Challenge 42 - 98 TB Lightning - Discussion Thread

[bruins72]

I'm wondering if I've been rushing Lecavalier. I started with him as my second line center but moved him down to third. He's second PP all the time though. I've been trying to play Langkow a bit more.

I've found it nice to have Puppa back in the mix. Once he was off the IR I was able to send Schwab down to the minors (cleared waivers). Alternating between Puppa and Ranford seems to be a bit better. It's hurt that Wendel Clark has been out though. He went out with a MCL sprain. He's missed 6 games so far and he's still going to be out another 3 weeks. We just don't have the depth to handle injuries.

EDIT: Oh and seeing my one of my favorite Bruins overachieving checking lines makes me want to play with my Bruins. Well those players are together on the team but they're being ridiculous with their lines. PJ Axelsson, Tim Taylor, and Rob DiMaio. Those guys were great!

[stone169]

Just started and TB has allowed 12 goals in the last two games. Randford has basically taken a dump and my PK is currently at 33%.

[Rough Neck]

I sent Lecavalier back to Rimouski for the season was that a mistake?

For my Lecavalier is doing okay, he's basically going at his rookie season with Tampa's rate anyways it seems, but as someone said before, he looks like a hardcore third liner lol

[Rough Neck]

I'm wondering if I've been rushing Lecavalier. I started with him as my second line center but moved him down to third. He's second PP all the time though. I've been trying to play Langkow a bit more.

I've found it nice to have Puppa back in the mix. Once he was off the IR I was able to send Schwab down to the minors (cleared waivers). Alternating between Puppa and Ranford seems to be a bit better. It's hurt that Wendel Clark has been out though. He went out with a MCL sprain. He's missed 6 games so far and he's still going to be out another 3 weeks. We just don't have the depth to handle injuries.

EDIT: Oh and seeing my one of my favorite Bruins overachieving checking lines makes me want to play with my Bruins. Well those players are together on the team but they're being ridiculous with their lines. PJ Axelsson, Tim Taylor, and Rob DiMaio. Those guys were great!

I started Lecvalier on third, moved him to second. Been doing better. Clark is crapping the bed for me right now lol.

[bruins72]

Yikes! That's rough. He hasn't been that bad for me over the past 40 games but he's definitely had some very frustrating games/slumps. That's why he hasn't been my clear #1 goalie. Puppa will be much more stable.

Renberg is still doing great for me. In 41 games he has 27G 16A +11 with only 8 PIM. He currently leads the league in goals (1 more than Mogilny and 2 more than Selanne but Renberg has played more games). He's third in the league in points, trailing Yzerman by 9 and Bondra by just 2.

[Rough Neck]

I swear my gets lit up every game..

[stone169]

Randford's started to turn it around and so has my PK. I made the decision to sent Vinny back to junior. He's only 18, so he still has his whole career ahead of him. Besides Janney is retiring after this season, so Vinny will slip right into my top 6. Can't wait to draft Daniel Sedin (maybe). Having him play on Vinny's left side will be awesome. Might even be able to pick up Jason Williams in the 2nd round.

It kind of sucks that we can't claim anyone off of waivers. My team would have been completely upgraded by now.

[nino33]

I LOVE seeing all the familiar NHL names in people's posts

[nino33]

It kind of sucks that we can't claim anyone off of waivers. My team would have been completely upgraded by now.

That's what makes it a Challenge

[Rough Neck]

or the fact you can't trade before the draft.. I'd try and swindle a Sedin deal!

[braeden]

Well Brad Richards put up 54 points in his rookie career.

[CJ]

Be glad you have Vinny and Richards. Get Martin St. Louis and you got a Stanley Cup winning team in the future. From them it only took 6 years.

[Rough Neck]

Hey so can we not sign any UFA's at all in this challenge or just during Season 1?

[stone169]

or the fact you can't trade before the draft.. I'd try and swindle a Sedin deal!

I'm pretty sure you can trade before the draft. As soon as trading opens after the SCF, you can trade. You just can't trade for a 1st round pick.

[bruins72]

or the fact you can't trade before the draft.. I'd try and swindle a Sedin deal!

Actually you can trade before the draft. You just have to wait for the end of the Stanley Cup Finals to begin trading.

[bruins72]

Hey so can we not sign any UFA's at all in this challenge or just during Season 1?

Nope! No UFAs.

So the whole idea behind no UFAs and no waivers claims is that we've got a couple teams that were bare bones because they didn't exist in the NHL at the time. They'll get a little more balanced with waiver claims, UFA signings, and drafting. That makes it so they won't stay as easy wins. It makes it more of a challenge.

[Rough Neck]

Hey so can we not sign any UFA's at all in this challenge or just during Season 1?

Nope! No UFAs.

So the whole idea behind no UFAs and no waivers claims is that we've got a couple teams that were bare bones because they didn't exist in the NHL at the time. They'll get a little more balanced with waiver claims, UFA signings, and drafting. That makes it so they won't stay as easy wins. It makes it more of a challenge.

ahh, so after season 1 are we allowed a waiver claim? Or is the challenge pretty much rebuild through draft and 1 for 1 or 2 for 2 type trades?

This is my first time doing a NA challenge (I did the Sweden one) so just wanting to clarify hah

[braeden]

Thinking about moving for a dman... Anyone offload Wendell Clark yet? He's good but getting old. Same with Puppa.

[Rough Neck]

Thinking about moving for a dman... Anyone offload Wendell Clark yet? He's good but getting old. Same with Puppa.

He's horrible for me. I scratched him and have gone 7-3 since then.

[Asher413]

18 games in and this may be my worst coaching job ever. 2-14-2 and barely ahead of the three teams with 10 players on their rosters .

Vinny was doing okay, but sent him down anyway. No need to waste contract years when this team doesn't have a prayer of playoffs. Ranford has crapped the bed (86% saved... and it's been going up). How fast can I click through this one?

Hoping for a lucky draft draw, we'll need it. I guess I might have to make the moral choice on if I can draft one solo Sedin if that comes up.

Last- man the AI is bad at filling rosters. I had a personal DB with all FA's at the start... and they weren't full by the season (July 1 start). Now the three teams weren't even claiming decent guys on waivers (Decent as in better than nothing) or signing the FA's.

[stone169]

Clark's leading my team in points right now. He's been my best forward over the last 3 games, especially since putting him on the top line with Janney. My biggest problem is that this team doesn't have enough defensive minded forwards, and Schwab is absolutely horrible as a backup.

Right now my plan is going to be re-sign everyone and then see who I can trade for younger players or draft picks. The biggest thing for me will be trying to fill out the bottom 6 with more defensive minded players.

[nino33]

Last- man the AI is bad at filling rosters. I had a personal DB with all FA's at the start... and they weren't full by the season (July 1 start). Now the three teams weren't even claiming decent guys on waivers (Decent as in better than nothing) or signing the FA's.

That's interesting, and good to know (I've often thought the game doesn't manage "abnormal situations" very well, like all FAs or NHL teams with only 10-14 contracted players.....it simulates the "normal" hockey world well, but it's not a sandbox to "try anything" and I'm totally OK with that!)

[bruins72]

Hey so can we not sign any UFA's at all in this challenge or just during Season 1?

Nope! No UFAs.

So the whole idea behind no UFAs and no waivers claims is that we've got a couple teams that were bare bones because they didn't exist in the NHL at the time. They'll get a little more balanced with waiver claims, UFA signings, and drafting. That makes it so they won't stay as easy wins. It makes it more of a challenge.

ahh, so after season 1 are we allowed a waiver claim? Or is the challenge pretty much rebuild through draft and 1 for 1 or 2 for 2 type trades?

This is my first time doing a NA challenge (I did the Sweden one) so just wanting to clarify hah

No waiver claims and no UFAs at any time.

[bruins72]

Right now my plan is going to be re-sign everyone and then see who I can trade for younger players or draft picks. The biggest thing for me will be trying to fill out the bottom 6 with more defensive minded players.

That's totally my plan. I've got some that on't want to sign right now but I'll work on them. I also don't want to over-pay them too much so that they won't be attractive to other teams.

Clark has been sub-par. I've had him on the second line and second PP. He just hasn't performed well enough. I'm hoping he'll fetch a decent return.

[m0fownz0r]

I suppose, this one would be about building through the draft mostly. Or at least tank hard S1, then trade for some decent players able to play in the Top 9/4