EHM 2007 Blog

[Loosie]

So Once again I decided to do an unemployed start. I've done a few of these, but I want to stick with this one. SO I figured I'd turn it into a blog. I'll point out too that I'm using the defualt DB, I prefer doing unemployed starts out of the default db, just personal preference.

The rules were that I would not apply for any open jobs, I would just apply for National Team jobs that came up. Otherwise I would wait for a team to offer me a job. So I applied to Team USA for the Duetschland Cup, and was passed over, same with Team Canada World Juniors. After that it didn't take long to get offered, three teams fired thier GMs. EV Duisburg Die Fuchse in the DEL on Nov 14, IF Sundsvall Hockey on Nov 29 and then Prince Albert on Dec. 16th. On the 27th, Prince Albert offered me the job. So I accepted.

As of December 27th 2006 I am the new GM of the Prince Albert Raiders. Looking at the team and the standings I'm not sure why the former GM was fired, the teams expectation are to make the playoffs and we currently sit 3 points out. I don't knwo if maybe they were expecting a higher placment or not, but that's where we are. The staff wasn't too horrible, I have no AGM and have an open coaching spot, so those are my immedaite focus spots right now...oh and replaceing my 'Goalie Coach' (10 in Coaching Goalies, and a 1 in working with Youngsters)

So here's hoping I can pull a few deals and get this team into the playoffs. At least my first two games are against the Regina Pats who are below me in the standings.

[Loosie]

So my mission was a success. We were abel to get into the playoffs. It was tense at times as down the strecth it was a four way battle for the last two playoff spots in the East Division. Regina slowly fell out of teh race and it seemed as though Swift Current was a lock for 3rd in the division. And it seemed it was down to us and Saskatoon. Slowly we pulled away from Saskatoon and sure enough with two games left to play in the regular season we were able to clich a playoff spot. Not only that we were able to beat Swift Current in the final two games of the season to claim 3rd spot. Unfortunaly that seems to have landed us in a Quarter final match up with first place Brandon. They've had there way us as we lsot the season series 2-6-1 to them, the only good news is that those two wins came after I took over the team.

I know management is not expecting a deep run into the post-season, but it would be nice to do some damage there.

[Loosie]

And Swift Current swept, shutting us out in the last three games. We were out scored 17-2. It was not pretty. But we had a decent draft, and the board is looking forward to the President's Cup this year. We'll see. I like most of the moves I made, but was not able to get a solid netminder, Here's hoping Esau improves over last year, or the Finnish golaie I drafted in the import draft has a solid year. DePape was drafted by Colorado, but I expect him back. Jeff May was signed by New Kersey after we were elimnated, he's an overager so I'm not sure about his status for next season. He'd be my 3rd overager so if he is not returned I'll see if I can plug any holes with an overager.

[Loosie]

So with mangement wanting the President's Cup I was terrified to find that we were ranked dead last in the pre-season rankings. I knew we were better than that. Again I felt our only weakness was in goal. The saeson started and man did that impressiosn ever change. Tyler Esau in his second season has been outstanding for us. Also DePape after being returned from teh Avs traning camp has been tearing up the league. He currently sits second in league scoring behind Peter Mueller. We starte the seaon with 3 wins and have appeared on the top 10 listing a handful of times, with the hightest rnaking being 5th. Jeff May was also returned by the Devils, so I had no need to go look for another overager.

We took 1st overall in the division right away and have never looked back. Here's hoping we cna keep this pace. With everyone having such a stellar season I almost afraid we may get picked apart for the World Juniors. DePape was there last year so I expect him to return, I'm hoping Esau will fly under the radar a bit. While my two backups ahving been playing well, I don't have as much confidence in them as I do Esau, plus my Finnish goalie could very wel get a call up to u-20 Finnish team if there are not any better goalies playing in Finland or elsewhere. The Finnish goalie (Tero Silvonen) lost his first three games (0-2-1), so I though I had a bust, but then he's won his next 4 starts, and is rounding into a pretty dependable backup. My third goalie Karsten Felske is 2-2-0 so overall we've got a decent goaltending tandem, again I'm just concerned about a 2 to 3-week run with Silvonen/Felske.

[Loosie]

Haven't updated in a whlie. Partially because I was runnign my Challenge team for a while in there. Anyways the rest of the season went well we finished 2nd in the Division and lost in the first round in 7 games to Saskatoon. Shortly after being nominated I was offered the GM job for the Ottawa 67s, so I took it. Our first season was really succesful. We finished 5th in the conference with a 38-27-3 record. and made it all the way to J. Ross Robertson finals where we were swept by Saginaw. I like the results of our draft but was concerened with amount of graduating players we had.

This could be a challenging season but I like what see early. Th eonly hiccup was an injury in our final pre-season game to one of my top centermen. He's out for the season (7 months) which could really hamper his development. We'll keep on an eye on him for next year.

[Loosie]

RAWWR! I know I haven't been updating this blog but I am today. I'm still GM of Ottawa 67s and having been very succesful, but with nothing to show for it. We've been the J. Ross Robertson Finals 4 times and lost every time. This last one stinging the most. We were up 3 games to 1 on Windsor and before game 5 BOOM BOOM BOOM, #2 Center top 2 D-Man and NUMBER ONE GOALIE signed by thier NHL clubs.

I wasn't too worried though as I new I had enough talent to support them, And my backup goalie, while used sparingly was 8-2 in the regular season, so I figured that asking him to win one game in three wasn;'t asking too much...aperrently it was, we lost the series 4-3. And to make matters worse instead of returning my #1 goalie, or relasing his rights BEFORE signing him, they released him the next day, so I tried resinging him but no go, he has been offered 3 different NHL contracts.

I've been GM for 6 years now always making the playoffs and having deep runs but not winning the big one. So I've been thinking of breaking my own rule and applying for another team...we'll see where this goes