EHM The Blue Line

4 wins and 5 losses after the first 9 games. i just had a 2-0 lead over nj going in to the third. then niittymaki bails on me an lets in 4 in the third. 2-4. darn!!

1st quarter report from Columbus. There´s a real hockey boom in Columbus, who would have quessed at the start of the season that Columbus would hold the 2nd place in Western Conference. with record 12-6-2

The success has based on excellent defense and solid goaltending. 2nd least goals allowed (56) in the league tells alot.
Leclaire & Norrena have shared the job pretty equally. They have healthy competition situation. Norrena has surprised everyone with solid performances ( SV 90,9% and Average rating of 7.40 ).

There is still place for big improvements, especially in offense and special teams have not been good either
(PP 13,6% and PK 76,8%). But the far most bigggest dissapointment has been Rick Nash, when did he become a playmaker He has only 3 goals and 13 assists so far, injured at the moment ( 15 games played ).

Niko Zherdev have been my best player so far 12+11 in 20 games along with Vyborny (11+9).
At defense department old veteran Jason Woolley has been solid as hell +/- +13 and clocking 19 minutes average


Trades:

CLB: WSH:
Fedorov Zubrus
Rights to Ben Wright Sutherby
5th round pick

CLB: NJ:
Foote Madden
1st round pick Martin

CLB: DAL:
Picard Jokinen
Russel Hagman
Rights to Bobby Nyholm

CLB: PHI:
Malhotra 3rd round pick
7th round pick

CLB: BUF
Carter Campbell
Rights to Brassard
5th round pick

CLB: FLA:
Wescott Semenov

CLB: DET:
Balastik Ficher
Pohl

CLB: CHI:
7th round pick Arkhipov


Current lineup:

Nash - Madden - Vyborny
Jokinen - Zubrus - Zherdev
Hagman - Sutherby - Modin
Arkhipov - Svitov/Fritche - Brule

Berard - Martin
Ficher - Campbell
Woolley - Klesla
(Semenov)
(Novak)

Leclaire
Norrena

inSTAALed wrote:

19nazzy wrote:

Minstrel wrote:and a good third line checking center

I just picked a perfect one up for a 5th rounder. He's somewhat expensive but oh well, he fits it perfect.

Is his name John Madden...

Nope. Someone else

19nazzy wrote:

inSTAALed wrote:

19nazzy wrote: I just picked a perfect one up for a 5th rounder. He's somewhat expensive but oh well, he fits it perfect.

Is his name John Madden...

Nope. Someone else

Michael Peca?

After 20 games, I'm first in the conference with a record of 15-5-0.

My teams seems to be on a 'run and gun' style, which is costing us on the PK(74%) as well as the PP(19.5), we've been giving up some shorthanded goals.

I thought I had a solid group of Dmen, but I guess not, although they are playing well offensively. So I guess our defensive lapses are being made up by a very strong offense, we are ranked 2nd overall in the league with 90 goals for.

Goaltending is also weak with a 3.65GGA and and 89.1% save percentage

I also swung a deal sending Malhotra and a lousy prospect for Sutherby, who is fitting in very, very nicely.

OK, time for me to start this thing up. The old lady's watching Gilmore Girls on TV, I need something to do.

I'm seriously thinking about putting Federov on waivers. I've been trying to trade him for the better part of a month and no one wants any part of him.

munky wrote:I'm seriously thinking about putting Federov on waivers. I've been trying to trade him for the better part of a month and no one wants any part of him.

why?? because of he's salary right. well he's been great for me. he has like 27 points or something like that after the first 20 games. he had 5 assists vs. edmonton.

redwingsfan wrote:

munky wrote:I'm seriously thinking about putting Federov on waivers. I've been trying to trade him for the better part of a month and no one wants any part of him.

why?? because of he's salary right. well he's been great for me. he has like 27 points or something like that after the first 20 games. he had 5 assists vs. edmonton.

Yeah, that $6M contract is just too much. It takes up about 1/6 of my total budget.

My preseason moves:

Aug 4 - Traded Ty Conklin and Jamie Pushor to Philadelphia for Antero Niittymaki
Aug 6 - Traded the rights to Ben Wright to Montreal for the rights to Mikhail Grabovsky
Aug 8 - Signed Richard Rose as a scout.
Aug 11 - Signed Mikhail Grabovsky - $450K per year/2 years
Aug 15 - Traded Pascal Leclaire to Buffalo for Daniel Paille and their 2007 3rd round pick.
Aug 16 - Fired Gerard Gallant.
Aug 17 - Hired Brian Sutter as head coach.
Aug 21 - Traded Jaroslav Balastik and 2007 4th rounder and 5th rounder to Toronto for Justin Pogge and John Pohl
Sep 21 - Traded Manny Malhotra to Buffalo for their 2007 4th and 6th round picks

I'm still about a million and a half over budget, if I can move either Federov or Carter I'll be laughing.

I had a little trouble getting rid of Federov. Even teams that had cap room didn't want him, but Washington ended up taking him.

I had two deals fall through I thought would be better before finally moving Sergei to Philly and in order to do it I had to take on Nedved's bloated salary too. I ended up sending Philly Fed, Kloucek and Pushor for Calder, Ellison and Nedved. Used Nedved (and a 5th) as trade bait eventually gaining S. Morrison from Washington.

So that resolved my salary issues, my secondary checking line questions and my search for another strong LD. Luckily I got that done just a few days before our first regular season game so I'm real happy with my squad going in but I want to fully tweak things before starting my season. I tend to kind of let guys just play and work into shape in preseason.

For me there is Russian domination, but not for Federov, but from Zherdev.

10+12=22 in 12 games and he got 16+/-.

Still in pre-season, made moves for Niitymaki, Madden and Peca, so similar to most here. Also got Matvichuk and Cairns. Also got Regehr for Berard+29 year old prospect, and shifted Carter to PIT for Collins + third which I think is a great salary dump. Just need to shift Federov as I am way over budget. Lines should be (but still in preseason so a lot can change)

Niitymaki
Leclaire

Regehr-Foote
Matvichuk-Klesla
Kloucek-Cairns

Nash-Madden-Vyborny
Modin-Brule-Zherdev
Collins-Peca-Balastik
Picard-Platt-?Fritsche

Ideally I can get a checking RW for Federov but no-one has wanted him so far. Might have to waive/release to get under budget.

Also changed every single member of staff as they were awful to start. Picked up a couple of first round picks for prospects I didn't rate, but still have Brassard. Hoping to sneak into 8th seed but not confident. Full details to follow later as that's at work from memory

Through games 1-20, going better than I expected sitting in third in the conference.

A lot of trades leaves the lines as

Niitymaki/Leclaire/Caron in rotation as none are doing well.

Defence as above, plus got McGillis injured for three months

Forwards as above except Malhotra not Platt and B.Ryan not Fritsche.

Roster moves:

Acquired Robyn Regehr for Berard and rights to Hudak
Acquired Antero Niittymaki for Conklin and Norrena
Traded Anson Carter to Pittsburgh for Sean Collins and a third
Traded rights to Hautonen to Senators for rights to Nikulin
Acquired Corey Crawford from Chicago for a seventh
Traded rights to Ben Wright to Sabres for a first
Traded rights to Steve Mason to Flyers for a first
Acquired John Madden for Petr Pohl
Acquired Michael Peca for rights to Greg Mauldin
Traded rights to Kirill Starkov to Sabres for 2008 first
Traded Kris Russell to Devils for Matvichuk and a fourth
Acquired Eric Cairns for Jason Chimera
Traded Duvie Westcott to Sharks for fourth
Traded Ron Hainsey to Flyers for fourth
Traded Aaron Johnson to Oilers for fifth
Acquired Bobby Ryan for Leclaire, rights to Sestito, two fifth and a fourth pick
Traded Fedorov to Caps for seventh
Traded Novak to Pens for fourth
Traded Pushor to Blackhawks for sixth
Traded Dupuis to Red Wings for fourth
Traded rights to Dudas to Kings for fourth
Traded rights to Plekhanov to Nashville for fourth
Traded rights to Moravec to Bruins for sixth
Traded rights to Marquardt to Thrashers for fourth and sixth
Traded rights to Piispanen to Coyotes for a fourth
Traded rights to Dorsett to Bruins for fourth and sixth
Traded rights to Petrell to Panthers for fourth
Traded rights to Nyholm to for fifth
Traded Hartigan to Nashville for fifth
Acquired Marc Staal for Svitov, rights to Reinhart and Mozyakin and a second
Traded rights to Popperle to Wild for fourth and seventh
Acquired rights to Rask for Shelley and Eriksson - both listed and already cleared waivers Board and Fans delighted with this one
Re-acquired Leclaire for M.Roy and a seventh

Signed Kinasewich, Maunu, Bridges, Roy, Hotham, Garlock and D.Ryan from free agency and picked up Caron and McGillis from waivers.

Reasonable wage bill and 23 draft picks in 2007 alone!

hluraven wrote: Reasonable wage bill and 23 draft picks in 2007 alone!

Dang, thats a lot of picks. I think I might try and dumb a few guy in the minors that don't want to resign with me.

Yeah, I got about 12 in 2008 as well! I guess it's because I'm not used to the North American style of trading, so I try to "sell" my players for the nearest equivalent to currency, ie picks, and buy from others for picks. I always end up in EHM with a lot of picks/prospects and very few players outside the big squad.

AI teams in 2007 seem a lot less keen on gaining picks though, they normally want a player in return for a player in my experience.

Games 21-40, a bit of a struggle, 9-9-2 but a good run at the back of that after trading for Marleau and Moreau. My PK is appaling, and almost all the goals against seem to be when the other team win the face off and the defender shoots from the point.

Trades:

Traded Fritsche, third and fourth to Carolina for first and seventh
Acquired Moreau for seventh
Acquired Pat Marleau for Peca and a first

Peca had been poor and I touted him around, best two offers back with Ricci and Roenick for Peca or Marleau for Peca and a first. I went for best player available, and Marleau won player of the month in his first month.

Games 1-20 roster moves

Traded 5th round pick for Michael Peca (TOR)
Traded rights ton Ben Wright 6th and 7th round pick for Michal Handzus (CHI)
Traded Filip Novak and Ty Conklin for Antero Niitymäki (PHI)
Claimed P-J Axelsson from Waiver
Claimed Sebastien Caron from Waiver

joehelmer wrote:Games 1-20 roster moves

Traded 5th round pick for Michael Peca (TOR)
Traded rights ton Ben Wright 6th and 7th round pick for Michal Handzus (CHI)
Traded Filip Novak and Ty Conklin for Antero Niitymäki (PHI)
Claimed P-J Axelsson from Waiver
Claimed Sebastien Caron from Waiver

Oh, I forgot the players I lost on waiver.

Sergei Fedorov, claimed by Pittsburgh
Ron Hainsey, claim by St. Louis
P.J. Axelsson, claimed by Washington (on re-enter waiver )
Pascal Leclaire, claimed by Pittsburgh
Jason Chimera, claimed by St. Louis

hluraven wrote:Yeah, I got about 12 in 2008 as well! I guess it's because I'm not used to the North American style of trading, so I try to "sell" my players for the nearest equivalent to currency, ie picks, and buy from others for picks. I always end up in EHM with a lot of picks/prospects and very few players outside the big squad.

AI teams in 2007 seem a lot less keen on gaining picks though, they normally want a player in return for a player in my experience.

You traded for 2008 picks? That's against the rules dude.

You can recieve picks from any year you want, you just cannot offer anything but your upcoming picks to other teams in deals. If you trade for 2008 picks you wouldn't be able to offer them to anyone until after the draft... -Minty

I hate St. Louis and Pittsburgh. They're like garbage pickers, they always take players off the waivers.

munky wrote:

hluraven wrote:Yeah, I got about 12 in 2008 as well! I guess it's because I'm not used to the North American style of trading, so I try to "sell" my players for the nearest equivalent to currency, ie picks, and buy from others for picks. I always end up in EHM with a lot of picks/prospects and very few players outside the big squad.

AI teams in 2007 seem a lot less keen on gaining picks though, they normally want a player in return for a player in my experience.

You traded for 2008 picks? That's against the rules dude.

I thought it was only illegal to trade your 2008 picks.

I don't do 2008 picks either way but I don't think it matters if he is receiving them...

My fans went ape when I traded Fritsche and a 2nd for Kukkonen.

Oh well...

so far I have fired Gallant and 3 assistant coaches. Brought in the man with the sweaters , Paul Coffey, Rick Martin.

My lineup (god like I can recall all the moves)

Nash-Conroy-Vyborny
Modin-Drury-Zherdev
Gaustad-Madden-Carter(or Clymer)
Svitov- Malhotra-Balastik(Brule)
Shelley Picard Chimera
Now for the interesting parts

Pitkanen-Salo
VaanAnen- Clymer (or Westcott)
Westcott(Kukkonen)-Klesla
Kloucek-Eriksson

Nittymaki
Leclaire
Norrena

RAIDED THE FLYERS>..actually pretty easy to get Pitkannen...makes me worry a bit that he came in real low on the attribute potential in this game. I have yet to get to training camp..but I am well under budget. Probably have about 2 3 mill left to spend. Marleau sounds interesting.

I kind of ditched the Fantasy Draft challenge because I've been busy lately...

But I'll definitely start up this one. Do I need to PM Minstrel again, or is that only for the first time doing a challenge?

Just keep following the same rules and you're fine -Minty