The - if Ray Shero never became Pens GM - story

[Koekenbakker]

What is this? We're back in september 2006 and we're going to try and do a better job then Ray Shero did in drafting good players and not trading them for old pieces who won't resign. Although IRL there is still some left in Crosby and Malkin, I personally feel a big part of their careers are wasted and I want to see if I can do any better. My alter ego Fred "The Hitman" Freezer just took over the job at Pens and was a Hall of Famer in the local beer league. Mostly known for well, fights, hits, throwing punches and falling over because he couldn't skate


Database: I've just loaded up a game with the UUDB 6.0 database which is the last version without the scoring realism patch I believe.

2006-2007 Team:

Uhm yeah, I believe the Pens weren't in too good of a shape with guys like Leclair, Recchi who were near the end of their careers and with loads of average players like Ekman, Melichar, Moore, Ouellet (who never really panned out).

Starting lines for the season:
Malone - Crosby - Recchi (best we can make for the 1st line)
Ekman - Malkin - Ouellet (we can score 2nd liners)
Talbot - Staal - Ruuttu (shutdown)
Leclair - Thorburn - Roy (strength)

Melichar - Gonchar
Eaton - Whitney
Scuderi - Orpik

Fleury
Thibault

September moves
- Kris Letang was sent back to juniors. The guy needs to get some muscle and try and get his numbers up in the hope he will pan out in the future
- Eric Cairns was send back to Wilkes-Barre, he could barely skate during camp but he knocked out some teeth in the Philly friendly!
- Hired some scouts to setup a scouting network.
- Got Sam St. Laurent as a second goalie coach. Sounds familiar? Yeah, I guess the guy has been in the game as a goalie coach for the past 10 years!
- And you wouldn't believe it although it is true! The Pens signed Ricky Martin as an assistant coach. He'll teach them some nifty little dancing moves in the hopes we can use them in the race to the SC. Be sure to watch here (https://youtu.be/p47fEXGabaY) to get into the mood!

Goal of this season
Try and get to the playoffs. Resign keepers on a good (long term?) contract and do heavy heavy scouting. Sounds easy, right?

[Koekenbakker]

So we've just passed the trade deadline and I managed to get one guy to strengthen our defense for the next couple of years.

- Lubomir Visnovsky from Kings was traded for Noah Welch, Jarkko Ruutu, Nils Ekman and two 2nd picks.

This guy is a star,knows how to shoot from the blueline, can pass and is a real solid defensemen. Much like Gonchar, but 2 years younger.

Other trades:
- Melichar for Blues 3rd and 4th
- Rights to Anton Stralman for Nemec, Goepfert and Nordgren.

Failed trades:
- Chicago had interest in Gonchar, I tried to sell him for two 1sts, wouldn't go

Battle for playoffs:
At the trade deadline the Pens were 8th in East, but fighting hard against Islanders who have the same amount of points (73). Next series of games we had a slump. Lost 9 out of 10 games, probably because trading both Ruutu and Ekman was too much. Ended up 10th with 3 points short for a playoff ticket.

Lemieux is widdled off, as well is the board, hoping to keep my job and prove them wrong next year!

[Koekenbakker]

I present to you, the new kid in town for season 2007-2008:



The Bergeron story
Halfway during the summer Bergeron was suddenly on the trade block. Guy was unhappy at the Bruins and had asked for a trade. All of the teams made offers, sometimes trying to get a bargain. The Penguins however traded a 1st, a 2nd, a 3rd, Brooks Orpik and Dominic Moore. Still a cheap price, but the board and fans were outraged! I guess they didn't notice that the team was in bad shape and bad passers like mister Orpik will not get the team to the cup. Bergeron however put up 59 points in last season and is now being paired up with either Malkin or Crosby!

Draft day
Draft of 2007 included Carl Hagelin in 1st round, Dustin Jeffrey in 3rd, Michael Raffl in 4th, Paul Postma in 5th, Jason Demers in 6th and Villi Sopanen in 7th round.

Hagelin is a fast skating talented winger that will provide Crosby with great speed when he hits NHL level!

Free Agents galore
With guys like Petrovicky, Recchi, Leclair, Eaton, Cairns all hitting free agency, the team was in dire need to get some wingers and a right handed defensemen. With the market not being too big for righties, manager Fred "The Hitman" Freezer, signed Cory Sarich as a 3rd pair RD for just under 1 million a season. With Recchi leaving, Crosby needed a new winger. Luckily Radek Dvorak was available and will team up with Crosby and Malone on the 1st line. He's certainly going to up his 30 points from last season.

Because Scuderi wasn't a guy the Pens could rely on, they also signed a new 3rd pairing LD by the name of Brad Lukowich and traded Scuderi for a 3rd round pick. Again the board and fans were outraged. Other notable additions are Brian Sutherby, Michal Handzus and Raffi Torres. Who will all provide some grit and defensive skills in the bottom 6.

Are the fans right?
The Penguins fanbase feel manager Freezer is trading away too many resources and homegrown players. They question the new additions and think the locker room changes will leed to less results. Are they right? Or did the Pens became a legit contender by adding some valuable talents?