VHL S85 Draft - 1st Round Recap

[Squids McKenzie 51]

Squids McKenzie’s

Draft Recap

Season 85 || VHL

 

Squids McKenzie here with Victory Sports Network.

 

And well, everyone. It finally happened! After loads of speculation from the fans and some crunch time scouting by the teams, the picks are in. There were a few buzzer-beater trades to shuffle the draft order. Today, we’re going to recap the first round of the VHL Entry Draft, along with one of the more surprising later picks. Finally, we’ll cap it all off with a discussion on the dearly beloved “Mr. Irrelevant”.

 

What do you think? What’s your favorite pick of the draft? Who’s a superstar and who’s a sleeper? Sound off in the comments!

 

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Pick 1 - Vancouver Wolves

Henry Eagles (RW, Poland) 

E/ Bratislava Watchmen, M/ Houston Bulls

 

The case could be made that Eagles going first overall is a bit of a surprise. Looking strictly at the numbers last season with Bratislava, 25 points (11g, 14a) over 72 regular-season games played may not exactly jump off the page. If you jump back to season 83 with Houston, the numbers absolutely leap off the page — 17 goals, 14 assists over 16 games played. Those points totals are impressive. Eagles has a proven track record of doing the work and being an active member of the team, tying for third in total TPE in the draft. Eagles does have a precedent for production, even if it tailed off in season 84, and exhibited the intangibles that managers love. With a 200-foot game at age 19, it’s no surprise why the rebuilding Wolves went after him.

 

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Pick 2 - Prague Phantoms

John Jameson (C, Ireland)

M/ Philadelphia Reapers [San Diego Marlins]

 

The projected number one overall. With a chunk of Prague’s offensive corps staring down retirement, the draft room has to be elated that Jameson “slid” to them. This is a big “stats department” pick. The numbers are undeniable, with Jameson averaging over a point per game. The plus-minus, with the point total, may be an area of concern but could be bolstered by team performance as well. The league highly values scoring and Jameson has shown the drive to make great strides — just ask the European league that he will not be touching.

 

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Pick 3 - Calgary Wranglers

Phil Strasmore (D, England)

M/ Houston Bulls [San Diego Marlins, Mississauga Hounds]

 

Calgary traded up for the third pick, even after already trading up to pick 5 prior to the draft. Projected to select Strasmore, Calgary sealed that Strasmore was theirs. Like the NFL, in the VHL, there is a tendency to draft for need. Strasmore fills a definite need of rounding out the team’s top four Defenders. Collecting a point per game during his VHLM tenure and posting a positive plus-minus over 42 games with Houston, Strasmore tends more toward an offensive defender. At 6’2 and 215 lbs, Strasmore is not afraid to use his size to his advantage as a defender, as evidenced by his 85 hits over 42 games with the Bulls. Unsure if trading up was necessary, though.

 

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Pick 4 - New York Americans

Daniel Weaver (LW, Australia)

M/ Houston Bulls [Miami Marauders]

 

An offensive dream. Weaver is a by-the-book sniper and should immediately slot into the top 6, if not top 3. While there may not be much to the defensive game and backchecking, Weaver is a textbook example of the old joke “the best defense is a good offense.” The best jokes have a kernel of truth to them. During season 84, Weaver put up 35 goals and 45 assists and proved especially lethal in the playoffs for the Bulls, putting up 9 points in 7 games. Weaver is the highest TPE earner in the draft, showing bags of potential. New York just gained some remarkable firepower.

 

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Pick 5 - London United

Astro Singh (LW, Canada)

M/ Saskatoon Wild

 

A bit of a surprise pick here. London had their pick of the litter when it came to available goalies and opted not to select a potential franchise goalie in Matthew Murdock. Instead, United went with Singh, a left winger from the Saskatoon Wild. Singh was a prolific goal scorer with the Wild, putting up 72 points (38g, 34a) over 72 regular season games. Singh also plays a 200-foot game and understands how to play with defense in mind. Playing for a lower-tier team in the minors, Singh had a pretty notable appearance in the playoffs — 3 goals and 5 assists over 6 appearances. Singh is an unselfish player, knowing when to make the extra pass and knowing when to finish. Should stay the course with his development and make an impact for United come season 86.

 

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Pick 6 - Malmo Nighthawks

Tater Tottingham (D, Canada)

M/ Mexico City Kings [Halifax 21st]

 

@N0HBDY had Singh going to Malmo, which would have been a great pick for the Nighthawks, as they are still looking for the franchise face they had during Condor Adrienne’s tenure. Tater Tottingham will be making Sweden their home with a probable slide into the defensive middle pairing after another season of development. Tottingham has a penchant for playmaking, with 62 assists for Mexico City last season, in addition to finishing opportunities himself with 27 goals. There is a hope Tottingham continues to develop deking and stick handling; there is a chance for Malmo to have also secured a potential defensive standout, as well.

 

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Pick 7 - Moscow Menace

Matthew Murdock (G, USA)

E/ Istanbul Red Wolves, M/ Houston Bulls

 

Matt Murdock is the first goalie off the board, as anticipated, but Moscow traded up in the draft to secure their services. Murdock was between the pipes for Istanbul’s championship run this last season, posting a playoffs save percentage of .927% with a number of 2.7 goals against. In the regular season, Murdock posted a .927% again and a GAA of 2.39. In the VHLM with Houston, they posted similar numbers. Murdock should slot in automatically as a great VHL back-up and has shown earning consistency. As Papa Emeritus inches closer to eventual retirement, the potential of Murdock starting should bear out that Moscow’s netminding does not miss a beat.

 

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Pick 8 - Riga Reign

Henry Tucker, Jr. (G, Cocos)

M/ Mexico City Kings [Halifax 21st]

 

Considerations have to be made by Riga as Tobias Reinhardt’s retirement looms. Henry Tucker, Jr. is the big goaltender from Cocos Islands. Playing 48 games last season as Mexico City’s goalie tandem, HTJ saved .906% of shots against (971 saves). It is possible Tucker, Jr. sees some time with Riga this upcoming season, but the Reign is in no rush to pull him up. There is a curiousity as to how HTJ handles a larger workload throughout a probable full VHLE season. This is a great building block for Riga moving forward.

 

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Pick 9 - Malmo Nighthawks

Reid Johnson (D, USA)

M/ Vegas Aces

 

Malmo is in desperate need of Defenders. Johnson is a max-earning Defender from Las Vegas. He will still need to develop for a season, but Malmo needs to build from the back and are not in a position to rush any development. Johnson should slot in come season 86 as a top-pairing defender, especially with the rate at which he acquires TPE. Over 72 games, Johnson has shown solid offensive vision —especially for a defender — by racking up 52 assists, and displayed great discipline by accumulating less than .5 PIM per game.

 

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Pick 10 - London United

Jesse Teno (G, USA)

M/ Saskatoon Wild

 

Here we go! London gets their goaltender of the future as Cole Pearce departs. Teno is a first-gen player and put up a .904% save percentage with the lower-tier Saskatoon Wild. A victim of some rough play in front of them, Teno has every opportunity to develop into the franchise goaltender London has been desperate for. Though, it will be another season before Teno has the chance to crack the roster for United. High risk, high reward!

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Pick 11 - Prague Phantoms

Alfred Champagne (RW, France)

M/ Philadelphia Reapers [San Diego Marlins]

 

A consistent-earning right wing who really came into their own in 43 games with Philadelphia, accumulating a whopping 63 points over those appearances. Champagne was a playmaker (43 assists) for the Reapers and while Prague will ship him out to the VHLE, he looks very likely to bolster his finishing ability. Champagne will make a great right-hand to number two overall pick, C John Jameson. Prague seem to be on track to a proper build. 

 

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Pick 12 - Helsinki Titans

Lloyd Braun (D, USA)

M/ Houston Bulls [San Diego Marlins]

 

Braun has shown outstanding work ethic over season 84. Titans GM Rayzor_7 identified that and did not risk Braun falling any lower. Braun plays as a two-way defender, generating chances in the offensive zone (14g, 40a in the VHLM) and is a physical presence in his own half. Should continue well-rounded development and land in the Titans’ top 4 come season 86.

 

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Pick 13 - New York Americans

Babay Shrimp (RW, Canada)

M/ Philadelphia Reapers [San Diego Marlins]

 

Interesting pick from New York, as currently Shrimp appears to be on track for second or third-line development. Has a defensive streak to their game and will look to refine some scoring ability. Has shown an eye for finding the open path, but will continue to develop before joining the Americans.

 

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Pick 14 - Toronto Legion

Isamu Knievel (D, Japan)

M/ Houston Bulls

 

A more defensive-minded pick with potential to be the defensive complement in a top 4 pairing. Sting Chameleon is likely to depart Toronto by the time Knieval cracks the lineup for the Legion. Knieval takes advantage of some offensive chances but it would be beneficial to see the offensive vision increase. At the least, they would like the numbers to look similar at the next step up — 10g, 35a.

 

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Pick 15 - L.A. Stars

Sunglasses Joyo (C, England)

M/ Halifax 21st

 

Most boards expected the Stars to build out from rookie sensation Art Vandelay in the net, putting a two-way defender in front of them. Instead, they opted to continue to stock the forwards pool with Sunglasses Joyo. Joyo has become a more consistent TPE earner and put up a total of 81 points in 63 appearances for the Halifax 21st. L.A. is hoping they struck gold and Joyo continues to bloom into a top six center.

 

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Pick 16 - Calgary Wranglers

Larry Abass, Jr. (LW, Canada)

M/ Vegas Aces

 

Calgary is in need of Defensive prospects, so opting for a winger in the first is a bit of a headscratcher with some notable D prospects remaining. What Calgary is getting with Larry Abass, Jr. is a player that accumulated over a point per game with Las Vegas and had a pretty remarkable +/- of 70. Calgary is hoping that Abass’ continues the momentum of his playoff performance, 7 goals and 13 assists over 15 games in Vegas’ championship run with a plus-minus of 13. While a headscratcher now, could very well end up a steal for the Wranglers.

 

+ + + + +

Surprise Faller

Pick 29 - Toronto Legion

Jeremy Swayman (G, USA)

M/ Mexico City Kings

 

After a great showing with Mexico City, most had Swayman as a mid-to-late first-rounder, as opposed to going late in the second round. In 25 games with the Kings, Swayman posted 21 wins and 3 losses with a fourth loss coming in overtime and a GAA under 2. The biggest concern is just gametime up to this point, as Swayman has demonstrated a penchant for being a solid TPE earner. This is a steal for Toronto as Squids thinks Swayman has the chance to become America’s next Dusty Wilson.

 

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Mr. Irrelevant

Pick 64 - Warsaw Predators 

Andrew Tate (D, Romania)

M/ Vegas Aces

 

Everyone’s most beloved pick. The league needs defenders. Romanian Defender Andrew Tate last played in season 83, registering 4 points across 18 appearances. Averaging a hit per game and a +/- of 5, Tate’s game seems to strike a balance between offensive and defensive ability. Whether that ability translates to the world’s highest level is to be determined. There is just too small a sample size. Tate is 42 years of age, making it easy to root for them as they pursue their dream of playing at the international level.

 

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2,031 words — using for TPE for weeks of Aug 29-Sept 4, Sept 5-Sept 11, Sept 12-Sept 18, and Sept 19-25

Edits: typos and clarity

Edits 2: Date adjustments for clarity

Edited September 4, 2022 by Squids McKenzie

[ThePerfectNut 563]

Such an enjoyable article 

[Hoopydog 195]

Nice job on this media spot! You have done a great job with this draft review and I like the amount of detail that you have included about each player. The review is laid out really well which makes it easy and fun to read. I've not been able to keep up with the recent drafts but now I feel like I know everything I need to about the upcoming rookie class. Next time, you could change the colour of the team names to that team's colour. Overall, cracking job! 9.5/10

[badcolethetitan 819]

Wow. Im impressed. Great job!

[Shindigs 1,771]

Looking forward to seeing more of this from you, as well as what you'll cook up in the Graphics department. Was a very good read.

[Squids McKenzie 51]

Sept 11 - Week 2 of 4, TPE Claim

[Squids McKenzie 51]

Sept 18 - Week 3 of 4, TPE claim

[Squids McKenzie 51]

Week of Sept 25; final TPE claim — 4 of 4