TRADE ALERT: MAL/RIG

[Doomsday 4,143]

 

Malmo Nighthawks Receive:

 

LW Dan Baillie

C Aston Martin

RW Domonique Williams

S72 DCD 2nd

S72 RIG 3rd

S73 RIG 1st

S73 RIG 2nd

S73 RIG 3rd

S73 SEA 3rd

 

 Riga Reign Receive:

 

C Phil Marleau

RW Acyd Burn 

 

Analysis

 

At the rate we're going, you almost have to wonder if there's going to be any room for activity at the trade deadline with all the manoeuvres going on right now. As if they hadn't made it clear enough, Benjamin Zeptembergs has made it clear that the Riga Reign are all in for the Continental Cup this season, as they ship off quite an impressive amount of selections as part of a big package for forwards Phil Marleau and Acyd Burn. It's a big price to pay, but the Reign now boast two top-tier forwards to pair with their up-and-coming core of forwards. Patrik Tallinder and Kyl Oferson will continue to grow together on the second line, with Ryan Busser taking top-line minutes with the new additions. Combined with Lincoln Tate and Apollo Hackett on defence and Greg Eagles now between the pipes, Riga is a team that looks set to compete for the Continental Cup for the next couple seasons. They just traded off a treasure trove of draft picks, but in all honesty, what else does Riga need to add? This squad looks set right now. 

 

For the Malmo Nighthawks, their disastrous slide has ultimately culminated in General Manager John Frostbeard throwing in the towel on Season 71 with this trade. There was little hope on catching up to the rest of the European Conference, so selling was ultimately not a difficult decision to make. It's a tough pill to swallow, as Frostbeard won't be making a selection in the Season 72 VHL Entry Draft until the second round, and the Seattle Bears are all but assured that the first-round pick they acquired in the trade that sent Acyd Burn to Malmo is a lock to become a lotto pick. You have to wonder who else Frostbeard will be looking to sell off to get this rebuild going. Season 73 will be a big off-season for Malmo, with four selections in the first two rounds now. Tough times are ahead for Frostbeard and the Nighthawks, as they must decide who will be moved for more picks and who will be weathering the storm as Malmo enters a rebuild. 

 

Riga paid a lot to get Marleau and Burn, but at this point, draft picks mean little to the Reign. They've got the team they feel can compete for the Cup right now, as well as the foreseeable future. For Malmo, those picks are gold. It's hard to picture a better start for a rebuild, with six draft picks and cap dumps that will be off the books by the time their new players will be coming up. Both teams accomplished a lot with this trade, and I would have to call it even. 

 

Get-to-Know the Players

 

Dan Baillie

 

In the final season of his career, this sure isn't the way Dan Baillie envisioned it all coming to an end. A lifer for the Moscow Menace, no one has played more games for the team than Baillie, who is also near the top of most of the team's career leaders. He is the only original member of the Moscow Menace's inaugural season that was with the team for their first Continental Cup championship in Season 70, the perfect way to cap off his time with the team. Salary cap restraints led to him becoming a free agent, and Baillie signed with the Riga Reign. However, he's gone from chasing another ring to end his career to a team entering a rebuild. For a player that epitomized loyalty, it's a sad and cruel ending for Dan Baillie's career. 

 

Aston Martin

 

Generally, when you draft a player fourth overall, you expect that player to be a pivotal piece for your franchise. But for Aston Martin, selected fourth overall by the HC Davos Dynamo in Season 67, that hasn't been the case. In his fifth season in the VHL, he's now playing for his fifth team. While the journeyman hasn't exactly been a terrible player, he definitely hasn't lived up to his lofty draft status. He looked to be emerging as that guy with the Helsinki Titans in Season 69 (nice), with 34 goals and 73 points, but it's been all downhill since then for Aston Martin. His work ethic has entirely dropped off, and as a result, so has his production. With regression setting in next season, it's not going to get any better either. 

 

Domonique Williams

 

Although Dominique Williams was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces of the VHLM in Season 70, he did not hear his name called on draft day in Season 71's VHL Entry Draft. Signing as an undrafted free agent with the Riga Reign, he now finds himself in Malmo's farm system as a throw-in with this trade. He hasn't had the most steady progression, but it's not out of the question that Williams could prove to be a future piece for the Nighthawks' rebuild. Perhaps a change in scenery could get Dominique Williams' journey to the VHL back on track. 

 

Phil Marleau

 

One of the biggest enigmas of the VHL, Phil Marleau is a player that has always looked primed to become an elite player, yet it never happens. Taken third overall by Malmo in Season 67, Marleau has been a huge presence for the Nighthawks, but it just hasn't translated into points. With 52 points, including 21 goals as a rookie, it was a promising start, but Marleau hasn't topped those numbers since. He has scored 21 goals three times in his career but has only topped 50 points once since his rookie season. His agency has had tremendous success with the Riga Reign before, so perhaps a change of scenery will be the spark Phil Marleau needs to finally become an elite player. 

 

Acyd Burn

 

A pivotal member of the back-to-back Continental Cup champion Seattle Bears, Acyd Burn has enjoyed considerable success during his career. Scoring 22 goals in his rookie season, it's a number that Burn has never failed to top since then. Seattle's success, however, came at a price, and Burn was moved to Malmo for cap relief. It hasn't been a good stay for Burn, on pace to set career lows, but on Riga, maybe things will turn around. He's still a threat to score, with 14 goals so far in Season 71. Acyd Burn has the talent to spark a team to championships, and the Riga Reign will be counting on him to deliver that same production for them. 

 

Players Mentioned: @Domkey, @wcats, @Sullvino, @Phil, @Acydburn, @hedgehog337, @Patrik Tallinder, @Nykonax, @diacope, @Tate, @Renomitsu, @Greg_Di, @FrostBeard

 

For more quality coverage of the VHL and the VHLM, past, present and future, make sure to check out the following features!

 

The VHLM Review | VSN Weekly Review | S71 VHL Award Tracker | VSN Radio | Deep Rewind

Edited April 14, 2020 by Doomsday

[Acydburn 1,618]

2 hours ago, Doomsday said:

 

Acyd Burn

 

A pivotal member of the back-to-back Continental Cup champion Seattle Bears, Acyd Burn has enjoyed considerable success during his career. Scoring 22 goals in his rookie season, it's a number that Burn has never failed to top since then. Seattle's success, however, came at a price, and Burn was moved to Malmo for cap relief. It hasn't been a good stay for Burn, on pace to set career lows, but on Riga, maybe things will turn around. He's still a threat to score, with 14 goals so far in Season 71. Acyd Burn has the talent to spark a team to championships, and the Riga Reign will be counting on him to deliver that same production for them. 

 

What talent? Burn sims like hot ass in Brooklyn on a scorcher. 

[Victor 11,021]

6 minutes ago, Acydburn said:

 

What talent? Burn sims like hot ass in Brooklyn on a scorcher. 

Retire with me and exploit the weakness of the S73 class.

[solas 1,952]

11 minutes ago, Victor said:

Retire with me and exploit the weakness of the S73 class.

Weakness?  

[Advantage 2,899]

15 minutes ago, Victor said:

Retire with me and exploit the weakness of the S73 class.

Not gonna happen.

[Acydburn 1,618]

15 minutes ago, Victor said:

Retire with me and exploit the weakness of the S73 class.

Is Moscow stocked up in 73 or something? lol

[Ricer13 2,823]

This is an awesome breakdown! Nice work Doom

[diacope 1,696]

Welcome to Riga guys! Let's do this!!

Edited April 14, 2020 by diacope

[Doomsday 4,143]

56 minutes ago, Tate said:

Review:

 

- Another fantastic piece by one of the best writers in the VHL. It was a damn smart move to hire you for the VSN and it shows in every bit of media you produce for the sight. Yes, I'm biased in that I was really looking forward to reading your trade breakdown, but at the same time I was not disappointed in the slightest. You do a great job in structuring out the article so that it is easy to follow, and the research you put into it really helps shape your message and educate the reader. Thank you for the great work, I can't wait for the next one!

 

10/10

 

47 minutes ago, Ricer13 said:

This is an awesome breakdown! Nice work Doom

 

Stuff like this makes writing very rewarding, it means a lot to me to know it is enjoyed! Thank you so much to both of you for the kind words! 

[Victor 11,021]

1 hour ago, Acydburn said:

Is Moscow stocked up in 73 or something? lol

We could be.  

[Acydburn 1,618]

10 minutes ago, Victor said:

We could be.