VHLM: Offseason Preview (with Grades)

[TopTiddee2 216]

PRELUDE:

Hello everyone! After several months away from the forum for much-needed life adjustments, I have finally returned to the forum! Very nice to see many new and old names still around, and I hope I get to meet all the new names here soon. 

 

NOW...THE ACTUAL ARTICLE

Now the premier developmental league of the forum, the VHLM has gotten a lot more competitive, making it tougher for lower TPE to stand out like they once did at a 200 TPE cap. 

With many graduations to the VHL, @Spartan  knows that the league is bound to shake up following the conclusion of the playoffs, stating, "...teams in contention always have more players they'll lose to graduation or call-ups. It's sort of natural for a developmental league. The teams sitting in the mid-low playoff range this season will likely be the ones to make a bigger jump next season."

 

As stated in the title, I will be ranking the depth of each team's position (F, D, G, Potential [meaning team's future potential with picks and lower TPE players]) and give my input as to what each team needs to focus on heading into the upcoming offseason. I'll start from the bottom of the standings to the top.

 

DISCLAIMER: THE GRADES BEING GIVEN ARE FOR THE ROSTERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE OFFSEASON, NOT THE CURRENT ROSTERS

 

Miami Marauders (10-56-6, 26 PTS) - First Selection: R1, Pick 1

Forwards: F | Defense: F | Goalies: F | Potential: A+

GM: @Ricer13

OVERVIEW:

Miami had a rough season, finishing at the bottom of the standings for S98. They'll be looking to fill in some major holes, and this draft certainly has the potential to help Miami build for the future.

 

When asked about thought processes about the upcoming draft, GM (@Ricer13) stated, "The upcoming draft is a big one. Miami's focus will be on trying to accumulate as many picks as possible to build out the team for long-term sustainability."

 

Offensively, they're looking to find three replacements for all 3 Cs, as they will be lost to the Dispersion Draft/Retirement. On the defensive side of things, Miami will be losing D Chase Breeze (@C-Breeze) to the S99 Dispersal Draft, which will be a major blow to their D core. Most of their D have been slacking/not active as of recently, or at a very low TPE number, so Miami must pick up some D depth to build for the future. In net, G special ed (@special ed) will also be entering the Dispersal Draft, which puts Miami without a #1 option for the upcoming season. While ed's stats were nothing pretty, the Mauraders are banking on a G to fall to them in the draft or to have one join them via waivers. 

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

1st Overall - C John Cowgill (@FlyingWV) (195 TPE)

Ricer has stated that "Miami will look to dangle this pick and move down in the draft. The goal is to acquire more depth picks in the draft. We aren't in a place to be selecting a top-end player as we won't be a contender next season." However, we like to have fun and assume that if, for some reason, Miami is unable to trade down with a team, then we say they would stick with #1 in this draft. If so, this should realistically be a no-brainer for Ricer. As mentioned before, Miami will be losing its 3 Cs after the season is over. Picking up C talent at the draft is going to be crucial for Miami's future, and Cowgill's progression has continued to skyrocket. Not to mention, with Cowgill just under 200 TPE, this would possibly mean that the C can stick around longer compared to Florida Man II (214 TPE) and Igor Sokolov (245 TPE). Cowgill has also performed well with Mexico City, putting up respectable numbers on the 2nd line. With first-line minutes, it's possible we could see a breakout from Cowgill and a dominance for seasons to come. 

 

TO RECAP: 

Ricer knows that Miami is in a full rebuild coming into the offseason. When asked about the amount of talent the Mauraders are losing, the hopeful GM reiterated, "The plan hasn't changed. We know waivers will be coming and going, and our focus will be on locking in our roster through the draft and speeding up the rebuild." Ricer certainly has a lot to think about come offseason time, and only time will tell if Miami can squeak into the postseason with luck from Simon. 

 

San Diego Marlins (21-47-4, 46 PTS) - First Selection: R1, Pick 2

Forward: C | Defense: B | Goalie: D+ | Potential: A+

GM: @Mysterious_Fish

OVERVIEW:

San Diego missed the playoffs by 9 points this season and is looking to broaden their depth tremendously. In my opinion, their Defensive core is solid, while their Forward core is mainly young and lower TPE, but has some experience sprinkled in. The only reason I gave Goalie a lower grade was due to a lower TPE compared to several other goalies in the league. Since (@Will3) is currently running Welfare + Practice claims, the position won't be developing into a top-tier goalie anytime soon (trust me, I'm not taking any shots, I was also like that at one point). 

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

2nd Overall - LW Florida Man II (@Florida Man) (214 TPE)

The Marlins are looking to build on their forward depth, and I believe that Florida Man II is a key player that SD should be targeting. The Halifax LW (59GP 2-8-10) may not have the most lucrative stat line in the draft, but is capable of becoming a bloomer given a bigger role on a new team. Not to mention, Man II is consistently building up TPE points, suggesting he could reach well over 300 by the time next season concludes. Considering SDM holds both #2 overall and OTT's 1st (#3 overall), the Marlins have the chance to build strong depth up front or back in net if they wish to do so. 

 

3rd Overall (from OTT) - RW Igor Sokolov (@Kisslinger) (245 TPE)

Picking up F talent at the draft is going to be crucial for San Diego's future, and Sokolov, on paper, might be the franchise talent the Marlins can build around. Sokolov, last playing for Halifax (72GP 11-13-24), has been extremely active as of recently and tends to complete a lot of tasks to garner a LOT of TPE. A good forward core is what San Diego needs to be able to clinch a playoff berth, and I believe Sokolov would be the beginning of building something strong for the Marlins. 

 

TO RECAP:

San Diego could easily become a playoff contender with a MAJOR shakeup bound to happen in the M this year, as top-seeded teams are losing several key players to graduation to the VHL. With the 2nd & 3rd overall pick, picking Man II, in my opinion, will give SDM a rather competitive team, giving them a shot to compete in the playoffs. It will be entertaining to see how SDM plays their cards and competes in S99.

 

Ottawa Lynx (25-42-5, 55 PTS) - First Selection: R2, Pick 11

Forward: C+ | Defense: C | Goalie: C- | Potential: B

GM: @Grape

OVERVIEW:

Ottawa just snuck into the playoffs after comfortably making it in during S98, thanks in part to RW Kyle Evans (@Kyle Evans), who put up great numbers for the 8th seed (72GP 38-71-109), as well as LW Owen Two (@do3bo1) (72GP 31-52-83). When asked about the potential departure of Evans, Grape acknowledges that the offseason will look to fill Evans' shoes once he leaves the club.

 

The GM stated, "Right now, I'm looking at our draft and the players we are retaining to replace that offensive production, which I feel quite confident about."

 

D Elisa McMuffin (@Ente2997) held down the blue line with impressive numbers (72GP 11-51-62), and G Komi Kamal (@dustywilson22) struggled a bit in between the pipes, as the Lynx couldn't find themselves in the middle of the pack and got bounced early by Houston in the 1st round of the playoffs. OTT does not have its first-round pick, as it was sent to San Diego, which Grape says was for a reason.

 

The GM mentioned, "I made the trade right away, knowing that it'll be a high pick, and I still stand by it. I've done my best to load up on later-round picks to assist in making up for this."

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

7th Overall (Trade w/ LVA) - D Ayumu Kasuga (@Grape) (149 TPE)

Yes, you read that right. I think Ottawa's OWN GM will trade up with LVA to select himself. Here's why: Ottawa's main focus is going to have to be on their defense once Kasuga leaves for the Dispersion Draft. Having said that, if I were in the shoes of Grape, I would move the S100 OTT 2nd and S99 HOU 3rd to obtain the 7th overall pick, held by LVA. That way, Las Vegas obtains a 3rd round pick in this upcoming draft to draft a lower, but also productive, player on defense (they still have the 4th overall pick anyway). This, meanwhile, gives Ottawa the chance to retain Kasuga's services for several seasons down the road. Most of the players for the Lynx have not received TPE points in recent weeks, so it's important to have a player that you know is going to stick around, hence the pick for the GM's player. 

 

TO RECAP:

Ottawa is continuing to look to compete in the playoffs down the road, but San Diego is not far behind. Miami is going to take a bit longer, but there is no warning as of now. If Ottawa can play their cards right, in picking up key F and D, this team will have no problem continuing to stay playoff contenders (it would also be funny to see Grape take his player lol).

 

Las Vegas Aces (28-34-10, 66 PTS) - First Selection: R1, Pick 4

Forward: B | Defense: D | Goalie: B- | Potential: A+

GM: @sadie

OVERVIEW:

Las Vegas sat comfortably in the 7th seed when the regular season ended, and as of this writing, has made its playoff series with Philadelphia (the #2 seed!) very interesting. A very notable player on the blue line is easily D Mathias Gunnarsson (@ThatCanadian), putting up solid numbers in his last season with the Aces (72GP 16-43-58). That's the main issue, however, is that Gunnarsson will be leaving the team once the playoffs have concluded. 

 

Aces' GM Sadie agreed that Gunnarsson has been a major help for the team, but that the Aces are ready to move into the future. The optimistic GM stated, "Gunnarsson has been HUGE for us, and his departure will make a difference, but the team as a whole is going to have to look very different...S99 will of course be the most important draft in my time GMing."

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

4th Overall - Chase Breeze (@C-Breeze) (180 TPE)

In a no-brainer, must-need selection by the Aces, they take Chase Breeze, a very productive D with the Miami Marauders (38GP 9-19-28). This pick gives the Aces a solid D choice who has been very active in the forums and Discord. Not to mention that Breeze has developed very well for a first-gen. As mentioned previously, a hypothetical trade would see LVA send their 7th overall pick to OTT for HOU's 3rd in this draft and OTT's 2nd in next season's draft. This gives LVA the chance to pick in the 3rd round on top of their 2nd pick, with chances to select more D to solidify the core. A good draft and FA period could see LVA compete for a championship next year if Sadie plays it smart.

 

Another player to target would be previously mentioned D Ayumu Kasuga, as having two solid, constantly developing D would prove extremely beneficial to the Aces in the long run, as they would both most likely stay for 2+ seasons. 

 

Sadie mentioned that Defense is going to be the focus of the offseason, claiming, "We're planning to build the foundation with S99 and be the favorite in S100."

 

TO RECAP:

Las Vegas has a lot of chances to make noise in the offseason and emerge as the easy winners. The 4th and 7th (if retained) overall picks could be a game-changer and bring much-needed talent to an already respectable Aces squad. If I were on another team, I would be cautious around the Aces going forward. 

 

Saskatoon Wild (34-33-5, 73 PTS) - First Selection: R1, Pick 5

Forward: C | Defense: C | Goalie: C- | Potential: B

GM: @Dadam30

OVERVIEW:

As of this writing, Saskatoon had been swept by Halifax in the 1st round and is now looking ahead to the offseason with RW CJ Daniels (@xNJDevilsFanx) (72GP 52-58-110) moving on from the team to HC Davos (VHL). This is going to raise a lot of concern for the Wild, who are looking to continue their rhythm next year and make the playoffs again. Their core roster will mostly return, besides Daniels and other late-season pickups. The Wild might have a lot of work to do in the offseason, but they hold a plethora of draft picks to help keep their roster afloat. GM Dadam30 will have their work cut out for them. 

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

5th Overall - C Patrick Finnegan (@JB123) (158 TPE)

Saskatoon is gonna need a LOT of help up front to keep up with the rest of the league, and by selecting Finnegan with the 5th overall pick, will solidify their C position for several seasons. For playing in Miami this year, Finnegan (72GP 21-24-45) produced well and should be a solid piece for Saskatoon should they take him here. Another option could be to move down from 5th to grab more late-round picks in this draft, seeing how deep it is.

 

TO RECAP:

Losing a big piece is going to be tough, but I think Saskatoon has enough to persuade FAs and select well. The only reason I graded their potential low is due to the uncertainty of their offseason and the team going forward, but if they have a great draft and FA period, then I could easily see Saskatoon finishing higher than 6th next season. Finnegan's season with Miami this season shouldn't be taken heavily, as Miami struggled this season, but if the Wild were to take him, they should be able to keep up with the rest of the teams and make the playoffs.

 

Mississauga Hounds (38-26-8, 84 PTS) - First Selection: R1, Pick 6

Forward: C+ | Defense: C+ | Goalie: F | Potential: B-

GM: @ace_five_

OVERVIEW:

After being eliminated in the 1st round at the hands of the Mexico City Kings, a lot of questions are going to be asked about the Hounds. Mississauga had a roster consisting of 3 400 TPE players, and 1 nearing 400, all of which produced a high point total over the season. Not to mention, their starting goaltender, G Yor Bjorven (@Rin), suddenly retired from the team.  This makes the offseason very important going forward for them, as they look to continue to be playoff contenders. 

 

GM Ace acknowledged this, stating, "They will be missed greatly. Some of these players were part of the cup-winning team back in S96, so it says a lot...these are big shoes to fill." 

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

6th Overall - C Finn Mertzer (@Steve) (154 TPE)

Mississauga currently holds 2 1st round picks, which Ace has high value for, claiming, "I don't think it's too necessary to move up a few spots in such a deep draft. I think the whole first round, and into the second, will be a hit. Anyone will be ready to help the team immediately." Suggesting this, Mississauga will have a strong chance to pick up very talented players, with possibly several seasons to be with the team.  C Finn Mertzer (18GP 4-8-12) is a solid option to head up their new-look forward core.

 

10th Overall - G Brandon Hope (@McLovin) (125 TPE)

Coming off a 3 game trial with Las Vegas, Hope can shine as a future star goalie. I have Halifax taking G Diego Adam with the 8th overall pick, so Mississauga should look to pickup the next best option, which in my opinion, is Hope. 

 

TO RECAP:

Mississauga needs to make some major noise in the offseason to ensure a return to the playoffs. Their potential is solid due to their two high picks, but hangs in the balance of their FA signings due to their minimal draft capital. The GMs for the team know they have their work cut out for them in the upcoming FA/Draft period. 

 

Mexico City Kings (44-20-8, 96 PTS) - First Selection: R3, Pick 21

Forward: B+ | Defense: C | Goalie: C | Potential: C

GM: @VattghernCZ

OVERVIEW:

Mexico City's roster has been stacked, consisting of a strong forward core and arguably the #1 defensive core, with a capped goalie to boot. One of the league's top defenders, D Ronan Amnon (@Breeze837) has put on a show from the blue line (72GP 21-53-74), and not to mention their goalie has had an amazing season (53GP 33-14-6, 0.927%, 1.51) to help the Kings become serious playoff contenders. However, once their season concludes, they will have some serious work to do to replace the firepower they will lose to the VHL.  

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

21st Overall - D Natalia Nano (@leafsman) (98 TPE)

MEX will be losing 3 (possibly 4) D at the end of the season, so this position is going to become crucial down the road for the Kings to fill. Nano was stuck on a STACKED Houston team and was picked up late in the season, only playing 18 games in the regular season (2-1-3). With a bigger role and the possibility to play for a few seasons, Nano could easily emerge from their shell and become a big producer down the road for the Kings. 

 

TO RECAP:

Mexico City has a lot of talent to boot, and should help carry them on a deep playoff run, but once their big producers leave, they'll have to start thinking about the future. With few picks of value in this year's draft, they may have to look to the FA market and pick up some help. I expect Mexico City to regress, but still make the playoffs somewhere in the 5-7 seed range. I give their future potential a C, as it's unsure how the Kings are going to rebound off their D core leaving.

 

Halifax 21st (47-18-7, 101 PTS) - First Selection: R1, Pick 8

Forward: B- | Defense: B+ | Goalie: C | Potential: B+

GM: @rory

OVERVIEW:

Halifax just barely eclipsed the 100-point mark to cap off a great season under GM Rory. LW Hater Tottingham (@Trunkxolotl) finished in the Top-10 in points this season (72GP 33-47-80), and as of this article, the 21st swept Saskatoon in the first round. Their team consists of solid depth, both on the offensive and defensive side, and features a capped goalie in G Chad Powers (@Big_Dyl), helping solidify their positioning. 

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

8th Overall - G Diego Adam ( @Dadam30) (147 TPE)

Halifax's big concern is going to be picking up a solid G to make up for losing G Chad Powers and now-inactive G Kim Chi. Picking G Diego Adam would make a lot of sense here. While he struggled with Saskatoon this past season, he may need a resurgence with a new team to emerge as the top option in the draft, and Halifax provides enough depth to help him grow. 

 

TO RECAP:

Halifax had a very productive season, one that sees them more than likely making a deep playoff run, and potentially as a dark horse to win the championship this year. Once the offseason begins, I expect Halifax to move to the top of the standings and finish with an even better record with the depth they have and a hypothetical new addition of G Diego Adam. Losing LW Tottingham to the VHL is going to be a scratch to the lineup, but it shouldn't hurt the 21st too much.

 

Philadelphia Reapers (54-13-5, 113 PTS) - First Selection: R1, Pick 9

Forward: C | Defense: B | Goalie: B | Potential: B

GM: @mattyIceman

OVERVIEW:

Winning the Eastern Conference is no easy task, especially with the talent of some of the teams in the conference (-Miami), but Philly made the most of their season, clinching the conference title and the #2 seed in the Founder's Cup Playoffs. Boasting 4 (!!!) players in the Top 10 in points and G Louis Burley (@EndoNate) locking it down between the pipes for most of the season, the Reapers had no problem becoming a problem on teams' schedules this season. 

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

9th Overall - C Bash McMurray ( @Bushito) (148 TPE)

Philly is going to be losing several Fs to the VHL soon and will need to address their depth up front. Selecting McMurray 9th will solidify the middle of the lineup, especially boasting an impressive stat line on conference rival Miami (18GP 4-7-11). Expect McMurray's production to slightly decrease with more depth surrounding them, but with development over the next few seasons, it should continue to be a productive piece for the Reapers to continue to hunt a championship.

 

TO RECAP:

Philly is a Founder's Cup contender at the moment and has a legitimate shot at taking the crown once it's all said and done. They'll lose some F depth after the playoffs, but I don't doubt their ability to rebuild with a hypothetical pick of McMurray. However, it is uncertain what kind of attention they can get from the FA pool, so their potential remains at a solid B for now. 

 

Houston Bulls (59-8-5, 123 PTS) - First Selection: R2, Pick 16

Forward: D | Defense: D+ | Goalie: F | Potential: C

GM: @SMYLS4

OVERVIEW:

The "Cream of the Crop", the Bulls finished with a 10-point cushion ahead of Philadelphia to win the Prime Minister's Cup for most points in the regular season. Led by a star-studded team of ~6 capped players and a capped G in G Bartholomew Lorequavius (@jaypc8237), Houston breezed through their opponents. GM SMYLS4 explained the plan for the Bulls this year, featuring an all-in push. "The plan for S98 was to go all-in and do whatever we could to win," stated SMYLS4, "Although I'm still not 100% sure how many players we will have returning next season, we will be missing many positional needs."

 

I asked SMYLS4 what he thinks about the possibility of Houston winning the Founder's Cup in his first year at the helm.

 

The GM smiled, stating, "This team is full of talent no matter where you look. I am very happy with how we performed in the 1st round, and have high expectations for the following rounds. With it being my first season, I was happy to inherit a good Houston team. I knew we would have a good chunk of players moving up to the VHL after the season, so I decided to go all-in and put us in the best position to win it all. I know it would mean a lot to the team to win it all, as they put in a lot of effort. For myself, winning a Cup in your first season is basically the best possible outcome you could ask for. Houston deserves another Cup."

 

DRAFT SUGGESTION:

16th Overall - LW Oppai Bumu ( @BOOM) (132 TPE)

With this all-in push, Houston runs the risk of rebuilding next season. SMYLS4 admitted this, with most of the roster for the Bulls about to be depleted. The GM states, "Having only 3 FA claims doesn't give us a ton of room to work with, but it could be possible. We will desperately need a goalie this draft or have to acquire one via trade." If I'm the GM, I would be looking to build up front and take a different approach to the upcoming draft. I believe at #16, Houston should look to take a risk with LW Oppai Bumu. Not having played in the VHLM yet, Bumu has a high ceiling and should develop quickly. Bumu has the chance to thrive in an environment like Houston's and should be a near half-PPG pick this season, considering future roster woes. 

 

Houston in the 3rd round should look to select their backup G from this year, G Michael Szatkowski III (@Mike), who performed well (understandably with a great team in front of him). Szatkowski has developed nicely, and while not the most lucrative pick, should be able to provide long-term stability at the position for Houston down the road.

 

TO RECAP:

Houston's roster will take a massive hit once the playoffs conclude. SMYLS4 understands this and seems committed to making the rebuild in hopes of becoming more competitive by the beginning of the season in S100. I give their potential for the offseason a C, considering the lack of draft capital and likely rough FA period lying ahead of them.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Whew! Writing 2 days' worth of content is wild, but I had fun doing so. I am excited (as a potential VHLM draft pick myself) to see what the offseason holds and how much the league shakes up in S99!

 

In Simon We Trust. 

 

~4240 words (OH MY LORD)

 

Edited 9 hours ago by TopTiddee2
formatting

[TopTiddee2 216]

Side note: I know some of these GMs have taken new positions/left and thus are no longer with their respective teams. But I'm too lazy to change it. I feel like the narrative for these teams won't change much.

Edited 9 hours ago by TopTiddee2

[SMYLS4 214]

I enjoyed reading this. But the only thing I would disagree with is our D Rating at a D+. Jack Jack and Additional Pylons will still be around and they are both phenomenal players. 

[TopTiddee2 216]

11 minutes ago, SMYLS4 said:

I enjoyed reading this. But the only thing I would disagree with is our D Rating at a D+. Jack Jack and Additional Pylons will still be around and they are both phenomenal players. 

Fair enough. I wouldn't be surprised if Calgary takes a look at calling up Jack Jack sometime during the season, however. Depends on how the Wranglers feel going forward with their D core (now with YaBoi Oven retiring). If Jack Jack sticks around, then I'd upgrade to a C on the blue line.

Edited 8 hours ago by TopTiddee2

[C-Breeze 98]

Wow! Such a fantastic in-depth article!

 

Thanks very much for the shout out, and for your kind words. Both are greatly appreciated! 

[Grape 891]

Interesting article, but id never trade a 2nd and a 3rd for a 1st

[dustywilson22 149]

Appreciate you writing this and enjoyed the read

[sadie 1,094]

phenomenal write-up, love to see it!

[solas 2,002]

really impressive article, looking forward to seeing how the draft goes with this in mind

[BOOM 9,140]

Great read. Well put together with logic applied to the selections.