VHL TEAMS UFA NEEDS

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

Other than the basic joke of saying what every team in the league requires is a new GM and trying to be serious as I can. I decided before UFA opens to take a look at every VHL teams’ current roster, salary cap and determine what they might be looking to sign; if anything, or anyone.

 

Calgary Wranglers

Cap Space: $1,000,000

Needs: None

 

Spoiler

Simply put Calgary completed their roster earlier today when they completed a trade with Riga Reign to add the missing forward that they would have been looking for in (S88) RW - Rip Wheeler. Bring the Rookie up to the roster to start the season. Expectations at this point they are done and will not factor in UFA unless they make further trades.

 

 

Chicago Phoenix

Cap Space: $21,250,000

Needs: Forwards

 

Spoiler

Chicago is going to be an interesting team to watch over the next week or two since they are in an interesting spot of having to rebuild their roster after (S82) C - The Board Game Clue On Skates seems to have opted to leave the team as UFA declining his final year of his contract with the Phoenix. (S83) C - Scotty Sundin will also be an interesting UFA decision for the team that will be looking for three new forwards it would seem via UFA and the option on (S82) D - Bo Johansson hasn`t been accepted.

 

D.C. Dragons

Cap Space: $15,250,000

Needs: None

 

Spoiler

D.C. is completely set in the rebuild mode and it would seem have completed their roster earlier today. They are looking to rebuild via the draft with three 1^st rounds selections and two 1^st rounds selections in the next two drafts. They could still add in the UFA period but mostly don`t feel the pressure to actually add anything significant.

 

HC Davos Dynamo

Cap Space: $0

Needs: None

 

Spoiler

A team that I had starting the article as over the salary cap completed the much-required trade to bring themselves into cap compliance by trading John Poremba Jr and a few picks to D.C. Dragons for Jack The Ripper; roster seems set unless again done through further trades. Actually, reviewing the salary cap as it has been updated on the portal, Davos is actually still over the salary cap by 500,000. Watch for future trades to become cap compliant.

 

Helsinki Titans

Cap Space: $13,000,000

Needs: Defender

 

Spoiler

With (S84) D - Malum Maellard seeming set to head to UFA; it would seem that Helsinki will be looking to replace the defender if they are unable to find agreement to bring the defender back. Also having 13M in cap space means they could also look at upgrading the forwards; if possible, during UFA but looks very comfortable to allow (S88) LW - Owen Lazaro to join their roster for their rookie season in the VHL. Another team that could look to trade route to help improve the team.

 

London United

Cap Space: $9,000,000

Needs: Defender & Forward

 

Spoiler

The defending Champions head into the day with 5.5M in cap space but after a quick trade of (S83) C - Ivan Retoslav to Malmo Nighthawks for a few draft picks have cleared up another 3.5M as they will now shop for another option at Forward and either look to bring back (S81) D - Marcel Janser during UFA or another defender. Expect this team to be active over the next few weeks as they try to run it back as they try to repeat as Champions.

 

Los Angeles Stars

Cap Space: $4,750,000

Needs: Defender?

 

Spoiler

A team that was busy today setting the bulk of their roster and would seem to shopping for a defender during the UFA period but also have options of bring up prospect (S87) D - Jack Jeckler (GEN) if they are unable to find what they are looking for. Always nice to have options and that is what they currently have heading into UFA.

 

Malmo Nighthawks

Cap Space: $18,500,000

Needs: Forward

 

Spoiler

Malmo made an early move to start the off season by trading for (S86) G - Ash Sparks and have completed another trade today to bring in (S83) C - Ivan Retoslav from London United. This another team that is rebuilding so expect them add a forward but not look to use up a lot of future cap.

 

Moscow Menace

Cap Space: $0

Needs: None

 

Spoiler

Moscow has been set since completing a major trade with Prague Phantoms that helped both teams become cap complaint while also keeping both team competitive. The trade seen (S84) G - Clueless Wallob, (S83) D - Deron Nesbitt and (S84) C – Jason join the roster from Prague while (S85) G - Matt Murdock and (S82) RW - Jason Argos head the other direction. While Moscow did require another forward as I started writing; this they have since called up (S88) RW - Nils Andersson for his rookie season in the VHL.

 

New York Americans

Cap Space: $15,250,000

Needs: Defenders

 

Spoiler

New York completed a huge part of their off season today when they came to terms with (S83) G - Augustus Kennedy before possibly losing the goaltender during the UFA period. While it has been known for a while that (S83) D - Ryuji Sakamoto would be testing UFA this off season. It leaves New York shopping for two new defenders. It will be interesting to see how they rebuild their blueline this off-season.

 

Prague Phantoms

Cap Space: $3,750,000

Needs: 4^th Defender?

Spoiler

 

Prague has been set for a while due to the trade mentioned above with Moscow but with 3.75M in cap space you could see them still looking at adding a depth option on defence or waiting until the trade deadline to bring in a defender for a play-off push; it really is going to be determined by their placement in the standing at the trade deadline. Currently feeling is that they are done at least for now.

 

Riga Reign

Cap Space: $1,500,000

Needs: 4^th Defender?

 

Spoiler

Riga was going to be an interesting team to watch this off season when (S85) LW - Daniel Weaver decided to use his option to opt out of his final year of contract with the Reign. Well, Riga didn`t wait around to replace the forward by completing a trade either today to bring in (S85) LW - Larry Abass Jr from Calgary and all but setting the team roster for the coming season. With a bit of cap flexibility, they could still add a 4^th defender at the trade deadline; if they are positioned to make a run into the play-offs.

 

Seattle Bears

Cap Space: $1,000,000

Needs: None

Spoiler

 

Heading into the day Seattle Bears looked defenceman heavy with five defenders and would be looking at signing a forward during UFA but not having any cap space so they turned within for the answer by asking (S82) D - Mikhail Kovalchuk to switch to forward. We will see if the move works out in the Bear favor as they look to return to the Continental Cup finals again this season.

 

Toronto Legion

Cap Space: $20,000,000

Needs: Forward

Spoiler

 

What to say about Toronto but they seem to maybe finally coming out of a rebuild? I had actually expected this team to maybe be more aggressive heading into the UFA period but in the end, Toronto seems content to continue to rebuild and more or less will look to add a forward either through UFA or promoting a VHL rookie into the role. It looks like another tough season in Toronto.

 

Vancouver Wolves

Cap Space: $1,500,000

Needs: 4^th Defender

Spoiler

 

Done and dusted since the first day of the off season when the team traded two second round picks in bring back their teams former MVP in (S81) LW - Nico Pearce and the team decided not to take the joint option on (S81) LW - Bob Vladovechsenkchushkin; who then opted to retire instead of testing UFA.  Vancouver still has some cap flexibility and depending on their placement in the standing at the trade deadline could look to add a fourth defender.

 

Warsaw Predators

Cap Space: $14,750,000

Needs: Forwards

Spoiler

 

This is the team that I will be watching during the UFA period since I think they are best positioned to make a huge splash as they look to add at least two forwards and still need to determine if they are taking up the option on (S81) D - Biggie Chees, if they don`t take the option then they will have more than 19M to play with in UFA. They could also be looking to add another goaltender to the mix but that will depend on what is available on the UFA market for tenders. Eitherway it will be interesting to what this team does this off season.

 

[Banackock 8,057]

 

Seattle gonna be looking to add some big Bears come FA. They’re excited for discussions to open but have allegedly been trying to acquire players rights behind the scenes. Despite it looking like they’re up against the cap, they may have options. 
 

 

 

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

On 6/6/2023 at 2:34 PM, Banackock said:

 

Seattle gonna be looking to add some big Bears come FA. They’re excited for discussions to open but have allegedly been trying to acquire players rights behind the scenes. Despite it looking like they’re up against the cap, they may have options. 
 

 

 

Every team even if against the cap has options via trades but I was trying to look at it from an UFA standpoint and current roster structure standpoint.

It will be interesting if Seattle did actually make a trade or sign an UFA forcing a trade etc....

As it is more entertaining for the league!!

[JCarson 730]

Article Review:  This is a great analysis of every team and what they may or may not do.  It will be interesting to see if the GM of the teams agree with this analysis or decide to go another route all together,  Secondary aspect is the players choice on where they go.  Salary cap again seem to be an influence on choices for both sides.  Getting the biggest impact at the lowest cost is now a constant requirement

 

I give this article an 9/10, great job.

[ThePerfectNut 563]

@Gaikoku-hito welp

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

Claiming July 2nd as I had a multi-claim already running......