Lattimer and VHLM

[pugsood 97]

Hi,

 

So I will be the first to admit that I didn't even really remember what the hell VHLM was until my general manager reminded me. what it even stood for, haha. But as I reflect on my career, I think the VHLM was a really intriguing and successful part of Steve Lattimer's career. It's obviously where I cut my teeth as a player, and got a flavor for the league, the system, the player management tools, and getting to know some of the GMs who engaged with me. It really set the tone for what membership in this community looked like. 

 

I've been really impressed with the career arc that players can go on starting with the VHLM. This is my first player so I'd be eyes wide open the next time around, but it's cool to think that you can have an outsized impact at an early 'age' by playing in a league like this and showcase your abilities to the rest of the community. It feels way more organized and interactive than the SBDL (the basketball league I used to be a part of). My team if I recall was Mississauga, which very much feels like a town that would have a minor league hockey team. This is where I started to even see how Lattimer was doing.

 

I think for new players like me, it would be cool to have a 'player roadmap' that shows when you're supposed to graduate into different leagues or competitions or things along those lines. Based on how you earn and what not, where you think your player could go, how they get drafted, and what not. I think it's really cool how the content is laid out on the website even if I don't spend much time there.

 

Maybe the main difference between my experience with VHLM and SBDL is that I never felt like VHLM was 'empty' - when I was in SBA, it always felt like SBDL was certainly a redheaded stepchild to SBA, and that it was more of a necessary evil than it was a core part of the player career and experience. Here, it seems like VHLM is really important and also active, but maybe that's sheer ignorance on my part.

 

I do think that having multiple players should be allowable and would make the minor leagues even cooler for people like myself who don't want to wait many, many months to see how my first player did and does and to build new players. I know it introduces a lot of potential complexities but if we need more players in the league, this is obviously a decent place to start. 

 

I still think spot lottery TPE bonuses would be fun and, like how the MLB basically uses the minor leagues as testing grounds, maybe there are ways for the minor league to be a true incubator for potential changes at the major league level.

 

Hopefully some of that makes sense! Thanks guys. We'll see if I create a new player that enters the VHLM!