Challenge 8.1 Toronto Maple Leafs discussion

Post by **batdad** » Fri May 25, 2007 8:51 pm

Nice start to season 2 Bruins72...Sheesh. 109 goals? Christ almighty. 5 plus per game.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Fri May 25, 2007 9:02 pm

batdad wrote:Nice start to season 2 Bruins72...Sheesh. 109 goals? Christ almighty. 5 plus per game.

It's been a very nice start! I'll go into more detail about it in the Challenge 8.2 thread though.

Post by **batdad** » Fri May 25, 2007 9:19 pm

Whoops! I can't read numbers very well.

Post by **archibalduk** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:03 pm

After a fairly decent start, things have really gone down hill. I've gotten so fed up with my team that I've gone for a new approach: Ultra offence mentality on all four of my lines. Bizarrely, it's actually working quite well - it's resulted in very high-scoring games that I often win. Maybe I can turn things around in the second half of the season...

I have a feeling I'll be the one that "gets schooled"

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:06 pm

Don't sweat it, Archi. I find that the second set of 20 games is always pretty rough. Don't ask me why it is but I always seem to come out hot and then in the second 20 things cool down considerably.

Try sticking with that ultra offense for a bit. If you've got offensive talent they seem to actually do much better overall playing that kind of game.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:55 pm

I much prefer the all out offensive approach in this game. I am still working on defensive tactics that work. Nothing seems foolproof defensively. But to play defensive I know one thing: Guys cannot be tired, or the third period onslaught will be on!

Post by **archibalduk** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:35 pm

Ever since game 20 I've had at least one key player injured for every single game. Peca has just gotten injured for three months so I've sent him packing to STL via the waivers. It's the second time he's been injured for three months since the beginning of the season. I'm not going to be able to easy trade him out so I waived him in the hope that I can use the freed-up salary to bring someone else in to turn around my disaster of a season. I really haven't enjoyed much of coaching the Leafs thus far

Post by **archibalduk** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:27 pm

Just as I claim Kwiatkowski off the waivers to strengthen my wings, Wellwood gets injured for three months

Post by **batdad** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:49 pm

There are alot of brick walls in a row on this page. Poor Arch.

Post by **archibalduk** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:27 pm

Yeah I really haven't enjoyed taking control of the Leafs

Now I'm just trying to get the season over and done with.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:28 pm

I hate the Leafs. My daughter saw me on the game and said "Dad why you play that team that sucks? Use Canucks, or Ducks they are way better"

She is 3 1/2. Smart kid.

Post by **archibalduk** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:11 pm

You've trained her well

Post by **archibalduk** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:44 pm

I've just finished Season 1 of the Challenge. That was the most bizarre and unpleasant game of EHM I have every played. I have never had such a bad game. Even playing with teams in the bottom Finnish division with no transfer I've done better than with the Leafs. I just couldn't get my players and tactics to click. It didn't help having a key player injured for literally ever single game.

For every single game of the 82 game season I've had at least one (usually two or three) key player unavailable due to injury, be it Sundin, my top defencemen, Wellwood, Sullivan (Sullivan would have broken 100 points had he not been available for the final six games due to injury). Peca was was out with an injury for three months on two occasions. Sundin missed a four or five week stretch. Wellwood had a three month stretch with an injury. Clymer missed a total of two or three months with niggling injuries.

Towards the end I just gave up. Luck wasn't on my side. It's such a relief to have finished the game. Onwards and upwards!

[/ rant over]

Where's this schooled avatar then, CatchUp?!

Please don't make it a Leafs av!!

Post by **batdad** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:48 pm

Archi--That just sucks. Injuries from hell.

(psst--CatchUp: Archi can't see this as I wrote it in secret mod code---Leafs av...I got schooled by batdad, Bruins72 and CatchUp. AND I LOVE THE LEAFS!")

Post by **archibalduk** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:02 pm

Ah but you didn't account for my x-ray goggles, Mr. Batdad

The inevitable Leafs av sends a shiver down my spine

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:19 pm

WOW! That was just a brutal season. I don't think I've ever seen injuries like that before. Did you have good trainers (physio)? Were you running really intense practice schedules? The only other I can think of is that you stepped on a crack, after walking under a ladder, and then had a black cat cross your path.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:39 pm

NAh...Archi's real name is John Ferguson Jr...so it goes to show ya. The LEAFS suck!

Archi should get a special prize: MOST REALISTIC OUTCOME IN EHM EVER!!

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:43 pm

LOL! I second that nomination!

Post by **archibalduk** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:46 am

I'd let my Head Coach take control of practice so I hadn't touched the intensity. I just tweaked how much time we spent on even strengh/PP/PK. I think my coaches and physio were ok. The injuries were all happening during games - I think I only had one minor injury all season from practice.

I remember it all starting to go wrong just around game 20. I'd had a good start despite Peca being missing (he was injured during my last exhibition game - out for three months). Then I just got a constant flow of injuries and my players just weren't clicking with my tactics anymore. I tried to change things around a bit but just kept getting more injuries. I tried to bring in some decent players to improve my team but no one was interested in trading with me unless I offered some ridiculous talent and picks in return. So there came a point where I'd just had enough and I went all-out (I also encouraged Tucker to fight in every game so I'd at least get BP for PIM!). Most games from then on were high-scoring - often I'd lose but I also had some good wins (for example beating the Sabres 7-1 to end their winning streak).

Post by **Calv** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:39 am

Bonus points B have been awarded as follows:
batdad 12
fishi 9
bruins72 9
kennec 6
archibalduk 4
CatchUp 3
red-dog 2
Danny 1

the final deadline is 20th June

Post by **Calv** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:41 am

also looks like CatchUp is last in the current standings out of you guys, so I wouldn't get too complacent just yet!

Post by **archibalduk** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:18 pm

The deadline for 8.1 is today

I'm very much looking forward to seeing who is going to be "schooled"; will it be me or will it be the M******-loving Canadian?!

I have a feeling it will be me - I certainly deserve it after my shocking performance!

A big

to Calv for running the Challenges once again

It takes a lot of work to run these competitions!

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:20 pm

Most definitely! Great work, Calv! I love these challenges. They're what keeps EHM fresh for me.

Post by **archibalduk** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:28 pm

I was thinking for the Schooled avatar we could have a red text saying "SCHOOLED" stamped at a 45º angle on top of the avatar. I mean like a red rubber stamp like this:

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:46 pm

That would be perfect as long as it shows up on everyone's avatars. I don't know if it would work with some of the darker or busier ones.