Claimed: A Final Mock Draft

[Corco 1,266]

Swedish netminder Torstein Ironside appears to be the consensus 1st overall pick

 

The S54 VHL Entry draft is tonight, and after a long and tedious playoffs, the prospects available for drafting are more than eager to be selected. There are few storylines going into the draft, such as where the three skilled netminders will go, or what the Quebec City Meute will do after trading up to 2nd overall. Hopefully by tonight, these stories will have an ending.

 

1. Toronto Legion  - Goaltender Torstein Ironside@DollarAndADream

There are simply too many benefits to DollarAndADream selecting his own player here; taking Ironside here solidifies the franchise goaltender position for the Legion for however long DAAD wishes (hopefully his entire career). The other benefit of selecting himself here is that he can completely control this player as well, he doesn't have to worry about Ironside bolting to FA or demanding a trade. Aside from all of those things though, Ironside isn't too shabby of a goaltending either, he was one of the best in the VHLM the past season, splitting the campaign with the Saskatoon Wild and the Yukon Rush.

 

2.  Quebec City Meute  - Defenseman  Hudson Abbott  @Bushito

I think the Meute go a bit off the board here and don't take the BPA; I think they go for the positional need fulfillment that Abbott would fulfill. Abbott was a stud on the blueline for the VHLM champion Ottawa Lynx this past season, and he projects to be a top pairing defender for the soon-to-be contending Quebec City Meute. Abbott agent does have a reputation around the league with certain members but I think that Quebec GM Frank Chadwick looks past this and selects the Canadian defender.

 

3.  Helsinki Titans  - Center  Fook Yu @tfong

Even though Helsinki GM Mitch Higgins may be extremely tempted to select possible generational talent Markus King, especially after young goaltender Astrid Moon's near disastrous playoffs this season, I think he sticks to his guns regarding Moon and selects the best skater available in Fook Yu. Yu scored over 100 points in the VHLM this season on a stacked Ottawa Lynx team, and even though scoring 100 points in his first VHL season is unlikely, Yu will most likely be seeing second line mintues on a rising Titans team. Yu's agency is tried and true, and you know what you're getting when you draft their players. This is a solid pick for the Titans.

 

4.  Seattle Bears  - Defenseman Aleksei Federov@Banackock

Although better options are out there in terms of TPE, I believe that Bears General Manager Jordan Banack selects his agency's own player for similar reasons that DollarAndADream selected Torstein Ironside; security. Taking his own player allows Banack to fully control this players destiny, and Federov will certainly be a stalwart on the Seattle blueline for many seasons to come. Look to see Federov as a possible defender of the year candidate in a few seasons time.

 

5.  HC Davos Dynamo  - Center Shawn Gretzky@TheLastOlympian07

The Dynamo will certainly be thrilled to see this potential #1C fall into their laps at pick #5. Gretzky is a skilled scoring forward whose agency is known for longevity and reliability. Gretzky had a decent rookie VHLM campaign, scoring 87 points between being on the Saskatoon Wild and the Yukon Rush. Selecting Gretzky would simply be adding another solid player to the new core of the rebuilding Dynamo.

 

6.  Seattle Bears  - Goaltender Markus King@Kendrick

Despite whatever transgressions there are between the King's agency and Banack's agency, I just can't see the Bears passing up selecting King. He is simply too skilled and has too much value to be passed up, even if the Bears already have veteran goaltender Jakab Holik in net for now. Depending on what the Bears want to do they could possibly sell Holik at the deadline, or sell off King as trade bait, it's up to them.

 

7.  Helsinki Titans  - Right Wing Verner Reinholdt@Devise

The VHLM's oldest rookie is a member of one of the most famous agencies in VHL history, and I think that enough prompts Higgins to select Reinholdt at 7th overall. Reinholdt would bring a pseudo-veteran presence to an up and coming Titans squad looking to be the big dogs in the European conference. With news reports that Reinholdt is willing to spend his entire career with one team, I think Higgins takes this pick and runs with it.

8.  HC Davos Dynamo  - Center  Pablo@Pablo

With new management hoping to make a splash, I think that the Dynamo will select their second center of the 1st round with Pablo. Pablo's agency may be infamous for certain reasons, but one of them is not player-building. The agency is known for spending tedious hours practicing and working out in the gym. With both Shawn Gretzky and Pablo down the middle, the Dynamo could very well have the VHL's best 1-2 offensive punch in the not-so-distant future.

 

9.  Calgary Wranglers  - Left Wing Rudolph Schmeckeldorf@Corco

With their first of the two first round picks they've acquired, the rebuilding Calgary Wranglers select Swiss winger from the Yukon Rush, Rudolph Schmeckeldorf. The left-winger is a pass-first player who is signed by a player agency attempting to make it's comeback to the VHL after a ten-season absence. Schmeckeldorf will join a barebones core of Ottawa Lynx goaltender Jacob, who will be making his jump to the VHL next season.

 

10.  Calgary Wranglers  - Right Wing Takashi Fujimoto@HFD

With the final pick of the first round, I think the Wranglers will select the 1st first-generation player of the draft in the Singapore-born winger Fujimoto. He has shown strong promise so far and looks to only get better from here on out. In drafting Takashi and Schmeckeldorf back to back, the Wranglers look to already have 2/3 of their future first line already intact, they just need to find a future franchise center, who possibly could come in the next draft or via trade.

Edited April 3, 2017 by Corco

[Bushito 1,945]

I don't think it's really going off the board to draft the highest TPE skater in the draft, specially since I started a month and a half after these guys. Reputation I can see as a reason though, but I do get along with Frank. Also, if this player doesn't pass 1000 TPE I'll leave forever in shame.

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

6 minutes ago, Bushito said:

I don't think it's really going off the board to draft the highest TPE skater in the draft, specially since I started a month and a half after these guys. Reputation I can see as a reason though, but I do get along with Frank. Also, if this player doesn't pass 1000 TPE I'll leave forever in shame.

RIP notbushito. we hardly knew ye