Hello SHL, if you don't know who I am then that is A-Okay, my name is AJ and I am a returning member from the early/late S60's. My personal life has had a lot of changes lately which resulted in a lot more free time, I wanted to join another sim league and remembered how amazing the SHL's portal is, so I decided to click some buttons and make it happen. Currently I am an active member in the VHL which was my first ever sim league three years ago. If I'm not mistaken, 6 months after joining the VHL I created a player here named AJ Williams and won a 4 Star Cup with the Zerks! I clearly remember that team having an extreme amount of life in the discord locker room which made things a lot of fun getting started here. As the seasons went on and my player graduated to the SHL, I lost my touch and drifted away from the league. A few seasons after that I wanted to make a return and recreated with a new defenseman who like my first player AJ Williams, only had an SMJHL career. I believe my time in the VHL got too busy at the time and I didn't feel like putting any extra effort into a second hockey simulation league. Fast forward to current day and I just created a new player waiting upon approval. My third and newest player is a 6'2, 210lbs Power Forward Center, named Brett McMann. I don't have a reason for the name I chose except that it sounded cool and was the first name I randomly decided on. I chose to create a Power Forward Center since I feel you can get the most bang from your buck with the role and position. Centers play the full length of the ice, contributing on defense and offense. I am a stats junky when it comes to sim leagues, I don't usually tune into live sims but I always check daily game recaps once they are posted. I am really hoping to see my player contribute mostly to points, hits and +/-. I don't need to be a top all-star forward, but instead I want to be a depended on player who shows up to each game and doesn't shit the bed. Another reason I chose to create this player is because I am having a lot of fun currently in the ISFL and realized this is an affiliate league! I want to continue upgrading my player there but I don't love talking about football as much as I love talking about hockey, so my hope is to create content here in order to claim in the ISFL. Now being part of the SHL means I am in 4 simulation leagues total (VHL, SBA, ISFL, SHL). I've been extremely chill in earning throughout all of my leagues which is a huge stress relief and helps me enjoys the leagues so much more. I used to be a maxed cap earner in the VHL which lead to me feeling tired and burned out often. Now instead I click buttons, earn almost maxed capped, and enjoy the experience 100x more. I hope to do the same here, whatever easy tasks there are to complete is what I would like to do. I really hope to claim them in the ISFL as well so I can kill two birds with one stone. But anyways, enough with my rambling and more to what I wanted to actually talk about.

Brett McMann's SMJHL draft explanations

Since rejoining the league maybe an hour ago I noticed I joined in great timing, just before the SMJHL draft! This makes things so much easier since I won't be joining anytime midway through the season and wondering what team I will play for. Instead being drafted is so much more fun since I can sort of see the future of my player's career with whichever team drafts me. I'm not here for cups as much as I am here for team chemistry and a good time, so my goal is to play a full SMJHL career (until I reach the SHL cap) for the team who drafts me no matter what our record may be and see if I can make some good relationships with my teammates and GMs. I'm open to any advice with player builds or anything in general, but the one thing I really want is ice time, as in joining a team that doesn't already have 4 full lines of centers. Listed below are the teams that I feel my player will fit best on, or maybe not the best on:

(I'm guessing the portal is updated with current rosters and that none of the players on the SMJHL teams are moving up this season)

 Anchorage Armada - 4 Centers
Chris McZehrl III - 425 TPA
Zeus Storm - 424 TPA
TJ Smex - 380 TPA
Ethan Ashcroft - 196 TPA

Anchorage is a team I wouldn't mind passing on me, with 4 centers currently and 3 of them being above 350 TPA, my ice time would suffer tremendously. Even if my earnings were top notch, Ethan Ashcroft still obtains 40 more TPA than my starting build and I wouldn't want to be fighting for his 4th line spot. On the other hand with older centers on their roster, this team could for sure have some top line minutes opening in the near future, but I don't feel they would have that on their minds going into this draft. Anchorage seems to need Wingers and maybe a backup goalie, so I feel they will go in that direction.

 Carolina Kraken - 1 Center
Kim Chaewon - 350 TPA

Carolina is 100% the type of team I am looking to get drafted to. With only Kim Chaewon on the current roster, I would definitely find lots of ice time and potentially a 2nd line spot depending on who else Carolina decides to draft. Carolina is pretty balanced in other positions so I feel they will be gunning for a center this draft. I'm not sure if the same GM is still there, I want to say his name is se7en if I'm not wrong, I remember him from my previous players and I would love to play for him this time around.

 Colorado Raptors - 4 Centers
Normand Marineau - 425 TPA
Rocky Gislason - 350 TPA
Hvaik - 312 TPA
Enlightened Centrist - 284 TPA

Like Anchorage, Colorado is filled with centers. With the talent they currently have on the dot, and the lack of other players on their roster, I don't feel they will be looking to draft a center this draft. Even if I was taken, my player would not see any ice time as a center since this center core is deeply filled with studs. Colorado should be looking to draft any other position than center, and I would bet money on them doing just that.

 Detroit Falcons - 3 Centers
Jimbob Ghostkeeper - 425 TPA
Jeffrey Bjelland - 425 TPA
Bas O-Bigbers Jr. - 350 TPA

Detroit has some extremely talented centers in their core while also having an open spot for a underdeveloped center like me. While I wouldn't mind joining this talent on the 4th line, and eventually moving my way up as these current centers graduate, Detroit looks to need fillings in other positions such as Wingers and especially left defense. I don't feel Detroit will be looking to draft a 4th center before filling the rest of their roster more.

 Great Falls Grizzlies - 4 Centers
Nanashi Mumei - 425 TPA
Jackass Pants - 424 TPA
Ethanov Daviskov - 188 TPA
Max Roberts - 155 TPA

Great Falls has 4 centers currently and could definitely look to draft some right wingers and defenders to fill out their roster this season. While joining this team would find me good ice time in the future, I would be battling with two upcoming centers in Max Roberts and Ethanov Daviskov. This wouldn't be a horrible destination for my player, but my guess is the Grizzlies will pass on a center this draft and look for other positions instead.

 Kelowna Knights - 2 Centers
Jauhnne Hawky - 425 TPA
Mel Guolla - 317 TPA

Kelowna, like Carolina, looks like an amazing destination for my player this season. Kelowna's roster is pretty well full besides an extra winger and right defender, and my best guess is that they will be gunning for at least one center in this draft to fill out of the middle of the ice. The highest line I could find myself on this season would be the 3rd, but with Jauhnne Hawky gone next season, eventually a lot of ice time would be coming my way.

 Maine Timber - 3 Centers
Anthony Louchard - 425 TPA
The Puck - 261 TPA
Keith McSmith - 211 TPA

With 3 centers currently and a lack of other positions to fill their roster, Maine could definitely be skipping on a center this draft. Their lack of defenders and 3rd line of wingers tell me what their draft plans should be, and that is to not draft a fourth center. If my player was to be drafted here I would spend some good time on the 4th line, but with Anthony Louchard gone next season, while also The Puck and Keith McSmith seemingly being slower earners, I feel confident in a few seasons to be a top center on this team.

 Nevada Battleborn - 4 Centers
Badger Hennessy - 415 TPA
Slava Kasyanenko - 350 TPA
Drew McIntyre - 280 TPA
GrimR3aeper - 248 TPA

Nevada is loaded with centers and talented ones at that. I don't see myself finding a home here, and I don't see any other center being drafted here this season as the Battleborn just don't need to worry about filling this position anytime soon. Instead I think left wingers will be their main target while maybe grabbing a left defender as well.

 Newfoundland Berserkers - 3 Centers
Hamper Linthome - 425 TPA
Jett Labyrinth - 425 TPA
Ima Noobie - 350 TPA

My first ever SMJHL home could be my future home if the Berserkers are looking to fill that 4th line spot. While Newfoundland could instead be eyeing Wingers this draft, grabbing a 4th center does not seem out of the picture as their 3 current centers will be graduating in the near future. I loved the atmosphere here the first time around and would love to go back if drafted.

Ottawa Highlanders - 4 Centers
Leo Carlsson - 350 TPA
Ian Avery - 331 TPA
Bodhi Echo - 228 TPA
Marty Charlie - 216 TPA

Like Nevada, Ottawa is filled to the rim with talented depth centers. This may be the most unlikely team to draft my player so far as Ottawa's centers are all in good shape while none seem to be graduating soon. Although Ottawa's roster is fairly healthy, I don't believe a 5th center is on their minds unless draft scouting interests them enough to make a trade of a current rostered center.

 Quebec City Citadelles - 5 Centers
Duke Howard - 425 TPA
Andrea Morandi - 425 TPA
Cristoforo Roccamontepiano - 425 TPA
Dejana Kaptina - 421 TPA
Brock Jameson - 230 TPA

Scratch what I said about Ottawa being the most unlikely team to draft me as Quebec rightfully takes that title. With 4/5 current centers being at the TPA cap I really don't need to explain my reasoning to why I won't get drafted here. With my first player I do remember Quebec being a dominant team and it looks like they haven't taken their foot off the pedal since then. Quebec is hurting for Left Wingers this season which leads me to believe that will be their main target this draft.

 San Diego Tidal - 4 Centers
Felix Carlsson - 425 TPA
Ethan Cross - 301 TPA
Christov Kovalev - 210 TPA
Phoenix-Orion Soderberg-Tremblay - 155 TPA

San Diego seems to be set on their centers. With one center in each 100-200-300-400 TPA range, I don't see the need for them to draft another one this season. Instead, like Quebec, San Diego could extremely benefit from drafting a few left wingers and skipping on my player. I would be battling for ice time here, I've always been told to choose your battles wisely, this is a battle I don't want to take.

 St. Louis Scarecrows - 2 Centers
Jonny Fox - 347 TPA
Dee Centerman IV, Jr. - 165 TPA

St. Louis seems like a very fitting team for my player. While their roster is not completely filled just yet, they are lacking that 3rd center position which shouldn't go unnoticed. Being drafted here would result in a good chunk of playing time, and with progression through the seasons I could 100% make my way to the top of their roster. St. Louis could also benefit from drafting a few wingers, so I'm guessing any position on the offense will be their target this draft.

 Thunder Bay Walleye - 4 Centers
Teddy Bloos - 425 TPA
Jon Garfield - 424 TPA
Chaos Giraffe - 336 TPA
Hades - 278 TPA

Thunder Bay has a beautiful core of centers here. With Hades having the lowest TPA just shy of 300, Thunder Bay should not be worrying about drafting a center this draft. Their lack of wingers and defense leads me to believe they are not worried for centers either, and will be looking in a different direction from my player this draft.

 Vancouver Whalers - 6 Centers
Khalifani - 209 TPA
Afb Nohab - 155 TPA
Karel Alexandersson - 155 TPA
dblmax - 155 TPA
alex ander - 155 TPA
Colton - 155 TPA

Vancouver is LOADED with centers! Although all 6 centers are underdeveloped, Vancouver is set with this position for seasons to come. It would make no sense to me for them to draft another underdeveloped center, and therefore I don't see this team being a home for my player. Vancouver could really use some more defenders this draft, and I think that should be their main target.

 Yukon Malamutes - 0 Centers

Yukon, talk to me baby. I couldn't ask for more ice time if I wanted. While Yukon carries a lot of wingers and only a few defenders, they are in dying need of centers to fill their roster. This deep roster has a few seasons left in them before players start to graduate, so being drafted here could give me enough time to catch up to their talent, while also playing the most ice time out of any other team on this list! I would love to be drafted here and help them fill out their center position roles.



That was really fun to browse through each team's current roster and analyze each team's situations heading into this draft. The SHL Player Portal makes gathering data extremely easy and not confusing at all. I'm really excited to use it more when updating my player, while also checking out the Index Portals once the season starts. With that, I wanted to do a final condensed list of which teams my player, Brett McMann, has the best chance of finding a home:

Final List - Brett McMann's best to worst SMJHL draft destinations (Based off current rosters and potential current/future ice time)

GREAT





GOOD


OKAY




DOESN'T NEED ME

Hey, great piece. GM of Vancouver here, all those 155TPE players are basically just fillers as of right now, we only have one actual center for next season, in Dominic Enselmo!

welcome back!

PROFILE || UPDATE || RAGE.  




Luke Thomason || LW || Manhattan Rage || 2143 Max TPE
Born: 1/10/98
Height: 6'0
Weight 185 Lbs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular season
SMJHL/SHL Stats
S42 | Van | GP: 50| G: 4| A: 8|P: 12|+/-: -10|MP: 457|
S43 | Van | GP: 50| G: 16| A: 19|P: 35|+/-: 3|MP: 951|
S44 | Van | GP: 50| G: 22| A: 31|P: 53|+/-: 9|MP: 1033|
S45 | SFP | GP: 50| G: 18| A: 19|P: 37|+/-: -5|MP: 1041|
S46 | MAN | GP: 50| G: 19| A: 24|P: 43|+/-: -3|MP: 1156|
S47 | MAN | GP: 50| G: 16| A: 28|P: 44|+/-: -15|MP: 1184|
S48 | MAN | GP: 50| G: 16| A: 24|P: 40|+/-: -13|MP: 1137|
S49 | MAN | GP: 50| G: 21| A: 28|P: 49| +/-: 13|MP: 1099
S50 | MAN | GP: 50| G: 21| A: 23|P: 44| +/-: 10|MP: 1157
S51 | MAN | GP: 50| G: 17| A: 22|P: 39| +/-: 5|MP: 1232
S52 | MAN | GP: 50| G: 24| A: 29|P: 54| +/-: 17|MP: 1193
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Playoffs
S42 Playoffs | Van| GP: 11 | G: 1| A: 2 |P:3|+/-: +3| MP: 101
S43 Playoffs | Van| GP: 10 | G: 4| A: 1 |P:5|+/-: -3| MP: 206
S44 Playoffs | Van| GP: 14 | G: 7| A:6  |P:13|+/-:-1 | MP:228
S46 Playoffs | MAN| GP: 12 | G: 3 | A:2  |P:5|+/-:-14 | MP:289
S47 Playoffs | MAN| GP: 5 | G: 3 | A:4  |P:7|+/-:2 | MP:119
S49 Playoffs | MAN| GP: 11| G: 6| A: 11|P:16|+/-: 5| MP:248
S50 Playoffs | MAN| GP: 6| G: 5| A: 5|P:10|+/-: 7| MP:137
S51 Playoffs | MAN| GP: 12| G: 7| A: 9|P:16|+/-: 4| MP:293
S52 Playoffs | MAN| GP: 19| G: 9| A: 13|P:22|+/-: 0| MP:438

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Transactions/Awards
S43 Named Assistant Captain for VAN Whalers
Drafted 3rd OA by San Fransisco Pride
S43 4 Star Cup Champion  
S44 Zach Miller Award for Most Dedicated
S44 nominee for the Damien Littleton award for most dedicated
S45 WJC Gold Medalist
S45 SHL Rookie All-Star Team
S46 Named Captain for Czechoslovakia
S45 Winner of the Damien Littleton award for most dedicated
S46 Nominee for Damien Littleton award for most dedicated
S49 Bronze Medal for Czechia
S52 Nominee for Anton Razov Trophy
S52 SHL 3rd Team


Arnost Holub || Vancouver Whalers GM/ Manhattan Rage Co-GM
S44 | W:27 | L:18 | OTL: 5 | P:59 | 3rd in League 
S45 | W:29 | L:17 | OTL: 4 | P:62 | 4th in League 
S46 | W:23 | L:21 | OTL: 6 | P:52 | 8th in League 
S47 | W:30 | L:17 | OTL: 3 | P:63 | 3rd in League 
S48 | W:28 | L:16 | OTL: 6 | P:62 | 4th in League 
Total | W:137 | L: 89 | OTL: 24 

Manhattan Rage  
S49 | W:33 | L:15 | OTL: 2 | P:68 | 3rd in League  
S50 | W:26 | L:20 | OTL: 4 | P:56 | 8th in League  
S51 | W:26 | L:18 | OTL: 6 | P:56 | 5th in League 
S52 | W:28 | L:21 | OTL: 1 | P:57 | 6th in League 
Totals | W:113 | L:74 | OTL: 13 
S49 Lance Uppercut Award
S51 Lance Uppercut Award Nomination
S52 Lance Uppercut Award Nomination

Playoffs
Vancouver Whalers
S44 | W: 7 | L: 7 | CF Round Exit
S45 | W: 6 | L: 6 | CF Round Exit
S46 | W: 1 | L: 4 | 1st Round Exit
S47 | W: 6 | L: 4 | CF Round Exit
S48 | W: 12 | L: 7 | 4 Star Cup Champions
Total| W: 32 | L: 28 | 4 Star Cup Champions

Manhattan Rage
S49 | W: 6 | L: 5 | CF Round Exit
S50 | W: 2 | L: 4 | Wildcard Exit
S51 | W: 5 | L: 7 | CF Exit
S52 | W: 12 | L: 7 | Challenge Cup Champions
Total | W: 25 | L:23 | 1 Challenge Cup

welcome back!

Thanks luke!

Hey, great piece. GM of Vancouver here, all those 155TPE players are basically just fillers as of right now, we only have one actual center for next season, in Dominic Enselmo!

Thank you! And that's really good to know, it seemed strange to me that there were so many centers at the base TPE, so that makes a lot more sense now. Looks like Vancouver moves on my list from "Doesn't need me" to "Great"