There Can Only Be One

[Knight 1,270]

There Can Only Be One

Rookies Who Achieved Point per Game in the Past Five Seasons

 

It's not easy being a rookie in today's VHL. Gone are the days where rookies could step into lineups and challenge for a scoring title. The growth of the VHL has made it ever so competitive and the result is that rookies aren't as productive or useful as they use to be. In fact, it also takes longer to get to the VHL now in addition to the struggle to produce in the first season. Given this context, an interesting trend has developed in the VHL over the past five seasons. In each of the last five seasons, S95 included, only one rookie per season has been at or over a point per game. Now, we acknowledge this is a crude assessment of productivity given defenseman are much less likely to reach this milestone, but it is the mark of every great player to have as many seasons as possible be at or over a point per game. 

 

Moscow Menace, fresh off winning the S94 Continental Cup, were able to support the loss of key players through trades and retirements with 1st overall selection Maverick Goncalves (and 2nd overall pick Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877 for good measure who is authoring a fantastic rookie season as well, but doesn't fit the criteria for this discussion). Naturally a lot of pressure comes with being the first overall pick in the draft, but they added pressure of having to produce right off the bat for a championship contender is something few first overall picks will ever have to handle. Goncalves has not shied away from the weight of expectations and is currently the only rookie to be on pace for a point per game this season. 

 

What's unusual about Goncalves' rookie season is that he arguably has the best group of talent surrounding him out of any of the other rookies mentioned who were able to achieve the point per game milestone. Grimgor Ironhide posted an impressive +31 with Helsinki and Antonia Bucatini scored a ridiculous 93 points last season (albeit following the rule changes which made scoring increase), but what Goncalves is doing is arguably more impressive. He's a stunning +44 in 51 games having spent most of his season on a line with Jarmo Rutuu @jRuutu and David Rashford, both of whom have seen a drastic increase in production. It should not be understated the effect that Goncalves has had on what is likely the best line in the league. Even though, rather strangely to some, General Manager and Coach @Spartan  has taken Goncalves off the first line, Maverick is still poised to be the only rookie who surpasses the threshold - doing so in a stunningly efficient manner.

 

There are a couple of challengers that could change this trend if they finish the season strongly. 20th overall pick Wally Lose @youloser1337 and 36th overall pick (in S89) Med @Med have 47 and 45 points respectively, but are also -20 and -29 respectively. While it's easier to produce on a team lacking strong players given the increase opportunity, Lose and Med have performed very well to date given their circumstances. Do they have the firepower to outpace Goncalves the rest of the season and finish above him in the rookie points race? Does Goncalves have the momentum to fend them off? The next 20ish games in the VHL should be interesting to see as it pertains to this race. And, ultimately, will the trend continue of only one rookie being at or over a point per game?

 

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(S90) Axle Gunner @Steve

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
91 (MOS)	72	32	41	73	-21	388	90	136	37	3	6	1

 

(S91) Grimgor Ironhide @FrostBeard

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
92 (HSK)	72	37	45	82	31	302	108	192	16	9	8	0

 

(S91) Theo Allard @InstantRockstar

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
93 (DCD)	72	28	50	78	-3	336	61	81	29	1	4	0

 

(S93) Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
94 (DAV)	72	31	62	93	8	426	52	111	27	4	4	1

 

(S94) Maverick Goncalves @leandrofg

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
95 (MOS)	51	27	26	53	44	276	70	190	9	6	3	2

Edited September 2 by Knight