What the VHLE brings to the VHL

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VHLE, has been announced recently, and honestly my thoughts are pretty optimistic about it. First of all the league accomplishes a few things: It allows the VHLM to be a true junior league, where players can grow and enjoy a true juniors experience. Learn the league if they are new, compete against other rookies and not washed up players who were once new themselves, or send down stars who look to enjoy a season at the cap, feasting on weaker opposition before moving up themselves. 

It accomplishes this by doing a few smaller changes, first it lowers the ceiling for VHLM, making it so players hit cap earlier, and that there is less of a difference between the top players in the league and the bottom, or the new creates. I believe it also puts a cap on who can play in the VHLM of either just 1 season or maybe 2 depending on earning, but I think it's safe to say players will be moved if they go awol. 
Now, let's get back to the VHLE. A European league for the VHL, slotted right between the VHLM and VHL. This league will be very interesting to watch. It will be a tight league where players of the same draft class will be able to really get to know each other, building bonds and rivalries. It'll extend from the successful VHLM careers of the earners, and will introduce players to each other within locker rooms and really add some excitement to the VHL draft as the players are for the most part going to be going through the same steps, and competing against the same competition. It brings excitement of everyone playing in Europe together before the break away to the VHL, where some will stay on their continent and others will not.

One thing I'm pretty interested in is seeing how long it takes for one player to be drafted top 5 in each league season after season, but if we will ever see someone sweep the board, going first at all 3. The question is longevity, will a minor team take someone who will not have longevity, and for the VHLM might not even play for them with a high pick? 

Moving past specifically the VHLM or VHLE, I think this will have a positive impact on the health of the VHL. Player retention and inactivity is no real surprise to anyone that it isn't great and I do believe this separation will assist folks making the jump, they won't be a fish out of water as bad anymore, and when they do make the jump to the VHL the players will be more suited and ready for VHL as second or third line players. It increases rookies talent levels when they hit the VHL and people being able to see their player contribute pretty well across their first, second leagues for sure, and then making you have a better overall player compared to the rest of the league when you enter the VHL should go a nice way towards reducing player churn from seeing their player produce very poorly in the show.