VHL S72 Top 25 Players, Part 4: 10-6

[FrostBeard 2,061]

 

VHL Top 25 Players

 

Part 4: 10-6

 

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 4 will feature well known award winners and newcomers who have a lot to prove! 
 

10. Condor Adrienne, D

 

The first overall pick of the S68 draft, Malmo’s Condor Adrienne, has not disappointed. An outstanding two-way defenceman, Adrienne is more than capable to be utilized in any situation that could present itself during a game. In S70, he took home the Jake Wylde Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s top defensive defenceman. While he posted a career-high in hits that season and matched his previous career-high in shots blocked as well, he has maintained an elite level of play for his entire career so far that cannot be defined by just one season. Averaging 219 hits and 117 shots blocked per season up to this point, Adrienne is a remarkable player in his own zone. Offensively, he is much the same. With 10+ goals in every season so far, and over 200 points in just four seasons, his game is far from one-dimensional. Adrienne handles the puck extremely well in high danger situations, such as when he is walking the blue line in the offensive zone. From there, he can keep the play moving with a pass down low, or create chances with his shot from long range. So far this season, he leads the entire league in points through 6 games. It is unquestionable that he is a top defender in this league, and the success that he has had at both ends of the rink for the past few seasons is very hard to come by.

Patrik Tallinder

 

9. Ambrose Stark, C

So much can be said about cup-winning Seattle Bears but it is pretty clear that without Ambrose Stark they might have even missed playoffs. With S71 being a true breakout season, Ambrose was able to cement himself as one of the top players in VHL. A pure offensive talent. Stark is definitely not known for heavy hits and amazing shot blocks, at least while playing at the centre position, he is best known for his ability to move the puck and shoot and extremely high precision. His role on the Seattle Bears will only become more important as the Bears will be going for another deep playoff run. His team desperately needs himself to be as effective as last season and maybe even more. Ambrose Stark is a great example of how a position switch can impact someone’s career as his defenceman statistics compared to forward statistics are mildly lack-lustre at best. I do believe that we are looking at a player who will be a frequent guest on points and goals leaderboard these last few seasons of his career. 

FrostBeard
 

8. Lincoln Tate, D

 

Lincoln Tate has already sealed his place among the all-time greats of Riga’s history, and he may have three seasons left to pad those numbers. He is currently fourth on the team leaderboard in shots blocked and third in blocks per game (minimum one-hundred games). Over the past three seasons, he has settled into his role as one of the most physical, defence-first defencemen in the league. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t shoot. Tate scored sixteen goals last season, among the best defenders in that regard and set a personal record with sixty-seven points. As Riga looks poised to make a run at the cup this season, I expect him to eclipse that pace again and finally break the point per game mark. With Hackett and Sasakamoose alongside, the Reign might just give their newly acquired goal-tender the easiest time of his life, and with five straight deep playoff runs it looks like it just might be time for Tate, and the rest of the team, to get their cup.

Erik Summers

 

7. Greg Eagles, G

 

With our first goaltender on the list, we have the Riga Reign’s Greg Eagles. Eagles is entering now his sixth VHL season and his second with the Reign. Formerly a member of the Vancouver Wolves after being drafted 19th overall in the S67 draft (still a great value), Eagles waived his NTC last season to allow the trade to go through, seeing the Wolves stock up on future value while extending Riga’s competitive window into the future. Although it didn’t pan out for the Reign in year one, this goaltender is something else. Despite a slow start in his first few seasons, Eagles has really come into his own in Seasons 70/71, posting at least a .920 in both seasons. His Season 70 performance with Vancouver was particularly impressive, as he earned nine shutouts on 59 games played, though his playoff numbers were somewhat disappointing. Eagles has a reputation for being a great leader and teammate, and a stalwart backstop for any aspiring playoff team, but if he is to bring the Reign back into the Continental Cup Finals he will need to improve on his playoff consistency, which has been one of his weaker points thus far in his career. This season, Eagles is certainly one of the top goalies to watch, and with a strong Riga blueline in front of him, is definitely in contention for the Greg Clegane trophy, not to mention the Shaw, the both of which he won in his standout S70 regular season.

Mr_Hatter

 

6th. Michael Johnson, G

 

A lifer with the Malmo Nighthawks, Michael Johnson has been one of their most dependable players. Unfortunately, that means that Johnson has not always had the best talent around him, but it hasn't seemed to matter. Every single season, without fail, Johnson just keeps getting better. After posting a .905 save percentage as a rookie in Season 67, he has never posted below a .917, his career save percentage. Johnson has eclipsed a .920 for the past two seasons, with a career-best .927 and ten shutouts, also a career-best, in Season 71. However, during the off-season, Johnson was acquired by the Helsinki Titans, who won out over the Prague Phantoms in a bidding war. It will certainly seem bizarre for fans to see him donning a new sweater, but for a Titans team looking to return to the playoffs, it's a huge signing. Michael Johnson has garnered a ton of respect during his career, and the best may just be yet to come for him, landing him a lofty #6 ranking on the VSN Top 25.

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! Who do you think made our Top 5?

People mentioned: @OrbitingDeath, @Banackock, @Tate, @Greg_Di, @fonziGG, @Renomitsu @Cxsquared

[Rayzor_7 741]

This is either a really good sign, or a really bad sign.

[fonziGG 1,071]

1 hour ago, Rayzor_7 said:

This is either a really good sign, or a really bad sign.

Good sign I’d think for you

[Banackock 8,139]

I’ll take it

[Banackock 8,139]

If Jaguar is ahead though (lol) 

[NotAVHLM-GM 1,858]

I made the list Thanks for the shoutout!

[gorlab 4,321]

4 hours ago, Banackock said:

If Jaguar is ahead though (lol) 

 

 

VSN, I could kiss you. 

[Victor 11,021]

18 hours ago, FrostBeard said:

He is currently fourth on the team leaderboard in shots blocked and third in blocks per game (minimum one-hundred games).

Sigh. How are those complete career stats coming along @Sonnet?