I started a game awhile back. I started as unemployed. In Feb 2007 I was hired by Almtuna in Swedish Allskevan. I stayed in the Allskevan one more year, and then was promoted to Elitserien, IN 07-08 I was promoted, and managed to keep the team going in the Elitserien. November 08 (08-09) I was hired by the Regina Pats of the WHL. The Pats were in dead last place...and I somehow got them into the playoffs, while still following my rule of only 1 trade, and 2 signings per season. That year I managed to get to the WHL Final, where I lost. Staying in Regina for 09-10 I finished 1st, won the President's Trophy and finished as Mem Cup Runner up. I applied for 2 NHL jobs, but did not get either, which was fine because I was just doing it to see what would happen. I was going to stay in Regina.
2010-11. Finished 1st again in Regina, won Pres Cup again...and lost Mem Cup final again. 11-12 Finally! 1st, Pres Cup, Mem Cup Champions. Great year.
At this point it was clear I had set up Regina for a dynasty...and was attempting to get NHL jobs for real. Did not get three (Carolina, Edmonton, Philadelphia)...
So...finally in July of 2012 I decided to move to the AHL and took a job with the previous season's 2nd worst team the Manitoba Moose. This was a naff job. The AHL is horrible to work in, especially when you get a bunch of Canuck scrubs who are 30 years old. I got the team into a playoff position for the first time in 4 years, but then a job came up I could not refuse to apply for.
The Anaheim Ducks were stuggling mightily...27th overall, 5th in their division. I had to take it. So March 3, 2013 I finally made it to the NHL. Not much I could do about that season, post trade deadline. But at least I had some time to scout for what would turn out to be a horrible draft year.
The team was old and slow, so we let a couple of guys go, but there were 3 players who had played with the Ducks all the way through their careers (Well at least since 06-07) either in Syracuse or Anaheim...and I had to keep them, and will until they retire. Cannot say who they are as I played the game with the setting of not having real player names.
Made a couple of moves to get younger, and signed some undrafted Free Agents to play in Syracuse. One of them...Hank Brown...had played for me in Regina, and Manitoba and was doing real well with Syracuse...so in 2013-14 he got called up to the the big club. He played 2 years for me, and then could not make the team anymore.
2013-14...I finished 3rd in the Conference and managed to win one round in the playoffs.
2014-15 I finished 5th in the Conference, 2nd in the division...and managed to get to the Stanley Cup final where I lost to Boston in 7 games.
2015-16 Just completed this season, and again finished 5th, 2nd in the divison to LA...and lost to LA in the Semi finals in 7 games in double OT. Boston went on to win their 2nd straight Stanley Cup in 7 games, this time over the KIngs.
So...
Almtuna-Regina-Manitoba-Anaheim. Now I am also GM of Team Canada for 2016 Deutchland Cup....will see how that goes, since I know none of the guys in Europe that are Canadian all that well.
I will be applying for all Team Canada jobs because I want the 2018 Olympics.
I have built this team through the draft, and still have the 3 original Ducks on my roster. One is my captain, and is 36. The others are both 32 and will be with me a bit longer I think. Both are very good players. I have signed only 2 UFAs in the time period, and this season I will finally have a strong goalie with me, as I have not made any moves to bring one in.
The last two seasons I have made 1 move at the Trade deadline for a rental player, and have let both go to FA after the season was complete.
Interestingly my 50 man roster consists of:
20 Canadians (up about 10 from when hired--all 10 were drafts)
4 Czechs
1 Finn
1 Brit (one of the UFAs I signed for minor league team...although he is now challenging for a spot)
1 Nigerian (one of the 2 main team UFAs I signed..was team player of the year 2015-16...I love it!!!)
1 Pole (2015 6th round pick...scouts out as a 3rd line potential)
5 Russians (down about 5 from when I started with the team...let 3 go to UFA, one retired)
7 Swedes (including my captain, and 6 of them played for me last season and will again this year...all drafted by Ducks 5 by me)
6 Americans
I have 3 spots open currently...for my 2015 draft picks who have to make the team at camp. All are in the CHL so not an issue. I may sign and send to Syracuse if they show well at camp, as all will be 20 year olds.
NOTE: I am really enjoying this game, and it has delayed my start into the new rosters, and CSD patch. The Ducks were a real financial mess when I took over as well...and not knowing ANY of the players because things were so mixed up by the time I took the job has been great.
Also..only making moves at deadline, or start of UFA season has really made it fun. And only adressing one need at at time. Just slow and develop players. My first from 2013 still is not on the team. He is a great RW who spent 2013-14 in the Juniors and won Rookie of the Year in the AHL in 2014. Interestingly, my third round pick from 2013 ( A Swede LW) won rookie of the year in AHL in 2013-14, and was Calder Trophy winner for the Ducks in 2014-15. Kid scored 40 goals in first NHL season, and had 74 points.Mostly 3rd and 4th line duty and 2nd Unit PP doing that. Playoffs? Moved him up to 1st line PP and 2nd Line LW--3-13-16 in 19 games and leading scorer. ratings huge. Attached to these players and none of them have a real life counterpart that I can tell who they are regens of (or real life who they are)
So career:
Unemployed Aug 06-Feb 07
GM Almtuna-Swedish Allskevan Feb 07-April 08
GM Almtuna Swedish Elitserien April 08-Nov 08
GM Regina Pats WHL Nov 08-Jul 2012. Won 3 Presidents Cups, and 1 Mem Cup
GM Manitoba Moose AHL Jul 2012-Mar 2013 (HATED THIS STAY, and broke rule and got out)
GM Anaheim Ducks NHL March 2013-Present. (ONe SC Final appearance)
I will stay with the Ducks at least until I win one wup there. Then the plan is to move on to a team that is a bottom feeder and build them up as well.
Here is what has gone on in Regina since I left (Totally set up for dynasty).
2013..won the League Champ trophy (Scotty Munro), lost Pres Cup final
2014..Won the Presidents Trophy (Playoff champ), and finished 3rd at Mem Cup
2015..lost in Presidents Cup final for WHL
2016-Won Scotty Munro, Presidents Cup, and finished 2nd at Mem Cup.
So 4 years out the team has won hardware each and every season! And I have stolen 2 coaches, 3 scouts, and brought in 3 former players...
BTW THere is this one player I have a total attachment to: Hank Brown (RD/LD) was undrafted in the WHL, I signed him as a UFA there. He won WHL rookie of the year he was then drafted by Detroit in the 6th round of NHL draft. They let him go. When I moved to Manitoba brought him with me,where he averaged7.5 game ratings for me when I moved to Anaheim brought him to Syracuse, and then Anaheim. He was a decent performer there too. Unfortunately, now he is 23 and an AHL Vet..who won't make my team and is only 3rd dman there so I let him go.
He just signed with ST Louis, so he still has NHL career ahead. Why did I get attached? His attributes are ALL orange save strength. But he is not a fighter. Just 6'6 and 265.
