Blackhawks Challenge-3rd season and beyond discussion thread

Post by **batdad** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:59 pm

All chat for Year 3 and on (for now...) goes here!!!!

Other thread is for only season 1 and 2 from now on!!! Get it.......Got it?

Good....Have fun.

So my third year will be hell. I am going to end up over the $38Mill to start I know it...gonna have some shaving to do....Havlat may actually have to go this time. He has been close many times before.

Still waiting to see if Vrbata resigns with me...as that would add Aucoin into the trade mix possibly for me.

And Heatley...just going to get more expensive. Bugger.

corinthian · Post by **corinthian** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 1:08 am

I've just received a newsletter (options contracts expiring!?) and there are a lot of players (more than 15) ending theirs contracts: I've already reassigned Connolly (4.4M) but i know he'll be trade after this season. Others are asking big numbers even my promising HG for season 4 - Marc Staal (from 495 to 1.5M) and he is in Norfolk.

Hell is waiting for me...

There's more:Havlat (core player) doesn't want reassign. isn't he happy earning 6M!!

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:45 pm

I'm finally starting out my 3rd season!

I got myself in a bit of contract trouble going into this season. I've got to remember to be patient on getting rid of contracts though. I think there is a big drop on that Averaged Club Salary figure between the end of camp and the start of the regular season. One day I'm over budget by about a couple million. Then I trade away my overpaid backup goalie (Weekes), who makes $1.7M per season. Now it's October 3rd and I'm under budget by over $3M. On top of that, I got rid of Handzus so I'd have room to promote Bolland. I also kept players in my core that I really wanted to get rid of (Holmqvist and Keith) because I had to drop other guys from my core that were making too much because I had to get my payroll down. When July hit, I was at somewhere around $48M. I had to get rid of Aucoin and Smolinski for financial reasons. Sure, they were getting old but they never let me down.

The core combined with the TBL budget can really make things tricky as the seasons go on. Plus, other teams tend to over-pay some guys. Hardly anyone has any room at all under the NHL salary cap. The Blues sent Doug Weight to the AHL because they couldn't afford his salary against the cap. I'm sure there are others I missed. Scott Gomez and Wade Redden are unsigned as the season starts. Redden is looking for about $4.4M and I keep trying to sign him for around $2M. He'll give in eventually... I hope!

I've got Bolland (my homegrown), Brouwer, and Hendrikx all up from the farm team to to the place of guys I traded away. I've also got David Shantz as my backup goalie. He was released, so I grabbed him. That leaves me one more signing... hopefully Redden, because I'm a little iffy on Hendrikx.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this season goes!

corinthian · Post by **corinthian** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:02 am

it's the Presidents Cup

I'm going to Playoffs against Nucks who knows...

Hey bruins72, inflation ?!? you should see my game now, it's ridiculous what some guys are asking probably i'm gonna to let Havlat & Ruutu go and keep Vandermeer and Bolland

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:07 pm

I had to let Havlat go after the first season. I left Ruutu out of my core, so he was traded right away. I can just imagine what some of these other guys are asking for. I just saw a whole bunch of players retire from the NHL, so I guess that should show a shift. I'm wondering what our teams will be like a couple seasons from now?

corinthian · Post by **corinthian** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:50 pm

Predictions aren't my strengh but i see Sharp & Arkhipov will be with me until season 7.

I see i'll have a lot of young players for the next seasons plus some veterans like Laperriere, Dupuis & Niemenen (Hard work + low pay cash).

Post by **batdad** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:46 pm

Starting season 3, and I am in trouble. Big trouble.

1. No Vrbata...My right wings right now: Havlat, Bolland, Blunden, Keith, Hamilton

2. My injuries--Roy, Richards, Morrow all out at start of year. Ick

3. My Centres--Right now: Horcoff, Arkhipov, Bolland, Hamilton...which leaves me with 3 RW's. Ugh.

4. My left wing--Heatley, McArdle, Grabovsky, Boogie Man with Morrow out. ICK

5. My defense--Beauchemin-Aucoin, Barker-Seabrook, Volchenkov-Gleason, and Coburn who is suspended. ICK!

6. My finances--My injuries are many, but not long enough to have salary issues. I may have to bring up Carey Price as my back up and dump Harding..I do not want to do this. But my $ are brutal ($40mill) and must move some salary.

7. Very young team..so mistakes will happen everywhere. Ugh.

This is gonna not go well, I can tell.

Post by **Shadd666** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:50 am

Good luck batdad! You really seem to be in big trouble

Post by **batdad** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:38 pm

And it gets worse...

At the end of the season these guys are all UFA

Heatley, Havlat, Horcoff, Morrow, Roy, Emery, Aucoin, Arkhipov,Gleason.

RFAs

Seabrook, BArker, McARdle, Coburn, Wilson, Richards, Bolland, Blunden, Price

OH MY FRIGGING GOD I AM IN TROUBLE>

Post by **Shadd666** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:32 pm

Start of the decline?

Post by **batdad** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:34 pm

Yep...could very well be. Although I was wrong about Arkhi and Richards...I still have them under contract 1 more season.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:51 pm

And my financial trouble just disappeared during game 19. Havlat broke his leg. Out for four months.

I have trade offers out for Shane Doan, and Anthony Stewart.

I have free agent offers out for...wait for it: Marion Hossa, Scott Gomez, my old bud Radim Vrbata, Chris Clark, and a player I have never, ever had on my roster...but others have.

Now the trick is ... these guys must be willing to sign for 2 years at least...

Oh..and thank freaking god I only signed one UFA this season..>TREVOR HENDRIKX

Phew.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:22 pm

I picked up Hendrkx as a UFA in August of 07, kept him on the farm for a year, and then brought him up to the main roster when I had to trade away Aucoin (due to salary reasons). He's doing okay so far. He's got a 7.38 average in 8 games so far. Only 2 assists but he's a +6.

If I didn't bring him up to my main roster, somebody on my minor league roster would get pushed down to the ECHL when they don't belong there. I really like my defensive corps in the minor leagues. Check them out...

Barker - Staal
Syvret - Shutron
Kindl - Letang

I'm already wondering how I can get rid of half the guys on my Blackhawks defense so I can work these guys in over the next season or two.

Another guy that's been surprising me so far this season is Troy Brouwer. He's playing the 4th line and getting some PK time. In 8 games so far, he's got no points and is a -1 but he's got 7.38 average rating (just like Hendrikx) and a lot of hits and blocked shots. He's not a bad 4th line guy!

Is anybody else trying to maintain a competetive (or even a powerhouse) farm team? I know batdad is. I've been playing my challenge this way from the start. I won't clean out my farm team just to land a player I want. In real life you'd keep your farm team stocked. Why not do the same in the challenge? My farm team is killer! They're 6-0 so far and Carey Price has a 0.84 GAA.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:40 pm

Yeah I am. Norfolk right now is 14-1-2 leading the league in absolutely every category possible.

I had to call up Grabovsky for now to replace my injured Havlat...but the team looks like this right now:

McArdle-Leino-Stephen Werner
Brouwer-Toews-Istomin
Juttilainen-Kontiola-Skille
Porter-Turris-Bertram

Andre Benoit-Ryan Wilson
Jeff Schultz-Trevor Hendrikx
Nicklas Grossman-Nick Petrecki
Danny Richmond

Vaseli Kosechkin
Mike Brodeur

In Toledo I have Albert Polinin (D), Michael Bell (D) and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (G)

If I get any farm injuries right now though on Forward I could be in trouble...although I do have Jake Dowell out on loan..Hmmm Just recalled him.

So my 20 games--Same old same old..only worse...My power play is ticking along at the super rate of 7.8%.

Why is it I cannot figure out my pp tactics? I get the rest. This sucks.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:51 pm

I've had problems with special teams a lot in this challenge. The best advice I can offer is to switch to Man coverage when you're on the PP (I use Zone at even strength). I also like to use Funnel as a PP tactic. Beyond that... beats me!

Post by **batdad** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:06 am

Hmm..I will try that. Funnel has been useless for me before. Try the man and go from there

Post by **Shadd666** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:00 am

Funnel has been useless for me in season 1 (15-17%). I started season 2 with Triangular, and it actually clocks over 22%...

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:33 pm

I usually use Funnel with Grouped (Neutral Zone Offensive) and it does okay. I don't know know if it makes a difference. I'll give Triangular a shot. What Neutral Zone Offensive do you use with it?

Post by **Shadd666** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:07 pm

I'm usually set to positionnal in both breakouts and neutral zone offensive. It works most of the time, so i just have to try something else the days it doesn't work.

As for triangular, it extends the defense a bit, and as they are a man short, it can create free space in the slot, so a forward comes in, receives the pass, and takes the shot. It doesn't work all the time though. Some nights it's 0/8... Other nights it's 4/7... But as my forwards aren't strong enough (yet...) to play a funnel style, i tried the exact opposite

Post by **batdad** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:16 am

Team stats wise--that is the worst 1st half I have ever had...I mean pp and pk.

Individually though--The best. Heatley and Horcoff are scaring me. Both are UFA at the end of the year. I may have to choose between one or the other.

Oh...and to replace the injured Havlat I made a major signing. but I will have to right my blog for you to see that. Havvy is out for 3 months still. Ugh.

bigargon · Post by **bigargon** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:13 am

So far my 3rd season has gone to well. i made some naff deals, but i think i have righted the ship. barely made above .500 at 20 game point. started the season at 0-5-2

tweeked my tactics and they are playing better.

Post by **Lidas** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:56 am

Just started my 5th season, and salaries are becoming a huge problem.
Even though Im assigned 2M more than last season, I had to let some players go,
including Ruutu. Wanted to keep Kane for next age, but Ruutu left me one RW short.
Team looks like this:

GK:
Niittymaki/ Storr (Niitty has won 3 Vezinas, and came 3rd the season he didnt win)

DEF:
Barker / Morris (1 Norris each. Barker won Norris in his 1st season, but not Calder)
Emelin / Seabrook
Allen / Wilson (Wilson won Calder)
Pratt

FWD:
Smyth / Connolly / Ryan (Connolly has one Art Ross)
Higgins / Scatchard / Blunden (4 Selkes for King Scatchard)
Dingman / Begin / Ortmeyer
Sheppard / Toews / Kane
Sharp / Adams

Plenty of prospects in Norfolk:
Alex Plante
Ben Shutron
Colton Teubert
Cody Hodgson
James Van Riemsdyk
Chris Doyle
Angelo Esposito
Colton Gillies
Jimmy Hayes
Jack Skille
Jakub Voracek

And unsigned:
Tomas Nemecek (Hasek regen)
Viktor Westerlind (SWE def, took him with my 2nd overall pick. Looks REALLY promising)
John Tavares
And a bunch of players projected to become 2nd liners.

Post by **batdad** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:30 am

Year 3 just before trade deadline. Thinking about some moves

Team looks like this:

Heatley-Horcoff....-XXXX.
Morrow-Roy-XXXXX
Arkhipov-Richards-Blunden
Boogard-Bolland-XXXXX
Leino (in and out for all guys who even think they can play centre--is playing most games though)

Barker-Aucoin
Beauchemin-Seabrook
Gleason-J. Smith
Coburn

Emery
Price

Not telling you who the XXXXX's are. But one was injured for 4 months, and is just coming back. This has allowed me a major signing. Could be an X..or maybe I just did not list him, maybe it is an M***

I will get to my blog later this week...tomorrow or Monday to let you know the XXXXs.

I may move Roy and Coburn for Z. Michalek and Vancouver's 1st if the Nucks accept...so far looks like that is a top lotto pick...

Oh and Heatley--Horcoff--XXXXX appear to be made to play together. They are going nutso

thunderbug · Post by **thunderbug** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:21 pm

Hey quick question for you guys in year 3 and beyond. How soon did Wirtz retire for you? He retired in my first off season and was curious to see if this is unusual.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 10:57 pm

I can't remember for sure but I would say it was either my first or second off-season.