North America and the Legion's Future

[der meister 3,298]

If the first week of the season is any indication, the VHL's North American Conference is going to be an absolute dogfight. The top five teams are separated by 5 points in the standings, and the top six teams are all sporting a positive goal differential at the time of this article.

 

1 - Vancouver Wolves - 12-2-2
The current leader in North America, and the VHL at large, is Vancouver. With a +22 goal differential and a sterling record, they have to be considered one of the early favorites to win it all this season. Lead by center Pierre Marc Bouchard, who has 25 points in 16 games, the Wolves are a force to be reckoned with. Their 0.813 points percentage is tops in the VHL.

 

2 - Chicago Phoenix - 11-3-2
Despite this team's geographic identity crisis, they're having a very successful start to the season. A +17 goal differential is the third best in the VHL [behind Moscow and Vancouver], and they have four skaters at or above a point per game pace.

 

3 - Seattle Bears - 11-5-1
Seattle has played one more game than the teams above them, which obviously helps explain why they have the most goals scored of any North American team. Left winger Forum Content has 13 goals in 17 games, which puts him one behind the league leaders in that category, and ties him for the league lead in total points. The Bears, however, rank 5th in North America in points percentage, with a 0.676.

 

4 - Calgary Wranglers - 9-3-4
These blue jean-wearing sons of bitches are sporting a +10 goal differential, with left winger Adi Dassler and center Raimo Tuominen leading the charge with 21 points apiece. In total, they have five skaters with a point per game pace or better.

 

5 - Toronto Legion - 10-4-1
Trailing Calgary due to loser points but with a game in hand on everyone above them in the standings, and two games on Seattle, the Legion have the third best points percentage with 0.700. Their offensive output is comparable to the teams above them, save Seattle, and defensively they've allowed the third most. If Toronto wants to keep climbing the standings, the blue line appears to be the obvious place to start. The Legion have four players at a point per game or better, led by center Diego Machado's 22 in 15 games played.

 

 

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And that brings me to my own player, winger Konstyantyn Shevchenko. After a very, very slow start that say him go goalless for his first 50-plus shots on goal, he's now up to 5 goals in 15 games and a 6.67% shooting percentage. I expect a lot more from him, but even with that drought, he has 11 points in 15 games, with most of them coming in the past 6. Shev, as he is affectionately known, is heating up offensively, and he leads all forwards on the team in blocked shots with 11. Still, for a player who had 35 goals and 74 points last season in Washington, D.C., the massive Ukrainian will need to pick up the pace if he wants to eclipse his personal bests.

 

Perhaps ominously for the Legion's future, their current top scorers are Diego Machado and Harry Callahan, both of whom are retiring at the end of the season. The Legion might have the depth on the wings to make up for the loss of Callahan, especially with promising winger Inker Belle developing in Halifax, but the loss of Machado is going to be a tough one to fill. Add in the fact that second line center Mikko Borisyuk is ALSO retiring, and the Legion suddenly have a massive hole up the middle of the ice to worry about next season. Time will tell if General Manager Doug Stevenson, Jr. decides to go all-in to try to bring a Cup to the hockey capitol of the world, but it does seem like now might be the time to strike. 

 

Random gif for eye candy

[Oddpurplefly 178]

Dorji Khan will be working on Faceoffs to fill the hole if needed at center next season