Jannik Nylen says goodbye to Toronto

[DreMin15 220]

THE RIGHTS TO UFA DEFENSEMAN JANNIK NYLEN HAVE BEEN TRADED TO MOSCOW FOR A 4TH ROUND PICK

 

 Welp, that happened. 

 

For the past 4 seasons, Toronto has been my home. My teammates. the fans, the goofball of a GM, it's truly been a blessing to be with the Toronto Legion organization. However, it's time to move on. I've got one shot left at a championship, and I felt the Legion was a few years away from being that team. So when Doomy told me that Moscow's GM, Spartan, was interested in singing me; well I was excited. It's not every day that you get a chance to pull a Ray Bourque, ya know? But before I start in Moscow, I thought maybe a look at my time in Toronto might be nice.

 

 

After getting absolutely swept in the first round in my only season in Bratislava, season 80, I was left a free agent. I still feel bad for not communicating with DC, the team who held my rights previously, but hey. Communication is a two-way street. When free agency opened, I got messages from three teams with interest. Chicago, where Jeff D tried to sell me on their future. Seattle, where Bana tried to sell me on their present. Then I got a message from Toronto, @Peace , who tried to sell me that I was a missing piece on their defensive core. They wouldn't be able to compete with the incredibly strong EU conference just yet, but noted that their days were numbered. After much consideration, I decided to go to the largest hockey market in the VHL. I was welcomed with open, notably excited, arms. Right away, I felt at home. 

 

 

Season 81 was what I would call my VHL breakout. First pair with Jaromir Motherfucking Lemieux! 61 points in 72 games, I couldn't complain after my rookie season. 7 points in 72 games with DC in 79 was not an ideal rookie season. The roster read like a who's who of Legion Legends. Numminen, Fire, Peace, Calamari, Lemieux, Brozik, and of course, Lindbergh. What a group we were. Kickin' ass and taking names. Hell, we even made it to the second round! Though that didn't last very long. All-in-all, not much to complain about.

 

Season 82 was my peak, unless I have a resurgence in my last season. 102 points. As a defenseman. 102 goddamn points. I led our team in assists with 81. We did, unfortunately, lose Numminen. HOWEVER. We picked up some kid named Cadmael Ixazaluoh. Another season where we did very well. But when playoff time came. Well... let's just say we didn't have to travel much. I got swept again. You usually don't happen to get swept in the first round twice in your VHL/E/M career. Even as we got swept, I still had 8 points in 4 games. Nobody can say I didn't try.

 

Can I just say, fuck season 83. The new system for skills was confusing, and as such, I really fell off for a year. 22 in 72. My lowest since my rookie year. Ironically enough, it was the best post-season in my career in Toronto. We can thank that to Doomy's takeover as GM, where he picked up Sting Chameleon, Weenuk Warrior, and Paul Atriedes. What a fuckin offseason of signings and trades. We still lost in the second round, but hey. At least we can MAKE THE SECOND ROUND, UNLIKE THAT TEAM I LIKE THAT SHARES OUR CITY. 

 

Season 84 was both good and also very painful. We added a kid named Ryuji Sakamoto, who is undoubtedly the future of the Toronto Legion. Back to points, 57 in 72 is a nice bounce back. However. For a THIRD GODDAMN YEAR, my team was swept in the playoffs. Sometimes life, or other hockey teams, just like to shit on your hopes and dreams.  

 

This leads us to August 25th. I get a message from our GM, Doomy, asking if I would be okay with a trade and sign with Moscow. I respect that he asked instead of just doing it. After a brief talk, he messaged Spartan and made the deal. I was really bummed out for the rest of the day.

 

Toronto was my home. My teammates were my family. Out of character for a second, that LR was undoubtedly my favorite I've ever been in, though the super shitty S72 Bulls with Jiggs and Laine is a close second. Checking in every day and chatting with everyone was always a great time. Getting feedback on graphics and such was always helpful. And don't even get me started on all the Stove Dingle images I made. Those were good times. Another thing to note with Toronto is that I'm the only player in team history to wear 77. Funnily enough I wanted 17 when I first joined, but it was retired. So I doubled the 7's, and found that I liked it so much that it's almost guaranteed to be my number on any player I have in the future. I even own a Legion shirt-jersey with NYLEN 77 on the back. Who knows, maybe it'll get retired. I highly doubt it, but maybe I can suck enough dick to get 77 hung up in the rafters one day. 

 

 

So to everyone who made my time in Toronto the best experience I've had in the VHL, thank you. Thank you to @Doomsdayfor being one of the best GMs I could ask for. Keep it going, Toronto is destined for a championship with the core it's gonna have soon. Thank you to @Peacefor being the one to convince me to join the Legion in the first place. It was a wild ride, and it's all thanks to you. Thank you to @MattyFiredfor being a kick-ass teammate and always being super chill in the LR. Thank you to @WildfireMicrofor being a source of some wild sorts of insanity, and being a helluva teammate. I mean, the dude just generated points like a fuckin monster. And finally, thank you to the City of Toronto. You made everything worth it.

 

 

On that note, Hello Moscow. Get ready.

 

 

 

 

1028 words

 

 

[DreMin15 220]

Claiming week 1

[Agito 224]

Very touching message. You were a great player for Toronto and you will always be in the thoughts of great players. By the way, they say that the fans always shout NYLEN NYLEN NYLEN. I may not have gotten the gist of your story. But I came into this season to see the future of the players. I can tell you that now we have a good competition in front of us! Now it's time to travel through the Russians. Have a good trip, my friend!

[Doomsday 4,143]

Having you in Toronto was an absolute blast, and you made a lot of things possible here. I think Moscow will come to cherish what you bring to a team in no time at all!

[mattyIceman 1,229]

Always a blast Minner!  Real heart-and-soul guy.  You will be missed in our locker room