Challenge 23 : The Columbus Blue Jackets

[timmy_t]

Finishing up the regular part of my second season. I've played Detroit 5 times since the trade deadline. They traded Zetterberg to the Islanders and Franzen to the Canucks. Last year Lidstrom retired. Should be a cake walk for me, right?

WRONG!!!

Jimmy Howard has had 4 10's and an 8 in those 5 games. I lost the 4 where he was stellar...

I don't think Mason has had one 10 all season

[Círyatan]

Season 4 brief wrap-up.

We won the President's Trophy, but the Buffalo Sabres took revenge on us for the previous year and defeated us in the SCF. A major factor were injuries, among others to Mason, as Dekanich wasn't able to handle the pressure. I am satisfied with the team's effort though, and hope to do better next year.

Before the season I traded the aging Huselius to the Ducks for a goaltending prospect in John Gibson, mostly to cut salary. We did OK without him, though neither Calvert nor Mayorov, with whom I tried to patch the hole on the first line, proved to be decent top-six wingers, even though playing with Bergeron and Nash inflated their numbers. Giroux is not getting younger either, so we'll have to think of something for next season.

About trade deadline I picked up Gaustad, who was waved by the Wings to finally solve the MacKenzie issue on the fourth line. I have to admit I've had some luck with the waivers so far, as the whole trio of Thorburn/McLaren/Gaustad are useful contributors and helped me fill up the bottom six.

On to the free agency.

[outdooral]

Finished season 2.5th in the west with 93 pts. Nash led the league in scoring and points 59g 121 pts. Conklin had some ups and downs in his 28 games finishing with a 3.15 Gaa and .896 Sv %. probably wont resign him and move Dekanich up to a backup
Mason returned from injury in the last game of the season. We got the Wild for the first rnd of the playoffs and had np trouble with them winning the series in 5 games.Next up was a great series against the kings. We lost the first game 3-1 won the next 5-3 then won 3 close games 3-2,3-2 and the final 2-1 in OT.The western final had us up against Chicago but we couldnt prevail losing in 6.
Think I,ll have time just to get through the off season before this challenge ends

[bruins72]

I haven't been able to play this week but I'm working on it today. I'm trying to finish up season 3. I'm a little more than half way through it.

[bestrafer7]

I wish this challenge was going for two more months.. I finally finished season 2 and our team toughed out a cup win. We went 7 games in the conference finals against the Kings.. but we swept the Devils in the cup finals. All without Mason for 7 games of the playoffs.

I am going to continue this challenge long after the end.. because I love this team.

[Círyatan]

I wish this challenge was going for two more months.

I'll second this! I'm yet to begin season 5, but I've been enjoying this Challenge immensely.

[bruins72]

I really want to participate in the WHL challenge coming up with the new DB but I'm with you guys. I'm really enjoying this team. Then again, a new challenge is always refreshing.

[Loosie]

I'm probably going to post my season screenshots tomorrow and start working on the WHL face pack, unless the challenge does get extended. I too would love to sink my teeth into a WHL challenge

[timmy_t]

I finished my 2nd season and posted my screenshots last week. I was pretty happy with the team's performance but they had a bad 4th quarter and I lost Mason the first or second game of the playoffs. Needless to say I lost in the first round.

I'm going to call it quits here and maybe pick it back up later.

Edit: The Springfield board is crazy. I won the Calder Cup and they are still very unhappy with my performance. As a result the GM position is listed as Insecure.

Edit: I just played a couple of season three pre-season games. I may try and finish the third season...

[outdooral]

Im having a busy weekend. Is it ok if I post my screenshots tomorrow ( Monday)

[Círyatan]

I think I'll be trying to play season 5 before the deadline... so far I'm in the offseason, and here the fun begins: Kubalík wants some 5 million a year. Is there a hidden attribute like Greediness stuck away somewhere? I'm sure Tomáš has that maxed out... Moore is potentially another case of that: right now in the final year of his 3.4M/year contract, so far wants 7M/year to prolong it. Like I said: fun.

Calvert and Mayorov failed to impress me last season, and with Giroux getting older and Kubalík being a greedy ass I might need a new winger. I think I'll be looking to trade Brassard, who spent last two seasons centering the 3rd line doing average at best (AvR of 7.21 and 7.17), and with Bergeron, Johansen, Letestu, Gaustad, Jenner and Drazenovic I think I can handle losing him. I'm not sure Jenner is ready for a full-time spot, but I'm going to give him a go.

So far none of my picks are NHL-ready. The closest one is probably Hampus Lindholm (#163 in 2007), with Derrick Pouliot (#13 in 2007) next in the queue. My two European left wingers from the 2009 Draft (Tomas Nordlander, #30, and Viktor Polozov, #60) look pretty nice, but they are going to spend another year in Europe.

[bestrafer7]

Hampus Lindholm (#163 in 2007)

I took Hampus late in the draft too.. He's a solid player in my game as well, but he needs an upgrade as he just went in the 1st round of the NHL draft.. not the 6th like in my game. haha

[bruins72]

It looks like I didn't have time to finish up my season on Friday or over the weekend. I'll be trying to get it done before the deadline. If anyone needs a short extension on the deadline to finish their season, please let me know. I'm sure we can work it out.

[timmy_t]

I'm two games in to my third season but I just don't have the motivation to finish.

[outdooral]

Just posted my screenshots for season 2, realized I had posted season 1 either so that is up as well.
Blew through the off season and got a few decent picks out of the draft,( I hope)
My #1 pick,20th overall was Ian McCoshen A 6’5” 211 lbs, defenseman playing for Mass-Lowell. good stats including 20 in determination, scouts figure 1 or 2 potential .
My 2nd pick 50th overall was Jacob de la Rose a 6’ 4” 191 lbs, Center/RW Playing for Leksand Sweden. he looks like a good power forward, scouts have him 2nd line similar to Travis Zajac ( that would be great)

I decided to move James Wizneiwski and his large contract as my trade.He was only playing 3rd line minutes plus PP and I have lots of good young D men coming up soon to cover .I sent him to Buffalo for Drew Stafford giving me a bonafide #2 Rw. Mayorov and Calvert didnt really step up as good solid goal scorers last season.
Also signed Mathew Lombardi as a free agent, now can stop playing either Mackenzie or Letestu as both also havent performed well in the #3 and 4 center spots.
Going to try to get a least 20 games into season 3 to see how this team looks.
Also promoted Adam Foote to head coach, when i didnt renew richards contract. I hired Foote as an assistant in season 1 with plans to make this move.His attributes are solid is Technique-base

[bruins72]

I'm going to be cutting it close. I'm at 71 games into season 3 right now. I'm going to try to wrap it up tomorrow. Ugh!

[Jacksonhall]

I'm going to be cutting it close. I'm at 71 games into season 3 right now. I'm going to try to wrap it up tomorrow. Ugh!

any link where i can access to your cutting??

[bruins72]

I'm going to be cutting it close. I'm at 71 games into season 3 right now. I'm going to try to wrap it up tomorrow. Ugh!

any link where i can access to your cutting??

What do you mean?

[Loosie]

For those interested. Tomas Kubalik's brother Dominik was just drafted by the Sudbury Wolves in the CHL Import Draft today.

[bruins72]

I've just finished the regular season of season 3. Now to get through the playoffs and such, and then get my screenshots.

Would anyone object to a slight extension on the challenge, like a day or two tops?

[Círyatan]

I've just finished the regular season of season 3. Now to get through the playoffs and such, and then get my screenshots.

Would anyone object to a slight extension on the challenge, like a day or two tops?

I'm halfway through season 5. I think I can wrap it up in time, but I would welcome a day's extension.

I'm going to be cutting it close. I'm at 71 games into season 3 right now. I'm going to try to wrap it up tomorrow. Ugh!

any link where i can access to your cutting??

Hello. Who are you, and what is it that you might possibly want?

[outdooral]

I take a few days extension and see what i can get done. Just at game 20 of season 3 right now and its been interesting. More later.

[bruins72]

I've extended the challenge through Sunday. We'll kick off the WHL challenge some time on Monday.

[bruins72]

Finished my regular season and playoffs for season 3. Now I've just got to get to the draft, do my screenshots, and then hit July 1st for my trades screenshot and this season is in the books for me.

We came in 2nd in the Western Conference (behind the LA Kings) and even had the second most points in the league. Johansen lead the league in assists and points. Nash lead the league in goals again but didn't have near as many as last year. He still topped 50 for the season though. Overall, I thought my team performed better than last year. Then the playoffs came. First we beat the Oilers in 6 games. We actually started the series with a 3-0 and then they almost came back on us. After that it was the Blues. They were technically 7th place in the league but they were actually 3rd in points. We ended up beating them in 5 games. And for the Western Conference title we faced the President's Trophy winning Kings. We lost the first game and then won the second. In that second game, Johansen got tossed for an elbow. That earned him a 2 game suspension. We lost those two games. And then after that they beat us in double OT to take the series. The Kings went on to beat the Hurricanes and win the Stanley Cup.

It was a fun ride!

[bruins72]

So the awards...

Art Ross: Ryan Johansen (Nash came in 3rd)
Masterson: Ryan Johansen
Adams: Sutter- LA Kings (Backman came in 3rd)
Hart: Nash (Johansen came in 2nd)
Byng: D. Sedin - Canucks (Johansen came in 3rd)
Richard: Nash
Plus-Minus: Penner - Kings (Johansen came in 2nd)
First Team All-Star: Johansen and Nash
Second Team All-Star: J. Johnson

I won't get into my draft because I really don't have time right now. I drafted 3 from FIN, 2 from SWE, and 2 from RUS. It was Euro-Regen year!