VHLM Team Rankings

[Grape 545]

We are already a week into the VHLM season and so far teams are still pretty even in the standings, with no teams really running away in either direction. On first glance, this might be the most parity the league has had in a fair bit, and there will definitely be plenty more jostling in the standings for pretty much for the entire season. With that, let us see where each team ranks as of now.

10. Saskatoon Wild

- FD Ranking: 10th (0.101)

- Goaltending Rank: 6th (157 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Everything but a Goalie

 

The Saskatoon Wild is a team that I felt had a very solid draft. They did not get any legit superstars or high-end players, but instead got a fair amount of lower TPE players with plenty of room to grow. This is something that will help the team near the end of the season and into next season, but not so much now. Their forward group is ranked 9th while their defense group is 10th. While that low ranking for the forwards is due to low TPE, the defense rank is due to only having one defenseman. While the one defenseman system has been shown to work in the past, you need that one defenseman to be a top player and producer, and so far that is not what Saskatoon has. While this team should get somewhat better as the season progresses, if they do not get another defenseman, they are not going to have success, barring any black magic. 

 

9. Miami Marauders

- FD Ranking: 9th (0.261)

- Goaltending Rank: 3rd (175 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Picks

 

Miami went into the draft and got the best goalie available, and while that is all well and good, they were not able to get a team around them. Miami currently has the 10th ranked forward group and 6th ranked defenseman group. This is not the same situation as Saskatoon, where you have a ton of lower TPE players to build the team and go into next season at full strength. The roster is pretty slim, and they will lose their top defender by next season. The best thing Miami can do is kick off the tank and prepare for next season. So long as they can keep some players active, they should have a couple pieces to build around. There is already a pending trade with Ottawa to move their goaltender in exchange for a 1st and a 4th. That’ll be a good start to building towards next season for Miami.

 

8. Mississauga Hounds

- FD Ranking: 8th (0.393)

- Goaltending Rank: 7th (145 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Defensive Growth

 

Mississauga is a team that has a relatively deep roster, and while the forwards are all in the mid-to-high TPE area for the M, the defense could use a bit of work. They currently have the 7th ranked forward group, while only the 9th ranked defense group. Now, being the 7th ranked forward group does not sound the best, but their score is above average. The league is very deep this season. But, the big thing the Hounds need to compete is improvement on the blue line. That’s the only thing really bringing that down and if they can address that, they should be at least competitive. 

 

7. Halifax 21st

- FD Ranking: 7th (0.450)

- Goaltending Ranking: 5th (165 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Another Defenseman

 

Halifax is attempting to repeat the success they had last season with one defenseman, but they are struggling out of the gate. The same strategy, with a more offensively minded defenseman is somehow doing worse. As of now, they have the 6th rated forward group and 8th rated defense group. While it is early in the season, it would be best for Halifax to put an end to the experiment on the blue line and get another defenseman to replace the bot. Based on the TPE of their players, they need to make a push this season or they will likely lose pretty much the entirety of their roster. Simon is a strange beast and the same strats do not usually work every season. But, we will see what happens. Sometimes a change is needed, and sometimes all you need to do is wait.

 

6. Ottawa Lynx

- FD Ranking: 6th (0.586)

- Goaltending Ranking: 10th (75 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Goaltending

 

Ottawa sought to turn around their poor last season and get back to competing, and they got the pieces to do so in the draft. As of now, Ottawa sports the top rated defense. The forward group could use some work, being ranked 8th and being the first forward group below average. So far, the offense has been clicking somewhat, but if that ends up drying up, they need to rely on steady defense and strong goaltending to remain competitive. While defense is not at all a concern, goaltending is. They currently have the lowest rated goaltender and while they will get better as the season progresses, they need to compete early to stay in it. As mentioned previously, there is a pending trade with Miami to acquire their goaltender. Once that goes through, that concern will be filled. Then it is all about growth and possibly addressing the forward group as well.

 

5. Mexico City Kings

- FD Ranking: 5th (0.607)

- Goaltending Ranking: 9th (114 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Goaltending Growth

 

Mexico City had a lot of returning members from last season and was able to bolster their roster even more with a couple picks this season, and as a result have the 4th ranked forward group and 5th ranked defense group. The biggest concern this team has is in the net. They do not necessarily need to go out and trade for one. All that needs to be done is keep them claiming and get them up there. Other than that, this team should be good to go. So long as they get the growth they need, this could end up being a pretty good season for the Kings.

 

4. San Diego Marlins

- FD Ranking: 3rd (0.642)

- Goaltending Ranking: 8th (118 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Defensive Zone Help

 

The Marlins are a pretty strong team offensively, having the 2nd best forward group. The main concern for the team is everything on their side of the red line. Their defense is ranked 7th and is overall below average. They need to get some growth on their defensemen and goaltender. If growth does not come, then a trade will happen. They have some of the best forwards build-wise on their team who will be gone at the end of the season. They should not waste this season.

 

3. Las Vegas Aces

- FD Ranking: 4th (0.625)

- Goaltending Ranking: 1st (199 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Overall Growth

 

There seems to be a sense of optimism with Vegas. After a tough couple of seasons, they have their goalie, and the best in the league at that. Both their forward group and defense group are around the middle of the league, being ranked 5th and 4th respectively. So long as everyone keeps growing, their goaltending should be enough to get them into the thick of the playoffs. Growth is a bit more important for Vegas, as they have suffered a lot due to IAs in the past. Keeping most of their players active would be a pretty large victory for them.

 

2. Houston Bulls

- FD Ranking: 2nd (0.759)

- Goaltending Ranking: 4th (172 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Defensemen Growth

 

Houston went all out on forwards in the draft and it has paid off, with them having the top ranked forward group by a pretty significant margin. The main weakness of this team is on the defensive side of things. While their defense group is ranked 3rd, it is important to note that the scores are percentage based and while the top two defenses are in the 90%s, Houston’s defense is about 57%. If they want to make that big step and push for that number 1 spot, they’ll need to improve their blue line. They cannot go much further with their forwards, having them at nearly 95%. If need be, they have a back-up goaltender that is currently better than three starters in the league that they could move in order to fully bolster the blue line, if growth does not pan out.

 

1. Philadelphia Reapers

- FD Ranking: 1st (0.818)

- Goaltender Ranking: 2nd (193 TPA)

- Biggest Need: Retention

 

It is rare in the VHLM to see a team win the Founder’s Cup, and then be the best team coming into the next season. There is so much graduation and roster changes that happen in the offseason, especially for those highly competitive teams, that many would see a drop-off. The opposite has happened for the Reapers, as they look even better than they did last season. This team comes out with the 3rd ranked offense and the 2nd ranked defense, and are the only undefeated team at this point in the season. Everything seems to be clicking and the Reapers are primed for a repeat. The only thing that needs to happen is for them to keep all their players from going inactive. Every season, we always see a few players from most teams go inactive and it can heavily change the performance of a team. So long as they are able to keep all their players active and clicking, this team should maintain their top spot.

(1576 words)

[Triller 1,419]

Love to see competitive teams pretty much all the way down this list!  Winning a cup with this many high end teams will mean that much more!

[Banackock 7,737]

Awesome. Go Bulls!

[KRZY 416]

Review:

I always love reading these power rankings like this that get posted . Not being in the VHLM and really not paying much attention to it at all in the last couple of seasons it’s nice to see someone go as in depth and give the analysis that you do ! I feel like I’m in the thick of the playoff hunt and can immerse myself into everytime . I especially like how you ranked their Forward and Goaltending ranks. Aswell as label needs each team needed to fill . Very well written and the facts backup the post

[Grape 545]

claimo for this week-o

[Grape 545]

Uno mas claimoreno