The Line - Twenty One Pilots

[Spartan 4,421]

 

Gorgeous song, if you've seen Arcane, the scene its used in is so good too. Check it out if you haven't yet!

 

Kazuma Satou and Halifax's season is over, knocked out by Ottawa in game 7 of round 1 in the M playoffs. I spoke about it a bit on @SMYLS4 and @flyersfan345's podcast (which you should check out here) but I didn't go into this season with the expectation that Halifax would be a contending team in the playoffs due to the roster composition and youth of the team. While some of the E reintroduced players had solid impact, I figured I'd be thrust into a significant role as a waiver player which meant that chances of making the playoffs were slim. However, under fantastic leadership by @LucyXpher, Halifax defied the odds and made the playoffs while hanging in there against "better" opponents all season long. It'll be disappointing to not be able to return to Halifax due to Satou currently being ranked #1 in the M draft and HFX not owning a first round pick, but I'm sure they'll position themselves well regardless.

 

Speaking about drafts, Satou will be heading into both the S97 VHLM Dispersal Draft and the S97 VHL Entry Draft. So far, there hasn't been any discussion with M teams and just interest from 1 VHL team, so I'm hoping it'll be an exciting few weeks ahead as we lead up to the drafts. I do have some hopes in mind for the VHL team that drafts me and some thoughts on how I want my career to play out, but I won't expect VHL GMs to be reading these articles to get their information. I still hope anyone who wants to draft me will speak to me beforehand though. Since I expect to go to a rebuilding team, I think my contract requests should be pretty feasible, but I also have been flitting with the idea of an early career position swap to forward since defense is so saturated in this class. Getting some bonuses and higher salaries early in my career would definitely help make that possible if the VHL team is also interested in that avenue.

 

Lastly, it might be a bit unconventional, but I do hope to have some input or sway in the direction and moves of the team that drafts me. Despite being a rival GM, I'd like to enjoy most of my career with the team that drafts me this go around while keeping my GM side separate. From past experiences, there are times where moves aren't made or are too slow to be made that leads to a split. I've also traded myself away plenty of times from Moscow to better position the team and safeguard other players from being traded. This time, I'm willing to stick around for as long as the team wants me, but I would like to be involved in decision making to best position myself and the team for success. I think it can definitely be done, and I have offered advice in informal capacities to teams I've been on in the past. I'd just like to be definitively involved in management decisions or at least be consulted. Maybe it's too bold or brash, maybe GMs during the draft scouting process will tell me its absurd to request. If so, I'd drop the ask and just go along for the ride. I'd just love to help make another franchise as successful as Moscow's been without switching the team I GM.