Da Trifecta's Articles

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Episode 49

 

I would like to say what an honor it is to join the VHLM mag crew. I will be bringing you a weekly segment called the VHLM player spotlight. Each week I am going to highlight a player in the VHLM and talk about what they have accomplished and what I think they can bring to the table. This is going to give an overview on how a player is doing in their career. This will give the player a chance to be known and gives them a chance to shine. It will be hard picking the people weekly as I obviously can't fit everyone into these spotlights throughout the whole season. So I do apologize if I do not give you your time to shine here.

 

Without further ado, this week I will be highlighting Thomas O'Malley. Thomas is projected as a top pick in this draft and his competition for the first overall spot is Mason Richardson. Thomas currently plays for the Ottawa Lynx and he played in all 72 games during the season. His stellar numbers have been something to marvel over. During the course of those 72 games, he racked up 96 goals and 90 assists for a total of 186 points. That is something very impressive for a player of his caliber. While I am not trying to take away from his skill, he is definitely the type of player that you would want on your team. He has had a lot of practice hours during his time in the VHLM and he has accomplished a lot. He has solidified himself as a household name and should be when he reaches the VHL.

 

Thomas O'Malley has currently lead his team to the VHLM playoffs. The team won the North American conference with a record of 57-12-13. They just barely surpassed the Brampton Blades for the best record. They bought themselves a first round bye and would get time to rest while the Saskatoon Wild would face off against the Brampton Blades. The Wild would win 4 games in a 7 game series and advance to the North American Finals against the Lynx. During his first game against the Wild, Thomas would score one goal and help assist on another. The team would go on to win the game 4-1. Game two, the Lynx would drop the win and lose 2-1 and Thomas didn't attribute much during that game. Game three would be a shutout with the Wild winning 3-0. Game four Thomas would score two goals but the team would lose 3-2. Game five came on and they were holding on for dear life. He would score two goals and two assists to help the team. They would win 4-3. Game six he would have one goal and one assist for a 5-3 win. Game seven is where it came down to the wire, Thomas would add one assist and the team would win 3-1 closing out the series.

 

The team is heading for the VHLM Finals. The opponents are the Oslo Storm. Thomas is hoping that he can capture a ring before he goes on to the VHL. Of course after he gets drafted that is. The first game has been played and he has had two goals and two assists to help his team win a very offensive game. The Ottawa Lynx would win this game 7-6 and he would be the MVP of the game. If he continues to perform like he has in the first game, the team should be able to pick up a ring. Thomas is hoping that the rest of his team can pick up the slack that he doesn't and they can win the series in four games. Of course everyone wants to win a series in four games, but it looks like it will be tough from here on out.

 

 

Final Analysis: Thomas O'Malley will be a stud for whoever drafts him. If he lands with Cologne and goes first overall, it will be a huge accomplishment. He is a stud of a player and could be the face of the franchise. His potential is sky high and we are just seeing only a glimpse of what he has to offer. Keep an eye on this young guy as he will not disappoint you. I project that he will be taken first overall and will upset Mason Richardson's chance to go first. I am going to also go out on a limb and say that Thomas O'Malley will be a future hall of famer.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Episode 50

 

This week I will be digging into history a little bit. With this episode being a part of the historical episode, I will be looking into the past. I would like to point out that this players career has already come to an end in the VHL. He was a superstar for the Helsinki Titans. He came up as a first generation player and he shocked the world of the VHLM and the VHL. His name is Ethan Osbourne and he had a long and illustrious career with the Titans. I will be highlighting his two year career with the VHLM as he played with the Sakatoon Wild, Bern Royals and then with the Kolari Panthers.

 

Ethan Osborne was the first overall selection of the VHLM season 30 draft. That was a pretty huge accomplishment for a first gen considering not many have earned that right. Someone must have knew that he would turn out to be something amazing. Little did they know, he would turn out to be one of the top first gen TPE earners of all time. During his first year in the VHLM, he was with the Saskatoon Wild for 36 games. He managed to put up 27 goals and 28 assists in those 36 games that he played for the Wild. He would then be traded to the Bern Royals later in the season. He played 15 games with the Bern Royals and had 4 goals and 7 assists while playing in Bern. During the playoffs with the Royals, they would play 4 games and he would have 1 goal and 1 assist as they would fall to his eventual team, the Kolari Panthers. He would then be looking forward to the VHLM draft where he would get to be drafted.

 

Ethan Osborne would go on to be the first overall selection in the S30 VHLM draft. This was a huge accomplishment for him and would be a big stepping stone in his career. Coincidentally, he would also manage to be the first overall selection in the VHL's season 30 draft. Having 56 less TPE than the player who was drafted #2, says the franchise had a lot of faith in him. Ethan would play his first full year in the VHLM that season for the Kolari Panthers.

 

During his career with the Kolari Panthers, Ethan would put up huge numbers such as 95 goals and 97 assists to total 192 points. That would be good enough for most points in the VHLM with only teammate Smooth Jive behind him in points with 179. During the playoffs, the Panthers would face off against the Iron Eagles, which they would go on to sweep them. Ethan had numbers of 7 goals and 4 assists during that matchup. The next competitors they faced would be the Syracuse Wolfpack. This series would play out six games and Ethan would help lead his team to victory though six games and would have 5 goals and 9 assists to help win the VHLm championship that year. He has already had a taste of success and would be ready to face the VHL. Of course he had a year and a half under his belt of playing, but he was ready. Next season he would be heading to Helsinki to play for the Titans in what would become one of the best careers of this current generation. He was a surefire hall of famer and management would go on to look like geniuses for drafting him where they did.

 

Final Analysis: Ethan Osborne gives hope to all those that are first generation players. As long as you put in the hard work and effort, you can turn into something in this league. Not guaranteeing that you will be a HOF'er, but you can easily be a star. Just keep up the hard work like he did and make a difference for your team.

Edited September 24, 2014 by Da Trifecta

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 51

 

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to this weeks edition of VHLM Player Spotlight. I would like to take the time and announce that I will be talking about a new person to the VHLM. Player agent  Mook has brought us Fedir Okranitz. Now Fedir is a goalie and he is hoping that he will be able to keep up with Klaus Mikaelson. Of course the TPE difference is around 150 there, but if he builds right, he could be in for a very solid season. Goalie seems to be one of the more boring positions to play, but that has not stopped Fedir for declaring his intentions to play in the VHLM and one day in the VHL.

 

Now there hasn't really been much about Fedir as he is just coming into his first season in the VHLM. He didn't play any games at all during the 39th season of the VHL/VHLM. He was drafted 24th overall to the Yukon Rush and he hopes to make a difference for the team that drafted him. Of course there aren't may human players on the team, but that won't stop his dreams of becoming  one of the best goalies in the draft. With his aspirations and high volumes of activity from this kid, we could be looking at the next future star of the VHL and not even know it. He practices weekly and he wants to get better. You can see the similarity in the two between him and Mikaelson and they both have a similar play style. The kid is one of the hardest working kids I have seen in awhile.

 

Season 40 is just around the corner and he can't wait to take his proper place in the net for the Rush. The sky is the limit for this kid as his potential could be limitless. The Yukon Rush didn't expect to get such a dedicated member at 24th overall who not only wants to be a good player, but wants to become great. This kids path to the VHL leads through the Yukon Rush and their hopes at doing something. If he would have been a part of the Rush a few years ago, he could have been on a very solid team. The best thing he can do is hope that with not really many other human players on the team, that either he can stay encouraged or that he gets traded. The latter would probably be better for his career and the Rush as they could land a few picks from him. Granted right now they may not be firsts, but it definitely helps the franchise.

 

The season 41 draft is what Fedir is really waiting for. When he gets the chance to be called upon stage and be greeted by his VHL franchise. I think that everyone really can't wait for their name to be called. It is an intense feeling and it makes you feel good that a team actually wants you. With him entering the S41 draft, he more than likely will be playing another season in the VHLM and it will not be because he sucks, but the fact he will be under the TPE limit. This will be good for his development as it will give him time to earn more TPE and he should be over 200 TPE by the time he gets ready to head up to the VHL. If he falls past the second round in the season 41 draft, he will be a huge steal for a team. Finding dedication like this is very rare from first gen players, but it is something that GM's really like. It brings more diversity to the league and more dedicated players to be made. Keep an eye on him during his first VHLM season and you will not be let down.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 52

 

This week I would like to talk about a player who has a familiar agent. His name is Teuvo Ruutu and his agent is none other than InstantRockstar. This guy has made players in the past and he knows how to manage his players. It just so happens that InstantRockstar is also the GM of the Minot Gladiators. He got the chance to draft his own player in the VHLM draft and I don't think that he could be any happier about that. Teuvo is a defenseman and he is a solid one at that. Last season he played on the championship Ottawa Lynx team. He was picked up off the waivers as he came into the league shortly after the trade deadline. It would make him eligible for the season 41 VHL draft.

 

Teuvo's agent IR, kind of went missing for a short period of time due to personal things. This made Teuvo fall behind in practice hours for a few weeks. Those weeks would be crucial to anyone else, but this isn't IR's first time around managing a player. His success rate is pretty good but his players careers are usually short lived. Hopefully with bringing in Teuvo, he has decided that he will let him play out his entire 8 seasons in the VHL. When talking about Ruutu, he is the type of player where his potential is limitless. Of course he may have been playing rather under what he expected last year, he is hoping for more results this year. Playing for the Minot Gladiators this year, he is currently leading the team in points with 13. Of those 13 points, 10 of them are assists. What stands out the most is his league leading 30 shots blocked and his 23 hits. With those kind of numbers through 8 games, if he continues at this same pace, he could top 250 shots blocked and 207 hits. Those are outstanding numbers for a draftee looking to prove his worth to a team.

 

Hopefully IR keeps his players pace and Ruutu doesn't fall behind the pack anymore. He looks like he could be a lock for top four in the draft. That speaks volumes for a player when they know they have the skill and talent to be drafted that high. Of course he could be selected higher depending on the teams need. Teuvo really just needs to keep playing at the pace he is and hopefully the rest of the team can stay on par with what he is doing. I am not saying for them to explode, but just maybe step up their game a little bit. The Gladiators have a nice roster with him at the helm and could end up surprising us with a late run. With IR hopefully making some moves during the season and the continued dominance of Teuvo, this team could lock up the last slot for the playoffs. 

 

 

Teuvo is one of those rare talents that you just can't pass up. Even if a team doesn't have a glaring need for a defensemen, basing off work ethic alone, they would be getting a steal with him. Many would compare him to this seasons number two overall pick in the VHL, Mason Richardson. Granted Richardson was a huge sensation for the year, he also headed to Cologne to help a rebuilding team. He should be a lock for one of the starting spots there. Similar results could happen for Teuvo as many teams in the lotto, will have a big need for defensemen. Vasteras (or whatever team name you want to call them), Davos and Seattle are the big teams who will be in the need of a great defender. Look for any one of these teams to grab him come time for the season 41 draft.

 

Final Analysis: Teuvo Ruutu will be a franchise defenseman for any team looking for one. He can hold his own or help form a formidable duo if you already have someone in place. He can be quite the offensive forward so he will definitely be able to handle his own when it comes to that.

Edited October 8, 2014 by Da Trifecta

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 53

 

Back at it again. The VHLM spotlight is here to discuss this weeks representative, Christopher Klose. He is the heart and soul of the Oslo Storm. Some would label him as the team's captain as his voice is heard quite loud in the locker room. Klose is without a doubt the teams MVP and is one of the VHLM's top scorers. He is a second year player for the Storm and happens to be quite a steal from the season 39 VHLM draft. GM Don Draper didn't realize he would be getting such a colorful player when he grabbed Klose.

 

Christopher has been nothing but sensational for the Oslo Storm this season. He leads the team in goals and points. With 26 goals, he is top 10 in the league and he has 43 total points which is also in the leagues top 10. He was drafted 14th overall to the New York Americans during the season 40 draft. He had to spend his second season in the VHLM due to not having enough practice hours to enter the VHL. This will make sure that when he gets the chance to play for the Americans, he will be ready. Chris is hoping that he can help lead the charge for the Storm to capture the Founder's Cup. He worked so hard last season and was leading the charge during the playoffs. The team came up short and he felt a little down about it. This year he has the chance to right that wrong this year. The team has the best record in the league and he has been in the spotlight ever since.

 

Chris is the type of player that will not make an immediate impact in the VHL for the Americans as they have a deep team, but he will help them out over time. Of course getting drafted to the VHL's championship team is something that every player would like to have happen. That may not be the case for a lot of draftees. Some will have to endure a rebuild while others are on consistent playoff teams. The Americans have a solid chance to repeat and with a solid draft of Jody 3 Moons, Chris Klose and Bobby Ricky. They had other picks but these will be the only ones that make a difference and should be in the VHL next season. Depending on how the salary cap situation is for the Americans, we are not quite sure if everyone will still be with the team.

 

 

Final Analysis: Christopher Klose will help be a depth scorer for the season 39 championship New York Americans team. Being a left wing, the team doesn't have a real left winger. They have right wings playing on the left side. While that might not make much difference, he could be looking at a decent rookie season something similar to what ex-American Thomas Landry did. He didn't have a stellar rookie season but the difference is that Klose has had an extra year and a half of time to prepare. His numbers may surpass what Tom did and I think that the extra time he had and the more TPE he had, he should be able to make quite a difference for the team.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Episode 54

 

Here we go again ladies and gentleman. Back for another great episode of the VHLM Player Spotlight. This week I will be bringing to you the wonderful and impressive Sachimo Zoidberg. Sachimo is currently in his second season in the VHLM and he is with the Bratislava Watchmen during his second season. During his first season in the VHLM, he played on the Yukon Rush. He had to go through a second season in the minors due to the fact that he did not surpass the 175 TPE minimum requirement to be called up to the VHL. Sachimo Zoidberg was the second overall pick in the season 40 VHLM draft. He was also drafted fifth overall to the Toronto Legion. He was the third of a trio of picks that went back to back to back.

 

During his first season in the VHLM, while playing for the Yukon Rush, Sachimo Zoidberg put up 85 points during 48 games with the team. Some would think that is quite an impressive feat for a first year player. With the success he had during those games, he became one of the top prospects for the season 40 VHLM draft. The reason he went second overall was because Niklaus Mikaelson went first. Goalies are apparently more coveted in the minor system due to the lack of them that come through. The commissioners of the VHL passed down the rule for next year though that each team will have a dummy goalie that will instantly have 50 practice hours. This goalie couldn't get any TPE or become better. Sachimo Zoidberg knew that he would be leaving the Rush and was on his way to a new team. He wasn't quite sure what team would draft him, but he was willing to give 110% to the team that did. On to the Bratislava Watchmen he would go.

 

The season 40's start was something that came a little quick. Sachimo would quickly get the hang of his game and he would start to abuse opposing teams. The season is only roughly half way over, 36 games and he has already amassed 93 points. That total alone has passed what he did all last year. He can't believe that he has topped those points and know that there still is another half left to the season. At the current pace, he is more than likely to put up over 180 points. Of those points, over 120 of them will come from goals while the other roughly 60 will be assists. This kid has to be quite excited with the way that his season has been going. He gets to enjoy a year of being one of the best players in the minor system and then head off to a rebuilding Toronto team. Being the third musketeer from the season 40 draft along with Tyler Cote and Jerrick Poole, these three young guys could make a difference. All that I can say is that Sachimo should take the VHL by storm as the last guy did. His name was Davey Jones and he shocked the VHL during his rookie season. Look for Sachimo to have a similar effect from a different position.

 

Final Analysis: Sachimo Zoidberg is going to win the Rookie of the Year award. You heard it here first ladies and gentlemen. I am putting all money on him to win the award. Of course we all know the VHL is a much faster paced and more competitive league than the VHLM. This much have a small effect on him, but he shouldn't slow down and he should aim big at 100 points in his rookie year. I think the sky is the limit with this kid and he will make Edgar look like a genius with this pick. Toronto really got a steal with him and he will provide top of the line talent.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 55

 

The VHLM Player Spotlight has decided to bring in someone who just recently decided to join the VHLM ranks. His name is David Blind and his player agent is Knight. Knight has been around the league and represented plenty of players. He knows the inside and the outsides of the VHL and the VHLM. David Blind is his latest client and he is a goalie that was picked up off the VHLM waiver wire by the Minot Gladiators. GM InstantRockstar knew that he already had a goalie but his goalie had since gone inactive. Grabbing Blind was easily the best decision for the team, as it gave him a goalie who practiced with the team.

 

David Blind has appeared in just 13 games for the Minot Gladiators and he already boasts a 12-2-1 record for the team. Of course that can be attributed to the team that InstantRockstar has put around him. With three very efficient scorers in Guy Lukovski, Shadhu Rathod Jr. and Brady Stropko, they have all managed to put up around 90 points so far. That is huge for the team as the have been in a rebuilding phase for around 4-5 seasons. Last GM Da Trifecta kinda gutted the team of picks when he tried to make a run at a cup. It seems that it failed and he was ready to give up his duty. David Blind was brought to this team in hopes that he can help them try to compete with the other teams in the North American conference. With the Gladiators in second place and just 6 games behind the Saskatoon Wild, they are hoping that they can pull something together as of late. With the stellar performance by Blind, this team has been playing sensational.

 

Being a goaltender isn't necessarily an easy or wanted job. I mean think about it, who wants to stand in one spot all game and wait for people to hit a puck at them right? Wrong. For David Blind, he loves playing this position. He is hoping to make a career of it and he wants to head to the VHL one day in hopes to be drafted to a team. He has all the talent to be a franchise goalie and he has the determination to back it up. Hopefully he can stick around and play out the rest of his career. The last player Knight represented was David Januzaj and his career was rather short lived. Blind has a really bright future ahead of him and at the rate he is playing, he could be moving up the draft charts too.

 

Final Analysis: Despite coming into the league rather late, David Blind is no slouch. He will get the practice hours he needs. Of course he might need another season in the VHLM for practice hour purposes and to get seasoned more, but it will be to benefit his career. He could go as early as the second round and as late as the third round. If he slips to the third round though, I will be surprised. There are quite a few teams in this draft that need goalies and he will be picked up by one. Maybe a team like Toronto will be able to grab him while they can grab someone else in the first with a glaring need. Who knows where he will end up, all I know is that some team will be grabbing a steal when they draft him.

Edited October 28, 2014 by Da Trifecta

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 56

 

Another week and another VHLM player spotlight to be brought to you. This week we will dive into one of the top players for the Bratislava Watchmen. He was traded to the team from the Bern Royals and they hope that he can make a difference for the team. His name is Jody 3 Moons and he is one of the more interesting prospects in the VHLM. This is his second season in the VHLM and he currently plays the center position. He is a season 40 draftee and he was picked to the New York American with the 10th pick in the draft. As you may recall, about 3 episodes ago, we did a player spotlight and it was on his soon to be teammate, Christopher Klose. Klose will be heading to the New York Americans with Jody after the season ends.

 

During season 39, Jody 3 Moons was a part of the Bern Royals. During that time he enjoyed being the second line center. He was really making a difference from the second line. He totalled 103 points for the Royals on the year. Of those 103 points, 43 of them were goals while the other 60 of them were assists. He also was the best faceoff artist on the team as his faceoff percentage was 57.26%. That was better than first line center Devin Sundberg. Now Jody got the chance to experience what it was like to play a full season in the minor system. He knew that he wouldn't have enough points to make the jump to the majors, so he would be heading back down to the minors one more season. He was ready to play on the first line for the Bern Royals. He did just that for around 52 games.

 

During those 52 games, Jody would go on to score 69 goals and 67 assists which is good for 136 points so far on the season. Jody will not be able to play a full season's worth of games due to the fact the Royals played 3 less games. The Bratislava Watchmen have already played 55 games on the season. The Watchmen had traded their season first round pick so that they could get Jody on their team. What could be in store for Jody is roughly something that none of us can pinpoint exactly. But as of right now, if I had to predict I would say that he would score roughly another 20 more goals and 20 more assists. Give or take a few of them of course. That would put him at around 175 points on the season for sure. That would be a great feat for a second year player and one that is on a playoff team. Jody was brought in to hopefully help lead this team deep into the playoffs. With the Oslo Storm all but locked up in the playoffs, the first seed should be theirs. This will pit the Bratislava Watchmen against the team he just came from, the Bern Royals.

 

Final Analysis: Jody 3 Moons will be in the hunt for the Rookie of the Year award when he reaches the VHL. Of course he will be a part of the New York Americans which already have one of the best rosters in the majors. Going to the reigning VHL Champions, it has to be something that one would enjoy. He can be a plug and player type of player that GM Advantage hit on. The fact that he has Jody and Klose from the draft and they will both be joining the team has to be a great feeling. GM Advantage has hit on both of those picks and hopefully they can go on to have great careers. Jody has a bright future in front of him being a part of the New York American franchise.

Edited November 3, 2014 by Da Trifecta

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 57

 

This week will be a highly touted prospect. He is a season 41 draftee and he currently leads the VHLM in practice hours with 266. He currently plays for the Oslo Storm and his name is Niklaus Mikaelson. Last season he played with the Oslo Storm as well and he got the chance to be drafted there again. GM Draper made it his main mission to trade up in the draft to grab Mikaelson with the first overall selection. He traded with current Minot GM InstantRockstar, to acquire the first overall selection to grab Mikaelson.

 

During season 39, Klaus got the chance to appear in 27 games and he managed to have a 12-10-5 record during that span. He was feeling rather down about the fact that he wasn't really helping his team win many games. Granted he had just entered the league and not many people knew much about his gameplay or how he would effect the team. He would help lead Oslo into the playoffs where they would go on to face the  Moscow Red Wolves in the first round. The Storm would come out with the hot hand as they would manage to sweep the Red Wolves in a surprising turn of events. With that, they would go on to the conference finals and have to face the Bern Royals. Now Bern was heavily favored and had won 37 games on the season. Oslo took their offense and it would turn out to be just a little bit too much for the Royals as they would go on to sweep them.  It just so happened that getting Klaus was the best thing for the team at the time. In the Finals, the Storm would go on to face the Ottawa Lynx and their start studded lineup. This would be the best challenge yet for the Storm. The Lynx would jump out to a early 3 game lead over the Storm lead by Thomas O'Malley, James Faraday, Jerrick Poole and Aksel Thomassen. Oslo would regain their composure for game 4, but it wouldn't hold up much as they would fall in game 5 to the Lynx.

 

Season 40 is where Klaus has really gotten his chance to shine. Currently he has helped guide his team to a 55-8-3 record. That is the best record in the VHLM and the next closest team is the Saskatoon Wild with a 50-10-5 record. Klaus has managed to stay above the .900% save margin by a good amount. His GAA is 2.06 currently and he leads that statistic by a nice margin as well. He is awaiting the playoffs to happen which will come in about six games from now and he is hoping that he can help his team push to 60 wins. To win five of the next six would be a huge accomplishment for him and the team. Of course he has been looking forward to the draft all season long. The lotto teams will all be vying for his services and hope that their team wins the first overall selection. Those teams will be the Seattle Bears, the HC Davos Dynamo and the newly relocated Stockholm Vikings. The Vikings GM also holds another lottery pick that it acquired in a trade from the Toronto Legion from the season 40 draft.

 

 

Final Analysis: Klaus Mikaelson is the next big thing. He is a franchise cornerstone and he already has surpassed the practice hours that Lennox Moher had when he was selected first overall. With huge expectations already ahead of him both in the VHLM and VHL, he will be asked upon a lot to do many things. As of right now, he is just hoping that he can help his team win those five more games. Then playoffs come and then the big payday to become the franchise goaltender. He has a long career ahead of him and maybe one day, he will get his chance to prove his worth and maybe one day even be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Episode 58

 

Welcome back for another episode of the VHLM Player Spotlight. This week I would like to highlight is Brady Stropko. Well known player agent Bushito has finally brought his newest player into the VHLM and is hoping for a lot more success. His last player had a swift retirement because of some unnamed reason, but he is ready to go to work again. This time he is hoping that his player can last all eight seasons. The only downfall is that he won't be entering the season 41 draft as he is going to be defaulted to the Seattle Bears. It is also rumored that since Seattle was awarded the first overall selection in the season 41 draft, they will be taking goaltender Niklaus Mikaelson. Along with quite a few other players that should be able to help make a difference for the franchise.

 

Brady Stropko plays for the Minot Gladiators and they are currently headed to the playoffs. First lets recap how his season has played out for him. During the 40th season, Brady managed to come in second place for scoring and has amassed 178 points on the season and 116 of them were goals. He has been nothing but phenomenal for the Minot Gladiators and he is hoping to lead them to a cup victory. Teammate Teuvo Ruutu is represented by the GM InstantRockstar and they have been a formidable duo this year. Brady came out of nowhere this year and has since dominated the VHLM. He is hoping that he will get to team up with a great group of guys in Seattle.

 

Brady Stropko decided to enter the season 41 draft due to his GM rebuilding his team. He will be a part of hopefully a quick rebuild. The team has five picks in the first 21 picks and this draft looks really promising. The first two rounds are stacked with activity and hopefully the third will have some too as well. Brady will be the leader of the team of course and hopefully he can make a difference. I would like to cut myself off there and head back to the playoff scene. He is helping in leading the Gladiators during their playoff hunt. They recently just finished the first round of the playoffs and they won the series 4-0-1 against the Brampton Blades. He had 11 points, six of them are goals and five are assists. They will go on to face the top team in the NA which happens to be the Saskatoon Wild. If Stropko can keep up his onslaught, he will help them defeat the Wild.

 

 

Final Analysis: Brady Stropko is a franchise player. He will surprise many despite playing on a rebuilding team. Look for him to make a huge push for the rookie of the year award. Right now it could really be a toss up between him, Sachimo Zoidberg and Jody 3 Moons. Of course it will also depend on how his teammates help him out. He will look to be a scorer as that is what he has proven so far. If he can get his teammates to feed him the puck, he will dominate in his rookie year. Brady Stropko will finish second in the rookie of the year race just behind Sachimo Zoidberg. But I believe strongly that Brady will have the better career.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 59

 

This week we have another episode of the VHLM Player Spotlight. I would like to bring in a player who has a well known player agent. The player agent is none other than Noah. His new player Gifford Shock has finally made his appearance in the VHL. There has been a huge mystery around him for more than 20 seasons. The legend of the great player that is known as Gifford Shock, has been something that the entire VHL world has been waiting for. The arrival came at the right time as he got the chance to be a part of what has shaped up to be a great draft class. Of course it may not rival that of the season 40 draft, but the season 41 draft has plenty of players with tremendous amounts of upside. It should consist of roughly 4 rounds with three of them all being active players with more than 1 practice hour. Gifford Shock has recently joined the top five overall players based off practice hours. This is already great news for a player that has been so hyped up over the years. It's about time we get the chance to meet Gifford Shock. Now will be the chance where you really get to know about him.

 

Gifford Shock was the sixth overall pick by the Bratislava Watchmen. Little did they know, they were getting a future legend on their team with that pick. In all honesty, he should have went first overall due to all the hype and soon to be legendary status. When he arrived in Bratislava, he was greeted by the natives there as they had been following the mystery around him. They had heard stories of him and had wondered if they would ever get the chance to meet him. Little did they know that he would be playing right there in Bratislava for them to watch. He came into the VHLM with 46 practice hours and he was on a mission to set out and prove that he would be a top player in the league. He was drafted ahead of players like Teuvo Ruutu who had 78 practice hours and Rift Pajodcast who had 65 practice hours. This had to mean something right?

 

Gifford Shock would go on to play in all 72 games during the regular season. During those 72 games, he would put up numbers of 18G, 29A, 47P and +10. Everyone was surprised that he didn't have bigger numbers. This did not affect him as he knew that his teammates were the ones who would be getting more goals and assists than he would. He is currently playing with players like Sachimo Zoidberg, Oskars Harumpf, Jody 3 Moons (newly acquired), Nicolas Caprivi, Wesley Matthews and Ed Grrr. Being on such a stacked team had taken a toll on his numbers but they will have zero negative effects on his draft stock. Everyone knows that you aren't judged by what you do in the VHLM. You are judged based off how hard you work each week to get practice hours and what kind of player you are becoming. If a team sees real potential in you, then you could be drafted higher than someone who doesn't put up as much effort. Of course positional need plays a part but that is usually only affected when a goalie comes into play. His team is currently in the VHLM Finals and chasing a cup. He hopes that he can acquire one before he heads off to his destined TBD club.

 

 

Final Analysis: Gifford Shock is a franchise caliber center. He can go out there and step into the faceoff cirle with the best of them. Of course he probably won't be placed on the first line in his rookie season. He should make a huge impact later in his career and he is aiming for the ceiling with his career. Of course when speaking of the legendary Gifford Shock, there really is no ceiling for him. He will continue to improve and he will SHOCK the VHL when he arrives. The path to his hall of fame induction begins with the season 41 draft. Let's watch a great career unfold right before our eyes.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 60

 

This weeks episode of the VHLM Player Spotlight, it will feature defenseman Borje Samuelsson. Borje has been a solid player this far in his career and he recently got the chance to enjoy the experience of being drafted to the VHL. His VHL club is the Seattle Bears and he was selected as the 11th overall selection in the 41st season. The Seattle Bears were hoping that he would fall to them and he did just that. GM Tyler Barabash was not able to make it, so assistant GM Davey Jones took his place. Davey was excited when he got the chance to meet Borje. He had heard so much about him and he wasn't sure about the hype. After meeting him, he could clearly see what all the hype was about. This guy was one of the most humble people he has ever met.

 

Borje Samuelsson was a part of the Moscow Red Wolves during the 39th season. He got to see limited action that year as he only appeared in 19 games. During those 19 games, he registered one goal and three assists, good for four points on the season. He would go on to enter into the season 40 VHLM draft. There his fate would be decided by whichever team was going to draft him. He would go on to be drafted by the Moscow Red Wolves. What an interesting turn of events that he would get to be drafted by his former team. This was a sigh of relief for him as he already knew the GM and quite a few of his teammates. He would play 48 games with the Red Wolves before being traded to the Saskatoon Wild. During those 48 games he had 15 goals and 62 assists which was good for 77 points with the Red Wolves. His last 25 games would be with the Saskatoon Wild. He would have numbers of five goals and 16 assists. His total numbers for the year would be 20 goals and 78 assists or 98 points. Oh yeah let's not forget the fact he is a defenseman. His hit numbers while in Moscow were 199 hits and in Saskatoon he had 31 hits. That would be a total of 230 hits. Those are really good numbers for a defender.

 

Borje recently was drafted to Seattle as mentioned above. He will be playing one more season in the minors. This is to make sure he fully develops his game and is ready for the pros. The Bears aren't trying to make a run so this is the best route for Borje. He will get to make sure that his game isn't really lacking anything and next season he will get his chance to be called up and make a difference.

 

 

Final Analysis: Borje Samuelsson will be a franchise defender. He has all the tools and the dedication to make it happen. He will get all the time he needs to develop and become a real solid player for the Bears. Hopefully he will get the chance to team up with other great defenders whether it be from the draft, trade or that are in the minors system. The Bears will look to make this kid into a star and he is headed down that path already.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 62

 

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen. Last week we had a small hiatus for the player spotlight. I would like to gladly say that we are back and ready to release our new edition and this weeks player will be A.C. Savage. His player agent is the infamous Molholt. Molholt recently brought in A.C. to make up for the retirement of his last player that he represented. That player was none other than Jarkko Olsen from the HC Davos Dynamo. Jarkko was a huge addition for the HC Davos Dynamo when they acquired him. Then GM Victor, he was able to acquire the young winger from the Riga Reign. This would be the start of what would turn out to be a dynasty. Jarkko wasn't exactly as active as he would have liked to have been, but his career turned out quite nicely. He picked up the pace late in his career and really made a difference for the Dynamo and helped them to get two cups in a four year span.

 

A.C. Savage had recently joined into the VHLM this season. He was drafted fifth overall by the Turku Outlaws. GM Da Trifecta wasn't sure if the team was going to be able to compete, but with a plethora of picks, he made use of them in good ways. A.C. was the start of this team and he will show his leadership and help guide the young guys to proper directions. A.C. will be showcasing his skills all season long. He has been quite a scorer so far this season as he has 24 goals and 17 assists through 15 games. He is averaging more than two points per game, which is very impressive. He is trying to make a name for himself as he will be a part of the season 42 draft. Right now he is a lock for the first round in what looks to be yet another really solid draft. The last two have been very good with the nod going to the season 40 draft for players with more TPE at the time of draft and currently.

 

With only four teams owning the first round, it seems he will either be headed to either the Stockholm Vikings, the Helsinki Titans, the HC Davos Dynamo or the Seattle Bears. Not quite sure if he would want to go back to Davos as that is where his agents last represented player, played. Of course if he went there, he wouldn't hesitate to give them his all obviously. Stockholm might have a greater chance of grabbing him as they own half of the first round. Some of the other teams have multiple picks with Seattle only owning one first round pick. Of course trades could always make a difference and we should see our fair share of them come soon enough. Who knows, maybe a team that doesn't own their first round pick manages to make a move to grab him. That will all come with the excitement of the off-season.

 

Final Analysis: A.C. Savage is a franchise caliber center. He can score at will and he can hang in the faceoff circle with the best of them. He has tremendous talent and should be a great piece for one of these rebuilding teams. Helsinki is the only team that isn't really rebuilding as they have a great core in place. If he landed with them, it would be a difference experience. The career of A.C. Savage has yet to begin in the VHL, but don't be surprised when he knocks your socks off. Aiming for high hopes, he should be fighting with a strong core of other guys for the rookie of the year award.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 63

 

This week will feature a draftee from the season 42 draft. Of course he hasn't been selected just yet, but he will find a home on draft day. Being one of the top prospects coming into the draft, he is a great addition to any team. He is a franchise caliber center and he goes by the name of Bismarck Köenig. Currently playing for the Yukon Rush, Bismarck is giving them 36 goals and 38 assists on the season so far which is good for 74 points. He is second in scoring on the team only to Ryan Cattrall. Bismarck has a long way to go before the season ends and his numbers should continue to rapidly rise.

 

Bismarck is basically a model for what you look for in a young center prospect. He can step into the faceoff circle and he tends to win more than 55% of them. Of course he will get better as the season goes and when he gets called up to the big time. Right now he is just doing his part in trying to help the team win games. Not being exactly a star just yet, his agent is Boom, is known for making great players as the last he represented was Odin Tordahl. Odin Tordahl was a first ballot hall of famer and while he hasn't been enshrined yet, he repertoire says otherwise. We know we can expect big things from Bismarck and if he is anything as good as the last guy Boom represented, the VHL could be in a world of.....let's just say crap (at least for the children who are reading this). What we do know right now is that he is a top talent in the VHLM and he is showing his value to all the teams out there looking to draft a franchise caliber center. There are many teams who could be in the market for one and he could fit the bill very easily.

 

The season has been having it's ups and downs on how quickly it ends. With two teams owning at least half of the first round, it will be interesting to see where he ends up. We all know every team in the VHLM would love to have him and his agent does bring a great locker room presence. The will to win for this young guy is strong and hopefully it continues to show. He does whatever is asked without hesitation and he seems like he might even dominate the VHL scene one day. Of course I am getting a little too far ahead of myself but if track record speaks for itself....which it does....his agent can spot spectacular talent. All we can do is see if what we think will happen actually does happen.

 

Final Analysis: Bismarck Köenig is a franchise center. Any team would be lucky to have him, but of course not every team can have him. The VHL draft lotto is something of a mystery as we do not know who will win it. All we can say is that whoever manages to win it, will be getting someone who has great work ethic and determination. He could potentially be the first overall pick in this draft and it looks to be a very promising draft. Right now we do know that he is top half of the draft and we could see a trade or two to have someone move up and grab him potentially. I know of a few teams in need of a young franchise center and they could be the ones on draft day to make those moves.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 64

 

For this weeks episode, I must reflect on a player who had a great career in the VHLM during the 2014 calendar year. This person spent two seasons in the VHLM and since has been having a great career with the Helsinki Titans. This person is none other than Don Draper. Don was selected with the 10th overall selection in the season 37 VHLM dispersal draft. He was drafted to the Yukon Rush where he would eventually turn into a great player for them. Obviously starting off with zero TPE, no one really knew much about him and what would start his legacy on the VHL. Obviously he knew that it would be something that he wanted to keep going as he stuck around in a wave that was supposed to help the VHL.

 

During his first year with the team, he managed to put up 20 goals and 24 assists which totalled 44 points on the year. These numbers were rather silent due to the fact he was on such a solid team that year. Johan Hallstrom, Queen Latifa and Konstantin Azhishchenkov were the big name players on this team. Of course being a defender, Don wasn't expected to go out there and put up much points for his team anyways. What mattered to him was his 103 hits and his 67 shots blocked during the period of 70 games that he played. Now those numbers may not stand out as much as the others in the VHLM, but he did nothing but improve all season long on what would be the start of a wonderful career.

 

In his second season Don Draper would be the leading scorer for the Yukon Rush. On the season he would go on to tally 50 goals and 84 assists totalling 134 points. Now this made people wonder what kind of player Don Draper would be. Don wasn't supposed to be known for his offensive prowess, but he wanted to shock the world and he made the change to do so. His 50 goals is what really stands out the most here for a defender. It is weird most of the time to see a defender with such high goals but when you can grab 50 of them, that's rather unusual. Most people look for assists and of course they did show as well. His hit numbers and shots blocked also increased dramatically. 151 hits and 106 shots blocked were his numbers for his sophomore campaign. It seemed like Don Draper would be the ideal franchise cornerstone at defense right?

 

Helsinki took Don Draper with the third overall pick pairing him up with Vojczek Svoboda and they would turn out to be quite the duo for quite a few years. The legacy of Don Draper is still ongoing and he has been nothing short of a great pickup for the Titans. While he wasn't exactly a superstar in the VHLM, he has been making quite the noise in the VHL. Being a top defenseman in the league and in the running for the top defender, he has been making a name for himself. With his career at the halfway mark, it is going to be interesting to see how he finishes his career. Keep an eye on the fella and make sure to see how he finishes and if he can make it all the way to the prestiged hall of fame.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 65

 

Welcome back to another edition of the VHLM Player Spotlight. This week I am going to be highlighting Callum Sinclair. Now Callum is a season 42 draftee and is poised to be the second goalie taken in the draft. He is also a first round selection. Teams looking for a goalie in this draft will be the Davos Dynamo, the Helsinki Titans and the Stockholm Vikings. The team that looks like they will have the best chance to grab him would be the Stockholm Vikings. Stockholm is going into the draft with five first round selections. Davos and Helsinki each have a pair of firsts and Seattle has just one. We know Seattle doesn't need a goalie because they have Mikaelson, so Stockholm has more than a 50% chance at getting Sinclair. Obviously Jax Barnstormer would be an option but we aren't sure where he lands. So each team has a chance at either and if they miss, Sinclair is the next best thing.

 

Callum Sinclair started the season with the Brampton Blades and he did a great job of keeping them in the playoff hunt. He had numbers of 20-17-4, 0.902 save percentage, 1 shutout and 3.95 GAA. These numbers don't exactly scream superstar but the team didn't really have much outside of him. They couldn't consistently pick up wins for him as the team was not as talented as quite a few other teams. After playing in 41 games, he was then traded to the Turku Outlaws. He would get the chance to be the top goalie on the team and help them make a run to the playoffs. The rest of the season has not played out yet  but he is hoping that he will get the chance to help them make a run at the cup. He is a huge upgrade over the starting goalie he replaced and is expected to do more. Barring any problems, he might be able to help this team at least make it out of the first round. Of course the Outlaws have a better team than the Blades, but one is to wonder if they can beat the Bratislava Watchmen.

 

Callum Sinclair is halfway through his first season in the VHLM and is hoping that he can put up good numbers. Obviously not all GM's look for numbers as the minors can be rather troublesome for some players based off teams. The main factor for him is his higer number of practice hours. Teams look for players who show up to practice and want to get better. He has the pedigree and determination on his side to become a great netminder. Of course he can only make himself feel better by winning awards and such. I think really the only thing that matters to him is that he helps his current team win games and try to chase a cup. After that he will have to wait during the off-season for the draft. That will be a wonderful night for the young man as he will get the chance to see which franchise he will be joining. Callum Sinclair will join Jax Barnstormer, Fedir Okranitz and Niklaus Mikaelson as the future at the goalie position for years to come. Look for those four guys to compete each year for the title of being the best goalie. Of course there are some vets out there, but they really don't have that many years left. The longest is around 4 years I believe. After that, these four will be the top netminders in the league.

 

Final Analysis: Callum Sinclair has all the tools to be a top netminder in the VHL. With his determination and will to become better, he should make the leap soon enough. Also it depends on which team he lands on. Let's just hope that he lands into a better situation than last years first overall selection, Niklaus Mikaelson. Sometimes a rebuild can really bother a young netminder and some don't really mind. It all depends on the type of player you are talking about. If Callum lands with Stockholm, they boast one of the best defensive corps in all the league. If he lands with Davos, they have all upcoming players. Landing with Helsinki he will be asked to help a playoff contender. The rest of the season must play out and the draft lottery must take place before we can try to pinpoint where he lands. I'd like to personally wish the young fella luck this season and in the rest of his career.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 66

 

This weeks edition of the player spotlight, I will be bringing in another season 42 draftee. I will be talking about Freedom McJustice. Now this young center has something special about him. He will be auto assigned to the HC Davos Dynamo due to the fact that his player agent being the GM of the team. This young man has been somewhat sensational playing with the Yukon Rush this season. Freedom is hoping to help the Yukon Rush make a push towards the cup as they are currently the best team in the VHLM. Through 61 games, the Yukon Rush have a record of 51-7-3 and are looking to win it all. Freedom is currently playing on the second line behind Bismarck Köenig.

 

Freedom McJustice has 54 points and 50 assists which total up to 104 points through the 61 games he has played this season. With 11 more games left, we could be looking at around 60+ goals and 58+ assists and 120 points. Of course if he can keep his scoring up, those numbers could come into fruition as he helps lead the charge of the Yukon Rush. Freedom hasn't been one of the better players in the league when it comes to stepping inside the face-off circle. If he can manage to bring that number up, he can really be a top talent. That seems to be hindering him right now, but being in the minors it really doesn't seem to matter. Of course we know that in time he will continue to progress in the face-off circle and he will become a better player. Right now though, it is one of his flaws in his game. He doesn't really have many flaws in his game either.

 

The HC Davos Dynamo are currently in a rebuild stage after they had a small dynasty run in which the team grabbed two cups in a four year span. This team quickly made haste of the rebuild and sent out top tier players like Lennox Moher, Matt Bentley, Naomi Young, Tom Landry and Jarkko Olsen. After that, it was all a matter of just losing games to get good picks. The team is primed to have a solid rebuild hopefully by the start of season 42. With Freedom McJustice being able to head to the VHL, he should be one of the teams captains. His success is very vital to the team. The year in the minors has really made a difference for this young man as he got to showcase some of his skills for opposing talent to see.

 

Final Analysis: Freedom McJustice has all the tools to be one of the best in the league. He has the devotion and he is committed to becoming one of the best. Hopefully his career isn't cut short like his agents last player, Lennox Moher. Freedom will come out of the gate swinging and I think he will push to try and grab the rookie of the year award. He doesn't quite have as much TPE as players like Köenig or A.C. Savage, but it all depends on the situation of the team and what roles they will be playing with their teams. Freedom McJustice will be joining in a deep group of centers. We might even see him move position to help the team out. Keep an eye out as we could be seeing another legendary career unfold here.

Edited January 18, 2015 by Stanando

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 67

 

This weeks edition of the VHLM Player Spotlight, I will be talking about a season 42 draftee yet again. This player will be entering the draft along with a lot of other players. He can not wait for his name to be called and to see which team he will be headed to. This week I will be highlighting Wolfgang Strauss. Now Wolfgang is slated to go in the second half of the lotto and he is expected to be a high pick due to his TPE. After a lot of big name players who are expected to be the top five picks in this draft, Wolfgang could end up being the sixth or seventh overall selection. Right now we can't pinpoint which team that will be due to the playoffs still happening. All we know is that he has shown great promise to be a top contributor on any team.

 

Wolfgang Strauss is a left winger that currently plays for the Turku Outlaws. He has been a well known voice in the locker room and a great team player. During the regular season, Wolfgang had 86 goals and 75 assists which tally up to 161 points which was good for the second best on the team. Wolfgang has been a huge help to this Outlaws team that came from a rebuild and quickly turned into contenders. With the other players on the team, he has been playing as selflessly as possible. He has been trying to help the team win more than he has been trying to get stats for himself. I even managed to catch up with him and this is what he told me, "The team comes first. I just want to go out and make sure that we are winning games. If I manage to put up big points along the way, well that's just a bonus." This kid has tremendous talent and passion for the game.

 

Wolfgang is currently helping lead the Turku Outlaws in the playoffs. They are facing the Moscow Red Wolves and they have played a two game set so far. We know this is whoever wins four games out of a seven set series. It may not go to all seven and could end at five or six games. During the first playoff game, Wolfgang managed to get himself a hat trick. For those of you who don't know (you should if you are reading about hockey anyways), that is three goals in a game. He tried his best to help the team grab a win but the first game would be lost. The team lost 4-3 in an overtime game. During the second game though, he would only put up one goal. Despite not putting up big numbers, Wolfgang would be a big part in the team winning against Moscow 4-1. The Turku Outlaws are projected to beat the Moscow Red Wolves and they should. As long as we see this kind of effort out of Wolfgang, there should be no reason this team loses.

 

 

Final Analysis: Wolfgang Strauss is a franchise caliber wing. He may not be the best in his class, but he is a top tier talent. If he can continue to steadily improve his game, he could become an elite player in the league. His skill set is something that many teams look for in a young winger. He can come in and contribute immediate offense to any team. He could be a nice piece for a rebuilding team and see lots of playing time, or be on a contending team and be a nice depth piece. Bottom line, this kid has what it takes to be special and he will be in the hunt for the rookie of the year award.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 68

 

This weeks edition of the VHLM Player Spotlight, I will be highlighting a season 41 draftee. Jakob Ackerman was the 12th overall selection in the season 41 draft. The HC Davos Dynamo were sitting in the spot and they had prime positioning to grab one of the drafts best defenders. While he did have to spend another season in the minors, Jakob was on the Turku Outlaws after being traded from the Minot Gladiators for a 1st round pick. With the VHLM implementing the 175 practice hour cap for the league, Jakob would have to bank any practice hours after that. Of course that would not stop him as he would go on to help the Turku Outlaws secure a playoff spot.

 

Jakob Ackerman was originally drafted by the Minot Gladiators with the 18th overall pick in the season 40 VHLM dispersal draft. He would then go on to play a season for the Minot Gladiators and try to help them come off a rebuild. During his first season in the minor league, he would manage to put up 56 points. Of those 56 points 47 of them were assists and 11 of them were goals. This Minot Gladiators team would finish 46-22-4 which was good for the second best record in the North American Conference. Jakob was showcasing a little bit of his skills and wanted to show his dedication. This would help him secure a top spot in the season 41 VHL draft. Of course I already talked above on where he went. His draft stock had improved due to him getting in practice hours and of course showing that he can be a solid defender for a franchise.

 

During the 41st season in the league, Jakob would manage to play in 48 games for the Minot Gladiators and his numbers were better than last season. He had significantly improved from his previous season as he had 16 goals and 66 assists good for 82 points with the Gladiators. Right before the deadline, Turku Outlaws GM Da Trifecta made the call to Minot's GM, InstantRockstar and offered a first rounder for the kid. He didn't hesitate to pull the trigger as it would help Jakob get a better chance in the playoffs. The remaining 20 games for Jakob seemed to have gone by rather fast. During those 20 games he would grab 8 goals and 34 assists tallying 42 points with the team. His final numbers on the regular season were 24 goals, 100 assists and 124 total points.

 

The Season 41 playoffs would be coming soon and Jakob was ready to help lead his team to victory. During the first playoff series the Turku Outlaws would be playing the Moscow Red Wolves. Game 1 Jakob would deal out one assist on Wolfgang Strausses three goals that he grabbed. During game 2 Jakob would add two assists this time on goals from A.C. Savage. Game 3 Jakob would add another two more assists which would total five so far in three games. Game 4 Jakob exploded with four assists and would grab the second star. Game 5 would be the last of the series and Jakob had two more assists. During the first series that would be good for a total of 11 assists for the team. The second round would be a best of seven series. During that series Jakob contributed two goals and six assists, but sadly it was not enough for the team to win. Jakob will be sent into the 42nd season without a cup in the minors.

 

 

Final Analysis: Jakob Ackerman will be one of the leagues top defenders. Right now he might be just outside of the top 10. If he continues his efforts and manages to prove the rest of the league wrong, his rankings could improve. Going into a rebuilding team as a rookie can be somewhat terrifying. Of course many players want to be a part of a championship team, but now he gets to help try to build a contender. Jakob should be able to help the HC Davos Dynamo come out of a slump during the 42nd season. Look for Jakob to try and push for the ROY. I don't think it will be an easy task for him as the competition will be fierce. Jakob is a franchise defender and the Dynamo landed gold with this young man.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 69

 

This weeks VHLM spotlight, I will be spotlighting is a season 41 draftee. His team is the HC Davos Dynamo and they selected him with the 13th overall pick. I am talking about AIM-11. He will be joining the VHL ranks as a professional player this season. It is going to be an interesting season nonetheless as the Dynamo have just acquired the second overall pick. They already had the first overall pick and the word around the league is they are now aiming for Bismarck Koenig and Callum Sinclair.

 

AIM-11 was drafted during the 40th season draft in the VHLM. He was drafted by the Brampton Blades with the 19th overall pick. He played all 72 games with the team and he managed to put up 47 goals and 63 assists which total up to 110 points during his first season. This was a huge achievement for a first time player. Brampton finished third in the North American Conference. 32-34 was the record that AIM helped them achieve. His offensive prowess helped him out with his draft stock as well as his practice hours. The Brampton Blades would go on to face the Minot Gladiators in the first round. Minot would go on to win the series 4-1. During the series, AIM-11 would manage 3 goals and 5 assists. Unfortunately his playoff experience would be cut short. During the following season, he would be traded to the Bratislava Watchmen.

 

During the 41st season in the VHLM, AIM-11 would put up numbers of 69 goals and 127 assists which tally up to 196 points on the season. He would be the key cog in the Watchmen's run to the playoffs. This team would turn out to be title winners but he wasn't aware of the fact that they were about to win a title. Their season was almost cut short when the Watchmen played the Turku Outlaws in the playoffs. The Outlaws would end up choking and he would be heading to the championship game. There he would help lead the onslaught against the Yukon Rush. The Yukon Rush would be their toughest battle yet on the season. The series would turn out to be a lot easier than it was against the Outlaws. The Watchmen would win 4-1 and would capture another championship.

 

 

Final Analysis: AIM-11 is a franchise caliber player. He puts forth the effort and he works hard to improve his game everyday. He will be heading to the VHL for the 42nd season and will be helping the HC Davos Dynamo as they try to compete and head to the playoffs. Of course with the first and second overall picks helping out, it really couldn't hurt their chances at the playoffs. I predict they will finish with the third playoff spot in the European Conference. This team has really pulled it together since their last dynasty run and hopes that AIM-11 will be something reminiscent of their last centremen, Davey Jones. If he can even be anything close to that, then the Dynamo have struck gold with this young man. He will be a part of the team for quite a few years. He might end up sticking with the team his whole career, but as of right now the team has to find it's groove. All we know is that we are about to watch a great career unfold.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 70

 

Another edition of the VHLM Player Spotlight is coming at you this week. I will be highlighting a season 43 draftee this week. He goes by the name of Hans Wingate and he is trying to be one of the top players drafted in the season 43 draft. Right now he currently has the most TPE out of anyone and he is a goaltender. He could be a real prize for some teams who are looking to have a goalie. A team like the Riga Reign are headed for a rebuild and if Hans fell to them or they could manage to trade up and grab him, it would be a perfect fit for the franchise. With the success of any franchise relying on strong goal tending, Hans is only doing himself a huge favor by being a goaltender. Calgary could be one of the other teams who could be in the market for a goaltender.

 

Hans Wingate got to play limited time for the Turku Outlaws. He came in off a trade and from the Oslo Storm and he got to play in 10 games at the end of the season. During those 10 games, he put up a record of six wins, three losses and one overtime loss. He had a sub .900% save and he also had registered just under 4 GAA. While those aren't spectacular numbers, he is looking to improve upon those numbers when season 42 comes around. This season he will be playing for the Minot Gladiators as they took him with the 5th overall pick. Minot is hoping to make a quick turnaround from last season as they embark on trying to win a cup. Having one of the best goalies in all of the league really speaks volumes about a team. It also helps that they had a very solid draft this season.

 

Season 43 is where Hans will make a better name for himself. The Minot Gladiators look to have a better overall season than the Turku Outlaws did. Their roster also looks better on paper. As long as the defense can manage to step up their game, Hans shouldn't really have any problem keeping goals out of the net. The season 42 draft saw two of the top goaltenders head to teams for new homes. This could be the third year in a row that we could be seeing a goaltender taken in the top two picks. Practice hours are something that will help Hans out. As long as he keeps practicing with the team and wants to get better, he will.

 

 

Final Analysis: Hans Wingate will be a franchise goaltender. This kid has impressed many and a lot of GM's will have him on their radar. Being the most sought after prospect in a draft can have a real good effect on a player. It means that teams want you and that you have shown that you have the dedication to put in the work and become the best that you can be. Hans has a lot to live up to if he wants to be a franchise goaltender. There has been many great goaltenders in history which inclue players like Daisuke Kanou, Aidan Shaw, Remy LeBeau, Tuomas Tukio, Alexander Labatte and Benjamin Glover. Hans could cement his name alongside those legends one day, but right now he is on that path. He will be the next best thing in net for any team that takes him.

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 71

 

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to another edition of the VHLM Player Spotlight. For those of you who do not know, this is a show where I talk about an upcoming player. This person could be anyone I choose at random and I talk about how they are performing during their careers and and what we could expect out of them. This week I will be adding in something new to the show. I will be predicting how I presume their careers may actually play out for them. This week I am going to be talking about the Ottawa Lynx's new defender, Pablo Escabar. This young man has came in and so far been a steal for the team. He has been nothing short of spectacular for them so far this season. He was drafted in the second round and he is already more than half way to 100 practice hours.

 

Pablo Escabar has seen action in 7 games so far this season and the young two way defender has seen 4 goals and 6 assists so far through those 7 games for a total of 10 games. He also has managed 12 penalty minutes, 20 hits and 20 blocked shots. Those are impressive numbers for a first gen player. He has been making a name for himself on the ice and in the practices. He continues to climb up the draft rankings to get into better position to get drafted in the first round. He has been one of the top players on the Ottawa Lynx's team and he hopes that he can continue playing like that all season. This season he is hoping that he can top 100 hits and 100 blocked shots. At the pace he is on, he should be able to get those numbers easily. Also he would be looking at getting 30 goals and 60 assists. If he can get that in his first season, then Ottawa might have a good chance at him possible doubling those numbers next season. The team is one of the best in terms of record already on the season.

 

Pablo Escabar has a lot left in his career and he will be a part of the season 43 draft. His current stock has him in the second round, but we could see him go higher if he keeps performing to high expectations. Word around the league is that they are hoping he will fall to him in the second round. Just a heads up to all you GM's, he might not last that long. So do not miss out on the next best franchise defender for your team.

 

Career Preview:

1st season: 15 goals, 35 assists, 50 points, 35 blocked shots, 50 hits

2nd season: 25 goals, 25 assists, 50 points, 50 blocked shots, 60 hits

3rd season: 37 goals, 32 assists, 69 points, 45 blocked shots, 55 hits

4th season: 30 goals, 35 assists, 65 points, 49 blocked shots, 60 hits

5th season: 35 goals, 25 assists, 60 points, 36 blocked shots, 55 hits

6th season: 40 goals, 30 assists, 70 points, 45 blocked shots, 50 hits

7th season: 35 goals, 35 assists, 70 points, 40 blocked shots, 43 hits

8th season: 43 goals, 34 assists, 77 points, 45 blocked shots, 45 hits

 

 

Final Analysis: I believe that Pablo Escabar will put in all the necessary hard work to become one of the top defenders in the league. He will continue his offensive prowess as well and he will become one of the leagues best two way defenders. Look for him to challenge many players for different awards. He should be a huge contributor to any team that drafts him. Of course these numbers could be a little inflated, but we have seen miracles happen in the VHL that people do not even know the answer to. Watch as we could be witnessing another great VHL career unfold.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Mr. Jones

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 99

 

It has been quite some time since I have highlighted a player. This week I am going to be bringing someone to you who probably has already become a household name in the VHLM. His name is Zach Parechkin and he is a left winger who plays for the Bern Royals. After being the first overall selection in the S45 VHLM draft, Zach got the chance to be paired up with Ryan Price. At the time of the draft, Zach had 119 practice hours. Since then he has been working his tail off to become better each and every week. He is a vocal leader for the Royals, the teams leading scorer and the x-factor for this team when it comes down to playoff time. This kid has the potential to take his team all the way, but it wont be all up to him. If his team could help rally around him if he can get things going.

 

The Bern Royals are currently sitting in third place in the European conference with 34 points right now. They are trailing the Oslo Storm by two points and behind the Moscow Red Wolves by 4 points (who are also on a 13 game win streak). Zach seems like the type of player who is going to be able to go out there and get points in any possible way that he can. His scoring is currently higher than his passing but he had more assists than goals oddly enough. 21 goals, 25 points which total up to 46 points for him. He also has 36 hits and has hit the penalty box for a total of 14 minutes. It seems that he is trying to establish himself as a power forward. Right now his game has been working for him in the minors. We have no clue as to if it will translate over to the actual VHL.

 

This kid is aiming for the ceiling with his potential and he is hoping that his hard work will pay off when it comes time for the season 46 draft. Being the first overall pick is something that always has a great feeling to it. If I were you, I would keep an eye out for this guy as the season goes on. He should be able to get around 120 points and it will pretty much be split but more of it going towards assists. His team is also filled with a bunch of people who could get just as much if not more points than he will finish with. Jeff Hamilton and Mathieu Baptiste would be the only players that could top 100 points that I can think of. Mikaelson could probably be a close fourth person who could top 100 points. It all depends on how the team performs later on down the stretch.

 

Final Analysis: Zach Parechkin will be the first overall pick to the Toronto Legion. He has the potential to be the rookie of the year and should be able to be a part of a great team. General Manager Molholt has five first round picks currently and what looks like 1-2 picks inside the lotto. It would be interesting enough to see who else gets put on the team with him. Zach will be a leader in the locker room easily as his player agent DollarAndADream's last player, Travis Boychuk was known for being a vocal leader. Let's just hope that it carries over and Zach can help turn around that Toronto team.

Edited September 20, 2015 by -DT-

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Edition 104

 

The VHLM recently has gotten rid of two teams in what they would have thought would help out the league. Sadly I am here to discuss that they should have removed two more teams and left it at six total for the minors league system. Quite frankly I could go on and on about the reasons as to why they should remove those two teams. Well you know what? I am going to do just that.

Answer #1: The first reason they should remove two more teams is that it will create more competition between the teams. We have some teams that still can't even field a full team. Therefore it would make sense to scrap two more teams so we can make sure teams get loaded up. While that may not bode well for those who want to be top line players, it certainly creates more competition and I think in the long run, it will actually benefit the league.

Answer #2: Activity will be higher. Think about it. Players will always be on competing teams who are always constantly bringing in talent every year. I will discuss more about that below but players will feel more inclined to be active due to wanting to win. Like I said above too, it may not help those who want to start, but this allows them to be active and earn that spot. If they can get more TPE than whoever is ahead of them, it may allow them to start.

Answer #3: Allow teams to no longer trade their picks. This ensures that each and every team will have to keep bringing in talent. This also makes it so players have to be traded for players. That way each and every team will have to change up how they compete. They won't have to worry about one or two teams loading up on like 10 picks in a draft or something. It also helps teams who have no one on their rosters.

Answer #4: Get rid of the waiver system in the off-season. Allow for a bidding war between teams and they have to be given a certain cap. That way teams would have to be smart to manage how they got players who would be free agents during the off-season that come in after the draft.

Answer #5: Allow teams to pay players contracts which they could spend on a store to help them get TPE. This allows for players to develop a little faster. Teams would get a certain amount of cap which they would have to manage to pay their players out. This allows players in the minors to actually feel like they matter outside of just building for the draft. They get a sense of what to spend the money on and how to get more TPE.

Answer #6: Players are under contract for a maximum of two seasons. Instead of them being on a team for up to four seasons, cut it in half allowing for there to be free agents. We all know that players are allowed a max of four seasons in the minors before being put into the draft. This will help for teams who need to field a full team as they get chances at other players to fill out their rosters.

Answer #7: Auto assign players who are in the minors to teams so they can learn the history of the VHL during the team point tasks. This will let some players learn about the history of the team and it could potentially be one of their destinations. This will make for those who are trying to really be a part of the league to know more and more about the league.