VSN Presents: S95 VHLE Power Rankings - Trade Deadline Edition

[Baby Boomer 753]

@Ricer13

Welcome everyone,

 

A couple of days ago, we passed the 36 games mark in the regular season, so we are now officially in the second half of the season. In this article, we are going to look at each team and see where they are at right before the trade deadline. Are they buyers? Are they sellers?

 

#1 Bratislava Watchmen 

 

Offense rank: 1^st (203 GF)

Defense rank: T-3^rd (142 GA)

 

The incredible start to the season of the Bratislava Watchmen, with a record of 11-1-1 in their first 13 games, gave them the first place in the standings at the beginning of the season and they never lost that place. Even if the team is struggling a little bit defensively, the Watchmen are compensating offensively as they are without a doubt the best team in this category as they have six players with over a point per game and five are in the top ten of the league in scoring. Ocean Codoller (77p) @FreshOceanCod, Dorji Khan (70p) @Oddpurplefly, Steve French (70p) @Seabass, Filip Zinek (59p) @FiZi and Robin Sierra (59p) @ethanjaeda.

 

Situation: Buyer

Position to improve: Defense

 

 

#2 Cologne Express 

 

Offense rank: 6^th (145 GF)

Defense rank: 1^st (111 GA)

 

Just as we expected, the Cologne Express are once again doing really good and are currently second in the standings with a record of 32 wins, 14 losses and 2 losses in overtime for a total of 66 points in 48 games. It is only one point behind the Bratislava Watchmen. The Express are completly the opposite of the Watchmen as they are struggling offensively, but are the best team in the league defensively thanks to Joseph Dubois @Dubois, Scrungle Bungle @Novanod and all the other defensemen. Jon Webber III @Webberj is also doing an incredible job in the net as he leads the league in GAA with 1,81.

 

Situation: Buyer

Position to improve: Offense

 

 

#3 Oslo Storm 

 

Offense rank: 3^rd (157 GF)

Defense rank: 2^nd (140 GA)

 

Again, just like we predicted at the beginning of the season, the Oslo Storm are doing pretty good and currently sit third in the standings. The Storm are a little mix of the Watchmen and the Express as they are doing good offensively and good defensively. Indeed, four players are point per game and one is in the top ten of the league, Ashoka Tano (70p) @Aimee , who is also leading the defensemen in points. They can also count on Boris Bone-Breaker @RileyL and Toby Cook @KRZY who are both in the top ten of the league for the number of shots blocked and the number of hits. Finally, they also have a pretty good goalie with Spider Panda @Ricer13 who is leading the league with a save percentage of 0.948%

 

Situation: Buyer

Position to improve: Depth Forwards and Defensemen

 

 

#4 Stockholm Vikings 

 

Offense rank: 4^th (156 GF)

Defense rank: T-3^rd (142 GA)

 

The next two teams are pretty much at the same place right now and are going to fight for the last available playoffs spot. Indeed, the Stockholm Vikings currently have a record of 23 wins, 20 losses and 5 overtime losses for a total of 51 points in 58 games, which is only one more point than the Vasteras Iron Eagles. The situation of both teams will depend of the point of view of their respective GM as they could decide to sell and be competitive next season or to buy and hope to cause a surprise in the playoffs this season. For the Stockholm Vikings, they already have Samsayz I-Smell @CaptainSB and WWumbo @Fire Tortorella who are the leaders of the team in defense, so if they decide to make a push, they should try to improve their depth forward a little bit.

 

Situation: Buyer/Seller

Position to improve: Depth Forwards

 

 

#5 Vasteras Iron Eagles 

 

Offense rank: 2^nd(158 GF)

Defense rank: 5^th (151 GA)

 

For the Vasteras Iron Eagles, they don't have any problem scoring goals, thanks to Nikita Yolishev @Joel Main and Taylor Swift @lilchrist, but they could use some help in their own zone. Indeed, the team is the second worst team in terms of goals against with 151. So, if they decide to compete this year, they should try to improve their defense.

 

Situation: Buyer/Seller

Position to improve: Defense

 

 

#6 Rome Gladiators 

 

Offense rank: 5^th (148 GF)

Defense rank: 6^th (281 GA)

 

The Rome Gladiators are exactly where they were supposed be and it is pretty obvious that the team will try to sell at the trade deadline. However, we can see a lot of good things from this team. Indeed, both Ray Stanton @horoscope and French Fries @solyom are in the top ten of the league in scoring. I would also like to congratulate @jacobcarson877 who took the team mid-season and is trying to turn things around in Rome!

 

Situation: Seller

Position to improve: Offense/Defense/Goalie

 

That’s all for me, thanks everyone for reading, I wish you all a good end of the season and see you in another VSN article!