Redrafting the Past - Season 62

[Advantage 2,991]

REDRAFTING THE PAST - SEASON 62  

 

The draft is where dynasties are built and that’s why I wanted to look back at the draft classes of the past and see where these players would fall in a redraft.  To make it clear, I did not consider team needs at the time or if the player was a GM’s player.  I purely look at this as who were the best players in a draft class.  I will also be looking at the draft classes from Season 62 to present as I personally find it easier to work under the current convenience of the portal, at least to help myself not get burnt out on this idea (see every other series I have ever done). Finally, the number of picks in the draft will be determined by the number of picks in the actual draft, and with this being just the first round, this first article will feature the best eight players in my opinion. So let’s kick it off with the Season 62 class, which was frankly unspectacular, but not without it’s few elite talents either.

 

1 – MAXIM KOVALCHUK – D/LW (RIGA) @Banackock

Original Pick - 2nd Overall (SEA)
RS: 576 GP | 196 G | 413 A | 609 P | 1205 HITS | 774 SB
PO: 67 GP | 23 G | 45 A | 68 P | 98 HITS | 93 SB
INT: 58 GP | 9 G | 40 A | 49 P | 112 HITS | 100 SB

 

Awards

Hall of Fame Inductee (S70)
2x Continental Cup (League Championship) - S68, S69
2x Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) - S64, S65
1x Sterling Labatte Trophy (Top Defenseman) - S65
1x Alexander Valiq Trophy (Top Offensive Defenseman) - S62
2x Jake Wylde Trophy (Top Defensive Defenseman) - S64, S65
1x Alexander Beketov Trophy (VHL Assists Leader) - S65

 

Statistical Accomplishments

5x 25+ Goals Scorer (S62, S63, S66, S67, S68)
1x 100+ Points Scorer (S62)
3x 85+ Points Scorer (S62, S65, S66)
3x 200+ Hits (S65, S66, S67)

 

Obviously ignoring Maxim Kovalchuk’s agency’s hardcore allegiance to the Seattle Bears’ franchise, there is little doubt who the best player to come out of this draft class is.  Kovalchuk is the only player in this draft class to be inducted into the VHL Hall of Fame and he won five individual awards including the Sterling Labatte Trophy.  A well-rounded player, Kovalchuk managed to become a physical player over the course of his career, hitting 200 hits three different times.  All of that while also being one of the VHL’s best offensive defensemen, finishing above 25 goals and 75 points four different times in his six seasons as a defender.  And to be honest, in hindsight, Riga needed an elite defenseman.  The Reign instead went for Leph Twinger, who while definitely a physical forward who could still find the back of the net, was a far cry from the absolute stud of a defenseman Kovalchuk was and is.  With Kovalchuk going one to Riga in my re-draft, he jumps up one spot from where he was taken back in Season 62.

2 – JAKE DAVIS – RW (SEATTLE) @Josh
Original Pick - 10th Overall (TOR)
RS: 576 GP | 290 G | 391 A | 681 P | 1161 HITS | 54 GW
PO: 38 GP | 14 G | 28 A | 42 P | 56 HITS | 3 GW
INT: 45 GP | 21 G | 34 A | 55 P | 56 HITS | 5 GW

 

Statistical Accomplishments

3x 40+ Goals Scorer (S65, S67, S68)
6x 30+ Goals Scorer (S63, S64, S65, S66, S67, S68)
2x 100+ Points Scorer (S65, S66)
6x 80+ Points Scorer (S63, S64, S65, S66, S67, S68)

 

Jake Davis was never an award winner or someone that was necessarily one of the league’s best players at a given time.  That being said, he was arguably one of the most consistent offensive producers of his era, hitting the eighty point plateau six different times.  He was a great goal scorer and someone that still hit triple digits multiple times, proving he had the ability to score with the best. Davis did all of this after falling to tenth overall in his draft class, showcasing how he was absolutely the steal of the draft. He is someone that honestly will probably slip under most people’s radars, but he nearly hit 300 goals and 700 points while also being a solid playoff and international producer for his entire career.  Wherever Davis went he simply was consistently productive, and that’s all you can ask for.  Therefore, I have Davis going second overall to the Seattle Bears, jumping up eight spots from his original position.

 

3 – RAUNO PALO – C (TORONTO) @jRuutu
Original Pick - 4th Overall (QUE)
RS: 577 GP | 233 G | 336 A | 569 P | 350 HITS | 44 GW
PO: 86 GP | 28 G | 44 A | 72 P | 57 HITS | 5 GW
INT: 54 GP | 17 G | 34 A | 51 P | 35 HITS | 0 GW

 

Awards

1x Continental Cup (League Championship) - S67
1x Scotty Campbell Trophy (League MVP) - S67
1x Brett Slobodzian Trophy (Most Outstanding Player) - S67
1x Mike Szatkowski Trophy (VHL Points Leader) - S67
1x Alexander Beketov Trophy (VHL Assists Leader) - S67

 

Statistical Accomplishments

3x 40+ Goals (S66, S67, S68)
5x 30+ Goals (S65, S66, S67, S68, S69)
2x 100+ Points (S67, S68)

 

Palo jumps up one spot here on my Season 62 re-draft, and if not for his last few seasons, that may have not been the case.  After finishing his third season in the VHL, Palo had still not hit the 20 goal or 50 point plateaus, and while he was a very disciplined player, there were some concerns over the Finnish center not reaching his potential.  He would then rally off five consecutive thirty goal seasons (three of which topped 40) and four point-per-game seasons (including two 100 point campaigns).  He even took some major hardware home, winning League MVP and Most Outstanding Player in Season 67, when he led the league in points and assists.  While maybe not someone who was consistently very good like Davis, Palo did have higher high’s which were considered when debating who should go higher.  Ultimately, I felt Davis had the better overall numbers and while Palo had one season better than anything he put up, Rauno was a better fit going to Toronto at the third pick.

 

4 – LEPH TWINGER – F/D (QUEBEC) @DollarAndADream
Original Pick - 1st Overall (RIG)
RS: 576 GP | 234 G | 289 A | 523 P | 1984 HITS | 50 GW
PO: 66 GP | 14 G | 17 A | 31 P | 194 HITS | 3 GW
INT: 57 GP | 32 G | 38 A | 70 P | 103 HITS | 4 GW

 

Awards

2x Continental Cup (League Championship) - S63, S69
1x Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) - S63

 

Statistical Accomplishments

1x 50+ Goals Scorer (S62)
4x 30+ Goals Scorer (S62, S63, S65, S66)
1x 100+ Points Scorer (S62)
1x 300+ Hits (S65)
7x 200+ Hits (S63, S64, S65, S66, S67, S68, S69)

 

I know first hand how much pressure can add to a player’s psyche…especially first overall pressure.  Leph Twinger was taken first overall and came into his rookie season with high hopes…and he did not disappoint.  Twinger finished his first season with 56 goals and 116 points, finishing the season with an unprecedented +70 plus/minus and even 10 game-winning-goals.  He was an absolute superstar and it seemed like nobody was going to be able to stop him.  During the off-season, Twinger decided he wanted to become more physical in his sophomore season and while he definitely made that a focus of his game over the remainder of Leph’s career, it definitely came with the sacrifice of his offense.  Twinger never hit 75 points again, and while he would later find a fair amount of success in his first of two season’s as a defenseman, it really was never quite the same as his first one.  While his career may have been prematurely hyped due to the offensively ridiculous Season 62, Twinger managed to still have a solid career as a power-forward that used his size to contribute around the net and hit the 30 goal plateau four times.  That’s good enough for 4th overall in this draft.

 

5 – DAN MONTGOMERY – D/F (QUEBEC) @BarzalGoat
Original Pick - 6th Overall (HSK)
RS: 575 GP | 137 G | 323 A | 460 P | 974 HITS | 725 SB
PO: 60 GP | 5 G | 39 A | 44 P | 106 HITS | 91 SB
INT: 44 GP | 11 G | 34 A | 45 P | 51 HITS | 35 SB

 

Awards

1x Continental Cup (League Championship) - S66
1x Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) - S66
1x Alexander Valiq Trophy (Top Offensive Defenseman) - S66

 

Statistical Accomplishments

2x 80+ Points Scorer (S63, S66)
6x 50+ Points Scorer (S62, S63, S64, S65, S66, S67)
3x 50+ Assists Scorer (S63, S65, S66)
1x 200+ Hits (S66)

 

Dan Montgomery finished his career as a reliable and loyal defender, playing all eight seasons of his career as a member of the Titans.  Reminding me a lot of my original player, Michael Angelo, Montgomery had two seasons that saw him hit 85+ points and he also was very physical over the majority of his prime.  Montgomery finished his career fifteenth all-time in points as a member of the Helsinki Titans and is second only to Angelo when it comes to defensemen.  The Titans have a pretty decorated history, but I do think there is an argument for Montgomery to see his number retired, and he goes fifth in my re-draft to Quebec, moving up one spot from his original selection.

 

6 – SHAWN GLADE – D (HELSINKI) @ShawnGlade
Original Pick - 11th Overall (RIG)
RS: 432 GP | 110 G | 269 A | 379 P | 968 HITS | 725 SB
PO: 72 GP | 25 G | 49 A | 74 P | 155 HITS | 115 SB
INT: 67 GP | 18 G | 32 A | 60 P | 94 HITS | 142 SB

 

Awards

3x Continental Cup (League Championship) - S63, S67, S68
1x Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) - S63

 

Statistical Accomplishments
2x 20+ Goals Scorer (S65, S67)
2x 50+ Assists Scorer (S65, S66)
3x 70+ Points Scorer (S65, S66, S67)
1x 200+ Hits (S64)

 

I definitely think Glade could have found himself higher on this last had he been able to have a longer career.  He was a triple digits hits guy for all six seasons and was a 70+ point defender three times in six seasons.  With two more seasons, Glade might have at least been able to surpass the numbers Montgomery was able to put up, and certainly move up at least one or two spots.  Especially, when you consider how decorated Glade is as a playoff and international performer, combining for 134 points, 249 hits and 257 blocked shots over those 139 games.  He was a three-time Continental Cup winner and was a great performer for those strong teams.  There are definitely some arguments that he should find himself higher on this list, but I ultimately see Glade as the sixth best career in this draft, going to Helsinki.

 

7 – RYUU CRIMSON – LW (RIGA) @SlapshotLegion
Original Pick - 9th Overall (RIG)
RS: 432 GP | 175 G | 244 A | 419 P | 945 HITS | 39 GW
PO: 39 GP | 16 G | 20 A | 36 P | 81 HITS | 4 GW
INT: 57 GP | 22 G | 32 A | 54 P | 107 HITS | 3 GW

 

Awards

1x Continental Cup (League Championship) - S63
1x Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) - S63
1x Daisuke Kanou Trophy (Playoff MVP) - S63

 

Statistical Accomplishments
1x 40+ Goals Scorer (S65)
3x 70+ Points Scorer (S65, S66, S67)

 

Crimson, like Glade, only played six seasons in the VHL and was a fairly consistent offensive and physical contributor.  He was a point-per-game player three times and hit the sixty point plateau two other times.  He also had at least 130 hits each season of his career, showing that he was far more than just an offensive threat.  To cap it all off for Crimson, he was Playoff MVP in Season 63 for the Continental Cup winning Reign.  What an incredible accomplishment to pull off, but he did it in his rookie season! Ultimately, despite going two picks higher this time, Crimson finds their way back onto the Riga Reign, for a partnership that may have not lasted forever, but really hit it off with a bang.

 

8 – PAOLO NANO – D (DAVOS) @leafsman
Original Pick - 19th Overall (RIG)
RS: 488 GP | 63 G | 264 A | 327 P | 878 HITS | 764 SB
PO: 29 GP | 1 G | 9 A | 10 P | 45 HITS | 41 SB
INT: 41 GP | 8 G | 22 A | 30 P | 122 HITS | 66 SB

 

Statistical Accomplishments

3x 10+ Goals Scorer (S65, S66, S67)
3x 60+ Points Scorer (S65, S66, S67)
1x 200+ Hits (S66)

 

Capping off our first round is former nineteenth overall pick, Paolo Nano.  Yeah, I said that right…nineteenth overall pick! The steal of the draft sneaks into the first round and gets selected another European team, the Davos Dynamo.  Nano was drafted by Riga, but was traded to Helsinki before playing a game in the VHL.  Nano spent a couple seasons on the Titans and a year on the Americans before settling in for his best seasons on the Moscow Menace.  It was in Moscow where Nano carved out a solid career, recording 327 points in 488 games while adding fairly consistent physicality and a willingness to block shots at at an above-average level.  While not someone that won any individual awards, Nano was the best player left when it comes to putting together a career that would be useful to a contender.  I wouldn’t consider him a number one defender, but he’s best considered a solid number two, which is vital to any championship contender.  

 

 

 

---  2214 Words (Claiming Week 1/4)
 

Edited April 16 by Advantage

[Daniel Janser 2,341]

@Banackock playing for the other OG Greyhead GM @hedgehog337 in this redraft is almost poetic 

[Corco 1,365]

Always love the historical pieces

[Banackock 8,582]

6 hours ago, Daniel Janser said:

@Banackock playing for the other OG Greyhead GM @hedgehog337 in this redraft is almost poetic 

[RJMW 167]

Advantage, oh, Advantage, what a wonderful piece you have written here. It seems I am short 1 capped TPE, so I am going to review your piece in the most serious of tones. The formatting is great for a re-draft piece, I love the subheadings and organization of the stats. One small thing you could do with the formatting is just space each player out a bit more after the end of the paragraphs, this might just be a me thing though, my ADHD ass wants to pair the paragraph with the player name right below it. I appreciate that you added extra context to the stats, like with Palo, talking about his slow start and high highs. I don't know how many of these you plan on doing, if any more? But I would love to see you drop an inflammatory paragraph about a completely random player every now and then, I think that unnecessarily doing this is great for engagement and is peak journalism (I'm like 99% joking here, it would be great content). Anyways, I would love to see more of these, maybe a Season 67 draft featuring the legendary RJ Lloris.

 

Great job overall! It was a good read.

Edited April 19 by RJMW

[Advantage 2,991]

On 4/19/2025 at 7:46 PM, RJMW said:

Advantage, oh, Advantage, what a wonderful piece you have written here. It seems I am short 1 capped TPE, so I am going to review your piece in the most serious of tones. The formatting is great for a re-draft piece, I love the subheadings and organization of the stats. One small thing you could do with the formatting is just space each player out a bit more after the end of the paragraphs, this might just be a me thing though, my ADHD ass wants to pair the paragraph with the player name right below it. I appreciate that you added extra context to the stats, like with Palo, talking about his slow start and high highs. I don't know how many of these you plan on doing, if any more? But I would love to see you drop an inflammatory paragraph about a completely random player every now and then, I think that unnecessarily doing this is great for engagement and is peak journalism (I'm like 99% joking here, it would be great content). Anyways, I would love to see more of these, maybe a Season 67 draft featuring the legendary RJ Lloris.

 

Great job overall! It was a good read.

I have S62 to S66 done thus far.  But yeah I plan to keep them going.  
 

I know just the player to do such great journalism for

[Advantage 2,991]

Week 2/4