Claimed:Cologne Welcomes Season 38 Draftees

[RomanesEuntDomus 442]

Cologne Welcomes Season 38 Draftees

 

The Cologne Express entered the Season 38 VHL Entry Draft with a whole flurry of picks, including muliple first and second rounders. We now take a look at some of these players, highlight their careers so far and give an outlook on their future...

 

Dimothenis Vlasis – Defense – Turku Outlaws – 4^th Overall – 6’2/210 lbs / 72 GP – 34 G + 62 A = 96 P – +19 – 53 PIM – 144 HIT – 154 SB

 

Last year the Express selected a goaltender with their first pick in the draft, this time they went with a Defenseman. It seems like Cologne is building on a solid defense as the key to their future success and Dimothenis Vlasis is expected to be a big part of that plan. The Greek defenseman was one of the premier all-around blueliners in the VHLM last season and should only get better. At 4^th overall he was already the third defenseman picked in a draft that was heavy on defensive prospects. Like all other prospects Cologne selected in the recent draft, Vlasis will play in the VHLM for another season, but he is very close to being VHL-ready. His Turku Outlaws might not have as much depth anymore this season as they had last year, but they are still a very talented team that should allow Vlasis to develop at a nice pace and put up great numbers before he joins the VHL in Season 39.

 

Steve Tremblay – Left Wing – Bern Royals – 5^th Overall – 5’8/160 lbs / 61 GP – 9 G + 8 A = 17 P – +25 – 14 PIM – 35 HIT – 0 SB

 

 

One of the riskier picks of the draft might be the player the Express selected right after Dimothenis Vlasis, when they chose Steve Tremblay with the 5^th overall selection, that they had just traded up for days before the draft. Tremblay was a relatively unknown player before this season and he didn’t stand out like some of his peers in his first junior season, yet the Express still trusted him enough to use a Top-5 pick on him. The smallish winger out of Quebec did struggle a bit to find his offensive game in the VHLM, where he played on a stacked Bern Royals team. That doesn’t mean that Tremblay didn’t help his team though, he was a +25 through 61 games and played a solid all-around game. He will also suit up for a new team next season as he was drafted by the Moscow Red Wolves in the VHLM Dispersal Draft, which should give him a lot more playing time. The speedy Tremblay projects to be a pure sniper at the VHL-level, but he has a good eye for his teammates as well that could lead to him developing into a nice all-around offensive player with franchise-face potential.

 

Ashton Galbraith – Right Wing – Minot Gladiators – 8^th Overall – 6’4/215 lbs / 72 GP – 33 G + 106 A = 139 P – +34 – 43 PIM – 95 HIT – 25 SB

 

It was one of the big questions on draft day: How far would Ashton Galbraith fall? The big forward out of Madison, Wisconsin, had been touted as a premier prospect for the Season 38 draft pretty much all season. He was in the top-3 of almost every mock draft literally until a week before the draft, when things started to fall apart. Questions arose about Galbraith’s work ethic shortly after his interviews, when word got out that he had told multiple GMs that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue his hockey career following this season. And so began his free-fall in the rankings, which didn’t even stop when Galbraith issued a statement himself were he talked about his concerns and doubts in more detail. In the end he dropped down all the way to the 8^th overall selection, were he was picked up by Cologne. The Express are aware that Galbraith is a huge question mark at this moment, but he still is one of the players with the most rare talent in this draft. If he manages to work his way through the current uncertainties in his life, he could still end up being a very good pick.

 

Leo Tesla – Left Wing – Ottawa Lynx – 9^th Overall – 6’1/201 lbs / 72 GP – 60 G + 47 A = 107 P – -10 – 36 PIM – 124 HIT – 25 SB

 

 

The Express picked up the third winger in a row when they selected Finland native Leo Tesla with the 9^th overall pick. Tesla quietly developed into one of the deadliest goalscorers in the VHLM in his first year in the league, putting up 60 goals and over 100 points in the process as one of the few bright spots on a weak Ottawa Lynx team. He is expected to get more help this season, as the Lynx picked up some nice pieces in the Dispersal Draft, so Tesla’s numbers could be even better this year. He isn’t the most outspoken player in the league and rarely interacts with the media, but former teammates and GMs alike talk very highly of his character and leadership qualities. Look for him to keep developing just as quietly as he has so far, and then suddenly, without anyone really noticing, being one of the best forwards in the league in a few seasons.

Edited May 18, 2014 by RomanesEuntDomus

[Tremblay 22]

Yeah, the first 50 vhlm games last year, my guy played around 2 minutes a game They had a problem adjusting the lines lol

[Guest Svoboda_3]

Content: 3/3

885 words. You had a really nice draft, where you picked up some valuable pieces. As for Galbraith, I just don't know why he continues to waste he and other teams' time. The disappearing act is something that he is synonymously known for, so it wasn't much of a surprise. I'm just glad Helsinki didn't bite at that. Good pick-ups nonetheless for Cologne.

Grammar: 2/2

Nothing earth shattering.

 

muliple = multiple

Defenseman = defenseman

draft = Draft

were = where

most rare = rarest

goalscorers = goal-scorers

 

Appearance: 1/1

All that was required was present.

Overall: 6/6

[Smarch 3,196]

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