VHL S72 Top 25 Players, Part 2: 20-16

[FrostBeard 1,975]

 

VHL Top 25 Players

 

Part 2: 20-16

 

S72 has already started and VSN is back here again to rank and show who we think is going to be the best player of S72! There are amazing new candidates and many older players who are all showcasing their strengths and immense talent so be ready for our next iteration of VSN's Top 25!

 

This season, VSN Editor-in-chief @FrostBeard, writers @Doomsday, @Erik Summers, and @Patrik Tallinder, along with voice and video masters @Berocka and @Esso2264 and also with our distinguished guest @rjfryman ranked and debated who is going to be the top dog in Season 72. They are joined by @Mr_Hatter, VSN's VHLM aficionado, for the write-ups. Part 2 will feature the current light of VHL -  recent cup winners, players with individual awards and some who are still hoping to prove themselves!
 

20. Lance Flowers, D

 

Selected second overall in the S68 draft, Lance Flowers has enjoyed an S71 season which included career highs in goals, assists, points, and plus-minus. He has been tremendous in the defensive aspects of the game since his rookie season and has really come into his own offensively as well. Flowers is a terrifying opponent, with his 6’7” frame, and an eagerness to play physically. This edge in his game has led to over 1000 hits already in his young career, with just 4 seasons under his belt. To complement his size, the defender has a powerful stride and top tier vision, which makes him a breakout machine that excels at transitioning the puck up the ice. In a league full of goal-scoring forwards, his passing ability works well in balancing out a lineup, and the forwards are able to create more chances because of it. He went through what some may refer to as a “sophomore slump,” posting only 34 points after an amazing rookie season in which he took home the Jake Wylde and Christian Stolzschweiger trophies. But since then, he has not only built himself back up to that calibre of player, he’s pushed beyond that, with his S71 stats backing that up. His career looks to be on the upswing, with no signs of slowing down, and it is no doubt that he is among the elite defenders of the VHL.

Patrik Tallinder

19. Erik Summers, D

One of the biggest surprises last season was the amazing performance of Erik Summers who led the Helsinki team in points and also was one of two players who managed to get 63 assists in the regular season in all of the VHL. He influenced every puck possession and was an incredibly important part of the Titans struggle to make playoffs. If you take into account the fact that Erik Summers received Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy last season, he is showing great promise for this season. Even though Erik was not a really important presence physically, he was able to hold his own and be the second-best shot-blocker in the league. This season it will be a question of having the ability to grow on the last season’s results, keeping the same level of discipline and leading a team that is still trying their best to make playoffs and have a chance at winning Continental cup. It is clear that you can’t really go wrong with having a young and brilliant defenceman on this list considering the accolades he has already gained. The one aspect of his game that still could be of question is the ability to play clutch and be there for the team when it matters the most. 

FrostBeard

 

18. Hulk Hogan, D

 

Will this be the year Hogan wins the Slobo? The three-time Cup-winning defenceman has spent his whole career as part of the Seattle Bear’s infamous class of 67 and is an integral part of that team’s success. Despite never reaching a PPG scoring pace, Hogan’s ability as a blue line general is infamous, and he is famous for his passing ability. Last season set his career-best for assists at 63, which was joint top in the league. Considering he has never assisted less than 34 goals in a season, reaching 50 assists in three of five seasons, and his ability is self-evident. Now entering the late stages of his career, Hulk is looking to prove himself as an individual player, not as a cog in the winning machine. His Beketov trophy last season is the only individual award he has won at the VHL level, so the question is, will that soon change? Despite being an infamous enforcer earlier on in his career (or at least an infamous talker), Hogan has instilled some discipline into his game and reached a career-low in PIM last season while maintaining a hits total over 130. Will a cooler head prevail in his quest for glory? Time will tell this season, but he is poised for success. One thing is certain; when the going gets tough, the Hulks get going. He may not score much, but he does when it matters most, with half of his goals last season coming as game-winning goals. This season the Bears will need all that energy, as Hulk Hogan is their number one man on the blue line. Their success could very well rest on his shoulders, so let’s see if he can carry the weight. 

Mr_Hatter

 

17. Mikko Aaltonen, RW

 

In his seventh season in the VHL, Mikko Aaltonen has been the core of the D.C. Dragons roster since their inception. However, carrying a new franchise through a rocky start can be a thankless job. Despite averaging over a point per game through the past four seasons with the dragons, he finds himself at a minus seventy-three in that time. After consecutive first-round losses in the postseason, Aaltonen is looking for more. Now that the team is finally in the position to have consistent success, we may finally see Mikko get the recognition, and awards, some would argue he deserves. Age is starting to take its toll on Aaltonen, but with two great centres on the roster, he will be getting fed juicy passes in every game. I expect Mikko to lead the Dragons in goals scored and possibly in points. He has also had fantastic playoff production the past two seasons, so I don’t expect that to change either. I, for one, hope to watch him finish out his career in D.C., as he is already going to be remembered as one of the greats for the early days of this team and, at this point, it would just be strange to see him in a different colour sweater.

Erik Summers

 

16. Acyd Burn, RW

 

As one of the Seattle Bears' crop of Season 67 draftees, Acyd Burn quickly became one of the VHL's prominent goal scorers as an integral piece of the Bears' back-to-back Continental Cup victories. Seattle, however, ran into cap troubles keeping the team together, and Burn's tenure with the Bears ended when he was traded to the Malmo Nighthawks before Season 71. To be kind, it was not a great fit. On pace to hit career lows in many offensive categories, Burn was mercifully moved to the Riga Reign as they geared up for the playoffs. Despite that, he posted career lows in every major offensive category. However, Burn's talent is undeniable. Even entering regression, he remains among the league's top snipers, and after signing with the HC Davos Dynamo after they acquired his rights in a trade, he's in a great position to succeed. Burn will be called upon to be a leader for a franchise that has been suffering for quite some time, which could make Season 71 a very distant memory. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the running for the Dustin Funk Trophy as the most improved player in the VHL with his new home in Davos.

Doomsday

 

Do you think VSN got it right? Do you think anyone else should be on this list? If so, post in the comments and debate it all! Truly talented and highly successful players coming up next!

Players mentioned: @CowboyinAmerica @Erik Summers @Hulk Hogan @GRZ @Acydburn

[Acydburn 1,555]

Acyd Burns a bust