Star Wars: The Last Command Sourcebook - Mara Jade strikes at Luuke Skywalker by Mike Vilardi

November 1979. It's hard to know where to start listing the many flaws of the 2018 SOLO movie, but one of the big ones was the casting of the perennially lifeless Emilia Clarke as Han Solo's dull childhood girlfriend Qi'ra, who, aside from being bland as porridge, is also an awful lot whiter than many of Han's past girlfriends in the STAR WARS books and comics.

The earliest example of Han's exes of color, at least in terms of publication history, is Fiolla of Lorrd (shown above and below), the costar of HAN SOLO'S REVENGE, the second Brian Daley Han Solo novel, first released in late 1979. Fiolla (whose full name is Hart-and-Parn Gorra-Fiolla of Lorrd) is a Corporate Sector Authority auditor who crosses paths with Han. Deplorably, fan art of Fiolla, and some more recent book jacket cover art, has tried to make her look white, or at least much lighter-skinned than the text describes her. These illustrations by Mike Vilardi from the 1993 HAN SOLO AND THE CORPORATE SECTOR SOURCEBOOK attempt to follow Daley's description, but only the one below is as dark as Daley says Fiolla is:

Appearing on newsstands just weeks after HAN SOLO'S REVENGE was the first Marvel STAR WARS ANNUAL, written by Chris Claremont, which introduces another of Han's old flames: his former smuggling shipmate Katya M'Buele:

Katya unfortunately meets a bad end at the hands of the old enemy to whom their conversation in the panels above alludes. (Chris Claremont's tendency to introduce Black women into his stories and then use them as punching bags is a whole other conversation.)

While Fiolla would probably regard Han as a dubious flirtation that would never have worked out anyway, and the Claremont story leaves some ambiguity about whether Han and Katya were lovers or just good friends, Salla Zend, introduced by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy in the 1992 DARK EMPIRE miniseries, is unequivocally Han's former girlfriend:

More recently, the 2015 STAR WARS series introduced Sana Starros, who actually introduces herself to Leia (in a story set between STAR WARS and EMPIRE) as Han's wife:

Their marriage is subsequently revealed to have been part of a scam, and Sana's later appearances indicate that she prefers women (meaning that Han has the dubious honor of sharing an ex with everyone's favorite unscrupulous disaster lesbian, Chelli Lona Aphra).

However, all this means that Han's checkered relationship history includes at least four Black women. I'm well aware that the likelihood of this being reflected in a big-budget STAR WARS movie was very low, and the racism of the studio and of fandom would have almost certainly made life hellish for any Black woman cast in the role of Han Solo's first girlfriend. Given how dismissively SOLO kills off the Val character (played by Thandiwe Newton) — a death Newton says originally wasn't supposed to be final — the misogynoir was already pronounced. However, the above prose and comics stories were all approved by Lucasfilm and are, or at least were, as close to canonical as any STAR WARS tie-in ever is.

South Carolina's Amy Vilardi, Ross Vilardi arrested; Who shot Barbara Scott, Mike Scott, Cathy Scott and Violet Taylor? 

Violet Taylor, 82, Barbara Scott, 80, Cathy Scott, 60, and Michael “Mike” Scott, 58, were fatally shot on November 1, 2015 at the residence they shared on Refuge Road in Pendleton, Anderson County, South Carolina, United States.

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S.C. woman who wondered how family's killer could 'live with yourself' is arrested in 2015 quadruple homicide

A South Carolina woman, who’d given emotional interviews about stumbling into the gruesome murder scene of four loved ones, was arrested and ordered held without bail this weekend in connection with that 2015 quadruple slaying, officials said. Amy Vilardi and her husband, Rosmore “Ross” Vilardi, are both accused of killing Cathy Scott, 60; Mike Scott, 59; Barbara Scott, 80; and Violet Taylor, 82,…

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Preliminary Character Sketches by Mike Vilardi. 1992.

Artist Mike Vilardi was kind enough to share his preliminary character sketches of Mara Jade, Talon Karrde, and the Noghri, in preparation for his Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook illustrations for West End Games.

“I did some sketches to help me develop Mara’s look, which I felt should reflect her strength while still allowing for vulnerability and a touch of weariness/inner conflict. It was an honor to have a hand in the development of her look, adding to her personality and "fleshing-her-out," so to speak. It’s truly awesome to be an adult and be able to play in a universe that held me spellbound as a kid.” 

Illustration by Mike Vilardi of the Gand findsman Venlyss Pnorr.  Scanned from Cracken’s Rebel Operatives, a Star Wars R.P.G. supplement edited by Bill Smith.

From 1979 to 1980, Brian Daley wrote the three Han Solo Adventures novels — Han Solo at Star’s End, Han Solo’s Revenge and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy. I could never get through them, but they, along with the Marvel comic and the non-canon Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, form up the foundation of the expanded universe.

Han Solo and the Corporate Sector (1993) is a sourcebook for the first two novels (the last is set in the Tion Hegemony). The titular Corporate Sector is run by the the tyrannical Corporate Sector Authority, a stand-in for the Empire that sets the stage for exploring Solo’s history as an outlaw and smuggler. Despite having no real opinion on the source material, this is one of my favorite sourcebooks for WEGSW.

The intention is to inject a bit of the Western into Star Wars. There is a gunslinger (Galanadro, who is a pretty cool character, honestly), a jail break, swoop racing, frontier life. It also, inadvertently, introduces a whiff of cyberpunk into the sci fi of star wars, with immoral monolithic corporations and heists and lowlifes. Most of all, it is refreshing because the Corporate Sector Authority (I would abbreviate it, but I can’t help but read CSA as "community-supported agriculture”) is not the Empire and Star Wars definitely benefits from more villains that aren’t the Empire and a new superweapon. Variety is the spice of life!

Nice art by Tim Eldred, Alan Nunis and Mike Vilardi throughout. The only real crime here is that the Lando Calrissian trilogy of novels didn’t get a similar sourcebook treatment.

Hockey Cards for Sale!

I have a variety of hockey cards for sale if anyone is interested! Some are older players from the 90s, some are more recent ones. Since they can fit into letter-sized envelopes, I’m selling them for a small amount (mainly just to cover postage and envelopes, especially for those out of Canada). This can be paid through my Ko-Fi (via Paypal), and I’ll give the link for those interested.

Cost depends on where you live (i.e. in Canada or elsewhere), how many cards you want (any more than 5 will be sent in more than one envelope to avoid issues in mailing), and whether you want them sleeved or unsleeved.

Within Canada:

1-5 cards: $2 unsleeved, $3 sleeved

6-10 cards: $3 unsleeved, $4 sleeved

11+ cards: $5 unsleeved, $6 sleeved

Within the US:

1-5 cards: $3 unsleeved, $4 sleeved

6-10 cards: $4 unsleeved, $5 sleeved

11+ cards in the US: $5 unsleeved, $7 sleeved

Any other country:

1-5 cards: $4.50 unsleeved, $5.50 sleeved

6-10 cards: $5.50 unsleeved, $6.50 sleeved

11+ cards: $6.50 unsleeved, 7.50 sleeved

I can and will send pictures of the cards people ask about/want. I will also send photo proof of the envelope being mailed once payment has gone through. Lists are found under the cut:

Colorado Avalance:

Greg de Vreis (2003)

Milan Hejduk (2008)

Marek Svatos (2008)

Scott Young (1995)

Chicago Blackhawks:

Artem Anisimov (2018) (x2, one is Upper Deck, one is O-Pee-Chee)

Dustin Byfuglien (2009)

Adam Creighton (1990)

Paul Gillis (1991)

Phillip Kurashev (2022)

Bryan Marchment (1991)

Andy Moog (1991) (Card is in French)

Mike Peluso (1991)

St. Lous Blues:

Justin Faulk (2021)

Steve Duchesne (1994)

Brett Hull (1991) (Card is in French)

Mark Rycroft (2005)

Vladimir Sobotka (2018)

Boston Bruins:

Sandy Moger (1995)

Barry Pederson (1991)

Jim Weimer (1991)

Montreal Canadiens

Donald Dufresney (1991)

Washington Capitals:

Sylvain Cote (1991)

John Druce (1991)

Lars Eller (2017)

Lars Eller (2018)

Tomas Fleischmann (2009)

Bob Joyce (1990)

Olaf Kolzig (1990)

Steve Konowalchuk (2001)

Michal Pivonka (1991)

Mike Ridley (1990)

Ken Sabourin (1991)

Chris Simon (2002)

Mikhail Tatarinov (1991)

Dave Tippett (1991)

Arizona Coyotes:

Jakoc Chychrun (2021)

Conor Garland (2021)

New Jersey Devils:

Jason Arnott (2001)

Jason Miller (1991) (Top prospect)

Anaheim Ducks:

Rickard Rakell (2021)

Philadelphia Flyers:

Keith Acton (1991)

Kimbi Daniels (1991)

Steve Duchesne (1991)

Pelle Eklund (1991) (Card is in French)

Corey Foster (1991)

Brad Jones (1991)

Steve Kasper (1991)

Mike Ricci (1991)

Doug Sulliman (1991)

Dimitri Yushkevich (1993)

Vegas Golden Knights:

Alex Pietrangelo (2021)

New York Islanders:

Gerald Diduck (1990)

Mark Fitzpatrick (1991)

Olli Jokinen (1999)

Derek King (1995)

Gary Nylund (1990)

Richard Pilon (1991)

Taylor Pyatt (2001)

Joe Sakic (1991)

Dave Volek (1989)

Randy Wood (1991)

LA Kings:

Jaret Anderson-Dolan (2021)

Randy Gilhen (1991)

Tony Granato (1991) (Card is in French)

Kelly Hrudey (199)

John McIntyre (1991)

Larry Robinson (1991)

Daryl Sydor (1990)

Gabe Vilardi (2021)

Tampa Bay Lightning:

Brantt Myhres (1995)

Danis Savard (1994)

Rob Zamuner (1993)

Florida Panthers:

Evgenii Dadonov (2018)

Roberto Luongo (2005)

Frank Vatrano (2021)

New York Rangers:

Tony Amonte (1991)

Filip Chytil (2021)

Michael Grabner (2017)

Kaapo Kakko (2021)

Chris Kreider (2018)

Mark Messier (1991)

Randy Moller (1991) (Card is in French)

Mike Richter (1991)

Kevin Rooney (2021)

Detroit Red Wings:

Tyler Bertuzzi (2021)

Valtteri Filppula (2021)

Kory Kocur (1990)

Yves Racine (1991) (Card is in French)

Jakub Vrana (2021)

Buffalo Sabres:

Doug Bodger (1991)

Kevin Haller (1991)

Victor Olofsson (2021)

Evan Rodrigues (2018)

Randy Wood (1991)

San Jose Sharks:

Rudolfs Balcers (2021)

Mikkel Boedker (2018)

Mikkel Boedker (2017)

Pat Falloon (1991)

Tomas Hertl (2020)

Timo Meier (2020 x2, one is Upper Deck series 1, one is Upper Deck series 2)

Brian Mullen (1992)

Owen Nolan (2002)

Marco Sturm (2000)

Dallas Stars:

Andrew Cogliano (2021)

Blake Comeau (2021)

Trent Klatt (1993)

John Klingberg (2021)

Alexander Radulov (2020)

Minnesota Wild:

Jordan Greenway (2021)

Carson Soucy (2021)

Other:

Roman Meluzin (Czech Republic World Junior Hockey) (1996)

Pat Peake (USA World Junior Hockey) (1992) (Card is in French)

Jens Schwabe (Sweden World Junior Hockey) (1992)

Ep 18: PALM BEACH SHERIFF ARRESTING PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS? Congressional Candidate Mike Vilardi Joins Me!

Top 200 Fantasy Prospect Forwards – April 2019

Here are the top prospect forwards to own in your points-only keeper leagues – April edition

  It's graduation day! The list of this month's graduates is at the bottom, and it's extensive. As a result, plenty of new faces this month. Click on any of the names to be taken to our DobberProspects profile (complete with observations, certainty rating and upside rating). o= offensive forward, t= two-way forward, p= power forward, os= offensive but smaller.

  Apr 10 Prospect Team type Prospect Rating Mar 10 Feb 10 1 Troy Terry ANA o 83.7 12 15 2 Ryan Donato MIN o 82.9 6 35 3 Henrik Borgstrom FLA t 80.8 3 5 4 Drake Batherson OTT p 80.1 9 11 5 Eeli Tolvanen NSH o 78.0 4 4 6 Jordan Kyrou STL o 75.1 10 8 7 Ryan Poehling MON t 75.0 62 84 8 Nikita Gusev VGK os 73.1 129 129 9 Martin Necas CAR o 72.4 7 10 10 Kailer Yamamoto EDM os 72.3 11 12 11 Filip Zadina DET o 71.9 14 14 12 Kirill Kaprizov MIN os 71.9 32 33 13 Vitali Kravtsov NYR o 71.8 19 20 14 Maxime Comtois ANA p 71.4 51 49 15 Sam Steel ANA o 70.7 16 17 16 Cody Glass VGK o 70.6 15 16 17 Kristian Vesalainen WPG p 69.9 20 21 18 Jason Robertson DAL o 69.3 22 23 19 Conor Garland ARI os 69.0 35 37 20 Morgan Frost PHI o 69.0 18 19 21 Aleksi Heponiemi FLA o 67.8 31 32 22 Michael Rasmussen DET p 67.8 24 25 23 Alexander Nylander BUF o 67.2 34 36 24 Jaret Anderson-Dolan LAK t 67.2 26 27 25 Barrett Hayton ARI t 66.9 38 39 26 Nick Suzuki MON t 66.8 27 28 27 Dylan Sikura CHI o 66.8 30 31 28 Luke Kunin MIN o 66.5 29 30 29 Gabriel Vilardi LAK o 66.4 23 24 30 Logan Brown OTT o 66.0 33 34 31 Grigori Denisenko FLA o 65.6 78 72 32 Adam Gaudette VAN o 65.5 46 46 33 Alex Formenton OTT o 65.5 36 38 34 Andrew Mangiapane CGY o 65.4 52 50 35 Lias Andersson NYR t 65.0 39 41 36 Michael McLeod NJD t 64.9 42 43 37 Ty Dellandrea DAL o 64.7 45 45 38 Carl Grundstrom LAK o 64.7 43 70 39 Martin Kaut COL t 64.4 41 40 40 Owen Tippett FLA o 64.1 40 42 41 Mason Appleton WPG o 63.9 49 77 42 Rasmus Kupari LAK o 63.7 77 71 43 Dillon Dube CGY o 63.4 47 47 44 Jeremy Bracco TOR o 63.2 50 82 45 Alexandre Texier CBJ o 61.5 138 140 46 Roope Hintz DAL o 61.2 82 78 47 Vitali Abramov OTT os 60.7 53 52 48 Jonathan Davidsson OTT o 60.4 54 85 49 Joel Farabee PHI t 60.1 55 53 50 Dylan Gambrell SJS o 59.6 57 90 51 Nicolas Roy CAR t 59.4 60 57 52 Josh Norris OTT o 59.2 61 83 53 Taylor Raddysh TBL p 59.1 63 58 54 Oliver Wahlstrom NYI o 59.0 64 59 55 Cooper Marody EDM o 58.9 59 97 56 Jonathan Dahlen SJS o 58.7 65 60 57 Dominik Bokk STL o 58.6 103 103 58 Evgeny Svechnikov DET o 58.5 68 63 59 Joe Veleno DET o 58.4 66 61 60 Denis Gurianov DAL o 58.4 67 62 61 Isac Lundestrom ANA o 58.3 75 68 62 Filip Chlapik OTT o 58.3 127 137 63 Anders Bjork BOS t 58.3 56 54 64 Joshua Ho-Sang NYI o 57.9 48 48 65 Aleksi Saarela CAR o 57.7 70 64 66 Boris Katchouk TBL t 57.6 71 65 67 Rudolfs Balcers OTT o 57.1 74 101 68 Antti Suomela SJS o 57.1 72 66 69 Kieffer Bellows NYI p 56.9 76 69 70 Sammy Blais STL o 56.3 85 80 71 Taro Hirose DET o 56.0 NR NR 72 Jayce Hawryluk FLA o 55.9 80 74 73 Max Jones ANA p 55.6 105 105 74 Matt Luff LAK o 54.7 94 107 75 Nic Petan TOR os 54.4 84 86 76 Nick Merkley ARI o 54.4 79 73 77 Julien Gauthier CAR o 54.0 86 81 78 Tyler Benson EDM o 54.0 93 94 79 Vladislav Kamenev COL t 53.3 87 88 80 Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson BOS t 53.3 73 67 81 Rem Pitlick NSH p 52.7 174 171 82 Janne Kuokkanen CAR o 52.6 106 106 83 Emil Bemstrom CBJ os 52.5 89 91 84 Max Veronneau OTT o 52.2 NR NR 85 German Rubtsov PHI t 52.1 83 79 86 Sheldon Dries COL os 52.0 92 108 87 Klim Kostin STL p 51.7 95 95 88 Sasha Chmelevski SJS o 51.5 97 98 89 Otto Koivula NYI p 51.5 160 158 90 Riley Tufte DAL p 51.2 91 93 91 Alex Barre-Boulet TBL os 50.9 99 99 92 Liam Foudy CBJ t 50.7 96 96 93 Sonny Milano CBJ o 50.6 101 100 94 Rourke Chartier SJS o 50.4 102 102 95 Trent Frederic BOS p 50.2 117 117 96 Jesper Boqvist NJD o 50.0 175 172 97 Mason Shaw MIN os 49.9 118 118 98 Mikhail Vorobyev PHI o 49.9 90 92 99 Zach Senyshyn BOS o 49.8 104 104 100 Trey Fix-Wolansky CBJ os 49.5 205 219 101 Kevin Stenlund CBJ p 49.4 107 109 102 Mitchell Stephens TBL t 49.4 108 110 103 Michael Dal Colle NYI o 49.3 109 133 104 John Quenneville NJD t 49.3 88 89 105 Serron Noel FLA p 49.1 208 205 106 Sheldon Rempal LAK os 48.9 110 111 107 Maxim Letunov SJS o 48.9 111 112 108 Nikita Scherbak LAK o 48.9 100 56 109 Victor Olofsson BUF o 48.7 113 113 110 Kevin Roy ANA o 48.6 116 116 111 Jake Evans MON o 48.4 119 119 112 Tanner Laczynski PHI o 48.4 120 120 113 Shane Bowers COL t 48.4 121 121 114 Ryan McLeod EDM o 48.3 122 122 115 Benoit-Olivier Groulx ANA o 48.3 171 168 116 Kirill Maksimov EDM p 47.8 158 216 117 Kiefer Sherwood ANA t 47.7 125 125 118 Adam Mascherin DAL os 47.5 130 130 119 Alexander Khovanov MIN o 47.5 126 126 120 Connor Dewar MIN o 47.3 212 209 121 Valentin Zykov VGK o 47.2 98 87 122 Evan Barratt CHI o 46.9 131 131 123 Peter Cehlarik BOS o 46.7 132 187 124 Dmitry Sokolov MIN o 46.6 133 134 125 Gabriel Fortier TBL o 46.6 134 135 126 Isaac Ratcliffe PHI p 46.6 346 354 127 Shane Gersich WAS o 46.5 135 136 128 Matthew Highmore CHI o 46.3 137 139 129 C.J. Smith BUF o 46.3 128 127 130 Erik Foley STL o 46.0 141 143 131 Joseph Blandisi PIT o 45.9 139 141 132 Adam Brooks TOR o 45.9 142 144 133 Maxim Mamin FLA o 45.8 145 147 134 Karson Kuhlman BOS t 45.6 NR NR 135 AJ Greer COL p 45.6 136 138 136 Francis Perron SJS o 45.6 147 148 137 Kole Lind VAN o 45.5 123 123 138 Stelio Mattheos CAR o 45.5 148 149 139 Jonatan Berggren DET o 45.4 149 150 140 Aarne Talvitie NJD o 45.4 166 163 141 Brandon Hagel BUF o 45.4 216 213 142 Patrick Harper NSH os 45.3 150 151 143 Teddy Blueger PIT o 45.3 151 152 144 Saku Maenalanen CAR o 45.2 152 153 145 Nikolay Prokhorkin LAK o 45.2 153 199 146 Juho Lammikko FLA o 45.2 154 154 147 Logan O'Connor COL t 45.2 NR NR 148 Justin Almeida PIT o 45.2 155 232 149 Rasmus Asplund BUF o 45.1 114 114 150 Alexander Volkov TBL o 45.0 156 155 151 Akil Thomas LAK o 45.0 157 156 152 Dmytro Timashov TOR o 45.0 143 145 153 Joey Anderson NJD o 45.0 159 157 154 Marcus Davidsson BUF t 44.9 161 159 155 Tyler Madden VAN t 44.9 289 300 156 Jack Rodewald OTT o 44.8 162 261 157 Tyler Steenbergen ARI o 44.7 163 160 158 Ville Meskanen NYR o 44.6 164 161 159 Semyon Der-Arguchintsev TOR os 44.5 315 324 160 Lukas Jasek VAN t 44.4 167 164 161 Noah Gregor SJS o 44.2 168 165 162 Philipp Kurashev CHI o 44.1 169 166 163 Dryden Hunt FLA o 44.1 183 180 164 Mike Amadio LAK o 44.1 170 167 165 Pierre Engvall TOR o 44.0 165 162 166 Victor Ejdsell CHI p 44.0 172 169 167 Tyler Lewis COL o 44.0 173 170 168 Jonny Brodzinski LAK o 43.9 176 173 169 Tomas Hyka VGK o 43.9 177 174 170 Brett Seney NJD os 43.7 179 176 171 Axel Holmstrom DET o 43.5 180 177 172 Nick Henry COL o 43.5 181 178 173 Kalle Kossila ANA o 43.4 182 179 174 Joni Ikonen MON o 43.4 261 271 175 Jack Dugan VGK p 43.4 236 237 176 Jesse Ylonen MON o 43.4 263 274 177 Wade Allison PHI o 43.3 144 146 178 Austin Wagner LAK p 43.1 184 181 179 Remi Elie BUF p 42.9 186 183 180 Ivan Chekhovich SJS o 42.9 187 184 181 Matthew Phillips CGY os 42.8 189 186 182 Cameron Hebig EDM o 42.7 190 188 183 Michael Spacek WPG o 42.7 191 189 184 Anthony Richard NSH o 42.6 192 190 185 Michael Bunting ARI o 42.6 185 182 186 Brandon Hagel CHI o 42.6 459 471 187 Riley Barber WAS t 42.6 194 192 188 Carsen Twarynski PHI o 42.5 195 193 189 Brandon Gignac NJD o 42.5 196 194 190 Morgan Geekie CAR o 42.5 215 273 191 Yakov Trenin NSH o 42.5 287 298 192 Jake Leschyshyn VGK o 42.5 197 195 193 Jonah Gadjovich VAN p 42.5 198 196 194 Jack Drury CAR t 42.5 199 197 195 Antoine Morand ANA o 42.5 200 198 196 Noah Cates PHI o 42.4 368 376 197 Morgan Barron NYR o 42.4 407 419 198 Nikita Pavlychev PIT p 42.3 NR NR 199 Liam Hawel DAL p 42.1 202 201 200 Carter Verhaeghe TBL o 42.1 203 202

    1 Tkachuk Brady OTT 2 Svechnikov Andrei CAR 5 Kotkaniemi Jesperi MON 8 Thomas Robert STL 13 Mittelstadt Casey BUF 17 Greenway Jordan MIN 21 Chytil Filip NYR 25 Howden Brett NYR 28 Thompson Tage BUF 37 Kahun Dominik CHI 44 Foegele Warren CAR 58 Sprong Daniel ANA 69 Aston-Reese Zach PIT 81 Dickinson Jason DAL 112 Lemieux Brendan NYR 115 Boyd Travis WAS 124 Hayden John CHI 201 Grimaldi Rocco NSH 214 Gauthier Frederik TOR 270 Cave Colby EDM 339 Nieves Cristoval NYR 389 Moore Trevor TOR

  from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/latest/top-200-fantasy-prospect-forwards-april-2019/

Chaos reigns for NHL draft, but prospects are staying cool and enjoying the ride By Mike Zeisberger CHICAGO — As young Gabriel Vilardi slowly buttons up the pinstriped Chicago Cubs jersey, it’s not the shirt on his back that has a leather-lunged fan in the stands voicing his playful displeasure.

The Red Moons - Brixie Ergo

Red Moons Spotlight - Brixie Ergo

Red Moons Spotlight Brixie Ergo

Brixie Ergo, image credit: Mike Vilardi

Encouraged by her parents, both recognized medical specialists in the Entralla system, Brixie enrolled in one of the prominent universities there to pursue a medical career of her own. After several years of intense study, Doctors Mari and Praxis Ergo were on their way to attend their daughter’s graduation ceremony when they…

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2017 NHL mock draft: Stars, Lightning get top-5 talent in our 1st simulation

Everything is backward.

The 2017 NHL Entry Draft is 151 days away, but it’s already time to start thinking about how special it’ll be.

After all, there’s a twist this year: the Vegas Golden Knights will draft their first player in franchise history, throwing a monkey wrench into the works. Vegas will receive the same draft lottery odds as the team with the third-best odds, meaning they’re pretty much guaranteed a top-three pick.

Plus, the pecking order is all backward. Stanley Cup hopefuls like Dallas and Tampa Bay will likely pick in the top 10, while Edmonton and Toronto are playoff-bound.

So here’s our first monthly NHL mock draft. Note that the order isn’t lined up with the standings because I ran the standings through the Tankathon simulator based on current standings and odds. The following draft order is based on the first (and only) time I simulated it. And since most teams are still fighting for playoff chances, the order will look totally different next month.

Let the fun begin.

1. Colorado Avalanche - Nolan Patrick, C, Brandon (WHL)

When you have the luxury of the first overall pick, you never pass the chance at taking the best player available. And Patrick is simply the best player in the 2017 draft. The 6’3 center is molded in the vein of Auston Matthews: a big forward with skill and vision to spare. A center with size is something the Avalanche have lacked with Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon, and Patrick’s equally strong playmaking abilities should provide a nice complementary element.

2. Vegas Golden Knights - Nico Hischier, C, Halifax Mooseheads

There is no consensus second-best player in the draft, but Hischier is approaching that status. The 6’1 center from Switzerland rose in scouts’ minds even before the World Juniors, but his strong performance there only magnified his abilities in everyone’s minds. Few players in the draft blend speed and scoring senses like Hischier, and he’ll be a good first block for the Golden Knights to build around.

3. Arizona Coyotes - Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle

I’ve seen a few mock drafts predicting the Coyotes will go with a forward here. I don’t really see it; so few NHL teams are blessed with a forward pipeline as strong as Arizona’s. They can afford to take a defenseman here, even if it ends up as a bit of a reach.

And I don’t think Liljegren qualifies as a reach yet. A lengthy bout of mono kept him out of the lineup in Sweden for a few months, and thus he’s fallen in scouts’ eyes. That’s unfair. Liljegren is still a smart, puck-moving defenseman with plenty of high upside, and the kind of player I think GM John Chayka adores.

4. Dallas Stars - Gabriel Vilardi, C/RW, Windsor Spitfires

Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

The Stars simply can’t afford to swing and miss on another project first-round pick. Too many (Scott Glennie, Jack Campbell, Jamie Oleksiak) have stagnated their progress as a franchise.

Luckily, Vilardi is both a strong prospect and the kind of forward the Stars look for. He’s big (6’3), but he’s a possession hound, defensively responsible, and has a true knack for scoring and finding the open man. As good a Jason Spezza replacement as any other prospect in the draft.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning - Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City (WHL)

Another team with Stanley Cup aspirations likely heading up the draft instead, the Lightning might consider trading down to pick up a defenseman later in the round. But Valimaki might not be a reach here. Tampa Bay lacks a true offensive-minded defenseman in their stacked system, and Valimaki is the best one of those in the draft. The 6’2 defenseman is enjoying a strong year in the WHL with 40 points in 40 games.

6. Winnipeg Jets - Elias Pettersson, C, Timra (SWE-2)

Winnipeg’s future on the wings is bright with Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers already emerging as stars and Kyle Connor, Nic Petan, and Jack Roslovic on the way. But what their system lacks is a pass-first center who can distribute the puck at exceptional levels. Pettersson fits that mold with some of the best playmaking vision in the draft. If Pettersson becomes the Sam Reinhart to Laine’s Jack Eichel, then the Jets would be quite pleased.

7. Florida Panthers - Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Sioux City (USHL)

Considering the front office turmoil in Sunrise this year, it’s hard to gauge what the Panthers will look for at the draft. It’s easier to look at what their system lacks and work from there, so we’ll go with a winger for now. And Tolvanen is a nice prize: he’s quick, plays with excellent vision, and has shown strong possession play in his own end. He’ll play at Boston College next season.

8. New Jersey Devils - Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City (WHL)

Rasmussen is a pure power forward with a strong nose for the net and scoring ability. His huge 6’6 frame belies his mobility — Rasmussen’s skating could improve, but he’s agile enough to create plays around the net and talented enough to know how to finish the many puck battles he’ll win. Rasmussen has 30 goals and 52 points in 48 games.

9. Detroit Red Wings - Nicolas Hague, D, Mississauga (OHL)

If the Wings are finally ready to rebuild, then a strong defenseman with offensive ability is a nice place to start. Hague is huge (6’6, 208 lbs), and he already displays awareness of how to use that size and reach to his defensive advantage. But he’s a two-way defender, with 32 points and 14 goals this season.

10. Buffalo Sabres - Klim Kostin, W, Balashikha (KHL)

Kostin’s draft stock has risen considerably, and it’s not hard to see why. The 6’3 winger reminds one of Denis Gurianov, the Dallas Stars prospect who dominated the World Juniors with Russia in December. He skates well, is strong on the puck, and would provide a nice scoring, power winger presence to Buffalo’s system. He’s out for the next three months with a shoulder injury, however.

11. Boston Bruins - Casey Mittelstadt, C, Eden Prairie (High School)

It’s time for the Bruins to start preparing for life without Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci, who are approaching the last third of their NHL careers. Mittelstadt, a University of Minnesota recruit, could be that center of the future for the Bruins: a hard-working, high-energy attacking center with vision and skill for days. He could be the steal of the first round.

12. Calgary Flames - Cale Makar, D, Brooks (AJHL)

Bound for U-Mass Amherst next season, Makar could run the Flames’ power play for a long time. Makar has gone from draft unknown to first-round dark horse after a strong performance at the 2016 World Junior A Challenge.

The 5’11 defenseman is what you want out of an offensive-minded, puck-moving blue liner these days: playmaking ability and vision in the offensive zone with speed and responsibility to cover in his own end. Makar could be a strong pickup for the Flames, who would love to see him and Johnny Gaudreau play together on the power play.

13. Vancouver Canucks - Lias Andersson, C, HV 71 (SWE)

Bo Horvat is becoming a player to build around for the Canucks, and Andersson would complement him nicely down the middle for years to come. The Swedish center possesses playmaking ability and a two-way mindset that would make him useful in all situations, kind of like Aleksander Barkov does in Florida.

14. New York Islanders - Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga (OHL)

Hey, remember when John Tavares had a winger who could finish plays for him named Kyle Okposo? That was fun.

Tippett is in the same mold: a 6’2 right-winger with a knack for finishing plays fueled by an elite skating ability and one of the best shots in the draft. New York must start giving Tavares players to thrive with. Tippett is a good start.

15. Carolina Hurricanes - Cody Glass, C, Portland (WHL)

Carolina is healthy on the wings and on defense throughout their system, but they lack some speed and skill down the middle. Glass would fill that hole. A relative unknown before this season, Glass has skyrocketed up draft rankings with 38 assists and 59 points in 45 games with Portland. Still growing into his 6’2 frame, Glass’ exceptional playmaking abilities would make him hard for the Hurricanes to pass up.

16. Los Angeles Kings - Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State (NCAA)

Few teams covet strength and two-way games more than Los Angeles. Poehling is loved by scouts for those qualities, making him a player trusted in all situations for his college team. If he’s NHL-ready soon, Poehling could easily slot well into L.A.’s third line. And, if asked, he could play a top-six role on either Jeff Carter’s wing or as his center.

17. Philadelphia Flyers - Nikita Popugaev, LW, Prince George (WHL)

Philly has done quite well in recent drafts filling system needs with high-upside players with bright futures. But an over-reliance on depth scorers like Matt Read and Michael Raffl can only go so far. Size and skill are in order as Jakub Voracek ages, and Nikita Popugaev fits that mold. The 6’6 power winger put up 51 points in 40 games with Moose Jaw before a deadline trade to Prince George.

18. St. Louis Blues - Callan Foote, D, Kelowna (WHL)

We know what the Blues want out of their defensemen: size, mobility, and smarts. Offensive upside is an added bonus. Foote meets all of those criteria with a 6’3 frame, accurate, well-reasoned zone exits, and oozing with hockey IQ. And wouldn’t it be perfect if Adam Foote’s kid haunted the Avalanche for years?

19. Nashville Predators - Martin Necas, C, Brno (CZE)

Nashville went heavy on defensemen last draft, as if they were preparing to trade Shea Weber or something. Hm.

So they can afford to go after a forward in the first round in 2017. And with Mike Ribeiro on his way out, the Predators could use a similar pass-first player like Necas. Few players in the 2017 draft possess his combination of speed and puck-handling, which lets him create space for teammates and find them with accurate passes.

20. Toronto Maple Leafs - Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP (FIN)

It’s true that Toronto’s glut of incredible forwards needs a puck-mover to get the puck to them, but they also need someone equally capable of keeping the puck out of their own end. Vaakanainen is the best of both worlds this late in the first round, with intelligence with exit decisions and a defensive game sound enough to offset risks taken by Morgan Rielly or Nikita Zaitsev. A safe pick.

21. Ottawa Senators - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, HPK Jr. (FIN)

With Thomas Chabot and Colin White on the way, the Senators’ future with skaters is bright. But they need something to look forward to in net, and it’s not Matt O’Connor. Luukkonen is the best goalie in the draft, with the size (6’4) and agility scouts love. He was the lone bright spot on a disappointing Finland World Juniors roster, and as safe a bet as goalie draftees get.

22. Edmonton Oilers - Henri Jokiharju, D, Portland (WHL)

Alright, I’ll just say it: it’s super weird to be talking about Oilers and Leafs draft prospects this late in the first round. I don’t like it.

Edmonton should look for a power play quarterback of the future here, and Jokiharju is the best one available at the moment. Makar’s rise has led to Jokiharju’s fall, but that’s no fault of his own. Like Makar, he uses his small, 6’0 frame to elude defenders and make smart passes out of his zone or within the offensive zone. More of a project than Makar, but that’s kind of what you get later in the first round.

23. Anaheim Ducks - Shane Bowers, C, Waterloo (USHL)

Ryan Getzlaf is already starting to slow down, and Ryan Kesler might join him soon. Bowers is a good step toward the future of the Ducks’ center depth, with qualities they value: size (at 6’1, he’s still growing), playmaking ability, and a two-way mindset. He’ll join Boston University next year, where he’ll continue to grow into an effective top-six player.

24. San Jose Sharks - Kailer Yamamoto, W, Spokane (WHL)

If you’re a small winger then you’re usually doomed to at least the second round, because scouts haven’t figured out that those players can succeed in today’s NHL more easily than ever. But I hope Yamamoto gets taken in the first round because he’s a joy to watch. The 5’7 winger mixes the game-breaking of a Johnny Gaudreau with the feisty edge of a Brendan Gallagher. He’s ninth in WHL scoring with 30 goals and 62 points in 41 games.

25. New York Rangers - Filip Westerlund, D, Frolunda (SWE)

If the Rangers are smart, they’ll draft heavy on defense this season. Marc Staal and Ryan McDonagh aren’t getting any younger and Dan Girardi isn’t getting any better. Westerlund is admired for how his intelligence with the puck offsets his stout 6’0 frame. He’s already trusted in most situations with Frolunda as a teenager, so he’s more NHL-ready than most European defensemen.

26. Montreal Canadiens - Maxime Comtois, LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Getty Images

Once regarded as a top-five pick, Comtois’ stock has fallen as other players have simply exceeded their initial expectations. So he’s still a good player, and exactly the kind of winger the Canadiens would love to have. He’s tough on the puck, but will walk right up to the edge without crossing over it. Add in elite speed and a sneaky wrist shot, and Comtois could become a terrific player in Montreal.

27. Chicago Blackhawks - Nick Suzuki, C, Owen Sound (OHL)

Suzuki is the kind of Swiss Army knife center that teams are falling more in love with. As a teenager, he already kills penalties better than most prospects and constantly makes great decisions whenever the puck is on his stick, no matter what zone he’s in. Again, his height (5’11) might make him drop this far, and the Blackhawks would love to let him marinate in their system.

28. Pittsburgh Penguins - Miro Heiskanen, D, HIFK (FIN)

Heiskanen’s stock fell after a quiet World Juniors, but he’s still a defenseman with intriguing upside, even if he ends up as a bit of a long-term investment. The good news is he’s leaned on heavily by HIFK even as one of the youngest prospects available, meaning there’s already a lot to like.

29. Minnesota Wild - Matthew Strome, LW, Hamilton (OHL)

Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

If there’s one thing Eric Staal taught the Wild, it’s that a skilled winger with size can thrive in their system. Strome fits perfectly in that case. The younger brother of Ryan and Dylan, Matthew put up 23 goals and 38 points in the first half of the season with Hamilton.

30. Washington Capitals - Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph (OHL)

If there’s one place where Washington’s system is lacking, it’s depth and size on the left wing. Ratcliffe projects as a power forward with finishing ability, enjoying a breakout year with 22 goals and 40 points in 46 games.

31. Columbus Blue Jackets - Stelio Mattheos, RW, Brandon (WHL)

Overshadowed by Nolan Patrick, Mattheos stepped in admirably in the center’s absence this season. He’s shown strong offensive ability but will more likely end up as a complementary winger who performs well in whatever situation Columbus asks him to play.

Illustration by Mike Vilardi. “Dark Force Rising Sourcebook.” April, 1993.

Mara Jade reuniting with Grand Admiral Thrawn has long been my favorite scene from Timothy Zahn’s “Dark Force Rising.” I don’t think I’ve read the passage in over a decade at this point, but was shocked to realize I remembered the dialogue verbatim.

"We met once, during the public dedication of the new Assemblage wing of the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. At that ceremony the Emperor introduced me to you as Lianna, one of his favorite dancers. Later, during the more private ceremony that followed, he revealed to you my true identity."

"And what was that private ceremony?"

"Your secret promotion to the rank of Grand Admiral."

Thrawn pursed his lips, his eyes never leaving her face. "You wore a white dress to both ceremonies," he said. "Aside from the sash, the dress had only one decoration. Do you recall what that decoration was?"

Mara had to think back. "It was a small shouldersculp," she said slowly. "Left shoulder. A Xyquine design, as I remember."

"It was indeed." Thrawn reached to his control board, touched a switch; and abruptly, the room was filled with holos of shouldersculps on ornate pillars. "The one you wore is somewhere in this room. Find it."

Mara swallowed, turning slowly as she looked around. She'd had literally hundreds of fancy dresses for her cover role as a member of the Emperor's entourage. To remember one particular shouldersculp out of all that...

She shook her head, trying to clear away the unpleasant buzzing sensation that hovered deep in her mind. She'd had an excellent memory once, one which the Emperor's training had made even better. Focusing her thoughts, fighting upstream against the disquieting aura of this place, she concentrated...

"That's it," she said, pointing to a delicate filigree of gold and blue.

Thrawn's expression didn't change, but he seemed to relax a little in his seat. "Welcome back, Emperor's Hand." He touched the switch a second time, and the art gallery vanished. "You've been a long time in returning."

“Planning the Manipulation,” an illustration by Mike Vilardi and Rob Caswell for the pen ’n’ paper R.P.G. Traveller by Mongoose Publishing.

Star Wars, Revised and Expanded (1996) is the third iteration of West End Games’ D6 Star Wars RPG. It is still considered part of the second edition, but while it is aesthetically inferior to the 1992 edition, it does feature some nice quality of life improvements.

Let’s take on the looks first. I think this book is UGLY. It is full color and the photo reproduction is great, but the illustrations (several of which are colored versions of art that appeared previously in black and white) is just…it reminds me of when I get an old D&D module and find someone had colored in the black and white illustrations, but with none of the charm. I find the art in the 1992 edition, particularly by Alan Nunis and Mike Vilardi inspiring and universe-expanding. This stuff here? Bland and generic.

But what we really care about is the substance, right? Right. Very little of the “revised and expanded” in the title refers to rules and mechanics. What few there are streamline play — you don’t notice them. And that’s the point, because the rest of the changes are all in the service of making this a faster, more cinematic, easier to learn and easier to play game. There are way more explanations (though I can do without the in-character chapter introductions - cornball city) and examples of play, there’s a solo adventure, quick reference rule handouts and a starter group adventure. It is just as chunky a RPG rulebook as every other single-book system rulebook in the 90s, but I am hard pressed to think of a contemporary RPG so focused on making itself easy and accessible. In 1996, we’re past the height of the complexity for complexity’s sake, but that impulse didn’t just vanish off the peak. That makes this iteration of Star Wars all the more impressive. If I ran WEGSW again, this is the rulebook I’d use (unless that bootleg third edition is substantially better, but I’ve not read that too closely).