Carolina Hurricanes: Challenge 2.1 Chat Thread

fifafan · Post by **fifafan** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 4:53 pm

Well, I have never done a challenge before, so this will be interesting. I am about to set the game up, and will proceed to wheel and deal until I get the team I want.

And after all that, I will probably stink the joint out, and be relegated to the equipment room scrubbing the insides of the players jocks to get rid of the forming mold.

So, without further ado.....let the games begin

Post by **E5150_ca** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:18 pm

I see that Carolina logo on Minstrels screenshot.

I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means...

Post by **archibalduk** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:32 pm

E5150_ca wrote:I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means...

Yeah I was wondering why there was the Carolina skin in that screenshot. Now that you've mentioned it, it all makes sense. Minstrel, you sly one!!

Post by **timmy_t** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:53 pm

Hi everyone-

I'm in the challenge and although I haven't made it to training camp yet, I wanted to fill you in on my plans for the team:

The first thing I did was to try and recruit a good staff. I think that is always a great way to start a new game. I am looking to move Laviolette to assistant coach and made head coach offers to Paul Maurice, Brian Sutter, and Kevin Constantine. I also made assistant coach offers to ten different coaches including Mark Messier, Bobby Francis, Sam St. Laurent, and Ryan McGill.

The next thing I did was evaluate my team. I honestly can't see keeping Brind'Amour and his 5 million dollar salary. I will make him available and see what I can do with him. On the other hand, I'm happy with Cole, Stillman, Whitney, K. Adams, Williams, Vasicek, and Vrbata. I'm not sure that Eric Staal is ready for top two line duty, and instead of letting him stagnate on 3rd/4th line duty, I may send him back to Lowell and use him as a call up on the top two lines when someone is hurt.

I am also thinking about shoring up the defense and bringing in a few more role players. If I am able to trade Brind'Amour I might be able to bring in a few good defensemen. I like Brooks Orpik and David Hale; they are both pretty tough. I would love to get my hands on Bouwmeester or Phaneuf, but the chances of pulling off a trade like that are a million to one.

As far as role players, I am going to look for a few brave forwards with high workrate and determination to fill my checking lines. I liked how Minstrel used two checking lines and I may try something similar.

Goaltending will be the big question mark. I don't know how I will work this one out. Cam Ward, like Eric Staal, may be better off starting at Lowell and being called up if there is an injury. Other goaltenders I will look at are Ryan Miller, Antero Niittymaki, Maxime Oullet, and Henrik Lundqvist.

One thing I am not willing to do is to trade away Jack Johnson (Brian Ratchuk in my game) for anything. I will try to trade away some of the prospects, but I will also be looking for 1st and 2nd round picks for them. I may try to trade for other prospects and younger players if the right opportunity arises. As an example, I once traded a 1st round pick for Evgeni Malkin after he tore his ACL. Not bad for a franchise player.

As I continue to evaluate my roster, I will use scouting reports on my team and the coaches opinions to make the team better. Bravery, influence, and teamwork will be key to winning the Stanley Cup. Also, in the scout reports, I look at poise and leadership.

I would like to add some clutch players like Chris Drury or Craig Conroy if possible. I think their salaries are worth it.

Finally, I understand that the game doesn't mirror the NHL completely, but if you look at the talent that the Hurricanes start out with, its impressive what the team is doing right now. They are number one in the NHL after 50 games: incredible!

Ok, I'm going to play now...

Chelmsford Chieftain · Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:58 am

Oh well. It looks as though Brind'Amour and Khabibulin have got me disqualified

. However, It gives me the perfect excuse to get draft picks for Challenge 2.2

. Game 21 marked the commencing of my damage limitation regime. Things didn't exactly go to plan as I went 16 games without winning. This does sound pretty bad but I have the perfect excuse. I blame the AI!!!! After my 6 game of not winning I put Laviolette (I think thats his name) in charge. During this time I released Brind'Amour who was snapped up by the Sharks (no pun intended) and I also got rid of other players for draft picks. I did manage to get Konowalchuk from waivers at game 16 of my winning drought. By now I didn't want to lose anymore so I took to the helm of the team for the next match. For the first time in 17 games Carolina won! You can tell Justin Williams isn't used to winning as he sent a letter to the local newspaper saying he was delighted in the 'change of fortunes' for Carolina. If I were a paper-making company I wouldn't worry about the effect Williams could have on world paper supplies as he only had the opportunity to do it one more time in the next 7 games. When I won again I decided it was about time Laviolette was fired. I don't see why the board and fans were so confused after the termination of his contract seeing he was the Head Coach of the worst team in the Eastern Conference (I don't think I am quite as bad as Chicago). The story of 2005 was not finished. On the 28th December I realised I needed $30 million not $31 million as my player wages total. I did a wild release of players with Brendl being claimed off waivers and Colin Forbes being traded for Montreal's 3rd round draft pick. That brings me to $29.5 million. I'll try to put up some screenshots today.

P.S. - seeing as I'm

do I still post my stats?

Of course, you just got a deduction and won't qualify for the first of our two in-season bonus points, but you should still record your stats as you will be eligable for both season end and the second in-season bonuses since you're now back under the fine limit -Minty (sorry for the edit but didn't want to confuse the response with my own talk about my own team).

Post by **Minstrel** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:43 am

archibalduk wrote:
E5150_ca wrote:I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means...
Yeah I was wondering why there was the Carolina skin in that screenshot. Now that you've mentioned it, it all makes sense. Minstrel, you sly one!!

Heh yeah, gotta get in the mood for taking on the Canes and didn't bother switching to skins to snap the screenie

BTW that's my Metal Etch skin and I have those custom sidepanels for all the NHL teams as well as by request of a certain TBL Admin ones for the Finnish teams

There is of course a CustomColor add-on for my Metal skin as well

[/selfpromo]

I've actually taken my team into two regular season games and am 1-1-0; lost on a goal late to the Rangers 3-2 and held on for a 2-1 win over the Sharks. With the exception of a young superstar on D I've fairly well adressed most of the things I wanted to. I mean I pretty much have all of my "roles" covered which is certainly a sign of progress... but a lot of those players aren't as high on the talent/production/potential scales as I'd like. I'll keep working on it of course. Mostly fine tuning though since we didn't get blown out in either game really so I think we'll be a fairly competetive "chance to win most nights" team. That's what I'm always aiming for in these

I've whacked the salary situation way down as we're under 24 mil at this point

It says I've shipped out 25 players and brought in 24

though a lot of those involve prospects and guys in the minors; I have eight original Canes still on the NHL roster.

As for bargaining chips we're ahead of where I thought we'd be really. We still have both Johnson and Ward in the minors; and retain our first and second round picks as well as in the process of assorted shufflings gaining Pittsburg's 2nd, and Boston and Chicago's 3rds. Mainly picks came via salary dumps...

fifafan · Post by **fifafan** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:44 am

Well, I have started my campaign as the Hurricanes, and, although I am a ways away from starting training camp, I have already made some deals.

I have changed my coaching staff considerably. Now my coaches have at least 17 for attributes in the section I want them mainly.

I have acquired Jonathan Cheechoo from the Sharks, and in a surprise move (I wasn't sure they would go for it), I acquired Jaromir Jagr for Rod Brind'Amour and the 2006 1st round draft pick.

Great thing is: Jagr has a lower salary than Brind'Amour, and he is considerably better.

I am on the look out for a couple of great D-men, and then I think I might be set.

That's it for now, and things are going swimmingly!!!

Post by **Minstrel** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:52 am

That's a helluva deal for Brindy! Way to go

orca · Post by **orca** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:18 pm

Hello everybody!

I wrote a long nice thing about my Hurricanes game 1-40 but It must have dissapered in the wast unknown and ofcourse I didn't do a ctrl+c before so...

Quick recap though.. Didin't trade much until my blockbuster wich brought Yashin to the team. He has been great but I'm very short on bodies if anyone gets hurt. Had to unload a few for picks to get the salaries down. Brindy went in the trade with Yashin.

I'll let you know more soon..

fifafan · Post by **fifafan** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:47 pm

Well, I have made one more trade....getting Barrett Jackman from the Blues in exchange for, oh rubbish, I can't remember who (I am at work, and not in front of the PC :redface:)

I am 2 games into the pre-season, having won both games by a combined score of 14-3 (or there-abouts).

My tactic is based on the default offensive, with the tweaking going on for the player instructions.

I am still trying to lure Phaneuf away from the Flames.

keithv · Post by **keithv** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:05 pm

fifafan wrote:Well, I have made one more trade....getting Barrett Jackman from the Blues in exchange for, oh rubbish, I can't remember who (I am at work, and not in front of the PC :redface:)

I am 2 games into the pre-season, having won both games by a combined score of 14-3 (or there-abouts).

My tactic is based on the default offensive, with the tweaking going on for the player instructions.

I am still trying to lure Phaneuf away from the Flames.

IIRC it was Hedican and Boulerice

Post by **Minstrel** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:24 pm

My Carolina team is playing some crazy-ass 80s hockey

I should bring in Grant Fuhr to consult/console my goaltenders, he'd feel right at home and have applicable experience for the job

We currenly lead the league in both goals scored

and goals allowed

I'm hoping to continue the first and address the second but hey points is points!

I had back to back games where I lost one 5-6 in OT and won the next 6-5

Post by **Minstrel** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:40 am

As I mentioned my team was playing 80's hockey early on but things have settled a bit now as I've strengthened the roster via deals. My team has been scoring tons of goals but, as this combo screencap shows that's a good news/bad news thing, good news is I lead the league in goals for by 13 but the bad news is I've also allowed nine more than any other team too.

One of the really strange things is the time I least expect to be scored on is when they are on a powerplay

I actually find myself relaxing when they go to the powerplay. I've only allowed 12 PP goals against in 90 times short. Bizarre considering I'm leading the league in goals allowed.

Since there's no reason for me to post my stats in the recording thread (you can check them out at GLR) I usually post my player stats for people here:

14 Most Goals - Balastik
15 Most Assists - Belanger
25 Most Points - Balastik
5 Highest +/- - Delmore
26 Most PIM - McLaren/Moreau

The story of my first 20 games can be summed up by this screenshot I brought in Jaroslav Balastik as depth in case an offensive guy got hurt. I got him for a song pretty much and he's making 450k the league minimum, but he was both Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month for October!

I brought in Belanger from LA to center my top line by sending them Wesley. He joined Cole and Balls in our first preseason game. Balls had a hat trick and has been cemented in at 1st line RW ever since. He ended the 20 game set with 25 points, 14g 11a. Cole-Belanger-Balastik have 66 points between them through 20 games

I linematch defensively and hit a lot of roadblocks finding a deal for a third line center but eventualy landed Yelle for Lawson, a 4th and a 5th.

He started horribly but after three or four games he's been a good fit.

I was happy to bring in Ethan Moreau for my main checking line's LW. I traded Vrbata, Hajt and a 6th for him.

I brought in Denis as backup after not being to swing any big deals to being in a top #1 guy. Grabbed him on a counter on their part for a couple 4ths I had spare from other small deals (mostly salary slashings). He's been anywhere from unremarkable to hideous any time I put him in but better recently. He was predicted to be my team MVP though I seriously doubt that will prove accurate! I'm relying on Gerber for the majority of my games.

On D I brought in McLaren for Cullen and F. Kaberle, and Modry for rights to Korhonen and another of my then many 4th's (I think I had five fourths and 3 thirds at one point). In my eyes the biggest impact on D has been from a nice deal with Columbus which brought in Wescott and Delmore for picks and prospects.

Most recently I completed my biggest move to bring in Hunter and Martinek to shore up the D and checking of the team to address that whole allowed more goals that any other team thing. Since they've come about we're allowing at least a goal or two less a game and Hunter also gives the team more scoring balance.

While just a few days from coming off IR Philly put Sami Kapanen on the block and I worked a deal to bring him (plus thier 4th on 07) in witha deal that processed right before game 20. I sent out Nordgren who everyone else seems to valu approx 3x more than I do and the rights to Casey Borer. Didn't really expect to bring in a player like Kapanen that cheaply and he's only got a 1.5 mil salary... but I'm sure psyched I could.

Unless another deal I can't resist comes up, I have a major injury on a scoring line or Gerber has a total meltdown or injury in net I'll be staying with this team as is till the end I think. I have all the roles I need pretty well covered. I would like to bring in someone younger and less prone to getting beaten down every game on D if I could send Modry the other way in the deal, but I doubt that's going to happen. Bothers me much less having brought in Martinek.

All told I still retain my 1st and 2nd rounders as well as Chicago's 3rd I attained in a deal along with Vandermeer who is my #6-7 dman. Will be interesting to see if we continue to improve over the next twenty. I think we'll do at least as well if not a touch better. But that remains to be seen.

Chelmsford Chieftain · Sat Feb 04, 2006 3:02 pm

Oh well. My disaster season carries on

. Reaching the playoffs is still a mathmatical possibility as long as I win all my remaining 22 matches and anyone in 8th position doesn't gain 3 more points. Seeing as I have nothing to salvage from this season, I'm trying to build an amazing squad for challenge 2.2. Step one was to get a first round draft pick to replace the one I squandered earlier in the season. I foolishly offered up half a dozen draft picks and good prospects to get the Sabres first pick. I also sold a few guys for picks as my overall salaries climbed up yet again. Alo in this set of 20 games I had my first pair of consecutive wins. Another positive to come out of this period is my successful purchase of Tim Thomas, hes awful at NHL level but a ledgend in my old Jokerit game. Still trying to rid of Gerber with a few weeks to go until trade deadline. Still, you don't have to get to the playoffs to win the Challenge

Post by **Minstrel** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 6:27 am

Minstrel wrote:All told I still retain my 1st and 2nd rounders as well as Chicago's 3rd I attained in a deal along with Vandermeer who is my #6-7 dman. Will be interesting to see if we continue to improve over the next twenty. I think we'll do at least as well if not a touch better. But that remains to be seen.

Not sure whether to

or

upon re-reading this ironically prophetic piece of reporting/fortune telling.

It wasn't long after my reporting how wonderfully well everything was that the team skidded off the road into a foot or so of mud.

As it continued to spin it's tires as I tried to push I finally got enough mud in my face that I decided to stop pushing and called the tow truck to haul our sorry asses out of this ditch. That of course was mainly at the expense of trades I didn't really want to make. Something I had claimed was such a strong point about my team was that I hadn't traded too much away.

The feared (and mentioned in my first update) worst case scenario "goalie meltdown" indeed did occur and as it did the confidence of my forwards and defenders flatlined. I kept telling myself it was just a rough patch and we'd be fine soon. Yeah, right. After losing three in a row, winning one and then losing two more sets of four straight with just one win in between (2-12) the dark times were officially upon us.

We'd fallen from 3rd to 13th (and were four games ahead of most other teams too so it was even worse than it seemed!), our PK had droped 10%, our PP dropped around 5%. We scored twenty two less goals and allowed just as many as our dismal first set. So... the axe fell.

This time around I was pretty sure who for whatever reason wasn't cutting it and needed to go and I didn't half-step it, unless I had no questions about wanting to play you every game for the next two years you were given a ticket out of town.

It started just before the holiday freeze of around mid December and lasted through the first week or so of January with around a dozen players finding themselves at new teams.

I've heard some rumblings of fans, media and current and former players refering to this purging as 'The 12 Deals of Christmas', 'The Dirty Dozen' and even the 'New Year, New Team Plan'

Fans and the board went all

reminding me they had by now made the pike they were going to put my head on quite sharp. They even cleared a spot outside the stadium that had construction sawhorses around it that were emblazoned with signs saying "Future Site of the Mistrel's Head on a Pike Display, Opening Spring 2006 or Sooner"

Hopefully that we've won more games since then than we did in all of 21-40 will keep them from finalizing their plans and setting a date to break ground on their display; but I think we'd best keep winning and my new aquistions better keep being difference makers or it could get real ugly. This time I'll probably be the one that no longer is a member of the Carolina organization, not players.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:17 pm

What deals do you make? Who did you bring in and who did you let go? I'm curious.

Post by **Minstrel** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:13 am

Hmmm... okay I'll story it out for ya; heres more detail than what I wrote up yesterday:

Like when a team does badly the coach takes the fall or a company does badly the boss takes the bullet I regrettably decided that captain Ethan Moreau had 'lost' the troops and that the other player I depended upon to center my checking line, Kevyn Adams just wasn't cutting it. Neither could seem to get Stillman to remove his head from his posterior as he's been slacking all year and neither could as linemates inspire any kind of game out of Williams or Staal. So they'd both played themselves into deals.

Early on the forwards fought back after goals against but eventually it seemed like they just gave up on Gerber... Denis then took over the #1 slot and kept us in some games. To get anything positive going thoug it was like swimming in concrete.

Both 'tenders for these reasons got tabbed as trade bait.

I also determined we needed to improve our d and I was sick of Modry playing two quarters each game and having to sit him in the third; a domino effect that I couldn't afford anymore. If I could deal him, he'd go too.

Staal and Williams were both given the same chance to help each other out of the doghouse with five games on the 2nd line (didn't want to break up Cole-Belanger-Balls on the first) to prove themselves and both failed miserably. Staal went down to Lowell until he shows he can put up some points (and has yet to do so). I was frustrated with Williams as I know he's been leading other teams in points and of course with Staal given his RL performances. Didn't want to send Staal down or deal Williams but c'est la vie.

Gotta do what's best for the team.

So that's the determinations I made that led to my making so many deals. I looked to move Williams first since there was no shortage of teams willing to offer value in return. I ended up making a few other deals while trying to get strong value for Williams. All in all I ate a few weeks of extra losses making sure I found the deals best for my team's needs. I just want to make sure I would have to make others down the road again. As I said in my previous message, unless I'm confident you can play every game for the next two years? You're headed out of town.

The Deals:

First in the sense of kinship I offered Williams to the Hawks

for personal favorite Kyle Calder; they countered asking about Calder for Vojta; in negotiation I was also able to bring Calder plus prospects Matt Keith and James Wisniewski in the deal for Vojta.

Soon after, Brooks Orpik was put on the block and I brought him in for Mikeska who I'd signed as a free agent. He'd failed to impress in camp/early season. Basically a for nothing deal that also cleared 500k or so from the bottom line and gave me a steady #5-6 tough d man.

I offered Moreau to OTT for Varada to solidify my checking wing. I instead ended up 'stepping down' one of their counters (K. Adams, J. Corvo and a 4th I think it was) and gaining Varada for Doig and Travis Green, both known more for their ability to get hurt than their ability to make an impact

Since I was looking to add a goalie/defense combo and mainly didn't get anything done I did eventually turned to a deal with Phoenix sending them Williams/McLaren/Modry for a 3rd (actually Chicago's), Brian (Bobby) Boucher, David Tanabe and Brian Marchment. McLaren/Modry were playing very well but couldn't do it without having to be rested Modry in game and McLaren every third fourth game or so. Marchment can have the same health/rest issues but a lot less often and for half the salary of Modry. March also brings toughness, leadership, stay-at-home d skills and has a better point shot.

On one of a string of counter offers Philly offered to send me Niittymaki in return for prospects Benoit, Dawson and my 2nd rounder. I took that deal but was able to get Nashville's 3rd rounder back from Philly so that makes it nowhere near as bad losing my 2nd in the deal!

The team snapped back to form and quickly showed they'd battle back for either Boucher or Nitty when they gave up goals so that appeared to resolve my 'tending questions. I eventually have committed to Niity as starter and he's currently 5-1-1

Those five being more than I won in all of my games 21-40 set! I figured the extra goals given up going with him over Boucher are compensated for since Niitty should get even better with playtime... and he has settled down quite a bit. Boucher has done well backing up since coming aboard too.

I had agreed to send Denis to Minni for a 3rd rounder, clearing his salary and roster slot but it came in just a bit too late and was negated by the holiday freeze

(I now am probably getting a 3rd and 4th from St. Louis for him instead but it's annoying having that spot taken up).

After the freeze lifted and I worked through a long string of various offers and negotiations I finished moving out Adams and Moreau... Adams went to the Islanders for Shawn Bates who is currently on the DL. That works well for me since I was still carrying three goaltenders. Three because I ended up just waiving Gerber and nobody claimed him.

Colorado wanted to add rights to Carson and Barnes plus a 4th rounder in 07 (which obviously I couldn't deal) to my Moreau for Konowalchuk offer.

I figured that was a dead end but they accepted my counter sending them Moreau and D Ian White. I'd gotten White in my pre season deals. Kono solidifies my leadership and checking and I'm psyched to have him along as Carolina captian

The only remaining deal I'd like to do would be to deal Tverdovsky if I can get back a player of similar calibre that isn't making 2.5 million; that's a lot of money.
Other than that I'm set, I have everyone but Cole re-signed for at least the next two years

I'll probably look for a replacement for Stephane Yelle who is playing 2-3 center for me via free agency. Yelle is only signed through the end of this year and I doubt I'll re-sign him; if I can improve that position over summer. I hope there will be one big dman and one depth dman out there as well.

Post by **Minstrel** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:39 pm

Check announce thread #4 for full info on taking your 2.1 team into a second season with our 2.2 Challenge. Due to adding the extra recording page for that Challenge you may have to change the 'Season' setting in the pulldown menu atop the League Home page at GLR. 2.1 is for this season and 2.2 is for the second season Challenge.

I hope everyone will carry on to Season Two of the Challenge; and for those of you having a roung Season One keep in mind there are Team Improvement points in 2nd season Challenges (info in the announce thread). Other than that stats and finance penalties do not carry over. They are scored as independant Challenges.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:15 pm

Great detail on your trades and such, Minty! I'm really enjoying reading about how everyone else is going about things. I think we all learn a little more about the game or other possibilities when we do these challenges and see how other GMs play it.

Post by **Minstrel** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:55 pm

I agree that's a big part of the fun that you learn from seeing how other people do from the same starting point and how they "steer their ship" so to speak to get to where they want to go. That's why I do my best to try and let people know how and why I decided on what I have.

My game is going a bit slower than usual because as you'll all find out soon I've been working on a big project at the same time as playing my team. I'm at game 50 now and my team is #1 on the last 10 games list at 7-2-1

and it's not an easy stretch of the scedule I've beaten the Flyers, Devils, Senators, Lightning and Buffalo as five of those wins and lost by just a goal vs the Flames and Canucks. In general I'm giving up 2 or 3 goals a game instead of 4 or 5 so that obviously helps.

I did move Denis to St. Louis in that deal for a 3rd and 4th in 06. Still hoping to move Tverdovsky's salary just on principal really, I don't have budget problems just think 2.5 is too much to spend for him.

On a counter with Ottawa they offered their second rounder in 06 for one of my 3rds (NAS originally) and Barnes. I figure his talent to be worth an early third/late second or so. Eventually based on that line of thought I dealt him to Ottawa in a deal with that NAS 3rd rounder for OTT's 2nd rounder 06 and CMB's 4th of 06 (at that point owned by OTT). When it comes to value if you deal picks there's a huge difference between the value of a 2nd vs a 3rd so stepping up to a 2nd and still getting that 4th back is fine by me. I can probably get a Barnes type talent with that 4th so I pretty much feel like I got the 2nd rounder for nothin.

Post by **E5150_ca** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:18 am

I saw everyone in this challenge going after Jagr, and paying quite a hefty price for him too. So I decided what the heck, i'll send a blank offer sheet to Glen Sather and see what he wants in return to Jagr. Suffice to say its alot less then what I thought it would be.

http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... ane8do.jpg

Post by **E5150_ca** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:34 am

And the follow-up.

http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jagr22ta.jpg

These guys don't know what they want.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:44 pm

I don't see why your fans were so upset. It didn't look like you gave up all that much. Strange stuff. Of course, they'll always be happy when a high reputation player joins the team. Fickle fans!

fifafan · Post by **fifafan** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 3:27 pm

Well, my challenge season is not going as quickly as I had hoped. I am only 2 games into the season, but have won both games with 8 goals for and 3 against. Cam Ward has started both games.

In the second game, Glen Wesley went down with a shoulder separation, and is out for 3 months. I must now find a couple defencemen, as I have almost nothing in the minors.

Hopefully, I can pick up the pace.

Post by **Minstrel** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 8:23 pm

E5150_ca wrote:These guys don't know what they want.

Yeah, that's why you're GM not them

My fans and board have been enraged quite a few times with my deals including my dealing Ward this year. I sent him to the Isles with a 4th for Pitt's 2nd, Trent Hunter and Radek Martinek. They certainly don't seem to respect addressing needs or bringing in non all-star veterans if it means giving up a 20-22 year old. The board also seems to be furious when you do uneven deals or player + a pick for their player type deals... They go all

and I just rely on knowing I've addressed a team need (or two) and let em pain. Go ahead and fire me for making your team a contender, which is, ya know... what my job description is and all

Fifafan don't worry about your pace overall but it would be good to get your first set in because when everyone is past 20 games I can calculate and post our first set of bonus points.