Sunday Ramble

[youloser1337 1,052]

The VHL season has come to a close and we have 2 tales to go over. One that is just beginning and one that is coming to a close. One is starting their career and one is ending their career. We will start with the closing of a chapter.

 

Justin Lose has been in the VHL for 7 seasons. During the 7th season, he confirmed that he will be retiring at the end of the season. With the elimination at the hands of Vancouver, his career is finished. This is heartbreak because Lose was trying to chase a cup when he left Riga and that never came to plan. Lose didn’t even make it out of the 1st round in his career. Excluding the incredible season in season 81, is his career even HOF worthy?

 

Obviously, we have to start with the insane season from Lose, Season 81. 72 games played 72 goals, 70 assists, 142 points. This is an incredible season for Lose. Something that will never be replicated anytime soon. Having a goal-a-game pace is already incredible but also doing that with assists? A true showcase of his skills was displayed with the new Seattle squad. He took home 4 trophies at the end of the season too. Unfortunately, he only played in 6 games in the playoffs. His magic ran out as they were eliminated in 6 games in the first round.

 

His next highest point total season was the current season, season 82. 45 goals, 39 assists for 84 points. Going from 142 to 84 is a disappointment for Lose. Not being that clutch goal scorer for the team hurt Seattle. Which is why they weren’t in a position to go to the 1st round automatically. They had to fight it out in the play-in round. Fortunately, they won that series but lost in round 1 to Vancouver.

 

Season 78 had 82 points. This is the last time Lose hit 80+ points in his career. Although he had a great season doing 37 goals and 45 assists, the Riga squad didn’t make the playoffs. Losing out by 1 point. How can Lose showcase his talents if he can’t even make the big dance?

 

The only good thing on Lose’s resume for a HOF ballet is Season 81 with the ultra points and 4 trophies. Being top goal scorer, the point leader, gave him the season MVP award. 504 games played and 568 points might seem impressive but then you look and he was a +/- 0. He only had 1 season where he was a positive player. He was a defensive liability. He shouldn’t be considered for HOF.

 

Moving on from Lose, we have the next generation talent, Scoish Velociraptor Maloish. Maloish is a hardworking defenseman who wants to make it to the VHL. In his first season in the VHLM he only had 2 points but he made it to the VHLM finals and lost in 7 games to the Saskatoon Wild. It seems like Maloish is heading in the right direction already in his short career. With the draft coming up, where will he land? Will a team even decide he's worth the risk and draft him? In the playoffs and the regular season he was a - +/- player. How is a defenseman supposed to be a top pick if he can’t even keep the puck out of his own net?