So, Season 2 is over and it's time to look to Season 3. The 2008 draft was weak as someone here said, only four or five 5 star players and not that many 4 star players either. I had the 11th pick and went with Maksim Kitsyn although he was ranked only 40th. I'm guessing that he doesn't have the same potential with Lidas rosters as he does with the original database. He was still a 4 star player and I'm hoping he can develop as a 2nd line winger. There really wasn't any other player who I would have more interest in.
What comes for the Predators roster for Season 3, there has been dramatic changes. I signed Kulyash in Season 2 so he joined me for the Season 3. That signing made possible for me to trade one of my defenseman away. I decided that Hamhuis was the one who had to go. He did okay for me, but I really couldn't get him produce anything special for me. So I traded Hamhuis and Sullivan to Sabres for Thomas Vanek. It's kind of sad to see Sullivan go but like others have said he's getting old and I really needed a true first line left wing. I've never had Vanek before in any of my saves so I'm keen to see how he can produce for me. I know someone else acquired him in the Challenge and although I don't really want to follow someones footsteps, there really wasn't anyone other available that I liked, (Kovalchuk was a free agent, but you don't really have a chance for him because of the 4 500 000$ salary limit) I went with Vanek.
The second trade I made was sending Ellis, Jessiman and Legwand to Trashers for Marian Hossa. I wanted a new backup goalie 'cause I just couldn't trust Ellis (Bad flashbacks from the Season 1, I guess
). I relied on my luck that I could get someone to sign with me from the UFA. It is also sad to see Legwand go as he produced nicely on my second line, putting up nearly a point-per-game in the two seasons. But I had to make room for Colin Wilson as I think he is ready to NHL and in my second line. He did prove that to me last season when he was called up to replace the injuries of Arnott and Legwand.
I did have a few other choices for this second trade. The choices were: Ellis, Legwand and Ward to Oilers for Alex Kotalik, and Ellis and Legwand to Islanders for Trent Hunter and Shawn Bates.
I actually feel now that I should have gone with the Kotalik trade, as I've never had him before and he would have been alot cheaper. And also I feel that maybe acquiring Hossa was a little too drastic move. And now I have 2 very highly paid wingers that will limit my next season signings and trades. And concerning the Islanders trade, that would not have been a bad one either. Hunter would have been a nice 2nd line winger and Bates would have brought a nice defensive aspect to my team and he can even do a good job offensively as he put up 73 points in 78 games in Islanders last season. But I've had Hunter before and Bates was just a little too old for my future plans and as I wanted a 1st line right wing, I didn't go with this one.
In the free agent market, I went with Tier 2 as I signed Peter Budaj and Thomas Bellemare. So now I actually have a little competition in my goalie section. I tried to sign Stephane Yelle as the "Good" reputation player but he signed for alot less with Oilers, so I just acquired Bellemare to just give my team a little more toughness as I let Tootoo go after last season.
Safigulin also joined my team for season 3.
Next season I need to get a Top two defenseman, some defensive forwards for my 3rd and 4th lines and maybe even a goalie who can win us the cup, as I'm still a little unsure that the goalies I have can do that. But we'll see how they produce next season. In the 2009 Draft I need to focus on defensemen and a goalie prospect would be nice. I hope it's a little better draft than the 2008 draft. Atleast there will be a few regens...
](./images/smilies/wallbash.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
Worst case scenario would be to draft John Tavares after season one, which for me doesn't seem that bad at all. 
I'll try playing McIntyre for the two weeks Ellis is injured.
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