Cheese-Based Premonitions

[jacobcarson877 2,632]

Guess who actually got around to making some reasonably decent decisions about Super Coach and Predictions this season? This guy right here! I don’t want to spill all of my secrets, which are generally pretty decent when I actually try, but I do want to give some predictions I do have about this season, and how I think I did with my VHFL picks, my predictions, and maybe a couple of sleeper Super Coach picks in my opinion.

 

Guntis Gavrilovs Might Have a Shot at the Trifecta of Defenseman Trophies

Missing out to now teammate CGY Janser @Daniel Janser last time around, Gavrilovs @Girts may get to cash in on the signature New York Trap Game and pick up the Jake Wylde Trophy. And I feel as though despite not putting up a ton of assists in my vision of this season, I feel as though this may be another example of winner by goals, on top of a fantastic defensive game.

 

Maverick Goncalves is a Head Above Everybody Else

While the young phenom is off the leaderboard as of right now, I fully expect Maverick @leandrofg to lead the race by upwards of 10-15 points by the end of the season. With the perfect balance of league-best talent and strategic depth placement, Mav looks set to be maxed out, in a season with such turnover in old-guard awards nomination lock-ins.

 

Chicago’s Forward Group is a Disproportionate Source of Fantasy Magic

This must be one of the most interesting lineups I have ever seen. A just-as-likely-as-anyone-else-to-be-the-best goaltender, a genuine top-fantasy-potential forward, and an odd collection of pretty well-built depth players, there will be a hugely increased number of shot blocks, and someone will have to be picking up points as long as Schwarzer @Velevra is around. Treat these forwards as if they were defensemen scoring forward points, so long as the roster remains untouched. Every game this group plays together is a payoff on someone’s bets!

 

The Rookie Race is London’s to Lose

After a well-executed re-asseting of the London United, it’s time for some of those assets to make their way through the ranks. Most of the roster is less than 4 seasons into their careers, but between Bolivar @SMYLS4 and Carti @v.2, one of those two will have to be picking up a lot of pointage for the United, in an otherwise pretty underwhelming rookie class.

The NA Conference is going to be Bone-Crushing

While the EU is (almost) all skill, speed, and scoring, the NA division is gritty, gruesome, and gladiatorial. Toby Kadachi @ROOKIE745 should have a decent run at two-way forward assuming they can outscore their close competition, and on defense, there should be massive physical affairs from the likes of Boris Bone-Breaker @RileyL, Callum Gary Yannick Janser, and Guntis Gavrilovs. Look for Martin Kemp @leafsman, Erik Thorvaldsson @Tetricide, Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage, Grimgore Ironhide @Grape, Matteo Stefano @mmrs617, and defenders Pan Daffleck @OrbitingDeath and Tommy Sleeves @dasboot, to try to even out the beating.

 

The Real Race is 3rd through 6th

Based on what I can see, regardless of current standings, is there should be very few ways Moscow and Helsinki don’t win their divisions and the top 2 spots in the EU. On the other side, Toronto and Calgary should have pretty easy paths in their own divisions. But, while we have some of the most egregious tanks in my VHL lifetime this season, we also have some pretty interesting depth races. Davos may have a harder road out of the wildcard than they may expect. Riga, and even teams like London and Prague certainly have a shot at taking up some of those spots. In North America, Vancouver, New York, Seattle, and perhaps a sneaky Dragons team will be throwing down for the final spots. I could definitely see a very talented team having a bad stretch and missing to a much scrappier team, perhaps one that could even go on to win a Continental Cup!

 

Basically, a Goalie is a Goalie

This is probably a freezing cold take at this point, but a goalie is probably a goalie this season. Awards will probably feature some of the same names as usual, but the gap between 1 and 16 is getting smaller and smaller. The regular season is long, and averages all kind of squish together. The playoffs are a different beast though, so look for some of those top TPA goaltenders to show their worth then.

 

An EU Top 4?

With how tight the NA race is, there will be lots of teams losing points to their close competition. And with EU having the more aggressive of the tanks, expect some more certain points being awarded to the top teams. I definitely see a decent potential for a MOS, HSK, RIG, DAV top 4, with TOR right in the mix there.

Extra Shutouts on the Radar

With a distinct drop in player counts this season, there is definitely a possibility that we may see less goalful efforts from a few more teams this season. There is also an over-abundance of goaltenders, and an underabundance of strong depth. If the stars aren’t scoring, I’m not sure who will be. I’m not sure whether we’ll get to Clegane’s 22, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see like 15-18 shoutouts from any goaltender on a top team.

 

VHFL Review

 

As for my VHFL, I think I have a pretty decent shot. @minman almost definitely has the top spot locked in, but as long as Vidarsson @KaleebtheMighty and Dassler @BOOM pull their weight, I should be able to hold off the likes of @Dabnad and @scoop. In my opinion @tcookie missed on one too many picks (which may be exactly one), and @Lemorse7 probably loses to homerism, but it should be an incredibly decent group, which I never like, because I love my TPE! I kept getting my picks nabbed really close to my picks, or having to 50/50 one player over another and seeing the other one immediately getting picked. I also broke the number one rule, which is to never pick yourself, since that’s one less person you can yell at to do better.

 

[SMYLS4 191]

Damn Underwhelming rookie class.

[BOOM 9,033]

Dassler never fails to disappoint, but thanks for the misguided faith in my scrubby German. Best of luck to you.