VSN Presents: S92 VHLE Season Preview

[Baby Boomer 728]

@Zetterberg

Welcome everyone,

 

To begin with, I would like to congratulate Sjin and the Cologne Express for their S91 Renaissance Cup. It was their third in a row and their fourth in the last five seasons. A lot happened during the last off-season, trades, FA signings and players getting called up in the VHL, so we can see teams having a better or worse season than expected.

 

#1 Bratislava Watchmen 

Offense rank: 1^st

Defense rank: 2^nd

Goalie rank: 3^rd

 

The Bratislava Watchmen only made the playoffs one season since S87 and after some difficulties last season, the team looks stronger than ever and ready to compete. With the help of veterans like Luke Glendenning @ColeMrtz, Mikko Borisyuk @Minebro, James MacAvoy @Enraged and Darko Alexander Malkovich @AColdCanadian, Bratislava is really well equipped to help the young rookies like Kimi Raikkonen @mattyIceman, Karol Lamb @dlamb, Vlad Von Carstein @Dom and Pipo Popa @npuBeT have a good season and lead the team to the promised land. The Watchmen are going to be a very scarry team at the end of the season when everybody will be ready for the playoffs.

 

#2 Cologne Express 

Offense rank: 2^nd

Defense rank: 1^st

Goalie rank: 2^nd

 

After winning their third Renaissance Cup in a row, the Cologne Express are not expected to look back. Indeed, the Express once again have a really good roster and are going to compete for one of the first spot of the standings in the regular season. Cologne can count on returning players such as Theo Allard @InstantRockstar, Anthony Simmons @Starchychaff, Jordan Bennett @Plate, Joseph Dubois @Dubois and Clark @cl4rk to show the way to the young rookies, like George Richmond @badcolethetitan, Adi Dassler @BOOM and Vanellope von Schweetz @Arce , that going to learn what it is like to play in a winning culture.

 

#3 Stockholm Vikings 

Offense rank: 3^rd

Defense rank: 6^th

Goalie rank: 4^th

 

When you look at Stockholm’s roster, you see two things. First, you see that the Vikings will not have any difficulties scoring goals with forwards like Riley Martin @Smarch, Alexandre Crosby @hockeyis66 and Isaac mcflopper @sportexperts show. Second, Guntis Gavilrovs @Girts and Giorgiy Costanzov @Mongoose87 will have to play on top of their head all season long if they don’t want to allow six goals per game. So, Stockholm’s offense can hope to reach the ones of the top teams, but if no change to the defense is made by the GM @Doomsday, I just don’t see how the Vikings can compete with teams like Bratislava and Cologne.

 

#4 Vasteras Iron Eagles 

Offense rank: 6^th

Defense rank: 3^rd

Goalie rank: 1^st

 

After winning two King’s Cup in a row, the Vasteras Iron Eagles lost a couple of really important pieces that got called up in the VHL. Therefore, Vasteras is not a top tier anymore, but I can still see them compete for a playoff spot if their goalie, Karl Herzlich @LastGoon007, and their top defenseman, Winston Dixon jr @Rjdixon01 and Hannibal Barca @DreMin15, can carry the team defensively. Even if the Iron Eagles offense is not the best in the league, players like Miroslav @Zyrok and Tom Dufour @Cookie can still have an impact and help the team offensively.

 

#5 Rome Gladiators 

Offense rank: 4^th

Defense rank: 4^th

Goalie rank: 5^th

 

The Rome Gladiators have not missed the playoffs since S87 and like the Vasteras Iron Eagles, lost a couple of players during the off-season. This means that Rome will not be at the top of the standings at the end of the season, but if they play very well, I can see them make the playoffs. Led by their Swedish captain, BjorkaBjorn BjornaBjorkson @JardyB10, the offense of the Rome Gladiators can also count on Behrens Minion @UnknownMinion and LeBen Aky @Ben_Reformed to produce offensively and give the team a chance to win enough games to make the playoffs.

 

#6 Oslo Storm 

Offense rank: 5^th

Defense rank: 5^th

Goalie rank: 6^th

 

After being one of the best team in the league from S85 to S89, the Oslo Storm entered a rebuild in S90 and after two painful seasons, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel in Oslo. Even if Oslo is currently ranked sixth in this ranking, the Storm is really not far away from the Rome Gladiators and even from the Vasteras Iron Eagles and the last playoffs spot. If they want to make the playoffs, they are players such as Logan Ninefingers @Scurvy, Jussi Jokinenegg @HearnNation67 and liam oinas @ojje that will have to step up and carry the team on their shoulders.

 

Thanks everyone for reading, I wish you all good luck in the regular season and see you in another VSN article.

 

P.S. feel free to write your own predictions in the comments if you disagree with me.

Edited January 14 by Baby Boomer

[Ben_Reformed 62]

GO ROME OR GO HOME!!!

[Cookie 36]

Thank you for the confidence..

 

I... I did not expect to be mentioned this early in an VSN post, nor for it to sound so promising, but it will motivate me!

 

Also...  "Go Rome or Go Home" sound so good.