S68 VHLM Draft Review: Part 1

[Matt_O 897]

With the S68 VHLM Draft behind us, we see eleven teams with one goal: winning the founders cup. While some teams are way closer to that goal than others, it will be a dogfight this season. Lets look at each teams picks in the first four rounds of the S68 Draft!

 

 

Mexico City Kings

Draft Class:

Solomon Crawford (G)- 1st overall 

Alyksander Hunter (D)- 11th overall

Ryan Busser (RW)- 12th overall

Shush Nyko (LW)- 23rd overall

Guy Lesieu (RW)- 29th overall

 

After trading for first overall, they made the head scratching move to select Solomon Crawford first overall. Crawford is a great goaltender that is active on discord, but first overall? That was a shocker. Late in the first round they also picked up two really solid players in Hunter and Busser, and both of them will be instrumental in the Kings cup hopes. Mexico City GM @Nykonax loves taking risks, and picked up two low TPE guys in Shush Nyko and Guy Lesieu in the third round. While both players are active, taking them in the third round over guys such as Mike Van Stronk and Peach Panther certainly rose some eyebrows. If they don't work out, Mexico City will not be looking so good. Will they still be a playoff team? Yes, but they won't make it far. They are banking on guys remaining active for this team to work. If they go inactive, this team could be in for a tough season.

 

Best Pick: Ryan Busser at 12

Ceiling: 3rd seed

Floor: 7th seed

 

Mississauga Hounds 

Draft Class:

Brock Louth (D)- 2nd overall

Balentine Kidd (C)- 9th overall

Jerry Wang (RW)- 13th overall

Guy Saskamoose (D)- 24th overall

Pat Tallinder (RW)- 31st overall

Kris Rice (RW)- 43rd overall

 

A team that is gunning for S69 still had a solid S68 draft. Brock Louth will be the cornerstone of the team, complimented by Jerry Wang and Balentine Kidd on offense. They also have multiple late round picks that have been a success, such as Guy Saskamoose and Kris Rice. That being said, the lack of top end talent on the team concerns me. While you can say they will be close the gap on other teams by the playoffs, this team may be hurt by the lack of talent in the early parts of the season, and getting a worse seed than they should get. Ultimately the Hounds just aren't as talented as the other teams in the VHLM this year.

 

Best Pick: Balentien Kidd at 9th

Ceiling: 5th seed

Floor: 8th seed

 

Las Vegas Aces 

Draft Class

George Washington (C)- 3rd overall

Benny Graves (C)- 4th overall

Cinnamon Block (D)- 7th overall

David Wallace (RW)- 14th overall

Blacker Velvet (D)- 15th overall

Bruce Grimaldi (G)- 25th overall

Killy Foilen (RW)- 26th overall

Lek Bislimi (LW)- 34th overall

Mike Van Stronk (D)- 35th overall

Tony Bolonee (D)- 37th overall

 

It was a big draft for Vegas. With a team filled with talent, there are a few standouts. George Washington and Benny Graves will be a deadly one two combo down the middle, accompanied by David Wallace, Killy Foilen, Lek Bislimi, and Jeff Tates, who signed with Vegas in free agency. Now we can look at the defense, which is even more stacked. Blacker Velvet and Cinnamon Block make up a fierce top defense unit, followed by Tony Bolonee and Mike Van Stronk. It will be tough to score on Vegas. With all that being said, the biggest question lies in net. If Bruce Grimaldi stays in the VHLM, Vegas should be instant cup favorites. If he decides to play in Prague, their chances take a hit. It all relies on him. Vegas is still an elite team and can get by without a goalie, but if they don't have one come playoff time, they will get exposed.

 

Best Pick: Tony Bolonee at 37

Ceiling: 1st seed

Floor: 3rd seed

 

San Diego Marlins 

Draft Class

Chad Gilbert (C)- 5th overall

Will Clarke (D)- 16th overall

Markus Nygren (LW)- 20th overall

Raleigh Ritchie (RW)- 27th overall

Daldo (RW)- 38th overall

King Kruul (D)- 42nd overall

 

The Marlins sport a decent team this year, with re-creates Will Clarke and Markus Nygren leading the way, supported by first gen Chad Gilbert and Raleigh Ritchie. Similar to Mississauga, I don't think this team has all the pieces to make a deep run. While players will approach the cap through out the season, the Marlins do not have enough players that will reach that plateau to make a run for the cup. They have a goalie that may be inactive, and only one good forward line. While this will become less of an issue as the season goes on, I expect the Marlins to have an OK season.

 

Best Pick: Will Clarke at 16

Ceiling: 5th seed

Floor: 9th seed

 

That's it for part one of the VHLM draft review! Look tomorrow for part two!

 

[Nykonax 1,566]

4 minutes ago, Matt_O said:

After trading for first overall, they made the head scratching move to select Solomon Crawford first overall. Crawford is a great goaltender that is active on discord, but first overall?

don't diss my guy @AndrewWarren13 like that

 

 

[Erik Summers 451]

4 minutes ago, Nykonax said:

don't diss my guy @AndrewWarren13 like that

 

 

Goalies were in short supply, and it's not like they were going to take the 6' 7'' 150 lb freak.

[FrostBeard 2,061]

Really good, can't wait for the part 2!

[AW13 198]

@Matt_O where is the love!?