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Oh oh... Pretty close deadlines here... So no job-hunting, only EHM playing time
As for being attached to develloped players, count me in! Maybe too attached, as some of them really don't deliver, like Bolland. Skille is my HG for season 5, and plays great sometimes, while being transparent other times. Great shot, barely decent abilities, but his game is killed by a lack of speed and acceleration, which is pretty annoying as i base my offense on speed. In fact, i didn't want him as my HG, but he made the team by default, as the other youngsters were either not ready or couldn't find a spot in the team.
Oh and i wouldn't mind about batdad having Heatley AND Hossa... When i look at my top-two lines, it's:
Hell yeah!!! But i doubt that the guys who send me bills will accept this argument... Maybe i should make them discover EHM... It may distract them enough so that they don't remember about sending me bills...
The day has come. Derek Boogaard was waived and sent down. I now have a rookie defenseman named Brennan Turner as my designated goon. I have to say it is sad. Boogie has the top 5 penalty minute seasons, and the top in career. Poor Derek.
Those are not rankings silly. Just who is in D1. Oh and from Division1 for the next season...the promotions are: Czech Rep and...Denmark. The USA did not make it. HAH!
No..Canada et al still in the top group. D1 teams are USA, Czech, Suisse and Latvia...and France
Just thught it was hard to believe to see USA and Czechs in particular relegated( especially since during that last season they had Hasek regen in net)
Okay! It's time for my "Where Are They Now" post. I'll give a little update on my starting core and what's gone on with them between the start of the game (Aug 2006) and where I left off (June 2011).
Martin Havlat : Played all 82 games of the 06-07 season for the Blackhawks, finishing with 44 goals, 55 assists, 107 PIM, and a +48. Had the league's 3rd best +/- that season. Traded in the off-season to the NY Rangers along with a Russian prospect who was taken in the 4th round of that summer's draft. In return, the Blackhawks got Marc Staal and the Rangers' 1st rounder in 2008. Spent the next 2 seasons with the Rangers. Had a career best 52 goals in the 07-08 season and won the Rocket Richard trophy that season. Signed a 2 year deal with the Flames before the 09-10 season. Reached the 50 goal mark again in 10-11 with 51. Also had 51 assists that season for a career best 102 points. Voted the Flames' Fan's Player of the Year in 10-11. Seems happy with the Flames but will be a UFA again after the 11-12 season. Currently 30 years old.
Adrian Aucoin : Captained the Blackhawks for the 06-07 and 07-08 seasons. His career best season came in 06-07 when he had 13 goals and 51 assists and a +61. Won the Norris, the Hart, and the NHL Plus Minus awards for that season. Was also named First Team All-Star. Won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 07-08 despite being less of an offensive presence. In a payroll trimming move, shipped to the Detroit Red Wings in July of 08 for Evan McGrath and Jakub Kindl. He didn't stay in Detroit long. In February of 09, the Red Wings sent him to Edmonton for the rights to Karl Alzner. Signed with the Avalanche before the 09-10 season. In January of 11, the Avalanche sent him to Tampa Bay for Yann Sauve and the rights to Dennis Dams. Currently 37 years old and under contract to the Lightning for the 11-12 season.
Brent Seabrook : Seabrook has remained a Blackhawk this entire time. He never misses more than a small handful of games each year and can be counted on to put up around 40 points while never neglecting his defensive duties. Seabrook has become "the face" of the Blackhawks blueline and we hope he stays with the team for a long time. Currently 26 years old with 2 years remaining ($4.5M per) on his contract.
Radim Vrbata : Vrbata spent 06-09 with the Blackhawks. He averaged about 40 goals and 90 point per season, winning Stanley Cups in 08 and 09. No real complaints. We had a little difficulty negotiating a new contract with him (IIRC), so he was sent to the San Jose Sharks for Blake Comeau and Devin Setoguchi in June of 09. Played for the Shark in the 09-10 season with considerably less success than he had in Chicago. Was not re-signed by the Sharks and did not play hockey in 10-11. Currently 30 years old and signed to HC Vsetin of the Czech league.
Patrick Sharp : Sharp is another guy that is still with the Blackhawks. In my first season in charge of the team, we tried to work him into an offensive role, rotating him between the 2nd and 3rd lines and giving him some PP time. He's got a killer wrist shot, so we figured we'd take advantage of that. He put up 60 points, 20 goals and 40 assists, in that first season. Not bad but we learned what his real role should be. Sharp is best suited as a checking line center and PK specialist. He's great at face-offs, has blazing speed, and nice defensive abilities. Plus, that wrist shot is useful in shorthanded attempts. He had 4 shorties in the 09-10 season. Still steps into an offensive role when needed, ie due to injuries and such. Puts up anywhere between 40 and 60 points per season. Currently 29 years old with 1 year ($2M) on his contract with the Blackhawks.
Duncan Keith : We had somewhat high hopes for Duncan Keith due to his amazing skating abilities. He was with the Blackhawks up through the 08-09 season and his skills (offensive and defensive) never developed. He was usually good for about 20 points per season. He was a #6 or # 7 defenseman and we had others with much more potential waiting in the wings. We had to deal him to make room for somebody who could do more. We sent Keith and Lubomir Visnovsky to the Kings (where Visnovsky had played before coming to Chicago) for Jack Johnson. Spent the 09-10 season with the Kings' AHL affiliate in Manchester. In August of 2010, the Kings traded him to Detroit for the rights to a prospect taken in the 5th round. Shortly after the deal, the Red Wings waived Keith so they could send him down to their minor league affiliate. The Penguins claimed him off waivers. Played the entire 10-11 season with the Penguins. He's currently 27 years old and if under contract with the Penguins for the upcoming season.
Brandon Bochenski : Played the 06-07 season with the Blackhawks. He was given some time on the 2nd and 3rd lines, even some PP time but he always failed miserably when given the chance. Spent most of the season on the 4th line as a result of this. In July of 07, Bochenski and Matt Keith were sent to the LA Kings for Dustin Brown and the Kings' 5th round pick in the 08 draft. He's been with the Kings ever since, despite never putting up more than 23 points and never having a +/- rating on the + side (his best was an even 0). Currently 29 years old and still under contract with the Kings for the upcoming season. Go figure!
Brian Boucher : Ah! The player I referred to as "The Water Boy". He spent the 06-07 season with the Blackhawks before being let go to free agency. He was signed by the Sharks in July of 07 before being released in November of 07 without ever playing a game for them. He was signed as a free agent later in November of 07 by the Rangers. He spent the next 3 season in NY, putting up the same kind of number he always had. He wasn't re-signed. Boucher spent the 10-11 season out of hockey but was signed by Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite league for the upcoming season. He's 34 years old.
Patrick Lalime : Lalime actually played pretty well for the Blackhawks in the 06-07 season, really well when compared to Boucher. He had 35 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties in that first season. His production slipped off in the next season. After that, we decided to go in a different direction and let him go to free agency. He was signed by the Sharks that summer and has played there ever since. He was their starter in 08-09, playing in 62 games and splitting them pretty evenly between wins and losses. Since then he has been the backup (to fellow former Blackhawk Khabibulin), never playing more than 20 games. He's currently 36 years old and under contract to the Sharks for the upcoming season.
Mikael Holmqvist : Holmqvist played poorly for the Blackhawks but due to the core rules and low salary, he stayed with the team through the 08-09 season. He was purely a 4th liner with some PK duty when others weren't available averaging around 13 points per season. After that he was released to free agency and signed by the Minnesota Wild. He split the 09-10 season between Minnesota and their AHL affiliate in Houston and spent the entire 10-11 season in Houston. He's currently 32 years old and still with Minnesota/Houston for the upcoming season.
So that's my "Where Are They Now" post! A little long. Heck, that could've been a blog entry. Anyhow, I'd like to hear what's become of your original cores too!
darn, only 80 goals against in 60 games? I'm pretty happy with 160 GA in 60 GP
What's your tactical philosophy? I mean, i guess you won't give the details about the exact position of each slider and all, but what is the global tactical approach that offered you such defensive success?
I have three similar tactics that I rotate. I have been tinkering with these three all the way back to the Columbus challenge, and really do not change them much. Different players/same tactics. For some reason these guys have really really taken to it. Maybe it is the consistency of my roster.
I only make 1-3 changes per year, and usually not at the top of the lineup.
I was just about to deal Hossa and the guy has gone nutso: 12 points in his last 5 games. So....guess he did not want to be dealt. Beauchemin was on the move out too, and he since I made a bid for Nick Schultz has averaged 8.5 over his last 6 games, so he responded too.
All are my own concoction based off
1. Physical offensive, zone defense
2. Physical offensive, man defense
3 N Zone trap, zone defense
Occasionally I use a Run/Gun, man defense but not often.
All of my guys have personal tactics set to reflect their characters/strengths and hide weaknesses.
I do change tactics in game, but only between periods, and usually only to juggle lines.
My PK is scary good now. I just switch Tight-Wide every two or three games.
My PP is better, but not great. Still not 100% figured out.
Budaj is gonna be gone. Problem is he has been dirt cheap .715 since I got him...but now wants over 4 mill. Not a surprise considering he has 2 cups, a vezina and came 2nd in Conn Smythe last season.
Edit: JUst looked back...rubbish you won that one. Totally forgot. BUt then again, you guys forgot in season 2 and 3 that I beat ya both up badly. Both times. So...hmmm.
Anyway..Shadd...you and I have to put on a schooled by B72 for a week. Then you and B72 have to put on schooled by batdad (to what the 10th power) for a week.
Can't wait for this to wrap up after 7...B72 get busy,...and see who gets to wear the COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY SCHOOLED OVERALL FOREVER by BATDAD avatars.
Come on. I took a break from my team too. About 2 months in fact. But got back at her, and rattled off a quick season and 2/3. On break now, and will be back at her to finish 6 soon.
I don't know. It's hard for me to get back into a game when I haven't played it for a while. I've had a few games that I've fully intended on getting back into but when I loaded them back up, I had lost my feel for them.
bruins72 wrote:It's hard for me to get back into a game when I haven't played it for a while. I've had a few games that I've fully intended on getting back into but when I loaded them back up, I had lost my feel for them.
Same here. Fortunately, i didn't stop to play for too long in the challenge, and so still have a good feeling with my team and players. I'm out of the challenge though. I think 9.6 20 games deadline is for monday, and i'm just at the start of the training camp... Knowing how slow i am to play, i won't be able to reach the deadline this time. Doesn't matter, i wouldn't have win anyway, especially with all the defensive off-loading i've made. Scott Niedermayer and Derek Morris gone in the summer. Replaced by Cory Sarich and Barret Jackman... Uh... Way less tasty... And now Sarich's season is over with a 8 months injury. Fortunately, Seabrook is still there, with his 3 consecutive Norris trophies and his 2 consecutive Hart trophies at just age 26. He has 53 goals and 129 assists for 182 points over the last 3 seasons.
I'll try to end the whole 7 seasons of the challenge, and probably play more seasons then, as i really enjoy that Hawks team, but i'm out of the standings.
Good luck to all the challengers still in competition!
I know B72..It was really hard for me too. But with it being offseason and not allowed to do anything with the restrictions. It made it easier. I got to relearn my guys and go from there. Made 1 mistake and that was signing a too expensive UFA who I then dealt after camp.
And as for the avatars--IF someone gets me a SChooled by B72 one, for season four I will put it up for a week. Then though...B72 gets mine...and FOREVER since he quit playing the challenge and lost SEASON 5 to me. MUAHAHAHAAHAHAHA
shocking! 
That's means that we have to wear the schoolatars again... 
We'll both wear them for a week. Maybe somebody can help you out with a schoolatar?