What If Hlozek Joined Two Weeks Prior?

[Bojovnik 487]

In this series of VHL Alternate Reality, we take a look back to S75/S76, and the curious career of Jan Hlozek, one of the top players in the VHLM this current season. If things were slightly different, Hlozek might not have needed a second season in the minors at all.

 

Those VHL players in the know often rush to re-create at the trade deadline, ensuring that they can begin the arduous process of farming TPE ahead of the VHLM dispersal draft. Afterwards, they need just one full season in the minors before going into the VHL draft and then successfully joining the pro ranks, as top picks Paul Atreides @Mr_Hatter , Zeedayno Chara @Jubis and Duncan Idaho @OrbitingDeath  have done in S77.

 

The eighth pick in the S77 Entry Draft as Jan Hlozek, a little-known Czech defenseman who appeared to miss the boat. Hlozek ended up joining the VHLM just one day before the season started, leaving him without a training camp, or the near month of TPE earning that his peers had.

But what if Hlozek managed to sign up in time? Where would his career have taken him?

 

Hlozek entered the S77 VHL draft with roughly 190 TPE. Many considered it to be a reach when Riga selected him, but the Topolna native has continued his consistent TPE earning, and was in fact just a handful of TPE away from meeting the 250 threshold that would have seen him automatically reassigned to the pros.

 

The Czech defenseman, entering the VHL with less than 300 TPE, would have likely struggled. Known for his offense, Hlozek would have cut a frustrated figure with third pairing minutes and a lack of powerplay time. We can safely predict that he would have hit a maximum of 15 points in a 72-game season, likely with a highly negative +/- rating.

 

Hlozek has a three-year contract with the Riga Reign, and the management would surely think about moving their Czech defenseman with the team in a win-now mode. Hlozek gets flipped at the deadline to a rebuilding team for assets that can help the Reign on their postseason charge in S77.

 

It would be unfair to make a prediction as to which rebuilding team Hlozek would have ended up on, but European players have always been known to have a look and see if there are any other options for them. Maybe he ends up returning to the Czech Republic, although it is like to see the Prague Phantoms choosing to part with assets to acquire the struggling d-man. Would another European-based team come in for him? Davos, maybe, but who knows?

 

In essence, Hlozek may have had to spend two full seasons in the minors, but he is much more likely to know make the pros and have an immediate impact, instead of cutting the peripheral, disgruntled figure outlined above.

 

This story is one of patience. We may all try and rush to get to where we want to go, but if things were different, we might not be talking about Jan Hlozek at all.

 

Spoiler

Claiming Doubles week in week ending 18.04. Will claim as media point task in week ending 25.04. 512 words

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by Bojovnik

[Mr_Hatter 1,608]

Well written