The VHL 50 Games In

[Matt_O 897]

The VHL is at the point in the season where the good teams separate themselves from the bad teams, and the overachievers start to take steps back. There have been many surprises and disappointments this year, and lets look at some of the biggest surprises of this season.

 

 

Surprise- Moscow Menace

The Menace made a lot of moves this offseason that made people think they could contend for a playoff spot, either through crossover or in the third spot in the European Conference. They acquired Randoms and Podrick Cast from Riga, who are both well over point per game this season. They also traded for goaltender Roger Sterling from the Wolves, although he has underperformed in the games he has played. Last year they finished second in goals for, but were last in goals against. This year they are still second in goals for, but now are sixth in goals against, a noticeable improvement. 

 

They currently sit only three points behind Helsinki for the first seed in the European Conference, which is very unexpected. They have all but secured a playoff spot this season, and it will be interesting to see how they do in the postseason.

 

Projected Points: 86 points (+26 point improvement)

Projected Goals For: 252 goals ( +14 goal improvement)

Projected Goals Against: 222 goals (+61 goal improvement)

 

Disappointment- HC Davos Dynamo

The Dynamo also made a lot of noise during the offseason. They traded away Elias Dahlberg, Rylan Peace, Pat Svoboda, while trading for Jake Davis and a ton of draft picks. Despite the wild offseason, most people expected them to finish third in the European Conference. Newcomers Aston Martin, Bjorn Scoringsson were drafted by Davos, and players like Smitty Werbenjagermanjenson, Charlie Paddywagon, John Madden, and Katie Warren were expected to take a step forward. While goaltender Finn Davidson has had a career year, the rest of the team has struggled to keep up.

 

The top line of John Madden, Ryuu Crimson, and Jake Davis has produced as expected, while rookies Aston Martin and Bjorn Scoringsson have also had respectable seasons. Their defense has struggled to produce points (with the exception of Smitty), but their struggles are very hard to explain. They have a positive plus minus, and sit in the middle of the pack of goals for and goals against. They sit 10 points behind Riga for the third seed in the European Conference, and 5 points behind Vancouver for the conference crossover. Their playoff hopes seem to be in doubt.

 

Projected Points: 72 points (-10 point decrease)

Projected Goals For: 205 goals (-22 goal decrease)

Projected Goals Against: 203 goals (+3 goal improvement)

 

Player Disappointment- Leph Twinger (16 goals, 17 assists, 33 points)

This shouldn't come as a surprise. When was the last time Twinger didn't underperform? With the exception of S65, when he hit 74 points with New York, he hasn't been a point per game player in any season since his 116 point rookie season. Underperforming is second nature to Twinger at this point, and this season may be his worst showing. With only 33 points in 56 games, he has failed to contribute to a Calgary team that many expected to be at the top of the league.

 

Twinger has over 900 TPA and has a really good build and has struggled to produce points throughout the season. He plays on a line with Joel Ylonen and Diljodh Starload, who both are right around a point per game. Twinger's poor performance this year is just another chapter in his disappointing career.

 

On pace for his worst statistical season of his career

Projected Points: 42 points (-21 point decrease)

 

Dishonorable mentions:

Gritty (27 points)

Lincoln Tate (10 points)

 

 

Player Surprise- Matthew Materazo (29 goals, 33 assists, 62 points)

While some may scream bias, I didn't even really expect this. Materazo has already passed his career highs in assists and points, and is only one behind last years goal total. He sits in tenth place in points, and eighth place in goals. He has lead Malmo in points for the entire season and has been the offensive catalyst they need. He will likely be a surefire all star this season, which I'm sure many did not expect heading into the season.

 

Projected Goals: 38 goals (+8 goal improvement)

Projected Assists: 42 assists (+14 assist improvement)

Projected Points: 80 points (+22 point improvement)

 

 

Player Surprise- Elasmobranch Fish (10 goals, 43 assists, 53 points)

Elasmobranch Fish has quietly become the best defenseman on Calgary's blue line. Sitting in fourth place in points by defenseman and sixth place in assists, Fish has had a career year with the Wranglers. He has already set a new career high in assists, and has almost placed a career high in points as well. Him and Malenko have anchored a blue line that has a struggling second pair (Cody Smith and Brady Stropko Jr.) Don't be surprised if Fish gets some votes for best defenseman this season.

 

Projected Goals: 13 goals (+4 goal improvement)

Projected Assists: 55 assists (+16 assist improvement)

Projected Points: 68 points (+15 points)

 

Edited August 9, 2019 by Matt_O

[Victor 10,940]

Poor Twinger

[Dil 1,760]

17 hours ago, Victor said:

Poor Twinger

poor me. @DollarAndADream start giving me points u boomer

[DollarAndADream 3,356]

4 hours ago, DilIsPickle said:

poor me. @DollarAndADream start giving me points u boomer

 

22 hours ago, Victor said:

Poor Twinger

 

Twinger is the best 1000 TPE depth winger EVER!!

 

He seems to rock in shootouts though.

[Dil 1,760]

47 minutes ago, DollarAndADream said:

 

 

Twinger is the best 1000 TPE depth winger EVER!!

 

He seems to rock in shootouts though.

Boomer