VSN Presents: Season 89 in Review

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Graphic By: Jason    Article By: Minion

 

With season eighty-nine coming to a close, it’s safe to say it was a great season filled with ups and downs. Today we will review each team's Season and, of course, give them a possible next step to take!

 

Moscow Menace

50-18-4 104P Finished 1st in League and European Conference

GM: Spartan

 

Moscow has been a team you expect to be on top in recent seasons, appearing in multiple Cup finals. Last season Davos beat them in round one in seven games, Moscow’s response? Win the victory cup this season! Having Been led by Ronan Lavelle’s 51 goal season and Clueless Wallob’s MVP-caliber season, Moscow is a scary team going into the playoffs.

Next Step: Win the Continental Cup

 

Seattle Bears

47-17-8 102P Finished 2nd in league / 1st in the North American Conference

GM: Bana

 

After making the finals last season and losing in seven to the London United. Seattle needed a big season for their fans and a chance to run it back. Coming off an 11-win streak, it’s safe to say they have done just that. Tavish DeGroot led the team with 91 points this season, and Cole Pearce has been a solid starter; another deeper cup run is undoubtedly in the cards!

Next step: Return to the finals and win the Continental Cup

 

HC Davos Dynamo

47-1906 100P Finished 3rd in League / 2nd in the European Conference

GM: Alex

 

A franchise that is historically quote-on-quote cursed. Alex had turned the team around from when he took over the team from a rebuilder to a solid cup contender.  After a fantastic playoff run last season, the team is certainly moving in the right direction. Led by defenseman Jake Thunder who had an outstanding 91 points, 78 of which were assists, inserting himself as an elite playmaker. Davos is going to look to make the finals and potentially end the Cup-drought this playoff run!
Next step: Make the Finals!

 

Riga Reign

 43-23-6 92P Finished 4th in League / 3rd in the European Conference

GM: Hedgehog337

 

Another team who hasn’t won a cup in some time with a real chance this year. Riga was led by Brian Kowalski and The Frenchman this season, a combo acting as a 1-2 punch. Furthermore, they have received solid goaltending all season with a wall in the net in Henry Tucker Jr., the team is ready to push to make history and following a great season. Riga, does have the pieces in place for some time to come and this season was certainly a step in the right direction!

Next step: Make the Conference Finals!

 

Vancouver Wolves  

43-27-2 88P Finished 5th in league / 2nd in the North American Conference

GM: Frank

 

A fallen dynasty is the best phrase to describe the Vancouver Wolves, but it's a team that won’t go quiet and has been consistently making the playoffs and winning the cup, it doesn’t seem like Vancouver is ready to go quietly yet. A Team that is full of young players breaking out and veterans ready to retire. Vancouver’s time is now to get their fifth cup in ten seasons and their season proved it!

Next Step: Win the Continental Cup

Prague Phantoms 

38-26-8 84P Finished 6th in League / 4th in the European Conference

GM: Acyd

 

This core is still pushing for another cup return after a shocking game seven loss in season 86; this past season, they showed a good improvement in skill. Led by John Jameson with 114 points and a candidate for MVP. With a solid depth chart, Prague is slowly Pushing for that cup!
Next Step: Acquire young talent to replace the aging core members

Calgary Wranglers 

37-26-9 83P Finished 7th in league / 3rd in the North American Conference

GM: Ricer

 

One of the oldest teams age-wise in the VHL right now, Calgary had expected results this season, but I’m sure they feel their time is running out on the down low. I’m sure they will push to get Danial Janser (Who hit 700 points this season) a second cup before he retires. This is his last chance.

Next Step: Retire Daniel Janser’s Number, Win the Cup

 

Los Angeles Stars 

37-29-6 80P Finished 8th in league / 4th in the North American Conference

GM:Instatantrockstar

 

Sirdsvaldis Miglaskems. A name that has been added to the history books this season, after scoring 107 points this past season and hitting 600 points in his career, he has announced this will be his last run. LA will look to push for a cup this playoff in his honour. However, this season proves it may be time to rebuild the core, with most of the core being S84 players.

Next Step: Prep to rebuild.

  

London United 

36-29-7 79P Finished 9th in League /  5th in the European Conference

GM: Jacobcarlson 

 

A lot can be said about the defending champions, but it's safe to say they didn’t live up to a title defense excitement; it seems the aging core wasn’t up to performing as defending champions. We look to the future of this team as they build around Leonard Triller. With Jesse Teno in the net looking to bring London deep once more, but if the season was an indicator, the window is closed.

Next Step: Rebuild

Malmo Nighthawks 

31-32-9 71P Finished 10th in League / 6th in the European Conference

GM:Kaleebthemighty

 

Trust the process is a phase you hear a lot about Malmo. A team that hasn’t seen a lot of success on the ice recently has the best future pieces. Malmo can return to the spotlight as soon as next season with this young core. Yaroslav Trunov seems to be ready to lead his team to victory in the coming seasons.

Next Step: Acquire a few talented players and return to glory.

Warsaw Predators 

32-35-5 69P Finished 11th in League / 7th in the European Conference

GM:N0BDY

 

A team who is just beginning the rebuild process didn’t see much success this past season. Nothing about this Warsaw team stood out to the naked eye. With the small number of prospects and break-out players, they had this past season. All they can really do is hope to have a good draft and get high end talent rotating into the team in the next few seasons.

Next Step: Draft a Star piece 

New York Americans 

29-32-11 69P Finished 12th in league / 5th in the North American Conference

GM:Thadthrasher

.Despite finishing 12th in the Prague the New York Americans have returned to the playoffs, ending the longest active playoff-drought. Unlike Warsaw, they had two rookies break out that they can build around with Jasper Davis and Francesco Mancini. This means they are already in a place to improve for next season with a strong draft, Plus the two possible prospects ready to jump up and take command in Tord Yvel and Zyn Westwood.

Next Steps: Positive draft, and sign a star Forward!

Chicago Phoenix 

29-35-8 66P Finished 13th in league / 6th in the North American Conference

GM: Jeff

 

I’d like to start by thanking Jeff for their dedication to the Chicago Phoenix and wish him luck with whatever is next for him. After the announcement of their GM retiring, Chicago is in a rough place—a team that desperately needs to rebuild. With nothing of real value and expiring contracts that only sees one player returning next season. Chicago can only go down and will be a challenge for the following GM to play with.

Next Step: Rebuild it from the ground up!

D.C Dragons 

28-35-9 65P Finished 14th in league / 7th in the North American Conference

GM:Frostbeard

 

A team who just couldn’t succeed, D.C had the pieces for a great season and couldn’t find the lines to compete. D.C. is certainly moving in the right direction with a very young core. With a deep prospect pool, not much is needed from the front office other than development to bring this team to the promised land outside of drafting a replacement for franchise goaltender Bubbles Utonium.

Next Step: Develop the young guns

Toronto Legion 

26-37-9 61P Finished 15th in league / 8th in the North American Conference

GM: Moon

 

Another team who seems ready to compete, Toronto sat on the side burners, hopefully for the last time with names like Timothy Swearingen and Montgomery Burns Ready to jump to the VHL. Jimi Jaks and Bobby Bob are taking star roles; this team just needs some good coaching and a little bit of development to return to the Playoffs.

Next Step: Acquire a star and make the playoffs!

 

Helsinki Titans 

20-42-10 50P Finished 16th in League / 8th in the European Conference

GM: Rayzor_7

 

Where do we even start with this Team? A team who can’t seem to find any success in the regular season, finished with the worst record, and with a decent prospect pool and a quickly aging roster, the Front office requires an excellent draft to get the team anywhere in the next few seasons.  Hopefully Legacy Gaming and Jarkko Laakkonen can join Daryl Dixon next season and start repairing the holes in the roster.

Next step: Draft the future

Edited July 23, 2023 by Alex