook not allowing himself to grow distracted. Just as he picked up his pencil from his desk, he shot out of his chair in shock as the chime of his ringtone filled the room. Who the hell is calling at this time of night?' He thought, annoyed that he'd been disturbed once again.
 
    "I swear whoever called, I'm going to give them a piece of my-" He froze as he picked up the call and heard the voice on the other end. "Hello, is this Tyler Lawson?" The voice asked, to which Tyler confirmed. "Please hold for [USA Manager name] for the World Junior Championship." His eyes grew wide as he removed his phone from his ear to look at the phone in disbelief over what he was hearing. 'Did they say Team USA?'  He thought, 'No shot - there's no way.'
 
    If he had any more doubts, it was shattered quickly as the team manager informed him of their interest in him playing for the squad, should he be interested. "Yes!" He shouted, "Uh - definitely, I'd . . . uh, it would be an honor, amazing really, I . . . yes, I'd love to." He stammered, his words stumbling over themselves as words were flowing out of his mouth uncontrollably. He winced knowing that the other tenants would likely complain of his outburst just now - what an impression to make on his first night, huh? 
 
    As the other side of the phone assured him they'd keep and touch and clicked off the call, Lawson couldn't help yet another outburst as he punched the air excitedly. "USA! USA! USA!" He chanted in his celebration, a smile plastered across his face that he couldn't shake off even if he wanted to. During his chanting, though, a man from the floor beneath him began yelling loudly at him in Italian, and from the little knowledge he DID have on the language, he could tell they weren't very friendly words.
 
    "I, err, sorry!" He yelled back before resting his head in his hands. "Damnit," he muttered before tossing himself onto his bed, laying on his back. He couldn't help but to just stare at the ceiling thinking about this new opportunity - no, he wouldn't be getting much rest tonight, he thought.

Awesome article, really well-written

Thank you so much! My favorite part of these sim leagues is world building with my players so it's really awesome to hear that. Hope all goes well for you in the upcoming season as well!

The loud crack of a hockey stick rang out through the empty arena, echoing off of the walls as the only sound in an otherwise silent stadium.  Shortly after that, the sound of skates on ice could be heard as the player skated off the ice and onto the bench. His helmet dropped and rolled around the concrete flooring, the pants of the player loud and frequent. Tyler Lawson threw his head back, wiping sweat from his brow, as he took in his surroundings. Having been cut from the Houston Bulls as he was entering the VLHE Draft, he asked a favor of the staff to let him skate around in Houston for one last time. Lawson had broken his hockey stick out on the rink, taking it as a sign that maybe his time on the ice here was ending. Having spent the better part of a year living here, he felt an odd, almost indescribable feeling creeping up on him knowing that after the draft, he could be playing god knows where. After getting so accustomed to the culture in Houston, he frowned thinking of how it was almost like a reset for him. Not that would be a bad thing necessarily, but he'd enjoyed his time here and the change worried him. 
 
    He tossed aside his stick, letting it bounce with a clang against the metal bench, before pulling out his phone. He scrolled through a folder in his gallery app, compiled of all the memories he'd made with the team through many various photos and videos. He would take a few more - of the stadium, a selfie on the ice, just taking it all in as he never knew when, or if, he'd be back. He found himself smiling as he scrolled through the media, and looked back on all the team dinners, the pranks played, and the charity events. Enveloped in nostalgia, he had to remind himself to be happy of everything he started here - as his time in Houston was slipping through his fingers, he wanted to end it off on a high note. After all, he would hate to have to look back on his times here and only be able to remember moping around about leaving. His eyes scanned the stands and his mind was filled with the roars of the crowd, the wins and the losses, everything that'd led him to that point. Shaking himself out of it, he let out a small grunt as stood, finding his footing.
 
    Letting out a small sigh, Tyler knew he'd overstayed his welcome. He'd scoop up his immediate belongings, before turning to make way for the locker rooms. On the trip over, he made sure to take in the arena he'd grown fond of over the past season. He'd almost felt like he had taken it all for granted - deep down, he knew he was off to bigger and better things, though, that didn't stop the heartache he felt leaving his teammates behind. As he stepped into the locker room, he read the nametags above every locker before making his way over to his. He scooped the rest of his items, placing them in his bag, before shouldering the bag again. 
 
   As he made his way for the player's exit of the arena, he made sure to thank the staff on the way out for allowing him to check the arena out one last time, as well as for their contributions to the team. Finally exiting the arena, he made his way for a black SUV he'd rented ahead of time that would be taking him to the airport. It only made sense, in his eyes, to watch the draft from home with his family. Lawson wasn't exactly top-pick material, and as such, he decided against attending the draft in person. This way, it allowed for him to spend time with his family without killing his pockets, he thought. 
 
   He pulled out his phone, checking social media to ease his nerves. Call it conceited, but recently, Tyler had been watching the VHL mock drafts, he was unsurprisingly anxious about the whole ordeal. I mean, whoever drafted him, that very well could be his home until the wheels fell off and he was to retire. He didn't really mind where he was going - well, that was untrue, he'd prefer somewhere a little warmer in climate. At the least during the summer, he thought, as he couldn't think of a ton of places in the world where hockey was played that were quite as hot as anywhere he'd lived before. He'd also secretly hoped to be drafted alongside a few of his teammates - I know, something of a pipe dream. It was highly unlikely, and he didn't honestly expect as much, though it was a fun thought.
 
   As the ride went on, Tyler found himself often looking out the window - watching on as they passed his favorite local restaurants, murals across the city, museums, and loads of places he'd spent his free time the last year. He'd loved especially visiting the Rangers during their regular season games, as every time he'd go, they tended to throw him up on the jumbotron, and he'd meet a few players ever once in a while. He did love the attention, honestly, but it was freeing to get out someplace where he wasn't the center of attention. Sure, he'd get asked for some photos every once in a while, or maybe some fan of the team would strike up a conversation, but for the most part - he was left alone, the other bystanders were there to watch the game the same as him. He even visited a few of the World Series games, rooting for the Rangers. If not for the fact he was playing for Houston's hockey team, then because of Arizona being the ones to knock out his favorite team, the Dodgers.
 
    As he recovered from his thoughts, he looked down in surprise as the driver thanked him and announced they were at their stop. Lawson shook his head in disbelief before getting his stuff together and exiting the car. He wouldn't dwell on it, but he was confused as he hadn't thought he'd been stuck in thought for quite so long. Entering the airport and making his way through TSA, he found himself waiting for his flight to LAX. He'd taken this same trip not too long ago during the playoffs, and now here he was, heading back home once more and preparing for the draft. He was surprised at how fast things changed - just a year ago, it seemed like his hockey dreams were over - nobody cared about him as a prospect or took him seriously barring his injury at UCLA, and when Houston took a chance on him . . . well, he wouldn't let it go to waste. That much was evident now, but reflecting on the situation, he didn't think he could blame them. He had just taken one of the most serious injuries an athlete can have, and this was coming off of an already shaky injury history back in high school. Now wasn't the time to reflect on that, though, he figured as he stood up to explore the airport.
 
   Taking a few photos with fans and grabbing something from the airport for lunch, it wasn't too long before his flight was scheduled for boarding. As he took his suitcase, and his duffle bag slung over his shoulder, he walked down the jet bridge before boarding the plane. He smiled and greeted the attendants before making his way to his seat in first class. He cheaped out on his last flight and had grown to regret it, as a baby crying made it pretty difficult for him to get any rest. As he took his seat, he rummaged through his bag reaching for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that he'd toss on. Buckling his seatbelt, he'd cross his arms and close his eyes, nodding off not too long after the fact.
 
    As he awoke, he groggily rubbed his eyes before checking the flight tracker ahead of him. '30 minutes,' he thought, 'not too bad'. Reaching into his bag once more, he retrieved a book that he'd bought at one of the airport shops back in Houston. He decided that he could get a little bit of reading in before disembarking, and it helped to ease his nerves a bit. Despite things going alright last time, this was only his second ever flight and he was stil . . . somewhat nervous about the thought of the plane going down. The book had managed to be a successful outlet for distracting himself, as before he knew it, he was exiting just as quickly as he'd boarded the flight. Lugging his belongings behind him, he met his parents outside near the front and after helping him with loading his belongings, they'd make the two-hour trip to take him to his childhood home, where he'd set up shop for the next week or two as they awaited the results of the draft to see where he'd be living for the foreseeable future. 
 
    Much to the dismay of many of his friends ("Dude, you seriously didn't want to attend live?"), on draft day, he opted to watch the whole thing from the comfort of his family home in Poway, California. Surrounded by his loved ones, he took in the atmosphere and cherished the environment as, to be honest, he didn't know when he'd see a lot of these people again. He had childhood friends, cousins, uncles, grandparents - you name it. He found it really heartwarming that so many people cared to make such a big deal of his accomplishments - he didn't think it was all that serious, but he was clearly in the minority.
 
   "With the first pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the HC Davos Dynamo select . . . Antonia Bucatini!" The room erupted with claps and cheers - he had been teammates with Antonia, after all. A smile crept on Tyler's face as he celebrated for his teammate. He hadn't spent too much time thinking about it before, he had been too nervous about his own position, but he was going to be interested to see where his teammates would end up. He hadn't known Antonia for all too long as he was sent to Houston nearing the trade deadline, but Tyler had looked up to the guy who'd been essentially the consensus number-one pick this draft. 
 
    To the surprise of nobody, it wouldn't be too long before another of his former teammates would fly off the boards. "With the third pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the Riga Reign select . . . Lucy Leiter!" Again, the room seemed to fill entirely with celebration. He wasn't all too surprised, honestly, she was a lock for the top three in nearly every analyst's mock draft, and he could see why. Having played alongside her for so long, her impact in the locker room and around the league as a whole didn't go unnoticed. Her drive was really unlike anything he'd seen before. He was really excited for her alongside Antonia, and he looked forward to seeing the two again in the future.
 
    He hadn't been expecting a phone call or anything all too soon - he didn't really know where he'd land, but he was guessing somewhere in the second or third round given the deep talent pool. He anxiously began to pace, he knew he'd be left on the board for awhile and the thought made him sick, honestly. The tenth pick just came through and Ecker, another of his teammates, had just been selected. 'Bulls just flying off the boards, huh,' he thought with a small laugh. A few more picks would come in, and he jumped unexpectedly as his phone on the counter began to ring. Everyone in the room turned their heads towards him and the room went dead silent. Tyler scanning the room felt white as a blanket, and walked back over to his phone. He let out a small gulp, "I . . . uhm, I . . . I gotta take this," he just managed to let out before taking his phone and sprinting up to his room upstairs. He recognized the number as one belonging to his agent, who'd break the news for him. 
 
"Son, you've just been drafted to the Helinski Titans."
 
 
* 2,059 words

This is really high praise coming from you, thank you so much! Playing for Sam is going to be really awesome, but I can say the same for you with Riga - they've got an amazing user in you, it's almost crazy the amount of accolades you have under your belt in such a short time. I can't wait to see what else you end up doing for this community, I feel like you've already accomplished a lot and made a huge mark with both your player and your multiple GM gigs and I'm honestly very excited to see your future in the league.

This is simply amazing! I loved reading your piece here, the depth of it and how it's easy to envision the scenes and what's happening. It's almost like I'm reading a piece out of an autobiography book and can't wait to read what happens next for Tyler Lawson. Well done, I'm excited to see what you write next!

I had this marked to read when I had some time to do it right and it’s so beautifully written!  I really want to see more pieces like this on the forum and I really hope more people see it and get inspired!  I think Helsinki is getting a great one in Tyler Lawson and I’m low key jealous that you’ll get to play for Sam (not that I am anything less than excited to play in Riga btw).  A complete steal of a pick for the Titans and I’m really happy for you!  I can’t wait to see how far you go and what you can accomplish with this player, especially writing pieces like this!  

The loud crack of a hockey stick rang out through the empty arena, echoing off of the walls as the only sound in an otherwise silent stadium.  Shortly after that, the sound of skates on ice could be heard as the player skated off the ice and onto the bench. His helmet dropped and rolled around the concrete flooring, the pants of the player loud and frequent. Tyler Lawson threw his head back, wiping sweat from his brow, as he took in his surroundings. Having been cut from the Houston Bulls as he was entering the VLHE Draft, he asked a favor of the staff to let him skate around in Houston for one last time. Lawson had broken his hockey stick out on the rink, taking it as a sign that maybe his time on the ice here was ending. Having spent the better part of a year living here, he felt an odd, almost indescribable feeling creeping up on him knowing that after the draft, he could be playing god knows where. After getting so accustomed to the culture in Houston, he frowned thinking of how it was almost like a reset for him. Not that would be a bad thing necessarily, but he'd enjoyed his time here and the change worried him. 
 
    He tossed aside his stick, letting it bounce with a clang against the metal bench, before pulling out his phone. He scrolled through a folder in his gallery app, compiled of all the memories he'd made with the team through many various photos and videos. He would take a few more - of the stadium, a selfie on the ice, just taking it all in as he never knew when, or if, he'd be back. He found himself smiling as he scrolled through the media, and looked back on all the team dinners, the pranks played, and the charity events. Enveloped in nostalgia, he had to remind himself to be happy of everything he started here - as his time in Houston was slipping through his fingers, he wanted to end it off on a high note. After all, he would hate to have to look back on his times here and only be able to remember moping around about leaving. His eyes scanned the stands and his mind was filled with the roars of the crowd, the wins and the losses, everything that'd led him to that point. Shaking himself out of it, he let out a small grunt as stood, finding his footing.
 
    Letting out a small sigh, Tyler knew he'd overstayed his welcome. He'd scoop up his immediate belongings, before turning to make way for the locker rooms. On the trip over, he made sure to take in the arena he'd grown fond of over the past season. He'd almost felt like he had taken it all for granted - deep down, he knew he was off to bigger and better things, though, that didn't stop the heartache he felt leaving his teammates behind. As he stepped into the locker room, he read the nametags above every locker before making his way over to his. He scooped the rest of his items, placing them in his bag, before shouldering the bag again. 
 
   As he made his way for the player's exit of the arena, he made sure to thank the staff on the way out for allowing him to check the arena out one last time, as well as for their contributions to the team. Finally exiting the arena, he made his way for a black SUV he'd rented ahead of time that would be taking him to the airport. It only made sense, in his eyes, to watch the draft from home with his family. Lawson wasn't exactly top-pick material, and as such, he decided against attending the draft in person. This way, it allowed for him to spend time with his family without killing his pockets, he thought. 
 
   He pulled out his phone, checking social media to ease his nerves. Call it conceited, but recently, Tyler had been watching the VHL mock drafts, he was unsurprisingly anxious about the whole ordeal. I mean, whoever drafted him, that very well could be his home until the wheels fell off and he was to retire. He didn't really mind where he was going - well, that was untrue, he'd prefer somewhere a little warmer in climate. At the least during the summer, he thought, as he couldn't think of a ton of places in the world where hockey was played that were quite as hot as anywhere he'd lived before. He'd also secretly hoped to be drafted alongside a few of his teammates - I know, something of a pipe dream. It was highly unlikely, and he didn't honestly expect as much, though it was a fun thought.
 
   As the ride went on, Tyler found himself often looking out the window - watching on as they passed his favorite local restaurants, murals across the city, museums, and loads of places he'd spent his free time the last year. He'd loved especially visiting the Rangers during their regular season games, as every time he'd go, they tended to throw him up on the jumbotron, and he'd meet a few players ever once in a while. He did love the attention, honestly, but it was freeing to get out someplace where he wasn't the center of attention. Sure, he'd get asked for some photos every once in a while, or maybe some fan of the team would strike up a conversation, but for the most part - he was left alone, the other bystanders were there to watch the game the same as him. He even visited a few of the World Series games, rooting for the Rangers. If not for the fact he was playing for Houston's hockey team, then because of Arizona being the ones to knock out his favorite team, the Dodgers.
 
    As he recovered from his thoughts, he looked down in surprise as the driver thanked him and announced they were at their stop. Lawson shook his head in disbelief before getting his stuff together and exiting the car. He wouldn't dwell on it, but he was confused as he hadn't thought he'd been stuck in thought for quite so long. Entering the airport and making his way through TSA, he found himself waiting for his flight to LAX. He'd taken this same trip not too long ago during the playoffs, and now here he was, heading back home once more and preparing for the draft. He was surprised at how fast things changed - just a year ago, it seemed like his hockey dreams were over - nobody cared about him as a prospect or took him seriously barring his injury at UCLA, and when Houston took a chance on him . . . well, he wouldn't let it go to waste. That much was evident now, but reflecting on the situation, he didn't think he could blame them. He had just taken one of the most serious injuries an athlete can have, and this was coming off of an already shaky injury history back in high school. Now wasn't the time to reflect on that, though, he figured as he stood up to explore the airport.
 
   Taking a few photos with fans and grabbing something from the airport for lunch, it wasn't too long before his flight was scheduled for boarding. As he took his suitcase, and his duffle bag slung over his shoulder, he walked down the jet bridge before boarding the plane. He smiled and greeted the attendants before making his way to his seat in first class. He cheaped out on his last flight and had grown to regret it, as a baby crying made it pretty difficult for him to get any rest. As he took his seat, he rummaged through his bag reaching for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that he'd toss on. Buckling his seatbelt, he'd cross his arms and close his eyes, nodding off not too long after the fact.
 
    As he awoke, he groggily rubbed his eyes before checking the flight tracker ahead of him. '30 minutes,' he thought, 'not too bad'. Reaching into his bag once more, he retrieved a book that he'd bought at one of the airport shops back in Houston. He decided that he could get a little bit of reading in before disembarking, and it helped to ease his nerves a bit. Despite things going alright last time, this was only his second ever flight and he was stil . . . somewhat nervous about the thought of the plane going down. The book had managed to be a successful outlet for distracting himself, as before he knew it, he was exiting just as quickly as he'd boarded the flight. Lugging his belongings behind him, he met his parents outside near the front and after helping him with loading his belongings, they'd make the two-hour trip to take him to his childhood home, where he'd set up shop for the next week or two as they awaited the results of the draft to see where he'd be living for the foreseeable future. 
 
    Much to the dismay of many of his friends ("Dude, you seriously didn't want to attend live?"), on draft day, he opted to watch the whole thing from the comfort of his family home in Poway, California. Surrounded by his loved ones, he took in the atmosphere and cherished the environment as, to be honest, he didn't know when he'd see a lot of these people again. He had childhood friends, cousins, uncles, grandparents - you name it. He found it really heartwarming that so many people cared to make such a big deal of his accomplishments - he didn't think it was all that serious, but he was clearly in the minority.
 
   "With the first pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the HC Davos Dynamo select . . . Antonia Bucatini!" The room erupted with claps and cheers - he had been teammates with Antonia, after all. A smile crept on Tyler's face as he celebrated for his teammate. He hadn't spent too much time thinking about it before, he had been too nervous about his own position, but he was going to be interested to see where his teammates would end up. He hadn't known Antonia for all too long as he was sent to Houston nearing the trade deadline, but Tyler had looked up to the guy who'd been essentially the consensus number-one pick this draft. 
 
    To the surprise of nobody, it wouldn't be too long before another of his former teammates would fly off the boards. "With the third pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the Riga Reign select . . . Lucy Leiter!" Again, the room seemed to fill entirely with celebration. He wasn't all too surprised, honestly, she was a lock for the top three in nearly every analyst's mock draft, and he could see why. Having played alongside her for so long, her impact in the locker room and around the league as a whole didn't go unnoticed. Her drive was really unlike anything he'd seen before. He was really excited for her alongside Antonia, and he looked forward to seeing the two again in the future.
 
    He hadn't been expecting a phone call or anything all too soon - he didn't really know where he'd land, but he was guessing somewhere in the second or third round given the deep talent pool. He anxiously began to pace, he knew he'd be left on the board for awhile and the thought made him sick, honestly. The tenth pick just came through and Ecker, another of his teammates, had just been selected. 'Bulls just flying off the boards, huh,' he thought with a small laugh. A few more picks would come in, and he jumped unexpectedly as his phone on the counter began to ring. Everyone in the room turned their heads towards him and the room went dead silent. Tyler scanning the room felt white as a blanket, and walked back over to his phone. He let out a small gulp, "I . . . uhm, I . . . I gotta take this," he just managed to let out before taking his phone and sprinting up to his room upstairs. He recognized the number as one belonging to his agent, who'd break the news for him. 
 
"Son, you've just been drafted to the Helinski Titans."
 
 
* 2,059 words

With all the effort we've all seen from you on the forums, the discord, and just within the league entirely, I have zero doubt in my mind that you will! Keep up the fantastic work - I can't wait to see what kind of career you'll end up with as a GM and a player! Best of luck

With all the effort we've all seen from you on the forums, the discord, and just within the league entirely, I have zero doubt in my mind that you will! Keep up the fantastic work - I can't wait to see what kind of career you'll end up with as a GM and a player! Best of luck

This past season in the VHLM, my first season here on the forum, has come and gone in the blink of an eye.  It still feels like yesterday that I signed a contract with Houston, not knowing what to expect, how I might fit in, if I could compete, and where I might be in a short season's time.  Well, the season came and passed and what an experience it was.  The longer I'm here, the more I realize how lucky I was to play on my hometown team in Houston, but also to have such great teammates and a GM who really cared.  He'll probably cringe hearing me say it one more time, but he's the best-- @AJW deserves all the recognition he gets for the outstanding job he does daily to keep his players invested, engaged, and continuing to develop.  I learned so much from him this past season and he'll continue to be someone I hold in high regard as I go further with my player and GM careers.  Thank you AJ for everything!
 
My teammates too!  From the first couple of weeks of the season, we really hit it off and became a tight knit group that supported each other in the locker room and across the forum.  Players like @Nathan_8 and @jake seemed to always be hanging out in the locker room, keeping the team going.  With @Mutti, I was inspired by his creativity and humor on the forums to write some fun articles myself and the back and forth we started together was something that really kept me going throughout the season.  I really hope to continue that with him even as we continue on to the VHLE and VHL, especially as we'll get to be teammates on Vasteras!  I also really appreciated the steady locker room presence of @Crstats23, who became our captain by the end of the season.  His stable leadership, experience, an consistency was a great example for us newer players who were still getting our feet under us.  He's been awesome in multiple locker rooms I've been in and I hope to be teammates again someday.  On top of that, I've had great chats with @Nyx who is going to go on to have a fantastic career with Helsinki, and @MicahC who also brought some enthusiasm and creativity to the team.  @ctoland102 was also an awesome teammate who posted some great graphics and really brought the physicality on the ice last season.  And @CowboyinAmerica, who went 1st overall in all 3 drafts over this past season, was an incredible addition that brought a lot to the team on the ice and in the locker room.  Oh-- and who could forget Superbot!  @Rhynex Entertainment was the best leader a team could ever ask for and really gave us a chance to go far this season.  It's only a shame we couldn't get the Founder's Cup in his hands as it would have been supremely deserving!  There are more awesome players and I'd hate to forget anyone-- the whole team was just such a great group and I'm really going to miss our chats and the fun we had in Houston.
 
With that said, all good things must come to an end.  We all knew when the season started that a lot of this team would be moving on and we'd all be divided between teams in the VHLE and VHL.  Having experienced the excitement of the drafts, it was bitter sweet to see our team drafted all over the world. I'm very proud to have been a member of such a great Bulls team and as much as I would have wanted to return for another season in Houston, I'm ready to move on to the next level.  I am honored to have been selected 2nd overall by Vasteras and I'm really excited to join this team as I think we'll have a real shot at winning the championship in the VHLE this next season!  In the VHL draft, going 3rd overall was much higher than I ever expected at the start of the season and I'm thrilled to be going to Riga, which seems to be a young team on the rise.  In a season's time, I hope to be able to join that lineup and become an impact player that can contribute to Continental Cup contention.  I really appreciate both of these teams using their picks to select me and I hope I can live up to your hopes for my player!
 
I'm also excited for the new prospects that come with being a VHLM GM.  I hope to be half the GM that AJ was this past season and I really want to be able to offer new players the same kind of excitement, fun, and community that I had when I joined.  That experience, I think, is what really keeps people here for the long term-- that genuine community and fun that we're all looking for while we enjoy sim hockey.  We can all play a sim manager on our own, but doing it with other people, collaborating, and following each other's progress is what makes it worthwhile.
 
Yeah, I know, this is probably more sentimental than most people would want to read, but I guess this is the time for it as the offseason winds down and the rollover to S93 is in full effect.  I've got some fun ideas for articles next season and I hope to continue to collaborate with some of my former Houston teammates.  The drama must go on!  I wish all the best to the S92 Houston Bulls who are all finding new homes and I hope our paths cross again in the future.  
 
──•~❉᯽❉~•──
LucyXpher
Claim for 03/17/24

The loud crack of a hockey stick rang out through the empty arena, echoing off of the walls as the only sound in an otherwise silent stadium.  Shortly after that, the sound of skates on ice could be heard as the player skated off the ice and onto the bench. His helmet dropped and rolled around the concrete flooring, the pants of the player loud and frequent. Tyler Lawson threw his head back, wiping sweat from his brow, as he took in his surroundings. Having been cut from the Houston Bulls as he was entering the VLHE Draft, he asked a favor of the staff to let him skate around in Houston for one last time. Lawson had broken his hockey stick out on the rink, taking it as a sign that maybe his time on the ice here was ending. Having spent the better part of a year living here, he felt an odd, almost indescribable feeling creeping up on him knowing that after the draft, he could be playing god knows where. After getting so accustomed to the culture in Houston, he frowned thinking of how it was almost like a reset for him. Not that would be a bad thing necessarily, but he'd enjoyed his time here and the change worried him. 
 
    He tossed aside his stick, letting it bounce with a clang against the metal bench, before pulling out his phone. He scrolled through a folder in his gallery app, compiled of all the memories he'd made with the team through many various photos and videos. He would take a few more - of the stadium, a selfie on the ice, just taking it all in as he never knew when, or if, he'd be back. He found himself smiling as he scrolled through the media, and looked back on all the team dinners, the pranks played, and the charity events. Enveloped in nostalgia, he had to remind himself to be happy of everything he started here - as his time in Houston was slipping through his fingers, he wanted to end it off on a high note. After all, he would hate to have to look back on his times here and only be able to remember moping around about leaving. His eyes scanned the stands and his mind was filled with the roars of the crowd, the wins and the losses, everything that'd led him to that point. Shaking himself out of it, he let out a small grunt as stood, finding his footing.
 
    Letting out a small sigh, Tyler knew he'd overstayed his welcome. He'd scoop up his immediate belongings, before turning to make way for the locker rooms. On the trip over, he made sure to take in the arena he'd grown fond of over the past season. He'd almost felt like he had taken it all for granted - deep down, he knew he was off to bigger and better things, though, that didn't stop the heartache he felt leaving his teammates behind. As he stepped into the locker room, he read the nametags above every locker before making his way over to his. He scooped the rest of his items, placing them in his bag, before shouldering the bag again. 
 
   As he made his way for the player's exit of the arena, he made sure to thank the staff on the way out for allowing him to check the arena out one last time, as well as for their contributions to the team. Finally exiting the arena, he made his way for a black SUV he'd rented ahead of time that would be taking him to the airport. It only made sense, in his eyes, to watch the draft from home with his family. Lawson wasn't exactly top-pick material, and as such, he decided against attending the draft in person. This way, it allowed for him to spend time with his family without killing his pockets, he thought. 
 
   He pulled out his phone, checking social media to ease his nerves. Call it conceited, but recently, Tyler had been watching the VHL mock drafts, he was unsurprisingly anxious about the whole ordeal. I mean, whoever drafted him, that very well could be his home until the wheels fell off and he was to retire. He didn't really mind where he was going - well, that was untrue, he'd prefer somewhere a little warmer in climate. At the least during the summer, he thought, as he couldn't think of a ton of places in the world where hockey was played that were quite as hot as anywhere he'd lived before. He'd also secretly hoped to be drafted alongside a few of his teammates - I know, something of a pipe dream. It was highly unlikely, and he didn't honestly expect as much, though it was a fun thought.
 
   As the ride went on, Tyler found himself often looking out the window - watching on as they passed his favorite local restaurants, murals across the city, museums, and loads of places he'd spent his free time the last year. He'd loved especially visiting the Rangers during their regular season games, as every time he'd go, they tended to throw him up on the jumbotron, and he'd meet a few players ever once in a while. He did love the attention, honestly, but it was freeing to get out someplace where he wasn't the center of attention. Sure, he'd get asked for some photos every once in a while, or maybe some fan of the team would strike up a conversation, but for the most part - he was left alone, the other bystanders were there to watch the game the same as him. He even visited a few of the World Series games, rooting for the Rangers. If not for the fact he was playing for Houston's hockey team, then because of Arizona being the ones to knock out his favorite team, the Dodgers.
 
    As he recovered from his thoughts, he looked down in surprise as the driver thanked him and announced they were at their stop. Lawson shook his head in disbelief before getting his stuff together and exiting the car. He wouldn't dwell on it, but he was confused as he hadn't thought he'd been stuck in thought for quite so long. Entering the airport and making his way through TSA, he found himself waiting for his flight to LAX. He'd taken this same trip not too long ago during the playoffs, and now here he was, heading back home once more and preparing for the draft. He was surprised at how fast things changed - just a year ago, it seemed like his hockey dreams were over - nobody cared about him as a prospect or took him seriously barring his injury at UCLA, and when Houston took a chance on him . . . well, he wouldn't let it go to waste. That much was evident now, but reflecting on the situation, he didn't think he could blame them. He had just taken one of the most serious injuries an athlete can have, and this was coming off of an already shaky injury history back in high school. Now wasn't the time to reflect on that, though, he figured as he stood up to explore the airport.
 
   Taking a few photos with fans and grabbing something from the airport for lunch, it wasn't too long before his flight was scheduled for boarding. As he took his suitcase, and his duffle bag slung over his shoulder, he walked down the jet bridge before boarding the plane. He smiled and greeted the attendants before making his way to his seat in first class. He cheaped out on his last flight and had grown to regret it, as a baby crying made it pretty difficult for him to get any rest. As he took his seat, he rummaged through his bag reaching for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that he'd toss on. Buckling his seatbelt, he'd cross his arms and close his eyes, nodding off not too long after the fact.
 
    As he awoke, he groggily rubbed his eyes before checking the flight tracker ahead of him. '30 minutes,' he thought, 'not too bad'. Reaching into his bag once more, he retrieved a book that he'd bought at one of the airport shops back in Houston. He decided that he could get a little bit of reading in before disembarking, and it helped to ease his nerves a bit. Despite things going alright last time, this was only his second ever flight and he was stil . . . somewhat nervous about the thought of the plane going down. The book had managed to be a successful outlet for distracting himself, as before he knew it, he was exiting just as quickly as he'd boarded the flight. Lugging his belongings behind him, he met his parents outside near the front and after helping him with loading his belongings, they'd make the two-hour trip to take him to his childhood home, where he'd set up shop for the next week or two as they awaited the results of the draft to see where he'd be living for the foreseeable future. 
 
    Much to the dismay of many of his friends ("Dude, you seriously didn't want to attend live?"), on draft day, he opted to watch the whole thing from the comfort of his family home in Poway, California. Surrounded by his loved ones, he took in the atmosphere and cherished the environment as, to be honest, he didn't know when he'd see a lot of these people again. He had childhood friends, cousins, uncles, grandparents - you name it. He found it really heartwarming that so many people cared to make such a big deal of his accomplishments - he didn't think it was all that serious, but he was clearly in the minority.
 
   "With the first pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the HC Davos Dynamo select . . . Antonia Bucatini!" The room erupted with claps and cheers - he had been teammates with Antonia, after all. A smile crept on Tyler's face as he celebrated for his teammate. He hadn't spent too much time thinking about it before, he had been too nervous about his own position, but he was going to be interested to see where his teammates would end up. He hadn't known Antonia for all too long as he was sent to Houston nearing the trade deadline, but Tyler had looked up to the guy who'd been essentially the consensus number-one pick this draft. 
 
    To the surprise of nobody, it wouldn't be too long before another of his former teammates would fly off the boards. "With the third pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the Riga Reign select . . . Lucy Leiter!" Again, the room seemed to fill entirely with celebration. He wasn't all too surprised, honestly, she was a lock for the top three in nearly every analyst's mock draft, and he could see why. Having played alongside her for so long, her impact in the locker room and around the league as a whole didn't go unnoticed. Her drive was really unlike anything he'd seen before. He was really excited for her alongside Antonia, and he looked forward to seeing the two again in the future.
 
    He hadn't been expecting a phone call or anything all too soon - he didn't really know where he'd land, but he was guessing somewhere in the second or third round given the deep talent pool. He anxiously began to pace, he knew he'd be left on the board for awhile and the thought made him sick, honestly. The tenth pick just came through and Ecker, another of his teammates, had just been selected. 'Bulls just flying off the boards, huh,' he thought with a small laugh. A few more picks would come in, and he jumped unexpectedly as his phone on the counter began to ring. Everyone in the room turned their heads towards him and the room went dead silent. Tyler scanning the room felt white as a blanket, and walked back over to his phone. He let out a small gulp, "I . . . uhm, I . . . I gotta take this," he just managed to let out before taking his phone and sprinting up to his room upstairs. He recognized the number as one belonging to his agent, who'd break the news for him. 
 
"Son, you've just been drafted to the Helinski Titans."
 
 
* 2,059 words

The Season 92 World Junior Championships will be held on American soil in Salt Lake City, Utah. 
To claim home ice advantage and world hockey supremacy at the junior level, USA Hockey is proud to announce the S92 WJC Team USA roster! 
 
 
Forwards:
 
LW - Chris Reynolds Jr @Crstats23
LW - Joe Shmo @matt sovick
LW - Wally Lose @youloser1337
 
C - George Richmond @badcolethetitan
C - Tyler Lawson @Nyx
C - Taylor Swift @lilchrist
 
RW - Logan Ninefingers @Scurvy
RW - Riley Martin @Smarch
RW - Maple Dogwood @dogwoodmaple
 
Defense:
 
D - Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee
D - Gul Dukat @MSouthworth
 
D - Bric Sheithaus @Oldhead91
D - Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher
 
Goalies:
 
G - Connor Hellebuyck @HockeyFan4Life
G - David Slezak @ShawnGlade
 
 
Players and fans of Team USA are invited to join the WJC discord server to follow all the action around the team as they take on the rest of the world in this best-on-best tournament.  Players, please ping me (@lucyxpher) when you get to the discord and I'll add you to the Team USA locker room!
 
https://discord.gg/SRFqf4YW
 

Thank you so much! My favorite part of these sim leagues is world building with my players so it's really awesome to hear that. Hope all goes well for you in the upcoming season as well!

The loud crack of a hockey stick rang out through the empty arena, echoing off of the walls as the only sound in an otherwise silent stadium.  Shortly after that, the sound of skates on ice could be heard as the player skated off the ice and onto the bench. His helmet dropped and rolled around the concrete flooring, the pants of the player loud and frequent. Tyler Lawson threw his head back, wiping sweat from his brow, as he took in his surroundings. Having been cut from the Houston Bulls as he was entering the VLHE Draft, he asked a favor of the staff to let him skate around in Houston for one last time. Lawson had broken his hockey stick out on the rink, taking it as a sign that maybe his time on the ice here was ending. Having spent the better part of a year living here, he felt an odd, almost indescribable feeling creeping up on him knowing that after the draft, he could be playing god knows where. After getting so accustomed to the culture in Houston, he frowned thinking of how it was almost like a reset for him. Not that would be a bad thing necessarily, but he'd enjoyed his time here and the change worried him. 
 
    He tossed aside his stick, letting it bounce with a clang against the metal bench, before pulling out his phone. He scrolled through a folder in his gallery app, compiled of all the memories he'd made with the team through many various photos and videos. He would take a few more - of the stadium, a selfie on the ice, just taking it all in as he never knew when, or if, he'd be back. He found himself smiling as he scrolled through the media, and looked back on all the team dinners, the pranks played, and the charity events. Enveloped in nostalgia, he had to remind himself to be happy of everything he started here - as his time in Houston was slipping through his fingers, he wanted to end it off on a high note. After all, he would hate to have to look back on his times here and only be able to remember moping around about leaving. His eyes scanned the stands and his mind was filled with the roars of the crowd, the wins and the losses, everything that'd led him to that point. Shaking himself out of it, he let out a small grunt as stood, finding his footing.
 
    Letting out a small sigh, Tyler knew he'd overstayed his welcome. He'd scoop up his immediate belongings, before turning to make way for the locker rooms. On the trip over, he made sure to take in the arena he'd grown fond of over the past season. He'd almost felt like he had taken it all for granted - deep down, he knew he was off to bigger and better things, though, that didn't stop the heartache he felt leaving his teammates behind. As he stepped into the locker room, he read the nametags above every locker before making his way over to his. He scooped the rest of his items, placing them in his bag, before shouldering the bag again. 
 
   As he made his way for the player's exit of the arena, he made sure to thank the staff on the way out for allowing him to check the arena out one last time, as well as for their contributions to the team. Finally exiting the arena, he made his way for a black SUV he'd rented ahead of time that would be taking him to the airport. It only made sense, in his eyes, to watch the draft from home with his family. Lawson wasn't exactly top-pick material, and as such, he decided against attending the draft in person. This way, it allowed for him to spend time with his family without killing his pockets, he thought. 
 
   He pulled out his phone, checking social media to ease his nerves. Call it conceited, but recently, Tyler had been watching the VHL mock drafts, he was unsurprisingly anxious about the whole ordeal. I mean, whoever drafted him, that very well could be his home until the wheels fell off and he was to retire. He didn't really mind where he was going - well, that was untrue, he'd prefer somewhere a little warmer in climate. At the least during the summer, he thought, as he couldn't think of a ton of places in the world where hockey was played that were quite as hot as anywhere he'd lived before. He'd also secretly hoped to be drafted alongside a few of his teammates - I know, something of a pipe dream. It was highly unlikely, and he didn't honestly expect as much, though it was a fun thought.
 
   As the ride went on, Tyler found himself often looking out the window - watching on as they passed his favorite local restaurants, murals across the city, museums, and loads of places he'd spent his free time the last year. He'd loved especially visiting the Rangers during their regular season games, as every time he'd go, they tended to throw him up on the jumbotron, and he'd meet a few players ever once in a while. He did love the attention, honestly, but it was freeing to get out someplace where he wasn't the center of attention. Sure, he'd get asked for some photos every once in a while, or maybe some fan of the team would strike up a conversation, but for the most part - he was left alone, the other bystanders were there to watch the game the same as him. He even visited a few of the World Series games, rooting for the Rangers. If not for the fact he was playing for Houston's hockey team, then because of Arizona being the ones to knock out his favorite team, the Dodgers.
 
    As he recovered from his thoughts, he looked down in surprise as the driver thanked him and announced they were at their stop. Lawson shook his head in disbelief before getting his stuff together and exiting the car. He wouldn't dwell on it, but he was confused as he hadn't thought he'd been stuck in thought for quite so long. Entering the airport and making his way through TSA, he found himself waiting for his flight to LAX. He'd taken this same trip not too long ago during the playoffs, and now here he was, heading back home once more and preparing for the draft. He was surprised at how fast things changed - just a year ago, it seemed like his hockey dreams were over - nobody cared about him as a prospect or took him seriously barring his injury at UCLA, and when Houston took a chance on him . . . well, he wouldn't let it go to waste. That much was evident now, but reflecting on the situation, he didn't think he could blame them. He had just taken one of the most serious injuries an athlete can have, and this was coming off of an already shaky injury history back in high school. Now wasn't the time to reflect on that, though, he figured as he stood up to explore the airport.
 
   Taking a few photos with fans and grabbing something from the airport for lunch, it wasn't too long before his flight was scheduled for boarding. As he took his suitcase, and his duffle bag slung over his shoulder, he walked down the jet bridge before boarding the plane. He smiled and greeted the attendants before making his way to his seat in first class. He cheaped out on his last flight and had grown to regret it, as a baby crying made it pretty difficult for him to get any rest. As he took his seat, he rummaged through his bag reaching for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that he'd toss on. Buckling his seatbelt, he'd cross his arms and close his eyes, nodding off not too long after the fact.
 
    As he awoke, he groggily rubbed his eyes before checking the flight tracker ahead of him. '30 minutes,' he thought, 'not too bad'. Reaching into his bag once more, he retrieved a book that he'd bought at one of the airport shops back in Houston. He decided that he could get a little bit of reading in before disembarking, and it helped to ease his nerves a bit. Despite things going alright last time, this was only his second ever flight and he was stil . . . somewhat nervous about the thought of the plane going down. The book had managed to be a successful outlet for distracting himself, as before he knew it, he was exiting just as quickly as he'd boarded the flight. Lugging his belongings behind him, he met his parents outside near the front and after helping him with loading his belongings, they'd make the two-hour trip to take him to his childhood home, where he'd set up shop for the next week or two as they awaited the results of the draft to see where he'd be living for the foreseeable future. 
 
    Much to the dismay of many of his friends ("Dude, you seriously didn't want to attend live?"), on draft day, he opted to watch the whole thing from the comfort of his family home in Poway, California. Surrounded by his loved ones, he took in the atmosphere and cherished the environment as, to be honest, he didn't know when he'd see a lot of these people again. He had childhood friends, cousins, uncles, grandparents - you name it. He found it really heartwarming that so many people cared to make such a big deal of his accomplishments - he didn't think it was all that serious, but he was clearly in the minority.
 
   "With the first pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the HC Davos Dynamo select . . . Antonia Bucatini!" The room erupted with claps and cheers - he had been teammates with Antonia, after all. A smile crept on Tyler's face as he celebrated for his teammate. He hadn't spent too much time thinking about it before, he had been too nervous about his own position, but he was going to be interested to see where his teammates would end up. He hadn't known Antonia for all too long as he was sent to Houston nearing the trade deadline, but Tyler had looked up to the guy who'd been essentially the consensus number-one pick this draft. 
 
    To the surprise of nobody, it wouldn't be too long before another of his former teammates would fly off the boards. "With the third pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the Riga Reign select . . . Lucy Leiter!" Again, the room seemed to fill entirely with celebration. He wasn't all too surprised, honestly, she was a lock for the top three in nearly every analyst's mock draft, and he could see why. Having played alongside her for so long, her impact in the locker room and around the league as a whole didn't go unnoticed. Her drive was really unlike anything he'd seen before. He was really excited for her alongside Antonia, and he looked forward to seeing the two again in the future.
 
    He hadn't been expecting a phone call or anything all too soon - he didn't really know where he'd land, but he was guessing somewhere in the second or third round given the deep talent pool. He anxiously began to pace, he knew he'd be left on the board for awhile and the thought made him sick, honestly. The tenth pick just came through and Ecker, another of his teammates, had just been selected. 'Bulls just flying off the boards, huh,' he thought with a small laugh. A few more picks would come in, and he jumped unexpectedly as his phone on the counter began to ring. Everyone in the room turned their heads towards him and the room went dead silent. Tyler scanning the room felt white as a blanket, and walked back over to his phone. He let out a small gulp, "I . . . uhm, I . . . I gotta take this," he just managed to let out before taking his phone and sprinting up to his room upstairs. He recognized the number as one belonging to his agent, who'd break the news for him. 
 
"Son, you've just been drafted to the Helinski Titans."
 
 
* 2,059 words

The loud crack of a hockey stick rang out through the empty arena, echoing off of the walls as the only sound in an otherwise silent stadium.  Shortly after that, the sound of skates on ice could be heard as the player skated off the ice and onto the bench. His helmet dropped and rolled around the concrete flooring, the pants of the player loud and frequent. Tyler Lawson threw his head back, wiping sweat from his brow, as he took in his surroundings. Having been cut from the Houston Bulls as he was entering the VLHE Draft, he asked a favor of the staff to let him skate around in Houston for one last time. Lawson had broken his hockey stick out on the rink, taking it as a sign that maybe his time on the ice here was ending. Having spent the better part of a year living here, he felt an odd, almost indescribable feeling creeping up on him knowing that after the draft, he could be playing god knows where. After getting so accustomed to the culture in Houston, he frowned thinking of how it was almost like a reset for him. Not that would be a bad thing necessarily, but he'd enjoyed his time here and the change worried him. 
 
    He tossed aside his stick, letting it bounce with a clang against the metal bench, before pulling out his phone. He scrolled through a folder in his gallery app, compiled of all the memories he'd made with the team through many various photos and videos. He would take a few more - of the stadium, a selfie on the ice, just taking it all in as he never knew when, or if, he'd be back. He found himself smiling as he scrolled through the media, and looked back on all the team dinners, the pranks played, and the charity events. Enveloped in nostalgia, he had to remind himself to be happy of everything he started here - as his time in Houston was slipping through his fingers, he wanted to end it off on a high note. After all, he would hate to have to look back on his times here and only be able to remember moping around about leaving. His eyes scanned the stands and his mind was filled with the roars of the crowd, the wins and the losses, everything that'd led him to that point. Shaking himself out of it, he let out a small grunt as stood, finding his footing.
 
    Letting out a small sigh, Tyler knew he'd overstayed his welcome. He'd scoop up his immediate belongings, before turning to make way for the locker rooms. On the trip over, he made sure to take in the arena he'd grown fond of over the past season. He'd almost felt like he had taken it all for granted - deep down, he knew he was off to bigger and better things, though, that didn't stop the heartache he felt leaving his teammates behind. As he stepped into the locker room, he read the nametags above every locker before making his way over to his. He scooped the rest of his items, placing them in his bag, before shouldering the bag again. 
 
   As he made his way for the player's exit of the arena, he made sure to thank the staff on the way out for allowing him to check the arena out one last time, as well as for their contributions to the team. Finally exiting the arena, he made his way for a black SUV he'd rented ahead of time that would be taking him to the airport. It only made sense, in his eyes, to watch the draft from home with his family. Lawson wasn't exactly top-pick material, and as such, he decided against attending the draft in person. This way, it allowed for him to spend time with his family without killing his pockets, he thought. 
 
   He pulled out his phone, checking social media to ease his nerves. Call it conceited, but recently, Tyler had been watching the VHL mock drafts, he was unsurprisingly anxious about the whole ordeal. I mean, whoever drafted him, that very well could be his home until the wheels fell off and he was to retire. He didn't really mind where he was going - well, that was untrue, he'd prefer somewhere a little warmer in climate. At the least during the summer, he thought, as he couldn't think of a ton of places in the world where hockey was played that were quite as hot as anywhere he'd lived before. He'd also secretly hoped to be drafted alongside a few of his teammates - I know, something of a pipe dream. It was highly unlikely, and he didn't honestly expect as much, though it was a fun thought.
 
   As the ride went on, Tyler found himself often looking out the window - watching on as they passed his favorite local restaurants, murals across the city, museums, and loads of places he'd spent his free time the last year. He'd loved especially visiting the Rangers during their regular season games, as every time he'd go, they tended to throw him up on the jumbotron, and he'd meet a few players ever once in a while. He did love the attention, honestly, but it was freeing to get out someplace where he wasn't the center of attention. Sure, he'd get asked for some photos every once in a while, or maybe some fan of the team would strike up a conversation, but for the most part - he was left alone, the other bystanders were there to watch the game the same as him. He even visited a few of the World Series games, rooting for the Rangers. If not for the fact he was playing for Houston's hockey team, then because of Arizona being the ones to knock out his favorite team, the Dodgers.
 
    As he recovered from his thoughts, he looked down in surprise as the driver thanked him and announced they were at their stop. Lawson shook his head in disbelief before getting his stuff together and exiting the car. He wouldn't dwell on it, but he was confused as he hadn't thought he'd been stuck in thought for quite so long. Entering the airport and making his way through TSA, he found himself waiting for his flight to LAX. He'd taken this same trip not too long ago during the playoffs, and now here he was, heading back home once more and preparing for the draft. He was surprised at how fast things changed - just a year ago, it seemed like his hockey dreams were over - nobody cared about him as a prospect or took him seriously barring his injury at UCLA, and when Houston took a chance on him . . . well, he wouldn't let it go to waste. That much was evident now, but reflecting on the situation, he didn't think he could blame them. He had just taken one of the most serious injuries an athlete can have, and this was coming off of an already shaky injury history back in high school. Now wasn't the time to reflect on that, though, he figured as he stood up to explore the airport.
 
   Taking a few photos with fans and grabbing something from the airport for lunch, it wasn't too long before his flight was scheduled for boarding. As he took his suitcase, and his duffle bag slung over his shoulder, he walked down the jet bridge before boarding the plane. He smiled and greeted the attendants before making his way to his seat in first class. He cheaped out on his last flight and had grown to regret it, as a baby crying made it pretty difficult for him to get any rest. As he took his seat, he rummaged through his bag reaching for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that he'd toss on. Buckling his seatbelt, he'd cross his arms and close his eyes, nodding off not too long after the fact.
 
    As he awoke, he groggily rubbed his eyes before checking the flight tracker ahead of him. '30 minutes,' he thought, 'not too bad'. Reaching into his bag once more, he retrieved a book that he'd bought at one of the airport shops back in Houston. He decided that he could get a little bit of reading in before disembarking, and it helped to ease his nerves a bit. Despite things going alright last time, this was only his second ever flight and he was stil . . . somewhat nervous about the thought of the plane going down. The book had managed to be a successful outlet for distracting himself, as before he knew it, he was exiting just as quickly as he'd boarded the flight. Lugging his belongings behind him, he met his parents outside near the front and after helping him with loading his belongings, they'd make the two-hour trip to take him to his childhood home, where he'd set up shop for the next week or two as they awaited the results of the draft to see where he'd be living for the foreseeable future. 
 
    Much to the dismay of many of his friends ("Dude, you seriously didn't want to attend live?"), on draft day, he opted to watch the whole thing from the comfort of his family home in Poway, California. Surrounded by his loved ones, he took in the atmosphere and cherished the environment as, to be honest, he didn't know when he'd see a lot of these people again. He had childhood friends, cousins, uncles, grandparents - you name it. He found it really heartwarming that so many people cared to make such a big deal of his accomplishments - he didn't think it was all that serious, but he was clearly in the minority.
 
   "With the first pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the HC Davos Dynamo select . . . Antonia Bucatini!" The room erupted with claps and cheers - he had been teammates with Antonia, after all. A smile crept on Tyler's face as he celebrated for his teammate. He hadn't spent too much time thinking about it before, he had been too nervous about his own position, but he was going to be interested to see where his teammates would end up. He hadn't known Antonia for all too long as he was sent to Houston nearing the trade deadline, but Tyler had looked up to the guy who'd been essentially the consensus number-one pick this draft. 
 
    To the surprise of nobody, it wouldn't be too long before another of his former teammates would fly off the boards. "With the third pick in the VHL Entry Draft, the Riga Reign select . . . Lucy Leiter!" Again, the room seemed to fill entirely with celebration. He wasn't all too surprised, honestly, she was a lock for the top three in nearly every analyst's mock draft, and he could see why. Having played alongside her for so long, her impact in the locker room and around the league as a whole didn't go unnoticed. Her drive was really unlike anything he'd seen before. He was really excited for her alongside Antonia, and he looked forward to seeing the two again in the future.
 
    He hadn't been expecting a phone call or anything all too soon - he didn't really know where he'd land, but he was guessing somewhere in the second or third round given the deep talent pool. He anxiously began to pace, he knew he'd be left on the board for awhile and the thought made him sick, honestly. The tenth pick just came through and Ecker, another of his teammates, had just been selected. 'Bulls just flying off the boards, huh,' he thought with a small laugh. A few more picks would come in, and he jumped unexpectedly as his phone on the counter began to ring. Everyone in the room turned their heads towards him and the room went dead silent. Tyler scanning the room felt white as a blanket, and walked back over to his phone. He let out a small gulp, "I . . . uhm, I . . . I gotta take this," he just managed to let out before taking his phone and sprinting up to his room upstairs. He recognized the number as one belonging to his agent, who'd break the news for him. 
 
"Son, you've just been drafted to the Helinski Titans."
 
 
* 2,059 words

So well written! Your descriptions of everything made me really feel the emotions Tyler was feeling every step of the way. I actually almost started tearing up when you said the phone started ringing because I got so invested in the story. The anxiety that was portrayed throughout the piece was beautiful and captivating. I look forward to reading anything you write in the future. 
 
Congratulations as well on being drafted! Good luck with your upcoming season with Helsinki! 
 
Review - 9/10

Man, what am I doing? I remember writing an article a while ago where I went over some rosters and proposed my idea of a realistic trade for every team. I think that was a pretty cool article, but what you don't know is that it took me absolutely FOREVER to finish. From all the background research to having to rewrite my first thousand words to coming up with logical arguments for everyone, it was quite the undertaking. I like to think that I can hit you with some good, high-quality content if I want to, but sometimes that has to mean I know what I'm talking about. Hopefully, that applies in this case here--because for reasons unknown to myself, I'm going to do that again. I have the time, I'm bored, and I'm going to try not to be by banging my head against the VHL wall.
 
So, let's get going on my next piece of juicy VHL content, one that I almost accidentally completely invalidated by forgetting that drafts are a thing and writing this up right before this one. Thankfully, I had dinner plans, which hit just in time for me to not be far into my plans for this thing. I'm going to do my best to make logical arguments for every move here, focusing primarily on the first team but also trying to imagine scenarios where the second team is up for the deal. Let's talk about what every team could go for this season.
 
 
 CALGARY WRANGLERS 
 
The Situation: Complete with the derphorse logo as always, Calgary has been a very well-managed team in recent seasons, with a championship in S87 to show for it on the board and a whole lot of respect to show for it off of it. Leading off this draft class with an experienced member selected at the start of the 2nd in @Rhynex Entertainment's Miner vHLer, the Wranglers are very ready to compete with four players above 1000 TPA and some future picks in the bank. There's only one rostered player set to retire after this season, and with a little bit of space left to fill, this team could be ready to go for another serious run.
 
The Trade:
 
CHI receives:
S94 CGY 2nd
S95 CGY 2nd
 
CGY receives:
Legacy Gaming
 
Calgary has $6 million in cap space to work with and eats up $3 million of that here with a deal that buys a solid second-line forward and leaves them with room to spare. They'll still have 5 forwards and 3 defensemen, but could fill one of those spots with another deal or by picking up a lower-level free agent. It would be interesting to see whether Chicago could be talked into this, as they have an ongoing rebuild that could mean Gaming is in a better place elsewhere, but Gaming also has enough time left to see the end of it.
 
 
 CHICAGO PHOENIX 
 
The Situation: Chicago has been one of the league's most boom-or-bust teams since its inception in S73, having seen some of the league's most exciting production and also blowing up as hard as anyone else to restructure. Both of those have happened twice in the team's history, and the Phoenix are starting to climb out of the hole of their rebuild yet again, building their way to being a competitive team. That won't happen this season, but the roster is full again and even the short-term future looks bright with the long-term future taking its shape in this draft with the selections of UghSike (@UghSike) at 5th overall and @eagle_3450's Jean-Pierre Devote at 20th. That said, they've got a few players on the roster who are just old enough to consider moving out.
 
The Trade:
 
TOR receives:
Reinhard von Kongming
S94 CHI 4th
 
CHI receives:
S95 TOR 2nd
S95 TOR 4th
 
In this case, liquidating von Kongming for S95 picks serves the purpose of giving Chicago room to work with in trade talks next season. They've got the prospect pool to make things work out with development, but there's enough to make things work much sooner than those players will develop if the right buying moves are made next season. As future buyers, Chicago will be able to use these picks to move around in the S94 draft if they wish, or to keep them around as future assets and trade those future assets to get a player of interest. The future isn't super defined here (unless Cole has some massive plan laid out already), but this deal would make whatever plan there is easier to reach. Additionally, it's important to consider that Toronto only has two defensemen on the roster--this deal as is would take them $500k over cap, but with no moves made until some time into the season, it could be done later with some salary retained by the Phoenix.
 
 
 DC DRAGONS 
 
The Situation: Second-rounder Herald Benson (@Benson) is an auto-12 from the SBA and could be an incredible answer to the Dragons' most pressing question--their impending loss of Henry Tucker, Jr. to retirement. Between The Frenchman and Mark Calaway, they've got one of the league's most respected scorers and one of its most respected defenders, and there's no reason to think that they won't be able to keep going with the right moves. However, there are more "right moves" to make here than there might be in other places. DC's most glaring issue, apart from in net, is up front, where three of their six forwards are from S86. This is fine for now, but will be an emergency if it's left unchecked next season.
 
The Trade:
 
MAL receives:
Vincent Laroche-Gagnier
Tom Dufour
S95 DCD 2nd
S94 DCD 4th
 
DC receives:
Ronald Johnson MacWallace III
 
This may be a tough one to swing with VLG's recent inactivity, but DC needs to change their age range up front and can do so by switching out one reasonably competitive player for another. Malmo gets a player who's still pretty solid this season and at the very least usable (and also dump-able) next season, along with a welfare prospect and a 2nd that could be in a pretty solid spot depending on the direction DC intends to take next season. Here, DC would be getting a younger solid earner who would fit in very well with the roster this season and could potentially delay thoughts of an approaching collapse--but Malmo might want bigger pieces than this (as in high picks and more active players) that might make it difficult to pull off.
 
 
 HC DAVOS DYNAMO 
 
The Situation: Oh boy, if you thought the Davos roster was gutted in my days as GM, don't open the team's page now. I don't mean to be dramatic--it could be a lot worse--but #1 overall selection (and hopeful future face of the franchise in @CowboyinAmerica) Antonia Bucatini isn't much worse off now than most players on the roster. Davos has taken the first steps to greatness, though, picking up three first-rounders and quite a few other-rounders to go with a good amount of assets held in future seasons. Competition isn't going to happen now, but it's going to hit hard and fast at some point.
 
The Trade:
 
CGY receives:
Antonia Bucatini
 
DAV receives:
S94 CGY 1st
S95 CGY 1st
S94 CGY 2nd
S94 CGY 3rd
S94 CGY 4th
 
No, I'm not serious about this (although it would be a fun article to propose some absolutely insane trades and try to justify them both ways, assuming you don't think I'm doing that already). Let me give you something a bit more boring.
 
CGY receives:
Mason Rice
 
DAV receives:
S95 CGY 4th
 
This is a less expensive version of the Gaming trade I mentioned above, and it's actually sort of a reverse cap dump. Rice is inactive, but comes in with a little over 500 TPE and could fill roster space to take away bot time on a good team--exactly what Calgary needs and worth a 4th to go out and get. Even if 4ths don't usually lead to much on the GM end, I was always a big fan of asking for an extra 4th in my trade talks because I found that you never know where it can lead you--some people can be buttered up by being offered just that little bit more. This is outright useful for Calgary at the moment for basically no expense, and Alex can poke someone with the pick at some point--or even get a massive steal if he's lucky enough.
 
 
 HELSINKI TITANS 
 
The Situation: Realistically, I think Helsinki could buy or sell this season and I wouldn't fault them for it. They've got a legitimate top-end player at every position, and a huge young talent is already on the roster in Adi Dassler. This season's draft featured @Nyx's Tyler Lawson in the first round, a good future fit at center, and a pretty standard set of draft picks in future seasons means the Titans aren't completely screwed out of having assets. That said, two of their top talents are from S86, and we've seen lots of teams already who could benefit from not having to deal with aging issues. Helsinki has the cap space to accommodate any player they want right now, and could make at least two good seasons out of it before having to rebuild. It's all a matter of what's out there.
 
The Trade:
 
LDN receives:
S94 HSK 1st
S95 HSK 2nd
S94 HSK 3rd
 
HSK receives:
Leonard Triller
 
Wow, a straight buy of a 1300-TPA player! Like I mentioned earlier, this is a team with over $6 million in cap space just sitting around waiting to be spent. Conveniently, they also have a spot for a forward on the roster. This would be an absolute blockbuster of a deal, but it would rocket this team to status as a prime contender for this season and next. London, as a team in a similar situation, would need to be talked into it--but should they decide to sell, the Titans could be a very willing buyer if they're willing to accept a hard rebuild potentially on the way.
 
 
 LONDON UNITED 
 
The Situation: As per my last email, London could buy or sell. I do think the most logical move would be to sell, but I also think that there's a need to properly see off the career of Teno (and a devotion to players in general) that's present and outweighs whatever logic there may be in moving around players like pieces of property. Outside of any sentimental reasons--after all, I'm honestly just AGM of this team in name only--this roster has just enough left in it to squeeze out one more season of competition should that be the wish.
 
The Trade:
 
CGY receives:
Jack Jeckler
S95 LDN 3rd
 
LDN receives:
Phil Strasmore
 
Logically, London can achieve a couple things by pulling this one off. Jeckler can be put on a competitive team that has room for someone on defense (and a need for that beyond this season), and they can upgrade for the time being by adding Strasmore, who will naturally retire after this season anyway (and is cheaper for that reason). I think there's a 99% chance Calgary wouldn't even consider this move, but there does happen to be some logic behind it. They don't have a direct replacement lined up for Strasmore next season, and Jeckler will be around longer. Plus, he's cheaper, and would leave cap room for higher-end forwards to be bought as the Wranglers search for options.
 
 
 LOS ANGELES STARS 
 
The Situation: I certainly shouldn't have made a big deal out of the Davos roster being empty, because holy Art Vandelay, Batman. Speaking from personal experience, I can say that the Stars did exactly what I just said I think London may be trying to do--and we're now seeing what happens when one does that. This team is going to be bad for a while, and I'm very grateful that @InstantRockstar gave us the chances he did at that cost. Most notably, LA picked up @Fire Tortorella's WWumbo in the draft, and with really no one to sell and no reason to buy, the rebuild starts now.
 
The Trade:
 
VAN receives:
Factor Lee
 
LA receives:
Ben Dover
McLean Hoover II
Nick Sansoe
Zyn Westwood
Mikko Borisyuk
Jens Lekman
S94 DCD 3rd
 
No, I'm not kidding. Vancouver has the league's most overcrowded roster, with just enough higher-end players that they shouldn't have the league's most overcrowded roster. LA currently runs a 1-1-1 lineup--that's right, one forward and one defenseman. The Wolves run an 11-5-1. This deal sends an inactive prospect to LA--making the deal done entirely for free--and also for free, brings Vancouver down to the more typical 6-4-1 (also freeing up cap!) and gives the Stars a 6-2-1. Sure, the players are at most welfare earners and some aren't active, but if you were one of the two skaters on the roster, wouldn't you want some linemates? It's a more fair shake in terms of ice time all around, and it's the one deal here that I'd actually advocate for these teams to make on behalf of the players. I've thrown in a 3rd going to LA here out of courtesy, but I've had to give up more myself for similar-scale dumps to happen.
 
 
 MALMO NIGHTHAWKS 
 
The Situation: We'll see what happens in Malmo this season. Currently, cap prevents the Nighthawks from signing Henry Eagles for a final season--which is far less from ideal for a team that lacks top-end talent. Don't get me wrong, they've got good players, but other teams simply have superstars who are more so superstars. I've talked about getting some variance in the age distribution among skaters for teams like DC, but there's arguably a necessary variance in the TPE distribution that's needed in Malmo. It will be interesting to see what happens here and whether this team can free up the space to bring back Eagles or to make a purchase in his place. I'm a big fan of moves like drafting @Pifferfish's Jorgen Lovstrom as an eventual replacement for Ash Sparks, but the present may need some work.
 
The Trade:
 
RIG receives:
Yaroslav Bogatyrev
S94 MAL 3rd
 
MAL receives:
Eno Velvson
 
Yes, selling while intending to compete is doable. Bogatyrev, now inactive, formerly was one of the league's best and still stands at over 700 TPE, a fine addition to a team's forward line for this season but likely just a filler later on. In return, Malmo gets a welfare player from an established agency who will be around a good deal longer and could grow into a solid second-liner with practice. There isn't that much incentive for Riga to take this offer, but they should be a little bit more competitive this season with it and have a more disposable asset next season as the roster grows and the need to clean house presents itself.
 
 
 MOSCOW MENACE 
 
The Situation: After a rebuild, this team looks like they've done it again. They're built fairly similarly to Malmo in terms of TPE between players, but have over 8 million (!) in cap to play with and a huge amount of picks. There's probably a hill to climb before they're elite again on paper, but the assets to make the right moves are there and there's so much to like overall. I'm strongly considering writing up a deal that swings around those assets and that cap space, but I already suggested that Helsinki buy Triller (picture the same deal here), so I'll write something that makes a bit more sense.
 
The Trade:
 
WAR receives:
Celise Pereira
S94 MOS 2nd
 
MOS receives:
Rex Wolffe Gregor
S94 WAR 4th
 
If there's a weak point on the roster, it's that defense isn't as developed. Pereira moving out for Gregor gives Moscow a TPE boost while also making room on the roster in a couple seasons for @Schnee and this draft's first-rounder Benjamin Abenduct. Along with accounting for Gregor aging out on Moscow's end, that concern is removed for Warsaw, who may take a step back in the immediate future but who would also have a player with 3 more seasons of playing left to do than they had previously. 
 
 
 NEW YORK AMERICANS 
 
The Situation: New York hasn't won a Cup since before I was a VHL member, but they're trying hard to flip that script. With the forward lines anchored by two players above 1100 TPE, and many other parts of the roster catching up quickly, it's going to be really weird, really quickly, when we start seeing this team on top of the standings (unless the curse is real). The biggest need that sticks out to me is a few aging forwards--two S85 and one S86--but I'm a big fan of @Crstats23 and Chris Reynolds Jr as the team's newest addition and a great first step to answering that question. That's not to mention Wayne Gretzky, one of the more intriguing prospects in a while.
 
The Trade:
 
LDN receives:
Keon Jeannot
S95 NYA 2nd
 
NYA receives:
Sjin
 
Sjin is a very interesting case as a player who should continue developing through this season without depreciating, having been a victim of the VHLM eligibility fallout (if you're reading this, I hope you can understand my "sorry not sorry," though your response was fair and I appreciate that). Interestingly, Jeannot is such a case as well, although I can't speak on the circumstances of that one. Should London decide to sell, this is realistic--New York changes nothing about the seasons their forwards are in, but their replacement plan was pretty solid anyway, and they upgrade a little with some limited cap and end up with a player who should be pretty darn good next season.
 
 
 PRAGUE PHANTOMS 
 
The Situation: Headlined by goaltending prospect Ondrej Vencko (@Mutti), Prague's S93 draft class is nothing to complain about. They're reasonably well built, but when your top three players are all from S85, there's going to be a step back next season. With everyone in their last season, it's going to be difficult to pull off a trade for any massive returns, so going all in for a shot at the Cup is a very real possibility if GM Tetricide is ready for a very hard road ahead. Still, selling a player or two remains a real possibility.
 
The Trade:
 
MAL receives:
S94 PRG 3rd
 
PRG receives:
Rights to Henry Eagles
 
Let's say Malmo isn't able to work out a cap-saving deal for Eagles, or that they are but have a different answer in mind. In either of these situations, Eagles goes right to free agency, and the Nighthawks get nothing. Prague is a team with cap space and 5 forwards on the roster, and swinging a rights deal to try to make everyone's last season (including Eagles') a special one could be the answer. If it works, it's also buying a forward without completely tanking future stock--something current rostered players like Spanish Moon Moth would really appreciate as the team will need to remain an appealing place to play when contracts are up.
 
 
 RIGA REIGN 
 
The Situation: Known for almost never fully rebuilding, Riga finally threw in the towel and decided to tear down and build up a few seasons ago. It's perhaps been a slower process than some would have expected, and the roster hasn't come into its full form yet. But the Reign aren't dealing with any aging issues, and the 3rd-overall selection of Lucy Leitner (@LucyXpher, one of the more promising first-gens in a while) is a huge addition from the team that once took a chance on first-gen Hall of Fame defenseman Lincoln Tate at 1OA. With another season or two of building, Riga could be in the running for a while.
 
The Trade:
 
CGY receives:
Eric White Jr
S94 RIG 3rd
 
RIG receives:
S95 CGY 1st
 
I think a S94 pick would benefit Calgary more, but with the S94 class absolutely packed on defense, Calgary is probably excited to use its probably-late 1st on a player with higher value to fill one of their positional needs. So, Riga gets a pick that they'll probably try to move around later for a faster rebuild, while White finds a competitive home immediately. It could make sense to keep White as well--he's not old and earns solidly--but three of Riga's forwards are S90, I've already projected a different deal for one of them, and this affords the opportunity for some balance to be found before it becomes an issue.
 
 
 SEATTLE BEARS 
 
The Situation: Even if the fallout from last season's backup situation were more severe, Seattle still likely would have won this season's draft. New additions Gianfranco Del Rocco, Nathan Ecker, and Marek Nowaczyk (@Victor, @Nathan_8, and @Chillybro, respectively) are all great to have around and will leave the forward lines with nothing to worry about in good time. For now, it's up to Gustav Mattias and company to give the Bears all the scoring they can, and it will be a minute before this team is ready to compete.
 
The Trade:
 
MAL receives:
Sadie St-Louis
 
SEA receives:
S95 MAL 2nd
S94 MAL 3rd
 
St-Louis is a S86 player who may or may not see an OK Seattle team next season if she's lucky. Some assets may be better off in other places, though, and Seattle picking up a 2nd that they can use or trade is probably more valuable for them (and solves the issue of where to put one other forward for next season when everyone starts coming up). This is a cheap deal for Malmo as well, and one that makes sense if Eagles walks--they have 5 forwards and $3.5 million in cap space left, and St-Louis carries a cap hit of exactly that much.
 
 
 TORONTO LEGION 
 
The Situation: Toronto is another example of a team that shows us how much the times they are a-changin', as a team that spent forever in the low-mid ranges of the standings but now poses a serious threat to the rest of the league. With four 1000-plus-TPA players on the roster and cap mostly spent, plans seem very set for this season. They're a bit thin on defense, with only two on the roster, but the selection of @MSouthworth's Gul Dukat this season should help with that in the future. We'll likely see whether two on defense is enough to go all the way this season.
 
The Trade:
 
MOS receives:
Jimi Jaks
 
TOR receives:
Grimgor Ironhide
Nils Andersson
 
I'm not exactly sure where the balance in value lies with this deal, or where picks would need to be spent on either side, but Moscow gets the piece that lets them compete now rather than later. This is workable for the Menace, who can afford to go to 3 defensemen (but also have the resources to spend on a fourth if they want). That said, it's going to hurt to give up Ironhide, a distinguished VHLer with future first-line talent. If Toronto can make this work, it works with cap and I think the ultimate outcome is logical either way.
 
 
 VANCOUVER WOLVES 
 
The Situation: We've already seen GM Frank snap this team out of a rebuild much quicker than expected, and it looks like he's going turbo speed again. The current roster is a super confusing mix of high- and low-TPE players that's very much between having been lacking in some respects and ready to break out. 4th overall selection Annie Oaks (@Noodle Enjoyer) makes the future look bright, but there's work to be done to turn the corner.
 
The Trade:
 
WAR receives:
Larry Abass Jr
 
VAN receives:
S94 NYA 2nd
 
Warsaw has money to spend, and as far as I know, an intent to compete as well. Some steps will need to be taken to get there, and the retiring Abass would be the top forward in Warsaw. I'm not convinced that Vancouver has what it takes to go the distance this season, and the prospect pool is a little bit thin. So, giving up what's likely a later 2nd for one season of a solid player isn't a bad idea for Warsaw--and the Wolves will appreciate another chance to reshuffle the deck.
 
 
 WARSAW PREDATORS 
 
The Situation: Warsaw's management has come under fire in recent seasons, but I'm a big fan of their prospect pool, both S93 and earlier alike. There are big names on the roster (including a new face in Lachlan Summers!) and this is a team that can realistically compete if those playing for them believe hard enough. That's not to say there aren't issues--they've very much constrained themselves with some aging players and depleted draft stock--but if the goal is to try, then they can't be faulted.
 
The Trade:
 
HSK receives:
S95 WAR 2nd
S94 DAV 3rd
 
WAR receives:
Tommy Sleeves
 
I'm not sure how much sense this makes for Helsinki--and a lot of it depends on the direction they want to take things--but they can afford to lose someone on defense in the immediate future and these assets can go wherever they'd like to put them. In Sleeves, Warsaw sees the return of the dasboot agency and spends some of their extensive cap room on a desperate positional need. And this certainly is spending draft capital, something they don't necessarily want to do, but resources are a little tight and a move should be made in some direction. 
 
 
Overall, I hope my suggestions make some sense! It's going to be interesting to see which teams move in the directions I think they will, and how the rest of the season works. This isn't one of those seasons when no one has cap space, so it could be exciting--let's keep an eye on trade news.
 
 
4,296 words