AHL- Apolyton Hockey League 08/09 (II): Game On

[Flubber]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Well, I told you all to check out the stat categories and tell me to fix them if they were broken. It's not fixable now...

MY 3 goalie team now somehow seems a little stronger

[Flubber]

I was just looking at the schedule and although this is a long week in duration, its actually pretty short in numbers of games played. So not much will be that decided until Saturday.


I am also finding it a hoot to organize two teams-- I find I am always considering tweaks to my "draft" team while my auction team is status quo so far. I don't know if thats because an 8 manager league means you are nowhere as deep into the marginal guys as a 14 manager league or if the fact that you could bid on anyone means you are more into your selections (as opposed to taking somebody you don't like because they are of a certain level and all the people you really like are gone)

[Asher]

I'm making a lot of changes in all of my leagues. I hate this staggered season start ****.

[Flubber]

Asher


Warrener and Eriksson have been put on waivers again. If they clear they will go to the AHL where the Flames still have to pay their salaries but it gets subtracted from their salary cap calculation

Other clubs have up until 10 a.m. today to make claims. I wonder will anyone bite? Eriksson did play pretty regularly last year for a playoff club so it wouldn't shock me if someone decided their defensive depth could use another guy. Warrener? Looked too hurt all last year . . . Someone could take a chance--- But both are now "depth" defencemen in their 30s-- I figure most clubs want to fill those spots with their young guys to look to the future and for salary cap reasons

Thats probably the reality of the salary cap--

[Flubber]

My capsule look at the NW


Flames-- Better up front, D is at least as good as last year (better if Giordano emerges)- The Flames should lead the division but there is a question in goal. Kipper was not great last year and has not looked good in preseason. If he struggles he could bring down the rest of the team-- If he rebounds to the good/great Kipper of the past, this team could take the division pretty clearly.


Oilers-- Young core is mostly back and they should be IN a playoff spot if Garon plays anywhere near what he did last year. No team can get decimated by uinjuries two years in a row can they?

Canucks-- A bit of an enigma right now. With the players they lost compared to last season they should be a substantially weaker team. But a strong pre-season, with Luongo looking very sharp, gives pause. But I see them out of the playoffs though as Luongo is not able to stop everything. ... but a team that will be tough to beat


Wild-- They should be tough as usual. I see them around where they were last year but think both Calgary and Edmonton could surpass their point totals. -- A playoff team but fighting to the end to make it

Colorado-- A step back I think-- Perhaps Statsny can go from star to superstar or perhaps a true number one goalie can emerge. Still a tough team to play and my assessment changes if they get a top goalie but I currently see them out of the playoffs

MY west prediction


Detroit
San Jose
Calgary
Anaheim
Dallas
Edmonton
Minnesota
Chicago


The only certainty I offer about my prediction is that it will be wrong in many rerspects. There is so much uncertainty and parity that who really knows?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Flubber
Asher


Warrener and Eriksson have been put on waivers again. If they clear they will go to the AHL where the Flames still have to pay their salaries but it gets subtracted from their salary cap calculation

Other clubs have up until 10 a.m. today to make claims. I wonder will anyone bite? Eriksson did play pretty regularly last year for a playoff club so it wouldn't shock me if someone decided their defensive depth could use another guy. Warrener? Looked too hurt all last year . . . Someone could take a chance--- But both are now "depth" defencemen in their 30s-- I figure most clubs want to fill those spots with their young guys to look to the future and for salary cap reasons

Thats probably the reality of the salary cap--

I think they've both played their last NHL games.

[Asher]

I'd put Minnesota above Edmonton and potentially above Calgary.

There's questions like if Gaborik can stay healthy, but it's a very familiar squad that's only gotten better and their goaltending pairing is fantastic. If Gaborik stays healthy and Kipper sucks, Minnie will be 1st in the NW. But that's the only case.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher


I think they've both played their last NHL games.

I think thats a bit harsh-- It may be what happens but I can envision any number of scenarios where they play-- heck --two injuries on d and one of them is called up and playing

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
I'd put Minnesota above Edmonton and potentially above Calgary.

There's questions like if Gaborik can stay healthy, but it's a very familiar squad that's only gotten better and their goaltending pairing is fantastic. If Gaborik stays healthy and Kipper sucks, Minnie will be 1st in the NW. But that's the only case.

perhaps you are right that I am too high on Edmonton at the moment-- But for some intangible reason I just don't see the Wild as stepping it up another notch. I see them standing still and getting surpassed by an improved Calgary. Obviously if Kipper sucks, the Flames will have troubles even making the playoffs let alone surpassing Minny but thats more about the Flames than Minny


In all this I don't see the gaps as being that large and fully expect that the NW will continue to be pretty tight

[Asher]

Originally posted by Flubber


I think thats a bit harsh-- It may be what happens but I can envision any number of scenarios where they play-- heck --two injuries on d and one of them is called up and playing

I'm expecting at least one of them to just retire.

Rhettro is rumoured to be taking a position with the organization in a non-player capacity, for instance...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher

I'm expecting at least one of them to just retire.

Rhettro is rumoured to be taking a position with the organization in a non-player capacity, for instance...

That would not surprise me.

My actual only surprise was that I heard also that Lundmark was on waivers. perhaps it was just easier to move him (two-way contract perhaps-- I don't recall) but I would have much rather kept Lundmark around than Primeau.

To me primeau hasn't done much of anything in his last couiple of seasons but perhaps the fact that he was pretty animated in a couple of pre-season games was enough for the coaches to give him one more try?


so its


Giordano Phaneuf
Regehr -Aucoin perhaps
Sarich -Vandermeer
Pardy

Depending on how things go, I could see Vandermeer sometimes moving up on the wing

So forwards (14 remaining)

Iggy-Langkow-Bert
Cammalleri- Lomabardi-Bourque

Then I'd have

Mossy-Boyd-Glencross but Conroy is likely in there

leaving one of the above 4 to go with

Roy, Primeau, Prust, Nystrom

[Asher]

Lundmark just pissed me off -- why sign him back in the end of July, sign him to a contract ,then waive him? We have already had him on our team recently, we know he sucks... don't get it.

Here are the configurations I expect:

Kiprusoff
McElhinney

Phaneuf - Giordano
Regehr - Sarich
Aucoin - Vandermeer
Pardy

Bertuzzi - Langkow - Iginla
Bourque - Lombardi - Cammalleri
Glencross - Boyd - Moss
Primeau - Conroy - Roy
Nystrom, Prust

[snoopy369]

Hmmmm... My uninformed top 8 in the west:


Detroit
San Jose
Calgary
Anaheim
Minnesota
Chicago
Dallas
Colorado

[Asher]

Chicago over Dallas. Ballsy.

Colorado over Edmonton? Very very ballsy.

I think Edmonton is going to make the playoffs. Even without the legendary Gilbert Brule, who they just demoted.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
Lundmark just pissed me off -- why sign him back in the end of July, sign him to a contract ,then waive him? We have already had him on our team recently, we know he sucks... don't get it.

Well its better to sign and release rather than to have him here all year doing not much. I figured that ANYONE they sign just before training camp must be because you are pretty certain he will be on your roster.

Originally posted by Asher


Here are the configurations I expect:

Kiprusoff
McElhinney

well duh

Originally posted by Asher



Phaneuf - Giordano
Regehr - Sarich
Aucoin - Vandermeer
Pardy

Yup-- Although I see Aucoin as being closer to being a top 4 d-man all around than Sarich, we probably will see Sarich in there with Regehr as part of a shut-down pairing. So Aucoin could be relegated to 3rd string and 2nd team PP- a lot will depend on how Giordano does and of course there will be injuries

Originally posted by Asher


Bertuzzi - Langkow - Iginla
Bourque - Lombardi - Cammalleri

They have signalled these as the top two lines but neither Bourque nor Lomabardi are locks to stay.

Originally posted by Asher

Glencross - Boyd - Moss

I liked this line a lot in the pre-season and hope they gat a chance as a trio again

Originally posted by Asher



Primeau - Conroy - Roy
Nystrom, Prust

Conroy onn the 4th line? But to me as well thats where he fits and subbing in higher up when injuries hit.

Of those guys I would play Primeau the least until he shows something.

I actually wouldn't mind Nystron-Conroy- Prust -- Conroy has looked a bit slow last year but maybe playing with two middleweight buzzsaws will perk him up. For sure those two will be buzzing around and annoying the heck out of the other team. Roy? I don't know enough. Personally I always hate having to waste a roster spot on a pure goon so hopefully he can be more than that