Challenge #31 - Future Boston Bruins - Discussion Thread

[rancer890]

So, first game of the season, lose 4-2 to the Red Wings....and I get fired.

Gee thanks board. All you wanted was to win a Stanley Cup which was never going to happen.

So err, I can just re-add myself as GM and continue with the challenge right?

[batdad]

Yeah as long as you are under budget.

[rancer890]

Okay, couple of screenshots as proof:

Sacked on October 4th.

I re-added myself on the same day. We are well underbudget.

Unlike my previous GM where they wanted the Stanley Cup, the board now 'only' want playoffs.

EDIT: So, in the day I was fired, the team apparently picked someone up on waivers (despite me rehiring myself within hours of my firing....). Do I just place him on waivers and release him when he clears?

[eric1985]

Thought this Challenge looked interesting, figured id try it out, so far much of the same, about to start training camp, Took dicks as well, Anisimov retired on the 12th of july, should be interesting.

[rancer890]

So, first off hopefully I'm still eligible for the challenge. The guy the Bruins management picked up on waivers I just waived him immediately and released him. He did not play a game for either Bruins team. No pictorial proof but I have a save of when I got fired. If you add yourself to the Bruins and just not do anything, we will have claimed him. I didn't purposely break any rules and he's not even that good tbh...back to the season:

We're at the 20 game mark in Season 2 now, much better than season 1! We are 7-9-4 but still 14th in the conference. Unlike last season where it took us 11 games to win one, we won our first game in the 4th game of the season. So improvement. . If we didn't lose to the Rangers twice in the shootout we would be .500 (in one game, Aberg missed a penalty shot in OT, and we blew a 2 game lead with 3 minutes to go in the other one).

I've been scouting the NHL and AHL looking for players who might be undervalued by their teams, but not finding anyone suitable to trade for. I had tried to acquire a center who just looked too good to not to try and acquire (even though we have so many of them), but he got traded elsewhere. Dicks is also wanted by Chicago and Pittsburgh, but they lack good assets and his value is low right now anyway and he's injured (4th time this season). I'm also considering to trade one of our Dmen but I guess the whole league knows they're rubbish and not willing to give up anything good.

Our FA signing Virtanen has been great: 13 goals, 12 assists in 20 games. He's gotten at least an 8 rating in most games and he's carrying our team. Owens and Aberg aren't ideal linemates but they're getting the job done. Jacobson - Schenn - Vandersteen/Skoda have also been contributing as our second line. Bottom 6 of Noble - Khomutov - Skoda/Vandersteen and Polyanski - Zakharov/Skudra - Fahas have been a bit shaky, but they're getting better. I'm also trying to trade Zakharov for something decent (or maybe a 2nd rounder) because he's been our worst forward this season.

Defense has been horrible: Berthet is still inconsistent as ever and along with Dicks and Zakharov, I'm dangling him in trade talks, and I would rather take a chance with Prikryl, Kaufman, or MacKinnon. Nothing really notable other than they all suck. (or maybe their GM/Coach is horrible. )

I'm relying on Bernier more, because Reijasalo is inconsistent, but I also don't want to expose him to waivers and lose another goalie. Otherwise, I would love to call up Woodcroft who's providing solid goaltending at Providence.

Prospects:

Dicks has been horrible, but Skoda (4G-6A-10P in 18 games, 7.17 rating), and Stephane Noble (3-5-8 in 15 games, 6.87) have been good. Some other AHL players have good stats but I don't think they will translate to much in the NHL, or not with the Bruins at least.

In junior leagues, only a couple players of note: 3rd overall pick Ted Schroeder has 21 points (10-11) in 24 games with Moose Jaw. and also providing good defense (22 shots blocked). 2024 7th Round Pick Ville-Matti Lohtander has adjusted to junior hockey, turning his bad season last year (2 G, 17 A in 60 games) into a point per game player this season (9 G, 17 A in 25 games) with Barrie, improving across all areas and already breaking his point total very early in the season. (teammate Jaden Groleau hasn't been signed to Nashville yet, and he has 19G, 20A in 25 games).

Our team thinks we're underachieving and we have a lot of unhappy players, but I feel much better now than this time last season. Hopefully we can string together more wins and push for .500.

[eric1985]

Well, 20 games in and im riding the outta Bernier, hes the only reason i can compete at all tbh. And Schenn and Aberg. Hands down my best players. Id love Reikkinen to be consistent,

[bruins72]

Okay, couple of screenshots as proof:

Sacked on October 4th.

I re-added myself on the same day. We are well underbudget.

Unlike my previous GM where they wanted the Stanley Cup, the board now 'only' want playoffs.

EDIT: So, in the day I was fired, the team apparently picked someone up on waivers (despite me rehiring myself within hours of my firing....). Do I just place him on waivers and release him when he clears?

You're okay.

[bruins72]

Thought this Challenge looked interesting, figured id try it out, so far much of the same, about to start training camp, Took dicks as well, Anisimov retired on the 12th of july, should be interesting.

Glad to see you back in the challenges!

[Manimal]

Seems like I got the worst Dicks of the bunch.

You're all using a saved game so you all have the same potential with him. It is your handling of him that decides his faith

[batdad]

He sucks. Too small. Not good enough for me. So traded as soon as I could to get big value for him.

Yeah ... I actually used the glitch in the AI and dealt him for Reinhart, Sam. I am bad.

[Peter_Doherty]

I made the playoffs as the 7th seed in my conference, probably going to get swept though =P

[batdad]

29 games into season 2. 17-10-2. Not bad, especially considering.

Schenn missed 2 weeks
Vandersteen is out for 3 months, missed 2 already.
Owens missed 2 weeks.
Now Skoda out for 2 weeks.

I mean Troy Brouwer is actually dressing.

Bernier may be losing his grip because of age though. could be an issue coming up in net.

HAve been offered 2nd round picks for that Finnish goalie with the whacko name, who I have out on loan. Other teams Like him, but he has been horrible in exhibition for me.

I am waiting til trade deadline to see where I am at, and may move my 2nd rounder for a player instead (Dman most likely) but will do a deal for this goalie and a 2nd if

a. Not really in it at the time.
b. Noone willing to make a good deal for a decent dman with size for me.

[Peter_Doherty]

Finnish goalie isnt old enough to trade for picks anyway?

[batdad]

Right good point. I know that rule and it keeps popping in and out of my head. LOL

[Peter_Doherty]

It's easy to forget.

[batdad]

Yeah, it is...really have to watch that. Wonder what I can get for Brouwer. LOL

[batdad]

Pretty darn good 2nd quarter for year 2. I mean come on, my PP went over 20% for 20 games? Huh?

I have 5 guys over a PPG. Bennett, Owens, Jacobason, Reinhart and Owens V-steen is 16 in 18.

Very pleased with these guys
Jacobson is lighting it up, and Bennett is now starting to role, having scored in 9 of his last 10 and is up to a point per game.

Rhino is awesome 6-36-42 in 30 games with me. I have 5 guyp.eeds dmen anyway?

FYI-Herman Dicks? 9 games in Rochester 5-6-11 7.22 avg rating and they call him up. He has sucked 6.01 rating in 8 games.

[rocker87]

Looks like it's first challenge for me. It looks really hard and interesting, but not that hard as I thought it might be.

Team is not that bad, just old players and nice draft picks for start. Also, prospects are ok, and I think like batdad, I probably won't sign or pick any goalie through this challenge, heh. I think that batdads Philies looks worse then this team. Glad to see one of my favorites, Troy Brouwer, in Bruins.

Someone check Draft 2023? Pick 12, center, and they missed one guy - Paul Nurminen! Dammit!

I have a question(s): If I fire my staff, scouts and ass. coah (yeah, it looks like one with skills like first word) it's over until july 1st 2025?

If someone's a scout on his job, can I sign him as assistant coach?

EDIT: Florida claimed Parise from waivers. Nice, now watch Pens.

[batdad]

You can only fire 1 coach and two scouts first season. Anyone you hire as head coach MUST be with your team for 6 months before he is allowed to be head coach of your team. (ie cannot hire a guy from outside Bruins as head coach).

Yes you can hire a scout with the Bruins as an assistant coach. Yes you can hire an outside scout as an assistant coach. But you can only fire 1 coach (head or assist) and 2 scouts per year.

And yeah, they are better than that Flyer team, but smaller...which is a big problem. And older. Which is another big problem. The drafts are not as good as you think...guys are too darn small with a couple minor exceptions.

[rocker87]

Well, it's challenge and I think it's cool. More problems, better challenge.

Looks like I made noobie mistake with ass. coach fire, but ok, I will change my head coach next season. He's not that awful like I thought when you made your post, but it can be better.

Anyway, let's go forward to draft. I need to catch you.

EDIT: LOL, Capitals won 4-3 in conference final after 0-3.

[batdad]

You won't. (catch me)

Oh, and no big deal I kept the head coach on for first season too. Because....his contract expires after year 1. So then you can fire another guy and he goes away. Then you get two new coaches.

DOing it 2nd year too with about 5 scouts and 2 assistants.

[rocker87]

Nice...

Well, you never know.

[thunderbug]

Batdad, so how I read it is that the restriction on coaching fires is to Assistant Coaches only and not head coaches.

[batdad]

No you are wrong. Asked that very question earlier in this thread. Guess your stats do not count eh?

[batdad]

SOrry not wrong. you can fire head coach, and bring one of your assistants to head guy, and then hire a new assistant. I do not think you can fire a head guy, and replace with a new head (from outside the team). In fact I know you cannot.

If you fire head guy, not sure if you can replace him with an assistant and then add another assistant to replace him, and still fire an assistant. Do not think that is allowed, and certainly to me would not be the intent.