Claimed:Vikings Improving as Season Goes On [1/2]

[Advantage 2,899]

* This is for last week.  I received permission from Draper to post one up given how busy I have been with work..I was going to submit a mag article yesterday but STZ ended up cancelling last week's, so this is to make up for that.*

 

VIKINGS IMPROVING AS SEASON GOES ON

It wasn’t long ago that the Stockholm Vikings season was looking record-breaking ugly.  In fact, the Vikings took 28 games to just win their first VHL regular season game this season.  The young Swedish club has started to see their production rise and now they may just be a threat to make the playoffs.  Behind the play of rookies Rhett DeGrath, Undertaker and Lee King Snatch, the Vikings have not only seen their play improve, but they have given their fans, who have gone years waiting for a dynasty club, a chance to believe in what they are building right now.

 

The Vikings currently sit 8-29-5, and while that is certainly not a record that most teams would be very proud of, this team can focus on their play of late rather than the whole season.  The Vikings are 8-7-1 in their last sixteen games, scoring 33 goals and surrendering 52 goals.  While the 52 goals is certainly not a great number to have allowed in just sixteen games, it is important to note that against teams who are around the Vikings skill level (Quebec, Davos, Helsinki), Stockholm has handled themselves quite well and have really shut them down of late.  They even were able to have a one goal game against the Americans and beat Calgary by one earlier on this season.

 

The rookies that lead this team, as mentioned before, have certainly played a major role in this improvement.  Lee King Snatch currently leads the team with 13 goals and 28 points and also has added 51 hits and a league best 109 blocked shots, showing off his growth offensively and defensively as the season has progressed.  He is likely one of the future studs in the league on the backend, and his progression this season is likely to continue going forward.  Meanwhile, Undertaker has been multi-dimensional as well this season.  While the tough, physical forward is known as someone who can play well around the net and dish out the physicality, he has been productive in all zones with 22 points, 212 hits and 56 blocked shots.  At the moment, ‘Taker’ finds himself on pace for 34 points, 332 hits and 88 blocked shots, which would actually be pretty solid numbers for the towering winger.  Finally, Rhett DeGrath has probably been one of the top rookies this season, and one of the biggest reasons the Vikings have begun to win games against some of the teams around their skill level.  DeGrath currently has a 9-27-5 record with a 3.29 GAA and a .919 SV%.  His save percentage is only one indicator of his strong play, as is the six first stars that he has received which is actually the second most of any goalie in the league, being only one behind future Hall of Famer, Greg Clegane.  There could be a strong case made for Rhett to win the Stolzy, but time will tell if that will come to fruition.

 

The Vikings are a team who is going to only improve, and with a solid crop of prospects and a couple first rounder’s next season, the team is going to look a lot more dangerous in a few seasons.

Edited December 23, 2016 by Advantage

[DollarAndADream 3,357]

Review:

I hope the Vikings do continue to improve. I've always liked the team since they were created.

Although, I'll always remember them as a team with Jody 3 Moons.

[Jericho 917]

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