An Early Season VHLM Power Ranking [2/2]

[RJMW 127]

Although it is quite early in the season, and teams have only played 6 or 7 games, I think there is enough information to do a start of the season power ranking. Some teams have more information than others, as there is just more to talk about with some, I tried my best to give at least three sentences for each team. Of course with all rankings it is that one person’s own opinion, but I feel I have used the information currently available to give a fairly unbiased power ranking of the teams.

 

 Let’s give it a shot, starting with number one;

 

1. Ottawa Lynx (third in VHLM)

The thing that puts Ottawa above the rest of the teams in this ranking is their defense. After 7 games they are the only team to sit under double digit goals against and they have the highest goal differential. They had a slow start to the season with 1 point in their first 2 games, but now they are primed and ready to take the top spot in the league. Especially with the addition of Ambrose Stark, it only seems like a matter of time.

 

2. Saskatoon Wild (second in VHLM)

Saskatoon could easily have been number one on this list, but, their most recent game against Halifax, in which they got beat 5-2, shows that they need to improve their defense. They have the most goals for of any team with 32 thanks to forwards like Rocky LaGarza and Raphael Nazarians, but they also have the most goals against of the top three teams. Of course their defense is still one of the top in the league, but if they want to secure that number one spot they need their defense and goaltending to be as consistent as possible.

 

3. Philadelphia Reapers (first in VHLM)

Although Philadelphia is the number one team in the VHLM they have shown they can be defeated.  Of course there’s an argument to be made to have them at the top of this list, it’s truly a toss up between the top three for who deserves number one. What puts Philly in third for me is who’ve they gone up against so far. As of right now it seems like their only challenge has been Mexico. We’ll see if they can show they can take on a team like Ottawa or Saskatoon soon, once the top three have played more games against each other, there may be some shifts in the rankings.

 

4. Halifax 21st (fourth in VHLM)

Fresh off a big win against Saskatoon, ending Saskatoon’s win streak, Halifax is looking good. AJ Axelsen has been looking great for them, sitting at 2 points per game right now, other players putting up the numbers for Halifax are Blake Gaudette and Nacho. One thing to note about them is the fact that they’ve played one less game than the teams above, tides could turn depending on the result from their next game.

 

5. Mexico City Kings (sixth in VHLM)

The thing that puts Mexico above Minnesota is Mexico’s opponents. The Kings showed up in the shootout against Philadelphia and they beat out Ottawa in 1 of the 2 games against them. Pretty much the only thing, or should I say person, that is keeping Mexico afloat is their goalie, Wrike Chyrnoble. With a .941 SV% and 1.81 GAA, Chyrnoble has been looking great so far. If he can continue to perform, Mexico can continue to win.

 

6. Minnesota Storm (fifth in VHLM)

Minnesota has been all around average so far, they have only been able to pull wins against teams below them and some of those wins haven’t been by much. Of course they, like the two teams above them on this list, have yet to play a seventh game. Their next game is against Ottawa, and if they want to prove they can compete with the big boys they need to take home a win.

 

7. San Diego Marlins (seventh in VHLM)

What can you say about San Diego? They, much like Minnesota, have been floating around in the land of the average. One bright spot was their win against Mexico, so they have been able to beat a team currently above them, but their defense is lacking. Another thing is that they have played one more game than the teams about them.

 

8. Mississauga Hounds (eight in VHLM)

Mississauga is the start of where the points have somewhat fallen off. They have 3 less than San Diego and only 2 more than the teams below them, two of those teams have a game in hand on the Hounds. There isn’t much to say about Mississauga, yes they haven’t been winning games, but on the other side they have a team with a bright future.  

 

9. Yukon Rush (ninth in VHLM)

Yukon, it looks like they’re one of the three teams that could be in a fight for last place. They had a strong start to the season with a shootout win against Ottawa, but it has been downhill from there. Their lost to Las Vegas is the most recent in their 5 game losing streak. What keeps them above the Bulls and Aces is their defense.

 

10. Houston Bulls (tenth in VHLM)

Las Vegas and Houston are currently a toss up for last. I have Houston above Vegas because of the 1 game difference and the goal differential. Houston just hasn’t been able to pull a win in overtime, and that’s mostly due to their defense. They don’t even have enough defenders on their roster for a top 4, that’s scary. One the other side, their top center, Boris the Forest, has been doing great with 9 points in 6 games.

 

11. Las Vegas Aces (eleventh in VHLM)

It just hasn’t been great for Vegas thus far. Although they got their first win in their most recent game, every other game has pretty much been a slaughter. In some of the games they have been able to compete, but in others they have barely been able to get 1 goal. The obvious shining star of this team is Emil Passerelli, who has been able to get 12 points in 7 games with the team in dead last.

 

word count 1045, using to claim for 5/19 and 5/26

 

This is my first media spot, it's a little rushed since I don't have much time with school and a job, but I tried. Criticism is very much welcome.

Edited May 11, 2019 by RJMW

[HughJas_ 76]

Review:

Very informative, this is very useful as it can definitely be hard to keep up with all the teams in the VHLM on a daily basis. I like your own unique journalistic takes on each team, it made the ranking of each team more enjoyable to read. Great ranking of the teams, and I hope you continue to do more!

[Sullvino 289]

Lynx baby!

[Banackock 8,062]

Wrong.

 

1. VHLM Commissioners

2. everyone else. 

 

[Banackock 8,062]

@RJMW Good read though. I love me some power rankings.  

[RJMW 127]

7 hours ago, Banackock said:

Wrong.

 

1. VHLM Commissioners

2. everyone else. 

 

damn, even after I mentioned Ambrose Stark

Let's say; 1. VHLM Commissioners and RJMW

2. Everyone else

and call it a day

[Renomitsu 934]

Review - At the time this was written, I don't think I would have agreed with your first rank. But a win streak is telling, and the Wild's performance against the Reapers wasn't as stellar as most thought it would be. I loved the thought you put into justifying your picks, and the fact that I wanted to disagree but you've convinced me otherwise is always a good sign for a media spot.

[RJMW 127]

On 5/11/2019 at 1:50 AM, RJMW said:

Although it is quite early in the season, and teams have only played 6 or 7 games, I think there is enough information to do a start of the season power ranking. Some teams have more information than others, as there is just more to talk about with some, I tried my best to give at least three sentences for each team. Of course with all rankings it is that one person’s own opinion, but I feel I have used the information currently available to give a fairly unbiased power ranking of the teams.

 

 Let’s give it a shot, starting with number one;

 

1. Ottawa Lynx (third in VHLM)

The thing that puts Ottawa above the rest of the teams in this ranking is their defense. After 7 games they are the only team to sit under double digit goals against and they have the highest goal differential. They had a slow start to the season with 1 point in their first 2 games, but now they are primed and ready to take the top spot in the league. Especially with the addition of Ambrose Stark, it only seems like a matter of time.

 

2. Saskatoon Wild (second in VHLM)

Saskatoon could easily have been number one on this list, but, their most recent game against Halifax, in which they got beat 5-2, shows that they need to improve their defense. They have the most goals for of any team with 32 thanks to forwards like Rocky LaGarza and Raphael Nazarians, but they also have the most goals against of the top three teams. Of course their defense is still one of the top in the league, but if they want to secure that number one spot they need their defense and goaltending to be as consistent as possible.

 

3. Philadelphia Reapers (first in VHLM)

Although Philadelphia is the number one team in the VHLM they have shown they can be defeated.  Of course there’s an argument to be made to have them at the top of this list, it’s truly a toss up between the top three for who deserves number one. What puts Philly in third for me is who’ve they gone up against so far. As of right now it seems like their only challenge has been Mexico. We’ll see if they can show they can take on a team like Ottawa or Saskatoon soon, once the top three have played more games against each other, there may be some shifts in the rankings.

 

4. Halifax 21st (fourth in VHLM)

Fresh off a big win against Saskatoon, ending Saskatoon’s win streak, Halifax is looking good. AJ Axelsen has been looking great for them, sitting at 2 points per game right now, other players putting up the numbers for Halifax are Blake Gaudette and Nacho. One thing to note about them is the fact that they’ve played one less game than the teams above, tides could turn depending on the result from their next game.

 

5. Mexico City Kings (sixth in VHLM)

The thing that puts Mexico above Minnesota is Mexico’s opponents. The Kings showed up in the shootout against Philadelphia and they beat out Ottawa in 1 of the 2 games against them. Pretty much the only thing, or should I say person, that is keeping Mexico afloat is their goalie, Wrike Chyrnoble. With a .941 SV% and 1.81 GAA, Chyrnoble has been looking great so far. If he can continue to perform, Mexico can continue to win.

 

6. Minnesota Storm (fifth in VHLM)

Minnesota has been all around average so far, they have only been able to pull wins against teams below them and some of those wins haven’t been by much. Of course they, like the two teams above them on this list, have yet to play a seventh game. Their next game is against Ottawa, and if they want to prove they can compete with the big boys they need to take home a win.

 

7. San Diego Marlins (seventh in VHLM)

What can you say about San Diego? They, much like Minnesota, have been floating around in the land of the average. One bright spot was their win against Mexico, so they have been able to beat a team currently above them, but their defense is lacking. Another thing is that they have played one more game than the teams about them.

 

8. Mississauga Hounds (eight in VHLM)

Mississauga is the start of where the points have somewhat fallen off. They have 3 less than San Diego and only 2 more than the teams below them, two of those teams have a game in hand on the Hounds. There isn’t much to say about Mississauga, yes they haven’t been winning games, but on the other side they have a team with a bright future.  

 

9. Yukon Rush (ninth in VHLM)

Yukon, it looks like they’re one of the three teams that could be in a fight for last place. They had a strong start to the season with a shootout win against Ottawa, but it has been downhill from there. Their lost to Las Vegas is the most recent in their 5 game losing streak. What keeps them above the Bulls and Aces is their defense.

 

10. Houston Bulls (tenth in VHLM)

Las Vegas and Houston are currently a toss up for last. I have Houston above Vegas because of the 1 game difference and the goal differential. Houston just hasn’t been able to pull a win in overtime, and that’s mostly due to their defense. They don’t even have enough defenders on their roster for a top 4, that’s scary. One the other side, their top center, Boris the Forest, has been doing great with 9 points in 6 games.

 

11. Las Vegas Aces (eleventh in VHLM)

It just hasn’t been great for Vegas thus far. Although they got their first win in their most recent game, every other game has pretty much been a slaughter. In some of the games they have been able to compete, but in others they have barely been able to get 1 goal. The obvious shining star of this team is Emil Passerelli, who has been able to get 12 points in 7 games with the team in dead last.

 

word count 1045, using to claim for 5/19 and 5/26

 

This is my first media spot, it's a little rushed since I don't have much time with school and a job, but I tried. Criticism is very much welcome.

claim for 5/26