S73 VHL Draft: First Round Review

[Laine 1,361]

S73 VHL DRAFT: FIRST ROUND REVIEW

 

By: Patrik Laine

 

Now, after reading @Advantage's mock draft article, I would be lying if I said I wasn't extremely impressed by what he did, so I had a thought. Why don't I do something like his, but with the actual draft board? I decided it would be good to display my thoughts and have some talk in the comments about the draft so thanks to @Advantage for inspiring this article.

 

Even though I was a part of this draft class, I will be completely unbias about every pick and talk about it from my point of view.

 

I will be showing the same thing as Advantage did, but also showing how far they rose or fell. Now without further ado, let us begin!

 

NOTE: TPE Totals will be the one that appears on the draft board, but AVG will remain the same from the previous list made by Advantage. Teams have been updated as well after the VHLM draft.

 

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ROUND 1

 

1. D.C Dragons select C/LW Groovy Dood (Minnesota, 257 TPE, 12.0 Average) @bigAL

Remained in the same spot as mock

 

I think DC knew what they were doing here. Dood doesn't have the highest TPE in the draft class, but his activity will be a big role in DC. Dood recorded 57 points in 72 games with Minnesota last year, but only 9 goals. He is more of playmaker though, known for his silky smooth hands and terrific defensive play. He also recorded 88 hits and 3 shot blocks. Not exactly dying to get in front of shots but is willing to throw his body around out on the ice. I think DC will get a good player out of Dood but time will tell.

 

 

2. Malmo Nighthawks select D Tyler Walker (Saskatoon, 348 TPE, 11.0 AVG) @Advantage

Remained in the same spot as mock

 

With DC in need of forward help, Malmo gets arguably the best defender in the draft with Tyler Walker. Walker is known for his incredible defensive ability and great skating. He put up terrific offensive numbers, with 21 goals and a lead-leading 94 assists for 115 points in 72 games along with 60 hits and 101 shot blocks. He has to be the most pro-ready player out of this draft class along with Frostbeard and I see him being a contender for Rookie of the Year next season in the VHL.

 

 

3. Vancouver Wolves select D Micah Adrienne (Las Vegas, 322 TPE, 12.0 AVG) @Poptart

Remained in the same spot as mock

 

Walker may be the most pro-ready defender, but Adrienne is right behind him as the best pure shutdown defender in this draft. Despite him playing pure lockdown, he put up a point per game last season with the Las Vegas Aces, scoring 72 points in 72 games and tacking on an incredible 250 hits and 104 blocked shots in that timeframe. Vancouver gets a really good player at 3 without really having to move and I think Adrienne will be a big player for the Wolves going forward.

 

 

4. Seattle Bears (from Prague) select G Jacob Tonn (Mississauga, 334 TPE, 12.0 AVG) @MexicanCow123

Remained in the same spot as mock

 

This is a steal of a pick here for Seattle if things go according to plan. Seattle will need a new starter in a few years with Rayz Funk set to hang up the skates soon and Tonn is the perfect replacement for Funk. Tonn doesn't exactly have the best statistics but is a great goalie never the less, with great rebound control and smart with his glove and block helped him win 45 out of 72 starts in Mississauga in S72. I think if Seattle can set up a team around him, he will be a X-Factor for a cup run in a few seasons.

 

 

 

5. Toronto Legion select C John Merrick (Mexico City, 250 TPE, 12.0 AVG) @Steve

Moved up 3 spots (8 to 5)

 

Toronto gets a good VHL-Ready forward here at the 5th spot. Merrick didn't play a lot in the VHLM, only playing 26 games in the league for Mexico but put up 16 points and in 18 games in the playoffs had 10 points. He is known for a good shot, defensive ability, skating and great hands. He needs to continue to work on his faceoffs but I think he will be a great player for Toronto down the line. I see him later in his career being a first line forward.

 

 

6. Malmo Nighthawks (from Davos) select G Grekkark Gyrfalcon (Saskatoon, 282 TPE, 12.0 AVG) @Sharkstrong

Remained in the same spot as mock

 

With their second pick in the top 10 and with Jacob Tonn off the board, Malmo snags their franchise goalie in Grekkark Gyrfalcon. Gyrfalcon was great in S72, winning 37 out of his 51 starts in Saskatchewan and recording 7 shutouts. In the playoffs, he was fantastic, going 12-4-2 and leading the Wild to a Founder's Cup victory. Gyrfalcon has great rebound control, glove and blocker control and is very agile in net. He will be a big part of the future of the Nighthawks.

 

 

7. Chicago Phoenix select G Jean Pierre Camus (Yukon, 265 TPE, 12.0 AVG) @solas

Remained in same spot as mock

 

With the first pick in franchise history, Chicago nabs their first franchise goalie. With a huge 6'8 frame and great glove and blocker skills, Camus looks like the future in net for the Phoenix through their first few seasons and beyond. He needs to improve his skating and other aspects of his game, but those can easily be worked out and I think he will be a great pick for Chicago looking back on this draft.

 

 

8. Los Angeles Stars select LW Jeffrey Pines (Mexico City, 274 TPE, 12.0 AVG) @rory

Falls 3 spots (5 to

 

LA opts to go with a forward for their first pick. Pines was anticipated to go at 5 to Toronto but fell down three spots before LA scooped him up at 8th overall. Pines is the best defensive winger in the draft and also has a great shot, hands and skating ability. If he develops into a top tier forward, this can end up as a steal for LA very quickly. I expect him to show something in his rookie year after scoring 91 points in 72 games last season and leading Mexico City all the way to the Founder's Cup Finals.

 

 

9. Helsinki Titans select RW Patrik Laine (Miami, 214 TPE, 11.5 AVG) @PatrikLaine

Moved up 2 spots (11 to 9)

 

The funny thing about Laine is that he didn't appear in the top 2 rounds until the trade deadline. Laine came out of nowhere and had 59 points in 58 games with the Houston Bulls last season. He is known for his great shot, defensive IQ and silk hands. Off the ice, he is known for his personality and is a great guy in the locker room. Helsinki may need to change his style to be more physical with his 6 foot 5 inch frame being perfect to battle in the corner, but right now he will staying the VHLM. I expect him to be a big player for the Miami Marauders this season.

 

 

10. Warsaw Predators select C Dakota Lamb (Miami, 226 TPE, 12.0 AVG) @dlamb

Moved up 5 spots (15 to 10)

 

Warsaw gets a possible franchise centrepiece in Lamb. Lamb had 93 points in 72 games last season for the Miami Marauders and helped them make the playoffs in their inaugural season. He will stay in Miami this season playing alongside another first-round pick in Patrik Laine. Lamb has a great shot, defensive ability and is an excellent skater. If he pans out for Warsaw, this would be a great pick for the 10th spot in the draft.

 

 

11. Calgary Wranglers (from London) select D Kosmo Kramerev (Miami, 234 TPE, 10.25 AVG) @Mongoose87

Remained in same spot as mock

 

Many signs pointed to Laine falling into Calgary at 12, but Calgary played it safe and traded to 11th. Laine was chosen as you remember, so they get another solid player in Kramerev. Kramerev was an absolute force in the VHLM last season, recording 106 points, 94 hits and 142 shot blocks through 72 games last season. He has a booming slapshot, great defensive ability and IQ along with his great skating ability makes for dangerous results.

 

 

12. London United (from Seattle via Prague via Calgary) select C Alex Volchenkov (Saskatoon, 214 TPE, 11.5 AVG) @SirRupertBarnes

Moved up 5 spots (17 to 12)

 

London dropped down a pick and still got the guy they wanted in Volchenkov. Volchenkov is a great passer, despite only putting up 15 points in 60 games last year with Saskatoon. He also has great hands, great skating and is a great defensive forward. He may be small at only 6 feet, but does a good job protecting the puck down low. This may turn into a late first steal for London, but he wasn't projected to go until round 2. Time will tell.

 

 

13. Moscow Menace select D Wolf Stansson (Miami, 226 TPE, 12.0 AVG) @ahockeyguy

Fell 5 spots (8 to 13)

 

Stansson is a solid pick at this range. An absolute catalyst for Miami last season, he recorded 30 goals, 53 assists and 83 points in 72 games. Yes, you heard that right. 30 goals as a defenseman! For comparison, Patrik Laine who went on the board where many people predicted Stansson would go, had only 27 goals last season. Stansson also recorded 133 hits and 138 shot blocks adding to already impressive numbers. He could turn into the best defensive prospect in this draft if Moscow can coach him right.

 

 

14. Vancouver Wolves (from New York) select D Shawn Glade III (Mississauga, 239 TPE, 6.0 AVG) @ShawnGlade

Fell 4 Spots (10 to 14)

 

Here is where we start to see the top defensemen come off the board. Glade had a great season in Mississauga last year, recording 83 points, 21 hits and 69 shot blocks in 72 games. Armed with great defensive IQ and ability, along with a lethal slapshot, excellent skating and puck handling, Glade can be an X-Factor for the Wolves if things go right.

 

 

15. Prague Phantoms (from Calgary) select C Andre LeBastard (Miami, 228 TPE, 10.25 AVG) @Andre LeBastard

Fell 1 spot (14 to 15)

 

GIven that this is a late first round pick, the Phantoms get a lot of value from LeBastard. The playmaking centre had 22 goals and 54 assists last season. Good for 76 points along with 105 hits and 36 shot blocks. LeBastard is armed with great hands, playmaking ability, faceoff skill and defensive IQ making for a challenge planning for him every game. If Prague can get a lot from LeBastard, this could end up being a steal.

 

 

16. Malmo Nighthawks (from Riga) select Marshall James Frostbeard (Mississauga, 345 TPE, 12.0 AVG) @FrostBeard

Remained in same spot as mock

 

The obvious choice for Malmo, as Frostbeard is the selected player of the general manager. MJF had a great season last year, recording 39 goals, 87 points, 259 hits and 18 blocked shots. Put him up there with Walker and Gyrfalcon and Malmo came of this first round like bandits on paper. Time will tell, but it expect Frostbeard to be a franchise piece for Malmo moving forward.

 

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Conclusion:

The first round was really exciting. We seen a few trades take place before draft day. We seen a few players jump like Laine, Volchenkov and Merrick, but quite a few players dropped like Glade III, Stansson and Pines. This isn't all of it though. The true way to evaluate a draft is when the class is all retired and we can take a look back and do a redraft a few years down the road to see what happens. It will certain be an exciting time for franchises like Malmo and Vancouver, who have made moves to solidify their rosters with multiple first rounders, but also for the expansion teams, who got quality players to start their franchise with.

 

(2040 words, 10951 characters written by @PatrikLaine)

 

 

PS: If anyone wants to do the second or third rounds, feel free to.

 

 

 

Edited July 17, 2020 by PatrikLaine

[FrostBeard 2,062]

As always, amazing stuff @PatrikLaine! Keep up the good work!

[Banackock 8,188]

Good read. 

[Plate 386]

This is great stuff.

[SirRupertBarnes 220]

Great article! I appreciate the potential draft steal hype you’re giving me! Time will tell though

[ROOKIE745 609]

review: great media spot, very clean and well sorted. Love that you included where all the picks came from for each team if the pick wasn't theirs to begin with. enjoyed the summary on each player instead of just doing a stat dump. Overall great effort, you took time to do a good look through for each player and provided an effective breakdown of their play style but also didn't over bloat it. 10/10