Race For First

[Smarch 2,939]

Race for First

With Season Fifty-One now twenty games in, the race for first has started. No we aren’t talking about first place in the North American and European Conferences, but the race for the very much hyped first round, and more specifically First Overall pick in the Season Fifty-Two VHL Entry Draft. The five teams that hold first round picks include New York, Quebec, Seattle, Helsinki, Stockholm, and while the coveted First Overall pick would be welcomed by all five franchises, they will receive a quality player no matter they first round pick they end up with. Today we’ll look at some players that may hear their names called during the first round of the Season Fifty-Two Entry Draft.

RW - Phil Shankly:

 

Shankly has had a decent official start to his VHLM career with the Bratislava Watchmen, after joining the Bern Royals at the deadline in Season Fifty. Shankly has found the net twelve times on the season, while also finding the assist column on nine different occasions. The twenty-one points in twenty-two games puts Shankly in third on the Watchmen for overall points. Shankly has found a nice fit alongside fellow Season Fifty-Two draftees Kaylan Noffke and Daryl Dortch on the Watchmens’ first-line. This week the most recent VHL Scouting Center report was released which saw Shankly move into the top draft spot with his most recent progress at practice and during games. Who will be lucky enough to receive a Phil agency player in a month or so?

D- Fabio Jokinen:

Fabio Jokinen has been everything and more the Saskatoon Wild had expected when they drafted him First Overall in the Season Fifty-One VHLM Dispersal Draft. Jokinen has brought a balanced offensive game to the Wild in his twenty-four games he has suited up in, putting up ten goals and ten assists. Jokinen has been playing on the Wild’s second defensive pairing alongside VHLM journeyman Dope Fiend, which has turned into one of the better defensive pairings in the entire VHLM. With the lofty expectations that come with being selected First Overall in a professional draft, some were wondering how the Finnish defenseman would do in his first season across the pond. Jokinen has responded perfectly on the ice to those questions, letting his stellar play do the talking for far this season.

G- Rhett DeGrath:

Talk about improving your stock as a draft eligible player. DeGrath has been lights out so far for the Saskatoon Wild, backstopping them to a 19-2-3 record and the first place spot in the North American Conference currently. DeGrath is coming off a short season in the VHLM in Season Fifty, one that saw him join the Brampton Blades at the trade deadline and backstop the franchise to a Founder’s Cup. DeGrath was still on the board to their disbelief when the Wild stepped up the podium at the Season Fifty-One VHLM Dispersal Draft with the Sixth Overall pick. Four VHLM clubs had the opportunity to draft DeGrath before the Wild picked him, and most of those teams are crying for the quality goaltending that DeGrath is providing Saskatoon so far.

*For Snatch*

Edited October 4, 2016 by Smarch