Stockholm Syndrome: Lazlo Holmes and the VHLE

[Gustav 6,436]

"Stockholm Vikings" may well be the Swedish equivalent of "Dallas Cowboys," but it's just the right amount of on-the-nose for an out-of-towner to get the point. Lazlo Holmes, of course, is living it up in Sweden.

 

Given his agency's years-running opposition to the very existence of the VHLE, one might think that Holmes would have been under heavy pressure to skip it. Art Vandelay, the last player fed through the system, didn't even consider playing for an E team and instead chose the ultra-high depreciation hit for a hopeless first season on a gutted Stars roster. While his all-time great win total (currently the highest out of any player not in the Hall of Fame) might not have been possible, Vandelay still has 37 losses on his record that never would have occurred with an E season and experienced the effects of late-career depreciation much more harshly than most other players in the big league.

 

"VHL GMs weren't really interested in the idea of me playing up," said Holmes in a recent press conference. "There weren't many rosters that needed a mid-first-round rookie right away, and the ones that could have used me don't even care about trying to win with me right now. It's a bit stupid that I don't really get a choice, but it's even more stupid that the league has things set up so even if I make a choice, I'll just look dumb for doing it later."

 

In this regard, it sounds like Holmes is in full ideological agreement with his agency's stance on the development league system of the VHL. There could be a bit of resentment, to be sure--he's the lowest-drafted player ever produced by his agency and the first one to not have his ticket punched directly to the big league after the draft. Given the history of the agency in churning out players that stick with their teams long-term and never disappoint in terms of off-ice effort, it's a bit hard not to take this as a slight--especially since there was really nothing to suggest that Holmes wasn't up to the same standard. The agency (and VHL media) did their best to churn out rumors and speculation as to Holmes' draft status, and he'd made waves as the agency's first winner of a championship in taking home the Founders' Cup with Saskatoon last season.

 

This said, Holmes accepts his current role on the Vikings and plans to play his best this season. The defenseman currently has 12 points and 33 blocked shots in 18 games, both respectable totals given his early-career status. 

 

"I'm looking forward to Prague someday," he added. "I suppose by the time I'm there, I'll know a little bit more about Europe."

 

Only time will tell whether Lazlo Holmes becomes a great VHL player. For some, and hopefully for him too, the VHLE is but a speed bump in the McDonald's drive-thru to greatness.