In With a Bang, Out With a Whimper

[Grape 813]

Seems like there has been an uptick in quitting posts as of late. Much to the misfortune of some, this is not one of those posts, moreso just a reflection of the past, I guess two years or so. In real life, there have been some massive changes for myself. Going back to my last reflection type post for the end of Vladovechsenkchushkin’s career, I was recently served a major gutpunch, being kicked off of on-campus housing and sprung into a desperate search for a place to live. That was the first time I felt truly lost, and I was close to just giving up entirely, packing up and heading home. In my entire fraternity, I had the support of literally 3 people, and that was just enough for me to tough it out. The VHL also allowed me to have some sort of escape from the real life stressors, as well as some control during an uncontrollable time. Fast forward now, and I made Dean’s list for my last two semesters, graduated on-time, and moved 1000 miles from home to begin life anew and have been working for a little over 6 months now, with complete control over my life. With player careers, it feels like I always start on either a high or a low, and finish on the opposite end, so I guess we’ll see where my new create takes me. But, enough about personal life stuff, it’s time to wrap this into the VHL.

Ottawa
I became the GM for the Ottawa Lynx on November 7th, 2022, over 2 years ago. I came in at kind of an interesting time. @Moon took over for a brief stint due to some volatile action and I became the Halifax AGM for two days before the draft. Immediately after the draft, Moon was promoted to GM of the Toronto Legion and I was made the GM of Ottawa. In my first season, I made a savvy deadline move for a capped defenseman and created an identify of defense-first, which would fair well in the playoffs, matching up against @badcolethetitan‘s offense-first team, eventually coming out with the Lynx on top and me earning a championship ring in my first season. Since then, it’s been somewhat up-and-down. Despite me being a large proponent against the boom-and-bust cycle in the M, in practice, it was a lot harder to move away from. I’ve had stints of multiple competitive seasons, but really couldn’t avoid having to tank every now and again. Since my first season, I’ve been to the finals two other times, getting walloped once and put up a decent fight in the other, but both losses. With the deletion of the E and the increased cap for the VHLM, it feels like many GMs are still getting their footing set and adjusting to the changes, myself included. I am doing my damnedest to avoid the boom-and-bust cycle, but now it feels like it’s almost just sitting in mediocrity. Looking at the draft and where I stand, it feels like it will be another okay season, not good but not bad. Obviously anything can happen, as we saw with Vegas, but you don’t want to be sitting there complacent in being mid. You want to be the best. As for communication between GMs this season, it was nonexistent. I have no idea what was going on between anyone, and they likely have no idea about anything I’m doing either. It’s hard to stay invested when you lack the knowledge to do so. Things were extremely quiet this season, and from that, I felt my passion wilt a bit with the M. I was below my standards, and at this point, it’s probably getting to where I’ve been with Ottawa too long. When the Malmo job opened, I was told by a handful of people to go for it, that I had a good chance to get it, that I was ready to make that jump. I really did want to jump in there and get it going at the next level, but I felt like I haven’t finished my job down with Ottawa. I wanted to win with a roster that I made, not one handed to me. So when Ottawa lost, I pulled my name out. Now though, it really is time I move on. When a position opens up, and I feel that it’s the right fit, I have to take it. I want to leave Ottawa on a high note, but things can’t always be perfect, so wherever the Lynx are when the opportunity arises, is where they’ll sit when I move on. For now though, I need to stay focused on making the best roster I can.


Moscow

Bocage is the first player that I have put really any legitimate effort into building up, and even then there was some joking around here and there that sabotaged their development. Coming into the draft class, selected at 12th overall, there really was not much fanfare regarding my player. If I recall, the VSN’s mock draft had me falling out of the first round entirely, and my own teammate, @FTK,who never actually ever made a VHL roster, saw my selection as a reach. Now, I sit 3rd in my draft class in TPE, and 4th active in the league, with a fair few trophies in my cabinet, with at least one more coming my way. With this player being the first ever one that I actually tried with having a good build and earning effectively, having so much success is outstanding. The early days of Moscow were not the best performance-wise, but the engagement in the locker room was great, and when @Spartan drafted Cole, I was honestly having the most fun I’ve had since, probably Season 65-66. Success would roll in and the times were great, but, rather suddenly, things dropped off. Cuts needed to be made, as they always do, and Cole was shipped off to New York. Activity dropped pretty hard, and from what I’ve heard, the grass was not greener on the other side. With Spartan’s savvy moves to continue replenishing Moscow’s roster, I know that my time is likely at an end with the team. Spartan had created an environment that felt the most welcoming and comfortable out of every other locker room that I’ve been in in my over 5 years in the league, and it’s a shame I may not be able to experience it for a long time after this. Bocage had a great season this go-around, and will likely be at least on the leaderboards somewhere next season, but it’s more of a ride off into the sunset, then pushing it one last time. A bittersweet ending. There were hopes that Moscow would achieve greatness more than once, with us having arguably the best roster for multiple seasons, but lightning only struck once, and again, I will likely end up leaving, not on the high note that I wish I could, but on somewhat of a mediocre ending.

(1179 words)

Edited Monday at 02:23 AM by Grape

[badcolethetitan 984]

It's alright, you'll find a way to join me again somehow, fate has it's way!

 

[BOOM 8,947]

Congratulations on the real world stuff  

[Spartan 4,657]