Ottawa targets draft to build team for upcoming season [1/2]

[diamond_ace 3,114]

With the upcoming VHLM expansion draft, the top of the talent pool will be even more spread out than usual, while the mid tier and new guys will be able to contribute more heavily. So if there was ever a year to have enough picks early on that even the expansion draft can't touch most of it, this is the year. The Ottawa Lynx have all Yukon Rush picks through the 4th round, plus Oslo's 2nd, so only the Yukon 2nd is likely to be taken in expansion. However, here is the primary concern: Ottawa ONLY has the draft. The only two pieces from this season that weren't waiver picks, Arbin Asipi and Paul DiMirio, don't carry over to next season. DiMirio has been a free agent for a few seasons now and has continued to choose Ottawa (and hopefully will choose Ottawa for a deep playoff run next season, but can't be guaranteed as a piece) and Asipi's post-draft rights years expire, so he will be entering the free agency pool as well. Since VHLM teams can only sign one active FA, there will have to be a choice, both Asipi and DiMirio can't come back and we can only sign one (unless Asipi is officially considered inactive now, which would mean he can't be signed by anyone, making the choice easy). Given that FA comes after the draft, I'll have to decide whether to take a goalie in the draft before knowing the full deal on Asipi. It might be easier just to take one, then go after DiMirio, as multiple forwards can be put into the lines and the goalie position is much more limited. This is something I'll have to work out a plan on before the draft.

 

Two 1sts will give an opportunity to grab two carryover players, or a new guy who's been active throughout the season but was signed on waivers last year. Since the picks will be third and likely fifth, the position selections will likely be made for me by whoever is left, but it's still a great opportunity to add two true top tier guys. As of right now, Ottawa also has three 2nds - it's likely that the Yukon 2nd will be taken in expansion, but it's technically possible they could select one of my draftees from last year - so that will be another opportunity to add some good pieces, even if they're pieces with some minor questions with them. Two 3rds and two 4ths, in the post-youtube era, should still be decent depth pieces (even if some of these guys go inactive before they get to the VHL, they're still useful to the VHLM). Anything beyond that, who knows - the era of Higgins in the 3rd round is long gone, and for the most part the draft tends to play out as it should, but it's possible a steal could yet happen and it would be big if that steal went to a team who already has a ton of good value picks. Reasonably, there should be 8 pieces at minimum from the draft from which to build the team, although it'll be built from nothing as none of my draftees from last year panned out more than the initial 30 TPE. Lando Baxter, Jake Davis, and Tzuyu were great pieces for me this year but all were waiver guys and will be in the draft again.

 

571 words, and Doubles

[diamond_ace 3,114]

@Beaviss I know you like VHLM articles

[ShawnGlade 1,010]

I like these too. Will you be doing an article on the whole VHLM playoffs?

[diamond_ace 3,114]

22 minutes ago, ShawnGlade said:

I like these too. Will you be doing an article on the whole VHLM playoffs?

I wasn't planning on it but I could, depends on if I remember to go on at home on Monday (or if we're dead enough at work Wednesday or Friday of next week to be able to write one at work, like I did here)

[diamond_ace 3,114]

CORRECTION to the article: Since Yukon lost I assume I have 3rd and 4th not 3rd and 5th

[DollarAndADream 3,357]

Review:

Solid breakdown of your thoughts while being a GM. GOod insight. Good write-up.