Claimed:The Art of The Third Round Steal [Final: 6/6]

[Devise 4,475]

The Art Of The Third Round Steal

 

 

In the VHL drafts can be a very big gamble. Even recreates who you trust can get bombarded with a busy life and go inactive. The many players who have been drafted but have never played a single game in the VHL is in the hundreds. The further you get down in each round of a draft class, the more true that statement becomes. It goes without saying that the hope is with a second round draft pick, to get a depth player who one day makes the VHL. However what about third round picks? They are often considered the throw away picks. The chances of landing a player who is even around to do welfare, much less a point task every week are very slim. It takes a very keen General Manager to spot a gem in the third round and find a player who can make it to the big leagues. Let's take a look at all the third round steals since Season 30. 

 

King Czar III is the lone amazing third round steal for the Helsinki Titans in the Season 40 Draft

 

King Czar III (S40) - Helsinki Titans

 

The Season 40 VHL Entry draft was notable for being very deep. Despite that, the usual fall off in the third round struck a blow to the supposed quality of the draft. Plenty of players in the third round had quality TPE counts, but had gone inactive before the draft. Helsinki Titans general manager was able to sneak an ace out of the hat in the third round by drafting King Czar III 23rd overall. Czar entered the draft with 127 TPE and as of now currently sits at 227. Even if the "King" from player agency Riggs doesn't earn another TPE for the rest of his career he has made STZ look like a genius. This is a player who one season into his career is already a solid depth player. Not too shabby for a 23rd overall pick. Especially considering how many players drafted before him still have yet to reach those TPE levels. This pick is the very definition of a third round steal. 

 

Mikhail Mikhailovich drafted by the Cologne Express

 

Mikhail Mikhailovich (S33) - Cologne Express

 

In Season 33 the VHL was witness to what was at the time dubbed a super draft. While going back through it, one may come to a different conclusion one steal was taken in the third round by Joey Kendrick and the Express. Mikhailovich entered the draft with only 19 TPE and despite going inactive, he managed to finish at a nice round 200. Drafted 22nd overall, Mikhailovich ended up being a good solid depth piece for an Express team that just quite couldn't put it all together for a championship run. 

 

Zach Cuff, another third round steal for the Express nicknamed "Cuffy"

 

Zach Cuff (S31) - Cologne Express

 

What is it about the 22nd overall pick for the Cologne Express? Season 31 would bring them another solid third round steal for GM Joey Kendrick. Zach Cuff entered the Season 31 draft with just 10 TPE. He finished his career with a staggering 336. For a third round pick with that much ground to make up, this is an omega steal. Cuff would spend three seasons in Cologne before rounding out his career with the Vasteras Iron Eagles and the Calgary Wranglers. He was a very effective depth player that really did come out of nowhere to cement his spot in the VHL.

 

Gregory Glass is a true example of a third round steal

 

Gregory Glass (S30) - Riga Reign

 

When looking at third round steals in the VHL you can't forget Gregory Glass. Glass was another player taken at the lucky 22nd overall by the Riga Reign. The defender coming from the +minus agency had 25 TPE going into the draft when the Reign decided to take a chance on him. GM of Riga, Mike Szatkowski found a true hidden gem with Glass. Glass ended up reaching 423 TPE an astounding high for a player taken in the third round. Glass is proof that if you look hard enough, and have a good sense of a member you really can get something out of your third round picks.

 

 

There you have it, four players since Season 30 who were able to make a difference in the VHL despite starting with lower TPE numbers and being picked late in the draft. The amount of players picked ahead of these four who would never even reach the VHL, much less reach some of the milestone TPE numbers is astounding. What would you credit these four picks to? Are some GM's too arrogant when it comes to the value of third round picks? Maybe some simply don't have the skill to see the value of specific players? Or were the GM's who made these picks simply that damn good? Maybe you fall in the side of the fact that it's simply luck of the draw? Whatever your opinion, gems will continue to be found in the third round in the VHL and they will continue to make GM's regret their decisions on who they pick ahead of them. 

Edited November 1, 2014 by Devise22

[Kingma 34]

Cool write up. I'm new to the league but my guess is that a lot of GMs just look at TPE and not the fact that for some of the draftees the timing just won't work out to get a respectable TPE.

[Da Trifecta 1,896]

Content: 3/3 This was really awesome. This proves that talent can still be found in the later rounds that can round out a team. There should be more in the next few drafts hopefully.

Grammar: 2/2 Nice bro

Appearance: 1/1

 

FINAL: 6/6

[Victor 10,831]

Mike Szatkowski found a true hidden gem with Glass.

He might have done, but he didn't offer him an ELC, so Cologne signed him to his first contract a season later.

With S32 4th rounder Marcus Figgarowta-Nahimal, Cologne were gods of draft steals this decade.

#facts #preparingfor40in40 #40

[BOOM 8,650]

Hopefully my recreate goes in the 4th.

[Advantage 2,891]

Psh...Zhirenkov in S30

[Frank 5,057]

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