Coyotes Challenge 10 Discussion Topic

Post by **batdad** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:59 pm

salming--In the rules...it clearly states somewhere (cannot recall where, but it was written by Minstrel) that tanking your season is forbidden. Anyone found guilty of tanking...gets booted from the challenge.

So my advice is to do what Loosie is, and not tank it for any reason. Again, what people do not realize is that there is info in the game that you have not accessed for whatever reason. Yesterday, I just found a new screen I had never seen before.

Salming · Post by **Salming** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:21 pm

batdad wrote:. Again, what people do not realize is that there is info in the game that you have not accessed for whatever reason. Yesterday, I just found a new screen I had never seen before.

can u explain that?

Post by **batdad** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:31 pm

It wasn't a big exciting thing or anything...it was a loans page for my minor league team that I did not know existed. I never check all the tabs.

Marsac · Post by **Marsac** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:46 pm

Ugh, we have a couple of rough weeks coming up. York just went down for a month and Kaigorodov and Jovanovski are both out for two more weeks.

I like what bruins72 does with his D-men and PK forwards, I might try that out to see if I can cut down on the injuries for my top guys. I usually don't have a couple of players who are superior in every department like this team does so I don't think it has ever been an issue for me before.

I can see where batdad is coming from with the unused screens as well. I usually have the "Show Positioning" box checked in the tactics screen so I never noticed you could click on the individual players (or positions) in unit tactics as a shortcut to set personal tactics before this challenge.

As for Hanzal, Mueller and Lisin I'd like to keep them together if they keep producing but things rarely turn out the way you want them to, do they? They aren't even playing together right now due to the injuries.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:06 pm

Marsac... trust me, most my defensemen are superior in any given department. I just decide whether they're best suited towards offense or defense and then break them up as I talked about. I've got Jovanovski and Morris as my 2-way guys. They play both offensively and defensively well. Ballard and Michalek are my PP guys. They're not the most brilliant offensive stars but they're better suited towards that due to their skating. My PK guys are Boynton and Roach. Boynton fits the mold better as a defensive specialist but Roach just goes here because his D is better than his O. Sometimes I'll mix it up and use Michalek as a PK guy and use a forward as one of my point men on the PP but that really depends on if I have injuries or not.

Good luck in keeping Hanzal, Mueller, and Lisin together. While it's fun to have a kid line, I find that it usually benefits younger players to skate with veterans.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:30 pm

In my latest stats post, I included an extra set of screenshots for players in and player out. These were transactions (signing my own prospects) that happened after I had been eliminated from the playoffs but they showed up on the transactions for 2006-2007. I figured, just to be safe I would post them too.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:05 pm

Well my first 20 games for season 2 didn't go so badly but they also didn't go as well as I had hoped. My first problem was Auld. I made the mistake of including him in my core. I thinking now that I shouldn't have. Aebischer was doing awesome for me in the preseason. Auld went out twice during the preseason, first for 12 days and then shortly after coming back he went out for 2 weeks. The second injury ran into the regular season and I had Tordjman backing up Aebischer for a bit. During that time, Aebischer was awesome! Then Auld came back and I remember that he was in my core, Aebischer was not. So Auld got the start from that point on, unless we had games on back to back nights. He started off rocky (he really didn't have a training camp/pre-season) but eventually found his game.

During the last little stretch, I had both of my top centers go out. Reinprecht has missed 3 games so far due to a shoulder contusion and should miss at least a couple more. Kaigorodov missed 5 games with a groin strain and made his way back the day after our 20th game. I also had Ballard get suspended for 2 games. I didn't call up any of my youngsters during this time. I had Lehoux and Fischer sitting on my roster as healthy scratches, so they got to play when my 2 centers went down. I played with 5 defensemen while Ballard was suspended. Hopefully, I'll have everyone healthy soon and we can start getting some chemistry going.

As tempted as I was to bring Hanzal and Mueller onto the team, I left them down on the farm. They had played junior hockey last season and I wanted them to get a season of minor league hockey under their belts before bringing them onto the pro team. I decided to give Lisin a shot on the team though. I really didn't like my other options for RW (the junk I had used last season... Kapanen, Fischer, Lehoux) so he got to join us. He's got 12 points in 20 games. He's mostly been on the 3rd line but he's seen a little PP time here and there and also a little time on the 2nd line. Redenbach is my homegrown for this season but I'm not overly impressed with him. His physical attributes are nice but he's kind of soft. He's got a 5 in hitting! Hopefully he develops some. I've got him at least for this season and next.

Post by **Shadd666** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:44 am

I'm just 35 games into season 1... Nothing really brilliant so far, with a 10-15-10 record... Offensively, we've got a decent rank of 14th. Defensively however, we're dead last

Auld and Aebischer are doing a good job, despite horrible stats. But with too many offensive defensemen and very few defensive talent amongst the forwards, they see tons and tons of shots (over 35 per game

).

Surprisingly, Sjöström is still on the first line. He still produces, while York still have difficulties. He even had a stretch of bad games that lead him to a healthy scratch game, just to see how he'll react to that. However, the second line is generally centered by Zigomanis, which should explain the low production of York... But Vrbata is doing okay things on that second line... So York would better improve his play fast! He is in the last season of his contract, is not in my core, and i don't play NTNB... and the trade deadline is just 2 months away...

On the other hand, Kapanen is doing really great for me!!! Nah, i'm joking

He sucks big time and will probably end the season waived to help the AHL kids in the playoffs once the Yotes will be eliminated. Well... at least, if he can help an AHL team, which i seriously doubt...

---

In San Antonio (20-10-1 so far), things are running well. Kaigorodov is dominant and has 99% chances to be my season 2 HG. He is the captain, leads the team in goals, assists, points, average rating, and certainly other stats (i'm not playing right now, so can't check). I decided to give him this AHL season so that he patiently learns the North American style of play... and learns to speak English!

LeNeveu and Tellqvist are sharing duties in goal, both over .920! Lehoux is putting up big numbers since he has been put on the top line RW, despite being a natural center. Carcillo lost his first line spot to Durno, but is pretty solid on the second line... when he plays... I'm just at the end of December, and he has already been injured 4 times!

bigargon · Post by **bigargon** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:16 am

well new blog entry

BigArgon's challenge 10 blog

this team is tougher then the Blackhawks, at least they stayed healthy.

Salming · Post by **Salming** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:42 pm

Salming is no longer part of the challange. the moderators have been calling me a cheater and treated me in a way i dont like to. I will continue my savefile with phoneix and continue to follow the nntb play couse it was realy fun.

Gamewise i am now entering seson5 and i have made plans to to exhange the older players for younger ones. lisin and hanzal are rocking in my game now.

have fun everyone

Post by **Shadd666** » Thu May 01, 2008 1:31 pm

Okay, just to make things clear (once more...)

WE DO NOT CALL YOU A CHEATER!

But well, you've screwed up some stats reports, provided screenshots without a date on it, and stuff like that. It doesn't mean you are a cheater, as it could be 100% non-intentional. However, i think you can understand that we have some doubt here. Is it just screwed up things from someone playing by the rules? Or is it a deliberate attempt of cheating? As there's a doubt (and nothing more than a doubt actually), we asked for more infos from you, so that we can verify if you've been honest or not. Those elements we asked you are actually being examinated. If we don't find anything wrong, then it's cool and we'll just ask you to be a little more attentive when posting your stats. Errors and mistakes can happen to everyone. On the other hand, if we find illegal stuff, then we'll see if it was 'big mistakes', leading to a penalty, or a deliberate attempt of cheating.

For now on, we're just examinating things, and don't throw any accusation.

So if you're 100% sure you haven't cheated in anyway, keep cool. We'll find that you are a honest player and everything will be fine.

If you know you have cheated, be sure we'll find it and take the appropriate discipline sanctions.

We have a doubt, we try to clear things out. Nothing wrong with that. It happened many times in the past. Sometimes it's just messed up things, sometimes it's deliberate cheating. But everytime it makes things clear.

So as long as we don't have a proof of you deliberately cheating, you're still welcomed in the challenge

Of course, it will be a whole different story if we find a proof... For now on, we're checking things.

Wait and see...

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Thu May 01, 2008 8:06 pm

So I just played game #25 for season 2, against the Detroit Red Wings. They were in (I think) 4th place in the conference and I was in 1st. The 1st period ends 3-1 in our favor. We start the second period, go up 4-1, then it's 4-2, and then 5-2. After that, Detroit goes on a scoring tear!

They go on to score 6 more goals in the period (3 of which are PP goals) to finish the period 8-5 in their favor. So before the 3rd period starts I take out Auld and get him some post traumatic stress counseling. In goes Aebischer for the 3rd period. He's strong and doesn't let up any goals. We score 2 more goals (which give Jovo a hat trick) and we're down by 1 with about 9 minutes left in the game. I'm thinking we might actually pull out a win, or at least tie it up and walk away with a point. No such luck. They shut us down and the game ends 8-7. Total insanity! I go from thinking I'm going to kick their tails to struggling to tie it up and coming up short. Plus, 15 goals scored in the game!

Post by **timmy_t** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:25 pm

Poor Auld!

It's interesting that they scored those goals on the pp. Phoenix doesn't really have any good penalty killers, except York, Doan, Jovo, and Morris. (And we already talked about this, huh?

)

Post by **batdad** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:29 pm

Owie! That is almost as painful as how archi plans on killing himself in Popo.

Anyway, poor Alex...the team really just let him down. Unlike JoeHelmer...Alex can play goal. Cannot blame him.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:37 pm

Yeah, my PK is terrible! It's dropped down to 78% now (at the 28 game mark). It's horrible. I've got Zigomanis and Tenute as my first PK unit and Carcillo and Redenbach as my second unit. While 3 out of the 4 are good for energy line players, none of them really have any considerable defensive ability.

In our latest game Auld was on the better end of a high scoring game. We just beat Dallas 10-4. Carcillo even had a 3 point night while playing exclusively on the 3rd line (and PK). He's actually starting to develop some in his second season. Take a look at him... Carcillo Pic

EDIT:

And I just followed up that 10-4 win with another 10-4 win in my next game, this time against the Sharks. Auld in net again. I'll keep taking the 4 goals against if I can keep scoring 10 goals in a game!

Post by **Shadd666** » Thu May 01, 2008 11:13 pm

Finally reached game 40 mark... It ended by a 5 losses streak, followed by a 2 wins streak.

3-4 SO against the Ducks
3-7 in LA
1-5 in San Jose
2-7 versus San Jose again
1-4 in Washington

And finally:
3-2 OT in Carolina
3-2 in Atlanta

Auld has been over .920 on the last 3 games! Sjöström leads the team in goals (???). Jovo is a disheartening -20, dead last in the team. Vrbata hadn't score in the last 5 games. York is on a 8 games pointless streak, grabbing seven ratings of 6 and one of 5, along with a -4 (he is -5 overall). Only three players (top liners Sjöström-Reinprecht-Doan) have a positive +/-. Gratton has 141 PM in 40 games, 13 fights, 7 wins. Scott Parker has 119 PM, 9 fights, 7 wins, but in only 25 games with us!

Well, nothing is really going good so far. Sjöström is a good surprise with 22 goals and 20 assists, but York is a bigger disapppointment, with only 11+11 in 32 games and a -5 rating. I've got one line working, and that's pretty all...

Loosie · Post by **Loosie** » Fri May 02, 2008 3:04 pm

I must say I really like this 'do it at your own pace' style this challenge. I've had a few busy weeks and I'm only just beyond the 20 games mark of season 2.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Fri May 02, 2008 3:47 pm

Glad to see you're liking it this way, Loosie!

I think it really works out well for a lot of people. You've been busy but you don't have to rush to catch up. I'm getting married at the end of this month, so I'll be getting busier and then I'll be gone for my honeymoon. It doesn't matter though. I can just pick right back up when I get back and not have to worry about it. Plus, we can still have people joining the challenge now or a month from now. It makes the challenge more accessible, IMO.

bigargon · Post by **bigargon** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:46 pm

well the season didn't end as bad as the rest went. my PP finally caught fire ( of course when the season was meaningless)

well here is my blog entry:
BigArgon's Challenge 10 Blog

sjsharkz · Post by **sjsharkz** » Sat May 03, 2008 3:48 pm

I just finished the 2009 draft, and why I didn't draft BPA...I drafted for my team needs...which in the past I don't think I have done properly...being my first challenge...I might have bitten off more than I can chew going with the NTNB, saying that I'm not a quiter, but it really has taught me to build from within, scout heavily and draft for your team needs because that is the only way the team will get stronger...Drafting.

I have tried in the 3 season I've completed...but fallen up short when the games matter most, and I have made mistakes (letting Aebischer and Ballard walk too soon), and sticking with the same tactics that work in my Shark Dynastys, that don't suit the Coyotes what so ever.

But the last 3 drafts I have stocked up every position fairly well...but goaltending although I think LeNeveu will be solid and Auld has his moments. So I'm hoping the up and coming 4th season I can really push to make the playoffs as I'm starting to get my draftees on my farm team and NHL team....and I'm particulary impressed with Lisin...he has been dynamite for me.

inspector84 · Post by **inspector84** » Sat May 03, 2008 4:57 pm

Game 7

OMG!I'm so widdled right now...Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals and I lose it on OT.Alfie did it again..
I thought I had it in my hands already...but...oh well...Again it wasn't enough...I hope no one experiences this kind of luck like I had now..

We were better team all the way and lost...Unbeliavable..

sjsharkz · Post by **sjsharkz** » Sat May 03, 2008 5:04 pm

Ahh Morris is injured for 4 months....MCL

and it happened in a dam exhibition game aswell.

inspector84 · Post by **inspector84** » Sat May 03, 2008 5:14 pm

sjsharkz wrote:Ahh Morris is injured for 4 months....MCL and it happened in a dam exhibition game aswell.

ouch

OttawaSenatorsRule · Post by **OttawaSenatorsRule** » Sat May 03, 2008 5:34 pm

Yeah, just won round 1 vs Colorado 4 games to 2.... In the 4th game the PP went 5/13 for a 6-0 rout! Shutout for Auld who came in after we lost 2 straight to open the round.

OttawaSenatorsRule · Post by **OttawaSenatorsRule** » Sat May 03, 2008 5:35 pm

Opps that should be '6th game' ....