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***luke*** · 02-29-2024, 07:28 AM

Andreas Kvalheim
@raymond3000

Raymond3000 cannot make a bad player. He cannot make a non HOF player. Raymond Lindsay, Kristian Eriksson, Andreas Kvalheim… One of the best two way players in the league. Multiple Dar wins, most career hits ever, and one of the key pieces to a Texas Renegades team that we haven't seen since the S20’s.

So let's take it back to the S45 draft. It's not hard to argue that Kvalheim is the best player in the draft. And with the career he has had since then, it's not even an argument. Taken 2nd OA to Texas, Kvalheim has played 25 seasons for the Texas renegades, before moving on to the Toronto North Stars and Montreal Patriotes in the past couple of seasons. I would say a very worthwhile investment for that draft pick.

With Texas, Andreas thrived through multiple decades of the team. With 1490 games played on the Renegades, Kvalheim had 486 goals, 667 assists, for 1153 points. For his career Kvalheim has 1688 gp, 525 goals, 740 assist, for 1263 points. Good for 3rd all time in points.

Trying to sum up Kvalheim’s 28 seasons in the league is impossible to put in this article, but I think it's great to highlight some of his best seasons. All 4 Dar wins, his career highs, his cup wins.

For his Dar Wins, I find it interesting that he was never nominated for a Dar award without winning. Having 4 wins and 0 losses is impressive. 1 Dar wins in STHS, 3 Dar wins in FHM. Specifically a B2B2B Dar wins in FHM. Setting the standard for Dar wins in the future. His Dar wins in S50,54,55,56 were all great. With Kvalhiem showing his two-way play going a PPG in all 4 seasons. Not only that, but having over 150 hits in all 4 seasons. In FHM with takeaways he had over a takeaway per giveaway ratio. Which for a forward was impressive. The first player to have won the Dar B2B2B times.

S50 was his first win. With 18 goals, 31 assists for 49 points. Kvalheim had 245 hits as well, helping secure his first Dar Win.

S54 was his next Dar win. Now in the FHM era, we have more data to go off of. With 24 goals, 36 assists for 60 points. 38 takeaways to 22 giveaways, in addition to 57 shots blocked and 150 hits. He was 14th in the league in points, 3rd in takeaways for forwards, and 5th in hits for forwards.
S55 was his next one. Replicating his season again. With 21 goals, 39 assists for 60 points. He had 25 takeaways to 21 giveaways, 103 hits and 70 shots blocked. 9th in the league in points, t-12th in takeaways for forwards, 18th in shots blocked, and 14th in hits for that season. Along with great advanced stats. Kvalhiem took home his 3rd Dar win.

S56 would be his 4th and last Dar win of his career. With 24 goals, 29 assists for 53 points. Good for 28th in the league in points. He had 40 takeaways to 23 giveaways. The 40 TKA is good for 3rd in the league for them, in addition to 68 shots blocked, and 121 hits. The hits were good for 10th in the league.

After those peak seasons. Kvalheim still was a very productive member for the Texas Renegades. More elite seasons in S58 and S59. He was both one of the best two-way forwards for a time. He was also an elite point producer in his peak as well. Being in the top 15 forward for 6 seasons during that peak. In addition to the point producing, that wasnt his only talent. The other one was his hitting. During his career he has racked up 3757(as of S74). Taking away the record from Mike Izzy. and pushing to be the only player to reach 4000 hits.

But Kvalhiem's story is nearing to a close. Realistically S75 could be his last. Reaching 413 TPE, there isn't much left in the tank. What will his legacy be? It will be another HOF career. Eriksonson’s legacy was being the 2nd player to ever reach 1000 points. Raymond Lindsay’s legacy is the award that is named after him. What will be Kvalhiems? One of the best early FHM players in the league. 3rd all time in points. 4 Dar wins. Cup Champion. Leader in hits with 3757+.

We reached out to former GMs to get their opinion on Andreas Kvalheim’s career.

@puolivalmiste said

“Kvalheim had already been playing with the Renegades when I got drafted there and would stay with the team well past Leppänen. His ongoing career is an inspiring one and I think the value of that inspiration is something I have only realized in retrospect.

In a turmoil that was changed from STHS to FHM (thanks Hamilton) we found ourselves from the bottom of the standings (above Toronto though) after a season which was at the time one of the worst in league history. Back then nobody really knew how parity would turn out in the long run so this historically bad season could very well have been a good kickoff point for lingering doubts.

But as season 54 started, the team and Andreas Kvalheim were there to deliver. He was the superstar that would play in all situations, one to carry the team (with help from the likes of Kubinec and Gotze) almost all the way to playoffs as we ended up tied for points with Calgary, yet lost the spot on the tiebreaker. This was the season when Kvalheim got the first of his threepeat of Dars (on top of the one won already during the STHS era).

So despite not making it to the playoffs that season, both the performance of the team and individual achievements really did raise the hype within the team. We were now moving in the right direction and Kvalheim was showing what could be possible on a personal level. But he was far from done as he kept having great seasons for a while until younger players were ready to step up.
_
Most of this aligned with management changes in Texas. Dankoa and Jearim had left us with a great foundation for the team but promising rebuilds have been sidetracked for less. Peak Kvalheim was a coach's dream that helped us to be competitive as a team and gain trust of the roster by showing, not only telling, them what the future could hold for us.

While every user puts in the effort to reach the 2K themselves, the spark to push for it, to complete all those PTs for more than year and a half, to write that media to cover for coaching, it all can come from different things but not least from the other users around you. Ones who share the journey with you. Out of season 59 Challenge Cup winning roster 11 players ended up reaching 2K, most of them with the Renegades and Kvalheim was first of them.

And being Renegades franchise leader for most of the meaningful stats is pretty neat too.”

[Image: eYHti6k.png]

Muerto · 02-29-2024, 08:05 AM

Norway legend

***CapnCooper*** · 02-29-2024, 08:28 AM

Texas legend. The goat!
Although I'm late to the party for the most meaningful and impactful parts of your career I still hold the utmost respect and appreciation for you and your player and everything you've done in Texas!

Whenever Kvalheim decides to hang up the skates, there will be a place in the rafters for you and your number!

***Anthique*** · 02-29-2024, 10:54 AM

Best player in Texas history, congrats on the amazing career!

Renegades

***Ohtaay*** · 02-29-2024, 12:48 PM

The goat!

dankoa · 02-29-2024, 07:22 PM

The one draft pick I got right. Remember trying desperately to get hold of 1st overall to draft him only to find out the Pride weren’t planning on taking him and thinking christmas had come early

Obviously his on ice achievements make him one of the best of all time (I’d argue he’s too low on this list) but Raymond was an unbelievable teammate. Always a true professional, no drama, no unreasonable contract demands and no complaints after we went into a deep rebuild as he was hitting his peak seasons. The guy was incredible and I can’t put into words what he means to Texas as a franchise

EricNCSU · 02-29-2024, 08:01 PM

My man! Hell yeah. 18 is too low, should be higher.

raymond3000 · 03-01-2024, 04:24 PM

Thanks Luke and Puoli for the great writeups! Honored to be among so many all-timers on this list

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