S63 Redraft [First Round]

[Peace 1,518]

Today I'll be redrafting the first three rounds of the season sixty-three draft class. I've been wanting to read an article like this for so long I've simply decided to write it myself, since I was being lazy and wanted to observe other peoples opinions. For this redraft the teams will remain where they picked, but the players will certainly change. I'm looking forward to hearing (or reading) your thoughts on this redraft. 

The S63 group of players was once argued as the most active group of first generations ever, in fact a lot of people give credit to the S63 draft class for re-energizing the VHL and redefining the leagues structure, but that isn't the case anymore. Two large recruitment drives saw more first generation players in the subsequent drafts than the S63 draft had, so the aforementioned title has quietly slipped away. Supported by a partially successful recruitment drive, this particular group of draftees was highly anticipated and numerous 'first-generation' players were selected; every GM will tell you that drafting a first generation is tricky, it's a gamble, and they're right.

 

FIRST ROUND

FIRST OVERALL 
RIGA REIGN
Originally: RYAN KASTELIC
Now: RYAN KASTELIC 
( @Enorama )

Kastelic remains the surefire first overall pick, and I'm quite sure Hedge would be more than happy to select Kastelic again if ever the need arose where he needed to, so this pick is quite cemented into VHL's history as an absolute. There is no other player that would be taken here, especially considering Enorama is widely considered a 'TPA Whore' which still applies today, even if he's slowed down some since his rookie days. Kastelic has been a point-per-game defender since he was drafted into the VHL, and that is a significant asset for Riga who've signed Kastelic nearly his entire career. He's proven to be a franchise defensemen, and earns his spot at the top of the list among other great players from this draft class. 

SECOND OVERALL 
NEW YORK AMERICANS
Originally: JOSEPH MCWOLF
Now: JULIAN BORWINN

( @Jubo07 )

Borwinn moves up to a spot where McWolf was originally drafted, and although New York needed a defender in this particular draft, this is a redraft based on best-player-available mentality and doesn't consider positional needs. Borwinn has done a remarkable job keeping up with Enorama's Kastelic in terms of attribute earnings, but Borwinn's TPA overall is slightly lower than Kastelic. Despite not quite climbing to first overall, Borwinn is currently the second best player available at the moment. A lot of people talk about builds playing a factor into a selection, and as both Jubo and I can attest, that's true even when considering VHLM picks. Jubo has a ton of TPA, no questions asked, but some of that TPA has been spent in places I wonder if some people question. 
 

THIRD OVERALL 
HELSINKI TITANS
Originally: JULIAN BORWINN
Now: DAN WILINSKY

( @oilmandan )

Here's a case where a first generation player slipped further than I personally anticipated. When I was observing how active OMD was with his player, I was truly impressed and honestly surprised so many people had him going lower in mock drafts than he should have. Was he a weaker prospect at the time than those above him? Absolutely, but now that we're mid-way through season sixty-six he's the third best player in the draft. Wilinsky was originally drafted seventh overall to the New York Americans, but I have him going third overall to a powerful Helsinki team through this re-draft. 

FORTH OVERALL 
HELSINKI TITANS
Originally: SIDNEY CROSBY

Now: ALEXANDER PEPPER

( @Sonnet )

If the draft was happening today, and every player retained the TPA they have now, Pepper would absolutely be a first round pick. Honestly though, I still see both Kastelic and Borwinn going 1/2 despite that thought. Right now, however, you can flip either or and be happy if you're Quik. Pepper at third, then Wilinski at fourth? It wouldn't have really mattered since they'd both arrive in Helsinki anyways. Pepper moves into the first round after being drafted by Helsinki in the second round, tenth overall. He'll be the Titan's franchise goalie as well, since Quik and Sonnet have agreed to keep Pepper in Europe with a NTC until S70. 

FIFTH OVERALL 
TORONTO LEGION

Originally: TZUYU

Now: SIDNEY CROSBY 

( @SidTheKid87 ) 

Crosby moves past McWolf on this chart simply because Sid is maintaining a respectable development, where as McWolf has taken a step back from the league and consequentially his player has ceased developing as well. The disappearance of McWolf seems him drop quite a bit, and even though this draft is 'best player available', you still have to factor in how that player will be in a few seasons if a redraft happened today. Crosby lands at this spot simply because he's been consistent, but he's in danger of being overran. 

SIXTH OVERALL 
NEW YORK AMERICANS
Originally: SCOTT SHAWIGANEN
Now: RYLAN PEACE

I put myself here since I'll shortly be over Randoms, who's earning ten TPE compared to my capped earnings every week, and while I understand some people might look at this and disagree it's just an opinion piece. I've refocused my build from a 'power-forward' as Hedge would have claimed and turned him into a more offensive player. If Spade had to take part in a S63 redraft, I'm honestly confident he'd select Peace here, as he's been shown to give first-generations the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately this lead to a major disappointment with Shawninganen, but he struck gold with McWolf and Wilinsky.

SEVENTH OVERALL 
NEW YORK AMERICANS
Originally: DAN WILINSKY
Now: RANDOMS

( @hedgehog337 )

Randoms arrives in New York, after climbing from the depths of the second round, and overcoming a lot of players above him. If recently retired Vaydar Odinsson hadn't retired, I'd put him here and Randoms down to eighth, but he did retire and won't be featured on this list consequentially. Randoms has gone through some changes as well, originally a high checking forward with surprising offensive results to a more offensive player overall. I'm sure Spade would have no problem adding Randoms to his club, especially considering he now has Peace and Borwinn as well.

 

EIGHT OVERALL
VANCOUVER WOLVES
Originally: JOSE GONZALEZ
Now: TZUYU 

( @tfong )

McWolf keeps dropping, and despite Tzuyu being a hundred TPA less, TFong is known as king of welfare for a reason. I was questioning whether or not to add McWolf here simply because he does have far more attribute points, but if McWolf's absence continues Tzuyu will only be behind for a short while. Obviously I've decided to choose Tzuyu over McWolf here, but that doesn't mean McWolf's player is bad - it just means his absence allows for GMs to redraft players above him. Take this as a either or, however, as McWolf can comfortably slot here and remain one of the best defenders in the league still. 


Claiming for next two weeks.

Edited May 30, 2019 by Peace

[Beaviss 4,953]

It would have been cool to see what player was drafted there originally now I got to go double check  

[Peace 1,518]

1 minute ago, Beaviss said:

It would have been cool to see what player was drafted there originally now I got to go double check  

Let me edit. 

[Peace 1,518]

11 minutes ago, Beaviss said:

It would have been cool to see what player was drafted there originally now I got to go double check  

 

Done. 

Your pick was trash, fyi.

[Beaviss 4,953]

13 minutes ago, Peace said:

 

Done. 

Your pick was trash, fyi.

 

this is prob my worst draft ever tbh.

[oilmandan 688]

Lots of studs in this draft

[ConnorMcdavid 180]

Quality article! Definitely an interesting read and fun info to get more acquainted with the history of the VHL 

[Matt_O 896]

3 hours ago, Peace said:

Unfortunately this lead to a major disappointment with Shawninganen, but he struck gold with McWolf and Wilinsky.


Shawnigen may have disappointed but look at him this year, 57 points? What a beast

[Baozi 1,658]

Bah, I have intangibles.

[Peace 1,518]

1 hour ago, Matt_O said:

Shawnigen may have disappointed but look at him this year, 57 points? What a beast

 

Shawmogenen stopped developing though. 

[Matt_O 896]

Just now, Peace said:

Shawmogenen stopped developing though

True. It's just funny that of all the great S63 players, only Borwinn has more points than him this year despite him not developing

[SidTheKid87 166]

3 titans in the top 5?

[Peace 1,518]

Second claim

[Matt_O 896]

Do the S64 draft class

[McWolf 3,114]