VSN Presents: S82 VHL Preview

[Alex 2,876]

@v.2

 

Hi everyone, and welcome to the S82 VSN VHL season preview, here we’ll discuss each team's offseason moves, season outlook, and make a rough projection as to where they will finish this season. While you’re here be sure to check out some of the other recent VSN articles.

 

LIST

 

NORTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE

 

S81 finish: 3rd in NA

S82 Projection: 2nd in NA

Notable Acquisition: Reylynn Reinhart @Ricer13 (trade)

 

Early in the offseason Calgary set the tone for their immediate future and committed to taking 1 more big run at a Continental Cup by acquiring Reylynn Reinhart. After the trade Reinhart switched to being a forward and will join an already complete forward core and complement sophomore center Saku Kotkakoivu @DollarAndADream and retiring winger Nathan Perry @tinafrombobsburgers very well on the first line. 

 

S81 finish: 7th in NA

S82 Projection: 8th in NA

Notable Acquisition: The Board Game Clue On Skates @MubbleFubbles (draft)

 

Chicago’s continuous Continental Cup efforts has caught up to them as they enter this season with a very bare bones roster with 1 active player in Sunrise van de Schubbekutteveen @Thunfish, who will need to carry this team if they are to finish not last in the league.

 

S81 finish: 8th in NA

S82 Projection: 7th in NA

Notable Acquisition: Bubbles Utonium @fishy (draft)

 

Free agent signing Barry Taffe @Barry will go a long way towards improving D.C.’s record compared to last season as having a goalie tends to do. Ryan Vidot @Enorama will also look to take a big step forward this season as the new face of the Dragons.

 

S81 finish: 4th in NA

S82 Projection: 5th in NA

Notable Acquisition: Jan Hlozek @Bojovnik (free agency, resigned)

 

Los Angeles enters this season with almost an identical roster to last season with the addition of Florida Man @zepheter coming up from the VHLE. This season Los Angeles will look to stay competitive in the North America Conference and hopefully be able to push for one of the top spots in the conference and with how close the top end of this conference is, anything is possible.

 

S81 finish: 6th in NA

S82 Projection: 6th in NA

Notable Acquisition: Kristof Welch @Juice (free agency)

 

The New York Americans took massive strides towards their future this past season and are only a few key pieces from being true contenders in the VHL. The main piece the Americans need is a goalie and they will look to take one with their first round pick this season to pair nicely with recent top selections Vasile Lamb @dlamb and Tavish DeGroot @rory.

 

S81 finish: 2nd in NA

S82 Projection: 4th in NA

Notable Acquisition: Taro Tsujimoto @GustavMattias (trade)

 

Although Da Bearz are off to a slow start but should be able to turn it around quickly, this past offseason they acquired longtime Davos forward Taro Tsujimoto who is a welcome addition to the team and will slot in perfectly next to reigning league MVP Justin Lose @youloser1337, for Seattle to contend this season they will need Lose and Tsujimoto to both play at the top of their games, this is definitely a team to watch this season.

 

S81 finish: 5th in NA

S82 Projection: 3rd in NA

Notable Acquisition:George Sanderson @SpicyGecko (call-up)

 

Toronto took a huge step forward last season and will look to take one again this season. With a relatively young roster Toronto will have the odds stacked against them but nothing is impossible with this team and they should be in contention as long as Oskar Lindbergh @Doomsday performs in each and every game.

 

S81 finish: 1st in NA

S82 Projection: 1st in NA

Notable Acquisition: Joe Madison @samx (trade)

 

In a trade with Los Angeles early in the offseason Vancouver completed their roster for this season bringing in veteran defensemen Joe Madison to compliment their already complete team. The Wolves will be looking for a three-peat and almost every team will be sure not to take a night off against them. The Reinharts @MexicanCow123 @Zetterberg will look to continue their play from the previous seasons and with Sales @thadthrasher between the pipes the Wolves are set to have another dominant season.

EUROPEAN CONFERENCE
 

S81 finish: 4th in EU

S82 Projection: 7th in EU

Notable Acquisition: Kyle Glass @Tbeez99 (free agency)

 

Davos is heading into a rebuild and it looks to be focused on the season 84 draft where they already have 3 first round picks. Davos will still be tough to beat for the rest of the league with UnGuri @Berocka, Tessier @KC15, and Tavau @Ahma looking to have standout seasons and potentially carry Davos to the playoffs.

 

S81 finish: 7th in EU

S82 Projection: 5th in EU

Notable Acquisition: Nico Pearce @Spartan (trade)

 

The Helsinki Titans are looking to return to the playoffs this season and the acquisition of Nico Pearce will round out their top line perfectly alongside Jonathan Ori @ROOKIE745 and Alex Johnston @Alex. Helsinki has improved defensively as well with Flynn Remy @jhatty8 joining the team and Xavier Booberry @CowboyinAmerica being a top candidate to have a breakout season between the pipes. The sky's the limit for this team and the season could go either way for them.

 

S81 finish: 8th in EU

S82 Projection: 6th in EU

Notable Acquisition: Rolf Fizzlebeef Jr @TacticalHammer (trade)

 

London is moving in the right direction following a short rebuild and with drafting Cole Pearce @N0HBDY and adding Rolf Fizzlebeef Jr, alongside young forwards Nils Godlander @Moon and Zaza Colors @McWolf the future is bright in London and they may be on their way to their first playoff series win ever.

 

S81 finish: 1st in EU

S82 Projection: 3rd in EU

Notable Acquisition: Sven Reikkinen @Devise (free agency)

 

The Malmo Nighthawks almost rebuilt their entire defense core centered around Riekkinen and Poopy Peepants @JardyB10. In what might be Malmo’s last serious cup run for a while Malmo does enter this season as one of the favourites in a very close European conference.

 

S81 finish: 2nd in EU

S82 Projection: 1st in EU

Notable Acquisition: Wattson Power @Tape-to-Tape (trade)

 

Moscow enters this season looking to finally win a Continental Cup after losing to Vancouver in back-to-back seasons. Moscow is the favorite to win the European conference but they do have their work cut out for them and will need to improve defensively to stand a chance to come out of their conference and win that elusive Continental Cup.

 

S81 finish: 3rd in EU

S82 Projection: 4th in EU

Notable Acquisition: Darth Kaprizov @Darth Kaprizov (trade)

 

Prague’s biggest asset right now is their depth and could very well find their way into the top of the European Conference, for that to happen their forwards will need to have a breakout season. If Prague can perform offensively they should be in good shape with their solid D-core in front of goalie David Davis @Josh.

 

S81 finish: 6th in EU

S82 Projection: 2nd in EU

Notable Acquisition: Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn (trade)

 

Riga made moves this past offseason and enters this season as one of the top teams in the European conference. With that being said Riga could very well go all the way and have the strongest all around roster in the league. Their success could very well hinge on their goalie Tobias Reinhart @Spaz who’s play will likely control Riga’s fate and could carry them to a Continental Cup.

 

S81 finish: 5th in EU

S82 Projection: 8th in EU

Notable Acquisition: Tater Tot @Trunkxolotl (free agency)

 

It was a tough decision here to put Warsaw eighth and the main reason behind it is that Warsaw has near no depth with only 2 defensmen. With that being said Warsaw could easily make the playoffs in a very close European conference. Breakout seasons from their forwards including Bogdan Trunov @qripll and if Tater Tot can carry their play over from London last season Warsaw will be in a great position.

 

Thank you for tuning into the S82 VHL preview presented by VSN! 

 

Important Announcement:

Spoiler

The All-star game is back this season as well as a prospect game! More details coming soon!

 

Edited February 4, 2022 by Alex

[ROOKIE745 572]

Best post you've ever made because you finally mentioned my player! (Just bugging ya, good work on this!!)

[Lemorse7 900]

[McWolf 3,112]

1 hour ago, Alex said:

their first playoff series win ever.

daily pain

[Thunfish 72]

On 2/4/2022 at 11:52 AM, Alex said:

Schubbekutteveen

It's only one t, mate.

[rory 1,759]