VHL Top 25 Players, Part 4: 10-6

[McWolf 3,114]

 

VHL Top 25 Players

Part 4: 10-6

 

I’m back. Big thanks to VSN’s chief editor @FrostBeard for setting Part 3 yesterday, as I was unable to do it myself at a decent time. Today, I’m back stronger than ever before with this freshly baked piece, as we finally make our way inside the Top 10 players in VHL for Season 70, as ranked by the Victory Sports News.

 

 

10. Ryan Kastelic

 

The current all-time leader in TPE, Ryan Kastelic of the Riga Reign has been a phenomenal player throughout his whole VHL career, though perhaps never hitting the highest of highs that his agency would have desired from a player of his means. Kastelic was initially drafted as a defenseman, and he hit the ground running, averaging a point per game in his rookie season in the VHL, the same season in which the Reign won the Continental Cup. For the next five seasons, Kastelic was a consistent point per game scorer, improving slightly each season, from the 72 of his rookie season to 88 in S68. During this time Kastelic shifted his position from defenseman to centre, a change which was accompanied by a career-high 33 goals in S68. Despite this fantastic record, Kastelic did struggle last season, failing to reach a point per game for the first time ever in his long career in the VHL, and ended the season with only 64 points. Although, Kastelic’s performances in the playoffs were instrumental in Riga’s deep run, as he notched six goals and thirteen assists throughout 17 playoff games; obviously a player of his experience knows when to be clutch. Now going into his final season as a VHL player, Kastelic is looking to end on a high note and make up for the poor regular season he suffered in S69. Will S70 be a final triumph for this player that has already secured his place in the history books, or will his legacy be one of TPE and little else? It will be interesting to see, but one thing is for certain: Kastelic may be on his way out, but he is far from done in the VHL. 

Mr_Hatter

 

9. Dan Wilinsky

 

After a long and storied career, we can finally introduce him as Continental Cup winner, Dan Wilinsky. Moving from Helsinki to Seattle in free agency, Wilinsky didn’t miss a step with the change in scenery. The ageing star continues to be a physical powerhouse with 273 hits and 153 minutes in the box (With another 46 in the postseason bringing him just short of 200 on the year). Despite sending over two whole games in the penalty box, Dan still managed 81 points and shooting percentage over 10% (10.66%). Wilinsky finds himself back in the European conference this season with the Malmo Nighthawks. Malmo has had a rollercoaster of performance over the last three seasons, but with some key acquisitions like that of Wilinsky, they look to take a shot at the top of the league again.

Erik Summers

 

8. Kallis Kriketers

 

Having Kallis Kriketers ranked so high actually gave me a scare earlier this week. When the Riga Reign traded for fellow goaltender Finn Davison, the Latvian goaltender’s status was kind of unclear. The team was obviously trying to trade him, but most competitive teams already had a starter and it didn’t make sense for a rebuilding team to take him, which helped spread rumours that the defending Scotty Campbell Trophy winner would retire before the start of his 8th season to relieve Riga of his salary cap. Our rankings were already done, so I wasn’t too sure what we would have done if he decided to retire him before we released it. However, Riga was able to make a deal with the D.C. Dragons, sending the league MVP to the three-year expansion team for two picks. The change of scenery will most likely affect his performances in the upcoming season, as the defensemen defending him in D.C. are not as experienced as what he got used to in the 7 seasons he spent in his home country. However, he is still the 16th winningest goaltender in league history with 291 in 7 seasons. Whatever the team in front of him looks like, he’ll find a way to steal games, as he has a clear shot at surpassing Hans Wingate’s 324 wins to retire as the league’s netminder with the 5th most career wins.

McWolf

 

7. Jet Jaguar

 

A player that has been a truly important piece for Moscow and their ability to be a success these past few seasons. Jet Jaguar has been a true powerhouse when it comes to regular-season numbers. With 308 points in 288 games played he has been one of the best players to step on ice from S66 and doesn’t show signs of stopping by any means. Not really known for his ability to create clutch plays in tight situations and games, but he has been consistent and has been a leader on ice for Menace sho has been having more and more success in playoffs. There are still issues for Jet that doesn’t allow him to move higher up the rankings as it is quite well known that his skating ability and his puck handling skills are not on an elite level. That said, his ability to push opposition away after faceoffs and his natural ability to score goals makes him a lethal threat in every situation he gets a chance to guide the puck across the ice. With last season finishing with over 80 points and fishing as 5th highest scoring player, Jaguar shows a lot of skill and ability to lead his teammates on ice no matter if they are losing or winning. 

FrostBeard

 

6. Kronos Bailey

 

A staple for the Helsinki Titans, Kronos Bailey has been a key piece of the team for his entire career. Joining Helsinki for his rookie season in Season 64, Bailey scored 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points. The Titans reached the playoffs, as they would for every season of Bailey's career thus far, and the first of four seasons the Titans would reach the Continental Cup Finals. Swept by Toronto, Bailey exploded with an 87 point season, scoring 37 goals. He also emerged as a physical presence, recording a staggering 346 hits. Helsinki, however, again fell to the Toronto Legion in the Continental Cup Finals, losing in Game Seven. However, after posting an identical statistical output in Season 66, this time the Titans captured the Continental Cup, smashing the Vancouver Wolves in a sweep. Although Bailey put up the lowest point total since his rookie season with 59, the Titans returned to the Continental Cup Finals, for the Wolves to get their revenge by winning in six games. After retooling his game, Bailey dropped his physical play, but put up a career-best 95 points, scoring 24 goals and a league-leading 71 assists, winning him the Alexander Beketov Trophy. Last season, Bailey returned to his goal-scoring ways with 30, adding 55 points to finish with 85. Bailey's career has been marked with consistency and excellence, including when it matters most: the playoffs. In 60 postseason games, Bailey has put up nearly a point per game, scoring 56 points, including 24 goals. Sadly, with this disappearance of Quik, this could be the end of Bailey's dominance in the VHL. His regression has gone uncombated, and while he remains a top-flight playmaker, his scoring touch has eroded to where even 20 goals might be a stretch in Season 70. Kronos Bailey's past accomplishments have gotten him to #6 on our list, but unfortunately, unless Quik returns, Bailey will quickly end up a shell of himself. 

Doomsday

 

Four parts down, only one to go. Did you agree with our rankings for these five players? And who do you think made it to the top of the list? Let us know what you think in the comments.

 

People mentioned: @Enorama @oilmandan @hedgehog337 @Poptart @gorlab @Quik

[McWolf 3,114]

8 + 9 + 10 = S62 Founder's Cup gang

[Walter Fizz 84]

32 minutes ago, McWolf said:

8 + 9 + 10 = S62 Founder's Cup gang

8+9+10=27

[McWolf 3,114]

2 minutes ago, Walter Fizz said:

8+9+10=27

oh shit you right