Disrespecting the champs? [1/2]

[Tyler 885]

Throughout history very foolish men (and women) have said things that make them look very silly. I would recount some examples, but off the top of my head Bart Scott saying he can't wait to play the Steelers in the AFC Championship game in 2011 sticks out. Scott and  his Jets went on to lose that game and the Steelers went on to lose the Superbowl to the Packers. Never the less, it took a brave but maybe stupid man to claim he was excited to face a team they'd lose to in the next round. Anyone who pays attention likely knows where I am going with this, but just in case you aren't aware, on September the 2nd the year of our lord 2018, Hybrid decided he would make a thread. 

 

https://vhlforum.com/topic/52664-can-we-skip-to-calgary-vs-quebec/?tab=comments#comment-547982

 

 

While there certainly is very little doubt which teams are the top two in the standings right now the thread seems a little premature. The season is about halfway through and Calgary are the runaway favourites. They have 64 points in 38 games while Quebec has 61 points in as many games. The obvious omission is HC Davos Dynamo who have 48 points in 38 games. Of course we've struggled but as was pointed out, a point that I think anyone could have seen, by @CowboyinAmerica it seems largely impossible for a goalie with as high an overall as Shawn Brodeur could repeat such a poor first half performance. It also largely ignores the reality that last season Calgary were heavy favourites heading in to the post season and especially in the finals and yet, they choked it away in historical fashion. If Brodeur can go back to the mean of where he is meant to be playing at, I don't see any reason why Davos cannot be at least equal to the other two teams. 

 

While team overall is sometimes a misleading stat, on average it is a pretty solid indicator of how a team will fare. All three teams currently sit at 59 overall as we near the trade deadline. It doesn't look likely that there are many more moving pieces to be had but then again you truly do never know what can happen between now and then. Either way, assuming these are the playoff rosters I think we're in for a three way race and not just the two at the top. It seems an especially mistimed article as Davos finally beat Calgary on the very same day Hybrid posted his slanderous article. Although Calgary have largely been running away on the backs of their two star players Stopko and Canmore, it isn't like they weren't the two best players on the team last year too. And yet, as we remember, they still managed to lose in the finals. I think Calgary are the clear favourites although that could go sideways from here to the end of the season. They have top talent but the other teams do have a bit better depth, a lesson the Wranglers have seemed not to learn from last season.

 

I guess the larger point of writing this was to make sure people didn't forget about the reigning champions. It seems an amateur mistake to do so but then again looking at Quebec's roster, I guess that fits the bill. 

 

 

[diamond_ace 3,114]

17 minutes ago, Tyler said:

They have top talent but the other teams do have a bit better depth, a lesson the Wranglers have seemed not to learn from last season.

 

Calgary depth here, thanks for the bulletin board material

[Tyler 885]

Just now, diamond_ace said:

Calgary depth here, thanks for the bulletin board material

 

I would never disrespect you to call you depth. Besides you were there last season too. 

[diamond_ace 3,114]

1 minute ago, Tyler said:

 

I would never disrespect you to call you depth. Besides you were there last season too. 

True, but I also sucked last year. Last year I would even call myself depth. I've taken a big step up, not enough to win most improved despite my prediction (damn you @Beketov) but definitely happier with the individual player this season than last.

[Devise 4,475]

Calgary has lost to Riga twice in 6 games. For a "for sure" contender that is too many times. Besides we all know the Wranglers are pretty much cursed. Davos vs Quebec will be the finals. With Davos going back to back probably too since the VHL sim seems to favor only four teams in this new era. 

[Tyler 885]

5 minutes ago, Devise said:

Calgary has lost to Riga twice in 6 games. For a "for sure" contender that is too many times. Besides we all know the Wranglers are pretty much cursed. Davos vs Quebec will be the finals. With Davos going back to back probably too since the VHL sim seems to favor only four teams in this new era. 

 

Eh. Riga is a sneaky good team tho. I think they'll be in contention as early as next season.

[diamond_ace 3,114]

7 minutes ago, Devise said:

Calgary has lost to Riga twice in 6 games. For a "for sure" contender that is too many times. Besides we all know the Wranglers are pretty much cursed. Davos vs Quebec will be the finals. With Davos going back to back probably too since the VHL sim seems to favor only four teams in this new era. 

There will have to be a change in the standings, the 2 and 3 teams can't play each other in the finals

[Tyler 885]

10 minutes ago, diamond_ace said:

There will have to be a change in the standings, the 2 and 3 teams can't play each other in the finals

 

I guess the implication is that Quebec continues their hot streak and Calgary continues to dwindle a little bit. I don't see it though. At some point a 86 ovr goalie has to be significantly better then a 74 overall one lol.

[diamond_ace 3,114]

Just now, Tyler said:

 

I guess the implication is that Quebec continues their hot streak and Calgary continues to dwindle a little bit. I don't see it though. At some point a 86 ovr goalie has to be significantly better then a 74 overall one lol.

Yeah the distance between Stopko and everyone else I think is pretty much unrivaled ever. I'm not the historian though, @Victor would probably know if there's been similar

[Tyler 885]

4 minutes ago, diamond_ace said:

Yeah the distance between Stopko and everyone else I think is pretty much unrivaled ever. I'm not the historian though, @Victor would probably know if there's been similar

 

Seems like it as far back as I can remember at least accurately. 

[Devise 4,475]

Just now, Tyler said:

 

Seems like it as far back as I can remember at least accurately. 

 

Yeah going off some of our LR talk I can tell you even us over in Riga have been baffled by the goaltending. It's like the VHL entered a time warp or something. I remember some high scoring seasons don't get me wrong, but a point per game may be considered pedestrian this season with the way goalies been playing. Shot totals just through the roof most games too. 

[Tyler 885]

3 minutes ago, Devise said:

 

Yeah going off some of our LR talk I can tell you even us over in Riga have been baffled by the goaltending. It's like the VHL entered a time warp or something. I remember some high scoring seasons don't get me wrong, but a point per game may be considered pedestrian this season with the way goalies been playing. Shot totals just through the roof most games too. 

 

Yeah I think I've only ever had one player over 100 pts in a season but this season Charm is going to get 110 based on current ppg

[Victor 11,037]

I half expected Stopko to drop some record GAA or shutouts or save % which tbf I would be fuming if it did because of the lack of competition, but nah apparently it's all about the forwards now.

[DollarAndADream 3,357]

Review:

Heavy favourites and losing in the playoffs....sounds like my reign as Toronto GM.