VSN Presents: S93 Weekly Predictions (Apr 1 - Apr 7)

[Gaikoku-hito 2,133]

 

April fools day played chaos around the league and delayed these predictions slightly as I had to re-collect some of the data since a fake trade announcement by a person that shall remain anonymous caused the re-simming of a few games. Overall, as far as I can see it didn`t effect the standing or my prediction but just rather altered some stat lines. Without further ado, lets get into this weeks predictions:

 

 

 

Current Standings:

                    Standings                                        Record             Points                   Last Wk                          Prediction Last Wk                       

1.     D.C. Dragons                                      20-4-0            40pts                 13-1-0                                 1st North American

2.     Toronto Legion                                  18-6-0             36pts                 11-3-0                                 2nd North American

3.     New York Americans                         13-7-3             29pts                  9-4-0                                 3rd North American   

4.     Seattle Bears                                     14-9-1             29pts                   8-5-1                                  7th North American

5.     Chicago Phoenix                                11-11-2           24pts                    5-8-1                                 4th North American  

6.     Calgary Wranglers                             12-12-0           24pts                   8-6-0                                 6th North American  

7.     Vancouver Wolves                              7-14-3             17pts                   2-9-3                                 5th North American  

8.     Los Angeles Stars                              1-23-0             2pts                    0-14-0                          8th North American  

 

 

 

Next Week Predictions:

 

     1.    

The top two teams in the North American conference should really start to pull away from the chasing group behind but we see a change at the top due to a much weaker schedule that saw Toronto led by Diego Machado @Dadam30 (18-28-46pts) and Joel Castle @animal74 (2.30ga & 0.933%) leapfrog the D.C. Dragons in the standings. It would be rather surprising if they didn`t but I have been wrong before.

 

 

     2.    

The D.C. Dragons will enter a tough stretch of hockey and depending on how they handle it will determine if they hold onto first in the conference at the end of the week or if they fall to second. It might be determined by the head-to-head games between Toronto and D.C. making these games a much watch. The Frenchman @OrbitingDeath (23-29-52pts) and Mark Calaway @Beketov (13-29-42pts) continue to be the best at their current positions offensively forcing teams to look at ways to slow them down; it hasn`t worked so far!!

 

 

    3.    

A huge trade this week should shake up the group of five teams all fighting over the final playoff spots. Calgary managed to collect Larry Abass Jr @RileyL and Jens Lekman @Bobcat from the Vancouver Wolves for a S94 CGY 1st and Thor Odinson @GoalPlays; which greatly improves this team. Add in what should be easier schedule than other team and I see Calgary starting to climb the standings. How far they make it will be determined by games against New York and Seattle. It will be interesting to see the impact of the trade this week and if Calgary is now a true contender or pretender!!

 

 

    4.    

All signs point this team to being better than what their record currently shows with scoring stars Jasper Davis @Josh (11-21-32pts) and FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY Analfist @STZ (13-15-28pts), not to mention a stud defender in Tord Yvel @Trazan (2-28-30pts) but New York just doesn`t seem to generate enough scoring a group and this is keeping them right around mid pack in the conference. Strong goaltending continues for 36W @rory (2.19ga & 0.934%) so the question remains is it time to shake things up in New York?

 

 

    5.   

I keep expecting Seattle to fall back due to inconsistent or rather rookie goaltending as Giorgiy Costanzov @Mongoose87 (3.68ga & 0.895%) is just trying to keep his head above water. So how are the Bears continuing to win games? Enter former Vancouver Wolves Henry Eagles @Greg_Di (19-25-44pts) and Oreo McFleury @JB123(20-23-43pts); who have been reunited this season in their former rivals uniform. Simple put Seattle have been able to outscore most of their problems and I think this can continue. They will finish the week anywhere from 3rd to 6th this week and could be actually tied in points with a team or two.

 

 

   6.    

Easy schedule should see Chicago hanging off the back and hopeful of wildcard spot by the end of the week but I am starting to see that this team will fall off the back. Chicago will miss the playoffs this season unless something changes defensively as Yaroslav Trunov @qripll(24-19-43pts) and Babay Shrimp @Blazzer(9-23-32pts) cannot out score the issue on the back-end. Ryan Artyomov @Enorama(3.66ga & 0.902%) continues to hold on but simple needs more assistance.

 

 

    7.    

Hope to start the season has quickly faded to disappointment as the team has struggled with chemistry and decided to pull the trigger on a trade with Calgary to improve their future bringing in a S94 CGY 1st and Thor Odinson @GoalPlays while shipping out veteran players Jens Lekman @Bobcat and Larry Abass Jr @RileyL just brought in this season to provide guidance to younger Wolves players. What the future hold for the remainder of the season? Likely hood looking at more losses than wins and a date with a lotto pick.

 

 

    8.    

Mclean Hoover II @McLean Hoover (8-14-22pts) is trying his best to keep Los Angeles from losing all remaining games in the season and that might not happen but only when they face the great HC Davos team from the European conference. Well, That doesn`t happen this week so we will see if they can at least steal a point or two; unlikely!!

 

 

 

 

Current Standings:

                    Standings                                        Record             Points                   Last Wk                          Prediction Last Wk                       

1.     Moscow Menace                               17-6-2             36pts                 10-2-2                            4th European Conference

2.     Malmo Nighthawks                           16-6-2             34pts                10-3-2                           2nd European Conference

3.     London United                                  15-6-3             33pts                 11-2-1                          3rd European Conference

4.     Prague Phantoms                              14-7-4            32pts                  8-5-2                           1st European Conference

5.     Warsaw Predators                             14-9-1             29pts                  7-6-1                           6th European Conference

6.     Helsinki Titans                                   11-13-0            22pts                 5-9-0                          5th European Conference

7.     Riga Reign                                          10-13-2            22pts                 6-8-1                            7th European Conference

8.     HC Davos Dynamo                             1-22-1              3pts                 1-13-0                       8th European Conference

 

 

Next Week Predictions:

 

     1.      

Moscow proved me wrong but also shows why I didn`t know what to make of their tough schedule last week as Moscow aced the week with two losses and two overtime losses; in what I would rather view as near perfect week. Moscow put fear into the European conference last week and that should continue for most of the season now. Jarmo Ruutu @jRuutu(14-29-43pts) is all set to have a career season and leads the Moscow attack. While Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage @Grape(14-23-37pts) is turning into a star on the back-end. Moscow is showing why they are Men with Aces in the pockets!! Ugh!!

 

 

    2.    

London was the best team in the conference last week and I think this continues as Wann Kerr @VattghernCZ(21-31-52pts) simply has been the one of best player in the league driving the offense that has become London’s calling card. While I think the United are not all that United in offensive ability; it doesn`t effect their United winning ways. It will be close between Malmo and London this week but I am giving London a slight edge here.

 

 

    3.    

Yup, you guessed; if you actually read the whole article the next team in line is Malmo Nighthawks. Malmo is still one of the most complete teams as shown by having a different leading score again this week in Viktor Jensen @Advantage(16-25-41pts). While Jacob Stone @scoop (10-28-38pts) is showing that he is one of the best defenders in the league. Malmo should continue to roll but might take a small set back this week and fall to third.

 

 

    4.    

When I seen the trade between Calgary and Vancouver earlier this week I cannot help but feel that Prague missed a huge opportunity to improve their roster and really set the tone for the remainder of the season. They cannot go back and change the past so look at why I think Prague continue to struggle; shot diff!! Prague gives up ton of shots when playing the top teams in the league and have only managed to stay in the playoff hunt thanks to the might and effort of Matt Murdock @Acydburn(2.86ga & 0.931%). If for whatever reason he falters, than Prague could be looking at the playoffs from the outside. John Jameson @Frank (22-29-51pts); Nikolas Kauppi @Tetricide(23-25-48pts) and Skor McFleury @Alex(10-33-43pts) are trying everything to keep Prague playoff relevant but Prague really needs to get a full roster to help them.

 

 

    5.    

Nothing has changed from last week to this week as a lot of the success of the Predators is down to Lachlan Summers @kirbithan(2.81ga & 0.931%), as another team having issues with shots against shows the lack of true number one defender on the roster. I have Warsaw current locked in 5th and the final wildcard spot but that could change if Warsaw doesn`t find away to secure a strong defensive core and Helsinki actually turns their season around. The Predators are more like a lion without teeth at the moment and have no bite.

 

 

    6.    

I almost don`t know what to say about the team from Finland as Helsinki should really be fighting for third in the conference and not playing five hundred hockey at best. With $4.5M in salary cap; the team really needs to find depth scoring and close the gap between their star forward Daryl Dixon @Ricer13(13-24-37pts) and Owen Lazaro @traphag(22-22-44pts). Otherwise they risk losing a season that really the Titans should be a playoff team. At the moment the Titans are more like the Titanic!!

 

 

    7.    

A team that I am not concerned about at all since I don`t have them making the playoff but continue show that the Reign are not far from being ready to compete soon. Shubham Anand @Will3 (18-19-37pts) continue to lead Riga offense. If I do have any concern about this young team, it would be around the lack of true number one defender developing but Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher looks set to fill that role next season but Riga will need to find more defensive help if the team is going to take a step next season.

 

 

    8.    

Hello we will see you next season!! Okay, I wish I could get away with that but I cannot, right? David Jokinen @Ahma(10-24-34pts) continue to lead Davos; which really should surprise anyone. Carson Walker Jr @Cwalker(10-10-20pts) is struggling in his second season in the league after having a strong rookie campaign. While James MacAvoy @Enraged(9-16-25pts) continues to have his name mentioned around the rookie of the year. Davos does have some depth pieces in place while they wait for future prospect to develop and once again should add a top pick at the end of the season.

 

 

 

Final Thought:

Nine for sixteen or a nice 56%!! Not a bad week when you consider that I complete got Prague and Moscow mixed up in the European Conference, While Vancouver and Seattle are completely different thought processes that I need to change; made easier by the fact that Vancouver looks to have moved into the sell now mode while looking forward to adding through next season draft. Prague, Helsinki and maybe New York need to shake a few things up! But overall the season doesn`t have that many surprise but that could change quickly as Calgary has improved and this could shake up the North American conference. We are starting to see groups form in both leagues and this could keep things interesting for most of the season.

Edited April 3 by Alex

[Ricer13 2,823]

[Grape 738]

8 hours ago, Gaikoku-hito said:

 

     1.      

Moscow proved me wrong but also shows why I didn`t know what to make of their tough schedule last week as Moscow aced the week with two losses and two overtime losses; in what I would rather view as near perfect week. Moscow put fear into the European conference last week and that should continue for most of the season now. Jarmo Ruutu @jRuutu(14-29-43pts) is all set to have a career season and leads the Moscow attack. While Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage @Grape(14-23-37pts) is turning into a star on the back-end. Moscow is showing why they are Men with Aces in the pockets!! Ugh!!

@Spartan  I think I'm worth a conditional 4th now : )