Deadpanda: Rookie Experience

[Alex 3,306]

After being drafted 5th overall in the season 96 draft, Deadpanda would return to the VHLM for season 96 following a contract dispute with Moscow, the team that drafted them. In S96 they would go onto have a very solid season but would truly come into their own in the playoffs where they posted a 0.917 SV%, 1.96 GAA, and 2 SO on route to a Founder’s Cup and playoff MVP honours.

 

Coming into season 97 there were a lot of questions surrounding the young goalie, specifically if they would be able to be a difference maker at a higher level of play and if they would be able to keep up with the increased pace of the game. Deadpanda would do just that as they would go onto post a very respectable 0.915 SV% in the regular season, along with a 2.66 GAA, and 6 SO. With that being said their season started out very rocky as they would allow 6 goals in a 7-5 loss to Prague. They would quickly turn things around though, picking up their 1st win in the next game against London as they would post a 0.906 SV% in the 5-3 win.

 

Deapanda’s season would progress fairly average for the first half of the season, they would pick up their first shutout against the DC dragons in their 12th start, and would slowly improve over the course of the season prior to their last 4 starts where they would falter horribly, allowing a bunch of goals and getting pulled twice, not really the momentum going into the playoffs that would be wanted. Deadpanda would finish the regular season with a record of 42-13-9 in 65 games played.

 

In the playoffs, despite their play going into them, Deadpanda would come alive and post what is currently the highest SV% among all goalies with a 0.932 SV% and the 2nd best GAA with a 2.41. Deadpanda would play very well and was arguably one of the top players of the playoffs, which could surely be a point of argument in their upcoming contract negotiations as they are eligible for an extension following the conclusion of the finals.

 

All-in-all, Deadpanda had an impressive rookie season and could surely be in the conversation for top rookie honours and should just about be a lock for the all-rookie team, which was their goal for this season. Deadpanda is currently looking forward to some much-needed rest this offseason, and plans to enjoy the sun in the Caribbean.