You be the GM Part 2

Based on recent aquisitions and announcements made by Jim Rutherford, I have decided to update you be the GM. Ive made some changes based on what ive decided after deliberating furhter on certain players too. Comments are only under the new guys.

Here is the old You Be The GM

POS. PLAYER SALARY

C Eric Staal $942,000

C Rod Brind'Amour $3,800,000

C Matt Cullen, $688,800

C Jason Allison, C $1,800,000

LW Kevyn Adams, $718,200

LW Josef Vasicek, $1,140,000

LW Pavel Brendl, $899,745
He wasnt mentioned as a player that wasnt going to be qualified. I wouldn't sign him, but looks like he will be.

LW Miroslav Satan, $3,000,000
Hey, I wouldnt complain if Satan was brought here. Could fill the hole left by O'Neill

RW Erik Cole, $1,140,000

RW Justin Williams, RW $941,441

RW Mariusz Czerkawski, $800,000

RW Radim Vrbata, RW $450,000
Wasn't on the lsit of guys not qualified. No complaints here. Would like to see more offense from him though.

F Andrew Ladd, $850,000

Forward subtotal= $17,170,186

POS. PLAYER SALARY

D Bret Hedican $2,432,000

D Aaron Ward $1,520,000

D Niclas Wallin $836,000

D Frantisek Kaberle $1,292,000
Looks like hes being kept.

D Mike Commodore $450,000.00
Aquired from Calgary

D Glen Wesley, D $1,300,000

D Brian Rafalski $3,200,000

D Bruno St. Jacques, D $450,000

G Martin Gerber $1,064,000

G Cam Ward $570,000

Defenseman subtotal $13, 114, 000

0ffense-$17,170,186
Defense-$13,114,000

Total-$30,284,186

I knocked out Aucoin, because its looking like hes going elsewhere. However if we get him, scratch Rafalski. No more Top Pick, because Johnson is going to college. No more buyout cost.

I think for $30.3 million, we can put an excellent team on the ice.

draft excitement and such.

Well, the NHL Entry Draft was held today and what a suprise Crosby goes 1st overall to the Pittsburg Penguins. Thats going to be an exciting team to watch with Malkin and Lemieux being Crosby's potential linesmates. What was even more exciting was that Mario said he was hoping to play at least two maybe three more years, health permitting, so he can take Crosby under his wing (haha get it because he's a penguin).

The 'Canes took Jack Johnson at 3rd overall. We need a solid defenseman, but he most likeley wont be here this coming season because he really would like to win a NCAA National Championship. Hopefully college will strengthen the quality of his game and he can come onto the team and become an impact player.

Jeff O'Neill was also traded to Toronto today for a 2006 conditional pick. I'm glad that O will be near his family and I wish him the best of luck. He wouldnt have been qualified by the 'Canes, so we got a free pick for letting Toronto and O'Neill get the inevitable done sooner.

My friend Phil Coffey kept an excellent draft blog on NHL.com. I suggest you check it out, it was a good read (much better than my blog). It was a bit like reading emails from him, something a bit more personable, rather than a straightforward informative article.

Schedules

The NHL relesed its schedule today at noon. I'm pretty elated that the 'Canes open at home against Crosby, Lemieux, and Company. It should be Crosby's second game, so there is the potential that we can witness some history. Seeing "the Next One" score his very first would definatley be a story to tell.

I hate that five out of our last thirteen games are against the Capitals. I could understand playing teams in home-and-home series, but 5 out of 8 games we play against the Caps fall between March 25th and April 7th. That's way too many.

We do host the Redwings on January 10th, which is a perennial favorite. Too bad we only play them at home every three years.

You Be the GM

So the News & Observer had a pretty nice "You be the GM" worksheet in Tuesdays sports section. I finally got around to filling out a roster with what they provided.

Staal, Brind'Amour, Hedican, A. Ward, Wallin, Gerber and C. Ward are all under contract already. I decided to keep them. I bought out Frantisek Kaberle for $865,640. He wasnt worth paying the $1.2 million. I took liberties with Ladd and our next Draft Pick since Rutherford was hoping to get a guy who was ready to play. Paid the max just in case.

POS. PLAYER SALARY

C Eric Staal $942,000
already under contract

C Rod Brind'Amour $3,800,000
already under contract

C Matt Cullen, $688,800
The price is right for having him as a 4th line center. Dont really know too much about him.

C Jason Allison, C $1,800,000
Though hes being pursued by the Oilers and Leafs, I still think we have a chance at him. Definately worth the risk.

LW Kevyn Adams, $718,200
No brainer here. Kevyn is the epitome of what a hockey player should be, and is absoluteley invaluable to this team

LW Josef Vasicek, $1,140,000
Big Joe did so well on the wing last year, but can fill in as a center if need be.

LW Ryan Bayda, $450,000
If I remember correctly, He is Lowell's leading goal scorer. So we know hes not crap. Hes a steal for a 4th liner at under half a million.

LW Jeff Friesen, LW $2,400,000
Hes a bit pricey, but I've been very impressed with his play. I think he could provide a little more offensive flair we lack on the left wing

RW Erik Cole, $1,140,000
another no brainer, Cole had done really well in Europ of the past year garnering enough respect to win the Playoff MVP of the league he palyed in. He excelled in the World Championships under Coach Laviolette. I hear he stays on his feet now.

RW Justin Williams, RW $941,441
Willie did really well when he came here in the last season. He fit into this system nicely. If hes not back I'd be suprised.

RW Mariusz Czerkawski, $800,000
Caerkawski has two thirty goal seasons underhis belt, both under Coach Laviolette during his time with the Islanders. He did well last season so you know hes not tanked. Pretty good bargain if you ask me.

RW Darren McCarty, $900,000
This will probably be difficult to pull off because he is hesitant to relocate his family. He'd bring a little more grit to the ice, which I wont object to.

F Andrew Ladd, $850,000
I'm breaking from the criteria, Ladd isnt on the sheet, but I think he'll be signed. He wont be pressured as much as Staal was, but I think he has his place in this club. I gave him the rookie max jsut to be safe.

Forward subtotal= $16, 570, 441

POS. PLAYER SALARY

D Bret Hedican $2,432,000
already under contract

D Aaron Ward $1,520,000
already under contract

D Niclas Wallin $836,000
already under contract

D Adrian Aucoin $2,800,000
Recently I heard he still wanted to play for the Islanders, but I pray Laviolette can woo him down south.

D Alexei Zhitnik $1,600,000
I'd like to steal him from the Sabres. He typically gets 20+ Assists from the blueline.

D Glen Wesley, D $1,300,000
Hes getting old, but hes still very consistent. He can bring the leadership for the younger guys like St. Jaques.

D Brian Rafalski $3,200,000
He has an offensive flair, which perpelxes me as to why he was able to survive with the Devils for so long. Fewest assist was 27 in his rookie year.

D Bruno St. Jacques, D $450,000
He's still developing but I think he can take on a minor roll for the club.

G Martin Gerber $1,064,000
already under contract

G Cam Ward $570,000
already under contract

Defenseman subtotal $15, 722,00
-------------------------------------------------------

Forward subtotal= $16, 570, 441
Defenseman subtotal $15, 722,00

Contract Total $32, 342, 441
+our top pick $850,000 (Rutherford hoped to draft a player ready to play)

Cap Total $33, 192, 441

+Kaberle Buyout $865,640

Total Bill $34, 058, 081

I shot for the $32 million goal, which I came pretty close if you ignore our newest draftee. I suppose we can slightly overspend this year so we can make the playoffs and generate more revenue and team support. Sorry Peter.

The New NHL

While the new NHL has its fair share of detractors, I'm definately not one of them.

I think that the NHL has done quite a bit to open the game and it will be interesting to see how it impacts the game. Unfortunately, too many people beleive that the game will be instantly open and flow beautifully at the first drop of the puck; I don't think they could be any more wrong. If the officials call the game like they should, the game will be incredibly slow. Penalties will be dished left and right. Towards the end of the first season, if the referees are persisitant in calling the game properly, we will see fewer penalties and only then will the beautiful flow be prevalent. For the officals to keep calling the game tightly, even at the expense of an initial slow-down, the fans, coaches, and players cannot start ranting about it. Its happened in the past (i.e. when those obstruction rules first came about).

I was enthralled by the Draft Lottery Festivities on Friday (July 22). It was quite a suspenseful 30 minutes, though I imagine this was only perpetuated by the fact that my team recieved the thrid overall pick. I wish the NHL had a little more fanfare with teh unveiling of the new shield. I like the shield, though I will miss the orange. At least they are still the sole league of the four major sports to have colors besides red, white, and blue. I first saw it on NHL.com, which suprised me. I would have thought Commissioner Bettman would have had some sort of unveiling with a velvet curtain and all. Thats ok, my team still got third.

I probably could continue with my banter, but then I wouldnt have anything to post on another day.

I'm No Rumormonger

Well, I decided that I'd try my hand at this whole "blogging" thing. I'm an avid hockey fan and I decided that perhaps i would share my opinions that I conjure up in emails and discussions with friends.

I'm not trying to pretend like I'm all connected like Eklund, because, well, I'm not. I do have friends who know people and I do find out some info faster than others, but thats not the purpose of this blog.

It's open comments for now so have at it.