Toronto's Tomorrow: An Update On the Legion's Prospects

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Toronto’s Tomorrow: An Update On the Legion’s Prospects

 

TORONTO - Despite a better than expected season from the Toronto Legion, who are currently on pace to reach the playoffs just a season removed from finishing dead last in the VHL, remain a team in progress. Despite the very young core of the team, featuring Matty Fire, Kyle Peace, Harkat Mulds, and Oskar Lindbergh, there are quite a few areas on the team that are in need of improvement. Fortunately for Toronto fans, help is on the way courtesy of the farm system, with several very promising prospects worth keeping an eye on as they continue their climb to the VHL. For this article, we’re taking a look at Toronto’s prospect pool, checking on how each of them are doing, and what their chances are of making it up to the Legion’s pro roster in Season 82.

 

Sting Chameleon, D -

Drafted 23rd Overall, Season 80

TPE: 289 @Hybrid1486

 

A second round selection in Toronto’s big Season 80 draft class, Sting Chameleon’s development is of great importance to the Legion, with Jannik Nylen the only defenseman on the roster that truly factors into their long-term plans. He broke out with the Yukon Rush in a big way in Season 80, scoring 14 goals and 77 assists for 91 points and a staggering +78, and moved on to the Bratislava Watchmen of the VHLE afterwards, joining forces with Season 81 first round pick Cadmael Ixazaluoh. There, he’s become a more physical player, with 111 hits, just six shy of what he had in his entire three year tenure in the VHLM. He also is averaging two shots blocked a game, and is still a positive factor offensively with 33 points. Chameleon’s build is working very well, and his development has been very consistent. He always brings in 6 TPE each week, and this is a guy that will find his way to the VHL in due time, but it might not be until Season 83. As long as that consistent improvement continues, Sting Chameleon will find himself being a quality defenseman for Toronto in due time.

 

S82 Projection: Bratislava Watchmen (VHLE)

 

Harry Hagel, D - Halifax 21st

Drafted 31st Overall, Season 81

TPE: 208 @jasplunds

 

After a strong season with the Halifax 21st in Season 80, Harry Hagel was selected in the second round of the Season 81 VHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Legion as part of their efforts to rebuild their defensive core. Although Hagel is a prospect with some real promise, as he has been very consistently improving his build and even putting in more than the minimum at times, it will likely be at least another season before we see him in Toronto. His production has slipped in Season 81, from 80 points in Season 80 down to 32 points in 48 games in Season 81 so far, but that is more of a testament to Halifax being in a rebuilding situation this year. A big 29 TPE update this past week has elevated him beyond the VHLM cap limit, so he will be heading to the Bratislava Watchmen next season to possibly join Sting Chameleon and give Toronto fans a glimpse of a potential pairing of the future. As a pass-first player, Hagel has still had consistent power play success, with 17 power play goals in his one and a half seasons with Halifax. Hagel has real potential to be a difference-maker for Toronto in the near future if he continues to consistently improve.

 

S82 Projection: Bratislava Watchmen (VHLE)

 

Cadmael Ixazaluoh, D - Bratislava Watchmen

Drafted 5th Overall, Season 81

TPE: 326 @Vice

 

With defense a primary need for the Toronto Legion going into the Season 81 VHL Entry Draft, General Manager Rylan Peace wasted no time in addressing that by selecting Cadmael Ixaluoh fifth overall. As a max-earner at a position of need, he immediately looks to factor into the Legion’s plans next season. After scoring 20 goals and 66 assists for 86 points with the Philadelphia Reapers of the VHLM in Season 80, Ixazaluoh picked right where he left off in the VHLE, where he has currently scored 74 points in 48 games, including 65 assists. His build figures to be a strong skater, capable of moving the puck with finesse, capable of strong passing and responsible play on both ends of the ice. Although he wasn’t ready to jump to the VHL this season, it’s a virtual certainty that Ixazaluoh will be making the jump to Toronto in Season 82, and with his development thus far, it’s fair to say that he will be ready to step in and immediately produce for his rookie season, fulfilling a critical step towards the retooling of Toronto’s blue line.

 

S82 Projection: Toronto Legion (VHL)

 

Arthur Kimura, RW - Vasteras Iron Eagles

Drafted 24th Overall, Season 80

TPE: 315 @FBR

 

Yet another second round pick of the Season 80 VHL Entry Draft, Arthur Kimura showed tremendous promise as a sniper in the VHLM, scoring 28 goals with the Mexico City Kings in Season 79. He was a part of the Renaissance Cup champion Vasteras Iron Eagles in the inaugural season of the VHLE, scoring 15 goals and 31 points. Although Kimura has already eclipsed his production from last season, with 19 goals and 14 assists for 33 points in 46 games, a disappointing development has arisen, for he has not been seen at practice for nearly a month. Kimura has gone from looking like a lock for the pro roster in Season 82 prior to the start of the year to someone that is looking like a VHLE lifer. While that could certainly change in a hurry if Kimura returns to practice, it’s not something that Toronto will bank on, nor do they particularly need to. The Legion have plenty of young forwards demonstrating they can carry the load, and there are other prospects in the system capable of making the leap as well. Kimura’s shot would be great to have, but for now, it’s off the table.

 

S82 Projection: Vasteras Iron Eagles (VHLE)

 

Ashton Komaryk, RW - Houston Bulls

Drafted 29th Overall, Season 81

TPE: 209 @Komaryk

 

Surprise, another second round pick makes our list! Ashton Komaryk is a player finding his way with the Houston Bulls in the VHLM, and has shown himself to be quite versatile. The strength of his game is absolutely his shot, scoring 22 goals in Season 80, and has 16 more this season. His strength and puck handling abilities have made it difficult for opponents to take the puck from Komaryk once he has it, and even as a winger, he’s spent time working on faceoffs with Houston. His development is coming around nicely so far this season, averaging over a point per game, and he’s set to make the leap to the VHLE next season with the Cologne Express. His defensive play, however, does need some polishing, in spite of his +38. But, for a player that looks easy to look past, Ashton Komaryk has the look of someone that will make his way onto the pro roster within a couple of seasons and make it impossible for Rylan Peace to not play him. This is exactly the kind of production, work ethic, and potential you want to see out of a second round pick, and I see Komaryk being a fan favorite in Toronto soon!

 

S82 Projection: Cologne Express (VHLE)

 

George Sanderson, D - Stockholm Vikings

Drafted 17th Overall, Season 81

TPE: 269 @SpicyGecko

 

Another critical component of Rylan Peace’s rebuilding of the blue line in Toronto, George Sanderson is a very intriguing prospect. He’s split time between the Geneva Rush and the Stockholm Vikings in the VHLE this season, where it seems like Sanderson isn’t getting the same usage in Stockholm. His production has dipped in his new home, but fortunately for the Legion, his work ethic in the locker room absolutely has not. Sanderson is consistently finding ways to get extra practice hours in, and while initially it seemed like he’d be spending another season in the VHLE, there’s a very real chance he could make it onto Toronto’s pro roster for Season 82. He’d make a great fit on a blue line that lacks physicality outside of Jannik Nylen, and has all the makings of being a bruising defensive defenseman. Sanderson currently doesn’t look like a guy that will light up the stat sheet, but he’s a guy that goaltender Oskar Lindbergh will love having to protect the crease when he eventually does get the call to the bigs.

 

S82 Projection: Toronto Legion (VHL)

 

Alessio Simeoni, C - Houston Bulls

Drafted 60th Overall, Season 81

TPE: 165 @Alesime

 

Late in the fourth round of the Season 81 VHL Entry Draft, Toronto took a flyer on Alessio Simeoni, a center with a very balanced approach to his game. With a solid shot at the VHLM level and good defensive awareness, he has been a productive member on three teams now, currently with the Houston Bulls. While he is mired in a goal scoring slump, with just one goal on 52 shots with Houston after scoring 13 on 77 shots with Saskatoon, Simeoni has still been productive, tallying 13 assists in 18 games with the Bulls. His ceiling is limited in the VHL as a “clicker,” but his consistency with updating ensures he’ll continue to keep moving up the ranks and make it up to Toronto if he remains with the organization. It will be a long road for the Italian center, but Alessio Simeoni certainly has the makings of a fun journey to the bigs ahead of him.

 

S82 Projection: Houston Bulls (VHLM)

 

Boris Tsezar, G - Mexico City Kings

Drafted 41st Overall, Season 81

TPE: 206 @comrade cat

 

In the third round, Toronto opted to cover a different need: backup goaltender, and grabbed Boris Tsezar. With Oskar Lindbergh’s development stagnated at times in Season 80, Tsezar provides a backup option if it were to happen again, but with Lindbergh’s practice hours and play this season, he’ll still be a massive improvement over a bot goalie when he makes it up to Toronto. Even though Mexico City isn’t having the best of seasons, Tsezar is still playing well, with a save percentage of .900, a goals allowed average of 3.39, and three shutouts. He’s been doing just as well in the practice facility as well, routinely putting in strong updates, and has become VHLE eligible for Season 82, when he’ll join the Rome Gladiators. With a strong work ethic and an active presence within Toronto’s farm system, Boris Tsezar is a player I think we’ll see in the VHL very soon, but not quite yet.

 

S82 Projection: Rome Gladiators (VHLE)

 

Weenuk Warrior, RW - Saskatoon Wild

Drafted 24th Overall, Season 81

TPE: 245 @KnightRiley

 

One last second round pick for this article, Weenuk Warrior is a rare playmaker in an age of the VHL in which the meta build of snipers is thriving. So far, it hasn’t panned out statistically, although Halifax and Saskatoon, the two teams for which Warrior has played, aren’t exactly lighting the league on fire this season. However, what really matters is development, and that’s where Warrior has really thrived. After a slow start a season ago, big week after big week is being logged in the practice facility, and next season the talents of Weenuk Warrior will be heading to the Oslo Storm of the VHLE. This is a prospect absolutely brimming with potential, and while many will write-off the unconventional build, I personally can’t wait to see how Weenuk Warrior does as they continue to develop, and perhaps buck the recent trend of meta builds.

 

S82 Projection: Oslo Storm (VHLE)

 

 

With the playoffs a very possible outcome in a season that many expected to be a development year for the Toronto Legion, it’s easy to forget that this is still very much a team in progress. With several high-caliber prospects like Cadmael Ixazaluoh and George Sanderson waiting in the wings, even more young talent is on it’s way up to the pro roster in Toronto. The 70’s were bleak for the faithful of the Legion, but the 80’s are starting off with tons of hype and promise, with better times seemingly a certainty instead of a pipe dream. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel, a real end to Toronto’s cup drought since the repeat winners of Seasons 64 and 65. 

 

Jethro Novacek is an award-winning writer for the MSFL Times,the most prestigious and esteemed publication dedicated to simulation sports news. He enjoys speaking about meme culture, tracking the flight path of Raptor Claus, and preparing his home’s defenses just ahead of Christmas.

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no mention of me being in the young core? sad jk

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