VSN Presents: The Winds of Change

[Gaikoku-hito 1,732]

https://imgur.com/SNarkPUhttps://imgur.com/SNarkPUhttps://imgur.com/SNarkPU

 

The Wind of Change: Goaltenders

As the season starts to come to a close for the teams in the VHL, the winds of change are starting to blow the pages of the book and the final chapters of some of the more dominate goaltenders are being written. At the end of the season three career starting goaltenders will retire and leave a huge whole in the crease for the teams that they played for; while another four goaltenders will also retire at the end of season 94 meaning that half of the league will be looking to a new goaltender for the first time in quite a while.  So, join me to take a look at the dominating goaltenders careers, stats etc.. and what might be next for each of these teams as they try to fill the void left between the pipe.

 

 

 

(S85) G - Henry Tucker Jr 

Regular Season Career Stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	515	278	184	46	2.66	0.925	24

14th most games played

Top 25 Wins

Top 25 Sav%,

S92 Continental Cup,

8th all time in Saves

 

Playoff Career stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	49	25	21	3	2.55	0.933	3

Top 5 Save Percentage

 

Awards:

S85 Florida Man Trophy

S85 Renaissance Cup

S92 Continental Cup

 

 

Career Overview

Not viewed as one of the best goaltenders in the league but provided solid goaltending for Riga Reign for years before Riga decided to give the net to Red Panda @Lemorse7 seeing HenryTucker Jr @NSG traded to D.C. Dragons; in a much needed move as D.C. was a contending team needing a goaltender. It was a steep price to pay as the trade included Eno Velvson @Nykonax and S93 DCD 1st (Ray Stanton @horoscope) but overall the trade worked out extremely well for D.C. as they won the Continental Cup in S92 and could be back in the finals if they can get past the Seattle Bears in the Conference finals.  

 

Tucker Jr will finish with a solid career with the 8th most saves, Top 15 in most games played, Top 25 in wins and save percentage.

 

 

What is next for D.C. Dragons?

D.C. Dragons last season made a controversial trade with Moscow Menace to acquire the 19th overall selection where they drafted goaltender of the future in Herald Benson @Benson, who should nicely fill the void left by Tucker Jr, but won`t really be ready for VHL action until season 95. So, D.C. will need to decide if they try to find a stop gap goaltender in the short term or stunt Benson development by bring him straight up from the VHLM Huston Bulls. Likely the Dragons will park Benson in the VHLE with the Cologne Express. Issue for the Dragons is the fact that their window is closing with four other players expected to retire in the next season or two so I am expecting a rebuild rather than D.C. looking for a stop gap goaltender this off season. Will Benson be given time to develop? Either way, D.C. Dragons look set once Benson makes his debut for the Dragons.

 

 

 

(S85) G – Matt Murdock

Regular Season Career Stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	456	257	147	42	2.54	0.927	22

Top 15 Save Percentage

Top 25 Saves

1st Prague Phantoms Games Played

1st Prague Phantoms Wins

2nd Prague Phantoms Save Percentage

3rd Prague Phantoms Goals Against Average

1st Prague Phantom Shut-outs

 

Playoff Career stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	52	27	21	4	2.82	0.921	1

2nd Prague Phantoms Games Played

1st Prague Phantoms Wins

1st Prague Phantoms Save Percentage

Top 5 Prague Phantoms Goals Against Average

T - 2nd Prague Phantom Shut-outs

 

Awards:

S84 Renaissance Cup

S87 Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy

S90 Daisuke Kanou Trophy

Career Overview

Most like me probably won`t remember that Matt Murdock @Acydburn was a Moscow Menace 1st round selection in season 85 and played three season in the Moscow also being named the winner of Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy in season 86 as Rookie of the year. Most remember Murdock for his amazing playoff run with Prague Phantom in S90 where he went 12-2-2 with a 0.936% winning the Daisuke Kanou Trophy playoff MVP as Prague claimed their first Continental Cup. Again a solid goaltender that provided five season of good goaltending to Prague Phantoms.

 

 

What is next for Prague Phantoms?

Prague is heading for a rebuild like it or not and how quickly they come out of the rebuild will be partly determined by goaltending prospect Ondrej Vencko @Mutti. In a very similar situation as D.C. Dragons have with Benson, Prague faces with Vencko as he is still really another season away so could either be pushed into the VHL early or stay down into the VHLE to develop further. Sadly, I think Prague will bring him up early and it could be a ugly first season for the young netminder but as Prague improve so should Vencko numbers.

 

 

 

(S85) Jesse Teno

Regular Season Career Stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	462	253	160	47	2.42	0.928	32

Top 15 Save Percentage

1st London United Games Played

1st London United Wins

2nd London United Save Percentage

T-2nd London United Goals Against Average

1st London United Shut-outs

 

 

Playoff Career stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	74	43	25	6	2.34	0.938	9

Top 10 games played

Top 5 Wins

Top 20 Losses

Top 5 Save Percentage

Top 25 Goals Against Average

2nd All-Time Shutouts

1st London United Games Played

1st London United Wins

1st London United Goals Against Average

1st London United Save Percentage

1st London United Shut-outs

 

Awards:

S88 Daisuke Kanou Trophy

S88 Continental Cup

S91 Greg Clegane Trophy

S91 Aidan Shaw Trophy

S92 Daisuke Kanou Trophy

Career Overview

Jesse Teno @aimkin will simple become known for his playoff performances and should easily enter the HOF just based off his Playoff performances. He has been a great goaltender for the London United for the past eight season and most might not remember that he has also claimed Greg Clegane Trophy and Aidan Shaw Trophy outside of his overall playoff brilliance, two Daisuke Kanou Trophy but only one Continental Cup. Teno has stolen his far share of games for the United in the playoffs; he will try to claim a second and final Continental cup this season as London awaits the winner between Seattle (Rask) and D.C. (Tucker Jr). Could he win another Daisuke Kanou Trophy as his legend continue to grow?

 

 

What is next for London United?

I tend to look at everything as half full situation but London is staring down a ugly rebuild if they don`t move assets this off-season and get some prospects; as London had the worse prospect pool out of all teams when I completed my prospect pool rankings. With Teno retiring at the end of the playoff it is now time to sell everything, not to mention nine of the eleven players are set to retire over the next two seasons. While London United drafted Hugo Boss @Dil a few season ago, he will be a project to say the least. So, London will try to collect a few draft picks in the next few season and try to find a goaltender through the draft. In the short term they will likely look the UFA market to find a tender to play as the team rebuilds. How deep will London cut is now only the question remaining.

 

 

(S86) Joel Castle

Regular Season Career Stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	442	213	186	40	2.61	0.924	25

Top 5 Toronto Legion Games Played

Top 5 Toronto Legion Wins

Top 10 Toronto Legion Save Percentage

Top 15 Toronto Legion Goals Against Average

Top 10 Toronto Legion Shut-outs

 

Playoff Career stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	48	27	20	1	2.49	0.927	2

3rd Toronto Legion Games Played

Top 5 Toronto Legion Wins

Top 5 Toronto Legion Save Percentage

3rd Toronto Legion Goals Against Average

Top 10 Toronto Legion Shut-outs

 

Awards:

S84 Founder's Cup

S91 Daisuke Kanou Trophy

S91 Continental Cup

 

Career Overview

With a full season remaining in his career Joel Castle @animal74 has been a steady presence in the Toronto crease and will look to climb up the all time Toronto Legion goaltending leader board. Castle should be remember as one of the best goalies to play for the Legion behind names like Aidan Shaw and Greg Clegane. Caslte will also remember for his amazing S91 playoff run that lead to Castle winning the Daisuke Kanou Trophy on route to helping his team lift the Continental Cup, which I am sure most remember for a while at least in Toronto.

 

 

What is next for Toronto Legion?

Toronto has already started to transition to a new goaltender as (S91) Toddly Bobbly @ToddlyBobbly started backing up Castle starting last season and should see more playing time in S94 as this transition continues. Toronto overall has a decision to make this off season, either go for one more run or look to rebuild. I think they hold off a rebuild for one more season and make a huge push to win Castle his second Continental Cup and look to tear down the roster after Castle retires. Either way Bobbly will be ready for when Castle hangs up his skates for the final time at the end of next season.

 

 

 

(S86) Ash Sparks

Regular Season Career Stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	333	192	106	31	2.46	0.925	26

2nd Malmo Nighthawks Games Played

2nd Malmo Nighthawks wins

5th Malmo Nighthawks Save Percentage

3rd Malmo Nighthawks Goals Against Average

2nd Malmo Nighthawks Shut-outs

 

Playoff Career stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	13	3	6	4	3.01	0.917	0

Awards:

S92 Victory Cup

S93 Victory Cup

 

 

Career Overview

Ash Sparks has had a very interesting career as he looked set to claim the net in Seattle after two season as the back up in Seattle behind Dusty Wilson but the management in Seattle had different plans as team in compete now mode after losing a game seven in the Continental Cup finals to London United as Seattle would trade for Cole Pearce. Through whatever happened between player and management seen Sparks announce his retirement, only to see the Sparks unretire within days after finding out he had been traded to Malmo Nighthawks; good thing for Malmo. Sparks will also be known for his regualr season play with an impressive 58% winning percentage through the regular season and will be one of the all time great to every man the net for the Malmo Nighthawks; while so of being the face of the Malmo choke when it comes playoff time.

 

What is next for Malmo Nighthawks?

Malmo is in a rather good position at the moment to replace Sparks as Malmo has Karl Herzlich @LastGoon007 already on the roster in the back-up roll and could see more playing time next season. Malmo also have Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish, who could make the jump to the VHL next season but the team might be better off letting him develop for another season in the VHLE so that they can make sure that he can hit the ground running.

 

 

 

(S86) Lachlan Summers

Regular Season Career Stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	395	241	120	31	2.49	0.931	27

Top 10 Save Percentage

Top 10 HC Davos Dynamo Wins

Top 10 HC Davos Dynamo Save Percentage

Top 15 HC Davos Dynamo Goals Against Average

Top 10 HC Davos Dynamo Shut-outs

 

 

Playoff Career stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	49	26	17	6	2.87	0.923	1

3rd HC Davos Dynamo All time Games played

T-2nd HC Davos Dynamo Wins

Top 10 HC Davos Dynamo Save Percentage

Top 10 HC Davos Dynamo Goals Against Average

2nd HC Davos Dynamo Saves

 

Awards:

S88 Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy

S89 Continental Cup

S90 Brett Slobodzian Trophy

S90 Greg Clegane Trophy

S90 Aidan Shaw Trophy

S90 Victory Cup

S91 Victory Cup

 

Career Overview

When a HOF goaltender is trade every expect to see a drop off from whoever tends the net the following few season but this wasn`t the case when HC Davos Dynamo traded Xavier Booberry to Seattle Bears in the off season of S88 after losing in the Continental Cup finals. Enter Summers, who simple posted an amazing 39-18-7 season with a 2.30 GAA and 0.938% to win the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy but failed to make the Continental Cup final for second straight season losing to eventual winners London United; but Summers put the league on notice. S89 HC Davos Dynamo would win the Continental Cup up ending the much better Vancouver Wolves as Summers simple said not today after HC Davos dropped the first two game of the finals; finishing with a 12-4 record, 2.47 GAA and an amazing 0.937% (0.943%) for one of the best goaltending playoff performances. How he didn`t win the Daisuke Kanou Trophy is beyond me!! Summers would continue to dominate while in the net with HC Davos over the next two season before Davos decided to start a rebuild, winning Brett Slobodzian Trophy, Greg Clegane Trophy, Aidan Shaw Trophy and two Victory Cup but never could get HC Davos back to the Continental Cup finals. Trade after tough season in S91 to Warsaw Predators were he was back to his dominate self taking the Predators to the playoff before being swept by Moscow Menace in the Wildcard round. Clear HOF when his career ends next season.

 

 

What is next for Warsaw Predators?

Lachlan Summers has a player option and controls if he will return to the Predators next season but luckily Warsaw already has their goaltender of the future in the back-up role to Summers this season in Pipo Popa @npuBeT but the biggest question facing Warsaw is around the defense. No signed defenders for next season and no prospect ready to join the back-end so they will need to prove to Summers that they can put together a good bunch of defenders in front of him or see him walk as UFA. Currently fourteen UFA defenders so Warsaw does have options.

 

 

 

(S86) Fuukka Rask

Regular Season Career Stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	430	194	179	40	2.79	0.922	24

2nd Helsinki Titans Game Played

Top 10 Helsinki Titans Wins

Top 15 Helsinki Titans Save Percentage

Top 10 Helsinki Titans Shut-outs

 

Playoff Career stats:

	GP	Wins	Losses	OTL	GAA	Sav%	SO
	46	25	17	4	2.68	0.925	3

Top 5 Helsinki Titans Game Played

Top 10 Helsinki Titans Wins

2nd Helsinki Titans Save Percentage

Top 5 Helsinki Titans Goals Against Average

Top 5 Helsinki Titans Shut-outs

 

Career Overview

Fuukka Rask @Jubis is best described as the over-looked goaltender as he is always around the top of the league: at least the last few season but has not been able to claim any league awards. Played a huge role for Helsinki Titans for the past seven season before being traded to the Seattle Bears at this season trade deadline. S91 most will remember for the Helsinki Titan playoff run to the Continental Cup finals and the play of Rask. 13-6-3 with 2.31 GAA and an amazing 0.938%. Rask made the list of the best goaltender playoff performance three different times in the playoff run with an 0.954% in the first round against Malmo Nighthawks, followed by 0.948% against London United in the Conference finals and even an 0.934% in a losing cause against Toronto in the final. Great goaltender for Helsinki Titans but maybe under valued around the league; he will try to change that if the Seattle Bears can win the Continental Cup this season.

 

 

What is next for Seattle Bears?

Seattle Bears recognized Fuukka Rask as good option, as the Bears once again look to be a contender and hope to lift the Continental Cup at the end of the season. It gives the Bears some options next season as they could trade Rask to another team; if the price is right since Seattle has Giorgiy Costanzov @Mongoose87; who started the season as the Bears starter. Seattle is likely to keep Rask since it looks like most of the team roster will be back next season and Seattle should once again be in a position to contend.

 

 

 

Teams Looking for Goaltenders:

 

Merome Dilson @MexicanCow123 is currently set to become an UFA at the end of the season and could change the whole outlook for the Wranglers if he decides to sign elsewhere. Calgary doesn`t have a prospect or another goaltender behind Dilson so would either need to look to trade for a new tender or try to sign one of the remaining six that are UFA this season.

 

 

The Dragons will likely look for a stop gap as mentioned above but if unable to find one will likely see Herald Benson @Benson make his VHL debut for the team. Not a lot of pressure here to make a trade or sign a goaltender with Benson as the long term answer.

 

 

The rebuild seems to be entering another season but finally we are starting to see pieces joining the roster but Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu; Davos goaltender prospect is in a similar situation as Benson at D.C. as he just isn`t ready and could develop better if he stays in another season in the VHLE with Stockholm. That means Davos will likely look at a stop gap for another season and not rush Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen.

 

 

The Titans shocked everyone when they traded Fuukka Rask @Jubis at the trade deadline and really entered a rebuild out of the blue. No Goaltending prospect heading into the off season means they must draft a goaltender. Helsinki will look for a stop gap until they can find their goaltender of the future.

 

 

Could London look to try to sign a goaltender and run it back for one final season? I don`t think so as the United are set to sell of all other assets this off season and much like Helsinki will be looking to draft a goaltender in the S94 draft. They could wait another season or two but it might be a long rebuild in the square mile city.

 

 

Rebuild is going to get very ugly as not only do they need a goaltender but they also need a team as currently Los Angeles has no players signed for next season and only one prospect ready to join the club. I am not sure where Los Angeles starts when it comes in their rebuild but I would be looking goaltender all day whatever selection they get in this draft. Could they wait? Yes as they have so many needs but I would draft a goaltender with one of their two first round picks in this season draft.

 

 

I have to write this since Olober Syko @Spartan  is currently an UFA but really Moscow is set in the net for the foreseeable future as Skyo will re-sign.

 

 

At the end of the day Prague is in better shape than some of the other teams in the league as they have Ondrej Vencko @Mutti; a season away from joining the team but what do they do in the short term. Sign a stop gap goaltender or bring the kid in early stunting his development slightly? It will be interesting to see what direction Prague goes this off season.

 

 

New Era

With the eight goalies looking to retire in the next two season we will see a new era of goaltenders in the VHL and a huge shift in power with six teams looking for goaltender this off-season. How will this effect the league this off season, during the up coming draft and into the future seasons? Either way it will be interesting dynamic to watch over the next few seasons to see which goaltenders start to put their stamp on the league and possible a future HOF career.

 

 

Edited May 6 by Gaikoku-hito

[DarkSpyro 780]

8 hours ago, Gaikoku-hito said:

2nd Malmo Nighthawks Games Played

2nd Malmo Nighthawks wins

2nd Malmo Nighthawks Save Percentage

1st Malmo Nighthawks Goals Against Average

2nd Malmo Nighthawks Shut-outs

Fixing your mistake for obvious reasons;

Ash Sparks is actually 2nd all-time in save% and 1st in GAA for Malmo. Don’t go putting goalies with less than a season played ahead cuz they shouldn’t even count to begin with for franchise records.

[Alex 2,904]

3 hours ago, DarkSpyro said:

Fixing your mistake for obvious reasons;

Ash Sparks is actually 2nd all-time in save% and 1st in GAA for Malmo. Don’t go putting goalies with less than a season played ahead cuz they shouldn’t even count to begin with for franchise records.

The typical standard is that goodie stats count if they have over 25 starts, I don’t have time to do the math right now. But none the less Sparks has had a good career in Malmo.