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CleverPin · 08-02-2019, 03:51 PM

1,645 Words - Draft Week x2 Bonus

Wow, what a great draft that was! Sadly I was only able to catch the tail end but I went back and watched the VOD last night and it was great! I'm super excited to be getting started with the Vancouver Whalers, and that means a big thanks to @MCP_ for taking a chance on me in the first round. Today I want to look at each of the players who went in the first round and talk about them about! Here we go!

[Image: Kelowna.png]

1ST OV. - KELOWNA KNIGHTS

RYAN SHEPARD - CENTER

Now this selection really didn't surprise me. @Naosu was putting in work all week getting his mock to be perfect, writing articles, and being super active in Discord. He's been a fantastic member so far and a guy that I've gotten along with quite well. Once upon a time there was a dream that we'd end up on the same team, and according to him one team shared that vision but alas, he will be my opponent this season and that's a scary thing to consider. We've already gone over his build twice, so there's no need to do it again, but it's safe to say that at the first overall selection Shepard will do more than his fair share of producing for his team. When a play making center like this comes along, people tend to be quick to jump on it and the Knights were exactly right to do so here.

2ND OV. - COLORADO RAPTORS
VORIAN ATREIDES - CENTER

With this pick our first two players off the board were both centers, and for a good reason. When I was doing my personal scouting for the mock draft, @OrbitingDeath was definitely one of the guys I had pegged high up on my list, but I won't lie and say I expected him to go this early. One of the players that was less talked about leading up to the draft, Atreides has a certain fire that is going to make him an absolutely exhilarating player to watch on this ice this season. Opting for the two way forward pathway at, his skating and defense are going to a huge part of his game moving forward. Exceptional passing and shooting ability makes him into a versatile offensive threat, and an elite aptitude at the face off dot while bring him to his final form. Atreides is one of the player's I'm most excited to play against this season.

3RD OV. - LETHBRIDGE LIONS

AKIRA REN - LEFT DEFENSE

The Lions kicked off a fantastic draft class that included three first round picks (two of which landing in the top five) by selecting @Velevra and his newest player, Akira Ren. Ren is another player that I haven't previously covered due to him being one of the earlier players in the class, but when scouting I definitely didn't see this gem. Ren is certainly the single most promising defensive player in this draft class, with elite defensive awareness that really shines through. With a strong slap shot and good vision on the ice, Ren will be able to produce in the offensive end, adding a whole other dimension to his game. With great skating and puck handling, he really is one of the most fascinating young prospects of the bunch.

4TH OV. - MONTREAL MILITIA
BOBBY LANE - RIGHT WING

When it came to Montreal, this was a pick that I really couldn't predict, but I think they made the exact right selection by choosing to go after @Rich with his new player in Bobby Lane. As a recreate, Lane was expected to go extremely, possibly even at the first overall selection to Kelowna which is where most mock drafts had him placed, but ended up slipping down to Montreal at fourth overall to make for a great selection. Lane is an absolutely terrifying offensive forward, and will be essential towards the Militia offense this season. Immense scoring prowess and and excellent defensive play really rounds out his play style, while great skating and soft hands will ensure he's a go to player on the penalty kill for puck possession. The league isn't ready for this superstar.

5TH OV. - LETHBRIDGE LIONS

DISISDE DAYUDI - RIGHT DEFENSE

This pick was certainly the only one that really stumped me, because heading into it I had no idea who this guy was. After looking at his build though, I came to the conclusion that he absolutely should have gone here. With this pick, Lethbridge shores up their defensive unit for the forseeable future with a godlike tandem between Dayudi and Ren. A two way defenseman like his new partner, Dayudi is one of the most insane defensive prospects on the market, with elite vision in his own end and uncanny awareness. Amazingly soft hands combined with impeccable skating and a clapper from the point will make Dayudi one of the most well rounded threats in the league. Opponents should be scared to match up against this guy, because you can be sure that he's going to have no trouble picking apart your team one player at a time.

6TH OV. - LETHBRIDGE LIONS
LUCA VECCELLI - CENTER

After adding two defensive pieces to the mix with the 3rd and 5th overall selections, the Lions made the excellent choice of drafting a player who could control the ice and create offensive opportunity endlessly, and they found it in @Symmetrik with his new player Luca Veccelli. The Swiss center is a self proclaimed play maker, and the title fits the player as Veccelli is stock full of soft hands and great passing. Adding a player of his caliber means having a shoe in for their top line role next season, and he's ready for what's coming. Excellent skill at the face off dot will make Veccelli an even more omnipresent player for the Lions, and it all rests on the shoulder of great defense which really turns him into a one in all type of player. Watch for this guy to make his name appear in the record books.

7TH OV. - MONTREAL MILITIA
JOSEPH WESTON - LEFT WING

Alright, here's another guy I didn't think would make it this far. After being incredibly active in the Meet the GM's Discord server, it's no wonder Montreal snapped on the opportunity to pick up a player as his caliber as the Militia welcomed @ACapitalChicago into their ranks. Joseph Weston is a modern day sniper, loaded with offensive capabilities via an absolutely wicked shot, but not giving up on the defensive side of the game with some great positioning and shot blocking. Only our second first generation player off the board so far, this draft was proving to follow the metric set by the community of recreates owning the first round. Weston hopes to prove anyone wrong who might have thought that he was a stretch at this selection, because by every regard he is right at home.

8TH OV. - ST. LOUIS SCARECROWS
JAMES RONLAIN - RIGHT WING

Ronlain was one of the guys I was certain would be off the board extremely high in this draft, and with all the work @Rankle put in I wasn't surprised to see exactly that happen. Heading to St. Louis with their first selection at 8th overall, Ronlain has a great opportunity to join a team that is already well built and ready for success. While this means stepping into a bottom six role off the bat, it's unlikely he'll stay there for very long as he really is one of the most promising offensive pieces in this draft class. Similar in style to the aforementioned Joseph Weston, Ronlain has sniper running through his blood and will be a scary offensive piece moving forward for the Crows. This was a wild good selection by the St. Louis management.

9TH OV. - ANAHEIM OUTLAWS
IVAN MAXIMUS - CENTER

This was a pick that really confused me, because I hadn't seen a whole lot of @thiefofcheese leading up to draft night. After checking out his player though, I was extremely pleased to see what Anaheim was able to get this late in the first round. After the selection of two first gens in Ronlain and Weston, the bandwagon begin to follow as first gen Ivan Maximus (who bares an uncanny resemblance to Russian revered leader Vladdy boi) was off the board with the ninth overall selection. Maximus is a prototypical play making who has opted to play a very neutral and well rounded game. This approach will be interesting to watch because while Maximus doesn't excel in any one category, he is very strong in many. Watching him continue to grow as an athlete and player in the league will be very fun.

10TH OV. - VANCOUVER WHALERS
MARCUS OHLSSON - LEFT WING

So here it is, the pick that will define my entire future and hockey career. With the tenth overall pick and as the final selection to close out the first round, I was selected to the Vancouver Whalers. Me, @"CleverPin. I'll be blunt, I really didn't think I was going to go this early. Despite being told I was a potential option at first overall, I figured that even being a first round selection was just the rumblings of the league. Despite this, I'm extremely happy to have found my home in Vancouver. I think the Whalers are a really great organization, and the locker room has been really great since I joined. I'm excited to take on a fresh role with the team, likely slotting onto the third line alongside some great veteran players. It's going to be a good year, and I'm excited to go out and bring the Cup back home to Vancouver!

Thanks for listening to me ramble as always guys! I had a lot of fun writing this one up, and I'm so excited to have found this community. Here's to a great season!