Could upcoming draft be better than the high flying S63 class

[oilmandan 688]

The S63 VHL draft class was one of the finest in recent history, with 9 players over 200 tpe and 48 updated players at the time of the final rankings. 9 of the top 10 earners were also making their debuts in the league. While only a dozen from that class have remained active earners, it's still a very impressive draft year, headlined by Ryan Kastelic @Enorama who had well over 300 tpe when Riga selected him 1st overall. 

As impressive as that draft class was, the S66 is looking to be deeper and possibly better at the top end as well. The two top prospects, Hunter Hearst Helmsley @Beaviss and Shane Mars @Spade18 , are both 10 ply tough and veteran members and are poised to break the 300 tpe mark. With approximately 4 or 5 weeks until the draft, both have a shot at also exceeding 350 tpe. 

At the writing of this piece, a whopping 97 players had made updates, including 43 with over 100 tpe. Big props have to go to the recruiting team at both finding these members and keeping them interested long enough to reach that milestone. With the VHLM cap at 200 tpe, 6 players have already punched their tickets for a VHL spot next season. As many as 20 could top that 200 mark once the achievement tracker and other offseason points are tallied up.

Although there are several recreates littered throughout this years draft, the majority is once again new users, taking advantage of many benefits to quickly improve their first players. 

This draft class dwarfs many from the last few years and even though there are already several players that have disappeared, the top end talent make it a wonderful time to restock the cupboards. 

Teams like Riga and Davos are licking their chops with 3 first round picks each. As usual Toronto has no picks, as drafting players is overrated anyhow. New York traded most of their picks to ramp up their move to contending as other clubs face salary trouble. Seattle is another team with only one choice, theirs being in the 4th round. But the perennial contender feel they still in win now mode and moved most of their picks for help right now. 

Moscow and Vancouver both have 1st rounders as well as 6 picks each, with the former continuing to build from their recent entrance into the league, and the latter attempting to retool on the fly, while facing salary cap issues. Helsinki may not have a selection in the top 10, but with 5 choices of their own, they'll be able to add several big pieces to their lineup right away and in the future. Calgary's GM has always been very shrewd with draft picks, having been known to collect them as well as trade them away. They have a first rounder and 3 other picks as continue their rebuild. 

New expansion team Malmo with have a full slate of draft picks and could acquire more in the expansion draft, trying to shape their first roster in team history. 

Edited April 1, 2019 by oilmandan