VSN Presents: S85 VHL Awards Race

[JB123 722]

 

As we are currently halfway into the season, now is an ideal time to take a look at the VHL Awards Race. Season 85 has brought with it some surprises, both among teams and players. Teams have improved since last season; others have taken a step back. There have been major breakouts, fantastic rookie performances, and veterans making their bids for comeback player of the year, all in a season which is just as much unpredictable as it is intriguing. First, statistical awards will be discussed, followed by those that are voted on. Let's get started!

 

Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record)

S84 Winner: Moscow Menace

S85 Leader: Warsaw Predators (52 Points) 

The race for the Victory Cup was a much different story a week ago. Warsaw is first having won three straight, and the Bears currently are second with 51 points. Prior to their loss vs the New York Americans, Vancouver had won seven games in a row and earned a point in fifteen straight, propelling them to third place (51 points). In fourth place are the Calgary Wranglers with 50 points; in fifth the D.C. Dragons (48 points); and in sixth, the Moscow Menace, with 48 points (who look to threepeat as Victory Cup Winners). Realistically, any of these teams could take the Victory Cup home, but it's not the only cup they're focused on. 

 

Devon Marlow-Marta Trophy (NA Champion)

S84 Winner: Seattle Bears 

The strength of the North American Conference this season is relatively well known throughout the league. The five teams set to make the playoffs from North America (Seattle, 51 points; Vancouver, 51; Calgary, 50; D.C., 48; and the Los Angeles Stars, 47) are within four points of each other. All have a legitimate chance at going to the finals, which makes the Marlow-Marta Trophy considerably unpredictable. 

 

Terence Fong Trophy (EU Champion)

S84 Winner: Warsaw Predators 

At the top of the European Conference standings sit the defending champions, the Warsaw Predators (52 points), followed by the Moscow Menace (48), HC Davos Dynamo (44), London United (43), and Malmo Nighthawks (38). While not considered as deep as the NA Conference, the EU Conference could see anyone go to the final as well. An additional team to watch is the Helsinki Titans, who sit three points back of Malmo and have been streaky this season.

 

 

Continental Cup (Playoff Champion)

S84 Winner: Warsaw Predators 

Similar to the conference trophies, there are several teams in cup contention this season. Vancouver has found its stride as of late, and looks to win their first cup since they won three straight from S80-S82 in the "Meta Era." Seattle has of course won five championships in the past seventeen seasons, and looks to be back for more. On the other hand, Moscow wants to capture a cup for the first time since S70 after being the runners-up for four consecutive seasons prior to last. The Dragons, another favorite, chase the trophy for a second straight season after an effective, three-season rebuild. The Wranglers, who have steadily been building back up as well, have a roster capable of going deep. And let's not forget Warsaw, who are again right in the mix after winning it all last season. Teams like LA, London, Davos, Malmo and Helsinki, to name a few, could surprise many by going deep into the playoffs. That's the thing about the postseason; anything can happen. 

 

Kevin Brooks Trophy (Most Goals) 

S84 Winner: Nico Pearce (LW; 59 G) 

S85 Leaders:

1. Nico Pearce (LW) @Spartan  - 39 GP, 28 G 

2. Daniel Janser @Daniel Janser - 38 GP, 27 G 

T-3. Nezuko @Baozi - 37 GP, 26 G 

T-3. Ronan Lavelle @Arce - 37 GP, 26 G 

T-3. Alex Johnston @Alex - 40 GP, 26 G 

 

Alexander Beketov Trophy (Most Assists)

S84 Winner: Tui Sova (D; 77 A) 

S85 Leaders:

T-1. Jerome Reinhart (D) @MexicanCow123 - 39 GP, 39 A 

T-1. Tui Sova (D) @v.2  - 37 GP, 39 A 

3. Bo Johansson (D) @Shindigs- 35 GP, 38 A 

T-4. Hulk Hogan 2 (D) @Hogan - 39 GP, 36 A 

T-4. Jake Thunder @Thunder (D) - 40 GP, 36 A 

 

Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points) 

S84 Winner: Duncan Idaho (RW; 122 P) 

S85 Leaders:

1. Nico Pearce (LW) - 39 GP, 60 P 

2. Daniel Janser (C) - 38 GP, 57 P 

T-3. Sigard Petrenko @SlapshotBear (RW) - 39 GP, 53 P 

T-3. Jerome Reinhart (D) - 39 GP, 53 P 

T-5. Alexandre Leduc @Lemorse7 (RW) - 39 GP, 52 P 

T-5. Tomas Sogaard @Brandon (LW) - 39 GP, 52 P 

 

Greg Clegane Trophy (Lowest GAA)

S84 Winner: Papa Emeritus (1.97 GAA) 

S85 Leaders:

1. Bubbles Utonium @fishy - 29 GP, 2.30 GAA 

T-2. Brandt Fuhr @Tate - 39 GP, 2.37 GAA 

T-2. Art Vandelay @Gustav - 39 GP, 2.37 GAA 

T-4. Papa Emeritus @Beketov - 38 GP, 2.42 GAA 

T-4. Augustus Kennedy @InstantRockstar - 37 GP, 2.42 GAA 

 

Brett Slobodzian Trophy (Most Outstanding Player)

S84 Winner: Duncan Idaho, RW 

This season has seen an increase in scoring in general, shown by the lowest GAA being 2.30 (last season it was 1.97; the season before, 1.92). This could mean a return to a more offensive-driven VHL, which translates to a skater likely winning the Slobo, as it stands. Nico Pearce started off a bit slower than usual, but like Vancouver, has really started to hit their stride. With 28 goals (1st) and 60 points (also 1st), Pearce is a prime candidate for most outstanding player. On the flip side, Jerome Reinhart, a defender, has been doing it all for London. Tied for 3rd in the league in points (53) and first among defenders, Reinhart is using their previous forward experience to dominate from the blueline. Other forwards such as Daniel Janser of Calgary, Alexandre Leduc of Vancouver, Tomas Sogaard of Moscow and Ronan Lavelle of D.C. all have a legitimate shot as well. Defender Tui Sova of the Dragons, tied for first in assists (39), could win the award in their final season. 

 

Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy (Top Rookie)

S84 Winner: Augustus Kennedy, G 

Season 85 has already seen its fair share of sensational rookies. Phoebe Bridgers @GrittyIsKing of the Riga Reign, drafted 25th overall in S82, has 14-24-38 totals in 38 games and is a frontrunner for the award. Right there with them is Molly the Cat @JCarson, with 18-20-38 totals for London in 39 contests. Mo Probert @Yahtzee, an undrafted free agent, has 35 points (7 goals, 28 assists) as a defender for Malmo, as well as 101 shot blocks, tied for third not just among rookies but all players leaguewide. 

 

Scott Boulet Trophy (Top Two-Way Forward)

S84 Winner: Duncan Idaho, RW 

A good number of forwards are in the running for this trophy, among them Pearce, Janser, and Sigard Petrenko of Seattle. Pearce has 60 points, 155 hits, 19 shot blocks and is +13; Janser has 57 points, 131 hits, 17 shot blocks and is +16; Petrenko has 53 points, 19 shot blocks, 177 hits and is +8. While these three forwards are certainly not the only ones in contention for this award, they headline the list.

 

Dustin Funk Trophy (Most Improved Player)

S84 Winner: Ronan Lavelle, LW 

The Funk Trophy is always an interesting one. Not only does it take into account the current season, but also the previous. Petrenko is on pace for 98 points, which would eclipse their S84 points total by 38. Similarly, if Janser continues their scoring rate, they would finish with an impressive 108 points, 33 more than last season's total. This season has proved to be a true breakout season for Janser specifically, who had point totals of 73, 72, and 75 from S82-S84 respectively. A key name from a defensive standpoint is Jake Thunder of the Dynamo. In 40 games, Thunder has posted 50 points; this is a pace of 90 points in a full 72 games (52 more points than last season). Thunder is also on track to block 167 shots, which would be an increase of 38. Goalies in the running are Brandt Fuhr and Art Vandelay. Fuhr leads the league in wins (24) and would finish with roughly 44 if they keep it up. This amounts to 26 more victories than last season when they won 18 games. In terms of GAA, they have posted a 2.37 thus far this season compared to 3.54 last. Save percentage (.926) and shutouts (1) have remained the same. Vandelay, meanwhile, has almost singlehandedly brought LA back into the playoff picture. With 20 wins, they are on pace for 37 total; they had 19 in total last season. Their save percentage has increased (.927 to .929), and their GAA is down from 2.85 to 2.40. 

 

Alexander Valiq Trophy (Top Offensive Defender)

S84 Winner: Hard Markinson 

Currently, Reinhart leads the way for the Valiq with totals of 14-39-53 in 39 games. Thunder is directly behind (14-36-50) as well as Bo Johansson (9-38-47) of Chicago. Markinson @STZ is tied for fourth in points among defenders with 46; their quest for their second straight Valiq is very much alive. 

 

Jake Wylde Trophy (Top Defensive Defender)

S84 Winner: Sven Eightnine 

Bob Beach @Big Bob of the Riga Reign is at the front of the pack in terms of defensive blueliners this season. So far Beach has blocked 99 shots (T-6th), has 120 hits, and has done it all while keeping up on offense with a very respectable 25 points. Other defenders that could capture the Wylde are Brian Payne @Scurvy (98 blocks, 128 hits, 41 points), Daron Nesbitt @AW13 (96 blocks, 106 hits, 21 points) and reigning champ Sven Eightnine @BarzalGoat (99 blocks, 103 hits, 28 points). 

 

Sterling Labatte Trophy (Top Defender)

S84 Winner: Hard Markinson 

Hari Singh Nalwa @Dil has excelled both offensively and defensively this season for the Preds. Not only are they eighth in points among defenders (42), they also are tied for third in blocked shots (101). Reinhart is the likely favorite, leading defenders in points (53) and blocking 97 shots (tenth). Thunder is not far behind with 50 points (2nd) and 93 shot blocks (T-twelfth). 

 

Aidan Shaw Trophy (Top Goaltender)

S84 Winner: Papa Emeritus 

Multiple goalies could come up with a Shaw this season. Fuhr is first in wins (24), tied for fifth in save percentage (.926), tied for second in GAA (2.37) and tied for eighth with a shutout. Xavier Boobery @CowboyinAmerica of the Titans, who won the award in S83, is tenth in wins (16) first in save percentage (.938), tenth in GAA (2.71) and tied for eighth with a shutout. Dusty Wilson @dustywilson22 of Seattle is second in wins (23), tied for ninth in save percentage (.923), ninth in GAA (2.67) and tied for first in shutouts (4). Bubbles Utonium of D.C. is tied for sixth in wins (20), tied for ninth in save percentage (.923), first in GAA (2.30), and tied for third in shutouts (3). 

 

Scotty Campbell Trophy (MVP)

S84 Winner: Nico Pearce, LW 

The MVP Race is full of intrigue. Pearce could win it again, scoring about 22.4% of Vancouver's goals and obviously leading the league in both goals and points. Reinhart has twelve more points than the next highest scorer on London (as a defender), and plays over half the game on average. Johansson has scored eleven more points than the second-highest scorer on the Phoenix, and plays the most minutes on average per game in the league (30:50). Vandelay is the most likely choice for MVP out of the VHL's netminders, due in large part to LA scoring the fourth-least goals; yet, they remain comfortably in playoff position. Vandelay has saved nearly 93 percent of the shots they've faced. 

 

David Knight Trophy (Top GM)

S84 Winner: Blake Campbell @Banackock 

Finally, the battle for top general manager, albeit not what most GMs strive for primarily, is one to keep an eye on as the trade deadline looms. Campbell has their team right back in the thick of things again, with some ingenious cap maneuvering, such as dealing  Sirdsvaldis Miglaskems @FrostBeard to LA and Max Torq @Steve to Malmo. Frank Chadwick @Frank has managed to get Vancouver in cup contention after a speedrun of a rebuild. This past offseason, the Wolves signed Pearce and Miklavz, and traded for Leduc, to name but a few of their moves. Eno Rama @Enorama has D.C. even more competitive than last season; the Dragons signed Nezuko and Milan Dvorak @solas and traded for Darth Kaprizov @Darth Kaprizov from Riga. 

 

That's all for now! As theme week and the trade deadline approach, there are a multitude of award races to follow, and ones that are truly anyone's game. The playoff race is also extremely close, and is definitely worth subscribing to. 

Edited September 26, 2022 by JB123

[Gustav 6,089]

Art Vandelay

[JB123 722]

Claim 2/2 of the article 

[Daniel Janser 1,975]

@Ricer13 got FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY

 

Also thanks for the consideration for the Boulet and the Funk awards.

Edited September 26, 2022 by Daniel Janser

[rory 1,759]

6 hours ago, JB123 said:

And let's not forget Warsaw, who are again right in the mix after winning it all last season

VSN hate boner against warsaw is ROCK HARD. defending champs are fuckin top of the league and this is all they get in the entire article LOL

[JB123 722]

4 hours ago, rory said:

VSN hate boner against warsaw is ROCK HARD. defending champs are fuckin top of the league and this is all they get in the entire article LOL

 

11 hours ago, JB123 said:

Other defenders that could capture the Wylde are Brian Payne

 

11 hours ago, JB123 said:

Hari Singh Nalwa has excelled both offensively and defensively this season for the Preds. Not only are they eighth in points among defenders (42), they also are tied for third in blocked shots (101).

 

[Daniel Janser 1,975]

41 minutes ago, JB123 said:

 

 

 

How dare you to not nominate Travish DeGroot for all and any individual awards including best goalkeeper and GM?

 

And how is Helsinki not a favourite for the Devin Marlow-Marta trophy? They have more points than any other team mentioned in the respective chapter.

 

*sarcasm off*

[JB123 722]

Claiming graphic