Season 73 VSN Top 25: #20 - #16

[Doomsday 4,143]

@Pengu is an artist deserving of thanks and praise.

 

#20 - #16

 

The VHL and VHLM seasons officially drop the puck today, but we're already in mid-season form with the Top 25, as we make our way down to #16 today. Three previously unranked players joined the ranks of the Top 25 yesterday, and as mentioned yesterday, two more players will earn that distinction today. That means that five out of the ten total players on our list by the end of this article will be brand new, signifying a changing of the guard in the VHL. Perhaps next season we'll see even more newcomers, but for now, let's focus on our Season 73 list, beginning with a defenseman returning to his original home for his last season...

 

20. D - Charlie Paddywagon

Season 72: 23

 

Next on the list, our first player that cracks the top 20, is Charlie Paddywagon who plays defence for HC Davos. Paddywagon rejoins Davos on the back of 4 successful seasons with the Calgary Wranglers and is now back at the club where he began his VHL career. The puck-moving defenceman had 63 points in 72 games last season, with 54 of those being assists. On the back of his best offensive season, he returns to Davos where he aims to be a veteran presence of a young group looking to make the jump to the next level. He should still be defensively solid as ever, and I actually don’t see his physical ability falling off very much so he will definitely be hoping to end his career with a bang and be looking to hoist a cup with Davos. As a veteran, Charlie has the experience necessary to be a guiding light for an inexperienced group of players, and he will be looking to pass that off on to the next generation. He will lay everything out on the ice for his team, as evidenced by his 122 blocked shots last season, and is not afraid to throw the body as well, with 118 hits accredited to him last year. He is a great example of a player and exactly the veteran presence that you want on your team, regardless of what the makeup is. Hopefully, for Paddywagon, this translates to postseason success as he chases the ever-elusive Continental Cup. 

- hylands

 

19. C - Mikko Lahtinen

Season 72: Unranked

 

Mikko Lahtinen enjoyed a tremendous breakout season in S72, shattering his career highs in just about every category imaginable. This would bring him a well-deserved Dustin Funk Trophy, awarded to the league’s most improved player. Lahtinen had dominated the VHLM in S69 with his offensive acumen which was simply a step above the competition. Following a Founder’s Cup victory, it would take the young Finn some time to adjust to the elevated game speed of the VHL. Putting up two straight mediocre seasons in Calgary, Lahtinen needed a spark to get his career back on track to superstardom. That is exactly what S72 brought for him. If he can build upon the monumental season he had for himself last season, a perennial Kevin Brooks candidate looks like a very possible outcome.

- Patrik Tallinder

 

18. RW - Acyd Burn

Season 72: 16

 

Acyd Burn has had one of the most confusing careers in the league. How many players out there drop their point totals in half from their second season to their fifth, going from 80 points down to 40? He’s become something of a journeyman of late, going from Seattle in S70 to Malmo and then Riga in S71 to Davos and then New York in S72. He’s played for 5 teams in 3 seasons, which admittedly is probably part of the reason his numbers have been so inconsistent year upon year, with too little time to really adjust to a team and build chemistry. With a bit of a rebound season in S72, his 6th season, he finds himself solidly in the top 25 list with 68 points. Hopefully, he’ll find a little stability with New York and be able to finish out his career there. 

- diamond_ace

 

17. LW - RJ Jubis

Season 72: Unranked

 

Another player who previously went unranked, RJ Jubis has shot up our lists with an explosion in offensive production. This past season, he seemed close to doubling his prior career-best in points, going from 55 to 93. Forming new partnerships with his Wranglers roster, his assists more than doubled, going from 25 to 55. Furthermore, his +/- shot up from 8 to 43. Clearly, Jubis benefitted from an improved Calgary roster, but how much of that was due to the roster improving, and how much of it was due to Jubis himself taking a huge leap in performance? Jubis and the Wranglers fell short of their end goal, losing in the Continental Cup Finals, but if Jubis continues his trajectory, there is no reason this still-young squad will fail to compete again. From being an up and coming member of the squad just a few seasons ago, Jubis now sits at the helm of the team as the top player by TPE and their go-to man. He has a deadly shot, but his playmaking skills are equally proficient, as evidenced by his fantastic assist numbers last season, finishing 4th amongst forwards in assists. He is a physical presence and is not afraid to lay down the hits, having hit over 100 times in each of his past 3 seasons. The only question is; can he keep up these performances? All signs point to yes, but there is always the worry of a slump right after such a career-best performance. We at VSN don’t think so, which is why we have him ranked 17th overall. 

- Hatter

 

16. D - Micheal Gary Scott

Season 72: 14

 

His second season both at defenseman and with the New York Americans in the books, your spell check's least favourite player rebounded nicely in Season 72 despite a slight drop in the rankings. Although Micheal Gary Scott will likely never touch his goal-scoring numbers as a centre, with two seasons topping 30 goals, MGS recorded 50 assists for the first time in his career in Season 72. He also finished with 13 goals for the second straight season to record 64 points in all in the year. By focusing more on positioning as opposed to checking, his penalty minutes took a major hit, and he blocked a career-high 148 shots. Although his +/- dropped to -11, Scott seems to have settled into his new position, and with New York finally seeming to move past their notorious streak of bad luck, MGS could be in line to wrap up his career in style. 

- Doomsday

 

Calgary's Mikko Lahtinen and RJ Jubis, the two big driving forces behind the stellar season of the Wranglers, are our new players on the Top 25 this season. Charlie Paddywagon jumped up a couple spots, while Acyd Burn and Micheal Gary Scott dropped a few spots. On our next edition, we'll once again have two unranked players making the Top 25, but as players returning to the list. Who could they be? Well, we'll find out tomorrow, stay tuned!

 

Players Mentioned: @DMaximus, @Beketov, @Acydburn, @Jubis, @Motzaburger

[Jubis 1,350]

[Victor 11,021]

fuck if MGS made it am I in the top 15 somehow??

[Nykonax 1,566]

surely ill be in 15-11 right

[Motzaburger 1,590]

 

[Acydburn 1,618]

2 hours ago, Motzaburger said: