VSN Presents: S83 VHL Preview

[Alex 2,876]

@v.2

 

Hi everyone, and welcome to the S83 VHL Preview! We saw a lot of player movement in a long offseason, leading into a season where it can be incredibly hard to predict what will happen with the changes we saw in the offseason. No matter what we are in for a season where anything could happen, and legends will be made. While you are here be sure to check out some of the other recent VSN articles.

 

TPE Max Earners | S82 VHLM Awards | The S82 VHLE Awards Show | S82 VHL Awards 

 

North American Conference

 

 #1 Seattle Bears 

The Bears are back this season with an almost identical roster to last season with the lone addition being AJ Williams @ajwllmsn who was acquired from Los Angeles in exchange for Sebastian Dokis, Deagun Rust, a S85 SEA 1st, and a S85 SEA 3rd. As critical as Em Em Flex’s @oilmandan performance will be for this team as they will be a key player for this team, Zeedayno Chara @Jubis, now a forward is poised to have an unforgettable season. Seattle looks primed for a run this season and poised to take the North American Conference by storm this season. 

 

Projected Record: 49-18-5

X-Factor Player: Zeedayno Chara

 

 #2 Toronto Legion 

Toronto is back this season under new management with @Doomsday! He has made his impact right away with trading away Boris Tsezar for draft picks and then in a blockbuster trade acquiring Paul Atreides @Mr_Hatter and Aurlien Moreau @Frank from Moscow. The last trade of the offseason came with trading away Harkat Mulds to Moscow for a 4th. Additionally, Toronto was able to draft a future elite defensemen in Ryuji Sakamoto @der meister at 7th overall. Similarly to Seattle, Toronto has a very complete roster with top players in every position, up front Paul Atreides will likely be in for a career year and with the conference being in its current shape their play will be critical to Toronto’s success.

 

Projected Record: 45-22-5

X-Factor Player: Paul Atreides

 

 #3 D.C. Dragons 

The D.C. Dragons had one of the busiest offseasons in the league acquiring Brian Schmigel @Bigb33, Poopy Peepants @JardyB10, Taylor Mourning @scoop, and Corey Kitson @Nykonax all in huge trades. Additionally, D.C. went out and signed the big fish in free agency in Tui Sova @v.2. D.C. appears to be a step behind Seattle and Toronto on paper, however anything can happen this season and D.C. does have one of the top defense cores in the league. The biggest question mark for D.C. will be rookie goaltender Bubbles Utonium @fishy who is coming off a good individual season with Vasteras in the VHLE which saw them record a 0.922 SV% and a 3.10 GAA. 

 

Projected Record: 40-28-4

X-Factor Player: Bubbles Utonium

 

 #4 Calgary Wranglers 

This is where things get interesting with the North American Conference, with 5 of the 8 teams either rebuilding or just coming out of a rebuild. Calgary gets the nod at 4 due to their offensive core and having a solid goaltender that will improve as the season progresses. Saku Kotkakoivu @DollarAndADream will be the driving force behind this teams offense along with Daniel Janser @Daniel Janser, both are set up for a breakout season and are the early favourites for the S83 Dustin Funk Award.

 

Projected Record: 35-34-3

X-Factor Player: Saku Kotkakoivu

 

 #5 Chicago Phoenix 

After a rough last couple of seasons the Chicago Phoenix are finally trending in the right direction. With top prospects making the VHL debut in Scotty Sundin @fromtheinside, Bo Johansson @Shindigs, The Board Game Clue On Skates @MubbleFubbles, and Seymour Butts @fonziGG. Additionally with the acquisition of Aike Van Gierbergen @enigmatic to give them solid goaltending in between the pipes Chicago is set for a very good S83 considering they had 6 wins last season. We should see Chicago battling it out with Calgary and Vancouver all season for the 2 wildcard spots.

 

Projected Record: 35-33-4

X-Factor Player: Scotty Sundin

 

 #6 Vancouver Wolves 

The Vancouver wolves have been the best team in the VHL for the past 3 seasons and during that period won three consecutive Continental Cups. This season will be very different in Vancouver as they have traded away the majority of their star players and those who remain are primarily in their final season. With that being said there are two young players in Vancouver with really bright futures, those are Kakapo Bushtit @Esso2264 and Brandt Fuhr @Tate who will surely be the face of the franchise for some time to come. If Vancouver is going to challenge for a playoff spot they will need Brandt Fuhr to be at the top of their game each and every night.

 

Projected Record: 33-34-5

X-Factor Player: Brandt Fuhr

 

 #7 New York Americans 

The New York Americans made what was possibly the biggest trade of the offseason acquiring both Jerome @MexicanCow123 and Tyler Reinhart @Zetterberg from Vancouver for a S85 1st and a S84 2nd. This trade really makes New York’s offense one of the top offenses in the conference. However New York’s defense is rather lackluster and their goaltender leaves something to be desired. This will be the season we find out if Jerome Reinhart can carry a team and maybe, just maybe propel New York to a playoff spot.

 

Projected Record: 27-39-6

X-Factor Player: Jerome Reinhart

 

 #8 Los Angeles Stars 

In stark contrast to Toronto, @InstantRockstar inherited a team at the opposite end of their cycle as a majority of the team either retired, went to free agency, or were traded away to get the rebuild started. This season will be a quiet one for Los Angeles as veteran goalie Tater Tot @Trunkxolotl will need to stand on their head constantly to win games. Additionally, rookie forward DB III @wcats should have an interesting first season as they will likely be playing in all situations giving them a prime chance at taking home the rookie of the year award.

 

Projected Record: 13-57-2

X-Factor Player: Tater Tot

 

European Conference

 

 #1 Moscow Menace 

Moscow’s window is still open and this may finally be the season the EU’s top team takes the Continental Cup home. With Now veterans Papa Emeritus @Beketov, Duncan Idaho @OrbitingDeath , and Hard Markinson @STZ this team looks primed and ready to go on their 4th consecutive Continental Cup run, anything short of their names on the cup at the end of the season is a failure for this team. The biggest difference maker for this team will be Papa Emeritus in this extremely tough European Conference.

 

Projected Record: 54-10-8

X-Factor Player: Papa Emeritus

 

 #2 Helsinki Titans 

After a long rebuild the Helsinki Titans look to be pretty good this season with a solid forward core, defense is much improved from last season, and they still have one of the top goalies in the league in Xavier Booberry @CowboyinAmerica. The European conference could really be a 2 horse race all season between Moscow and Helsinki and only time will tell who will prevail.

 

Projected Record: 51-18-3

X-Factor Player: Xavier Booberry

 

 #3 Riga Reign 

The Riga Reign are a safe team that will likely comfortably finish either 3rd or 4th in their conference as they do have one of if not the top offense in the league, supplemented by a very good blueline featuring Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn. The uncertainty for Riga is in goal with Tobias Reinhart @Spaz, although not one of the most skilled goalies in the league they have been very consistent finishing with the second best GAA for each of the past two seasons. For Riga to be the best team in the league this season they will have to be the highest scoring and that starts with Alex Johnston @Alex who when they joined Riga last season was scoring at the highest pace in the league with 26 goals and 21 assists for 47 points in only 22 games.

 

Projected Record: 44-23-5

X-Factor Player: Alex Johnston

 

 #4 Prague Phantoms 

Prague this season will likely see themselves in a battle with Riga for 3rd in the conference. Prague’s biggest offseason move came with them acquiring Reylynn Reinhart @Ricer13 from Calgary in exchange for a 1st round pick. As a whole this Prague team is extremely well rounded, and do have incredible depth right now, the main difference between Riga and Prague comes with their defense cores as Riga’s gives them the slight edge, while taking into account both teams goaltenders. With that being said, Asher Reinhart @rjfryman seems to be ready for a huge season and by all means should be in for a big bounce-back season.

 

Projected Record: 44-24-4

X-Factor Player: Asher Reinhart

 

 #5 London United 

Last season’s top European team in the regular season sees themselves take a big step back here as they are still an incredibly young team that in a season or two will be at the top of the conference again. London’s rookies, Nils Godlander @Moon, Matt Avens @Mr Bohannan, and Zaza Colors @McWolf tore up the league last season and they will need to do it again. Along with them now sophomore goaltender Cole Pearce @N0HBDY will also need to take a step forward this season and help his team potentially battle it out with the top of the European Conference. London made a big addition in the offseason adding season 82’s top defensive defenseman Tom Eagles @Greg_Di, who will likely put their body on the line night after night to help his team succeed.

 

Projected Record: 40-28-4

X-Factor Player: Tom Eagles

 

 #6 Warsaw Predators 

One of six teams in the European Conference that made considerable trades in the offseason to push for the playoffs, Warsaw will be in a battle all season long. In the offseason, Warsaw acquired Hari Singh Nalwa @Dil, Tavish DeGroot @rory , and Omi Aberg @osens, all of whom will be stepping into sizable roles with the team and will be integral to their success in front of rookie goaltender Wumbo @Fire Fletcher. Warsaw will likely find themselves in the playoff hunt right on the tail of London, if GM @dlamb can find and acquire a 4th defensemen it could put this team over the edge and propel them into a playoff spot.

 

Projected Record: 39-28-5

X-Factor Player: Hari Singh Nalwa

 

 #7 HC Davos Dynamo 

Davos is making steps in the right direction, they picked up the other half of their future first defensive pair with Siyan Yasilievich @badcolethetitan who will slot in perfectly next to James Teekirque @Mongoose87, They also added some forward prospects with Pete Mitchell @Crstats23 and Benjamin Franklin Chang @joelunk. Additionally, adding Boris Tsezar @comrade cat in a trade gives them a starting goalie for this season that will be a step in the right direction. Davos’s defensive core is pretty solid to start this season with David Tavau @Ahma and Kristof Welch @Juice, both of whom could be in for a big season. However, the lack of top forwards is an issue with the current roster that will likely be adding some of the top forwards in the S84 draft class.

 

Projected Record: 30-35-7

X-Factor Player: Boris Tsezar

 

 #8 Malmo Nighthawks 

Malmo is now trending down into a rebuild following several good playoff runs that involved a Continental Cup win in season 79. Although Malmo is already off to a promising start in their rebuild with Igor Molotov @Dom who will likely spend their entire career in Malmo and serve as their franchise center, they will have to build around them. This is something that they have already started to do with acquiring Mason Jones @Masu Chan and Obi Adesanya @atw2592. Although the forward core actually looks great on paper, this team will likely struggle defensively with only 1 active defensmen in Dabnad Shaw @Dabnad and no goaltender; MAL-G1 will need to play very well. This season we can expect Malmo to finish at or near the bottom of a European Conference that is highly competitive this season.

 

Projected Record: 18-53-1

X-Factor Player: Dabnad Shaw

[rory 1,759]

yeah i dont trust vsn after putting LA 5h last season

[Ricer13 2,594]

Prague is going to shock Europe! Let’s go Prague!!

[Dabnad 132]

Lets go Malmo! We may not be the best, but we’ll come there and when we do we’ll shock the league 

[v.2 1,261]

graphic features max earner Xavier Booberry looking down on you tpe peasants btw

[Arce 742]

I am so easily forgotten!

[Dabnad 132]

52 minutes ago, Arce said:

I am so easily forgotten!

Yea everyone but the scoresheet says that  

[Arce 742]

1 minute ago, Dabnad said:

Yea everyone but the scoresheet says that  

My day 1!

[Mr_Hatter 1,603]

Paul BUST

[Shindigs 1,771]

6 hours ago, Arce said:

I am so easily forgotten!

Just part of embracing the team identity over there.

[Beketov 8,650]

10 hours ago, v.2 said:

graphic features max earner Xavier Booberry looking down on you tpe peasants btw

I’d be more impressed if we hadn’t chased him in both pre-season games.

[Alex 2,876]

12 hours ago, Arce said:

I am so easily forgotten!

The sad part is I was between putting you or Fishy’s player for best rookie, sorry about that

[Arce 742]

1 minute ago, Alex said:

The sad part is I was between putting you or Fishy’s player for best rookie, sorry about that

 

Don't be sorry! I'm just messing around I'd rather see fishy get the limelight any day!

[CowboyinAmerica 2,711]

5 hours ago, Beketov said:

I’d be more impressed if we hadn’t chased him in both pre-season games.

 

Don't mind me, just quoting for future reference