VSN Presents: S94 Future Watch

[Gaikoku-hito 2,098]

 

 

This seems to be something that I am looking at every season now and the big reason is due to the fact that I have always struggled with Rookies when it comes to predictions so what better way to help myself but also help the community by taking an open look at the rookies every season.

 

Last season Vancouver Wolves iced the most rookies with seven and hoped that they would make a huge play-off push but, in the end, fell a bit flat missing the play-offs; ended up trading two of the seven rookies this off season bring in a more veteran line-up. This season HC Davos Dynamo will be the rookie hot spot with four rookies entering their line up but two make the list that I am about to share so let take a look at Rookies entering the new season….

 

 

1.    (S93) C - Antonia Bucatini

 

Let`s call this woman what everyone already knows about her as she is clearly an Italian mare as she enters the season more built like a second year forward with 644TPE. Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica will be a threat to score for HC Davos and will be looking to crack the 40-goal mark for the first time in her young career. I was a bit concerned with Davos only strength around this rookie forward but with Grimgor Ironhide @FrostBeard(S92 Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy) and veteran Sadie St-Louis @sadie beside her likely on the first line. She should be one of the front runners for the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy this season.

 

 

2.     (S93) LW - Gianfranco Del Rocco

 

If Bucatini is a mare than Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor is clearly the Italian stallion. If he was joining any other team, I would have him right at the near the top of the list for rookies that might win the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy, but joining the veteran and defending Champions means he will likely see limited touches on the second unit. Doesn`t mean he won`t score his usually thirty plus goals as he has done the past two season in the VHLE and the VHLM but it might be a bit tougher. Add in the fact that Seattle is also lacking a bit of star power on the back-end could see the Bears struggle to move the puck to the offensive minded forwards. Del Rocco and the Bears will be interesting to watch this season.

 

 

3.     (S92) C - Wayne Gretzky

 

The much-broken Wayne Gretzky @MubbleFubbles finally makes his debut with the New York Americans. The forty – forty man should be in a very similar situation as Del Rocco as New York is looking to be a top team in the North American conference this season so Gretzky will likely find time on the second unit behind Jasper Davis @Josh. He should still be able to produce but maybe not at his former pace in the VHLE and VHLM. A lot of this will also be determined by who New York finds as the sixth forward and the chemistry that he might find with his line mates.

 

 

4.     (S93) D - Lucy Leitner

 

Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher will need to find the devil within if she is going to have a say in the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy at the end of the season due to the fact that she is likely going to be paired with future HOF Skor McFleury @Alex; will I have no doubt that these two will find good chemistry, I suspect that McFleury will be the one racking up the points; if either of them do. Not to mention Riga offense might struggle this season with their forward ranking being towards the bottom of the league. I hope that Leitner proves me wrong and can get back to the point per game pace she had in the VHLM with the Bulls.

 

 

5.    (S90) LW - Jussi Jokinenegg

 

Jussi Jokinenegg @HearnNation67 will try to find his inner Jari Kurri but missing his very own Wayne Gretzky likely means this pass first Finnish player might struggle to find points on the rebuild Prague team. If he can find some chemistry with veteran LeBen Aky @Ben_Reformed than both players might have a career season but with another pass first forward likely on the same line I am concerned about who will finish for the Finnish player!!

 

 

6.     (S93) RW - Annie Oaks

 

Another rookie making their debut for the Vancouver Wolves is Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer as she is the eighth in the past two seasons but she is joining a much different looking team compared to when the other joined. Vancouver has loaded up on veteran players to aid the chances of making the play-off this season and this might see Oaks playing down the roster a bit depending on line combinations but she should have an opportunity to put up huge points regardless of where she lines up in the Vancouver line-up but she struggled in the VHLE last season with the Express so I would expect a bit of the same this season.

 

 

7.     (S93) D - Gul Dukat

 

One man`s villain is another man`s hero and Toronto Legion will hope that this is a case when it comes to Gul Dukat @MSouthworth as the defensive minded Cardassian; not to be mixed up with the kardashian. Don`t expect Dukat to put up significant numbers to be consider for the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy but should be a welcome member of the Legion beside Bobby Bob @Baby Boomer or Walter Fitzroy Jr. @Moon.  Watch for Dukat name in a few season in discussion around the Jake Wylde Trophy if he can add a bit more physical side to his game.

 

 

8.     (S93) D - Benjamin Abenduct

 

Moscow Menace will hope that Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee doesn`t abdicate his defensive responsibilities in chasing the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy as another defense first defender makes the list. Surprisingly Abenduct has had success in the VHLM and the VHLE with at least a point per game player; could he be the surprise player that we almost always see come out of nowhere to have their name at least mentioned in the ROY conversation? Abenduct should have plenty of chances this season to put up points playing along side either Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage @Grape or Leif Reingaard @Zetterberg on what should be a contending team this season.

 

 

9.    (S93) LW - Forum Content

 

The second of the four rookies from Davos Dynamo and last mentioned in this article is a player that should generate a ton of content in Forum Content @frescoelmo. While I expect Content to struggle this season as they head up what is likely the second line in Davos this season; if they find chemistry with other members of the team, they might just surprise a few as they look to regain the form that they had in the VHLM when they paced themselves to 105pts season. While 100pts might be out of reach; a 50pts season would be more than impressive and generate even more interest in Forum Content.

 

 

10. (S93) LW – UghSike

 

Chicago Phoenix will hope that this offensive player won`t sike you out!! Ugh! I cannot believe that I used that!!  If UghSike @UghSike can find chemistry with veteran Francesco Mancini @GioSivo or raising star Joshua Schwarzer @Velevra than I expect this player might be in the conversation for Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy by season end, not to mention maybe even pushing Chicago higher up the standing and into play-offs. He is my long shot for the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy and will be worth really watching as the season progresses.

 

 

So that is a look at the ten of the nineteen rookies that will make their debuts in hopefully a few days when the VHL season starts so did this help you with your predictions and who do you think will win the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy?

 

Either way comment below and let me know what you think of this season rookie class….

Edited May 27 by Gaikoku-hito

[dlamb 1,326]

5 Oslo Storm Alumni??? Good luck lads.

 

[Noodle Enjoyer 201]

maybe I'm wrong but I've seen so many articles regarding Antonia Bucatini as a "He" but I'm pretty sure it's a female player guess you'd have to ask @CowboyinAmericato be absolutely certain.

[Gaikoku-hito 2,098]

16 minutes ago, Noodle Enjoyer said:

maybe I'm wrong but I've seen so many articles regarding Antonia Bucatini as a "He" but I'm pretty sure it's a female player guess you'd have to ask @CowboyinAmericato be absolutely certain.

Don`t know what you are talking about!!

[mattyIceman 1,217]

Nice article.  Nice banners too

[CowboyinAmerica 2,902]

10 hours ago, Noodle Enjoyer said:

maybe I'm wrong but I've seen so many articles regarding Antonia Bucatini as a "He" but I'm pretty sure it's a female player guess you'd have to ask @CowboyinAmericato be absolutely certain.

 

'tis correct, I'm he/him but Bucatini is she/her.

 

Thanks for the props! I'm hoping that I'll be able to come through, really just want to play up to the standard of Grimgor and Sadie and not be the weak link