There are always winners and losers, that is the nature of competition.

[JCarson 701]

Season 87 of the VHL has created a buzz among hockey analysts. The European conference is in a tight race for playoff spots. With only a 12-point difference between 1st and 7th. That slim margin with a maximum of 22 games left to play for any given team will mean that this season will see a push right up to the end to determine who makes it and who watches. It makes great hockey for the fans, but it makes fantastic hockey for analysts.  

 

If you pay attention to the various reporters and commentators that get to voice their opinions within the VHL hockey community, you will quickly realize that the world is buzzing with speculation. Who is going to make it, who will step up as a team, as a player. Who will fall from grace, who will get blamed for a bad outing? Right now, at the trade deadline the focus is on the GM’s, which one will make the trade that will secure their playoff spot, who will make the mistake of giving up the key piece. Will the fear of missing out cause more trade action or will it paralyze GMs into nothingness? 

 

Then there are the growing comments of that last team, team 8, sitting so far outside the competition that one can only expect that they will be selling here at the deadline, to position themselves for a brighter future. Oh, poor Helsinki the proverbial can being kicked around by the European Conference, you can only watch as everyone else fights for glory. The analysts rarely speak your name and when they do there are rumors of an irate team owner who may finally call for a management change. Will you one day find yourself among the leaders of the league fighting for the glory of a championship or will you remain that proverbial can, being kicked around for seasons to come.