S66 vs. S65 Draft Comparison #3: Almost All the Way Up

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S66 vs. S65 Draft Comparison 

#3: Almost All the Way Up 

 

After getting through the depths and meat of both drafts, we arrive almost at the end. While these players were chosen later than others, they are still great in their own rights. This list includes many players that have ended up making quite a name for themselves one way or another.  

 

 

44 D Derek Bohne  OTT | C BALLS McZehrl  MIN 

Avoiding the obvious implications of men named “Bohne” and “BALLS” being compared, this is actually a tough comparison. While Bohne was a very solid two-way defenseman for Ottawa in Season 65, McZehrl had a far greater improvement from his pre-draft season. Bohne had over 100 hits and shots blocked, but disappeared the following season, making his value for Ottawa drop significantly. This matchup will result in a slight edge for Mr. McZerhl, which will be solidified if he continues to produce in the future.  

 

43 G Sunny Burst  LVA | RW ACL TEAR  OTT 

Goalies and skaters are difficult to compare, but fortunately the skill levels in this comparison are not even close. Burst had a disappointing season following being drafted, and was traded to the Reapers shortly after. ACL TEAR was scouted early on for his pedigree by his experienced agent, and despite being one of the most ferocious grinders/enforcers in the league, managed to perform dramatically well offensively with 27 points in Season 66. His surprising offensive upside coupled with his very impressive 202 hits makes ACL TEAR the winner of this comparison.

  

42 D Dave John OQuinn  LVA | D Boomer Kuwanger  PHI 

If TPE was the only factor in determining which pick was better, Kuwanger would be the clear winner. However, despite having almost double OQuinn’s total, Kuwanger did not run away with this matchup. Kuwanger had an amazing pre-draft season, with 11 points in 14 games, but had a massive drop off in his numbers, with only 17 points, 39 hits, and 42 shots blocked in all of Season 66. OQuinn managed to outscore Kuwanger in his first season following being drafted with 20 points, then followed it up in the hyper-competitive Season 66 with a 38 point season. OQuinn was also no stranger to the defensive aspects of his game, with hundreds of hits and shots blocked in both Season 65 and 66. OQuinn wins this comparison hands down.  

 

41 C Markus Lulic Descheneaux  LVA | D David Lindberg  OTT 

Another comparison between two inactives joins the list. However, unlike the last matchup, there are no surprises here. Descheneaux played on 60 games of Season 65 for Las Vegas and only had 4 assists to show for it. He was released from the team and has languished as a free agent since. Lindberg was far more impressive, getting 44 points as a defenseman, a shocking +48 rating, and 68 hits and 96 shots blocked for his team. Lindberg is still somewhat active as well, and likely to remain a fixture in Ottawa, making him a far better asset for the team.  

 

40 D Jack Logan  YUK | LW Dylan Doyle  YUK 

Yukon had the 40th player chosen in both drafts, and this is one of the most interesting comparisons of the whole list. Defenseman Jack Logan at a measly 39 TPE had 20 points in the season immediately following his draft day, and a whopping 30 points in Season 66. Doyle was nearly at the VHLM TPE cap by the season’s end, but had a nearly identical point total to Logan in Season 66. Doyle did manage to produce an impressive hit total for a forward, with 123, outdoing Logan’s 114 as a defenseman. While Doyle does narrowly edge out Logan as the victor in this matchup, it is still very compelling how much Logan overperformed when compared to Doyle, who did not by any means have a bad season.  

 

39 G Wendy Kandee Cain  PHI | LW Ben Hafkey  PHI 

Yet again a comparison between a goaltender and a skater, and unfortunately it is a close one. Cain put up extraordinary stats immediately following her draft, including a brief stay on a tanking Philadelphia team, and later being traded to the eventual cup winning Minnesota Storm. Her 0.888 SV% and 2.95 GAA are even better when compared to the rest of the VHLM goalies for that season. Hafkey has also had a decent season with 37 points with the eventual cup winners of Season 66. This would be a draw, but Cain also continued to put up outstanding numbers on the much less successful Storm in Season 66 as well, giving her a slight edge due to her consistent body of work.  

 

 

38 D Benson Van Roosen  LVA | C Dan Gles  MSH 

Van Roosen is another inactive player that has put up shockingly decent numbers, with 48 points and 123 hits as a defenseman in Season 65, followed by 61 points and 174 shots blocked in Season 66. Ordinarily back to back jaw-dropping performances would make that player a lock for the winner in these comparisons, however, Dan Gles has gone above and beyond in his season with the Hounds. Gles was well over a point per game with 96 points and an outstanding +32 this season. Despite Van Roosen exceeding his expectations based on his activity level, Gles without a doubt wins this matchup.  

 

37 LW John Perdue   SSK | D Duncan Jeffers  PHI 

Interestingly, both Perdue and Jeffers went inactive with 135 and 136 TPE respectively, making for a very even comparison. Perdue had a solid 51 points in Season 65, followed by 52 points in Season 66, with a solid hitting game for a winger to boot. Jeffers had 29 points in Season 65 and 32 in Season 66, which is already not too shabby for a defenseman, and compounded with over 100 hits both seasons makes for an imposing specimen.  With what is likely the most even comparison possible, this matchup will have to end in a draw for now, dependent on future performance by both players.  

 

36 D Jerry Garcia  HOU | D Brandon LeBlanc  PHI 

The legend himself, and the only VHL player to get an ice cream flavor named after him, Jerry Garcia spent the season on the mediocre Houston Bulls, and despite this the defensive defenseman was able to attain 31 points, 119 hits, and 145 shots blocked. LeBlanc was in a very different situation from Garcia, being drafted to the eventual cup-winning Philadelphia Reapers. LeBlanc had much better offensive stats, with 37 points and a +43 rating, but lacking in physical and defensive stats with only 60 hits and 32 shots blocked. While this may appear to leave the comparison at a stalemate, it is worth giving extra consideration to Garcia due to his impressive performance on a very lackluster team, and taking LeBlanc’s performance on one of the best teams in the league into account. With these factors considered, Garcia is a narrow victor in the matchup, but with a larger sample size LeBlanc may prove victorious eventually.  

 

35 LW Willy Memelander  LVA | LW Cody Smith  MSH 

This is another comparison that gets absolutely dominated by one side. Memelander went inactive shortly after being drafted, and despite playing a full season got only 6 points before being released from the Aces. Smith on the other hand worked his butt off and was able to score 87 points, plus a somewhat surprising 172 hits. Generating over a point per game is remarkable for any player, and Cody wins this comparison in dominating fashion.  

 

34 D Yuri Kalerov  SSK | D Dean Clarke  SDM 

Here we have one of the biggest mismatches of this list. Kalerov updated to get to just 40 TPE, while Clarke has been regularly updating to nearly get to the minor league cap before the end of the season. Kalerov had a modest 15 point season for playing almost exclusively as a bottom-pairing defenseman. Clarke had a significant advantage in TPE last season, and put it to good use. 42 points and 159 hits later, Clarke is the clear favorite in this matchup.  

 

33 C Jordan Tonn  LVA | D Derek England  MCK 

Tonn and England are both active and engaged players in the league, and this is another great matchup. Tonn had a decent season after getting drafted with a 40 point Season 65, followed by a point per game season with 71 points in Season 66. Tonn also had over 100 hits in both seasons, proving himself as an asset both offensively and defensively for his team. England also had a very impressive season for Mexico City, managing to put up 59 points as a defenseman, on top of over 100 hits and shots blocked. England’s point total is even more notable given how little offense Nyko’s Mexico team had this season, and despite a stellar second year in the VHLM for Tonn, this matchup will have to go to the defenseman Derek England for his outstanding single season performance.  

 

 

32 RW Nethila Dissanayake  SSK | D Boone Jenton  MIN 

The superstar right winger Dissanayake lit up the league immediately following being drafted by the Saskatoon Wild with over a point per game and a 74 point season, as well as a +4 on a defensively struggling Saskatoon and a shocking 112 hits for a forward that is mostly a skilled offensive scorer. Jenton also had an impressive season, playing for the Minnesota Storm for most of the season before being traded to Philadelphia. Once again, we have a defenseman pull out an absurd point total with 63 points this season, as well as giving his body for his team with 168 hits and 126 shots blocked. However, most of Jenton’s points came from his time in Philadelphia, despite playing fewer games with them, meaning that it was likely a result of having better teammates around him. Meanwhile, Dissanayake was able to put up those insane numbers on an undeniably worse team, making them even more of an accomplishment. This was a very close comparison, but based on the talent assisting around them, the very slightest edge would have to go to Dissanayake. However, with both being at very close TPE totals, it is very likely that Jenton can prove himself the better player when both move up to the VHL in Season 66.  

 

31 C Walter Clements  PHI | D Hiromu Takahashi  MCK 

This is comparison has a rough outlook, as we are comparing a massive 6’8” 250 lbs. man to a 5’7” 194 lbs. fireplug. Clements unfortunately dominates Takahashi in almost every aspect, from stats to TPE, and even in size. Clements managed to put together a 43 point season on a tanking Reapers team in Season 65, and managed to show his full potential with an 80 point follow up season that featured him getting 148 hits. Takahashi makes this a surprisingly close at only 70 TPE, with 32 points, and not letting his height discourage him, outperforming Clements with a shocking 172 hits and 133 shots blocked. While Clements is the better player in this comparison, it was much closer than would be expected from Takahashi.  

 

30 D Andreas Sundell  MIN | C Boris the Forest  HOU 

Sundell had a modest season for himself on the eventual cup-winning Minnesota Storm with 43 points, as well as a not-too-shabby 128 hits for Season 65. On the other side of this matchup, the Forest managed to get 66 points on the mightily struggling Houston Bulls, proving himself to be very well rounded with 33 goals and 33 assists this season. While Sundell did not by any means have a bad tenure in the VHLM, he was definitely helped along by his champion-caliber teammates. However, he provided further evidence of his skill with his Season 66 performance with Mississauga, getting slightly more points and shots blocked at the cost of his hit total. In the end, Boris was able to outscore and perform Sundell while on one of the worst teams the VHLM has ever seen, giving Boris the victory in this matchup.  

 

29 LW Blake Gaudette  HFX | RW Andrei Mikhailov  SDM 

Finally, a nice and easy comparison between two forwards. Gaudette had a bit of a rough Season 65, with only 31 points with Halifax. Andrei “Big Mik” Mikhailov did not do much better in Season 66, with only 33 points, and just a few more hits for San Diego. Gaudette really makes a case for his superiority in Season 66, where he transitioned from a weekly welfare collector to steadily becoming more involved and earning greater amounts of TPE, and had quite a bit to show for it with over 100 points with Halifax, making him one of the most improved players of the season. Sadly, Mikhailov has retired, and since his hockey career has come to an end, he will not have the opportunity to match Gaudette’s performance. Gaudette wins this comparison due to his body of work and tremendous improvement.  

 

28 LW Matteo   MIN | LW Devin Gabella  PHI 

What’s this? Two players in the same position, both on a championship-winning team? Sounds like a recipe for an easy comparison! Matteo had a great season with Minnesota in Season 65 with 51 points, but surprisingly a –20 rating as well despite the tremendous core around him. Gabella had significantly more points and hits, and a +38 rating in Season 66, completely eclipsing Matteo in just about every aspect, and giving Gabella the victory here.  

 

27 LW Hunter Wagner   OTT | RW Emil Passerelli  SSK 

Two very similar wingers with very similar TPE and stats. Wagner had a 75 point first season, followed by getting 91 points and a +35 rating with Ottawa in Season 66. Passerelli played a full season before being drafted, in which he had a 66 point season before being drafted. After being drafted, Passerelli was traded to Vegas amid some controversy, followed by another trade to Halifax, but during this post-draft season, he racked up 102 points with a +34 rating. Although it was a close one, Passerelli wins this matchup.  

 

26 LW Blake Laughton  HOU | D Kefka Palazzo  LVA 

Back to a comparison between a forward and a defenseman, we have Laughton, who had a bit of a disappointing season following being drafted to Houston and his trade to Ottawa. However, in the following season he turned his fortune around and was able to get 80 points, a +41 rating, and a surprising 261 hits. Palazzo was able to double Laughton’s entry season point total with 22 points, and while Laughton had slightly more hits, Palazzo was able to attain 69 shots blocked. Laughton wins this comparison for now with his off the wall bounce back season, but Palazzo will also be staying in the VHLM for another season, and another chance to prove his worth.  

 

25 G Luke Derion  LVA | RW AJ Axelsen  HFX 

A much easier comparison between a goalie and a skater, Derion’s best performance was the 10 games he played in the VHLM prior to getting drafted, with a 0.892 SV% and a 2.41 GAA. However, it was downhill from there, as Derion’s stats faltered and he eventually retired after two less than optimal seasons in the minors. Axelsen is a very different story, and after a not very flashy pre-draft season, completely turned it around with a 105 point Season 66. This comparison is not even close, and Axelsen wins on every level.  

 

Another draft comparison is in the books. Look forward to the next issue, in which we will wrap up the 65 vs 66 VHLM Dispersal Draft Comparison.  

[ThePerfectNut 563]

Aleksander Rodriguez is really excited to see his soon 0.0

[Gustav 6,469]

Well done, teammate. 

[ThePerfectNut 563]

We need more!