Sorry for the long delay. I'm sure you all missed them.

Standings update - Moneyshots are 34-16-2, good for first in Tugnutt Division by a decent margin. 7 points behind Broadway for first overall. I should have second seed locked up, but Biatch and Nell are challenging for the second highest point total. Both are definitely Moneyshots rivals, so I'd like to hold up there.

Nothing official has been compiled, but I believe I am also second in points for...behind Jay! There are (arguably) 5 very powerful teams going into this year's playoffs, which means someone (not me) will have a very tough first-round matchup, and some very interesting second-rounders. So long as the Moneyshots stay healthy, I think we are competitive with anyone. With Biatch shoring up his D today, and Stamkos looking like a 40-goal scorer, I don't think any of the top 5 are significant favourites over anyone else.

Trade deadline is today, so I'm hoping the other competitive teams don't improve too much. Biatch acquired Chara which is a huge improvement to his weak D. IMO he gave up too much, so I have that satisfaction.

Moneyshots pre-deadline deals:

Biatch receives:
Jaroslav Spacek - $1.50/FA
$0.50 in 10/11

Moneyshots receive:
Mike Knuble - $3.75/FA

This was a smart swap for both of us. I have a second Canadiens D, while Biatch has another Washington F. Both have expiring contracts. I gave up the $0.50 even though we both would've benefitted from a straight-up deal. I have some weak lineups during round 1 of the playoffs, so Knuble might take some 5-6 spots, depending on who is hot at the time.

KC Reserves receive:
Paul Kariya - $8.25/$8.25
Bruno Gervais - $0.25/FA
$5 10/11 cap
09/10 cap differential

Moneyshots receive:
Steve Ott - $1.50/RFA
Dustin Boyd - $2.25/RFA
2012 5th

This was all about me ditching Kariya. He can be cut at no cost during next season, but I needed it free before the season to be able to use it. I gave up $0.75 more than it would cost me to cut him, but received a couple serviceable depth forwards and a pick for that. Can't imagine they'll be resigned, but Ott/Boyd being free agents is nice in case one goes nuts during the second half.

With those trades, and signing Bochenski as a free agent, I'm up to 16 forwards and 10 D, from 13/13. A much better split. I'm also glad to have a selection of depth D (Bochenski/Vermette/Ott/Boyd/Knuble/Reinprecht) to be able to stick in my late forward spots on a weak night, or in case of injuries. I'm sure I'll go nuts always starting the wrong guys, but I'm glad to be able to pick whoever is hot, good matchups, etc.

And that's all the news that's fit to print in Moneyshots land!

I have Boyd on my team. I think he has good upside and if he can get more icetime I think he can be a 25-25 guy.

i made a lucky decision not resigning Kariya earlier this year..Decided to go with the cheaper Steen...Steen has personally won be 3 games in the last few weeks..

I really like Kariya, but his good days are behind him it looks like.

You forgot our blockbuster.

Nope, just hadn't happened yet.

I finished off the deadline by trading Dan Hamhuis for Anton Babchuk. Both are signed for 2 years after this one for a quarter. I love the deal if Babchuk comes back, which I'm officially assigning a 43% chance to happen next year. I have Weber, so Hamhuis wasn't really helping. Funnily enough, he would've started for me this week.

Oh well, now I just madly follow every rumour of Babchuk. Gives me something to do in the offseason

Moneyshots have been playing a better team game lately. Highest score for 3 consecutive FCHL game nights, including by at least 1.5 points the last two nights. Total of 18 points over 3 nights, including an impressive 6.5 on back-to-back nights.

Tough luck for Jay, going 1-2 over the same span, despite putting up the second-highest score.

Big matchup against league-leading Broadway on Thursday. I'm lucky to have Sedin and Gaborik going, but that's almost a wash against Ovechkin! A win would put me 5 points back with a game in hand.

Amazing to me that, even with Sedin and Gaborik playing way above expectation, I still arguably have only the 4th-best forwards. Broadway with Ovechkin, Biatch with Crosby, Thornton and Iginla and Jay with Heatley and Kovalchuk! Nell's not far behind with some scary depth too.

edit

Embarassing loss last night. Score of -1, partially due to the decision to start Ott over Knuble. That makes 3 losses in the last 4, and I've fallen well off the overall Goals For race.

Still have time to turn it around, but I'll need production from Gaborik, Briere and Weber to do it.

Wow, on a team I built to be consistent, the Moneyshots have been the model of inconsistency. Before last night we'd lost 4/5. In the last 9 games, we're 5-4. In the 4 losses, the Moneyshots had the lowest FCHL score twice. In the 5 wins, Moneyshots had the best score in the FCHL.

James Wisniewski - next year's breakout star!

Moneyshots took a big hit with today's news about Cammalleri. 6 weeks puts him at returning about halfway through the FCHL playoffs. Any delay will have him missing most, if not all of the playoffs. This is doubly problematic because the Canadiens play all 7 games in the first round of the playoffs. Plus, it'll hurt MA Bergeron's stats.

I'll just have to hope:
- He's back for the finals
- Plekanec doesn't do too well with other guys, so he and Cammy can have a full season together next year
- no other injuries to forwards

Things are looking grim in Moneyshots land. Shea Weber is out today, to go with MA Bergeron, Bieksa and Cammalleri. I can't even field 4 defencemen!

Another tough loss against the Reserve last night - I think I had the better lineup, but lost my half a point with OT locked up early in the day. Very disappointing.

Series is now 2-1 for the Reserves, and the Moneyshots promising season is on the line. Sedin, Savard, Nash, Briere, Pominville and Gaborik really need to pick it up. Lecavalier has been better lately, but still isn't at his best. Knuble and Selanne have been among my best forwards, which is just disappointing.

Going against no goalies today I 'should' be able to even the series. Things will continue to be tight, as I probably won't get anyone (except maybe Weber) back for this series.

No respect!!!

I agree, the better team on paper is winning this playoff matchup

Really? My lineup last night was Savard, Selanne, Knuble, Nash, Lecavalier and Gaborik. His OT player was Fleischmann. In my first loss, here are the lineups:

Gaborik, Nash, Briere, Lecavalier, H Sedin, Savard, Kuba, Weber, Seabrook, injury
vs
Langenbrunner, Gomez, O'Sullivan, Fisher, Handzus, Avery, Tyutin, Pronger, Gonchar, Erhoff.

Cancel Weber and Gonchar, and I'd prefer Tyutin, Pronger, Erhoff over Seabrook and Kuba. My forwards are better at every matchup - in some cases very significantly so. I have the goalie advantage with San Jose and Nashville.

Do other people agree with Biatch? I don't think its even close to be honest. No disrespect to Duane, who has some very bad luck matchup-wise. But he also didn't blow up 3 years of rebuilding to put together his team!

Sorry if I'm coming off like an ass... I think Biatch is crazy, but its hard to argue with his results. Just want to make sure I'm not (also) the crazy one!

lol, biatch is excelling with his mind games

He is a wild and crazy guy!

I dunno, I think your lineup is very top heavy. I feel Duane's lineup may not have the same star power but he has probably the most depth in our league. His D are also the best. The goaltending is also superb. You got lucky today though and won.

OK, now I know you're just being a Biatch. Superb goaltending? The fantastic duos of Leclaire/Elliott and Turco/Pavalec...20th and 25th in the league in goals against. Duane has been unlucky IMO with his terrible goaltending, but they are terrible nonetheless.

biatch is tough to read..He is either super levelling you or he is way off...It could go either way.


check the discussion on the Olympic hockey tiebreakers.

My self-scouting report:

Forwards are way below average; lack any player with game changing ability. Depth players are underrated (no-names) but are effective.

Defencemen are way above average; Gonchar & Pronger have the ability to put the puck in the net which give them forward-like stats.

Goalies are madly inconsistent; both Ottawa and Dallas have both given up absolute turkeys which really skews their rankings, though on other nights they have been decent. I really need to pay attention to match-ups when picking who to start.

I have both Ottawa and Dallas in the AHL and I want to destroy both of them.

Biatch is the king of the level.

Duane has gotten unlucky, Zetterberg should be a game-changer. Forwards are definitely effective - he has done a good job in picking them, which can be really tough when you have a lot of mid-level guys. Gonchar is just scary, Pronger is solid and Erhoff is putting up a great season. Very rarely does he put up a weak lineup, which is frustrating to play against!

Thought he had a bad lineup for tomorrow, but after mocking it, it is almost his A-lineup (except Gonchar). D'oh!

He's still consistent at putting put points -- just that these days they end up being assists rather than goals.

Nah, it's pretty bad -- I'd much much rather have Langenbrunner + Fleishmann than O'Sullivan + Higgins.

All the pressure is on the moneyshots this game. The injured reserve will be relaxed and have nothing to lose.
Expect an injured reserve win tonight

Ah, when I mocked it up, I thought you didn't need Higgins. Might be an injury or two I don't know about. Langenbrunner would definitely be nice to have. I'm laughably nervous about tomorrow's game.

Hmm... I thought maybe you tipped your hand needlessly but:

Ryan Jones (no TOI)
Marek Svatos (was a 30 goal scorer, now....????)
Sean Bergenheim (seeing scratches lately / gone into the shitter since his rib injury)

Aren't alternatives

Gotcha, I think I had Svatos in there. Didn't realize he had...10 points this season.

Huge game tmw!!!!

Rick Nash left last night's game early. A rare 'double,' since an injury to him also kills Vermette's value. I think I could field a lineup of my injured players that would be competitive with some other teams.

Good luck to the 4 ppl in the FCHL tmw.

Update for everybody else in the FCHL action:
asdfjkl; have advanced to the next round after a 4-1 victory over Blindsides (Ollie)
Altona Maroons (Nell) have advanced to the next round after a 4-1 victory over Broadway

Injured Reserve (Fenxis) LEAD 3-2 over Halifax Moneyshots (mrdannyg)
BlackDevilHawks (DaveyG) LEAD 3-2 over Newmarket Hurricanes (mapleleafs)

Playoffs going pretty much right now as everyone would have thought of.

Sadly Svatos might make an appearance Thursday.

Sadlier, he'll be matched up against Dustin Boyd.

Biatch, you tilt the shit out of me!

Oh, and apparently Selanne missed last night's game. If Vinny gets suspended for his comments, I think I could field an all-star lineup of guys missing games:

Lecavalier, Nash, Selanne, Cammalleri, Savard
Weber, Kuba, Bieksa, Bergeron

Throw in Gaborik playing with a hurt groin and that's one of the best teams in the league! rofl.

My lineup sucks ass tomorrow, but at least I have San Jose going.

I'll be an underdog in Game 7 (if necessary) too - average lineup, though again, I'll only have 1-2 healthy D. Duane's lineup is above average with Detroit, Ottawa and NJ playing, but no Gonchar at least.

On further review, Gonchar is playing tonight! So I'm up against pretty much Duane's A-lineup (and Svatos). I'm forced to play by #13 and #15 forward, and 1 healthy D...

GO DUSTIN BOYD.

Not only does Svatos only have 10 points but 9 of those came in Oct / Nov*

Though with WSH and NJ not playing I'm a few players away from an A - Lineup. Too bad as Langenbrunner and Fleischmann both scored Wed.

* has missed 18 games through injury.

Hmmm, I checked the schedule, and had New Jersey playing and Pittsburgh not. I'm...going to re-check my team!

Washington is probably good for you, with Knuble hotter than Fleischmann, but Langenbrunner is definitely a bad guy for you to be missing.

Well, that's it for the Moneyshots season. A big stinker of a -1.5 in the last game and we're out without much of a fight. I don't know if I'm more disappointed to have lost because of injuries, or knowing that even without the injuries, I would've been lucky to get out of this round. Very unlikely I'd have made it any farther.

I don't think I'll bother with a big end of season recap, but it seems like all of my players played below expectation this season, other than Henrik. Gaborik playing most of the games has to be a big bonus. Weber is probably right around expectation, not worse. MA Bergeron of course was great until the injury. Stinkers out of a lot of guys, especially Lecavalier, Savard, Briere, Pominville, Rafalski, Bieksa, Vlasic. Selanne and Kovalev were blah. Really thought I was one of the strongest teams this year - I stayed competitive in the regular season but couldn't stand up to other teams in the playoffs.

More disturbingly, I think I have only of the better teams going into next year, not one of the best. Well, maybe the best right now, but I won't get much stronger, and other teams will.

I still think Lecavalier will turn it around. He has more shots on goal this year than Stamkos. If he was shooting at his career average, he'd be on pace for 36 goals. With a turnaround from him, and good seasons from Nash, Cammalleri, Sedin and Gaborik, and maybe Pominville, Briere or Savard could turn back into star players...well at least I have hope.

Mainly though, I am thankful that Benn has slowed down, Wilson has been hurt, Leino and Niskanen have looked terrible. Makes my trades only bad, and not horrific. The fact that all I have to show for Markov is Pominville, and for Franson is...well pretty much nothing...that is gross.

Good luck to all the remaining guys in the playoffs. To everyone else...see you on the golf course!

Good season bro! I'll be there with on the first tee after tomorrow night. We can trade talk. At least now you can shave!

Good season dude. Nothing to hang your head over. I honestly thought you had one of the best teams this year. The playoffs are a gong show, anything can happen in it. I still think next year your team should be able to contend. On paper, I thought were one of the favourites this year, it just didn't work out how you wanted. If anybody can pull off a blockbuster though to make their team better, it'll be you.

Thanks boys. Wish I had some more prospects to trade, but I'm going to load up with awesome late picks this year. I'll be sure to find another 5th-rounder to trade for Shea Weber!

p.s. Duane - the day you're out of the playoffs, I want to talk about Zetterberg

Kiss of death thread. Sorry Danny.

Bring the Brinks truck!

After this year's draft, the Moneyshots Farm:

Last/First/Salary/Year/Round

Hughes, Bobby F 1 2007 3
Hanowski, Ben F 0.5 2009 5
Petersson, Andre F 0.5 2010 5
Deschamps, Nicolas F 0.5 2008 5
Perreault, Mathieu F 0.5 2008 4
Pare, Francis F 0.5 2009 5
Bashkirov, Ruslan F 0.5 2007 7
Caron, Jordan F 0.5 2010 5
Zaborsky, Tomas F 0.5 2007 6
Niemi, Jyri D 1 2008 3
Gormley, Brandon D 1 2010 2
Urbom, Alexander D 0.5 2010 4
Alexandrov, Yuri D 0.5 2010 5
Hamonic, Travis D 0.5 2010 5
Dumoulin, Brian D 0.5 2010 5
Cowen, Jared D 0.5 2009 5
Wishart, Ty D 0.5 2007 4
Quick, Kevin D 0.5 2007 7
Brennan, TJ D 0.5 2007 7
Leddy, Nick D 0.5 2009 4
Voynov, Vyacheslav D 0.5 2009 4
Gaunce, Cameron D 0.5 2009 4
Goloubef, Cody D 0.5 2009 5
Roussel, Charles-Olivier D 0.5 2009 5
Martinez, Alec D 0.5 2010 5

As you can see, very back-heavy in terms of defencemen, and quality. Only 1 second-rounder and 2 third-rounders remain due to trades. The moneyshots' calling card has been safe, late-pick defencemen. Gormley, Urbom, Alexandrov, Hamonic, Cowen, Wishart, Voynov, Martinez should all be NHL regulars, while Niemi, Dumoulin, Quick, Brennan, Leddy, Gaunce, Goloubef and Roussel contain less certainly but potential upside as well.

Overall I'm happy with my late picks, though there have been some flameouts already. Jamie Benn, Matt Niskanen and Ivan Vishnevskiy are successful late picks that have already been traded for good value.

From this year's draft, I have high hopes that Caron, Urbom, Alexandrov, Hamonic and Martinez should all see NHL time by next year and look to be in good positions to be top-9/top-6 players for a long time.

My forwards are pretty much a bust. Hughes was one of my first high picks, and clearly a mistake. Deschamps and Perreault have shown well for guys that might not even have deserved a draft pick, and both are on the verge of NHL rosters. Hanowski is still a late-round Hail Mary that put up a solid freshman showing. Caron put up a solid last Q year. For a former first-rounder with some offense, I was surprised to be able to take him in the 5th round - I think he'll be a 60-point NHL'er. I had very high hopes for Pare when drafted, but he did not show well last year and is on the verge of becoming a bust, joining Zaborsky and Bashkirov.

I don't remember anything about Petersson

If all goes well, I hope to be able to fill my roster over the next few years with defencemen. I'll need to spend on a star or two, but should be solid, have depth at minimal cost, and might sneak a couple stars out of the mix. Forwards will simply be a work in progress. They were sacrificed to build my current team, with the likes of Jamie Benn, JVR, Colin Wilson, David Perron, Ville Leino and others being traded at various points.

Trade ya for him then?

Heh. Checked out some sites/stats - seemed alright, like lots of other young Euros scoring a few goals playing in top leagues. Checked my notes, "10 goals as 18-year old in SEL. Very similar stats playing on same team as Tedenby, one year younger."

I can now immediately conclude that he is a better prospect than Tedenby, and he is available for trade for someone of that quality or better.

Auction Results:

Trent Hunter - $1
Casey Wellman - $1
Mike Grier - $0.25
Brendan Morrison - $0.25
Petr Prucha - $0.25

I thought I had $6-7 coming into it, was hoping to get someone decent. Given I only had $3.50 to get 5 players, I'm really happy with how it went. Grier and Prucha should play. Maybe score 10 goals. Morrison has a chance at a scoring line. Might mean 40 points instead of 25. I'm hoping Hunter gets a top-6 spot and could be good for 20 goals.

I actually don't think that highly of Wellman. I was really surprised to be able to get him for only a buck - figured he'd be a $2-3 player. He was the only person left with anything resembling potential.

Happily, I have enough cap left to drop a quarter player and pick up someone new. All in all, a success, for what I had available.

I have Prucha in the AHL..He isnt much of a player, but like u said maybe 10 goals.