Expanding the VHLM [1/2]

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Author’s Note: Is the VHL not interesting these days, or are all the writers stuck in the VHLM for the time being?

 

Earlier in the week, there was an idea floated out to expand the VHLM past its current stable of five teams to either six or seven teams. There are a few reasons to do this, although there is one important concern that was raised during the discussion about whether it is feasible or not.

 

Currently, the VHLM has room for starting spots for 60 forwards (assuming four full lines), 30 defensemen (assuming three pairings), and five starting goaltenders. The goalie quota has already been exceeded, with the Yukon Rush giving playing time to both Johnny Carison and Greg Santos. Additionally, a few draft-eligible players who have gone inactive have been released from rosters to make room for new recruits.

 

The problem lies in that point. Many of the new recruits don’t stick around very long, making the expansion process an exercise in giving playing time to people who don’t seem to want it. Additionally, given the cyclical nature of the VHLM, it’s likely that those players probably won’t end up in a competitive situation since there will be one team (such as this year’s Yukon Rush) that will have a disproportionate number of active players and will run away with the Founder’s Cup.

 

That said, the ability for those new players to see themselves in action is worth something. If they aren’t terribly attached to the minor league system (as should be the case, but hell if I know), then they won’t mind a rough road on their way to the VHL proper, and if they fly under the radar they could end up on a quality team that would get them involved and boost their interest in sticking around.

The VHLM was always kind of too big for its own sake. While the VHL has the benefit of keeping players around for seven or eight seasons, the turnover in the VHLM can lead to very lean years when the talent jumps to the big leagues and the minors are left with scraps, new players, and maybe a few recreates who all seem to end up on the same team.

 

I’m not arguing in favor of blowing up that system, because replacing it seems more complicated than it’s worth. What I am saying is that doing what we can to keep those new players involved is worth the effort. Imagine someone who could have potential in the league skips out for a few days, or even one or two weeks. They come back to find out they’ve been cut and skip out on the league for good. It’s a preventable situation, unlikely as it may be.

 

In the end, it really depends on how much effort the simmers want to put into expansion. An expansion draft wouldn’t be a very big ordeal given the aforementioned turnover, and it’s entirely possible that a good GM could make the team competitive fairly early. Sure, there are going to be inactive players who top out at 30 TPE, and in the worst-case scenario this will just make more of them without driving activity. Bottom line, if the simmers are willing to make it happen there’s really not a good reason to avoid it.

 

552 words

[DollarAndADream 3,357]

Review:

..........and would you look at that. The VHLM expanded.

Great write-up. Expansion draft definitely was a bit of an event. I don't like the team name though.

[diamond_ace 3,114]

One particular writer is a VHL player and a VHLM GM, but prefers to write about the VHLM