VSN Presents: S97 VHLM Power Ranking - Trade Deadline Edition

[Baby Boomer 772]

Graphic: @LucyXpher

 

Welcome everyone!

 

The trade deadline was pretty boring in the VHL and in the VHLM with only one trade in the big league and not a single trade in the M. The standings are currently very tight and the end of the season will be exciting to follow, but I think that I was expecting more trades from both the contending teams and the ones that are realistically not good enough to make a real push in the playoffs. I guess that each GM has their strategies and reasons, but I still find it a little weird. 

 

#1 Halifax 21st 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 5th

 

I knew at the beginning of the season that Halifax's offense was good, but I could not have known that it would be this good. The Halifax 21st are leading the league with 201 goals in 61 games this season-- for comparison, the team with the second most goals is the Miami Marauders (167). The 21st can thank Pelayo Bolivar @SMYLS4, Ty Duke @TheDukeand Inker Belle @WildfireMicro for their offensive contributions as they are currently 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the league with 88, 87 and 82 points respectively.

 

#2 Miami Marauders 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 2nd

 

Just like I predicted, the Miami Marauders are currently 2nd in the league and in most other categories. They are 2nd in points, 2nd in wins, 2nd in goals scored and 2nd in goal differential, but they are 3rd in goals against. They are currently doing very well offensively as they have four players in the top 10 in points-- Jacob Longstreet @Dynamicmlb_42 with 79 points, Armas Jortikka @Kavadar with 72, Elf shoes @ELF_SH0ES with 67 and Filip Zinek @FiZi with 62. On the defensive side, Dog Jagr @koty_k is 3rd in the league with 205 hits.

 

#3 Houston Bulls 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 3rd

 

Once again, my prediction was good, the Houston Bulls are currently 3rd in the league. In opposition to the Miami Marauders, Houston's offense is led by one man, Cash Carti @v.2 , who is leading the team in goals (37), points (69) and game winning goals (9). Alex LeBlanc @Psanchez55 is also 2nd among defenseman in points with 51, and is 9th in the league with 39 assists. Defensively, Jack Jack @Uncommon has 91 shots blocked and is 9th in the league in this category.

 

#4 San Diego Marlins 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 1st

 

At the beginning of the season, I thought that the San Diego Marlins were going to finish the regular season 1st in the standings, however, the Marlins are currently 4th in the league-- 12 points behind the Halifax 21st. The San Diego Marlins have a couple of really promising young players and will definitely be competitive next season. San Diego has one of the best goalies in the league right now in Ricky LaFleur @DarkSpyro, who is rocking a save percentage of 0.919, and is leading the league in shutouts with 15 and with a goals against average of 1.57.

 

#5 Ottawa Lynx 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 6th

 

My prediction about Ottawa's place in the standing was pretty good, but what was even better was my prediction about Ottawa's goalies. I ranked them 1st in the league before the start to the season and they are exactly there now. Indeed, Vladimir Trunov @qripll and Dr Victor von Doom @Garsh are 1st and 2nd in the league in save percentage with 0.927 and 0.926 respectively. They also have a goals against average of 1.98 and 1.85. On offense, Joel Jakobs @Plate is leading the team in goals (35) and points (67).

 

#6 Las Vegas Aces 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 4th

 

On paper, the Las Vegas Aces have one of the best defenses in the league and they have showed it on the ice since the beginning of the season. The real problem of Las Vegas, however, is their offense. They are the worst team in the league offensively with only 102 goals. Their four best scorers are all defensemen: Albin Aldgard (42) @animal74, Kazouma Satou (37) @Spartan , Mathias Gunnarsson (37) @ThatCanadian and Manuel Ceson (34) @dylanjj37. 

 

#7 Mexico City Kings 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 9th

 

The Mexico City Kings are a team that is really surprising me as they are currently in a playoff spot coming out of the trade deadline, even though I did not think they would make the playoffs. Indeed, their forward core is really young but is punching above their weight as Old Man On Skates @Jason 2.0 and Spallsy McDavid @Lochlan Chisholm respectively have 58 and 54 points. In the net, Pepe Silvia @STZ is finding his way as well as he is now 3rd in the league with a save percentage of 0.920.

 

#8 Saskatoon Wild 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 8th

 

As expected, the Saskatoon Wild are still in the rebuilding phase, but they currently hold the last playoff spot. Led by their forwards Captain Nugget Jr @Captain nugget and CJ Daniels @xNJDevilsFanx, the Wild are currently doing well enough to stay in the hunt and could potentially give teams some trouble in the home stretch of the season. In the net, rookie Toby Bob @Baby Boomer is doing well in his first season as he is now 6th in the league with a save percentage of 0.918.

 

#9 Philadelphia Reapers 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 10th

 

The Philadelphia Reapers are doing a little bit better than I expected in my early season predictions as they are currently 9th in the standings with a record of 20 wins, 36 losses, and 4 losses in overtime for a total of 44 points in 60 games. Offensively, Jacob Seed @oilmandan is leading the team with 17 goals, 43 assists, for 60 points in 60 games so far in Season 97.

 

#10 Mississauga Hounds 

Prediction at the beginning of the season : 7th

 

The Mississauga Hounds are the team that is underperforming most based on my earlier predictions. Indeed, I thought that the Hounds were going to at least be in a playoff position at this stage of the season, but after winning the Founder's Cup last season and losing a lot of key players, the Hounds are going to be in a rebuild, more than likely for multiple seasons. 

 

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

Edited yesterday at 06:28 AM by LucyXpher

[WildfireMicro 427]

Halifax stronk

[SMYLS4 135]

I knew right from the beginning 

That we would end up winning 

I knew right from the start

We’d put an arrow through your heart

Well, round and round

Well, Halifax will find a way, just give it time

Round and Round

[Grape 767]

The scariest thing about Halifax is, when you look at the TPE of their current roster, a large chunk of those guys are gonna still be there next season and be even better. The only real question mark will be goalie, as Chad Powers may be called up