A Look at the VHL DRAFT [1/2]

[Banackock 8,185]

It's the moment a lot of you guys wait for. Creating a player is a blast and playing through the VHLM, for me anyway, is always a great time. You get an opportunity to play with people you've never played against, win some games, score some goals and meet new members who recently joined the site. All those things and you also get to chase a championships. But, as the wise and knowledgeable @Da Trifecta always says, some don't enjoy the league and while most probably like it or at least don't mind going through it, everyones eyes are always on the prize and that's the VHL draft. Where are you going to go? What are you going to do? Who are your teammates going to be, who will be your GM and whats your role looking like on the team? Are you joining someone who is winning now, winning next season or going through the long haul of a rebuild. This exciting day is coming soon and is only about 24-30 some odd hours away from becoming reality. Who is ready?

 

The draft lottery was held and we seen Riga take 1st, Seattle, Toronto and Quebec following behind to round out the top 4. For this draft, despite there being a clear winner when it comes to one of the prospects, there's really no loss. Looking at some of the ranking, actually, the 1st round is filled out nicely and while some players upfront may be a bit of a gamble, you can bet your ass that it could be worth the risk. Especially in the Top 5. Now, unlike last season, the guessing game isn't going to be as big. Twinger goes 1st overall and there's no question about it. @hedgehog337 will deny or not confirm probably but this is happening and he's going to be teaming them up with @Tagger and @Victor to make some crazy offensive power in the lions den.. or cave.. or grassed area underneath a sun torn tree. Though, let's look at some of the biggest prospects and try and nail the thing on the donkeys ass of where they're heading.

 

1. Leph Twinger - @DollarAndADream 

He's easily the best player in the draft and while in the past some teams have likely strayed away from this, history tends to show us that the best is picked the best and how fittingly he'll be joining some of the best. He's largely ahead of the others in the ranks of prospects and is a clear showing that he's going to be a great player in the league. Well, scratch that. It's going to show us that he's going to have the high, elite skill to be a great player in the league. As we have seen, you just need to be the right kind of player. Massive skill means zero against someone who knows the game. Though, we don't doubt he'll become very great and will be one of the leading guy in the VHL for the next 8 seasons to come.

 

2. Rauno Palo - @jRuutu - 

While determining the "2nd best player" in the draft isn't easy as the next few players are pretty level headed, you have to take a couple things into account. The first being that the agent of Palo is a great guy. Seattle has short history with him while Jokinen was brought in to chase the cup with Seattle some moons ago. Seattle had nothing but great things to say about it. The second, he's a centre and at times, they can be very hard to come by. Dan Montomgery @BarzalGoat is the next best guy in the draft at this position and while he's a solid member and player, Rano is also almost double the player. Though, while he should earn second best - we wouldn't count him here quite yet but it is the most realistic choice. 

 

3. Maxim Kovalchuk  @Banackock

Another position that is extremely hard to come by at times. This pick could easily go a few ways but Kovalchuk has all the tools to be a crazy good player. Not only this, but there's a strong chance he's one of the more loyal guys in the draft. Seconding onto his strong skill set and the importance is position is, Toronto would be adding him to an already great presence in Malenko.. @pennypenny - so it's safe to say Toronto could have the best pairing in the league. Lastly, we feel like Kovalchuk could land here again for two final reasons. He stated publicly that he'd happily go to Toronto and that while he may not have quite the TPE players like Mulligan or Slipher have, he's less of a gamble. Both of those guys have tendencies to disappear slightly or slack in the update department (no offence) and you know 100% Kovalchuk will be a good work horse for the team. 

 

4. Vesto Slipher - @Hybrid1486

Similar to above, this one could go any direction. We feel there's more so 3 options for this spot and it really doesn't matter a whole lot because the chances of us guessing are pretty high. My guess is, in the remaining players ranked 8th and better (thats 5 including Vesto), 4 I believe have atleast the chance of being taken here. Of those 4, for this spot, I'd say Vesto is the safest bet. While there are promising members out there, he's got the best TPE numbers, has a strong background in the league and is showing quite promise. Furthering, he'd be a great piece to add to the Meute organization and could step in and have an immediate impact.

 

5. Dan Montgomery - @BarzalGoat 

The team has a top defender in Samuel Gate @street and the next best defender for the most part is Landon Baxter. No knocks to him, but he will not be taken 5th overall. With already having a strong defender and two strong wingers (Dragomir and Louth), I think we can safely peg the tail on the donkey with this one and guesstimate that he's going off-roading on this pick. DO I SMELL A FIRST GEN PICK? While he may not be the BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE based off TPE, he is the best player available for positional and team needs for the Meute. Slipher or someone will clearly swap to the right side and Monty will slide very nicely deep down the middle. Is it a gamble? Sure, but I think in this case and seeing Barzal thus far, it will likely pay itself off in the future and make for a wicked first line. 

 

2 WEEKS for Kovalchuk + double THIS WEEK from 11th birthday shit

july 30 - aug 5th * double

aug 6 to 12th

[Victor 11,044]

The problem is we hate socialism so strict no left winger policy.

[Dangles13 373]

I would just pass if Kovalchuk was my only option.

[BarzalGoat 728]

@Banackock thanks for the kind words

[Banackock 8,185]

10 hours ago, Dangles13 said:

I would just pass if Kovalchuk was my only option.

Already almost has as much TPE as your guy probably hehe. 

[Banackock 8,185]

3 hours ago, BarzalGoat said:

@Banackock thanks for the kind words

Always xo good luck tomorrow buddy. I’d not tomorrow, hope one day we can play together  

[Dangles13 373]

7 hours ago, Banackock said:

Already almost has as much TPE as your guy probably hehe. 

Definitely steroids, much scandal I sense in your future

[DollarAndADream 3,357]

Review:

Solid write-up as usual, and interesting to look at pre-draft. I always enjoy reading people's mocks. Who knows how my team would be if I took Kovalchuk, but I'd still have TOR G so, I don't know.