DC Dragons Draft Class Review

[der meister 3,248]

The Draft floor...truly a sight to behold

 

 

    The Season 96 VHL Entry Draft is officially in the books, and the D.C. Dragons have to be ecstatic with the way the draft board fell last night. Falling one spot in the Draft Lottery from 2 to 3, the Dragons were still able to select center Brandon Petan Jr, a 5'11", 178 pounder from Canada. Petan, who just wrapped up an impressive season with Ottawa of the VHLM scoring 39 goals and 79 points in 72 games, has VHL-ready skills, though it remains to be seen whether he makes the jump or stays for another stint in the VHLM. 

 

    Petan's biggest strength is, ironically, strength. For an average-sized player, Petan is already one of the strongest, if not the single strongest, player in the draft class, and impressed in a big way during the scouting combine. Along with muscle, Petan is a talented skater with good foundational edgework, and has a solid - if unspectacular - shot. Perhaps the best news for D.C., though, is Petan's commitment to the defensive half of the ice, as evidenced by 38 blocked shots and 157 hits last season in Ottawa.

    

    In the second round, the Dragons were able to snag a player whose name I don't even want to type because it's not a name, so we'll call him YNF Retiring. For the purposes of my internal monologue, I pronounce it "Yinff". YNF had a monster season with Philadelphia in the VHLM last season, scoring 58 goals and adding 58 assists for 116 points. Along with that, he had an obscene 502 shots on goal, as well as 155 hits and 43 blocked shots. Suffice it to say the 6'3" winger was an impact player everywhere on the ice.

    

    YNF's best individual skill is his shot, which is comparable to Petan's. In terms of personal development, YNF is definitely lagging behind Petan, despite the better individual numbers, and was less impressive at the combine. Still, scouts had him rated as a first round talent, and he seems primed to pop off in a big way and has a lot of raw potential [narratively explaining the unspent 107 TPE sitting in banked].

    

    With the very next pick, the third in the second round, D.C. added Wefernando Mackingikus, another 6'3" winger who also played with Philadelphia last season. Where YNF had 116 points, however, Mackingikus only had 35 points in 24 games for the Reapers, after coming over from the Mississauga Hounds. Between the two squads, he finished the year with 93 points in 72 games. In the very physical VHLM, he also racked up 149 hits.

    

    Skill-wise, he's an all-around offensive player who definitely needs more seasoning before he can make an impact at the VHL level. When attacking, he's just as likely to make a slick pass as he is to take a shot on goal. As a side note, I keep adding letters to his first name and read it as Werefernando, as if he was a normal man who was bit by an infected Fernando and transforms during a full moon.

    

    Next up for the Dragons was 5'5" defender Manuel Ceson, who is a very steady stay at home defender. With very good body positioning, Ceson played a safe game for Las Vegas last season and is viewed as more of a long-term project, but one who could surprise and carve out a solid career for himself in the long-term.

    

    Rounding out the Dragons' draft were two true wild cards, Steven Nichols and Andreas Andreasen. Nichols has been making relatively slow developmental progress but did register just a hair below a point-per-game season with the VHLM's Halifax franchise last season. As for Double-A Andreas Andreasen, he is a massive 6'6", 225 pound center. Playing for Miami last season, he registered 40 points in 72 games and almost as many hits as shots, with 173 and 211 respectively. Neither of these players are particularly close to being impactful at the VHL level, but as late-round picks, either one of them has the potential to surprise.

 

@sadie @twists @Rjdixon01 @SlyDigi @dylanjj37 @vincentlg2007

 

 

[twists 414]

I just haven’t assigned my TPE yet damnnn. I figured there no rush until the season starts

[der meister 3,248]

58 minutes ago, twists said:

I just haven’t assigned my TPE yet damnnn. I figured there no rush until the season starts

 

Definitely no rush except for this article

 

Welcome to DC, dude

[sadie 945]

dc gonna be scary soon

[SlyDigi 20]

Pleasure to be part of the team!