Blackhawks Challenge 9.1 and 9.2 discussion thread

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:30 pm

I wouldn't mind getting Ruff as a coach. I picked up Marc Crawford as an assistant somewhere during the first season of the challenge. He's worked out well.

Yeah, Hollweg looked good on that top line with Handzus and Vrbata. I think his speed and toughness complements them well. Plus, he just plows his way into position and gets the garbage goals. And just to "keep it real", he still managed to get into fights while on the top line. That line only lasted a couple games though. Michalek came back from his injury.

I'm liking the look of things in this second season though. I'm only about 6 games into the season and I've already got two 8-2 wins and a 6-2 win. Somehow Malone is in a 4 way tie for the league lead in points at this early part of the season. His 5 point game had something to do with that. Still, 12 points in 6 games is nice to see out of a second line guy.

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:32 pm

Barker for Pitkanen straight up

Good Deal or ask for more?

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:36 pm

Or Baker for Coburn, 07 7th Rd, 08 3rd Rd & 09 4th Rd (ATL)

Or Barker for Schultz, 07 1st Rd (WSH)

Post by **Shadd666** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:38 pm

hypnotist: not the ATL deal for sure

Else, it depends on your team, but the two other sound pretty good to me.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:45 pm

Coburn seems to take a lot longer to develop than most. I'd probably pass on that one. Shultz and a 1st sounds good. I'd have a hard time passing up Pitkanen straight up though.

white knight · Post by **white knight** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:51 pm

I'm a big fan of Barker so I think that you should hold on to him. But if you gonna trade him, take the Pitkanen deal!

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:21 pm

I took the Pitkanen deal. I was concerned about the core games requirements but then realized that Cullislug needed only 1 more game to make his quota. So Jani will sit a game and then good ol' J-ASS-en will be like a full-time commentator, cause he's gunna be sitting in the press box unless someone get hurt.

corinthian · Post by **corinthian** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:17 pm

I did a mess in my preseason, all started when i signed Drury for 5M and Stuart arbitration (he got 2.9m & i accepted
':thdn:')

After that my budget increased over 40M, so big headache, uncertain trades (like Handzus for Malone & 2nd pick), yes i assumed that i need a 2nd pick, now i know it was unneccessary. I trade also for P. Kane.

Now i'm 5-5-1 so far, my PP sucks and PK is horrible (72%). Chemistry from previous season is gone. '](*,)'

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:25 pm

I feel for you, corinthian! I had similar budget issues going into season 2. I have to trade away my top scorer and league leader from season 1 (Paul Kariya) for those same reasons. I'm 10 games into the season and I'm 6-3-1 with a 17.5% PP and 78.7% PK. My guys were really clicking in a couple games but now they've come back down to earth.

Post by **CatchUp** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:07 pm

I'm making my way through my first playoffs with the Hawks.

My trade deadline acquisitions are kicking ass and taking names.

Erik Cole 20 GMs, 17 Goals, 12 Assts for 29 Points and a 8.20 rating
Eric Brewer 21 GMs, 5 Goals, 10 Assts for 15 points and a 8.43 rating
Mike Cammalleri (had MCL injury when I got him) 5 GMs, 2 Goals, 3 Assts for 5 Points and a 7.80 rating

My lines are:

Michalek - Lecavalier - Cole
Cammalleri - Zubrus - Ruutu
Holmqvist - Sutherby - Blunden
Arkhipov - Sharp - Fata

Brewer - Aucoin
Hannan - Seabrook
Cullimore - Keith

Biron - Lalime

Having Lalime in my core killed me down the stretch. I hadn't been playing him enough (he's terrible!) and I realized I would need to start him in almost all of the last 20 games to get him his 2100 mins. Needless to say, we were down early a LOT.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:41 pm

Hah CatchUp got busted! Should have played Lalime more early. nanananana. Nice lines though...Zubrus is like a mini Marleau in this game.

As for you corinthian...I am having some budget issues, although minor as well. I had to move Markov away (just got him at deadline) and dumped Saprykin. I will also likley have to move 1 more guy. Maybe Salo.

But yeah, it hurts. The $ they hurt.

Heh--Lalime as a UFA was asking 2.7 mill. And St Louis got him for that. I of course did not even make an offer. Thanks Patty for making my decision for me. Twas easy with Harding around.

My blog for off-season t-camp should be up sometime in the next few days.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:57 pm

Lalime got $2.7M? Holy cow! In my game I resigned him (because of the core requirements) and he signed for $1.17M.

I'm just about to post my games 1-20 stats for season 2. The Sedin line has taken over as the top line. Handzus (and whoever I put him with) started to not really produce as the top line. Vrbata is streaky my windows again. He'll be gone after this season! Dustin Brown is better than expected though. I'm also happy to have added Kaspar to my farm team for a cheap price.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:22 pm

Actually...2.6, 2.63, 2.63 and whatever it would take to make his cap hit get to 2.65. A four year deal at that hit. Blues are screwed.

Edit: just looked at his numbers. Blocker 14, Glove 18, Positioning 20, Rebound 18, Recovery 19

Has your guy got that high? Holy smoly...maybe I should have let Emery go and kept Patty. Wowl

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:28 pm

Yup, my guy is pretty much the same except mine has a positioning of 19 instead of 20.

Lalime really isn't that bad. He's be a lot better if he had more to his blocker skill though.

Post by **CatchUp** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:50 pm

I use the 1-100 scale and my Lalime has 97 POS 70 BLK 90 GLV 91 RBD and 95 REC. Not bad, but he chokes under pressure.

Anyway, I won the Cup. End up playing Washington and their two starting goalies: Kolzig and Khabby.

I won in 6 games. Blunden, who had been riding the pine for 99% of the playoffs, managed to score in OT to get the win.

Looking at my core for next season, I'll definitely be losing Cullimore and Lalime. So that leaves me with one more to cut. Arkhipov or Holmqvist....hmmmmm

Post by **batdad** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:09 pm

Tough choice bud. No help from me! I know who I would boot though.

Anyway...My training camp is tough. Ryan Wilson (yeah I drafted him, shocking), Jonathon Toews, david Bolland, Dan Bertram, Troy Brouwer, Cam Barker and Braydon Coburn are all getting rave reviews and ratings.

2 games in Toews.....has 3 goals and 3 assists. How can you cut a guy like that? I just don't know what I am gonna do.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:13 am

If batdad won't say it, I will. Cut Holmqvist and keep Arkhipov. Look at the stats for other people in the challenge. He's actually a useful player if you use him. I might've included him in my core if I had known more about him going into the challenge. He's a guy that must've slipped under my radar all this time. He's perfectly capable of being a second line center. I used him as my #2/#3 center for a good portion of the first season. The only reason I ditched him was because I needed help and he wasn't a part of my core. So he became a trade asset. Definitely keep Arkhipov. Holmqvist is only good as a 4th line and sometimes PK guy.

Post by **CatchUp** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:30 am

Thanks for the heads up B72. I was definitely leaning toward Arkhipov.

My new blog entry is up!

Post by **batdad** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:04 am

Ah...B72 ruins the fun! I was gonna tell him....really...after year 6.

Oh my year 2 core is up now. Just finishing pre season. It was a tough choice. Toews, Bolland, Brouwer, Barker were all on fire in the pre season. Narrowing that to 1 was hard..but I mostly needed a dman..so Barker won out. Bolland may not be happy as he was awesome in Norfolk last year. If I keep him I may have to forego homegrown status for him and get him up during the season.

Lalime is gone..2.6 mill plus in St Louis. I love the Blues. 8 games against Lalime ... WAHOO!!! Keith is gone. He sucks! So that left:

Aucoin, Seabrook, Vrbata, Blunden, Holmqvist, Arkhipov, Hamilton as my core. Hamilton has really progressed this summer and may see some 3rd line action if Blunden and Vrbata piddle me off.

Since I had Havlat, Vrbata, Blunden, Hamilton in my core last season..RW made things tough. So I had to make a call. Havlat will likely stay with my team all year, but I took him out of the core, being he was the most expensive guy. If things do not start well..he may be the bait. But with his salary ... who knows.

Worrell has been waived. I got the Boogie man on waivers!!!

corinthian · Post by **corinthian** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:04 pm

I've chosen Caron over Lalime, he's a nice backup for Nitty (3 won games, no losses) and he's earning less than US$800,000!':-p'

I've reached my first 20 games, a lot of improvement, my PK increased from 72% to 82% over 9 games in that stretch only 3 PPGA (even a 0-10 against the Blue Jackets). Without a good special teams you're dead.

When a said my budget is killing me, i wasn't kidding, US$35,600,000. My hands are tied because i like the players i have right know and the ones i want...$$$$

Hey My best score ever:
Hawks 10-1 Blues

Post by **CatchUp** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:27 pm

So I know I have Vinny at C, but he's making 7.65 on the new 2 year deal I got him to agree to. So he has huge value - won the Art Ross and Conn Smythe for me. I'm thinking I could deal him for lots of prospects and sign a UFA in the end of his career to mentor my kiddies at C. I have a deal all lined up - Vinny is going to the Sabres. I have an offer in for Sundin at 4.6 per on a 2 year deal and there are no other teams interested.

All of a sudden - Sundin retires. In the first offseason. No injury, just hangs em up - rather than play for the Hawks.

So, deal is cancelled and I'm now going to be past the July 15th deadline for deals.

Vinny and his megabucks stay- for now. I'll have to see where else I can shed $$$ before game 20 next year.

***EDIT***

Managed to deal Cole before the TBL trade deadline, so after camp my lines are:

Cammalleri - Lecavalier - Blake
Michalek - Zubrus - Ruutu
Arkhipov - Sutherby - Bochenski
Bergenheim - Sharp - Blunden

Hannan - Aucoin
Brewer - Seabrook
Barker - Keith

Biron - Lalime

I'm still looking to move some guys from Norfolk - I'm going to stomp the AHL this year. Norfolk's lineup features Toews, Hamill, Bolland, Mike Green, Ryan Wilson and Carey Price.

***DOUBLE EDIT***

It's November 2nd and I've found my salary dump. I'm keeping Vinny and dealing Scott Hannan (3.66M/yr - 10GP - 0 PTS - -4 - 7.16 rating). Granted, it's only ten games, but he wasn't up to #1 D calibre last season either. I've got Brewer at 2.3 who should fill his shoes nicely. The deal? Hannan to Boston for Matt Lashoff and a 2008 2nd round pick. Lashoff looks like he'll slot right into my top 6. And if not, I'll call up Green from Norfolk and Lashoff will take his place.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:02 pm

Man did I hit a slump in games 21-40 in season 2!

Everything that was working, seemed to stop working. Then the injuries hit! Right now I've got both Handzus (1 month) and Smolinski (3 weeks) out but other guys have been out for for a few games here and there too. Plus, my minor leaguers keep getting injured. Sindel was out for 2 months with an ACL injury. Other guys have missed a week or so here and there.

I've found that Weekes is better than Boucher was but not much. His morale drops to low from one bad game. Lalime is still the better goaltender. Fortunately, I've got next season's goaltending ready. I can keep Price down on the farm. I managed to trade for an injured Lundqvist. He's been out for a month and a half now and he's still expected to be out for another 3 months. UCL tear. Sure, it's a bit of a cheap tactic, trading for him while he's out with a long term injury... but I've seen I'm not the only one to do that here. So what the heck! Why not? Plus, I didn't get him too cheaply. It wasn't like I got him for a draft pick.

I brought up Dave Bolland to replace Handzus while he's out injured. He's been doing really well! He's got 11 points in 10 games. I' can really only keep him for another 10 games before I send him back though. I want him to stay Calder and Homegrown eligible. He's got 4 NHL games on the books from before this season.

Well, I've posted my stats. I guess I'll save the rest for the blog.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:51 pm

In case you were wondering...I have not had that problem with my guys off the "WARMERS" practice sessions I run in the off season. I will be watching my farm club a little closer with it in this challenge though.

I have watched for injuries caused by possibly the all intensive during the off-season regimen. But so far...nothing out of the ordinary. I will let you know though as things go on in this challenge. Because I Am not changing it at this time.

Lundquist--Not bad..cheap trading for him injured though....

(I keed I keed)

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:57 pm

I don't think it was the "WARMERS" (all intensive) training that killed my guys. It's was the setup with 1 or 2 set to intense, then a few to medium, and a couple to light. It just wasn't pushing my guys enough. I'm used to having the top guys needing rest by January. That's no big deal.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:09 pm

No I know that. I was talking about your injury issue. Warmers only makes atties go up, up and up. Or I would never have shared it. Then again, maybe it was diabolical me sneaking that in, so you would get all your guys injured and never do well so that CatchUp and I (good ol Canadian boys) could school you for sure!

Or maybe it does work? and I should not have shared it with you until year 5?

Chew on that B72