A GM's perspective: S82 VHL Entry Draft

[Peace 1,525]

For as long as I can remember - which honestly isn't long as I endure extreme IRL stresses - I've done some form of 'post draft' media spot recapping the Toronto Legions' latest entry draft. Somewhat recently I also started adding my own perspective to these articles, although I can confirm I was doing that long before I created the 'A GM's perspective:' series I've been running lately, and guess what? Another entry draft has come and gone, I stare at my computer hoping it'll write a media spot by itself, but I know it won't. I decided to make this article after immediately regretting the fact I claimed welfare five last week, so now I'm sitting at my PC with freshly cut finger nails wondering how to start this article.

Good ole reliable. 

I'm usually always transparent within these articles; I was extremely lazy this time around, full stop. I guess it wasn't entirely intentional as I deal with complicated issues, however I know I can't use that as an excuse to avoid my responsibilities, but if a sim league needs to be axed for a week so be it. With that being stated, I have to thank @Doomsday for the amazing work he's been doing for the Toronto Legion. I have a lot of personal baggage behind me as if it were a drag parachute but his help has made things much better, perhaps even gave me enough time to send out a few draft interviews. I made a VHL.com article reflecting on how I was 'caught napping' before the draft as a joke, but it really wasn't a joke. I woke up just a handful of hours before the draft that day, and throughout most of the week I was unable to really commit to any serious pre draft interviews. 

Ebbs and flow of water, right? I tried to work around those pesky IRL issues... well, that didn't quite work out the way I had hoped it would. Nevertheless I was fortunate enough to land one of the few prospects I had actually scouted and I'm beyond excited to see what happens as we continue to build towards a hopeful championship. 

Now onto the meat of the article... who'd Toronto draft? 

BO JOHANSSON
Drafted 9th overall by the Toronto Legion (VHL)
Drafted 4th overall by the Bratislava Watchmen (VHLE)
Projected franchise defensemen.

 

Bo Johansson was never drafted by a VHLM team, yet was impressive enough over his seventy two game minor career that defensive prospect not only went within the top ten in both the VHL and VHLE Entry Drafts, but also helped his player agency win the leagues' memorial award. Outside of a sheer RP context, we all know Shindigs has made an immediate impact on the league. He's been noticeable, helpful and vibrant with his presence, hence why he won the Elmebeck Memorial Award and a well deserved win at that. He was also one of the few to receive an 'in-depth' interview from Toronto, and his response sealed the deal for me. I was willing to trade up just to make this selection, another homerun from a first generation.

 

Apparently I have a tradition now - pointed out by fromtheinside during the livestream - Toronto had taken a first gen in the first round once again. I realized the majority of the drafts [that I have a first round pick] while I've been at the ships helm I've selected a first generation player; Shindigs, with Bo Johansson; Vice, with Cadmael Ixazoluoh; Juice, with Kristof Welch; fromtheinside, with Scotty Kaberle; and although I didn't draft this user, I did essentially swap picks with Davos for them... Rookie, with Jaxx Hextall. 

I'm very excited to have Shindigs on Toronto, I'm aware that top heavy D teams tend to struggle within the sim without enough forward firepower to help them out. We suffered the same fate with the 'good on paper' Legion of S76, 77 and 78 before I decided to blow it all up again. I cannot afford to make the same mistake, and eventually will be unable to afford four active defenders on the same roster. Soon these young players will be requiring 4,000,000 - 5,500,000 and a team just can't support four of them. The reality of a top heavy D team is unfortunate, so we've got to make the most of an open window as we can while the salary cap is still in our favor. 

Onwards! 

PHOEBE BRIDGERS
Drafted 25th overall by the Toronto Legion.

Drafted 18th overall by the Vasteras Iron Eagles.
Drafted 8th overall by the Huston Bulls.
Projected career forward.

 

Seems like a recurring pattern, but I was unable to find the time to properly scout Gritty, in fact other than welcoming Shindigs unofficially in Toronto's DLR I've yet to send either the official welcoming message I send to nearly every player to ever join Toronto. I know, I'm sorry, I'm a terrible GM but I'm working on the VHL priority list today! I had two options at this pick and I decided to go with Gritty, I know about his connectivity issues depending on whether or not his school has banned Discord/VHL/Both. I know the pain, back when I was in high school there was this old sim league called 'MetroHo' and the IT guy seriously thought it was an adult site. I'm not kidding, I got into an argument with him one day at the long gone age of sixteen or seventeen telling him to check the website out for himself. 

I imagine from his perspective it was very inappropriate; I'm certain it's an adult site, I've banned the URL from all school computers and this peach fuzz teenager is yelling at me to check for myself. Nah, I'm good, I'd almost certainly be thinking because I think that almost every day now. Here's the thing, this IT guy had the gull to argue back with me claiming he had already checked the website out and verified it was an inappropriate website, and that he had reported me to the school district. 

The very next day I go to log in and the website had been unblocked, and that man never talked to me again throughout my time at that school. Now I know the situation is different as the times have changed, I'd still like to imagine some decent computer teachers/school IT techs/school districts have the common sense to not ban a SIMULATED HOCKEY LEAGUE. Then I look at some of the peoples we've had here on the forum and immediately switch to hoping the IT Tech/Teacher/District worker never interacts with them. Yes, [redacted], [redacted], I'm talking about you. 

As for Gritty the intended outcome is simple. Bridgers fills a need at forward after loosing Numminen to retirement and Mulds to a hiatus, we needed a forward that would develop as a low-cost piece to compliment our developing core of Fire, Peace, Calamari and partially to replace the loss of Steele after the conclusion of this season. He won't be expensive and he'll likely only play a handful of seasons as a VHL forward, but I've said it multiple times... I believe that's a blessing in disguise, the new system allows for players to play in the VHLE and then play numerous seasons without any regression at all. 

Once again thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the article. 

Until next time! 

[CowboyinAmerica 2,889]

Review: 10/10

 

Was reading anyway, so why not give it a review? Thought it was an interesting one - can't say I was expecting to read a two paragraph-long aside about arguing with school IT that sim leagues aren't porn sites, but it certainly captured my attention. I thought the presentation worked well, with putting the future projection in green a particularly nice touch. A minor grammar issue here and there - guessing this was written pretty stream-of-conscious - but nothing that really took me out of the article. Great stuff overall, and excited to see how the draft class turns out!

[DrunkMonkey23 51]

10/10 

I love the personal touch you give at first. We all get harder times in life stay strong my friend, personal life comes first and i hope it gets better for you soon. You brought up so much about your new draftees. I really like the prensentation and how clear it is to read and follow. Also nice little touch to state the impact on those new players to the team long term not only on the things that player will bring but also the impact on the salary cap and upcoming "issues"

[ROOKIE745 604]

Review time: Hey Peace!! Once again outstanding media spot!! Tons of content to read through here, all very thoughtful well done. The personal insight at the beginning is a great way to start it off and I love the use of italics for talking about the draftees and bold for the player name. You know how to pace your posts so well and it makes it easy to read and get through, nothing feels like a wall of text. I gotta give it a 10/10

Edited January 30, 2022 by ROOKIE745

[Peace 1,525]

Claim 2/2