TRADE ALERT: DAV/MOS

[Doomsday 4,034]

Special thanks to @Pengu for being a beauty and making this!

 

 HC Davos Dynamo Receive: 

 

C Jet Jaguar

RW Killy Foilen

S74 MOS 3rd

 

 Moscow Menace Receive: 

 

RW Derek Eriksson

LW Michael Hall

LW Milos Slavik

S73 MOS 1st

S74 DAV 3rd

 

Analysis

 

This may not be the first trade of Season 72, but it is for sure the first bombshell transaction. It's the end of an era in Moscow, for 23 games into the season, General Manager Victor Alfredsson has decided that it's just not in the cards this season, and franchise icon Jet Jaguar is on the move. Naturally, if you're going to embrace the tank, you need your first-round pick, which the Menace didn't have. The HC Davos Dynamo and General Manager Jerry Garcia, however, had that pick and were able to work something out with Alfredsson and Moscow, otherwise, you wouldn't be reading this article. 

 

"I don't think it's any secret at this point that I'm planning to build a competitor this season," said Garcia in a press conference held when the trade was announced. "Jaguar is the main piece for me and represents the main star power, and Foilen is at a point where he can certainly be a solid contributor as well. So, I'm hoping this gives us some improvement this season and increases our chances of being a competitor."

 

After acquiring big names like Acyd Burn and ACL Tear over the off-season, Davos still found themselves in the middle of the pack. By moving some depth players and their only first of Season 73, they add a perennial top-five player of the VSN Top 25 rankings, Jet Jaguar, along with Killy Foilen. Although he's nearing the end of his illustrious career, Jaguar continues to perform at a point per game level, with 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 23 games. The HC Dynamo have boasted strong wingers, and although they have a future stud in SS Hornet, they needed a pure centre to really push in Season 72, and Jet Jaguar will do exactly that. Foilen has been primarily a role player for Moscow but has experience in big games. He was a member of the Season 69 Saskatoon Wild, perhaps the best VHLM team ever, and was also on the Season 70 Moscow team that won the Continental Cup. With an elite scoring talent and another veteran, both with Cups under their belts, Davos has gone from a team at the bottom to a very talented and deep squad. The European Conference is wide open this season, and the HC Dynamo have a very real chance of going worst to first now.

 

It's a black day for Moscow, as seeing a franchise talent like Jet Jaguar leave is simply never a day you want to see come. With the losses of players like Dan Baillie, Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen, Gritty, and now Jaguar and Killy Foilen, it truly is the end of an era for the Menace. 

 

"I had suspicions about Moscow's ability to keep competing since the end of last season when we were outmatched by Seattle in the finals," stated General Manager Victor Alfredsson. "As the season progressed though, we were clearly drifting further away from the contenders and potentially going to miss the playoffs without having our own first-round pick. So with our window clearly slamming shut,  I had to make the difficult decision of trading two fan favourites in Jaguar and Foilen, but also ageing, to get our 1st back. Plus also Eriksson and Hall who I think public opinion is sleeping on and will make the trade for us in the long run."

 

This move definitely seems to indicate that Moscow's reign at the top of the European Conference is over, at least for now. The crown jewel of the trade is clearly regaining their Season 73 1st Round pick, the value of which has grown even more with this trade. The hardships that Alfredsson and the Menace will endure the rest of the way will now, at least, result in the addition of a top prospect to their new core. The excitement over bringing in Derek Eriksson and Michael Hall, however, couldn't be missed, and there's reason to believe that Alfredsson is right about them. They likely won't be superstars like Jet Jaguar, but they are consistently improving prospects that have the potential to become quality players of the new core, which are essential to any rebuild. Milos Slavik is a guy who can fill a role now but is definitely a flier at this point. His work ethic has all but vanished, but if his drive to become a better player would return, suddenly it becomes a steal. However, that's a rather slim possibility, but still worth the gamble. 

 

But as far as gambles go, this is a big one for Davos and Garcia. They definitely receive more immediate value, and having Jaguar under contract for the rest of his career is big. This is a move that very well could result in a Continental Cup, which of course would immediately make the trade worth it for Davos. Long-term, it's tipping in Moscow's favourite. They get off to a good start on the rebuild by getting their Season 73 1st Round pick back, along with two players who should factor nicely into it. As it stands today, this is a pretty even trade, and one I can't fault either GM for making. Ultimately, I get the feeling that whether or not Jet Jaguar is able to bring a Continental Cup to Davos is what will ultimately decide the winner of this trade. 

 

Get-to-Know the Players

 

Jet Jaguar

 

The 10th overall pick of the Season 66 VHL Entry Draft has been among the league's best players virtually his entire career. Scoring 40 goals and 90 points as a rookie, Jet Jaguar quickly established himself as one of the VHL's elite. Although his numbers dipped the next two seasons, Season 69 (nice) marked the return of his elite scoring prowess, scoring 35 goals to go with 85 points. Season 70, however, was the Year of the Jaguar. With a career-high 42 goals and 55 assists, Jaguar led the VHL with 97 points, winning the Mike Szatkowski Trophy as Moscow crushed all opponents. The dominant year ended in triumph, as the Menace proceeded to win the Continental Cup. Although he didn't replicate those numbers in Season 71, Jet Jaguar remains as dangerous as ever, especially on a Davos team gunning for the Cup.

 

Killy Foilen

 

Although definitely not a star player like Jet Jaguar, Killy Foilen still made his mark in Moscow. As a member of the Season 69 Saskatoon Wild, Foilen also was part of the Season 70 Moscow team that won the Continental Cup. After stepping up his game in Season 71, Foilen became a rock star in Moscow for demolishing Ola Vikingstad in Game 5 of the Continental Cup Finals. His role elevated again for Season 72, Foilen instead now finds himself in Davos, where his championship pedigree will be a huge asset for a team seeking to return to glory. 

 

Derek Eriksson

 

After two seasons with the Philadelphia Reapers, Derek Eriksson made the leap to the VHL in Season 71 with the HC Davos Dynamo, putting together a very respectable 35 points on a team that didn't have much to celebrate. This season, he had ten points in 23 games before being relocated to Moscow. As a solid depth player that is consistently improving, General Manager Victor Alfredsson is right to be pleased to have added Eriksson to Moscow's new core. 

 

Michael Hall

 

Drafted by the HC Davos Dynamo with the last pick of the third round in the past draft, Michael Hall moves on having never suited up for them. Showing promise in Season 71 by scoring 30 goals with the Houston Bulls, Hall is currently a part of the VHLM-leading Minnesota Storm. Establishing himself as a viable scoring option, with 26 points he is averaging over a point per game. If he continues to improve his game at a consistent level, he could be making his pro debut as early as next season.

 

Milos Slavik

 

Originally a prospect on course to be a major steal as a third-round pick, Milos Slavik's work ethic suddenly evaporated. What made him such a promising player suddenly made him a guy capable of little more but eating up minutes and roster space. His agent has a tremendous history of producing quality talent, so it's definitely worth the shot at acquiring him, but unfortunately, a return to form doesn't appear to be in the cards.

 

Players Mentioned: @gorlab, @Aye my name jeff, @DirtyDerek, @Hops, @Frank, @Victor, @GustavMattias, @Acydburn, @Quik, @McWolf, @wcats, @flyersfan1453, @ContinentalCup036, @Dil

[Acydburn 1,555]

1 minute ago, Doomsday said:

The HC Dynamo have boasted strong wingers, and although they have a future stud in SS Hornet, they needed a pure centre to really push in Season 72.

 

 Because VSN does their research...

[Jubis 1,282]

Wow 

[Victor 10,534]

Jaguar to win cups in Davos while HHH never will, you love to see it.

[Mr_Hatter 1,603]

Moscow

Moscow

Moscow

[eaglesfan036 4,583]

It seemed fair to both sides to me